Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists News

President's Corner (Jan-Feb)

Ashley Blanchette — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:34:58 GMT

I hope this message finds you well! WMSHP members enjoyed our January meeting featuring Elizabeth Graham for a CE on "Weight management medications: past, present, and future" and our February meeting presented by yours truly on "Medication History".

Since my last President's Corner, the board has been busy planning for more great events ahead, check out the rundown below to ensure you don't miss out!

March

Monthly WMSHP Meeting at Beacon Health System on 3/12
MSHP Board Meeting on 3/12

April

MPA-Annual Convention & Exposition in Lansing!
- MPF Adopt-a-Student Program. The WMSHP board will support 2 pharmacy students to participate in the conference.
- - If you are interested in supporting a student, mentors can sign up until 3/8 https://michiganpharmacyfoundation.org/mpf-initiatives/adopt-a-student/parent-questionnaire/

- The House of Delegates. WMSHP delegates will present a resolution encouraging MPA to advocate for patient access to glucagon rescue autoinjectors.
The Annual Resident Research Meeting at Founders on 4/9

May

The Spring Seminar on 5/14

June

The WMSHP board will meet to plan for the year ahead; your feedback is appreciated, please let us know if you have ideas to make our regional society even better by emailing leadership@wmshp.net or ashleyblanchette@gmail.com.

August

Our summer outing/membership drive is on 8/8 at Millenium Park in Grand Rapids

I look forward to seeing you on March 12th at our next membership meeting!

Your friend and colleague,

Ashley Blanchette, PharmD

WMSHP President 2026
MPA Government Affairs Committee Vice Chair
MSHP Publications Committee Board Liaison

Happy New Year!

Ashley Blanchette — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:32:09 GMT

Happy New Year's Eve!

The WMSHP board is also excited to welcome Chase Kiriazis, PharmD as a board member this year.

We look forward to seeing you next week on January 8th at 6:30 pm over Zoom (invitation being sent out soon).

For anyone who is interested in joining WMSHP this year, we are working diligently to keep our membership rates as low as possible while still providing you with high quality programming and networking opportunities. Wait until you see what this year has in store!

Annual Membership Dues Effective February 1:

Pharmacist $75
Technician $10
Resident $20

Happy Holidays!

Emailed: December 22, 2025

Hello everyone, this is Ashley Blanchette and I am proud to be your 2026 WMSHP President!

We at the board are looking forward to providing you with the regular CE opportunities you have come to count on, including our monthly meetings, residency research showcase, and all-day Spring Seminar.

Stay tuned for more information on the revamped summertime membership drive and community building event as well as more opportunities for formal and informal networking!

Prospective members are welcome to come and see what WMSHP is all about- please email ashleyblanchette@gmail.com in advance for more details!

Stay safe and warm this holiday season. See you at our next meeting on January 8th!

Your friends and colleagues,

Ashley Blanchette, PharmD - President

Kristina Stoncius, PharmD - President Elect

Jessie Prociv, PharmD, BCACP - Immediate Past President

Benjamin Pontefract, PharmD, BCPS - Chairperson

Brad Miller, PharmD - Secretary

Bryan Homberg, PharmD - Treasurer

Kelsey Ernst, PharmD, BCACP - Continuing Education Chair

Lupe Chavez, PharmD - Community Outreach Chair

Matthew Hickson, PharmD - Resident at Large

Nathan Kanous, PharmD, BCPS - Board Member

Jeff Van Houten, PharmD - Board Member

Heather Hamilton, CPhT - Technician Board Member

November President's Corner and voting

Jessica Prociv — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 22:53:31 GMT

Hello everyone,

For my last President's Corner, I am asking for you to participate in voting for our e-board members: Nominations for WMSHP Board

Also, any students out there that are looking for help covering the cost of Midyear registration, please apply to our scholarship! It's a quick turn around time this year, so don't delay: 2025 WMSHP Midyear Scholarship Application

I'd like to thank Kamah Ellena, PharmD, BCCCP for her presentation on sedation in the ICU - it is truly amazing to me some of the different areas that pharmacists can help to improve patient care and in such innovative pathways!

It has been an honor being your president this past year. I'm looking forward to passing the torch to Ashley Blanchette and continuing to support the board in this upcoming year! We have some more great CE events coming up in 2026, we look forward to seeing many of you after the holidays!

Jessie Prociv, PharmD, BCACP

WMSHP President

Calling for nominations! Please read and respond

Jessica Prociv — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:33:23 GMT

Hello everyone!

Here is the official request:

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the WMSHP e-board, please send me an email for more details at procivj@gmail.com. Make sure to include your name and a short (1-5 sentence) summary of who you are to share with our voting members. The open positions will include 4 e-board positions, president-elect, technician, and treasurer.

