Official Newsjournal of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists

ICHP KeePosted

November 2021

Volume 47 Issue 4

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KeePosted Info

Directly Speaking

Presidents Message

FEATURES

Call for Nominations

2017 ICHP Annual Meeting

New Practitioners Network

COLUMNS

Educational Affairs

Government Affairs Report

Professional Affairs

Leadership Profile

ICHPeople

COLLEGE CONNECTION

Exciting Travels to the National Compounding Competition

Student Experience at the ICHP Spring Meeting

Increasing Pharmacy Student Exposure to Health-Systems Through Hospital Pharmacy Tours

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Officers and Board of Directors

Upcoming Events

Welcome New Members!

ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund (PAC) Contributors

Professional Affairs AHA

KeePosted Info



Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists
4055 North Perryville Road
Loves Park, IL 61111-8653
Phone: (815) 227-9292
Fax: (815) 227-9294
ichpnet.org

Ad Submission Information and Deadlines (here): http://www.ichpnet.org/resources/keeposted_submission.php 

KeePosted
Official Newsjournal of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists

EDITOR
Jacob Gettig

ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jennifer Phillips

MANAGING EDITOR
Scott Meyers

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
Trish Wegner

DESIGN EDITOR
Leann Nelson

ICHP Staff
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Scott Meyers

VICE PRESIDENT - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Trish Wegner

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Maggie Allen

INFORMATION SPECIALIST
Heidi Sunday

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
PHARMACY TECH TOPICS™ SPECIALIST
Jo Ann Haley

ACCOUNTANTS
Jan Mark 

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Leann Nelson

LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
Jim Owen

ICHP Mission Statement
Advancing Excellence in Pharmacy

ICHP Vision Statement
ICHP dedicates itself to achieving a vision of pharmacy practice where:
  • Pharmacists are universally recognized as health care professionals and essential providers of health care services.
  • Patients are aware of the training, skills, and abilities of a pharmacist and the fundamental role that pharmacists play in optimizing medication therapy.
  • Formally educated, appropriately trained, and PTCB certified pharmacy technicians manage the medication distribution process with appropriate pharmacist oversight.
  • Pharmacists improve patient care and medication safety through the development of effective public policies by interacting and collaborating with patients, other health care professionals and their respective professional societies, government agencies, employers and other concerned parties.
  • Evidence-based practices are used to achieve safe and effective medication therapies.
  • There are an adequate number of qualified pharmacy leaders within the pharmacy profession.
  • Pharmacists take primary responsibility for educating pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacist peers, other health professionals, and patients about appropriate medication use.

KeePosted Vision
As an integral publication of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the KeePosted newsjournal will reflect its mission and goals. In conjunction with those goals, KeePosted will provide timely information that meets the changing professional and personal needs of Illinois pharmacists and technicians, and maintain high publication standards.

KeePosted is an official publication of, and is copyrighted by, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP). KeePosted is published 10 times a year. ICHP members received KeePosted as a member benefit. All articles published herein represent the opinions of the authors and do not reflect the policy of the ICHP or the authors’ institutions unless specified. Advertising inquiries can be directed to ICHP office at the address listed above. Image disclaimer: The image used in the Pharmacy Tech Topics™ advertisement is the property of © 2017 Thinkstock, a division of Getty Images. 

Ad Submission Information and Deadlines (here): http://www.ichpnet.org/resources/keeposted_submission.php 

Copyright © 2017, Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists. All rights reserved.

Directly Speaking
Pharmacists, the health care team’s Caddie!

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

I had the opportunity to join some of my pharmacy golf buddies on the Friday of the US Open at Erin Hills Golf Club outside Milwaukee this past June.  What a challenging golf course!  Besides the fact the it costs $290 for a round of golf there, when the course is open to the public, which it normally is but hasn’t been since November of last year in preparation for one of the 4 “Majors”, it is tough as nails to play and longer than any other course on the tour this year!  So the only way I’m ever playing it is if someone else is paying and nobody is watching!
 
What struck me while we were there was that most of the threesomes playing on the second day before the midway cut played with no special hoopla or treatment.  But when golfers in the top 10 in the world came by, they all had a 2 to 4 man police detail plus an additional 2 to 4 member team with “No Photo” signs to hold up when they were hitting or putting.  First of all, tickets were purchased for $125 each to stand in the hot sun to watch these athletes compete.  “You mean I can’t even take their picture as they walk by?” was my first thought.  My second thought was, “Oh how wonderful it would be if I could play well enough to be here playing with them!  But I wouldn’t keep people from taking my picture as I walked by!”
 
Anyway, I digress.  By the end of that second day at the Open, most of the World’s Top Ten were eliminated.  Very few big names for the final two days – not what the US Golf Association had really planned.  But it also meant that there was a strong chance that a new star would be born, and in fact, that’s exactly what happened.  Brooks Koepka, a 25-year old Floridian, won his first “Major” with a 16 under par total of 272.  He earned $2,160,000 for 4 days of competition and a lifetime of work! 
 
Something more important occurred to me eventually. There was another key human element present with every golfer in every threesome at this and every professional golf tournament – the caddies.  And it reminded me of pharmacy and pharmacists.  Not like the caddies in the movie “Caddyshack,” but real true golf professionals who help their professional golfer do their best every time they take a stroke.  I’ve watched professional golf a lot but being there in person helped me really think about the roles caddies play.  Pharmacists in many ways, perform very much like caddies on the Pro Tour!  We help with club selection (drug product selection), we help read the greens (antibiotic stewardship, opioid stewardship, lab value interpretation), we provide distances to the hole (recommend lengths of therapies, identify medication duplications, possible interactions and potential side effects) and provide general confidence and encouragement along the course (of treatment).
 
Often caddies challenge their Pro during club or shot selection.  Suggesting a different approach to the green or different route out of the sand trap.  Many times they have the club ready before the golfer requests it because they know what shot is needed, the skill of their professional and the conditions that the Pro faces.  This comes from years of training, studying and playing (most caddies are very good golfers themselves).  Does any of this sound remotely similar? 
 
Caddies proudly wear what is called an apron that bears the name of their professional so that fans can see from a distance who is approaching, who hit that shot, or who just proved that even pros can miss green.  This is probably the one thing most pharmacists don’t do yet, but a few do and someday many more will have their own physician or group of physicians to assist in therapy selection.  Maybe then we’ll wear something like the caddies’ aprons to let the patients and others know whose bag we’re carrying.
 
As a side thought, in professional golf, the caddie normally receives 5-10% of the player’s winnings, although every caddie may work their own special deal.  In Brooks Koepka’s case, his caddie Ricky Elliott, probably pulled down a cool $216,000 for a week’s work, and again as a result of a lifetime of study and training.  I’m not sure pharmacists would want 5-10% of what one physician makes (although 10% of some specialists’ annual incomes wouldn’t look bad), but considering that most health-systems have a lot more doctors than they do pharmacists (it would be like one caddie for several golfers – sometimes called a forecaddie), that plan might work.
 
It’s very clear caddies make a difference with their professionals. Many have lost their jobs as a result of bad distance advice, club selection, or poorly read greens.  And many have helped their Pro win hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars with their guidance and knowledge.  And it’s also clear that good pharmacists can improve the care provided to their patients.  Pharmacists aren’t the only other player on the health care team, but if you think about it, we are probably the player that can make the most difference on the performance of the team and its leader.  Yes, you still have to be the Pro that hits the ball, just like it almost always takes a physician to run the health care team, but the caddie and the pharmacist can make a big difference if they are used correctly and are trusted and respected!

