Pain Point: Insulin is in the spotlight due to manufacturers, insurers, and states announcing co-pay caps and lower prices. These changes will lead to questions about how to use insulin for patients with type 2 diabetes. 

Solution: Our Pharmacist's Letter, Pharmacist’s Letter Canada, Hospital Pharmacist’s Letter, and Prescriber’s Letter articles answer frequently asked questions about insulin, such as when insulin should be started and how to initiate and titrate doses. We provide recommendations on how other diabetes medications should be adjusted when insulin is added and discuss the risks and benefits of using certain diabetes medications together. Our Diabetes Resource Hub includes guidance on switching insulins and monitoring effectiveness. And our resource, Tips to Improve Insulin Safety, outlines strategies to prevent errors. 

Pain Point: There are recent reports of ear drops being accidentally instilled into the eyes, leading to severe burning, swelling, and eye pain after use. Mix-ups aren’t surprising, since many ear and eye medications have similar-looking names and packaging. 

Solution: Our Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, Pharmacist’s Letter Canada, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter Canada, and Hospital Pharmacy Technician’s Letter articles highlight strategies to decrease the risk of errors, including how to store ear or eye medications in the pharmacy along with what to watch for during Rx order-entry, filling, and patient pickup. We provide guidance that readers can share with patients about storing these medications at home as well as what steps to take if ear medications are accidentally put in the eyes.  Our resource, The Ins and Outs of Eye and Ear Meds, outlines additional ways to keep patients safe. 

Pain Point: Most patients have at least one medication error at care transitions. Patient safety at these points can depend on the effort of the healthcare team, which includes pharmacy technicians in several ways. 

Solution: Our Hospital Pharmacy Technician’s Letter article provides a range of practical tips for reducing the risk of medication errors at care transitions. These can be useful for medical history teams, technicians who work with meds-to-beds programs, technicians who deliver medications to patients, technicians who field phone calls, etc. We touch on common errors that tend to happen at admission or at discharge. Readers can use our resources, Mastering Medication Lists and Histories and Transitions of Care Checklist, to find additional ways to limit medication errors and ensure patients are getting their intended regimen. 

Promotes safe, evidence-based anticoagulation management for your pharmacists to meet national standards, including The Joint Commission for acute care settings.

Helps your pharmacists take the lead in preventing and treating infections to meet national standards, including The Joint Commission for acute care settings. 

Provides a framework for your pharmacists to promote practical applications of pain management standards and meet The Joint Commission requirements in acute care settings.

Ensures your pharmacists stay competent and practice safely to meet USP <797> requirements and processes to maintain sterility when compounding. 

Helps your pharmacists stay competent and practice safely by handling drugs in ways that minimize exposure and ensure safety to meet USP <800> requirements.

Reinforces the soft skills that matter most for smooth operation of the pharmacy, especially as pharmacists interact with other members of the healthcare team and patients.

Helps pharmacists make the best recommendations for safe, effective use of natural medicines and supplements for common conditions.

Outlines data and efficacy study results to help pharmacists provide evidence-based guidance to patients and colleagues. 

This month’s Hot Topic on-demand webinar features an expert panel discussion and clinical guidance on non-statins for LDL lowering. Listen as Steven E. Nissen, MD, MACC, Chief Academic Officer, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, and other panelists discuss and answer common clinical questions. Watch the webinar.

Build competence and in-demand compounding skills with CriticalPoint's upcoming 2023 virtual trainings. Learn more and view the training schedule here.