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Objectives: To determine patients' perceptions and expectations about medication therapy management (MTM) services pertaining to the core elements of an MTM service In the community pharmacy setting, and to develop educational strategies and outreach programs aimed at increasing patients' knowledge of MTM services and the expanded role of pharmacists in the community pharmacy setting. Design: Multicenter, cross-sectional, anonymous study. Setting: Four regional community chain pharmacies In Maryland and Delaware in January and February 2006. Patients: 81 patients who were 18 years of age or older and able to complete the survey. Intervention: Survey containing 14 questions administered within pharmacies, two of which had patient care centers that were providing clinical services. Main outcome measure: Patients' perceptions and expectations regarding MTM services. Results: 49 of 81 patients (60%) had never heard of MTM services. A total of 65 patients (80%) had never had or received a medication therapy review, 63 (78%) never had or received a personal medication record, and 70 (86%) never had or received a medication action plan. Some 56% of participants (n = 45) thought that pharmacist provision of medication therapy reviews, personal medication records, medication action plans, recommendations about medications, and referral to other health care providers was very important. At, least 70% of participants (n = 57) thought that having one-on-one consultation sessions with pharmacists to improve communication and relationships with their pharmacists and to improve their medication use and overall health was very important. More than 50% of participants indicated that they would like to receive brochures or talk to their pharmacist to learn more about MTM services. Conclusion: Patients have very limited knowledge of the core elements of an MTM service in the community pharmacy setting. Patients reported that pharmacist provision of MTM services was important, but they were concerned about privacy and pharmacists' time. Patients are also supportive of and believe that MTM services can improve communication and relationship with their pharmacist and Improve medication use. Patients appear to prefer receiving brochures and talking to pharmacists to learn more about MTM services. This survey identified a key opportunity for pharmacists to inform patients about MTM services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four decades, the expanded patient care roles of pharmacists in the United States (U.S.) have increased focus on ensuring the implementation of processes to enhance continuing professional development within the profession. The transition from a model of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) to a model of continuing professional development (CPD) is still evolving. As pharmacists assume more complex roles in patient care delivery, particularly in community-based settings, the need to demonstrate and maintain professional competence becomes more critical. In addition, long-held processes for post-graduate education and licensure must also continue to adapt to meet these changing needs. Members of the pharmacy profession in the U.S. must adopt the concept of CPD and implement processes to support the thoughtful completion of professional development plans. Comprehensive, state-of-the-art technology solutions are available to assist pharmacists with understanding, implementing and applying CPD to their professional lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursery, floriculture, and propagation production accounted for 79% ($13.3 Billion) of 2017 ornamental specialty crop production in the United States. Access to high quality water sources is increasingly limited for irrigating these economically significant crops. Given the production, environmental, and economic issues associated with the use of water—including recycled, reclaimed, surface, and ground water—it is critical to develop sustainable runoff, containment, and remediation technologies, and to identify alternative sources of water. To better understand current practices and future water-related needs as perceived by grower stakeholders, an online survey was distributed nationally and five in-depth round table discussion sessions were conducted at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Gulf States Horticultural Expo, California Grown Show, AmericanHort's Cultivate, and the Farwest Show with a total of 36 individual industry participants. A team of research and extension specialists facilitated by a Specialty Crops Research Initiative Planning Grant (NIFA Project # 2011-51181-30633) analyzed and concisely summarized the results from the survey and the round table discussions. Research priorities related to water management identified by stakeholders revolved around six themes: (1) recycled water infrastructure and management; (2) contaminants; (3) plant health and water quality; (4) water treatment technologies; (5) competing and complementary water uses; (6) societal perception of agricultural water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based pharmacy practice is evolving from a focus on product preparation and dispensing to becoming a health care destination within the four walls of the traditional community-based pharmacy. Furthermore, community-based pharmacy practice is expanding beyond the four walls of the traditional community-based pharmacy to provide care to patients where they need it. Pharmacists involved in this transition are community-based pharmacist practitioners who are primarily involved in leading and advancing team-based patient care services in communities to improve the patient health. This paper will review community-based pharmacy practice innovations and the role of the community-based pharmacist practitioner in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the types of services provided at primary community pharmacy residency program (CPRP) sites and the levels of intensity devoted to different levels of patient care., Design: Descriptive nonexperimental study., Setting: United States during May and June 2012., Participants: 120 key informants from CPRPs., Intervention: Key informants from CPRPs were surveyed., Main Outcome Measures: Proportion of residency sites providing selected patient care services, proportion of each service provided by residents, estimates for the number of repetitions needed for a typical resident to become proficient in each service, and services provided at other practice sites., Results: Of the 120 respondents, 70 identified themselves as preceptors/directors, 45 identified themselves as residents, and 5 did not identify their position. Variation was achieved for representation from different practice settings and geographic locations. The findings revealed variability in the types of services provided at CPRP practice sites and the experiences offered for residents. Collaboration with other practice sites, in order to enhance residents' training and experiences, also appeared to be occurring., Conclusion: The results showed that the types and intensity of services provided at CPRP sites gave residents opportunities for advancing patient care services training, directing patient contact, and creating opportunities to be engaged in practice innovation.