I'd love to have this all voted for in time to announce at next month's meeting.

Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you!

Jessie Prociv, PharmD BCACP

WMSHP President 2025

President's Corner Sept-Oct 2025

Jessica Prociv — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:57:55 GMT

It feels like maybe Fall has finally arrived today, I hope everyone had a memorable summer! Let's take a look at what WMSHP has been up to recently.

Our White Caps game had great attendance again this year with 49 total people attending. We also elected Matt Hickson as our Resident-at-Large E-board member for the 2025-2026 year. Matt is completing his PGY1 residency at Corewell West. Please join me in welcoming him!

Just last month we met in Grand Rapids on Corwell's Campus to hear Maja Gibbons, PharmD, BCOP present on Updates in Supportive Care Managment for Cancer Patients. We have another CE coming this week in Kalamazoo at Main Street Pub to listen to Ben Pontefract PharmD, BCPS talk about Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy.

We held our Residency Showcase last week and had a great time connecting programs with prospective candidates. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event a success—your energy and enthusiasm were truly appreciated.

Please be on the lookout for e-board nominations! If you or someone you know is interested in getting more involved with WMSHP, please send me an email for more details at procivj@gmail.com. Make sure to include is your name and a short 1-5 sentence summary of who you are for us to share with our voting members. The open positions will include 4 e-board positions, president elect, technician, and treasurer.

Lastly, we are hosting 2 mock interviews, an in-person event on October 30th at Ferris’s Grand Rapids campus and a virtual event on November 6th. For further information on the mock interviews, please email pontefb@ferris.edu. We could use some volunteers, you know that would look nice on your CV!

President's Corner - April 2025

Jessica Prociv — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:30:23 GMT

We had a great time at Founder’s this month listening to residents Kayla Backus and Hollyann Holmquist present their research projects completed at Munson and Trinity Health, respectively. And a special thank you to our Resident at Large, Kyle Brillantes, for setting up trivia after the CE!

Our meeting next month, on May 13th, will be our annual Spring Seminar at the Prince Conference Center Calvin University. Sign in and breakfast will start at 7:15 AM with the first CE starting at 8:30 AM. We have a wonderful group of presenters and topics for the day:

Deeb Eid - Law Update
Paige Watkins – Pearls in Kidney Transplant
Haylee Batten – Pain
Tracey Mersfelder – Gout and SGLT-2i
Katie Axford – Implicit Bias: Weight Bias

One final note, the e-board has our planning meeting in June. If you have suggestions for speakers or CE topics please send them along to me at procivj@bronsonhg.org. Otherwise, I hope to see many of you at the Whitecaps game on August 7^th!

Jessie Prociv, PharmD BCACP
WMSHP President

President's Corner - February 2025

Jessica Prociv — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:07:42 GMT

Thank you to everyone that attended our virtual meeting this month. Jessie Whitten gave a terrific presentation on alternatives to opioid treatments in the emergency department – thank you, Jessie!

Our CE next month will be given by four P4 students on their research projects. As a reminder, this will be in person at Ascension Borgess’ Lawrence Education Center and will be Thursday March 13. I know there was initially communication about a date change, so make sure you have the right date on your calendar!

Lastly, Michigan Pharmacists Associate (MPA) is holding their Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) in April this year from the 11-13th with a new location: the Grand Travers Resort and Spa in Traverse City. There will be plenty of live CE and networking opportunities for attendees.

We look forward to seeing you all in person next month!

President's Corner 2025

Jessica Prociv — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:40:20 GMT

Hello everyone, I'm Jessie Prociv and I'm taking the reigns as the President for 2025 at WMSHP. My goals for this year are to provide some high quality CE for our members, support our students and residents as they move through their education, and network with a lot of really great people.

I want to thank all of our returning e-board members and welcome a few new faces: Bryan and Megan. And a special shout out to Ben for doing a great job as President last year and thank you in advance for all the guidance in 2025 as the Past President. You all make this organization so meaningful to the pharmacy profession!

We have Dr. Tracey Mersfelder presenting later this week on MASH which will be a virtual event, please make sure you are registered!

I'm excited for all the opportunity 2025 might bring. If anyone has ideas on how WMSHP can help to further meet the needs of any members, please reach out to me via email at procivj@bronsonhg.org.

Thank you,

Jessie Prociv, PharmD, BCACP

WMSHP 2024 E-board Elections Results

Benjamin Pontefract — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:43:54 GMT

Hello everyone! I hope you all have an excellent Thanksgiving weekend. I am excited to announce our newly elected E-board for the upcoming year. Our president-elect is Ashley Blanchette, our secretary is Brad Miller, and our new E-board members will be Kristina Stoncius, who will be rejoining the E-board, and new members Bryan Homberg and Megan Van Baren. Congratulations, everyone!