Presidents Message
Lessons from La Soufrière

by Charlene Hope, PharmD, MS, BCPS, ICHP President

After what seemed like forever since my last vacation, I finally embarked on a long awaited vacation down to the Caribbean to the island of Saint Vincent the Grenadines (SVG).  For those of you that are avid cruise travelers or have vacationed in this region, this small island is located south of Puerto Rico, west of Barbados and not too far north of Venezuela. Both my parents and husband, Wismore, were born in Saint Vincent, so this vacation was particularly special since it was in part a homecoming for my husband.

While most of my previous trips to SVG were taken with my parents, those visits primarily consisted of visiting numerous family members and attending any family events that happened to be occurring during the time of our visit. There was often very little time for sight-seeing or experiencing the island as a tourist. This trip was different; it was the first one I had taken without my parents, and Wismore was determined for us to balance our time between visiting family and experiencing the island as tourists.

The highlight of my trip occurred on the last day of my vacation, and for me a lifetime experience on my bucket list – hiking to the top of La Soufrière, the active volcano on the northern most part of the island. Other than what I had heard from other family members or friends about their experiences hiking the volcano, I really did not know what I was getting myself into, but I was finally ready to embark on this experience.  During the journey, I found myself thinking about some life lessons that I thought would be fun to share in this month’s message.

In addition to my husband, we had a good friend of his, Morris, who I would describe as a “mountain man” who had climbed La Soufriere many times and often served as a guide. As we ascended the volcano, Morris led, I followed, and my husband followed behind me.  The first leg of the hike was the warm-up. It was a manageable path – clear, defined, and well-worn with stairs created from long pieces of bamboo.  During this part of the journey, Morris would continue to tell us repeatedly, “Take your time, one step at time” – perhaps in an attempt to pace ourselves for the journey ahead.

The lower part of the volcano was all rain forest – beautiful, but also quite hot and humid. At the end of the first leg, we were rewarded with a short break, a moment to sit and recharge on big bold rock formations called the dry river. We then started on the second leg of the hike and what I thought would be the toughest part of the journey…which it was.  As we continued to climb and work our way up the elevation, Morris, maybe sensing that energy was waning, said, “nothing good comes without work.” While simply stated, the words resonated with me and provided me with the mental motivation to keep on going.

As we continued along on the journey, Morris would continue to share words of encouragement and stories to distract the mind.  At one point, I was struggling physically with the climb and Wismore offered to carry by backpack to lessen my load so I could go longer before having to stop to catch my breath. This led me to think about any challenge or difficult journey we may be going through in life at home or at work – that the journey becomes a little bit easier with a guide or mentor encouraging you along the way and a family member, friend, partner or colleague that has your back when you really don’t think you can take another step. The second part of the hike quickly transitioned into the last ascent. The covered shed and bench that we had been making our way toward had been removed. Now we had nowhere to sit and rest!

The last leg and final ascent of the hike was totally different than the first leg. The plants and vegetation were different, the temperature dropped drastically, and there were no defined, well-worn paths – just rocks and plants. And on this particular day, there was a lot of mist and fog, and the wind was brisk. While I was being told we were almost there and it was not much longer, looking up into the fog there literally seemed like there was no end in sight.  We finally arrived at the top of crater and looked over. As I quickly reached to get my camera, it was gone. The crater had filled with mist. I guess on foggy days this usually happens, but if we waited a few minutes, the mist would shift and we would get a better view. As I stood around waiting for the mist to clear, I thought about another good lesson. Even though you reach the end of your journey or challenge, you may still may need to wait for the good result or outcome. The end of the journey does not always guarantee that you will be rewarded right away. Sometimes you may need to take a rest and wait for good stuff to appear.

I was never so happy to start the journey back down the volcano. Certainly going down would be easier than climbing up?  No, not so much. It was just as hard, especially now that we were starting the journey on loose rocks and that every step needed to be taken with care as to not to slip, trip or slide. Once back on the hiking trail, it was little easier and not very friendly to knees and thighs, but I powered through. The great part about the return hike was having a sense of direction, of where I just passed hours before and knowing if I kept up the pace and powered through back to where I started, I would be rewarded with a big long bench that I could collapse onto until our ride arrived to take us back home.

While this is not a typical KeePosted article, we all experience challenges and embark on journeys not only in our personal lives but at work as well. Whether you are a little “l” leader or big “L” leader, I hope one or more of these lessons resonate with you and provide you some gentle encouragement on any journey you may be on.

 
Lessons from La Soufrière
  • Take your time, one step at time.
  • Nothing good comes without work.
  • Life challenges may be more tolerable when accompanied by a sage guide leading you and someone who has got your back.
  • Rewards at the end of a grueling journey are not guaranteed, so take that time to rest, be patient, and the good stuff will eventually appear.


 

 

FEATURES

Call for Nominations
Looking for a few good men! And women! How Would You Like To Run For An ICHP Office?

Feature Article

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

Every year, ICHP elects new members to its Board of Directors. As existing officers complete their terms, they often move up to higher offices or move on for a variety of reasons not the least being that they’ve completed the highest offices of President-elect, President and Immediate Past President. So every year, the ICHP Committee on Nominations searches for new leaders to step up to carry on the business of the Council and who are dedicated to “Advancing Excellence in Pharmacy!” That’s ICHP’s mission by the way.

This year is no exception. With Jen Phillips completing her term as Immediate Past President and Carrie Vogler and Colleen Bohnenkamp completing their final terms as Director of Marketing Affairs and Chair of the New Practitioners Network, respectively, there are at least three offices that will need two candidates to run. In addition, Board Members Lara Ellinger and Clara Gary can run for another term for their respective offices and may or may not have yet committed. And even if they do decide to run again, the Committee on Nominations will be seeking a second candidate to fill the ballot completely.

Below is a list of the offices open for election in the fall of 2017. All of the elected candidates will take office at the 2018 Annual Meeting with the exception of the President-elect, who assumes office immediately. So each new leader will have almost a year to train for his/her new jobs and be coached by our current Board Members. You don’t have to run that race unprepared!

President-elect

Secretary-elect

Director-elect of the Division of Educational Affairs

Director-elect of the Division of Marketing Affairs

Technician Representative-elect

NPN Chair-elect


If you are interested in running for an office or you would like to know more about an office before committing to run, you may contact the Committee on Nominations Chair, Jen Phillips at jennifer.a.phillips@gmail.com or Scott Meyers at scottm@ichpnet.org. We hope you are ready to run for the lead of ICHP and Pharmacy!




2017 ICHP Annual Meeting
Register now for early bird rates!

Feature Article

ICHP 2017 Annual Meeting Annual Meeting - Register Now!

September 14-16, 2017
Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center
100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Registration
Early-bird registration ends August 22, 2017.

Schedule and Programming
View the Meeting-At-A-Glance (PDF) (tentative schedule).
View full meeting and programming details in the Web Brochure (PDF), updated 5-30-2017. 
All programming subject to change.

