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Introduction: Pharmacists are increasingly adopting patient-centered roles, improving healthcare outcomes by reducing medication errors and costs. In China, recent healthcare reforms recognize and compensate for pharmacy services. However, patient awareness of these services and their willingness to pay (WTP) remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to examine inpatient understanding of pharmacy services, their WTP in Hebei Province, and the factors affecting it. Methods: Between July and August 2024, a questionnaire was used to survey inpatients from 22 medical institutions across 11 prefecture-level cities in Hebei Province regarding their awareness of WTP for pharmacy services. Further investigation targeted inpatients unwilling to pay. The survey results were analyzed descriptively, with frequencies and percentages (%) used for categorical data and continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (X ± SD). The chi-square test was used to determine statistically significant influences, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors affecting inpatient WTP for pharmacy services. A column-line graph was validated using receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration graph analysis. Results: In total, 464 questionnaires were distributed, with 432 valid responses, yielding a 93.10% effective response rate. Most inpatients (89.58%) viewed hospital pharmacists as primarily responsible for dispensing medication, while only 5.79% were aware of broader pharmacy services. Despite this, 72.69% of the inpatients were willing to receive pharmacy services, and 95.38% of those who had received such services found them beneficial. Half of the inpatients (216, or 50.00%) indicated WTP for pharmacy services. Among those initially unwilling to pay (216 inpatients), 102 indicated they would consider payment if a doctor recommended clinical pharmacist guidance. Of the 318 inpatients who were WTP, 315 (99.06%) chose health insurance reimbursement as a payment method. Key factors influencing inpatient WTP included literacy level, preferred source of medication counseling, prior pharmacy service experience, understanding of pharmacy service policies, and readiness to recommend these services (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Most inpatients lacked knowledge and trust in clinical pharmacists, with limited awareness of the value of pharmacy services. However, they demonstrated high acceptance and WTP for these services, with nearly all inpatients preferring health insurance reimbursement. Integrating pharmacy service fees into health insurance is crucial for promoting these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the 2025 American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP) Pharmacy Forecast report which aims to identify and contextualize emerging trends that will influence healthcare, health systems, and the pharmacy profession. Topics discussed include the methods used to develop the 2025 Pharmacy Forecast, contents of the 2025 Pharmacy Forecast, and market pressure on health systems with infusion services.

The article describes the purpose and promise of health system-based research networks with a focus on the medication-use process (MUP). Topics include the pathway for the development of and participation in one such consortium, challenges critical for this initiative to overcome, and an approach that can be taken to conduct research in all domains of the MUP.

