http://www.michiganpharmacists.org The Michigan Pharmacists Association is a state professional society serving Michigan's pharmacists, pharmacy school educators, pharmaceutical representatives and pharmacy technicians. The mission of the Michigan Pharmacists Association is to encourage and support its members as professionals responsible for the delivery of patient-focused care. by Patrick Arnold, Pharm.D., and Zahra Hashemipour, Pharm.D., pharmacy practice residents, St. John Hospital and Medical CenterColistin is an antibiotic of the polymyxin class, originally used in the 1960s for its activity against gram-negative bacteria. However, its use gradually fell out of favor due to the drug’s high toxicity profile, primarily nephrotoxicity. More recently, colistin has re-emerged... Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ by Jessica L. Jones, Pharm.D., pharmacotherapy specialty resident, Harper University HospitalPharmacists are commonly seen as the referees of medications, only perceived as having a role in taking the piece of paper handed in at the “drop off” window and transforming it into a little bottle of pills to be purchased at the “pick up” window. Some joke that the job description has been reduced... Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ by David P. Mulherin, Pharm.D., BCPS, PGY-2 pharmacy informatics resident, University of Michigan Health SystemHealth information technology (HIT) professionals are currently in high demand in hospitals throughout the country. A significant portion of this demand is related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This economic stimulus package provides almost $20 billion worth... Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ by Curtis D. Collins, Pharm.D., MS, BCPS AQ-ID, MSHP Board of DirectorsWe are without a doubt in the midst of exciting times in health care, and pharmacy specifically. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) was, as described by MSHP President Ryan Bickel, a momentous initiative. The PPMI is certain to have far-reaching ramifications for our... Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ by Kali M. VanLangen, Pharm.D., BCPS, Western Regional Society RepresentativeSpring is always a busy, yet exciting, time of the year for the Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (WMSHP).Each year in April, WMSHP sponsors a meeting that allows two area residents to present their Great Lakes Residency Conference projects to our members. This was the third year the meeting has been held... Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ The first Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Program hosted by MPA will be held June 7 at the Association’s headquarters in Lansing. The deadline to register is quickly approaching on May 31.  This program, developed by the American Pharmacists Association, is designed to provide pharmacists and student pharmacists with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and promote a successful... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ On Tuesday, June 12, from 7-8 p.m., MPA will host a pain management continuing education webinar. Terry J. Baumann, Pharm.D., clinical manager and pain practitioner at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, will describe characteristics of acute pain and chronic persistent pain; discuss the physiology of acute pain and pathophysiology of chronic and persistent pain; and describe how to assess patients... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ Those planning to attend the Seventh Annual MSHP Residency Conference, June 4 at the Lexington Lansing Hotel, are encouraged to register soon! Registration is limited to the first 125 attendees. Educational programming for the conference will include a focus on the future of the pharmacy practice model, leadership development to support the model, impact of residents and preceptors in this changing... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ Join the South Carolina Pharmacists Association (SCPhA) for a continuing education cruise at sea! The seven-day cruise departs on Sept. 15, 2012, from Charleston, S.C. During the first two days, you will have the opportunity to earn eight hours of CE credit. Then, spend your time enjoying the amenities of the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship; explore Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau; and network with... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ According to a new study, as childhood obesity rates climb, more children are developing type 2 diabetes, and the disease progresses more rapidly and is more difficult to treat than in adults. The research is the first large study of type 2 diabetes in children. Dr. Robin Goland of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center stated in a recent New York Times article that... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently evaluated a series of 26 cases of pediatric accidental exposures to fentanyl patches reported over the past 15 years. Of the cases evaluated, 10 resulted in death and 12 in hospitalization.  The FDA has previously alerted the public about this important health concern, as well as provided resources for the proper disposal of these patches to prevent... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care® recently announced a series of upcoming webinars to assist pharmacist providers in understanding medication therapy management (MTM) opportunities available through the Outcomes MTM program.  Founded in 1999, Outcomes is the national leader in MTM services. The company has built a nationwide network of Personal Pharmacists™ that deliver MTM services to more... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Office of Public Health Preparedness funded a project to develop ethical guidelines for allocating scarce resources during a crisis event. The guidelines provide a set of criteria to assist in making allocation decisions when situations of scarcity exist during emergencies. These criteria are designed to minimize morbidity and mortality, to sustain... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a train-the-trainer program called Taking Your Medicines Safely (TYMS) that raises awareness about medication safety, aiming to prevent accidental poisonings involving medications among older adults.  TYMS provides training to anyone interested in facilitating/delivering an education program for older adults. Ideal settings for an education... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/ The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held its fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28. According to the Agency, Americans turned in 276 tons of unwanted medications. The agency has been doing National Prescription Drug Take-Back day since September 2010 and has removed over 1.5 million pounds or 774 tons of medication from circulation. In the 2011 spring and fall take-back... Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/news/