Drug Formulary Review articles from March 2005

Drug Formulary Review archives from March 2005

Early, aggressive lipid management with patient tracking improves outcomes: HMO says program should be transferable to 'open' health care models.
March 1, 2005... A program that combines early, aggressive lipid management with a patient tracking and follow-up system has nearly tripled the percentage of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels...

'Get with the Guidelines' offers support for treating CAD.(coronary artery disease )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Health system pharmacists looking for a program to help them manage patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) can consider the "Get with the Guidelines" program, which was initially developed through collaboration between the New England...

CDC changes strategy to encourage flu vaccination: 4.4 million doses becoming available.
March 1, 2005... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed its strategy to help health care providers continue to vaccinate people at risk for developing serious complications of influenza. The CDC is making this change--for this flu...

Clopidogrel (Plavix) shows increased risk of ulcers.(Journal Review)
March 1, 2005... Patients taking clopidogrel (Plavix) have a much higher risk of recurrent ulcer bleed than those treated with aspirin plus the protion-pump inhibitor esomeprazole (Nexium), according to a new study, published in the Jan. 20, 2005, issue of the...

Survey: Hospitals improving medication safety practices.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... America's hospitals are making improvements in the area of medication safety practices, according to recently released data from a survey developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Results...

Quality processes and risk management.(health care industry)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Quality processes and risk management. Comparison of 2000 and 2004 data reveals a 43% increase in nonpunitive, system-based approaches to error reduction, including providing positive incentives for error reporting and incorporating specific...

Methods of communicating drug orders.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Methods of communicating drug orders. Methods of communicating drug orders are another area of significant improvement when compared to the 2000 self-assessment. The 2004 self-assessment results show a 30% increase in implementation of...

Patient education.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Patient education. There was a 23% increase over the last five years in the category of patient education--patients being involved as active partners in their hospital care by being provided with information about their medications and ways to...

FDA renews contamination alert on IV catheter flushes.(IV Flush LLC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The FDA has reissued a nationwide alert against the use of all lots of preloaded syringes containing either heparin or sodium chloride intravenous catheter flushes manufactured by IV Flush LLC, and distributed by Pinnacle Medical Supply of...

Proposed regs will support e-prescribing for Medicare.
March 1, 2005... The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced new proposed regulations that will support electronic prescriptions for Medicare when the prescription drug benefit takes effect in January 2006. The proposed...

Awareness of drug programs for lower-income Americans low.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... While nearly two-thirds (65%) of U.S. adults have heard of prescription drug discount cards for seniors that cover drugs from many different companies, there is relatively low awareness of prescription drug programs that assist lower income...

FDA issues safety notices.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The FDA and Amgen have notified health care professionals of revisions to the warnings and precautions sections of the prescribing information for darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp), indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in...

Generic Fentanyl Transdermal System (Duragesic Patch) by Mylan Technologies.(New FDA Approvals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Generic Fentanyl Transdermal System (Duragesic Patch) by Mylan Technologies. The FDA has approved the first generic version of Alza Corp.'s Fentanyl Transdermal System (Duragesic Patch), which is used to treat patients suffering from severe...

Full approval for doxorubicin HCI liposome injection (Doxil) by Tibotec Therapeutics.(New FDA Approvals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Full approval for doxorubicin HCI liposome injection (Doxil) by Tibotec Therapeutics. The FDA has granted full approval to doxorubicin HC1 liposome injection (Doxil) for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer whose disease has progressed...

Solifenacin Succinate (Vesicare) Formulary Evaluation.(Drug Criteria & Outcomes)
March 1, 2005... Part 1 of 2: Background, Similar Drugs, Strengths/Dosage, Mechanism of Action, Indications, Preparation and Storage, Pharmacokinetics, Dosage and Administration, Special Populations, and Adverse Drug Reactions Background Overactive...

CE questions.
March 1, 2005... Pharmacists participate in this continuing education program by reading the article, using the provided references for further research, and studying the CE questions. Participants should select what they believe to be the correct answers. ...

News Briefs.
March 1, 2005... Survey: Hospitals improving medication safety practices America's hospitals are making improvements in the area of medication safety practices, according to recently released data from a survey developed by the Institute for Safe Medication...

New FDA Approvals.
March 1, 2005... These drugs were recently approved by the FDA: * Generic Fentanyl Transdermal System (Duragesic Patch) by Mylan Technologies. The FDA has approved the first generic version of Alza Corp.'s Fentanyl Transdermal System (Duragesic Patch),...