Meet Our Keynote Speakers:

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Michael A. Mone, BS Pharm, JD
VP Associate General Counsel, Regulatory
Cardinal Health
Dublin, OH
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Alex Adams, PharmD MPH
Executive Director
Idaho State Board of Pharmacy
Boise, ID
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Despina Kotis, PharmD, FASHP
Director of Pharmacy
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Chicago, IL
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Deborah Pasko, PharmD, MHA
Director of Medication Safety and Quality
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Bathesda, MD
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ASHP Residency Program Design and Conduct Workshop (RPDC)

(Separate Registration Required)

New this year ICHP is providing the ASHP Residency Program Design and Conduct Workshop on Friday, September 15th at the Annual Meeting. ICHP is committed to expanding residency programs within the state and Midwest and is investing in hosting this workshop to help elevate practice and patient care. Members receive a special discounted registration to the workshop and an additional discount for attending both the workshop and the Annual Meeting. Register online or view and print the RPDC brochure for complete details. Seating is limited. Registration requested by August 14, 2017.


Exhibit Program
Thank you to all our exhibitors! Preview the companies in the Exhibit Hall this year. Be sure to stop by their booths to discover all the new products and services available.

Do you provide products or services essential for health-system pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students and other related personnel? If so, you’ll want to take the lead at our Annual Meeting!
Complete the Exhibitor Registration Form online or view and print the Exhibitor Guide for complete details.

Residency Showcase
Students considering a residency program can preview the companies who will be at the Residency Showcase this year.

Showcase your residency program to students from pharmacy schools in Illinois. Many of these students will be completing their formal education within the year and will be considering residencies as a serious step in their career.
Complete the Residency Showcase Registration Form online or view and print the Residency Showcase brochure for complete details.

Hotel Accommodations
All meeting attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. Special convention room rates, Single/Double $139; Triple $149; Quad $159, are available Wednesday, Sept.13 through Friday, Sept. 15, to Annual Meeting attendees at The Hilton Garden Inn in Oakbrook Terrace (1000 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181). These rates are available by calling The Hilton Garden Inn (1-877-STAYHGI) prior to August 22 and mentioning that you are attending ICHP’s Annual Meeting!

New Practitioners Network
2017 Resident Social - Movie in the Park

Feature Article


Calendar

- July 18th | 5:30pm -

LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING!
 

New Practitioners Network Annual Resident Event!

Come socialize with other new practitioners (within 10 years of graduation)!

Feature Movie: La La Land

More details: Email Erin.St.Angelo@nm.org
 
Click here to RSVP right now 

COLUMNS

Educational Affairs
A Systematic Approach to Drug Interactions for Pharmacists

by Annette Hays, PharmD and Jen Phillips, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FASHP

Annette Hays, PharmD
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Jen Phillips, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FASHP
Associate Professor, Midwestern University
Clinical Specialist, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital


Background
On December 15, 2016, the Chicago Tribune published an article titled, “Pharmacies Miss Half of Dangerous Drug Combinations.”1 This article contained results from an experiment that involved undercover investigators posing as patients. Investigators presented prescriptions with interacting drug combinations to 255 chain and independent community pharmacies in the Chicagoland area. The receiving pharmacist had to either contact the prescriber or inform the undercover reporter of the interaction in order to receive a passing score. To the average reader used to hearing that pharmacists are one of the most trusted healthcare professionals, the results were overwhelmingly impactful in a negative way. The article provides the statistic that 52% of the pharmacies dispensed the “dangerous” combinations without mentioning the interaction to the patient or prescriber. According to the author, these results offer “striking evidence of an industrywide failure that places millions of consumers at risk.”1

Impact on Practice
Some pharmacists have questioned the clinical relevance of some of the drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in the experiment, and others have questioned some of the logistics of the study design.  However, from a “big picture” standpoint, the release of this article leads us back to two questions – “What factors contribute to pharmacists dispensing drugs with documented interactions?” and “What can be done to prevent them?”  There are many theories on this topic.  

Speed vs. Safety
The Tribune article suggests that the errors may occur because of the emphasis on speed over safety. Such blame cannot be placed entirely on pharmacists, as several factors may be involved. Pharmacists in all settings face intense pressures of minimal staffing, environmental stressors (e.g., impatient customers and fast-paced surroundings), and/or evaluation techniques utilized by the employer that place an overwhelming emphasis on timeliness. 

Over-Reliance on Technology
While most view the use of technology as a safety net, it does not and cannot prevent all medication-safety issues.  In fact, use of technology is creating new types of errors including selection of incorrect patient or incorrect drug from a drop-down menu, among others.2,3  Users must also keep in mind that although DDI alerts are incredibly beneficial, they are not without flaws. Alerts are not designed to replace the knowledge, experience, and expertise of a pharmacist. In fact, a study performed on nine primary care clinical systems in Australia demonstrated that only two out of the nine systems provided sufficient information regarding the clinical effects of significant drug interactions.4 With that in mind, users carry the responsibility of providing constant feedback to the information technology team at their facility regarding updates and clinical usefulness of the alerts they encounter. In addition, users must be aware of the strengths and shortcomings of the technology they are using and remember that the technology is only an aid. Regardless of which alerts fire, a thorough review of all patient information is required when ensuring the safety of the patient.  

Alert Fatigue
An often mentioned concept related to technology errors is a phenomenon called “alert fatigue.”5  In an era of increasing dependence on technology, clinical decision support (CDS) has made it possible for pharmacists to receive real-time, patient-specific safety alerts. Unfortunately, too many alerts can lead to user desensitization and subsequent bypassing of such safety tools. In fact, a recent study suggests that 22% of general practitioners (GP) admitted to frequently or very frequently bypassing drug interaction alerts without thoroughly reviewing their contents, 35% admitted to doing this sometimes, and 42% to rarely or never doing this.6  When asked about reasons for overriding DDI alerts, 97% of GPs surveyed indicated that the interaction for which they were provided an alert was not serious.6    

Improving the specificity and quality of DDI alerts may help minimize alert fatigue.7,8  In a recently published study, 55% of surveyed clinicians reported that a poor “signal-to-noise” ratio, (too many irrelevant or less important notifications mixed in with only a few important notifications),  limited the usefulness of drug-drug interaction alerts embedded into a CPOE system.8  A recent survey of community pharmacy managers identified that software that contained alerts that provided more detailed information or were customizable were perceived to be more useful.7 

Many institutions and chains are trying to minimize alert fatigue by eliminating commonly overridden alerts or stratifying interactions to display only the more clinically relevant interactions.1 With the knowledge that fired alerts have been carefully selected to display only the most important safety information, pharmacists are encouraged to focus on all alerts at all times with minimal bypassing. 

Safety Approach to DDIs
Although there are no defined, systematic processes in the literature, there are techniques that pharmacists and pharmacies can apply to tackle drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts. Many experienced clinicians may already be using some or all of these strategies, but the recent Tribune article suggests that there is room for improvement.  Therefore, a brief refresher is provided for readers to help self-assess their current practice in approaching DDIs.  

