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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedSikora A, Martin GS
Critical care pharmacists: improving care by increasing access to medication expertise.
This article discusses the shortage and need for critical care pharmacists in ICUs to improve care and prevent medication errors. There is a gap in critical care pharmacists with both low supply and low demand. Identifying the optimal patient:pharmacist ratio in the ICU is a key question. The authors discuss ways to reduce the gap by increasing the number of critical care pharmacy residency programs and including critical care pharmacists more in multidisciplinary rounds. The authors developed a toolkit for increasing critical care pharmacy services in five actionable steps and provide an annotated bibliography of key references.
AHRQ-funded; HS028485.
Citation: Sikora A, Martin GS .
Critical care pharmacists: improving care by increasing access to medication expertise.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2022 Nov;19(11):1796-98. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202206-502VP..
Keywords: Provider: Pharmacist, Medication, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Critical Care
Ailabouni NJ, Marcum ZA, Schmader KE
Medication use quality and safety in older adults: 2018 update.
This study identified four key articles from 2018 that address medication use quality and safety for older adults. The first study highlighted a cluster-randomized trial that utilized a pharmacist-led education-based intervention delivered to both patients and doctors to deprescribe four types of inappropriate medications. The second study from the UK examined the association between anticholinergic exposure, overall and by medication class, and dementia risk in 40,770 older adults. The third study was a Swedish longitudinal cohort study examining the association between antihypertensive medications and incident dementia. The fourth and last study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and examined the effect of daily low-dose aspirin for primary prevention of cardiac events and hemorrhage in 19,144 community-dwelling older adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Ailabouni NJ, Marcum ZA, Schmader KE .
Medication use quality and safety in older adults: 2018 update.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Dec;67(12):2458-62. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16243..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Provider: Pharmacist, Provider
Nolan K, Zullo AR, Bosco E
Controlled substance diversion in health systems: a failure modes and effects analysis for prevention.
This study’s purpose was to demonstrate the utility of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify potential sources of controlled substance diversion and developing solutions in an academic health system. A cross-functional team of 18 members was developed from the department of pharmacy. Scoring criteria was developed and ways were identified in which step of the medication supply there could be failure and result in diversion of controlled substances. Failure was indicated with a vulnerability score of 48 or 64. A total of 10 major steps and 30 substeps in the supply process was identified. From this 103 potential failure modes were identified, with 24 modes (23%) considered failing. Notable failure included controlled substance activity under temporary patients and discrepancy trends. Expanded use of cameras in high-risk areas and added verification checks were implemented after the analysis.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Nolan K, Zullo AR, Bosco E .
Controlled substance diversion in health systems: a failure modes and effects analysis for prevention.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2019 Jul 18;76(15):1158-64. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxz116..
Keywords: Medication, Provider: Pharmacist, Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care