Hospital pharmacy practice has undergone many changes over the past 3 decades. New technologies, such as automated repackaging, robotic unit-dose cart-fill systems, and automated dispensing cabinets, have improved the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of drug distribution systems. In addition, new pharmacy practice models have been introduced in which pharmacists accept responsibility and ...

Inadequate medication dispensing and management by healthcare providers can contribute to poor outcomes among HIV-positive patients. Gaps in medication availability, often associated with pharmacy workforce shortages, are an important barrier to retention in HIV care in Uganda. An intervention to address pharmacy staffing constraints through strengthening pharmaceutical management, dispensing p...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the training of pharmacists in Accra, Ghana, in the syndromic management of STIs. METHODS We randomly selected 50 pharmacy outlets that had received the training (intervention) and 50 outlets that had not received the training (no intervention). Simulated clients described the symptoms of urethral discharge to the first pharmacy staff encountered and completed a standar...

BACKGROUND The stigma of mental illness can be a barrier to effective medication management in the community pharmacy setting. This article explored mental health consumers' or caregivers' experiences of stigma in Australian community pharmacies. MATERIALS Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of consumers or caregivers (n = 74). Interview transcri...

HMOs and, to a lesser extent, employers that contract with pharmacy benefit management companies were happier last year than they were the year before with the PBMs’ performance, the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute found in a poll. PBMI received responses from 330 large employers (more than 2,500 employees each) covering more than 10.5 million people, and 69 HMOs with a collective enrollm...

BACKGROUND Clinical pharmacy service has evolved steadily over the past few decades and is now contributing to the 'patient care journey' at all stages. It is improving the safety and effectiveness of medicines and has made a significant contribution to the avoidance of medication errors. In Ethiopia, clinical pharmacy service is in its initial phase, being started in July 2013. This study ther...

The authors are affiliated with the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, in University, Miss. Dr Yang is assistant professor in the department of pharmacy administration. Ms Thumula is a graduate student in the department of pharmacy administration. Dr Pace is a research scientist at the Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. Dr Banahan is director of the Center for Pharma...

Pharmacy informatics is defined as the use and integration of data, information, knowledge, technology, and automation in the medication-use process for the purpose of improving health outcomes. The term "big data" has been coined and is often defined in three V's: volume, velocity, and variety. This paper describes three major areas in which pharmacy utilizes big data, including: 1) informed d...

Models of pharmacy practice are currently the focus of considerable attention within the North American pharmacy profession. In Canada, through the “Blueprint for Pharmacy” initiative, a vision and implementation plan for pharmacy practice in Canada have been established and endorsed by all pharmacy organizations. Three key objectives of the Blueprint are to incorporate technology, to enhance t...

Ginger Lemay, PharmD, CDOE  CommunIty pharmaCIStS are often the first point of contact for patients with health-related and medication questions. The 2007 Wilson Rx Pharmacy Customer Satisfaction Survey reports that the average pharmacy customer visits their pharmacy an average of two to three times per month, which is greater than ten times the number of times they visit their primary care ph...