September 1, 2007
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Stand and deliver: Vaccine standing orders program boosts immunizations
Determined to improve a dropping in-hospital vaccination rate for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccinations, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian (UPMC-P) went on the cutting edge nationally to design and implement a pharmacist-run inpatient program that successfully reversed the trend. -
Unsafe drug orders slipping through in Pennsylvania
A voluntary assessment of electronic pharmacy systems in Pennsylvania facilities showed the systems are not detecting all unsafe drug orders, Pennsylvania's Patient Safety Authority reports . The authority said all Pennsylvania facilities should test their systems to ensure they are catching potentially harmful medication errors. -
Know what questions to ask to assess drug interaction
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a 10-question format as part of a Drug Interaction Probability Scale (DIPS) to provide a guide to evaluating drug interaction causation in specific patients. (See Drug Utilization Review, May 2007, p. 39) DIPS is intended to be used to assist practitioners in assessing drug interaction-induced adverse outcomes. -
News Briefs
Pharmacy groups create pandemic flu guide; Medication database may help in disasters; German hospital tests RFID drug tracking; Pharmacists gain input into Joint Commission revision -
New FDA Approvals
The Food and Drug Administration recently announced the following approvals: -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: Retapamulin (Altabax) Formulary Evaluation
FDA Approved Indication: Retapamulin: For adults and pediatric patients aged nine months and older for impetigo (up to 100 cm2 of total area in adults or 2% total body surface area in pediatric patients) due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.