Blogs

Exploring the Current State of Robotic Sterile Compounding – Part 1

By Leigh Miley posted 2 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Exploring the Current State of Robotic Sterile Compounding – Part 1 Authors: Stacy Carson , PharmD, BCPS, FISMP; Darren S Ferer , BS Pharm, CPHIMS ; James Fiebert, PharmD, CPHIMS; Leigh Ann Miley, PharmD, BCPS, BCSCP; Destiny Riddle, PharmD; Audrey Ruotolo, PharmD, BCPS; Chris topher Urbanski, BS Pharm , MS, FASHP SAG: Operations and Automation Int ro Advancements in i ntravenous workflow management system s (IVWMS) have transformed the preparation of sterile compound s . IVWMS such as a utomated parenteral nutrition compounders , barcode scanning ...
0 comments

Strategies to Implement Practice Change in Light of New Literature and Guidelines

By Ma Emmanuelle Domingo posted 10 days ago
2 people recommend this.
Strategies to Implement Practice Change in Light of New Literature and Guidelines Authors: Katie Blomquist, Morgan Bridwell, Ella Domingo, James Kortus, Jess Patel; Clinical Resources Workgroup, Clinical Practice Advisory Group - ASHP New Practitioners Forum The Significance of Staying Up-To-Date with New Literature and Guidelines Pharmacy practice is continually evolving, and literature and guidelines inform our medical management. Guidelines are updated every few years, and literature is published frequently. In order to provide the highest level of care, we must be aware of notable advances and apply relevant findings in a timely ...
0 comments

Credentialing and Privileging Discussion

By Emma Rednour posted 18 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Hi all! On behalf of the Practice Advancement and Advocacy Advisory Group, we would like to provide discussion on the current state of credentialing and privileging processes for health-system pharmacists at various institutions. Below you will find information compiled by our work group members about the definitions of credentialing and privileging from the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy as well as procedures used at each of our current practice sites. Additionally, we invite you to respond to our discussion questions at the end. Definition of Credentialing: a) The process of granting a credential (a designation that indicates qualifications ...
0 comments

Pharmacist Calibrated Eyeballs

By Dennis Tribble posted 28 days ago
1 person recommends this.
I received an email from the MSOS community today that discussed the process of dual-pharmacist checking on orders for certain high-risk drugs. It reminded me of a concern I have long had that we seem to believe that having a person look at something is more reliable than an automated check (such as scanning the bar code on a container) and that having two people provides more safety than having one person look at it. Double-checking of an order made some sense when we had to transcribe those orders into a pharmacy system, but, with EMR systems, such transcriptions have largely gone away. For those reading this blog that employ two-person checks, when was the ...
0 comments

Beyond The Script: Unique Areas of Pharmacy Practice Part 3

By Prit Gor posted 30 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
1. What does a typical day look like in your role?  My day varies significantly based upon what projects and implementations are currently underway. On clinic days, the majority of my time is spent meeting with patients to discuss PGx testing or the impact of their results. On other days, I perform literature review, quality assurance testing, development of CDS tools or collaborate with other members of the health system. 2. How does your role impact patient care?  I improve patient care by reducing incidence of adverse drug events. Knowledge of pharmacogenomic information has also been shown to increase patient ...
0 comments

Didn’t Match for Residency? How to Pivot and Grow Professionally

By Deanna Laughlin posted 04-04-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
Didn’t Match for Residency? How to Pivot and Grow Professionally The residency match process is highly competitive, and not matching can feel like a major setback. However, professional growth isn’t defined by a single outcome—it’s shaped by adaptability, strategic planning, and continuous development. If you didn’t match, this is an opportunity to pivot, build new skills, and expand your professional identity in ways that will strengthen your career long-term. Here’s how to maximize this moment for professional growth : 1. Reframe the Experience as a Growth Opportunity Career paths in pharmacy are rarely linear. Some of the most successful pharmacists ...
0 comments

