In this year-end wrap-up to 2020—a year we will never forget—we take a look at how the COVID-19 global health crisis unfolded and the ways in which pharmacists became frontline players.

APhA staff

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) released guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism (VTE), with 28 recommendations focused on initial management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), secondary prevention of VTE events, and management of recurrent events.

Maria G. Tanzi, PharmD

Pharmacies all across the nation are undergoing transformation. For some of these pharmacies, the transformation is being sought out.

Loren Bonner

Maintaining an upbeat attitude during the pandemic has been challenging for health care providers and patients alike.

Rachel Balick

As Thomas Franko, PharmD, BCACP, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, put it: “The more information we know about appropriate pain management, the better.”

Loren Bonner

Despite APhA’s concerns that compliance with certain Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) requirements undermines pandemic response efforts, FDA has con rmed that “dispensers,” including pharmacies, must meet a requirement that went into effect on November 27, 2020.

Rachel Balick

It is sometimes challenging to take good care of a patient who engages in demanding behaviors.

David B. Brushwood, BSPharm, JD

Updates from FDA

Especially during these tough times, people may be having difficulty coping and could seek out medications like benzodiazepines to “fix” their problems.

Clarissa Chan, PharmD

Near the beginning of the pandemic, there was an atmosphere of confidence that COVID-19 would not present a serious risk to children, much in the same way that chicken pox and the flu typically present a threat only to adults.

Corey Diamond

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has published its 2020 recommendations for meningococcal vaccination, which cover use of the three quadrivalent conjugate vaccines—meningococcal serotypes A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY)—and two available meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccines.

Maria G. Tanzi, PharmD

Head lice are the most common cause of lice infestation. Outbreaks of lice infestation are routinely found in places such as schools and daycare centers, and all socioeconomic groups are affected.

Daniel L. Krinsky, RPh, MS

Turmeric may be an effective analgesic in treating chronic knee pain, according to a randomized, clinical study published on September 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Mickie Cathers

Trending Topics in Health-System Pharmacy

Pharmacists are well aware of their value as health care providers, and a new study proves this to be the case when pharmacists are involved with the care of patients with heart failure.

Joey Sweeney, PharmD, BCPS

In October, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a new scientific statement on drug-induced arrhythmias to address the growing list of drug classes with proarrhythmic properties, both supraventricular
and ventricular.

Corey Diamond, PharmD

Since the approval of the first direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in 2010, prescriptions for agents from this drug class to manage chronic conditions have increased dramatically.

Caitlin M. Gibson, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP

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