ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition - American Society of Health System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition

Jennifer Clements, a clinical professor and the director of pharmacy education at the University of South Carolina, discusses the pharmacists role in diabetes care.

Pharmacy Times interviews Jennifer Clements, a clinical professor and the director of pharmacy education at the University of South Carolina, about glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors for diabetes treatment.

New medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and resmetirom show promise in reversing fatty liver disease and preventing progression.

Pharmacists can educate patients on controlling risk factors and stay up-to-date on emerging therapies like SGLT2 inhibitors and finerenone that can slow disease progression.

Lp(a) is a critical risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but current lipid-lowering therapies are largely ineffective at lowering Lp(a) levels.

Administering first-dose antibiotics to septic shock patients via IV push rather than continuous infusion could improve the speed of antibiotic delivery and reduce logistical challenges.

The disparity highlights opportunities for pharmacists to get involved and address health disparities.

Pharmacists are crucial in educating patients, identifying eligible individuals, and promoting uptake of the newly expanded RSV vaccination recommendations for older adults.

Adoption barriers include insurance coverage, patient and provider education, and regulatory hurdles that require aligned initiatives across stakeholders.

Pharmacists are encouraged to work closely with health care providers to ensure appropriate use of high-cost Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for BK nephropathy.

The 2025 GOLD Report emphasizes the importance of tailoring combination treatments based on patient factors like eosinophil counts and exacerbation history.

Pharmacists can optimize IVIG treatment for BK nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients by educating providers and monitoring for infusion reactions.

Pharmacists are essential in preventing the significant health and economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in older adults through vaccination.

Rates of GBS were similar between Arexvy and Abrysvo, at 0.12% and 0.11% of total reported events, respectively.

Pharmacists identify appropriate patients for new oral and antibody drug conjugate treatments and provide counseling to help patients navigate the evolving treatment landscape.

Compounding pharmacies play a vital role in meeting the unique needs of patients, but pharmacists must adhere to strict safety standards and regulations.

Pharmacy errors can happen due to manual processes, but they can be mitigated through adoption of automated IV workflow technology and comprehensive compounding records.

Higher costs of efgartigimod alfa are primarily driven by its status as a newly approved, brand-name therapy without a generic alternative.

Food insecurity in rural communities can affect hypertension, but pharmacists can mitigate the impact by educating themselves on nutrition options for low-income individuals.

Snehal Bhatt discusess the need to individualize antiplatelet therapy decisions based on a comprehensive assessment of each patient's unique risk factors for thrombosis and bleeding.

Rural pharmacies and hospitals face unique challenges in maintaining adequate staffing and drug supply inventory to serve patients who often travel long distance.

Daily operational tasks and quality assurance measures in pharmacy compounding ensures patient safety and maintains compliance.

Pharmacists can help drive the successful adoption of biosimilars by developing educational programs to address provider and patient concerns.

Pharmacists are crucial skin care experts and should counsel patients on the importance of adjunct therapies like moisturizers and sunscreen when using certain medications.

Rural patients face significant barriers to health care access and affordability that contribute to poor hypertension management.

Dose rounding within an acceptable range can provide cost savings and minimize waste, but requires careful interprofessional collaboration and patient education.

According to the report, 75% of survey participants expect pharmacists to oversee these therapies and 58% expect Medicare will require pharmacist involvement.

Results suggest that patients commonly receive more than 5 days of treatment, which could be an opportunity for an antimicrobial stewardship initiative.

Pharmacists are essential members of the patient care team, leveraging technology like automated IV compounding to standardize processes.

The progress made in areas like scope expansion and reimbursement is encouraging, suggesting a growing recognition of pharmacists’ value within the health care system.