An important primary action that has been recommended is classification of the DDI with regard to pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic effects.9,10,11   For example, medications that affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of another medication are pharmacokinetic in nature and can alter serum drug concentrations and consequently, clinical response.10  Medications with similar or competing pharmacodynamics can increase or reduce the effect of the other drug.  Lastly, the ability for pharmacists to recognize drugs that have a narrow therapeutic index is essential, as DDIs can be much more frequent with these agents.10 

If a pharmacist needs to explore an interaction further, most facilities subscribe to databases that can assist in the decision-making process.  Alternatively, pharmacists can be encouraged to obtain their own references to expand their knowledge on fired alerts.  A recently published study analyzed various resources and found that the following resources ranked highest in scope:  Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Interaction Report, Lexicomp Interactions, and Micromedex Drug Interactions.12  Micromedex and LexiComp ranked the highest among the list.12 Attending continuing education programs on drug interactions may also be helpful.  For those with a subscription, the Pharmacist’s Letter offers DDI resources as well as a very detailed continuing education program on how to manage some of the most commonly encountered drug interaction alerts.13,14

Lastly, the pharmacist should evaluate patient-specific factors and formulate a plan that is reasonable based on the risk to the patient. This may include continuing, discontinuing, or substituting therapy on an individual basis.9  Although it has been demonstrated that the most effective methods to prevent DDIs involve a team approach between physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, below is a proposed pharmacist-specific systematic method that can be used to ensure that they enter every shift prepared to encounter and successfully manage drug interactions. The strategies and descriptions are as follows: 

  1. Improve Baseline knowledge.  Review your pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics principles, including p-glycoprotein and common CYP inhibitors, inducers, and substrates.  Pay particular attention to narrow therapeutic index drugs and drugs known to be strong inhibitors/inducers.  Review lists of QT prolonging agents, chelators, additive drug interactions (e.g., serotonin acting agents), and ototoxic agents.  Identify populations more vulnerable to drug interactions.  This may include elderly patients, patients on multiple medications, or patients presenting with a new prescription, dose change, or new medical condition.  
  2. Know your resources.  Download credible and reliable mobile apps if you are not always at a computer during your shift.  Know the online and print resources your site subscribes to.  Keep up to date on new resources for certain disease states or patient populations.  Attend book fairs or browse the bookstores for various pharmacy associations to assist with this.  Recommend relevant titles to your supervisor or manager.  Utilize only credible websites when searching for information on-line and remember to also consult secondary resources, like Pubmed when tertiary resources lack information.
  3. Approach alerts carefully and thoroughly.  Be aware of alert fatigue; try to consciously slow down and read the entire text of every alert.  Look for the strength of the evidence used in the alert – is it based on published data or is it hypothetical?  Consult at least two sources about the interaction, as interaction severity may be classified differently among various sources.  Studies have shown that many databases have poor agreement when it comes to listing and classifying the severity of drug interactions.15,16,17
  4. Evaluate patient-specific risk.  Use data from the patient’s chart to evaluate if the interaction is more or less severe based on allergies, labs, organ function, medical history, and other relevant data.  Some alerts that fire may be referring to medications the patient is no longer taking.
  5. Formulate a recommendation.  Remember all of the components of an interaction (drug dose, duration, timing of administration, route, sequence of therapy, and indication).  If you deem the interaction harmful, decide the best way to manage it (reduce/increase dose, change therapy, change administration times).  
  6. Contact the physician.  Provide your findings and recommendation to the prescribing practitioner as well as to the patient.  Document conversations and modifications to the treatment plan.  

Conclusion
In summary, it is important for pharmacists to use the Tribune study to identify an opportunity for improvement and develop our field. The systematic approach presented above was designed to provide pharmacists with a technique for analyzing all interactions thoroughly. It is intended to evolve and become individualized for anyone wishing to incorporate it into their daily routine. We can work daily on amending our CDS systems, evaluation techniques, and environmental stressors. However, in the end we must also be willing to modify our behavior.


References
  1. Roe S, Long R, King K. Pharmacies miss half of dangerous drug combinations. Chicago Tribune. December 15, 2016. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/druginteractions/ct-drug-interactions-pharmacy-met-20161214-story.html. Accessed 2017 Jul 10. 
  2. Ash J, Berg M, Coiera E.  Some unintended consequences of information technology in health care:  the nature of patient care information system-related errors.  J Am Med Inform Assoc.  2004;11:104-12.
  3. Phillips J, Bachenheimer B.  Medication errors associated with technology.  KeePosted. 2013; 39(10).
  4. Sweidan M, Reeve JF, Dartnell JG. Consider the content of drug-drug interaction alerts. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(14):1338.
  5. Cash JJ. Alert fatigue. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2009;66(23):2098-101.
  6. Magnus D, Rodgers S, Avery AJ.  GPs’ views on computerized drug interaction alerts:  questionnaire survey.  J Clin Pharm Ther.  2002;27:377-82.
  7. Abarca J, Malone DC, Skrepnek GH, Rehfeld RA, Murphy JE, Grizzle, AJ, Armstrong EP, Woosley RL.   Community pharmacy managers’ perception of computerized drug-drug interaction alerts.  J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46:148-53.
  8. Glassman PA, Simon B, Belperio P, Lanto A.  Improving recognition of drug interactions.  Med Care. 2002;40:1161-71.
  9. Papadopoulos J, Smithburger PL. Common drug interactions leading to adverse drug events in the intensive care unit: management and pharmacokinetic considerations. Crit Care Med. 2010;38(6 Suppl):S126-35.
  10. Mallet L, Spinewine A, Huang A. The challenge of managing drug interactions in elderly people. Lancet. 2007;370(9582):185-91.
  11. Delafuente JC. Understanding and preventing drug interactions in elderly patients. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2003;48(2):133-43.
  12. Patel RI, Becket RD.  Evaluation of resources for analyzing drug interactions.  J Med Libr Assoc.  2016;104(4):290-5.
  13. Drug Interaction Overload:  how to sort through interaction alerts.  Pharmacist’s Letter Continuing Education Online.  Volume 2015;Course No. 219.  Available at:  https://pharmacist.therapeuticresearch.com/home/experience/PL.  Accessed 17 May 2017.  
  14. Pharmacist’s Letter.  Drug Interactions:  A practical approach.  Therapeutic Research Center. 2017.  Available at:  https://pharmacist.therapeuticresearch.com/home/experience/PL.  Accessed 17 May 2017.
  15. Olvey EL, Clauschee S, Malone DC. Comparison of critical drug-drug interaction listings: the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system and standard reference compendia. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2010;87:48-51. 
  16. Oshikoya KA, Oreagba IA, Ogunleye OO, Lawal S, Senbanjo IO. Clinically significant interactions between antiretroviral and co-prescribed drugs for HIV-infected children: profiling and comparison of two drug databases. Ther Clin Risk Manag.  2013;9:215-21
  17. Martins MA, Carlos PP, Ribeiro DD, et al. Warfarin drug interactions: a comparative evaluation of the lists provided by five information sources. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;67:1301-8. 


Government Affairs Report
It’s not over till it’s over!

by Jim Owen and Scott Meyers

While the spring 2017 General Session of the Illinois General Assembly ended over a month ago, there’s still much to be done.  Last month’s Government Affairs Report was written a week or two before the legislature adjourned, and we were patiently waiting for passage of a temporary Pharmacy Practice Act.  We, almost 30 days after adjournment, are still waiting.  HB3462 passed in both the House and Senate, but the latter chamber amended it slightly and we now await concurrence from the House before it can be sent to the Governor.  Several other bills have been passed and are headed to the Governor, and at least one more bill that indirectly impacts pharmacy, the Sunset of the Nurse Practice Act, also awaits House concurrence. 

 

Overall, the session went well considering that pharmacy started deep at its own 1-yard line and its back up against the goal line, because of the impact of the December Tribune article and more importantly, the failure to counsel by our colleagues on the community side.  Once the House reaches concurrence, which they might do during the end of June Special Session called by the Governor, and then the Governor signs the revision, we will begin the real work of reviewing and rewriting the Pharmacy Practice Act for the next 10 years.

 

The ICHP Division of Government Affairs has been and continues to work on drafting revisions to the Practice Act and welcomes input from any members.  Our goal is to create an environment that improves patient safety and outcomes without impeding practice by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across Illinois.

