By Marla M. Ekola, Pharm.D., BCPS, M.B.A., director of pharmacy, Memorial Healthcare, Pharmacy Systems Inc.  Since 2004, USP <797> has been the guiding principle for sterile product production. The Joint Commission began enforcement of these standards in 2008, yet still more than half of the pharmacies self-reported being out of compliance with this standards.1 All ...

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By Deborah Isopi, B.S. Pharm, M.B.A., PGY1 residency program director, Detroit Medical Center The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Commission on Credentialing (COC) is currently updating the goals and objectives for all ASHP accredited residency programs. ASHP recognized that the previous documents were out-of-date and burdensome, so experts from across the country have been c...

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By Derek Vander Horst, Pharm.D., BCPS, PGY2 infectious diseases pharmacy resident, Munson Medical Center  I am sure by now you have heard rumblings of new regulations that would require all acute healthcare facilities to have a formal antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) to improve and monitor how antimicrobials are prescribed within their institution. As of Jan. 1, 2017, The Joint Commis...

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By Tammy Busch, R.Ph., staff pharmacist, Otsego Memorial Hospital, University of Florida-WPPD Pharm.D. candidate, northern region representative   The Northern Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NMSHP) is on winter break until April; however, we are not hibernating! We are busy planning our spring meetings. New this year, we are planning an extra half-day live continuing educati...

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By Jesse Hogue, Pharm.D., pharmacy education coordinator, Bronson Methodist Hospital, MSHP immediate past-president   In January, President Dana Staat wrote an excellent article updating us on the status of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act and how we can start to “Gear Up” for practice after approval of the act. After the many articles that Dana, I an...

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