Beyond The Script: Unique Areas of Pharmacy Practice Part 2

By Prit Gor posted 04-03-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
1. What does a typical day look like in your role?  On any given week, each day could look different. It is one of the things I love about my job, and it keeps me energized and engaged every day. Right now I spend about half my time in practice and the other half focusing on teaching, research, outreach, and service. My clinical area of interest is substance use disorders. When I am in practice, I spend time at both Nationwide Children’s Hospital in their Substance Use Treatment and Recovery program and Ohio State General Internal Medicine in their Primary Care Addiction Medicine clinic. I have the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary ...
0 comments

Beyond The Script: Unique Areas of Pharmacy Practice Part 1

By Prit Gor posted 03-25-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
What does a typical day look like in your role? As a clinical pharmacist in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, I spend most of my morning rounding on critically ill patients with cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support, such as percutaneous ventricular assist devices (VADs) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Many of these patients are being evaluated for advanced heart failure therapies, including heart transplantation or durable VAD implantation, or managing complications of such therapies. I provide clinical recommendations on high-risk medications, including anticoagulation for mechanical circulatory support, ...
0 comments

Q1 2025 Update: Charting the Course Towards Pharmacy General Intelligence (PGI)

By Ben Michaels posted 03-11-2025
2 people recommend this.
Welcome to the first in a series of what I hope to be quarterly updates tracking the exciting evolution of AI through the lens of Pharmacy General Intelligence (PGI). You've likely heard of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the concept of AI matching or surpassing human cognitive abilities. 1 PGI takes this a step further, focusing specifically on AI's potential to perform at or beyond the level of a skilled pharmacist. Imagine an AI agent seamlessly integrated into pharmacy workflows, handling tasks like medication verification, dose adjustments, and even patient counseling notes. My goal is to provide a clear overview of the AI landscape, highlighting ...
0 comments

Professional Development Connect Blog Series: After the Residency Interview: Follow-Ups, Thank Yous, and Next Steps

By Deanna Laughlin posted 02-28-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
After the Residency Interview: Follow-Ups, Thank Yous, and Next Steps The residency interview process doesn’t end when you leave the interview room. The post-interview period is a crucial time to solidify your impressions, express gratitude, and strategically plan your next steps. Here’s how to navigate this phase effectively. 1. Sending a Thoughtful Thank You Note A well-crafted thank-you email reinforces your enthusiasm for the program and appreciation for the opportunity. Send Within 24-48 Hours: Prompt follow-up demonstrates professionalism. Personalize Your Message: Mention specific details from your conversation to make ...
0 comments

Professional Development Connect Blog Series: Mastering the Residency Interview: What to Expect and How to Shine

By Deanna Laughlin posted 02-21-2025
1 person recommends this.
Mastering the Residency Interview: What to Expect and How to Shine Residency interviews are a critical step in securing a position that aligns with your career goals. This day is your opportunity to showcase your clinical knowledge, communication skills, and professionalism. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare can set you apart from other candidates. Here’s a guide to help you navigate interview day with confidence. What to Expect on Interview Day Welcome Session and Program Overview Most residency interviews begin with an introduction from the program director or faculty members. They’ll provide an overview of the program, its structure, ...
0 comments

Interesting figures regarding hospital costs

By Dennis Tribble posted 02-16-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
As many of you know, I find Becker's to be an occasional source of interesting information. Today (2/16/2025) was one of those days. In an article entitled Hospital labor, drug expenses rising: 18 statistics , Supply, Drug and Labor costs were cited nationally and for each of five regions in the United States. These numbers came from the Kaufmann Hall Research Report. Perhaps not surprisingly, costs for all three categories were above the national average for Western states. Perhaps more surprisingly, costs for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions were all below the national average I encourage you to take a look at the report and judge ...
1 comment

Professional Development Connect Blog Series: Residency Interview Prep 101: Setting Yourself Up for Success

By Deanna Laughlin posted 02-14-2025
Be the first person to recommend this.
Residency Interview Prep 101: Setting Yourself Up for Success The pharmacy residency interview is your opportunity to showcase your clinical knowledge, leadership skills, and cultural fit within a program. Preparation is key to feeling confident and making a lasting impression. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you’re fully prepared. 1. Research the Program Before stepping into the interview, gain an in-depth understanding of the program: Review the program’s website for details on rotations, preceptors, and unique offerings. Reach out to current residents or alumni to gain insider insights. Familiarize yourself with the institution’s ...
0 comments

