Treating Dry Eye: The Pharmacist's Role

Feeling the Burn - The Pharmacist's Role in Treating Dry Eye- Dry eye disease is a common ocular condition affecting millions of Americans. With this condition, there is most often an insufficient amount of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are essential for ensuring the health of the front surface of the eye and maintaining clear vision. Dry eye can cause irritation and lead to complications of the ocular surface, thus appropriate diagnosis and treatment is essential. Topical treatment includes numerous over the counter drops as well as prescription medications. A majority of the patients have milder or episodic symptoms, which will respond to the over-the-counter artificial tear supplements. Since patients frequently self-treat, pharmacists should have an understanding of the symptoms and treatments for dry eye and be prepared to discuss treatment options with patients who do not adequately respond to artificial tears. This program not only gives the pharmacist a solid knowledge base to make appropriate treatment recommendations for patients presenting wi th the signs and symptoms of dry eye but also identifies the point when a timely referral to an eye care specialist is appropriate. Review the basics of dry eye including symptoms and causes. Describe the FDA approved over-the-counter and prescription medications available to treat dry eye disease to include mechanism of action and side effects. Outline key considerations regarding appropriate over-the-counter or prescription treatment and/or for referring patients to an eye care provider when appropriate.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs

Expires 6/20/17

financial support by Shire Pharmaceuticals

Contraceptives: A Call for Pharmacists to Communicate With Patients

Contraceptives: A Call for Pharmacists to Rethink and Engage in Communication with Patients- Identify various forms of currently available contraceptives and their effectiveness. Given a specific patient history, compare and contrast various contraceptives to determine the most appropriate contraceptive for a patient. Review appropriate screening, initiation and continuation of various contraceptives, including intrauterine devices, implants, and combined hormonal contraceptives (pills, ring, patch). Design a therapeutic plan to manage the most common side effects associated with combined hormonal contraceptives.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs

Expires 4/25/19

Financial support by Merck

Guidelines for Managing Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting

Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting: The Pharmacist’s Role in Integrating Clinical Guidelines into Patient Care- Evaluate new and revised strategies for Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) management based on emerging data and updates to national and international guidelines. Review the data supporting the use of individual antiemetic agents and combinations for patients on moderately- and highly-emetogenic regimens, including emerging agents. Develop a plan for adequate antiemetic prophylaxis and breakthrough treatment based on antiemetic drug classifications. Using patient cases, design optimal guideline-based approaches for the prevention and management of CINV for patients at risk for developing acute and delayed-onset CINV taking into consideration patient- and regimen-specific characteristics.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 5/18/17

Immunosuppression and Transplant Medicine

A Balancing Act: Immunosuppression in Transplant Medicine- The current goal of transplant medicine and immunology is to develop strategies to extend the life and functionality of every allograft. Outcomes of renal and liver transplantation have improved; yet, allograft loss remains a substantial problem associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs.1 Identifying the pathologic pathways responsible for allograft loss and developing therapeutic interventions is one of the primary challenges in transplant medicine. Education to transplant clinicians about regularly evaluating all of the aspects of post-transplant care that can contribute to allograft dysfunction or loss can improve the patient-provider dialogue to foster adherence to treatment and careful monitoring of medication levels to maintain quality of life. Patient stories, integrated in the symposium design, highlight the challenges and opportunities to coordinate care with patients in alignment with the priorities of the National Quality Strategy. Describe the causes of antibody-mediated complications in kidney and liver transplants. Implement regular monitoring strategies that can optimize appropriate immunosuppression while managing side effects in transplant patients. Engage transplant patients to become participants in their treatment to promote adherence to medications and improve outcomes.

1.25 Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 7/15/17

Advanced Gout Management

Defining the Role of Pharmacists in Advanced Gout Management- Discuss the pathophysiology of gout, its risk factors, and long-term complications. Outline the clinical profiles of available and emerging gout pharmacotherapies including safety, efficacy, mechanisms-of-action, implications, and potential shortfalls of conventional agents. Assist providers on the guideline-directed and individualized selection, modification, and monitoring of gout therapies. Counsel patients on non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches to care, emphasizing the importance of adherence to therapies and lifestyle modifications.

1.0  Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 4/29/17

Supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.

Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Year in Review: Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis- Assess the impact of unmet treatment needs for patients with MS. Summarize key recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of emerging therapies for relapsing and progressive forms of MS. Describe the general mechanisms of action for MS therapies that deplete B-cells, sequester T-cells, and promote neuroprotection. Apply evidence from recent clinical trials to guide effective treatment decisions for patients with MS.