As it is December, this will be my final announcement for everyone. I will be sticking around on the E-board next year as the Immediate Past President, but all presidential duties will pass on to our new president, Jessie Prociv, who will be taking over starting in January. Thank you everyone who helped make this year a success. It has been my pleasure to serve as President, and I look forward to seeing everyone in the coming years. Have a nice holiday season, everyone!

President's Corner - November 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:08:44 GMT

Hello WMSHP members! Can you believe it's already November? This is actually the final President's Corner you'll receive from me as president. WMSHP will be on a bit of a break for December before I pass the reigns off to Jessie Prociv as the incoming president. I will still be serving as the immediate past president. So, feel free to reach out to me still if needed!

As for November at WMSHP, we just had our monthly CE meeting last week where Devon Stonerock, PharmD gave a fantastic talk on Car-T therapy. As a immunotherapy lay-person, it was an incredibly helpful overview about how to manage side effects from these medications. Thank you Devon for sharing your expertise with us, and thank you Kristina Stoncius for coordinating the event!

As a reminder, elections are currently open for voting through the end of the month. If you haven't already, be sure to vote at the following link: WMSHP E-board Voting - 2024. Finally, WMSHP currently has our yearly Midyear scholarship applications open. if you know any P4 students in the state of Michigan that are going to Midyear, send them our application link here: WMSHP Midyear Scholarship 2024 Application.

That brings us to the end of this month's President's Corner. It's been an amazing year, and I appreciate everyone's support. You'll hear from me one last time when I announce our new E-board in December. Until then, have a nice month, everyone!

2024 WMSHP E-board Elections

Benjamin Pontefract — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:20:16 GMT

Hello WMSHP Members! It's that time of year again. Voting is now open for next year's E-board. Voting will remain open throughout the month of November 2024, and can be completed at the following link: WMSHP E-board Voting 2024. We will announce your new E-board members in December 2024. Please see below for the biographies of our nominees.

President-Elect:

Ashley Blanchette has served as a board member of WMSHP for the past two years and as the Resident at Large member from 2020-2021. She is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the MSHP Organizational Affairs Committee, Vice Chair of the MPA Government Affairs Committee, and working to improve transitions of care as the Manager of the Corewell Health Medication History team. She has previous experience as President of the Macomb County Pharmacy Association, board member of the Oakland County Pharmacists Association, and committee member of the MPA Local Association Development Committee. If elected, she hopes to apply her passion for advocacy and team-building to further strengthen our region's professional community.

Secretary:

Brad Miller is an Informatics Pharmacist at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ferris State University over two decades ago. After working as an Emergency Medicine Pharmacist at Spectrum Health Butterworth for several years, he joined the pharmacy informatics team. Brad has been the secretary of WMSHP since 2004.

E-board (3 Openings):

Bryan Homberg is a 2021 graduate from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. He started his pharmacy career in independent pharmacy practice as Pharmacist Manager, PIC, and LTC Coordinator for Flint Family Pharmacy. In 2022 he joined Genesee County Pharmacists Association as a board member at large, and was involved in legislative action and MPA house of delegates. He has since started work at Bronson Battle Creek as an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist in September of 2024, and looks forward to bringing his experiences to the west Michigan area.

Hi everyone! My name is Kristina Stoncius and I am interested in continuing as a WMSHP board member. I have been a board member since 2021, beginning as the PGY1 resident board member and after that continuing on as an E-board member! I am currently a pharmacist at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, where my clinical interests are internal medicine and oncology!

Megan Van Baren is a clinical pharmacist with Corewell Health in Grand Rapids. She completed her pharmacy school education at Ferris State University. After graduation in 2021, she completed a PGY-1 residency with Corewell (Spectrum) Health. Post residency, she has worked as a clinical pharmacist for Corewell Health Butterworth. Her current areas of practice include cardiology and oncology. In her free time she enjoys attempting to stay on track with her Goodreads reading challenge. In pharmacy school she was involved with multiple student organizations and is looking forward to becoming more involved with professional organizations in the future.

President's Corner - October 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:47:32 GMT

Hello everyone! We're right in the middle of spooky season, but things are still looking bright here at WMSHP! This past month has been a good one. We started off with our October meeting, which was hosted at the Four Roses Cafe in Plainwell. Our very own Kelsey Ernst, PharmD gave a presentation on pharmacogenomics. As a known pharmacogenomics hater, I must say she did a great job presenting clinical evidence showcasing how we can use this in real world settings. Thank you Kelsey!

We also successfully hosted our in-person mock interviews. Thank you e-board member Tara McAlpine for coordinating that, and thank you to all of our volunteers who helped out. We will be holding a virtual mock interview event on Wednesday (10/30), and spots are still available. If you are interested in being interviewed or know someone who is, sign-up here: https://wmshp.net/event-5906243!