Purpose The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) developed the Practice Advancement Initiative 2030 (PAI 2030) to support the continuous improvement of hospital pharmacy services in the United States. Puerto Rico (PR) hospitals' level of compliance with PAI 2030 recommendations is not currently known. The primary objective of this study was to describe the hospital pharmacy scenario in PR in the 5 areas addressed in PAI 2030 recommendations. Summary Through a collaboration between the state affiliate, a school of pharmacy, and ASHP, completion of the PAI 2030 Self-Assessment Tool was promoted among hospital pharmacy directors between August 2022 and March 2023. A total of 18 out of 66 hospitals completed the survey. The results were compared with national data provided by ASHP from 163 US hospitals. Areas where PR hospitals rated high were in PAI 2030 domain A (Pharmacy Technician Role, Education, and Training) and domain E (Pharmacist Leadership in Medication Use and Safety). PR hospitals rate their performance lower in domain A (Patient-Centered Care) and domain B (Pharmacist Role, Education, and Training). Specific focus areas for improvement by PR hospitals include pharmacist participation in medication reconciliation, 24/7 access to advanced clinical pharmacy services, expansion of the pharmacist's scope of practice, and training through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties and residency programs. Conclusion This study illustrates how the PAI 2030 Self-Assessment Tool can be used to benchmark pharmacy services at the state level. We suggest that changes are needed to close the gap between hospital pharmacies working towards optimizing the role of pharmacists in healthcare systems and those still struggling with dedicating staff to well-recognized pharmacist roles and responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antithrombotic medications are essential for the management of abnormal clot formation. However, their availability, pricing, and affordability in Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa, have not been comprehensively studied. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to assess the availability, pricing, and affordability of essential antithrombotic medicines. This study utilized the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Health Action Organization methodology. Five public hospital outpatient pharmacies, four private hospitals, ten private pharmacies, four Kenema pharmacies, and two Red Cross pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were included in the study. All essential antithrombotic medicines in the 6th edition of Ethiopia's Essential Medicines List were included in this study. Data were collected for originator brands and the lowest-priced generic medicines available at each medicine outlet. Results: The availability of low-priced generic (LPG) antithrombotic medicines was 31%, with private hospitals having the highest availability (52%). Original-brand antithrombotic medicines were rarely available, averaging only 3%, with private pharmacies showing a slightly higher availability (10%). The median price of LPG antithrombotic medicines is higher in private settings. Original-brand (OB) antithrombotic medicines in private hospitals and pharmacies were unaffordable, costing between 256.14 and 3,418 days of wages. Conclusion: The availability of most antithrombotic medicines was low across all sectors compared with the WHO target. Private hospitals showed relatively higher availability of LPG medicines than other pharmacy outlets included in the study. There is a significant disparity between the availability and affordability of LPG and OB medicines. To address these issues, the national drug procurement and distribution systems must be strengthened. Exploring local production and financial assistance programs, implementing effective stock management, regulating medicine prices, promoting high-quality generic medicines, and conducting further research to understand the national landscape are all essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Design Results Conclusion Practice‐integrated residency programs are one of the most recognised training platforms for early career development across settings, including hospital pharmacy. They embed a structured education and competency framework and preceptor mentoring systems in the workplace.This review aimed to map the global literature on practice‐integrated education and professional development programs for early career hospital pharmacists, with a focus on how the programs were implemented and structured.A search was applied to electronic databases MEDLINE, Ovid Emcare, Embase, ERIC, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and grey literature sources until 31 December 2023. Search terms were developed in consultation with an academic librarian and using the population, concept and context mnemonic. The scoping review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review manual.Forty‐seven papers were included from seven countries, with the majority (n = 33) being from the United States of America. Residency program details were mapped against jurisdictions and associated assessment processes, competency training areas, and focused training elements. Findings report similarities and differences of structural, competency frameworks, and locally driven context and requirements.The demand from early career pharmacists for residency programs remains high, with professional pharmacy organisations providing leadership to grow training positions. The global pharmacy development goals appear to be embedded within the residency programs, but gaps include training in non‐direct patient care competencies and research that demonstrates the outcomes from residency training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for "quick-fixes" and instant gratification intensifies among consumers of the US health care delivery system, health care providers remain essential to ensuring patients receive safe, evidenced-based care. Erectile dysfunction is a common health condition affecting as many as 42% of US men. As such, it is unsurprising that American health care consumers affected by erectile dysfunction (ED) may be tempted by "quick fixes" to ameliorate their symptoms—particularly if such fixes are perceived to be less embarrassing, more accessible, and/or more affordable. Although multiple therapies for the treatment of ED are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, unregulated and/or counterfeit treatments are abundantly available to health care consumers on the Internet and US retail settings. These unregulated treatments may take the form of over-the-counter supplements or tainted prescription medications from illegal Internet pharmacies. This clinical brief is a call to action for health care professionals to advocate for patient safety, educate patients, and champion evidence-based therapies approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay uses the unpublished casebook kept by the Tuscan surgeon Giovanbattista Nardi to examine the provision of urgent medical care in sixteenth-century Italian hospitals. Most major hospitals on the peninsula maintained separate therapeutic spaces known as medicherie for this purpose. Written in the 1580s while Nardi worked as a staff surgeon at a Florentine civic hospital, this rare surgical casebook provides insight into the types of institutional resources devoted to acute medical problems; the clientele seeking immediate assistance and the situations that brought them there; the treatments used to achieve short-term "cures"; and the clinical experiences of hospital surgeons who served as frontline healers. A close analysis of the seventy-nine cases recorded sheds new light on everyday surgical treatments for conditions ranging from serious head injuries requiring trephination to syphilitic lesions and genital trauma. Casebook entries also reveal Nardi's deep engagement with the composition and use of topical remedies as both practitioner and experimenter. Intended as a memory aid for future reference, the casebook shows material traces of the author's shifting occupational identity as he matured from hospital surgeon to university-trained physician. Viewed through multiple lenses, this richly layered source expands our understanding of both the practice and profession of early modern surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Computerized decision support systems (CDSSs) aim to prevent adverse drug events. However, these systems generate an overload of alerts that are not always clinically relevant. Anticoagulants are frequently involved in these alerts. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of CDSS alerts on anticoagulants in Dutch hospital pharmacies. Methods: A multicentre, single‐day, cross‐sectional study was conducted using a flashmob design in Dutch hospital pharmacies, which have CDSSs that operate on both a national medication surveillance database and on self‐developed clinical rules. Hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians collected data on the number and type of alerts and time needed for assessing these alerts. The primary outcome was the CDSS efficiency on anticoagulants, defined as the percentage of alerts on anticoagulants that led to an intervention. Secondary outcomes where among other CDSSs efficiency related to any medications and the time expenditure. Descriptive data‐analysis was used. Results: Of the 69 hospital pharmacies invited, 42 (61%) participated. The efficiency of CDSS alerts on anticoagulants was 4.0% (interquartile range [IQR] 14.0%) for the national medication surveillance database alerts and 14.3% (IQR 40.0%) for alerts from clinical rules. For any medication, the efficiency was lower: 1.8% (IQR 7.5%) and 13.4% (IQR 21.5%) respectively. The median time for assessing the relevance of all alerts was 2 (IQR 1:21) h/day for pharmacists and 6 (IQR 5:01) h/day for pharmacy technicians. Conclusion: CDSS efficiency is generally low, both for anticoagulants and any medication, while the time investment is high. Optimization of CDSSs is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of the chief pharmacy officer in eliminating sexual harassment in pharmacy. Topics include role the pharmacy executive in driving change and accountability, a barrier to sexual harassment awareness and reporting, and reason that many incidents of sexual harassment go unreported.

