Sporotrichosis Cluster in Domestic Cats and Veterinary Technician, Kansas, USA, 2022.

We describe a feline sporotrichosis cluster and zoonotic transmission between one of the affected cats and a technician at a veterinary clinic in Kansas, USA. Increased awareness of sporotrichosis and the potential for zoonotic transmission could help veterinary professionals manage feline cases and take precautions to prevent human acquisition.

Impact of a pharmacist-led oral chemotherapy monitoring clinic at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

As cancer treatments shift from traditional intravenous chemotherapy to inclusion of oral oncolytics, there is a critical need for structured oral chemotherapy monitoring and follow-up programs. To provide continuous care and minimize clinical gaps to Veterans receiving oral chemotherapy, the hematology/oncology clinical pharmacy practitioners designed and initiated a pilot, pharmacist-driven, Oral Chemotherapy Monitoring Clinic at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System supported by an oral chemotherapy certified pharmacy technician. A retrospective evaluation of patients receiving oral chemotherapy at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System was performed before (Phase I) and after (Phase II) pilot implementation to assess the impact of an Oral Chemotherapy Monitoring Clinic on compliance with drug-specific lab and symptom monitoring. Complete monitoring was defined as 100% of recommended labs and symptoms assessed per cycle, partial monitoring was <100%, but >0%, and incomplete monitoring was defined as 0%. The primary outcome assessed the proportion of patients receiving complete monitoring in Phase II compared to Phase I. Most patients were male (94%), with a median age of 72 years. The most common oncolytic was abiraterone acetate. Overall, drug-specific baseline and follow-up laboratory and symptom monitoring was complete at a statistically significantly higher rate in Phase II compared with Phase I (p-value < 0.01). A significantly higher portion of patients in the Phase II cohort had a clinical pharmacy practitioner intervention (44% vs. 90%; p < 0.01). Monitoring for Veterans receiving oral chemotherapy was optimized with clinical pharmacy practitioner and certified pharmacy technician involvement while simultaneously alleviating Oncologist and nurse oral chemotherapy workload.

Paramedics' experiences of barriers to, and enablers of, responding to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Paramedics' work, even pre-pandemic, can be confronting and dangerous. As pandemics add extra stressors, the study explored paramedics' lived experience of the barriers to, and enablers of, responding to suspected or confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. METHODS: This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to investigate Queensland metropolitan paramedics' experiences of responding to cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Registered Paramedics were recruited by criterion sampling of staff who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as active officers. RESULTS: Nine registered paramedics participated. Five themes emerged: communication, fear and risk, work-related protective factors, leadership, and change. Unique barriers included impacts on effective communication due to the mobile nature of paramedicine, inconsistent policies/procedures between different healthcare facilities, dispatch of incorrect information to paramedics, assisting people to navigate the changing healthcare system, and wearing personal protective equipment in hot, humid environments. A lower perceived risk from COVID-19, and increased empathy after recovering from COVID-19 were unique enablers. CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovered barriers and enablers to attending suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases unique to paramedicine, often stemming from the mobile nature of prehospital care, and identifies the need for further research in paramedicine post-pandemic to better understand how paramedics can be supported during public health emergencies to ensure uninterrupted ambulance service delivery.