We are still accepting applications for e-board members. If you are interested, please email me (pontefb@ferris.edu). All you need to include is your name and a short 1-5 sentence summary of who you are for us to share with our voting members. I am also happy to answer any questions regarding this. Voting for e-board members will open up in November. So, get those applications in ASAP if you are interested!

Finally, our last WMSHP meeting of the year will be held in November. Devon Stonerock, PharmD will be presenting on how to manage patients who have received T-cell directed therapies. Speaking as someone who is a transplant amateur, I'm incredibly excited to hear his pearls on how to better serve these patients. The event will be held in Grand Rapids, and if you are interested in joining us, you can sign up here: https://wmshp.net/event-5890903.

That's it for this month's president corner. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or interest in getting more involved with WMSHP at pontefb@ferris.edu. Have a nice end to your October, everyone!

President's Corner - September 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:37:11 GMT

Welcome back, everyone! The e-board at WMSHP hopes you all had a nice summer and are ready to hop back into some more pharmacy-related goodness in the coming months. There's quite a lot to catch up on and look forward to. So, let's get to it!

To start, our summer outing Whitecaps game had the greatest attendance it has ever had with 41 people! Thank you everyone who came out. It was great to see everyone and spend some time relaxing at the field. Over the summer, we also elected our Resident-at-Large E-Board member, Kyle Brillantes! Kyle is currently a resident at Corewell West, and he is excited to help keep the e-board hip and with it during his time with us. If you know Kyle, send him a congratulations!

Earlier this week, we all met together for the September WMSHP meeting, which was held at Trinity Health in Grand Rapids. Dr. Sarah Leonard, PharmD, BCPPS gave an excellent presentation of Enneagrams and how they can be used to help improve communication among colleagues. As someone who had never heard of this concept, I thought it was a fascinating way to have discussions about the way we communicate. Thank you Sarah!

To round out this update, we have a few opportunities to make everyone aware of in the coming months. First, e-board nominations are open! If you (or someone you know) is interested in getting more involved with WMSHP, please send me an email at pontefb@ferris.edu for more details. The open positions include, 4 e-board members, 1 secretary, and 1 president-elect. Come join our team!

The other opportunity I want to make everyone aware of is our Mock Interviews. Many pharmacy students have never had a professional interview and can greatly benefit from going through one with a professional. If you are a pharmacist, pharmacy resident, or administrator, we'd greatly appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time as a mock interviewer. We currently have 2 dates we need volunteers for, 10/21 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in person at Ferris Grand Rapids, and 10/30 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM virtual over Zoom. If you are interested in volunteering please email either Tara McAlpine (Tara.McAlpine@trinity-health.org) or myself (pontefb@ferris.edu).

That brings us to the end of the Corner. If you have any thoughts or questions about WMSHP, please do not hesitate to send them my way at pontefb@ferris.edu. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing everyone in October, for our next meeting in Kalamazoo. Have a nice end to your week, everyone!

President's Corner - May 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Mon, 13 May 2024 18:10:28 GMT

Summer is finally here! It was great seeing everyone at this year's Spring Seminar. A special thank you to Susan DeVuyst-Miller , Autumn Neff, Nick Rademacher, Kyle Schmidt, and Deeb Eid for providing their time and expertise to provide some fantastic CE's for us. Also, thank you to all of our exhibitors for helping make the event happen. If you haven't already, don't forget to fill out your WMED Evaluations to get your CE credit!

The WMSHP e-board has our yearly planning meeting coming up in June. If you have suggestions for speakers, topics, or events for the coming year, please reach out. I am always available by email at benjaminpontefract@ferris.edu.

I hope everyone has a lovely summer as WMSHP takes a bit of a break to recuperate and prepare for the year ahead. I look forward to seeing everyone again at our annual Whitecaps game on August 8th! Have a nice day!

President's Corner - April 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:54:56 GMT

Hello WMSHP Members! It's wild to think it's already April; 2024 is flying by! We just hosted our April Meeting at Founder's, which continued our tradition of inviting 2 local pharmacy residents to present on their research projects. Keitasha Arnold at Corewell Health and Mackenzie Miller at Trinity Health gave a fantastic overview of the work they have been doing this past year. Thank you to them both for all of their hard work!

Our meeting next month, on May 7th, will be our annual Spring Seminar! Sign in and breakfast will start at 7:15 AM with the first CE starting at 8:30 AM. If you have not heard, we have a fantastic line-up of speakers! They are listed below:

Susan DeVuyst-Miller - Implicit biases with sexual orientation and gender identity healthcare
Autumn Neff - Anticoagulation in Special Populations
Nick Rademacher - Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department
Kyle Schmidt - Updates on Ischemic Stroke Management
Deeb Eid - Law Update and Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority

Personally, I am incredibly excited for this event. Our speakers are all brilliant, and I'm sure they will have a lot of interesting ideas to bring to our group.

