Report: Cost drives formulary decisions on pain meds

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. » More

Top 10 ways to avoid vaccine errors

Due to the number of vaccine errors reported to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) National Vaccine Errors Reporting System, the organization has developed recommendations for practitioners to reduce such errors. » More

Pharmacy owner admits guilt in nursing home scheme

A Louisiana pharmacy owner recently pled guilty to charges she bribed nursing home workers to return unused drugs, then repackaged and resold them as new. According to the Department of Justice, Mona Patrice Carter, 47, pleaded guilty to what amounted to a $2.2 million Medicare fraud scheme. » More

More dietary fiber after MI reduces mortality risk

Higher dietary fiber intake among myocardial infarction (MI) survivors lowers the risk of subsequent all cause and cardiovascular mortality, according to a prospective study published April 29 in BMJ. » More

Continuing Education

MTM essentials for hypertension management – Part 1: Nonpharmacologic therapy and geriatric considerations

This month’s article is the third in a new year-long CPE series, Medication Therapy Management Considerations for Adult Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. From February 2014 through January 2015, pharmacists can earn up to 24 hours of CPE credit with 12 monthly knowledge-based activities from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Drug Topics.

This goal of this month’s activity is to review nonpharmacologic treatment strategies relevant to medication therapy management of hypertension and introduce drug therapy considerations in geriatric patients with hypertension.

To read and print the article with TEST QUESTIONS, click here.To proceed to the online exams and earn up to 2 CPE credits, click here to log in.

Announcement: Welcome to the new user registration process. This new process requires all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to provide or update their NABP e-Profile ID in order to electronically keep track of CPE credits from ACPE-accredited providers. If you have not done so, you can obtain your NABP e-Profile ID now at www.MyCPEmonitor.net. This profile will enable you to have one login for all the NABP programs and services you will need throughout your career.

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Voices

Anticoagulation Update