Drug concept encoding

By Dennis Tribble posted 01-04-2025
1 person recommends this.
About a year ago, I posted a blog on how we create data silos . As I perused that blog, I realized that had omitted a significant way in which we create data silos, local data encoding. That is, we use non-standard data identifiers for our drug concepts, often using codes that are derived from a local charge description master or re-imagined at each health-system; sometimes at each facility! So the identifier assigned to, let's say, an Ibuprofen 200 mg tablet, is not only different at each facility, but may wind up pointing to an entirely different drug at a different organization. One of the benefits from having worked both as a provider and within industry ...
0 comments

Phenytoin IV Dilution

By Gail Sanchez posted 12-04-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Hi ASHP Community, Anyone willing to share how you are diluting IV phenytoin doses in order to have a final concentration of no less than 5mg/ml? Thanks so much! Gail Gail M. Sanchez, PharmD, BCPS, DPLA Cambridge Health Alliance
1 comment

city depopulation

By Dennis Tribble posted 12-01-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
One of the benefits of being retired is that I have more time to read. One article from Popular Mechanics described research indicating that our cities are losing population and may lose as much as 23% of their population by 2100. While the article seems a bit sensational, I found it worth of a read, and it made me wonder whether our long-term healthcare planning was based on economic and population models that may turn out to be wrong. The article asserts that the most significant depopulation will likely occur in cities in the Northeast and Midwest, some of which may experience population collapse. If true, the article points out that the impact of that ...
0 comments

Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Prior to Surgery: When to Hold

By Lindsay Rakowski posted 11-14-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Hello, my name is Lindsay, and I am a PGY-1 inpatient pharmacy resident. I am currently doing a drug investigation on when to hold GLP-1 receptor agonist injections (Trulicity, Ozempic, Mounjaro/Zepbound, etc.) prior to any surgery. At my institution, the practice has been to hold off on giving the injection for 7 days prior to surgery. The question has become, is 7 days enough time for the GLP-1 RA to not have an effect on the return of bowel function after surgery? And, if it is given sooner, will that effect the patient's outcome after surgery? I was wondering if there are other practitioners on here that have had experience with this subject and how long ...
0 comments

Professional Development Connect Blog Series: Unique Leadership Opportunities

By Deanna Laughlin posted 11-01-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Embracing Growth Through My Role as IPSF Regional Project Officer Stepping into the role of Regional Project Officer for the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) PARO Regional Working Group has been one of the most rewarding, unique, and challenging experiences of my pharmacy journey. This position has not only broadened my understanding of global health but also instilled in me the principles of a growth mindset—the belief that challenges, feedback, and continuous learning drive personal and professional development. Leading with Purpose As the Regional Project Officer, I’ve had the privilege of coordinating projects across multiple ...
0 comments

Is Healthcare nutty?

By Dennis Tribble posted 11-01-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Although retired, I continue to monitor publications about healthcare in general, and pharmacy in particular. Most recently (1-26-2024) I encountered an article in Becker's Health IT and CIO Report in which it is reported that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy described modern healthcare (not the journal) as "just kinda nutty" . I must confess that my knee-jerk reaction before I actually read the article was that this was going to be how making healthcare more like a business would make it better. I was wrong. The focus of this brief article was about all the inconveniences our current healthcare systems impose on patients. He describes "making an appointment sometimes ...
0 comments

Professional Development Connect Blog Series: Research Projects

By Deanna Laughlin posted 10-25-2024
1 person recommends this.
Ready to dive into the world of pharmacy research? Whether you're aiming to boost your CV, explore your interests, or contribute to cutting-edge advancements in healthcare, finding the right research project can make all the difference. Embarking on a research project as a pharmacy student can be both exciting and daunting. Many students struggle with where to start, how to find the right opportunities, or feel overwhelmed by the process. Leverage faculty connections! Ask professors about opportunities to join their projects or if they can connect you with their colleagues Choose a topic that interests you! Explore something that aligns with your ...
0 comments