Lastly, the e-board has our planning meeting in June. If you have suggestions for speakers or topics please reach out to myself (benjaminpontefract@ferris.edu). Otherwise, we will see everyone at the Whitecaps game on August 8th. Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Benjamin Pontefract, PharmD, BCPS
WMSHP President

President's Corner - March 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 18:26:20 GMT

Hello again WMSHP members! I hope everyone is having a nice end to their week. It was great seeing some of you yesterday for our March Monthly Meeting. We were fortunate to have Alicia Lane, NP give a fantastic presentation regarding the use of buprenorphine in the management of opioid use disorder.

This past month, our resident member, Abby Poort, led an incredibly successful volunteer event at Renucci House in Grand Rapids where members of the e-board were able to connect with Ferris pharmacy students and provide a great service for the community. Based on the large amount of interest we saw from students, we are looking into hosting similar events in the future, which we will open up to our general membership!

Looking forward, there are two remaining meetings for Spring 2024. First we will host our annual resident research presentation on April 11^th at Founder’s in Grand Rapids. The following month, we will be hosting our annual WMSHP Spring Seminar where we will have a full day of CE presentations. This year's Spring Seminar is scheduled for May 7^th at the Prince Conference Center. Make sure you register for both great events.

I hope everyone have a fantastic weekend,

Benjamin Pontefract
WMSHP President

President's Corner - February 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:54:27 GMT

It was great having everyone hop on for our February meeting. We want to give a special thank you to Megan Leigh, PharmD for her fantastic presentation surrounding managing patients with medication overdoses. Our meeting in March will be held at the fan favorite restaurant, Martell's, in Kalamazoo! Keep and eye out for registration as seats will be limited.

There is also still time to register for the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE). There will be live CE at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person again in March. Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Benjamin Pontefract, PharmD, BCPS
WMSHP President

President's Corner - January 2024

Benjamin Pontefract — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoy a great end to 2023. If we have not met, my name is Ben Pontefract, and I will be serving as president of WMSHP for 2024. I look forward to working with the fantastic people on the e-board as well as our members in the coming year. As president, I am hopeful that our team can continue to not only provide but also improve upon the services we offer all of our members, focusing on continuing education programs for our pharmacist members and residency preparatory events for our student and resident members. If anyone has thoughts on what they would like to see from WMSHP in this upcoming year, do not hesitate to reach out to me via email to let me know: benjaminpontefract@ferris.edu.

We plan to kick off the new year with a virtual CE event so everyone could enjoy some education while not having to brave the winter Michigan roads. Ryan Tomlin, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP is putting together a fantastic CE for January 11th on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophlyaxis (PrEP).

Lastly, do not forget to register for the Michigan Pharmacist Association (MPA) Annual Convention & Exposition. ACE will be held starting February 23^rd through the 25^th at the Detroit Marriot Renaissance Center. You can register at the following link: https://www.michiganpharmacists.org/education-events/annual-conference-exhibition/.

President's Corner-Nov/Dec 2023

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:14:39 GMT

I can't believe my year as president is already ending. We have had a great year of events from continue education dinners to Spring Seminar and the White Caps game. I know Ben Pontefract will continue the strong growth our group has had since COVID. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing everyone on Zoom in January and February for our meeting and CE.

All the best

Shelby

2023 WMSHP Elections - Nominee Bios

Brad Miller — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 22:44:59 GMT

President-Elect 2024

Jessie Prociv PharmD BCACP is the Lead Ambulatory Care Pharmacist at Bronson Hospital. Jessie graduated from Ferris State University and completed a PGY1 at the VAMC in Battle Creek. She has been with Bronson for 5 years and has special interests in treating patients with diabetes and chronic pain. In her free time, you might see her going for a run or chasing her three daughters around.

Treasurer 2024-25

Andrea Borst attended Ferris State University and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2016. Following pharmacy school, Andrea completed a PGY-1 residency at Corewell (Spectrum) Health and a PGY-2 pediatric residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Andrea currently works at Helen DeVos as a clinical pharmacist with a focus on general pediatrics and kidney transplant. In her free time, Andrea enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her husband and two kids. Andrea served as a WMSHP board member from 2018 to 2021 before transitioning to Treasurer in 2022. During her time on the board, Andrea has planned continuing education events and has volunteered at the annual WMSHP Mock Interview and CV Review at Ferris State University. Andrea is excited to continue her involvement with WMSHP as Treasurer for the 2024-2025 term.

