February 7 Practice & Trends On The Cover Evidence is mounting for pharmacists’ ability to lower patients’ blood pressure—and save the health care system money PT February 2024 An economic analysis published November 3, 2023, in JAMA Network Open finds that with pharmacist-led interventions, 15 million heart attacks could be prevented for Americans as well as over a trillion dollars in savings for the health care system over 30 years. Loren Bonner and Olivia C. Welter, PharmD
February 7 Practice & Trends On The Docket Court rejects liability of health information technology firm for alleged antibiotic overdose PT February 2024 In a recent Louisiana case, the court considered whether a health information technology (HIT) company should be held liable for failing to detect prescriber errors in the prescriptions that the company transmits to pharmacies. David B. Brushwood, BSPharm, JD
February 7 Practice & Trends Statins Pharmacists can play critical role in increased statin use with automated referrals PT February 2024 Nationwide, a little over a third of the patients who would benefit from statin medication are taking them, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Elizabeth Briand
February 7 Practice & Trends Self-care Product Survey Supplements and topical treatments PT February 2024 Health-conscious consumers seeking convenient methods to optimize nutrition for wellness and health promotion and patients with conditions affecting their ability to obtain adequate nutrients may seek convenient supplements.
February 7 Practice & Trends Diabetes ADA’s standards of care in diabetes gets an update PT February 2024 The American Diabetes Association (ADA) released its latest round of updates to their standards of care in diabetes for 2024 at the end of 2023. Olivia C. Welter, PharmD
April 7 Bulletin Today News roundup Bulletin Today PT April 2023 FDA issued an EUA on February 24, 2023, for the first at-home OTC diagnostic test that can differentiate and detect influenza A and B and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
April 7 Today's Perspective Today's Perspective Pharmacists are essential to buprenorphine access PT April 2023 As an age-advanced (i.e., older) pharmacist, I can remember the days when proton-pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists, fluticasone nasal spray, and many other self-care products required a prescription. Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP
April 7 Association Perspective Association Perspective Working for justice for pharmacies from unfair PBM practices PT April 2023 The momentum is building for PBM reform and APhA remains focused on challenging PBM’s anticompetitive business practices which create an unequal playing field in the marketplace that disadvantages patients, pharmacists, and communities. Ilisa BG Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA
February 7 Bulletin Today Bulletin Today News Roundup PT April 2023, PT February 2024 Effective immediately, FDA has changed the labels on two medications used to bring down LDL cholesterol levels: bempedoic acid (Nexletol) and bempedoic acid/ezetimibe (Nexlizet).
February 7 Drugs & Diseases OTCs Today Hair loss solutions PT February 2024 Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss, affects up to 80% of men and 50% of women over their lifetime, with white men and women more likely to experience hair loss than other ethnicities. Mary Warner
February 7 Drugs & Diseases Collagen Is it a stretch to supplement with collagen? PT February 2024 Collagen is a leader in the supplements market, advertised as a boon to joint and bone health, and a remedy for aspects of aging such as dehydration, loss of skin elasticity, and wrinkles. Mickie Cathers
February 7 Drugs & Diseases Heart Health Semaglutide brings heart benefits to overweight, obese patients without diabetes PT February 2024 Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has lowered the risk of CV events for untold patients with T2D. But does the drug offer the same protective effects to the growing number of people without diabetes who now take the drug for weight loss? New research says “yes.” Sonya Collin
February 7 Drugs & Diseases Test and Treat Patients embrace pharmacist-led testing and treatment for influenza and strep PT February 2024 Over half of survey participants were open to using pharmacies for testing and treatment of influenza and group A streptococcal pharyngitis infections, according to study results published in the January/February 2023 issue of JAPhA. They were also willing to pay $25 or more for out-of-pocket testing costs. Clarissa Chan, PharmD
February 7 Drugs & Diseases Obesity Medication doses may be all wrong for the 4 in 10 Americans who are obese PT February 2024 More than 42% of Americans have obesity. Given that obesity raises risk for numerous chronic illnesses and cancers, this subset of the population likely receives a substantial proportion of the medications prescribed in the United States. But they might not be getting the right dose. Sonya Collins
February 7 Health Systems Kidney Disease Cystatin C eGFR studies uncover undetected kidney disease PT February 2024 The utility of cystatin C—a protein biomarker similar to creatinine—has often been overlooked in routine practice as an alternative measurement of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with kidney disease. Corey Diamond, PharmD
February 7 Health Systems Pulse Oximetry Attorneys General make urgent call to address racial bias in pulse oximetry PT February 2024 Pulse oximeters send beams of light through the skin to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. Health care providers who rely on the technology have long known that the tool can yield inaccurate readings for people with darker skin. Sonya Collins
February 7 CPE CPE Gluten in medications: A primer for pharmacists PT February 2024 Gluten-related disorders, including but not limited to celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and wheat allergy, affect millions of people worldwide with an estimated global prevalence of about 5%. Jamie Huff, PharmD
February 7 Crossword Challenge Crossword Challenge Crossword Challenge: Test your knowledge! PT February 2024 Crossword Challenge