Implementation and Evaluation of Standardized Drug Expiration Processes Across Non-automated Areas.

Objective: The study aimed to enhance medication management efficiency by introducing a systematic approach to redistributing medications to high-utilization zones, thereby mitigating the volume and expenses associated with non-returnable expired medications. Methods: This quality improvement initiative encompassed 2 key phases. Initially, a standardized workflow for managing expiring medications was implemented across 2 satellite pharmacy areas. Subsequently, the impact of these interventions was assessed by comparing pre-implementation and post-implementation data on the quantity and monetary value of expired medications. Baseline data were derived from expired medication records spanning January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. The new workflow was established in December 2022, and post-implementation data were collected from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023. The process rollout involved devising workflow protocols, creating supportive documentation, and delivering training to pharmacy personnel. Data collection encompassed medication identifiers, stock locations, date medications were received, expiration dates, along with wholesale acquisition cost for each item. Descriptive statistical methods were employed for analysis. Results: Comparative analysis of pre-implementation and post-implementation data revealed substantial reductions in the annual estimated quantity of expired medications (284 fewer items, representing a 13.6% decrease) and corresponding wholesale acquisition costs ($5075 USD reduction, translating to a 19.7% decrease) within the satellite areas during the study period. Moreover, a comparison of post-implementation quarter one data with the corresponding data from the previous year highlighted even more significant reductions in the quantity of expired medications (203 fewer items, reflecting a 31.1% decrease) and associated wholesale acquisition costs ($2548 USD reduction, signifying a 33.0% decrease) within the satellite areas. Conclusions: This study underscores the potential advantages of employing a standardized process to proactively reallocate medications prior to their expiration, thereby enabling their utilization in other hospital sections. Future endeavors could concentrate on the wider implementation of similar workflows throughout different hospital locations and the broader enterprise.

30-Day Readmission Reduction in a Skilled Facility Population Through Pharmacist-Driven Medication Reconciliation.

BACKGROUND: Transitions of care can be difficult to manage and if not performed properly, can lead to increased readmissions and poor outcomes. Transitions are more complex when patients are discharged to skilled nursing facilities. PURPOSE: We assessed the impact of pharmacist-led initiatives, including medication reconciliation, on readmission rates between an academic medical center and a local skilled nursing facility (SNF). METHODS: We conducted a two-phase quality improvement project focusing on pharmacist-led medication reconciliation at different points in the transition process. All-cause 30-day readmission rates, medication reconciliation completion rates, and total pharmacist interventions were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The combined intervention and baseline cohorts resulted in a 29.8% relative reduction (14.5% vs. 20.6%) in readmission rates. Medication reconciliation was completed on 93.8% of SNF admitted patients in the first phase and 97.7% of patients in the second phase. Pharmacist interventions per reconciliation were 2.39 in the first phase compared with 1.82 in the second phase. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led medication reconciliation can contribute to reduction of hospital readmissions from SNFs and is an essential part of the SNF transition process.

Pharmacokinetics of glucarpidase in subjects with normal and impaired renal function.

Glucarpidase (formerly known as carboxypeptidase G2 or CPG2) is being evaluated for the adjunctive treatment of patients experiencing, or at risk of, methotrexate toxicity attributable to its delayed elimination. Delayed elimination of methotrexate can occur in patients with methotrexate-induced renal toxicity. In this study, glucarpidase pharmacokinetics were assessed in volunteer subjects with normal (n = 8) and severely impaired (n = 4) renal function. Each subject received a single intravenous dose of glucarpidase 50 U/kg (equivalent to 114.5 microg/kg) infused over 5 minutes. The mean maximum serum concentration (C(max)) for glucarpidase in renally impaired subjects was 2.9 microg/mL, the mean half-life (t(1/2)) was 10.0 hours, and the mean area under the serum concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) was 24.5 microg x h/mL. Similar values were found in subjects with normal renal function (mean C(max) 3.1 microg/mL, mean t(1/2) 9.0 hours, and mean AUC(0-infinity) 23.4 microg x h/mL). The results indicated little effect of renal impairment on the serum pharmacokinetics of glucarpidase.

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on regional cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and brain tissue oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: Acute respiratory dysfunction frequently occurs following severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation to maintain adequate oxygenation. High PEEP levels, however, may negatively affect cerebral perfusion. The goal of this study was, to examine the influence of various PEEP levels on intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygen tension, regional cerebral blood flow, and systemic hemodynamic variables. DESIGN: Animal research and clinical intervention study. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS: Experiments were carried out in five healthy pigs, followed by a clinical investigation of ten patients suffering subarachnoid hemorrhage. INTERVENTIONS: Under continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygen tension, regional cerebral blood flow, mean arterial pressure, and cardiac output, PEEP was applied in increments of 5 cm H2O from 5 to 25 cm H2O in the experimental part and from baseline to 20 cm H2O in the clinical part. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In animals, high PEEP levels had no adverse effect on intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygen tension, or regional cerebral blood flow. In patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage, stepwise elevation of PEEP resulted in a significant decrease of mean arterial pressure and regional cerebral blood flow. Analyses of covariance revealed that these changes of regional cerebral blood flow depended on mean arterial pressure changes as a result of a disturbed cerebrovascular autoregulation. Consequently, normalization of mean arterial pressure restored regional cerebral blood flow to baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: Application of high PEEP does not impair intracranial pressure or regional cerebral blood flow per se but may indirectly affect cerebral perfusion via its negative effect on macrohemodynamic variables in case of a disturbed cerebrovascular autoregulation. Therefore, following severe subarachnoid hemorrhage, a PEEP-induced decrease of mean arterial pressure should be reversed to maintain cerebral perfusion.