Development and evaluation of a point-of-care ultrasound curriculum for paramedics in Germany - a prospective observational study and comparison.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is steadily growing in use in prehospital emergency medicine. While currently used primarily by emergency physicians, POCUS could also be employed by paramedics to support diagnosis and decision-making. Yet to date, no paramedicine-targeted POCUS curricula exist in Germany. Furthermore, given time and resource constraints in paramedic training, it is unclear whether paramedics could feasibly learn POCUS for prehospital deployment. Hence, this study outlines the development and implementation of a comprehensive POCUS curriculum for paramedics. Through this curriculum, we investigate whether paramedics can attain proficiency in POCUS comparable to other user groups. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we first developed a blended learning-based POCUS curriculum specifically for paramedics, focusing on basic principles, the RUSH-Protocol and ultrasound guided procedures. Participants underwent digital tests to measure their theoretical competence before (T1) and after the digital preparation phase (T2), as well as at the end of the on-site phase (T3). At time point T3, we additionally measured practical competence using healthy subjects and simulators. We compared the theoretical competence and the practical competence on a simulator with those of physicians and medical students who had also completed ultrasound training. Furthermore, we carried out self-assessment evaluations, as well as evaluations of motivation and curriculum satisfaction. RESULTS: The paramedic study group comprised n = 72 participants. In the theoretical test, the group showed significant improvement between T1 and T2 (p < 0.001) and between T2 and T3 (p < 0.001). In the practical test on healthy subjects at T3, the group achieved high results (87.0% ± 5.6). In the practical test on a simulator at T3, paramedics (83.8% ± 6.6) achieved a lower result than physicians (p < 0.001), but a comparable result to medical students (p = 0.18). The results of the study group's theoretical tests (82.9% ± 9.2) at time point T3 were comparable to that of physicians (p = 0.18) and better than that of medical students (p < 0.01). The motivation and attitude of paramedics towards the prehospital use of POCUS as well as their self-assessment significantly improved from T1 to T3 (p < 0.001). The overall assessment of the curriculum was positive (92.1 ± 8.5). CONCLUSION: With our tailored curriculum, German paramedics were able to develop skills in POCUS comparable to those of other POCUS learners. Integration of POCUS into paramedics' training curricula offers opportunities and should be further studied.

Evaluating CPR training: simulation vs. webinars for Iranian emergency medical technicians during COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The high prevalence of COVID-19 and the necessity for social distancing have impacted medical training. On the one hand, the high mortality rate following the disease led the American Heart Association (AHA) to issue guidelines in October 2020 for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on patients diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19. Various methods exist for teaching these guidelines. However, the use of many of these methods is greatly challenged due to the high risk of disease transmission. Moreover, the published guidelines emphasize protection against COVID-19 infection. The present study aims to compare the impact of two educational methods, educational webinars and simulations, on the competence of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 epidemic. METHODS: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 70 emergency medical technicians. A pre-test was administered to all participants, and then they were randomly assigned into two groups: an educational webinar group (35 people) and a simulation group (35 people). The educational webinar group received online training using Adobe Connect software version 2.6.9, while the simulation group received in-person training using a manikin simulator. The competence of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 epidemic was compared between the two groups immediately after the training and again two months later. Data collection instruments utilized in this research included a demographic questionnaire and a competency questionnaire in performing CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19 and statistical tests for comparison. RESULTS: The results indicated that in both the educational webinar and simulation groups, the average competence score for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the three stages under investigation showed significant differences (p < 0.001). Additionally, in both groups under study, the average competence score for performing CPR immediately and two months after training was significantly higher compared to before the training (p < 0.001); however, two months after training, it was significantly lower compared to immediately after the training (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results obtained from the current research, both educational methods (educational webinar and simulation) had a significant effect on the competence of performing CPR during the COVID-19 epidemic and were equally effective. Moreover, the recall test results (two months later) showed a decrease in the competence of performing CPR during the COVID-19 epidemic in both training methods (webinar and simulation), indicating the need for periodic CPR training.

The Art of Delegation.

The nurse staffing crisis requires nurses and administrators to think differently about how to get things done. Delegation is key to doing more work with fewer registered nurses (RNs) and retaining current RN staff. Responsibility for effective delegation does not rest solely with the RN but begins with the institution, and includes both the delegator and delegatee. While effective delegation has often been referred to as an art, knowing the science behind delegation can aid in honing a skill necessary for top of license practice.

[A Survey of the Current Status and the Needs of Medical Imaging Technicians in China]. / ä¸­å›½åŒ»å­¦å½±åƒæŠ€æœ¯ä»Žä¸šäººå‘˜çŽ°çŠ¶å’Œéœ€æ±‚è°ƒæŸ¥ç ”ç©¶.