Technician Board 2024-25

Heather Hamilton is a pharmacy technician with nearly 20 years experience in the retail and hospital location. For the last 13 years she had worked at Michigan Career and Technical Institute where she delivers pharmacy technician instruction.

Board Members 2024-25

Hello! My name is Kelsey Ernst. I recently started a new role as an ambulatory care pharmacist with Ascension Borgess Medical Group in Kalamazoo, practicing out of three family medicine clinics in Allegan County. I graduated from the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy and completed residency at University of Michigan Health, with a PGY1 in community pharmacy and a PGY2 in ambulatory care. My favorite clinical areas are diabetes, psychiatry, transitions of care, and geriatrics. I enjoyed my involvement with professional organizations throughout pharmacy school, such as the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). I also had the opportunity to take a more active role in organizational leadership as the founder of a mentoring program between pharmacy and pre-pharmacy students during my time at Ferris. During residency, I was a member of ASHP Section of Community Pharmacy Practitioners Education, Communication, and Training Section Advisory Group and appreciated working with other pharmacists to provide tools and educational materials to support our members. I am newly returned to southwest Michigan and hoping to become more involved in my local pharmacy community with the Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists as a board member. As a student, I benefited greatly from the events supported by WMSHP and look forward to providing the same support for current and future student pharmacists with events like the mock interviews. I also look forward to working more closely with pharmacy advocacy to help support our profession.
My name is Destiny Hughson and I am a recent PGY-1 pharmacy graduate from Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Following completion of my residency, I was able to continue my career with Trinity Health Grand Rapids as a clinical pharmacist. I feel very lucky and privileged to be afforded the opportunity to work with such a diverse patient population and an amazing team of pharmacists at THGR. In my free time, I love to explore the greater Grand Rapids area with my husband, cuddle and play with my three cats (Gracie, Gaia, and Onyx), visit my friends and family up North in my hometown of Traverse City, and relax on the couch binge watching a good show (Schitt's Creek is my favorite!). I am interested in serving on the board of WMSHP to establish relationships that go beyond my colleagues at work. I want to meet new people with shared interests and continue to shape and develop my skills and knowledge related to pharmacy practice. Being a part of WMSHP would give me the opportunity to stay informed, remain engaged, and support my journey of life-long learning all while developing connections and making friends, which sounds like a win-win to me. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Nathan Kanous: I am a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care at the Ascension / Borgess Woodbridge Heart Failure Clinic and three Family Practice Clinics in the greater Kalamazoo Area. I received my PharmD from Ferris State University and completed an ASHP-accredited ambulatory care residency at the William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Since graduation, I have worked in many practice settings including academia, the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy benefits and managed care. My clinical interests focus on ambulatory endocrinology and cardiology, geriatrics, and de-prescribing.

I have been a WMSHP member and Board Member since my return to Michigan in 2019. It has been my pleasure to provide support to pharmacists in West Michigan through the society’s educational and advocacy initiatives. Given the rapid changes occurring within healthcare and our profession, strong advocacy efforts are more important than ever and I look forward to dedicating an additional three years to professional advocacy in West Michigan.
Tara McAlpine is an ambulatory care pharmacist in primary care at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. She earned her PharmD from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 2016 and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in 2017. She has been a WMSHP member since 2015 and has served on the Board since 2018. She serves as committee chair of the community and membership outreach committee. She is involved in organizing the mock interview events for the students. Tara is passionate about continuing to serve on the WMSHP Board.
Jeff Van Houten received his BS Pharm from Ferris and after licensure he worked two years at Blodgett Hospital as a Staff Pharmacist while completing PharmD at Ferris. He went on to complete a PGY-1 residency at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA. and then started working as a Clinical Pharmacist at Saint Mary's Hospital, where he continues to work. He has worked in many clinical roles over the years at Trinity Health GR and currently works as the floor pharmacist in an Inpatient Geriatric unit. Jeff has been a member of WMSHP since the beginning of his career (minus an occasional inadvertent lapse in membership). He has served on the WMSHP board in the past as board member as well as the President Elect/Current/Past President position in the 1998-2000 term.

President's Corner- Sept/Oct 2023

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:11:03 GMT

It has been a very busy fall so far, as you can tell by the combined September and October update. WMSHP members and board have been very active. We have hosted two CE events, Andrew Watson gave a very interesting presentation about management of Sickle Cell. Then Dean Van Loo provided our first hybrid live/zoom CE from Bronson about the grey area of MSSA bacteremia treatment. We also hosted our first live residency showcase with Ferris State University since 2019. We had 29 programs in attendance and lots of interested P3/P4 students. Finally, we hosted one of two mock interviews for students with the virtual one coming in November.

We are excited about the level of activity and engagement our group has had this fall and look forward to keeping the moment up. Be on the look out for board member voting.