1.5  Free CEUs for Pharmacists

This course also offers Free CME for Physicians, PAs, Nurse Practitioners and Nurses

Expires 2/14/17

Expanding Role of Pharmacy in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Utilizing Patient-Centered Approaches in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH): The Expanding Role of Pharmacists- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with significant consequences, including serious functional impairment and premature death. If left untreated, PAH is rapidly fatal. Fortunately, over the past decade, the knowledge and understanding of this disease has greatly expanded. Furthermore, the availability of effective and more convenient oral and inhaled medications has allowed clinicians to better individualize therapy to meet patient treatment goals. Though there is no cure for PAH, effective treatment can significantly slow disease progression and clinical worsening. Given the serious nature of this disease and its rapid progression, optimal treatment selection is essential.
The Role of the Pharmacist- Optimal management of patients with PAH requires early detection and diagnosis followed by an aggressive treatment plan. By increasing their competency, pharmacists can play an important role within the multidisciplinary team when encountering patients with this deadly and rapidly progressing disease. Given the complex and individualized nature of PAH therapy, pharmacists must have a full understanding of treatment algorithms, disease-specific therapies, and long-term monitoring recommendations based on evidence-based guidelines. As the armamentarium to treat PAH continues to expand, pharmacists must make efforts to stay informed of the latest findings in order to contribute to the optimal management of these patients.
Explain how treatment algorithms and prognostic factors can be used to individualize care for patients with PAH when selecting initial treatment.
Evaluate the role of the various therapeutic classes in the treatment of PAH, including balancing the benefits and risks of monotherapy versus combination therapy.
Discuss the role of pharmacists as part of the interprofessional healthcare team when managing patients with PAH.

1.5 Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 1/11/17

This activity is jointly provided by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd.

U500 Insulin:Getting It Right - Part II

Safe Use of Concentrated Insulin: Helping Patients and Providers to Get It Right (Part II of II)- Calculate doses of U-500 insulin in “syringe units” for administration using a U-100 syringe, and discuss methods for instructing patients to convert insulin concentrations. Incorporate clinical properties of concentrated insulins when developing patient care plans to ensure safe administration. Discuss strategies for counseling patients who are transitioning from inpatient to outpatient settings to minimize the risk of insulin-administration errors.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 5/15/17

U500 Insulin- Getting It Right

Safe Use of Concentrated Insulin: Helping Patients and Providers to Get It Right (Part I of II)- The diabetic population continues to grow in the U.S. and worldwide, in tandem with an epidemic of obesity. As a result, insulin resistance is a growing problem, necessitating insulin doses that exceed 200 units per day. The use of highly concentrated insulin to meet glycemic goals has increased dramatically. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, extra caution is needed with concentrated insulin, such as U-500. The ISMP points out that safety concerns with U-500 insulin continue to mount, with increasing reports of medication errors that are largely due to dosing confusion in the absence of a U-500 syringe or pen. Additional insulin strengths – U-200 and U-300 – are in development. Patient education is recognized as the most important aspect of successfully using highly concentrated insulin. Pharmacists must be capable of teaching patients to communicate doses in terms of “syringe units” of U-500 insulin drawn into a U-100 syringe. But first, they must counsel patients to ensure that they understand the difference between U-100 and U-500. Summarize the history and frequency of medication errors that occur with insulin use, including highly concentrated insulin U-500. Explain how to calculate doses of U-500 insulin in “syringe units” for administration using a U-100 syringe and clearly instruct patients to convert insulin concentrations. Discuss the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical properties of concentrated insulin, including U-500 and others in development, and factors for safe administration. Describe the role of pharmacists in counseling patients who are transitioning from inpatient to outpatient settings, to minimize the risk of insulin-administration errors and hospital readmissions.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 5/15/17

Pharmaceutical Clean Rooms- Do's & Don'ts

Clean Room Certification: Do's and Don'ts- Choose a clean room certification vendor based on the specific needs of their clean room. Determine the specific tests needed for the specific clean room layout. Develop checklists to share with the vendor prior to certification. Describe the use of environmental testing, organism identification and what the results mean. Explain the fundamentals of the clean room certification results.

1.0 Free CEUs for Pharmacists


Expires 3/18/16

Oral Anticoagulant Update: Preventing Stroke in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation

Direct-acting Oral Anticoagulants and Guideline Updates: Preventing Stroke in Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation- Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and afflicts more than 3 million people in the United States. AF is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke severity, recurrence, and mortality. AF is a disease predominantly of older adults: the median age for AF patients is 73 to 75 years. Although most AF-related strokes could be prevented with anticoagulation therapy, many patients with AF are not receiving appropriate evidence-based therapy for stroke prevention. The goal of this monograph is to give consultant pharmacists the tools to overcome barriers to the use of anticoagulation therapy for the prevention of stroke in older adults with AF. Determine when a patient with atrial fibrillation is at risk for stroke using evidence-based risk scoring assessments. Discuss the risk of stroke versus the risk of intracranial bleeding from anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF. Compare the benefits and risks of warfarin and direct-acting oral anticoagulant anticoagulant medications. Discuss reversal agents for non-warfarin anticoagulant medications that are currently under late-stage investigation. Describe a patient who should remain on warfarin therapy and a patient who should be considered for direct-acting oral anticoagulant therapy. Outline current evidence for prescribing aspirin for the prevention of stroke in patients with AF.

1.0  Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 2/20/17

Supported by educational grants from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, Inc. and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice: An Overview

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice: Demonstrating Success- This activity provides an overview of how ambulatory care pharmacists demonstrate success in different environments and how success is viewed by various stakeholders. Two successful practice models are discussed in their development and sustainability. Describe sustainable practice models that demonstrate value to stakeholders. Identify specific outcomes in ambulatory pharmacy practice that contribute to improved care delivery. Discuss opportunities for advancing ambulatory pharmacy practice across different practice settings.

1.5  Free CEUs for Pharmacists

Expires 10/21/18

 

This activity is planned and conducted by ASHP Foundation and ASHP Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners. It is supported by an educational grant from McKesson.