ASHP: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase and treatment strategies evolve, pharmacists are not only in a position to advise on appropriate use of pharmacotherapy for obesity, but also to assist in improving outcomes from gastric bypass surgery.

Speakers at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting ranging from ASHP President Gerald Meyer, PharmD, to Michael Lee, PharmD, of the Indian Health Service, argued that pharmacists are closer than ever before to achieving their goal of attaining provider status.

Genomic sequencing is rapidly increasing its value as a clinical tool in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. In his presentation, Justin M. Balko, PharmD, PhD, from Vanderbilt University, provided a background on the current state of next-generation genomic sequencing (NGS), and the potential role that pharmacists play as this science continues to evolve.

New and experienced pharmacists are always on the lookout for ways to improve their careers. This presentation focuses on some key strategies for identifying new opportunities that allow new and experienced pharmacists to develop and apply their clinical skills.

Quality and performance measurement has become an integral part of the healthcare system. As pharmacists continue to increase their role and exposure as healthcare providers, they are well positioned to assist in identifying ways to improve the quality of care delivered and to play an integral role in the development of quality measures, according to Curtis Collins, PharmD, MS, BCPS (AQ-ID), FASHP, who spoke at the ASHP Midyear Meeting.

llicit drug use continues to be a prevalent and growing problem in the United States, and the use of newer substances is on the rise. Because of the increasing prevalence and tweaking of compounds to avoid detection, the identification of drug abuse by practitioners often relies on signs and symptoms. In this session, presenters reviewed some of these agents, including their history and their impact on those abusing them.

Retired general and former secretary of state Colin Powell discussed his thoughts on the US healthcare system and the role pharmacists play within it during his keynote address at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.

In this session, a sustainable business model for pharmacists practicing in an accountable care organization environment was described by Kelly Boesen, PharmD, BCPS, and Sandra Leal, PharmD, MPH, CDE, FAPhA, of the El Rio Health Center in Tucson, Arizona.

Type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial condition that requires optimization of glycemic control as well as cardiovascular care. This presentation highlighted key aspects of the 2013 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care to provide guidance on managing insulin therapy and to help clinicians optimize cardiovascular care in adult patients with diabetes.

The US healthcare system is in need of transformation. The United States spends more than any other industrial country on healthcare, yet regardless of demographics, life expectancy is shorter and the US population is less healthy compared with populations in other countries. Collaborative efforts and a focus on the Triple Aim will be key in improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare.

The PILL Service is a care transition program designed to support older adults with cognitive impairment and help them maintain independent function. This program, which has resulted in improved clinical and economic outcomes, is characterized by a team effort focusing on proactive medication review and patient-centered medication reconciliation.

Safe use of prescription drugs continues to be a key topic for discussion and education. As part of the 2013 Medication Safety Collaborative, this presentation provided a federal-, state-, and local-level overview of ways healthcare providers (physicians, prescribers, nurses, pharmacists) and individuals can take part in contributing to solutions.

Judy Murphy, RN, the deputy national coordinator for programs and policy in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in Washington, DC, updated participants regarding the efforts under way under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act to promote improvement in the quality of healthcare through health information technology.

Increasing numbers of patients are using the emergency department (ED) for acute healthcare needs. Infectious diseases such as urinary tract infections and skin and soft tissue infections (cellulitis) rank among the top diagnoses made in the ED. While empiric treatment of these infections is common, it is critical that results and susceptibilities are reviewed to ensure appropriate therapy. Pharmacists are in a unique position to lend expertise in this area to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions.

The importance of prompt empiric therapy is clear: it leads to better survival among patients with both community- and hospital-acquired infections. Tools such as antibiograms are used to help guide antibiotic selection. However, broad-based antibiograms may not always be appropriate for all areas of an institution.

Although medication safety in hospitals has improved in the past decade, substantial issues persist. This presentation by representatives of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) reviewed the top 10 issues and presented strategies for improving outcomes.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common hospital-acquired infection that is associated with a high clinical and economic burden. Because of this management of CDI is quickly becoming a part of institutional quality measures.

Specialty pharmacy presents itself as both a challenging business model and a significant financial opportunity under the right circumstances, especially for health systems. Kevin Colgan, MA, FASHP, of Rush University Medical Center and Kyle Skiermont, PharmD, of Fairview Pharmacy Services provided an overview of specialty pharmacies and presented strategies for building a successful specialty pharmacy business.