Health System

New research published in Obstetrics & Gynecology indicates the oral thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran, and its prodrug, dabigatran etexilate mesylate transfer from pregnant women to their fetuses via the placenta and could potentially affect fetal blood coagulation.

A care transition program for hospital patients with bedside delivery of postdischarge medications and follow-up calls by pharmacists shortly after discharge had the greatest impact on elderly patients, resulting in a lower likelihood of 30-day readmission, according to a report published May 1 in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.

A pharmacist’s participation on medical teams treating HIV-positive hospital patients reduces medication errors as well as spots and corrects them sooner, according to a report published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

Advocacy issues discussed at the conference included two pieces of proposed legislation that would affect compensation for pharmacists and collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians.

A brief video, accessed by prescription label QR code scanned with a smartphone, instructs patients in proper drug use and much more.

A subanalysis of the Phase 3 ARISTOTLE trial indicates that apixaban reduces the risk of stroke regardless of whether a patient’s blood pressure is controlled.

Medication adherence suffers when patients do not understand dose or use instructions. Pharmacists can use multisensory tools to help patients learn and remember.

New Rx, new generics, and new OTC

This pharmacist's decision to follow her bliss has made countless patients a whole lot happier.

Using verbal, written, and visual communication strategies, pharmacists can empower patients with limited health literacy to manage complex medication regimens.

FDA approves a powder delivery system combining a corticosteroid and a LABA.

Since pharmacists dispense potentially harmful medications, it is critical that we also impart information about poison control.

Letters, e-mails, comments, and posts from Drug Topics readers

Cost is the primary non-efficacy factor that drives decisions on which pain medications to include in formularies, according to a survey that included hospital pharmacy directors.

Who sez older pharmacists should be put out to pasture? Not these guys - they're too busy working to consider the possibility.

From controlled substances to retail chains in trouble and back to controlled substances, Drug Topics readers found plenty to talk about during the month of April.

An eight-week regimen of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir was highly effective in treating non-cirrhotic HCV patients with genotype infection.

Nearly one-third of the ADHD-diagnosed foster-care youth received atypical antipsychotics regardless of age group.

The sublingual tablet provides a new treatment option for patients who decline allergy shots

Study finds that targeting the pharmacy service to patients who are most likely to benefit is important.

“Healthcare professionals should consider whether the benefits of Doribax treatment are likely to exceed its potential risks in patients who develop pneumonia while on ventilators,” says FDA.

There is no testimony without tests. How are we handling ours?

Drugs dispensed by physicians are far more expensive than those dispensed by pharmacies. And there are other issues.

The fight over whether pharmacists serve "patients" or "customers" continues. And now there's a new question: How come a major national pharmacy organization has no opinion?

Pharmacies that don't use social media will soon go the way of the dinosaur. Here are six tips for making these modalities work for you.

By maintaining a strong knowledge base about HCV infection and management, pharmacists can be a resource to providers and patients alike.

Things aren't as simple as the DEA would have us believe.

Pharmacists and consumers alike need to educate themselves about the proper use of these products, taken either alone or with Rx medications.

As opposition to execution drugs grows, manufacturers are cutting off supplies and compounding pharmacies are under pressure.

Some early adopters - well, beta testers - give us the lowdown on current and future applications of Google Glass in pharmacy.