Objective: To investigate the status quo and the needs of medical imaging technicians (MITs) in the radiology department of secondary and tertiary hospitals in China, so as to provide references and support for the development of the medical imaging technology industry and the relevant policymaking by health administrative departments. Methods: The questionnaire was developed by the Chinese Society of Imaging Technology. The radiology department of each hospital involved in the survey recommended one MIT to fill out the online questionnaire. The contents included: (a) the basic information of the hospital; (b) a general overview of the MITs in the hospital; (c) daily work; (d) career development and promotion; (e) research status and needs, etc. Differences in the number of MIT staff were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the selected numbers of MITs in need between regions or between different levels of hospitals. Results: In this investigation, valid questionnaires were finally obtained from a total of 5403 hospitals in 31 provinces in China. The total number of MITs of the hospitals covered in the sample was 67481. The number of MITs in each hospital was 9 (5, 16). The male-to-female ratio was 1.41:1. MITs who were 20 to 40 years old accounted for 78%. The proportions of MITs who had completed doctorate, master's, undergraduate, junior college, and technical secondary school or lower level education were 0.6%, 3.3%, 60.7%, 30.8%, and 4.55%, respectively. The proportions of chief MITs, deputy chief MITs, supervisor MITs, primary MITs, assistant technician and those below were 1.0%, 4.21%, 22.1%, 51.8%, and 20.9%, respectively. The overall professional satisfaction of MITs was good. "Lack of opportunities for learning and communication" was quoted as the main problem MITs encountered in regard to improving their job-related competency. 59.2% of the respondents had not published any academic papers in the past five years, and only 7.0% of the respondents had published in journals included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) in the past five years. Conclusion: MITs in China are on average relatively young and the number of MITs has greatly increased. At this stage, more attention should be given to the cultivation of talents and continuing education of MITs and the construction of the discipline should be further strengthened, so as to provide strong support for the development of the medical imaging technology industry in China.

Performance of Prehospital ECG and Impact on Prehospital Service Time: Comparison between EMT-II and EMT-P Teams.

Background: Prehospital electrocardiogram (PHECG) shortens door-to-balloon time in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. However, it may increase the prehospital service time, thus offsetting the benefits gained. The performance of PHECG could be influenced by the proficiency of the emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Objectives: To investigate whether there are differences in the performance of PHECG between EMT-II and EMT-paramedics (EMT-P). Methods: This prospectively designed, retrospectively analyzed study of PHECG was conducted in Taipei from February 2019 to April 2021. Comparisons were made between EMT-II and EMT-P teams. The primary outcomes were the acceptance of PHECG suggestions and prehospital service time. The secondary outcomes were gender disparities in the primary outcomes. Results: A total of 2,991 patients were included, of whom 2,617 received PHECG. For the primary outcomes, the acceptance of PHECG was higher in those approached by EMT-P (99.6% vs. 71.5%, p < 0.001). The scene time and scene-to-hospital time showed no significant differences. For gender disparities, the acceptance of PHECG in female patients was significantly lower in those approached by EMT-II (59.3% vs. 99.2%, p < 0.001). The scene time and scene-to-hospital time were generally longer in the female patients, especially in the younger and middle age groups. Compared to EMT-P, both were significantly longer in the female patients approached by EMT-II. Conclusions: The acceptance of PHECG was lower in those approached by EMT-II, especially in females. Although there were generally no significant differences between EMT-II and EMT-P, the scene time and scene-to-hospital time were significantly longer in female patients, especially in those aged < 75 years approached by EMT-II.

Tiered Licensure for Pharmacy Technicians: Is the Advanced Pharmacy Technician (APhT) License the Model for State Regulators?

Two states-Connecticut and New Hampshire-have created or attempted to create advanced pharmacy technician (APhT) licenses. Both licenses, proposed and actual, have high barriers to entry, such as requiring 1 to 3 years of prior technician experience and passage of various assessments or trainings, such as a state-specific jurisprudence exam. Those obtaining APhT licensure are granted additional authority, such as performing final product verification (e.g., tech-check-tech) and vaccine administration. Compared with practices in other states, the APhT role in CT and NH provides minimal scope gains relative to the requirements imposed; as a result, there has been limited uptake (<1%) among current technicians. As such, it appears unlikely that tiered licensure for technicians will be the preferred mechanism for states to expand the role of pharmacy technicians in the future.

Techs as Teachers: A Decade's Experience Utilizing Pharmacy Technicians in a Doctor of Pharmacy Program.

Pharmacy technician responsibilities, certifications, and duties across pharmacy settings have evolved in recent years, allowing them to potentially become a valuable resource for skills-based pharmacy education. Our institution has employed pharmacy technicians since 2014. This brief commentary addresses the training and roles of pharmacy technician staff in our skills-based education curriculum.

Success of an expedited health system-based pharmacy technician training program to address the workforce needs of an institution.

