Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jul 2019
Assessing pharmacists' readiness to dispense naloxone and counsel on responding to opioid overdoses.
The United States declared the opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency in 2017 and recommended increasing access and availability of naloxone, a reversal agent for opioid overdose. In Massachusetts, there is a statewide standing order for naloxone, which allows pharmacists to dispense it without a prescription to any person at-risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or other persons who can assist individuals at-risk. The objective of this study was to determine whether pharmacists in Massachusetts have sufficient education and training to fulfill the duties associated with dispensing naloxone in community pharmacy settings. The researchers investigated the pharmacists' ability to counsel patients both on naloxone and management of patients with an opioid overdose. ⋯ Despite regulations requiring all pharmacies with a standing order to provide training on naloxone, many of the pharmacists surveyed did not have a strong understanding about naloxone products or its pharmacology. The level of education Massachusetts pharmacists possess on naloxone products and administration is not sufficient to counsel patients regarding this medication. Increasing training requirements in pharmacy schools and continuing education offers potential solutions to the lack of knowledge in the community pharmacy setting.
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Not applicable. ⋯ Most threats to medication safety result from weaknesses or failures in one or more of the key system elements identified by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Pharmacists should be advocates for implementing targeted recommendations to strengthen their practice systems and improve medication safety.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jul 2019
Provider perceptions of pharmacists providing mental health medication support in patient-centered medical homes.
To identify primary care providers' (PCPs') comfort level, potential barriers to management of patients with mental health disorders, and attitudes around clinical pharmacist-provided mental health medication-related support. ⋯ Outside of the diagnosis and treatment of depression, PCPs indicate a lack of comfort in treating PCMH patients with mental health disorders. Pharmacists can play a key role by providing mental health medication management support to improve access and address PCMH patients' mental health needs.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jul 2019
Decision-maker and staff perceptions of the pharmacist's role in transitions of care programs.
To identify perceptions of decision-makers and staff at a local hospital about the pharmacist's role in transitions of care (TOC) programs. ⋯ Participants agreed that pharmacists should be involved in TOC services but had varied perceptions on the pharmacist's specific role. Decision-maker and staff perceptions identified in this study will be used to develop the pharmacist's role in a TOC program at the institution.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jul 2019
Supervising pharmacists' opinions about pharmacy technicians as immunizers.
To determine the opinions of pharmacists who supervise immunizing pharmacy technicians regarding initial trust of immunizing technicians, perceived quality of the training program, need for additional on-the-job training, frequency of technician utilization, and recommendations for other pharmacists who are considering implementation of an immunizing technician. ⋯ Community pharmacists who supervise pharmacy technicians trained to administer immunizations were receptive to this new advanced technician role. Pharmacists' opinions revealed that working with newly trained immunizing pharmacy technicians has not only positively affected the morale of their team, but can help to increase the number of vaccinations given by the pharmacy. Understanding pharmacist perceptions about technicians as immunizers may lead to regulation changes and adoption of this advanced technician role.