 

2017 Illinois General Assembly Bill Summary

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

Location

ICHP Position

SB0636

Link – Gurnee, D

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the Act shall not apply to, or in any manner interfere with, the sale or distribution of dialysate, drugs, or devices necessary to perform home renal dialysis for patients with chronic kidney failure, provided that certain conditions are met. Effective immediately.

Passed both chambers

 

SB1585

Martinez – Chicago, D

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal date of the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2028. Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Reorganizes the Act by adding titles and renumbering provisions. Replaces references to "supervising physicians" with references to "collaborating physicians" throughout the Act. Replaces references to "supervision agreement" with references to "collaborative agreement" throughout the Act. Adds provisions concerning continuing education. In provisions concerning grounds for disciplinary action, provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may refuse to issue or renew a physician assistant license or discipline a licensee for willfully or negligently violating a patient's confidentiality, except as required by law, or failing to provide copies of medical records as required by law. Amends various Acts to conform references and terminology. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Passed in both chambers

 

SB1790

Stadelman – Rockford, D

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that a pharmacist may exercise professional judgment to dispense an emergency supply of medication for a chronic disease or condition if the pharmacist is unable to obtain refill authorization from the prescriber when certain conditions are met. Provides that the emergency supply must be limited to the amount needed for the emergency period as determined by the pharmacist but the amount shall not exceed a 30-day supply. Effective immediately

Passed in both chambers

Support as amended

SB1944

Nybo – Lombard, R

Senate Amendment 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Provides that a person who is at least 18 years of age may purchase from a pharmacy and have in his or her possession up to 100 (rather than 20) hypodermic syringes or needles. Provides that a pharmacist may sell up to 100 (rather than 20) sterile hypodermic syringes or needles to a person who is at least 18 years of age. Provides that a prescriber (rather than a licensed physician) may direct a patient under his or her immediate charge to have in possession any of the hypodermic syringes and needles permitted by the Act. Deletes provision that the Illinois Department of Public Health must develop educational materials and make copies of the educational materials available to pharmacists. Deletes provision that pharmacists must make these educational materials available to persons who purchase syringes and needles as authorized under the Act. Permits an electronic order for the hypodermic syringes and needles. Defines "prescriber".

Passed in both chambers

Support as amended

HB0313

Feigenholtz – Chicago, D

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Extends the repeal of the Nurse Practice Act from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2028. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Defines "focused assessment", "full practice authority", "oversight", and "postgraduate advanced practice nurse". Changes references of "advanced practice nurse" and "APN" to "advanced practice registered nurse" and "APRN" throughout the Act. Replaces provisions regarding nursing delegation with provisions that prohibit specified actions. Provides other guidelines for delegation of nursing activities and medication administration. Makes changes to education program requirements, qualifications for licensure, the scope of practice, and continuing education for LPN and RN licensees. Provides that a written collaborative agreement is required for all postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses until specific requirements have been met. Provides that postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses may enter into written collaborative agreements with collaborating advanced practice registered nurses or physicians (rather than collaborating physicians or podiatric physicians). In provisions concerning prescriptive authority for postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses, sets forth the requirements for postgraduate advanced practice registered nurses to have prescriptive authority and the limitations of such authority. Makes changes to provisions concerning the grounds for disciplinary action under the Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to prepare a report regarding the moneys appropriated from the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to the Department of Public Health for nursing scholarships. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Awaiting Concurrence in the House

Support as amended

HB0524

Wheeler – Crystal Lake, R

Amends the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act. Provides that pharmaceuticals disposed of under the Act may be destroyed in a drug destruction device. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Expands the definition of "drug evidence" to include any used, expired, or unwanted pharmaceuticals collected under the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act. Effective immediately.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB0706

Bellock – Westmont, R

Amends the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act. Provides that in the absence of a police officer, State Police officer, coroner, or medical examiner at the scene of a death, a nurse or physician may dispose of unused medication found at the scene while engaging in the performance of his or her duties. Provides that anyone authorized to dispose of unused medications under the Act, and his or her employer, employees, or agents shall incur no civil liability, criminal liability, or professional discipline, except for willful or wanton misconduct, as a result of any injury arising from his or her good faith disposal or non-disposal of unused medication. Defines "nurse" and "physician". Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and the Nurse Practice Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB2531

Hammond – Macomb, R

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Deletes provisions requiring manufacturers to provide the Director of Public Health with a notification containing product technical bioequivalence information no later than 60 days prior to specified generic drug product substitution. Effective immediately.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB2534

Bourne – Litchfield, R

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Requires that to be illegal a drug analog must not be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or, if approved, it is not dispensed or possessed in accordance with State and federal law. Defines "controlled substance" to include a synthetic drug enumerated as a scheduled drug under the Act. Adds chemical structural classes of synthetic cannabinoids and piperazines to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Includes certain substances approved by the FDA which are not dispensed or possessed in accordance with State or federal law and certain modified substances.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB2708

Demmer – Rochelle, R

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may release information received by the central repository to select representatives of the Department of Children and Family Services through the indirect online request process. Provides that access shall be established by the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Committee by rule.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB2957 same as SB1546

Fine – Glenview, D

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that every policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall provide for synchronization of prescription drug refills on at least one occasion per insured per year provided that certain conditions are met. Requires insurers to provide prorated daily cost-sharing rates when necessary. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Services Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately.

Passed in both chambers

 

HB3462

Zalewski – Riverside, D

House Amendment 3: In provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act, provides that the repeal date of the Pharmacy Practice is extended to January 1, 2020 (rather than January 1, 2019). Provides that appointments to the Collaborative Pharmaceutical Task Force shall be made by the specified person or his or her designee. Changes the date that voting members of the Task Force shall vote on recommendations from September 1, 2018 to September 1, 2019. Changes the date the Department of Financial and Regulation shall propose rules for adoption or recommend legislation to the General Assembly from October 1, 2018 to October 1, 2019. Repeals provisions concerning the Task Force on October 1, 2020 (rather than October 1, 2019).

Senate Amendment 1: In provisions amending the Pharmacy Practice Act, removes provisions concerning automated pharmacy systems and remote dispensing.

 

Awaiting Concurrence in the House

Support as amended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support strongly

 

 

 

 

Monitor closely

 

 

 

 

Oppose strongly

 

 

 

 

Legislation passed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Affairs
Fluoroquinolone Safety

by Shannon Furbish, PharmD and Janice Richardson, PharmD, BCPS

Shannon Furbish, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

 

Janice Richardson, PharmD, BCPS
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

 

In May of 2016, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a drug safety communication addressing fluoroquinolone safety concerns. This warning specifically recommended avoiding the use of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Rather, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for more complicated infections. Updates in medication safety labeling were made to emphasize the possible harmful adverse effects associated with fluoroquinolones.1

Background:

Fluoroquinolones are a broad-spectrum class of antibiotics that includes levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and ofloxacin. Their mechanism of action is inhibition of DNA-gyrase and topoisomerase IV through the formation of a complex with these enzymes, thereby preventing DNA replication. Fluoroquinolones are bactericidal and exhibit concentration-dependent killing. In general, fluoroquinolones have coverage against atypical pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, gram-negative organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, some gram-positive organisms including Streptococcus pneumoniae, and limited anaerobic pathogens (only moxifloxacin). These agents require renal dose adjustments, are well absorbed and exhibit 70-100% bioavailability when taken orally.2