DISCLAIMER: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. PURPOSE: The formation, implementation, outcomes, and impact on retention of a health system-based pharmacy technician training program are described. The program seeks to produce graduates who are well equipped for employment within the health system and eligible for certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, thereby developing a consistent source of well-trained technicians to meet the needs of the health system. SUMMARY: The program's ideal candidate is one who is seeking to begin or transition to a career in health-system pharmacy. The affordable accredited program provides candidates with the skills needed to become a certified pharmacy technician. A distinguishing feature of the program design is the pace of the curriculum, designed to be completed in 11 weeks. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education at the entry-level accreditation standard. The program is structured to enroll 3 cohorts annually, beginning in April, August, and January. This provides a consistent and dependable bolus of graduates for hiring managers across the health system's pharmacy department. The program supports enrollment by internal and external candidates. In addition to didactic content, the simulation component of the program combines remote and onsite simulations. Following completion of the didactic and simulation content, students receive 2 blocks of acute and ambulatory care shadowing for 111 hours over 2.5 weeks of experiential content. The program realized benefits by partnering with an external digital content provider. First, the platform enabled the team to accelerate the time to program launch. A second benefit of the platform is the ability to conduct the program and update content. In April 2018, the institution launched the program to meet pharmacy technician needs within the organization. As of April 2022, 11 cohorts have successfully completed the program, with a total of 41 graduates. At the time of writing, the retention rate in the health system for those beginning the training program in April 2018 was an impressive 90%. In comparison, the overall retention rate for the pharmacy department during this same period was 31%. The program has a graduation rate of 93% and a job placement rate as a pharmacy technician of 90%. The institution believes that this program has helped provide a consistent supply of well-trained technicians to meet the needs of the health system and that the program provides a superior level of clinical training to technician students at an affordable price. The program represents a novel strategy to efficiently and effectively train pharmacy technicians and has been demonstrated to result in improvements to the health system. CONCLUSION: Establishing a pharmacy technician training program provides a mechanism to ensure continuity and uniformity as healthcare continues to evolve. By providing a source of well-trained pharmacy technicians, the program allows the profession to continue to achieve its overarching aims.

Patient Care Technician Staffing in US Hemodialysis Facilities: An Ecological Study.

Rationale & Objective: Technicians caring for patients receiving dialysis play a critical, frontline role in the care of patients receiving dialysis in the United States. We sought to provide a comprehensive description and identify correlates of US in-center hemodialysis facility patient care technician staffing patterns. Study Design: This was an ecological study. Setting & Participants: US facilities providing hemodialysis and reporting patient care technician staffing, identified using the US Renal Data System. Exposures: Geography, year, and facility characteristics, including aggregated patient characteristics. Outcomes: The study outcome was facility-reported patient-to-patient care technician ratio. Analytical Approach: We examined patient-to-patient care technician ratios by US state and over time and also estimated the differences in patient-to-patient care technician ratios associated with facility characteristics, using robust regression with adjustment for facility-level covariates. Results: The median patient-to-patient care technician ratio among 6,862 US facilities in 2019 was 9.9 (25th-75th percentiles, 8.2-12.0). Median 2019 patient-to-patient care technician ratios varied substantially by US state and region. There was an overall decline (from 10.6 to 9.9) in median patient-to-patient care technician ratios from 2004 to 2019, whereas the percentage of positions that were unfilled increased (from 2.8% to 3.5%). After adjustment, large dialysis organization status (ß, -0.42; 95% CI, -0.61 to -0.23) and larger facility size (ß, -0.51; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.33) were associated with lower patient-to-patient care technician ratios. Higher patient-to-registered nurse (ß, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65-0.94) and patient-to-social worker (ß, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.70) ratios, presence of licensed vocational nurses or licensed practical nurses at the clinic (ß, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.53-1.12), and location in a poverty area (ß, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13-0.44) were all associated with higher patient-to-patient care technician ratios. Aggregated patient characteristics of patients treated at the facilities were generally not associated with patient-to-patient care technician ratio after adjustment. Limitations: Limited causal inference and potential shifts in staffing after 2019. Conclusions: US dialysis facilities vary considerably in their patient care technician staffing by geography, over time, and by various facility characteristics. Further investigation of US patient care technician staffing is warranted and could lead to better, more stable dialysis staffing, improved staff and patient satisfaction, and higher quality of care.