Shelby

WMSHP President

President's Corner-August 2023

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 17:14:21 GMT

I hope everyone had a great summer. We had a great night at the White Caps baseball game this month. The board has planned great activities for this year. We will have a combination of in-person and virtual events. If you have ideas for topics or speakers, please reach out to a board member or email me at ShelbyKelsh@ferris.edu. Our first meeting will be held in person in Grand Rapids on September 28th. The registration is open.

Additionally, MPA is hosting Pharmacy Day at the Capitol on September 14th from 9:30-2pm. If you are interested or want to register follow this Pharmacy Day at Michigan's Capitol - Register - michiganpharmacists.org

Finally, MSHP Annual Meeting is being held October 27th. The registration is also open Link here.

Looking forward to a great Fall.

Shelby

WMSHP President

President's Corner-May 2023

Wed, 24 May 2023 14:20:27 GMT

April and May have been full of educational opportunities. In April, we had 2 local residents present their research projects on enoxaparin dosing in obesity and cephalexin dosing. These projects are on the edge of clinical practice and one day may inform dosing changes.

May brought us Spring Seminar. We had a full house of exhibitors and participants. Our speakers updated us on buprenorphine for pain, law, hepatitis C, implicit bias and burn out. Don't forget to complete your WMed CE evaluations.

The board has our planning meeting in June. If you have suggestions for speakers or topics please reach out to myself (shelbykelsh@ferris.edu) or the board (leadership@wmshp.net). Otherwise, we will see everyone at the Whitecaps game on August 17th.

All the best,

Shelby Kelsh

WMSHP President

President's Corner-March 2023

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:24:37 GMT

Wow, March has flown by. We had a strong turnout for Dr. Patrick Staso, MD virtual CE on Drug Allergies. How awesome is it that technology allows us to connect with providers across the country for a WMSHP meeting? We continue to have an open board position for 2023. This a great opportunity to see if serving on the board is something you would enjoy. The responsibilities would be to attend monthly board meetings before the CE events. We prefer in person attendance but do utilize zoom for those who can’t attend. Please email me at shelbykelsh@ferris.edu if you are interested.

We have two meetings left for Spring 2023, first is our annual resident research presentation. This will be held Thursday, April 13^th at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids. Then we will have a full day of presentations at WMSHP Spring Seminar on Tuesday, May 9^th at Prince Conference Center. Please make sure you register for both great events.

All the best,

Shelby Kelsh

WMSHP President

President's Corner-February 2023

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:34:20 GMT

Thank you, Cassandra Falk, PharmD, MPH for the great review of Chronic Heart Failure. Our meeting in March will be hosting virtually via zoom on March 9^th. Dr. Patrick Staso, MD will be joining us to discuss Drug Allergies.

We have an open board position for 2023. If you are interested, please reach out to me or any board member. If you aren’t sure what being on the board entails, please join us at 5:30 before the March CE. The board meetings are always open to our membership, and we meet the hour before a CE starts. Our main charge is to schedule monthly meetings and other events for our members. We would love to have you join us.

Finally, it’s still not too late to register for the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE). Programing will be at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center from Friday, February 24 to Sunday, February 26.

Hope to see you soon!

Shelby Kelsh

WMSHP President

President's Corner-January 2023

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 19:18:45 GMT

Happy 2023! I am excited to be serving as WMSHP President this year. My goal is to increase attendance to our education, community service and social events. We have great speakers lined up for our monthly meetings and for Spring Seminar in May. We started our year with a delicious dinner at Martell’s in Kalamazoo and very engaging presentation from Jeffrey Wilt, MD about pulmonary hypertension (PH). With the recent changes in PH diagnostic criteria, it sounds like more patients will receive a PH diagnosis and qualify for treatment.

In February, our resident board member Cassandra Falk PharmD, MPH from Trinity Health St. Mary’s will update us on chronic heart failure. We are hosting the CE at Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy Grand Rapids Campus at 25 Michigan and will be covering parking for those who attend.

Finally, don’t forget to register for the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE). Programing will be at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center from Friday, February 24 to Sunday, February 26. MPA ACE Registration Link.

Hope to see you soon!

Shelby Kelsh

WMSHP President

President's Corner - December 2022

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:09:19 GMT

As we come to the end of 2022, I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve as this year’s WMSHP President. I have learned so much in this role, and it has been my privilege to lead our organization. I look forward to serving on the board next year as your immediate Past-President for 2023. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about WMSHP or your membership, please contact me or any Board Member.