Fluoroquinolones are used for many different types of infections including: urinary tract infections, prostatitis, epididymitis, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis for transurethral surgery, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, gastrointestinal infections, and soft tissue infections.2 Fluoroquinolone resistance is becoming increasingly prevalent with overuse and longer duration of therapy. Prudent use of fluoroquinolones is especially important in order to preserve the efficacy and utility of these agents for future use.3-4

Common side effects of fluoroquinolones include headache, insomnia, dizziness, skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, vomiting, and QT prolongation. More rare, but serious adverse effects - which prompted the FDA safety alert - include tendon rupture, myalgia, arthralgia, peripheral neuropathy, confusion, and hallucinations. These effects are potentially permanent and disabling.2

Safety Alert:

The FDA fluoroquinolone safety alert was released after an extensive FDA safety review of adverse event reports. The FDA concluded that the risks of using fluoroquinolones may outweigh their benefits for certain indications given the potential for serious adverse effects. The agency therefore recommends that fluoroquinolones should be reserved for patients who cannot use alternative antibiotics (i.e. penicillin allergic) for the three indications specified in the alert.1

The FDA issued an additional safety alert in July 2016 which expanded Black Box Warnings to include peripheral neuropathy, central nervous system (CNS) effects, cardiac, dermatologic, and hypersensitivity reactions. This was in addition to the current warnings for tendinitis, tendon rupture, and worsening of myasthenia gravis.5

Considerations:

  • Patients should contact their health-care professional if they experience a serious adverse effect while taking a fluoroquinolone. Serious adverse effects may include: unusual joint or tendon pain, muscle weakness, a "pins and needles" tingling or pricking sensation, numbness in the arms or legs, confusion, and hallucinations.1,5
  • Health-care professionals should immediately discontinue fluoroquinolone treatment if a patient reports serious side effects, and switch to an alternative antibiotic for completion of the antibiotic course.1,5
  • Health-care professionals should reserve systemic (intravenous or oral) fluoroquinolones for patients who cannot receive alternative preferred treatment options for acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.1,5 

 References:

  1. Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial Drugs: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Advises Restricting Use for Certain Uncomplicated Infections. U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm500665.htm. Published May 12, 2016. Accessed February 9, 2017.
  2. Lexi-Comp, Inc. (Lexi Drugs). Lexi-Comp, Inc: February 9, 2017.
  3. Gupta K, Hooton TM, Naber KG, et al. International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: a 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(5),e103-e120.
  4. Hooper DC. New uses for new and old quinolones and the challenge of resistance. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;30:243–54.
  5. Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial Drugs for Systemic Use: Drug Safety Communication - Warnings Updated Due to Disabling Side Effects. U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm513065.htm. Published July 26, 2016. Accessed February 9, 2017.

 

Leadership Profile
Meet Colleen Bohnenkamp, Pharm.D., BCOP, BCPS

Colleen Bohnenkamp, Pharm.D., BCOP, BCPS














Colleen Bohnenkamp, Pharm.D., BCOP, BCPS

Hematology Oncology Clinical Pharmacist
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

What is your current leadership position in ICHP?
Chair of the New Practitioner Network

 

What benefits do you see in being active in a professional association such as ICHP? 
Through active participation in ICHP, I have gained valuable leadership and organizational skills that enhance my ability to perform as a clinical pharmacist.  Timely access to changes in the pharmacy profession, collaboration with other professionals, and leadership opportunities are added benefits to remaining engaged in professional organizations.

 

What initially motivated you to get involved in ICHP?
My residency director, Mike Fotis, encouraged my participation in ICHP as a resident, and he helped me to get involved with the Spring Meeting Planning Committee.  After completing my residency, Desi Kotis met with me for coffee to discuss continued professional involvement and suggested I learn more about the New Practitioner Network.  I have been an active member ever since!

 

Where did you go to pharmacy school?
Creighton University

 

Where have you trained or worked?
I completed my PGY-1 residency training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and have remained at NMH ever since.  I currently practice in both inpatient and outpatient hematology/oncology.

 

Describe your current area of practice and practice setting.
I have spent the last 5 years primarily working as an inpatient hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist.  I am now transitioning to an outpatient role in the Breast and Gynecological Oncology Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

 

What special accomplishments have you achieved? 
I was awarded the Rosalind Franklin 2016 Preceptor of the Year.  I have also received an ICHP Shining Star Award.

 

Is there an individual you admire or look up to or a mentor that has influenced your career? 
Noelle Chapman.  She seems to do it all.  Work, family, fun- always with a smile on her face accompanied by such positive energy.

 

What advice would you give to student pharmacists?
Keep an open mind.  You never know where life will take you. Don’t neglect subjects that don’t interest you, as you may very well need those skills later in your career.

 

What pharmacy related issues keep you up at night? 
None. Work stays at work. My son now keeps me up at night. ;)

 

Do you have any special interests or hobbies outside of work? 
I had my first child in October of 2016.  He has changed my world, and I adore being a Mom.  Otherwise, I love to travel, read, and work out. 

 

Do you have a favorite restaurant or food? 
There are so many restaurants in Chicago. I love to try new ones as often as possible.  You can never go wrong with Girl and the Goat.

 

What is your favorite place to vacation? 
Las Vegas! J Though, I love to go on cruises anywhere in the world.

 

What is the most interesting or unique fact about yourself that few people know? 
I am allergic to melons.

 

What 3 adjectives would people use to best describe you? 
Efficient, laid back, and independent


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COLLEGE CONNECTION

Exciting Travels to the National Compounding Competition
Chicago State University College of Pharmacy

by Ashley Shinnick, P3, SSHP President

This past November, Chicago State University College of Pharmacy hosted its annual Local Compounding Competition. After three intense rounds of formulation preparation, the first place team was announced and given the prize to represent the college at the national event in Miami, Florida. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this exciting experience.

The team consisted of two P1's and myself, a P2. Needless to say, we were one of the youngest teams in the competition. After meeting with all of the teams, we traveled to the new, state-of-the-art facility where the compounding portion of the event would take place. We had three hours to prepare two prescriptions; a prescription for one hundred capsules and another for six lollipops. So, we garbed up, strategized, and went to work. Each station was fully equipped with 9 ingredients, labels, and formulation records. We were instructed that all the ingredients were to be used. The intensity was high as we raced against the clock. This was part one of the competition.

We returned to the hotel to complete the next two portions of the event. The Jeopardy rounds were next and they presented quite the challenge. My partners and I put our brains together to answer questions for the tough two rounds. The last event was to prepare a poster to present the following day. We had to produce a blueprint of an actual compounding pharmacy complete with, specific laminar hoods, the number of rooms and personnel, and the ideal number of prescriptions per week. Our poster displayed a simple layout; one that completed the requirements and did not distract the observer. This allowed our team to connect with the viewers and engage in a discussion about the different ideas.

Later that evening and into the following day, we were able to network with the professionals who were guest speakers at the two-day affair. On Saturday evening, after completion of the three main events, the students reconvened for a trade show that hosted speakers from United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), as well as a Medisca representative who demonstrated the new Mazerustar mixing technology. The trade show was a wonderful opportunity to connect with a couple of the guest speakers, and students and professors from other programs. The next day, we heard from all of the guest speakers from USP, NCPA, International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and Pharmacy Development Services) whose presentations were informative and motivating.