In the United States, patient care technicians play an important role in hemodialysis care. Although ongoing staffing shortages and turnover among other hemodialysis care providers have been described, little is known about US patient care technician staffing. Examining national data reported by dialysis facilities, we found variability in patient care technician staffing by geography, over time (with fewer patients per patient care technician in more recent years), and by various facility characteristics. This information can be used to target staff recruitment and retention interventions at facilities where patient care technician staffing may be more challenging.

Factors Predisposing Emergency Medical Technicians to Workplace Violence: A Cross Sectional Study.

Emergency medical technicians (EMT) are at high risk of workplace violence as they often care for patients in uncontrolled and often hostile emergency settings. Gauteng Province, the most populous province in South Africa, caters for 75% of the total population which is dependant on state funded health care. Public sector EMTs' have been robbed with aggravated circumstances, assaulted with intent to do grievous bodily harm, raped and even murdered whilst on duty. Despite this, comprehensive studies investigating the factors that predispose public sector EMTs' to workplace violence in Gauteng Province are lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors that predispose public service EMTs' to workplace violence in Gauteng Province. Data were collected using questionnaires. A total of 413 questionnaires were returned by community members of Gauteng who met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics and binomial tests were used to analyze data. The results of this study revealed that workplace violence toward public service EMTs' in Gauteng is attributed to the high rates of crime, the widening gap of inequality, economic deprivation of basic rights to previously disadvantaged communities by government, vulnerability of EMTs' when responding to the ill and injured within low- and middle-income communities and a lack of consequence for disorderly behavior within the communities. An understanding of the community factors that predispose EMTs' to workplace violence may improve the understanding of the phenomenon of workplace violence and developing prevention programs within the communities.

Attitude toward patients with mental disorders: what is going on amongst Iranian pharmacies?

INTRODUCTION: As the incidence of mental disorders continues to rise, and pharmacy staff can significantly affect the willingness of patients with mental disorders to seek help; we aimed to evaluate the stigmatizing attitude of the pharmacy staff toward these patients in Iran. METHODS: We conducted this cross-sectional study between April 2020 and December 2021 in Tehran, Iran, and included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students, with the experience of working in a pharmacy for at least three months. The social distance scale (SDS) and dangerousness scale (DS) were used to measure the stigmatizing attitude of the participants. Higher scores indicated more stigmatizing attitudes. RESULTS: We included a total of 186 participants with a mean age of 32.97 ± 9.41 years, of which 101 (54.3%) were male, and 75 (40.3%) were pharmacists, 101 (54.3%) were pharmacy technicians, and 8 (4.3%) were pharmacy students. The mean SDS score was 14.2 ± 4.13, and the mean DS score was 33.85 ± 8.92. The greatest tendency for social distance was reported for a patient with a mental disorder, 'being the caretaker of their children for an hour or two' and 'marrying their children.' The most perceived dangerousness was reported for a patient with a mental disorder 'owning a gun.' Positive personal history of psychopharmacological treatment was statistically correlated with lower DS (P = 0.001) and SDS (P = 0.007) scores. Positive family history of psychiatric inpatient admission was significantly correlated with higher DS (P = 0.05) and SDS (P = 0.03) scores. Higher rates of 'received psychiatric prescriptions per month' was associated with lower DS scores (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our participants did not have an overall positive attitude toward patients with mental disorders. Although, compared to previous studies, they held a more positive attitude. Positive personal history of psychopharmacological treatment predicted a more positive attitude and positive family history of psychiatric inpatient admission predicted a more negative attitude.

Trends in enrollment, retention, and graduation of United States veterinary technicians/nurses schools.

