Pharmacy characteristics correlating to performance in a community pharmacy network.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between pharmacy characteristics and a broad set of performance measures used to support a community pharmacy network. METHODS: Baseline characteristics regarding demographics, services provided, technology, and staffing were collected via a 68-item survey for 123 pharmacies participating in the North Carolina community pharmacy enhanced services network. Performance metric data were collected, and scores were calculated for each pharmacy. Outcome measures for this study comprised of 4 adherence measures, a risk-adjusted hospitalization measure, a risk-adjusted emergency department visit measure, a total cost of medical care measure, and a composite pharmacy performance measure. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to create multivariable statistical models measuring the correlation between pharmacy characteristics and performance measures. RESULTS: After inclusion criteria were applied, 115 pharmacies remained in the analysis. These pharmacies were primarily single and multiple independent pharmacies, at 36.5% and 59.1%, respectively. Five characteristics were significantly associated with 3 measures, and none were associated with 4 or more. Having pharmacists in non dispensing roles was positively associated with total score, diabetes adherence, and chronic medication adherence. Home visits were positively associated with hypertension adherence, ED visit rate, and total score. Offering a smoking cessation program was positively associated with chronic medication, hypertension, and statin adherence. Offering free home delivery was positively associated with diabetes adherence but negatively associated with total medical spending and ED visit rate. Using dispensing automation was negatively associated with adherence to chronic medications, renin-angiotensin system antagonists, and statins. CONCLUSION: No pharmacy characteristics were associated with a majority of performance measures chosen. Additional research is needed to identify structural variables that can be used as minimum participation criteria for high-performing pharmacy networks.

Perceived Surgeon Stress During No-Sedation Topical Phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To determine the patient-related factors that contribute to surgeon stress during phacoemulsification cataract extraction (PCE) performed under unassisted topical anesthesia. METHODS: This is a prospective study of perceived surgeon stress during phacoemulsification by a single surgeon of consecutive patients undergoing PCE. At the conclusion of each procedure, the surgeon recorded the perceived stress according to the following three indices: surgeon score, qualitative score (yes or no), and total score (sum of itemized causes of stress). Patient variables included in the analysis included gender, age, diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, intake of oral alpha blockers, floppy iris, laterality, pseudo-exfoliation, intraocular lens power, and initial visual acuity. RESULTS: During the 10-year study, 1097 eyes underwent surgery. The following patient variables were seen frequently: floppy iris syndrome (92), pseudo-exfoliation (72), and morbid obesity (36). Surgeon identified stress was reported after 250 procedures. On multivariable analysis, the following patient characteristics were associated with surgeon stress: age >80 years; morbid obesity; floppy iris syndrome; severe nuclear sclerosis; and poor baseline distance corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Several ocular and systemic patient-related characteristics contribute to surgeon stress during PCE.

Comparison of Loading Doses of Ziv-Aflibercept and Aflibercept in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of 3 loading doses of ziv-aflibercept and aflibercept in treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative study. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review which included cases with treatment-naïve nAMD. The patients were divided into 2 groups (group 1, ziv-aflibercept; group 2, aflibercept). Groups 1 and 2 received 1.25 mg/0.05 mL of intravitreal ziv-aflibercept and 2 mg/0.05 mL aflibercept, respectively every month for 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in Snellen and logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), central subfoveal thickness (CSFT), subretinal hyperreflective material height, neurosensory detachment height, and pigment epithelial detachment height were recorded at baseline and 3 monthly follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients were included (males 14, females 9). Twelve and 11 eyes were included in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Group 1 showed statistically significant improvement in BCVA (P < 0.001) and CSFT (P=0.007) through 3 months compared with baseline. There was significant change in BCVA from baseline at 1st month (P = 0.007), 2nd month (P = 0.002) and 3rd month (P = 0.008). In group 2, there was no significant improvement in BCVA, CSFT, subretinal hyperreflective material height, neurosensory detachment, and pigment epithelial detachment height from baseline through 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: After 3 loading doses, ziv-aflibercept showed efficacy in terms of improved BCVA and reduction of CSFT from baseline whereas aflibercept did not show such improvement. Considering the cost- effectiveness and the proven safety of ziv-aflibercept, it is a viable option for the crucial, initial 3 doses in the treatment of nAMD.

Retinal detachment in albinism.

PURPOSE: To report the visual and anatomic outcomes of albino retinal detachment (ARD) repair. METHODS: Collaborative retrospective analysis of ARD. Outcome measures were number of surgical interventions, final retinal reattachment, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at last follow-up. RESULTS: Seventeen eyes of 16 patients (12 males; mean age =37.8 years) had the following complications at presentation: macula off (14), total (7) or inferior detachment (5), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (5), detectable break (16), lattice (5), horseshoe tears (9), and giant tear or dialysis (4). Mean number of interventions was 1.8 (range =1-5) and included cryopexy (15) with scleral buckle (11), and/or vitrectomy (8). Mean initial BCVA was counting finger (CF) 1 m and at last follow-up (mean 77 months) CF4m with mean improvement of 4.5 lines (early treatment diabetic retinopathy study) (P=0.05). Intraoperative choroidal hemorrhage occurred in three eyes. The retina was finally attached in 14 eyes, with residual inferior detachment in three eyes with silicone oil in situ. Silicone oil was kept in six of seven eyes because of residual inferior detachment (3) and removal of silicone oil, which led to redetachment (1) or fear of redetachment (2). CONCLUSION: Repair of ARD may require several interventions, with the need to keep silicone oil in several cases due to nystagmus and reduced melanin pigment.