Purpose Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) people disproportionally experience health disparities, and hospital pharmacists, given their accessibility and expertise in medication management, are ideally positioned to provide care to this vulnerable population. This study investigated the barriers and facilitators faced by hospital pharmacists when providing care to 2SLGBTQ+ patients, with the goal of informing enhancement of quality care provided to these patients. Methods A mixed-methods triangulation design was utilized, comprising an online survey and qualitative interviews with Canadian hospital pharmacists. The survey used the lens of systemic oppression as a framework and assessed pharmacists' perceptions and knowledge. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 129 individuals participated in the survey, and 15 participants were interviewed. Eleven themes were identified, and findings revealed a complex web of individual, interpersonal, and systemic barriers and facilitators. Pharmacists expressed a lack of proficiency and confidence in discussing 2SLGBTQ+ health topics, further compounded by an apprehension to engage and a fear of causing harm. Pharmacists desired support from their leadership teams and organizations in the form of access to resources, time to engage in training, and workplace environments that encourage discussions about 2SLGBTQ+ health. Conclusion Hospital pharmacists in Canada are willing to provide inclusive care to 2SLGBTQ+ patients but face significant barriers. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive education, supportive workplace cultures, and accessible resources to address health disparities and improve care for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Integration of pharmacists into the perioperative practice has the potential to improve patients' clinical outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to systematically investigate the evidence on the roles of pharmacists in perioperative settings and the effects of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes and therapy optimization. Methods A protocol-led (CRD42023460812) systematic review was conducted using search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases. Studies that investigated the roles and impact of pharmacist-led interventions in the perioperative settings on clinical outcomes were included. Data were extracted and quality assessed independently by two reviewers using the DEPICT-2 (Descriptive Elements of Pharmacist Intervention Characterization Tool) and the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT), respectively. Studies were grouped according to the clinical area into 5 sections: (1) pain control and opioid consumption; (2) venous thromboembolism (VTE); (3) surgery-related gastrointestinal complications; (4) postoperative medication management; and (5) total parenteral nutritional. Results Nineteen studies involving a total of 7,168 patients were included; most studies were conducted in gastrointestinal (n = 7) and orthopedics (n = 6) surgical units. Most included studies (n = 14) employed a multicomponent intervention including pharmaceutical care, education, guideline development, drug information services, and recommendations formulation. The processes of developing the implemented interventions and their structures were seldom reported. Positive impacts of pharmacist intervention on clinical outcomes included significant improvement in pain control and reductions in the incidence of VTE, surgery-related stress ulcer, nausea, and vomiting. There is inconsistency in the findings related to medication management (ie, achieving desired therapeutic ranges) and management of chronic conditions (hypertension and type 2 diabetes). Conclusion Whilst there is some evidence of positive impacts of pharmacist intervention on clinical outcomes and optimizing drug therapy, this evidence is generally of low quality and insufficient volume. While this review suggests that pharmacists have essential roles in improving the care of patients undergoing surgery, more research with rigorous designs is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the statement by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) on the community pharmacist's role in the care continuum. Topics include practice areas where community pharmacies are found, core clinical responsibilities of community pharmacists, and core operations of the community pharmacy that the pharmacist manages or supports.

The article provides health-system pharmacists an overview of Generation Alpha preferences and potential strategies for engagement during patient education. Topics discussed include characteristics of Generation Alpha, importance of understanding generational differences for health-system pharmacists, and possible impact of failing to incorporate technology and gamification into patient education for a Generation Alpha patient.

The article highlights the efforts of the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) to modernize the state's pharmacy practice act by adopting a standard-of-care regulatory framework. Topics discussed include reasons behind the successful effort of the IPA, the vote by the IPA's House of Delegates in 2019 to create a task force to study changing the state practice act, and definition given by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy on standard of care.

The article discusses how Kentucky-based Baptist Health has successfully reduced its intravenous (IV) fluid use by about 40 percent during a nationwide shortage. Topics include background on the shortage, initial response to the shortage according to Greg Fakelmann, system director for pharmacy clinical services for Baptist Health, and fluid management strategies.

The document discusses the establishment of a Drug Information Unit and Pharmacovigilance Cell in a provincial hospital in Nepal, in line with the 2015 Hospital Pharmacy Service Guidelines. It emphasizes the importance of providing evidence-based drug information to enhance patient safety and prevent medication errors. The text highlights the challenges faced in implementing these services, such as underreporting of adverse drug reactions, and outlines future goals to promote rational drug use and improve medication safety. The initiative aims to enhance hospital pharmacy practice and quality of healthcare services in Nepal. [Extracted from the article]