Objective: There is a significant shortage of veterinary technicians. To help address this issue, there has been a call to increase the capacity of United States VT/N educational programs. Yet, the current challenges within the field may be negatively impacting the number of people deciding to pursue VT/N certification. To assess this possibility, this study was designed to explore the enrollment, retention, and graduation trends within United States VT/N educational programs. Explore the trends between 2018 and 2022 in enrollment, retention, and graduation of veterinary technicians/nurses (VT/N) at educational programs located in the United States. Sample: Educators and administrators working in United States VT/N educational programs. Procedures: An electronic survey distributed via an anonymous link within emails sent from the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators. Results: A total of 82 responses from educators and administrators working in United States VT/N educational programs were received. Forty-three percent of participants indicated a decrease in student enrollment in the last 5 years. The factors seen to have the largest significant impact were "More potential students not convinced being credentialed will lead to a difference in job duties when compared to non-credentialed work," "More potential students who do not think being credentialed will lead to a substantial increase in pay when compared to non-credentialed work" and "More potential students not willing/able to invest the time needed to become credentialed." A total of 60% reported an increase in retention efforts within the last 5 years. The services most commonly reported as increasing included mental health support and academic mentoring. Conclusions and clinical relevance: This study suggests that an increased number of potential VT/N students are deciding that being credentialed is not worth the time or money. While additional resources directed toward recruitment and retention are needed within VT/N educational programs, without systematic changes within the field, it is likely that there will be a continued decline in the number of interested applicants.

Inappropriate use of intravenous epinephrine leading to atrial fibrillation during prehospital anaphylaxis treatment: A case report.

In a prehospital setting, the narrow therapeutic window of epinephrine necessitates its cautious administration for anaphylaxis. In this case, a 46-year-old man presented severe anaphylactic symptoms. Following standard protocol, the emergency medical technician (EMT) administered intramuscular epinephrine; however, symptoms persisted. Under the oversight of the emergency medical service (EMS) medical director, an additional intravenous bolus of epinephrine was administered, unfortunately leading to atrial fibrillation. This case underscores the potential risks of intravenous epinephrine, which isn't typically recommended for anaphylaxis without continuous monitoring. Since 2019, South Korea has initiated a pilot program to expand the EMT's scope of practice, which gives them the authority to administer epinephrine for anaphylaxis. The ultimate decision regarding epinephrine use for anaphylaxis, emphasizing patient safety, rests with the EMS medical director. Proper training for EMTs, coupled with the EMS medical director's comprehensive knowledge and meticulous protocol adherence, can ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes.

Vaccine administration by pharmacy technicians: Impact on vaccination volume, pharmacy workflow and job satisfaction.

Background: Immunizing pharmacy technicians (IPTs) have become more prevalent in recent years, but their impact on community pharmacy practice has yet to be determined. Objectives: Determine the impact of implementing IPTs on vaccination volume in a community pharmacy chain and assess pharmacy staff's perspectives on the clinical abilities of IPTs and their impact on pharmacy workflow and job satisfaction. Methods: Retrospective data analysis comparing the number of vaccines administered in a supermarket pharmacy chain from September to March 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in pharmacies with IPT(s) versus those without IPT(s). For the secondary objective, investigators developed and deployed two role-based mixed quantitative/qualitative surveys among pharmacy staff. Results: Pharmacies with IPT(s) observed a greater mean increase in vaccination volume from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021 versus those without IPTs (+159.35 vs. +104.57, p = 0.011). Among IPT survey respondents, 50/75 (66.7%) felt more satisfied with their job after receiving immunization training. Among pharmacist respondents, 80/119 (67.3%) felt that IPTs positively impacted their job satisfaction and 61.7% felt that pharmacist clinical services were either somewhat positively affected, or positively affected. Conclusion: Implementing IPTs can increase the volume of vaccines administered in a chain pharmacy and may positively affect job satisfaction and pharmacy workflow.

Clinical Pharmacy Services in Canadian Emergency Departments: A 2022 National Survey.

Background: Support for the role of an emergency department (ED) clinical pharmacy team is evidence-based and recognized in numerous professional guidelines, yet previous literature suggests a low prevalence of ED clinical pharmacy services in Canadian hospitals. Objectives: To update (from a survey conducted in 2013) the description and quantification of clinical pharmacy services in Canadian EDs. Methods: All Canadian hospitals with an ED and at least 50 acute care beds were contacted to identify the presence of dedicated ED pharmacy services (defined as at least 0.5 full-time equivalent [FTE] position). Three separate electronic surveys were distributed by email to ED pharmacy team members (if available), pharmacy managers (at hospitals without an ED pharmacy team), and ED managers (all hospitals). The surveys were completed between November 2021 and January 2022. Results: Of the 254 hospitals identified, 117 (46%) had at least 0.5 FTE clinical pharmacy services in the ED (based on initial telephone screening). Of the 51 (44%) of 115 ED pharmacy team survey responses included in the analysis, 94% (48/51) had pharmacists and 55% (28/51) had pharmacy technicians. The majority of pharmacy managers and ED managers identified the need for ED pharmacy services where such services did not exist. Inadequate funding, competing priorities, and lack of training remain the most commonly reported barriers to providing this service. Personal safety concerns were reported by 20% (10/51) of respondents. Conclusions: Although the establishment of clinical pharmacy services in Canadian EDs has grown over the past 8 years, lack of funding and ED-specific training continue to limit this evidence-supported role in Canadian hospitals.

