Pain Point: Pharmacy teams and prescribers need to stay on top of changing COVID-19 vaccine guidance now that monovalent mRNA products are no longer authorized for use.

Solution: Our Pharmacist’s Letter, Hospital Pharmacist’s Letter, Prescriber’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, and Hospital Pharmacy Technician’s Letter articles highlight the continued efficacy of bivalent vaccines. We provide recommendations summarizing the simplified vaccine schedules, including how some patients now only need one dose of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. We also discuss guidelines for patients who may need more bivalent vaccines, including those who are immunocompromised or kids under 6 years. Our resource, COVID-19 Vaccines, has a comparison of available vaccines, dosing, and storage requirements to help prevent errors and confusion between products.

Pain Point: Summer will bring opportunities to promote sun safety since about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

Solution: Our Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacist’s Letter Canada, Prescriber’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, and Pharmacy Technician’s Letter Canada articles provide practical tips for helping patients who ask, “What’s this spot?” We provide recommendations on what lesions to watch for, where to check, and when patients may need to be referred to a specialist. We highlight differences between basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, including photos of these cancer types as well as a photo of precancerous actinic keratosis. We answer frequently asked questions about sun protection strategies, including which sunscreen to choose, what SPF means, and how often to reapply sunscreen. And our resource, Shedding Light on Questions About Sunscreens, answers questions about water resistance and “reef-safe” products as well as considerations in pregnancy, infants, and kids.

Pain Point: Albumin shortages and high costs continue to plague hospitals, but evidence suggests that pharmacist intervention reduces inappropriate use by over 50% and leads to major cost savings.

Solution: Our Hospital Pharmacist’s Letter article provides practical approaches for optimizing albumin use. We recommend requiring an albumin order set, and we summarize indications and criteria for appropriate use. Additionally, we provide guidance about selecting albumin products, tips for administration, and strategies to manage shortages. Our resource, Decompensated Chronic Liver Failure, includes more details on albumin dosing and other complications of liver disease, such as hepatic encephalopathy and ascites.

Build competence and in-demand compounding skills with CriticalPoint's upcoming 2023 virtual trainings.

Learn more and view the training schedule here.

This month’s TRC Hot Topic on-demand webinar features an expert panel discussion and clinical guidance on strategies for managing dyslipidemia. Listen to 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.