I am grateful to my institution for providing me with this experience to travel, meet new people and interact with professionals. I look forward to exploring more opportunities that dive into the different realms of the pharmaceutical profession. I would like to thank my professor, Dr. Michael Danquah for his support at Nationals, as well as my teammates, Dean Nguyen and Alex Nguyen. 

  

Student Experience at the ICHP Spring Meeting
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy

by Kaylee Poole, P3, SSHP President

I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend the student programming during the ICHP Spring Meeting in Collinsville. ICHP brought in a wonderful speaker to provide a Pharmacy Forecast Student Workshop. The speaker, Lynn E. Eschenbacher, PharmD, MBA, FASHP, and the residents who assisted her with the presentation were engaging, funny, and knowledgeable about the ASHP Pharmacy Forecast. Listening to Dr. Eschenbacher, I never once felt like I was just sitting in a lecture. I enjoyed how interactive her presentation was and thought that the small group session was effective in helping me learn how to apply all of the information that I learned during the presentation. The presentation was extremely relatable for pharmacy students, and I wish more students had been able to attend this programming. As SIUE’s SSHP President, I hope to bring a similar presentation to SIUE since I truly believe that the ASHP Pharmacy Forecast is something that all pharmacy students can benefit from learning about.

 

The ASHP Pharmacy Forecast is put together each year to help guide pharmacy practitioners through the changing healthcare landscape. Each year, a group of panelists respond to a questionnaire to help identify what trends are likely to emerge over the next five years. The trends are then grouped into eight domains. From there, recommendations are made for each domain for pharmacists and health care leaders to use for strategic planning. The domains included in the 2016 Pharmacy Forecast were: healthcare delivery and financing, population health management, drug development and therapeutics, pharmaceutical marketplace, data and technology, pharmacy workforce, patient empowerment, and ethics. These domains change from year-to-year as trends in healthcare evolve. During the student workshop, Dr. Eschenbacher broke each of those domains down and then we formed small groups to discuss the practical implications and applications of the various recommendations.


This was the first ICHP meeting that I have attended, and I was very impressed with the organization of the meeting, the quality of the programming, and the amount of networking opportunities available for students. Aside from the Pharmacy Forecast Student Workshop itself, the highlight of the meeting for me was being able to network with Dr. Eschenbacher, her residents, and the other pharmacists assisting her. I was able to make valuable connections that day that already have and will continue to serve me well in the future. I would highly encourage all of the ICHP student members to attend at least one ICHP meeting before graduation. I will benefit from the information that I learned and the connections that I made long after my time as a student is over. I am already looking forward to ICHP Annual Meeting in September and hope to see many of you reading this there! 



Increasing Pharmacy Student Exposure to Health-Systems Through Hospital Pharmacy Tours
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy

by Henry Okoroike, P2, President-Elect

At the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy (UIC COP), our Chicago campus is located in the middle of the Illinois Medical District and is surrounded by an abundance of hospitals, clinics, and other health systems where a pharmacy student can work and/or go on rotations. For a P1, having so many options for Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE’s) or employment and externships can be overwhelming. Prior to starting pharmacy school, many students have yet to experience inpatient pharmacy and are not sure what to expect from IPPE rotations or a career in a hospital pharmacy. To address these issues, the student chapter of ICHP at UIC created a hospital pharmacy tour program, designed to expose students to hospital pharmacy. These tours provide students an opportunity to view inpatient hospital pharmacy operations and workflow. In addition, the participants are able to talk to current residents and pharmacists about employment, advice about pharmacy school, and their experiences as a pharmacy resident/pharmacist.

As the P1 liaison for UIC’s ICHP student chapter, I was charged with creating opportunities for first-year students to experience a variety of pharmacy health system settings. We envisioned the student exposure would be prior to IPPE rotations or job applications, and extern applications. To accomplish this, I took over the Hospital Pharmacy Tour Program this year. In this role, I contacted 6 pharmacy managers to propose having tours at their hospital pharmacy and coordinated scheduling tours with pharmacists and pharmacy residents. These tours included small groups ranging from 4-8 students which facilitated communication between the students and their tour guides. The tours typically occurred in the central pharmacy, where students were exposed to the pharmacy workflow, clean room, medication storage and dispensing units (i.e. Pyxis, Omnicell, Acudose), a satellite, and an outpatient pharmacy. Over the span of 2 weeks, 5 tours at 4 different hospitals were conducted including the University of Illinois Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Jesse Brown VA Hospital, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A total of 30 students attended at least one of these tours. Of note, this was the first time the UIC ICHP chapter toured Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 

This program allowed attendees to observe a variety of hospital pharmacy settings they could encounter during their pharmacy training as well as assist in preparing them for future IPPEs or identifying externship/employment opportunities. It was also our goal to give participants a better idea of what potential career opportunities exist in a hospital setting. For these and many other reasons, I am thankful to UIC’s ICHP student chapter for tasking me with the development of this program. It has allowed me to grow as a student and a leader and I am confident I can use this experience in my upcoming role as the chapter president-elect for 2017-2018.  In addition, we are all extremely grateful to the pharmacy mangers, pharmacists, and residents who volunteered their time. 

One goal of the UIC ICHP student chapter is to expose pharmacy students to the variety of career options for pharmacists in hospitals and health systems and the Hospital Tour Program was one of the many ways we set out to accomplish that goal this past year. I hope to assist the upcoming P1 liaison in planning an even more successful hospital pharmacy tour program, and expanding the tours to show additional health-system pharmacy settings such as ambulatory care clinics, HMO’s, and long-term care facilities.

 

 

MORE

Officers and Board of Directors

CHARLENE HOPE 
President
708-783-5933 
chope@macneal.com

JENNIFER PHILLIPS 
Immediate Past President
630-515-7167 
jphillips@midwestern.edu

TRAVIS HUNERDOSSE 
President-elect
THUNERDO@nm.org 

MIKE WEAVER 
Treasurer 
815-599-6113 
mweaver@fhn.org

JENNIFER ARNOLDI 
Secretary 
jearnol@gmail.com

LARA ELLINGER 
Director, Educational Affairs 
laelling@nm.org

CARRIE VOGLER
Director, Marketing Affairs
217-545-5394

KRISTI STICE 
Director, Professional Affairs
217-544-6464 ext.44660 
kristi.stice@hshs.org

CAROL HEUNISCH 
Director, Organizational Affairs 
847-933-6811

KATHRYN SCHULTZ
Director, Government Affairs
312-926-6961

DAVID TJHIO 
Chairman, Committee on Technology 
816-885-4649 
david.tjhio@bd.com

COLLEEN BOHNENKAMP
Chairman, New Practitioners Network

BRYAN MCCARTHY
Co-Chairman, Ambulatory Care Network

VIRGINIA NASH
Co-Chairman, Ambulatory Care Network

CLARA GARY
Technician Representative

JACOB GETTIG 
Editor & Chairman, KeePosted Committee 
630-515-7324 fax: 630-515-6958 
jgetti@midwestern.edu 

JENNIFER PHILLIPS 
Assistant Editor, KeePosted 
630-515-7167 
jphillips@midwestern.edu 

SCOTT MEYERS 
Executive Vice President, ICHP Office 
815-227-9292 
scottm@ichpnet.org 


Regional Directors

NOELLE CHAPMAN 
Regional Director North
312-926-2547
nchapman@nmh.org 

ED RAINVILLE 
Regional Director Central 
ed.c.rainville@osfhealthcare.org 

LYNN FROMM 
Regional Co-Director South
618-391-5539

TARA VICKERY GORDEN 
Regional Co-Director South
618-643-2361 x2330


Student Chapter Presidents

FLORENCE PATINO 
President, Student Chapter 
Chicago State University C.O.P. 