Contexte: La pratique de pharmacie clinique au service des urgences (SU) est fondée sur les données probantes et reconnue dans de nombreuses lignes directrices professionnelles. Cependant, des données portent à croire à une faible prévalence de ces services dans les SU des hôpitaux canadiens. Objectif: Mettre à jour la description et la quantification des services de pharmacie clinique dans les SU canadiens (à partir d'une enquête menée en 2013). Méthodes: Tous les hôpitaux canadiens dotés d'un SU et d'au moins 50 lits de soins de courte durée ont été contactés pour recenser la présence de services de pharmacie dédiés au SU (définis comme au moins 0,5 poste équivalent temps complet [ETC]). Trois sondages électroniques différents ont été distribués par courriel aux membres de l'équipe de la pharmacie du SU (le cas échéant), aux gestionnaires de pharmacie (dans les hôpitaux sans équipe de pharmacie au SU) et aux gestionnaires du SU (tous les hôpitaux). Les enquêtes ont été réalisées entre novembre 2021 et janvier 2022. Résultats: Sur les 254 hôpitaux recensés, 117 (46 %) disposaient d'au moins 0,5 ETC de services de pharmacie clinique au SU (d'après la sélection téléphonique initiale). Des 51 (44 %) sur 115 équipes de pharmacie du SU qui ont été inclus dans l'analyse, 94 % (48/51) avaient des pharmaciens et 55 % (28/51) avaient également du personnel technique en pharmacie. La majorité des directeurs de pharmacie et des directeurs des SU ont identifié le besoin de services de pharmacie au SU là où de tels services n'existent pas. Un financement inadéquat, des priorités concurrentes et le manque de formation demeurent les obstacles les plus souvent signalés à la prestation de ce service. Des problèmes de sécurité personnelle ont été mentionnés par 20 % (10/51) des répondants. Conclusion: Bien que l'établissement de services de pharmacie clinique dans les SU canadiens ait augmenté au cours des 8 dernières années, le manque de financement et de formation spécifique en pharmacie de médecine d'urgence continue de limiter ce rôle fondé sur des données probantes dans les hôpitaux canadiens.

Influence of Personal and Work Environments on Work-Life Balance Among Emergency Medical Technicians.

Introduction Work-life balance (WLB) is a critical concern for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) because it significantly affects the provision of comprehensive emergency medical services (EMS). This study investigated personal and work-related factors influencing work-to-family negative spillover (WFNS), a key element of WLB, among EMTs. Methods A web-based survey was conducted from July 26 to September 13, 2021, among EMTs in Hokkaido, Japan. The study included 21 facilities that were randomly selected from 42 fire stations. The Japanese version of the Survey Work-Home Interaction-NijmeGen (SWING-J) was used to measure WFNS. Personal background factors, such as age, sex, years of work experience, and education, were surveyed. We also evaluated work environment factors, such as weekly working hours, monthly night shifts, monthly overtime hours, and yearly paid vacation days. Unpaired Student's t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multilevel generalized linear model (MGLM) analyses were used to explore the relationships between WFNS and personal and work-related factors. Results A total of 912 respondents were included in our analysis. They were predominantly male (98.2%), with an average EMT work experience of 12.7 years and a mean WFNS score of 1.16 (standard deviation (SD) = 1.67). MGLM analysis, adjusting for covariates, identified years of work experience (ß = -0.129, p = 0.001), monthly overtime hours (ß = 0.184, p < 0.001), and yearly paid vacation days (ß = -0.170, p < 0.001) as independent factors associated with WFNS. Conclusion This study suggested that adjusting WFNS among EMTs could be achieved by reducing overtime hours and fostering an organized approach to paid leave within the work environment.