SHAZIYA BARKAT 
President, Student Chapter
Midwestern University Chicago C.O.P. 
sbarkat14@midwestern.edu

KASIA PLIS 
President, Student Chapter 
Roosevelt University C.O.P. 
kplis@mail.roosevelt.edu

JORIE KREITMAN 
President, Student Chapter 
Rosalind Franklin University C.O.P. 
jorie.kreitman@my.rfums.org

MALLORY BELCHER 
President, Student Chapter 
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville S.O.P
mabelch@siue.edu

LEVI PILONES 
President, Chicago Student Chapter
University of IL C.O.P. 
lpilon2@uic.edu 

TREVOR LUMAN 
President, Rockford Student Chapter 
University of IL C.O.P. 
tluman2@uic.edu


ICHP Affiliates 

ANTOINE JENKINS 
President, Northern IL Society (NISHP)

JARED SHELEY 
President, Metro East Society (MESHP)
jpsheley@gmail.com 

KATELYN CONKLEN 
President, Sangamiss Society
Conklen.Katelyn@mhsil.com

ED RAINVILLE 
President, West Central Society (WSHP)  
ed.c.rainville@osfhealthcare.org

Vacant Roles at Affiliates — 
President, Rock Valley Society; Southern IL Society; Sugar Creek Society



Upcoming Events

Visit the ICHP Calendar for the most up-to-date events!                 Visit the ICHP Calendar for the most up-to-date events! 




Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - 12:00 PM
Mother to Baby: Brief Overview of Medication Use During Pregnancy
Brooke L. Griffin, Pharm.D., BCACP
Champions LIVE Webinar

Accredited for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |0.5 contact hour (0.05 CEU)


Tuesday, July 18, 2017 - 5:30 PM
NPN Resident's Social - Movie in the Park 


Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - Save the Date
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Cassandra Collins, PharmD
Sangamiss LIVE Program

Accredited for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU)


September 14-16, 2017
ICHP Annual Meeting
Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center
Oakbrook Terrace, IL


Saturday, September 23, 2017 - Oakbrook, IL
American Heart Association - Heart Walk


Tuesday, September 26, 2017 - 12:00 PM
Streamlining the Crash Cart Model: Less is More
Elizabeth Short, PharmD, BCCCP
Champions LIVE Webinar

Accredited for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians |0.5 contact hour (0.05 CEU)

 

Welcome New Members!

New Member Recruiter
Dima Awad Scott Drabant
Michelle Chicoineau
Jasmine Davis Chastity Franklin
Jessika Dixon Ellenore Figlioli
Sheeba Eettickal Katie Wdowiarz
Jolanda Genous
Robin Hieber
Janice Maeweather Tina Lewis
Dalena Vo


ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund (PAC) Contributors

Names below reflect donations between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017. Giving categories reflect each person's cumulative donations since inception.

ADVOCACY ALLIANCE - $2500-$10000
Kevin Colgan
Edward Donnelly
James Owen Consulting Inc.
Frank Kokaisl
Scott Meyers
Michael Novario
Michael Weaver
Thomas Westerkamp


LINCOLN LEAGUE - $1000-$2499
Scott Bergman
Andrew Donnelly
Ginger Ertel
Ann Jankiewicz
Jan Keresztes
Kathy Komperda
William McEvoy
Michael Rajski
Christina Rivers-Quillian
Michael Short
Carrie Sincak
Avery Spunt
Patricia Wegner

CAPITOL CLUB - $500-$999
Sheila Allen
Margaret Allen
Rauf Dalal
Drury Lane Theater
Travis Hunerdosse
Leonard Kosiba
Mary Lee
Janette Mark
Jennifer Phillips
Edward Rainville
Kathryn Schultz
Heidi Sunday
Jill Warszalek
Alan Weinstein

GENERAL ASSEMBLY GUILD - $250-$499
Tom Allen
Peggy Bickham
Jaime Borkowski
Donna Clay
Scott Drabant
Brad Dunck
Sandra Durley
Michael Fotis
Joann Haley
Joan Hardman
Kim Janicek
Zahra Khudeira
Ann Kuchta
Ronald Miller
Peggy Reed
Tara Vickery-Gorden
Carrie Vogler
Marie Williams

SPRINGFIELD SOCIETY - $100-$249
Rebecca Castner
Noelle Chapman
Lara Ellinger
Jennifer Ellison
Nora Flint
Glenna Hargreaves
Carol Heunisch
Lois Honan
Charlene Hope
Robert Hoy
Richard Kruzynski
Kati Kwasiborski
Bella Maningat
Milena McLaughlin
Megan Metzke
Kenneth Miller
Danielle Rahman
Amanda Wolff

GRASSROOTS GANG - $50-$99
Antoinette Cintron
Jeanne Durley
Linda Grider
Heather Harper
Erika Hellenbart
Ina Henderson
Leslie Junkins
Connie Larson
Barbara Limburg-Mancini
John McBride
Kit Moy
Gary Peksa
Daphne Smith-Marsh
Jennifer Splawski
Thomas Yu

CONTRIBUTOR - $1-$49
Marc Abel
Tamkeen Abreu
Gabriel Ahiamadi
Trisha Blassage
Coleen Bohnenkamp
Erick Borckowski
Josh DeMott
Janina Dionnio
Angelia Dreher
Tim Dunphy
Veronica Flores
Frank Hughes
Lori Huske
Vera Kalin
David Martin
Claudia Muldoon
Jose Ortiz
Lupe Paulino
Amanda Penland
Zach Rosenfeldt
Kevin Rynn
Cheryl Scantlen
Joellyn Schefke
Amanda Seddon
Kushal Shah
Beth Shields
"Southern Il University Edwardsville"
Karen Trenkler
University Of IL COP
Kathryn Wdowiarz
Marcella Wheatley
Tom Wheeler

Professional Affairs AHA
American Heart Association Heart Walks


For many of us, heart disease and stroke hit much closer to home than you may realize and we encounter it daily in our practice. This year, ICHP has committed to participating in the American Heart Association's Heart Walks in Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. Because heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans, and affects the lives of so many of our lives, we have made this initiative a priority.

To reach our fundraising goals, we are encouraging all members to participate in our fundraising efforts. You have many options for participation, such as:

  • Serving as a Local Team Leader (minor logistical responsibilities on the day of the event).
  • Joining a Team as a fundraising walker (walkers who raise $100 or more will receive a special AHA Heart Walk shirt and are eligible for prizes).
  • Making a personal donation to the ICHP team page even if unable to walk.

We seek motivated and dedicated members to serve as the Local Team Leader for each of the walks listed below. ICHP needs walkers who will not only walk and contribute themselves but also ask friends and family to donate to help us reach our goal in assisting the American Heart Association in fighting heart disease and stroke. If you would like to participate as a Walker to help raise funds, please go online here and register for the walk of your choice below. If you would like to participate as a Local Team Leader, please contact Tamkeen Quraishi Abreu (tquraishiabreu@gmail.com) from the Community Service Subcommittee. 

Join us at these upcoming Heart Walks!

Oak Brook: September 23, 2017 - Chicago, IL (join us or make a donation)  http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=2454&pg=team&team_id=188250

October 7, 2017 - Carterville, IL (join us or make a donation)  http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=2453&pg=team&team_id=188255

Sincerely,

 
ICHP Professional Affairs Division 
Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP)


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