This past month our continuing education programming was presented by Abigail Geyer, PharmD, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident at Trinity Health St. Mary’s. A huge “thank you” to Dr. Geyer for thoroughly walking us through some of IDSA’s treatment guideline updates during her informative presentation “Treatment of Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections: IDSA 2022 Guidance Documents”. Our next continuing education presentation will take place on January 12^th, 2023. Dr. Jeffrey Wilt, MD, a critical care physician from Borgess Medical Center will be presenting “Pulmonary Hypertension”. The meeting will take place at Martell’s Restaurant in Kalamazoo, and you don’t want to miss it! Keep an eye out on the website and your email for the event registration link in the coming weeks.

Our Board elections for 2023 terms took place in November as well. Please join me in congratulating President-Elect Benjamin Pontefract, Secretary Brad Miller, and pharmacist Board members Ashley Blanchette, Amy Bowers, Jessie Prociv, and Kristina Stoncius! This group will lead us to great things over the next few years.

WMSHP was proud to award Midyear Scholarships to three deserving students this year. Congratulations to Paige Stratton from University of Michigan and Veronica Mills and Brittany McMahon from Ferris State University! We hope your trip to ASHP Midyear was both productive and fun.

Did you know that all of our CE programming is approved for both pharmacist and technician live CE credits? We would love to have you join us at our monthly meetings for CE, food, and networking. WMSHP is still offering FREE one year membership to pharmacy technicians who join by December 31^st, 2022. Registration can be found here.

I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a healthy New Year as we head into 2023!

Sarah

President's Corner - November 2022

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 23:09:41 GMT

I can’t believe it’s already November! The second half of this year has just flown by. We only have one more general CE meeting in 2022!

A big “Thank You” to Autumn Neff, PharmD, MBA, for presenting last month’s CE “Osteoporosis”. Dr. Neff did a fantastic job covering all the necessary information regarding an osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment that pharmacists should be aware of, and how we can best care for this patient population. Our November CE presentation will take place on November 3^rd. Abigail Geyer, PharmD, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident at Trinity Health Saint Mary’s will be delivering “Treatment of Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections: IDSA 2022 Guidance Documents”. I hope you all can make it! Registration can be found here.

Thank you to everyone interested in running for a board position for the upcoming term starting in January. Please read the candidate bios located on the WMSHP website, and check your email for a link to vote. Ballots are due at 5pm on November 3^rd. Those chosen for an upcoming term will be announced at our November meeting.

The annual WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase was held virtually on October 6^th. A huge thank you to all of the students and residency programs that made this a successful event again this year. If you have any suggestions for next year’s showcase, please pass those along to me or another board member.

Attention students! Are you planning to travel to ASHP Midyear in Las Vegas this December? WMSHP is pleased to announce that we will be giving away three $370 scholarships to P4 students who want to attend the Midyear meeting! This will cover student ASHP member registration fees for the conference. To be eligible for one of these scholarships, students must have an expected graduation date in 2023, be in good standing with their College of Pharmacy, and be a current or native resident of West Michigan. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit their CV along with a cover letter outlining their interest in attending the Midyear Clinical Meeting and future career goals. All submissions and/or any questions can be directed to me at sarah.hoerner@spectrumhealth.org. Applications must be submitted by November 1^st.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy as we gear up for this holiday season. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

2022 WMSHP Elections - Nominee Bios

Brad Miller — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 20:11:41 GMT

President-elect

Benjamin Pontefract graduated from the University of Toledo with his PharmD in 2016. The following year, he completed a PGY1 ambulatory care residency at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He finished his post-graduate training by completing a 2-year antimicrobial stewardship fellowship at the Boise VA Medical Center in Boise Idaho. After completing his post-graduate training, he accepted a position as an assistant professor at Ferris State University where he currently teaches calculations and infectious diseases topics. Through this, he also works at Spectrum Health Blodgett Medical center as an internal medicine pharmacist. This allows him to precept P4 students on internal medicine APPE rotations. Ben is also an active member of WMSHP, where he has served as an e-board member for the past year.

Treasurer

Brad Miller is an Informatics Pharmacist at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ferris State University many years ago. After practicing Emergency Medicine Pharmacy for several years at then-Spectrum Health Butterworth, he transitioned to the pharmacy informatics team. Brad has served as the secretary for WMSHP since 2004.

Board Members

Amy Bower is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo MI. She was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, Canada and completed part of her undergraduate training at Lake Superior State University. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ferris State University in 2008. She has been an active member of WMSHP for many years and would love the opportunity to serve on the board to further her involvement. Her current areas of interest include oncology, infectious disease, diabetes, and neurology.

Ashley Blanchette earned her PharmD from Wayne State University’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences during which time she served as an active member of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, board member on the Oakland County chapter, and in her final year became president of the Macomb/St. Clair/Lapeer chapter. Her biggest accomplishments during this time were organizing the Student Pharmacists Diversity council, drafting and presenting multiple resolutions at the MPA House of Delegates sessions, and contributing to two publications as second-author. She served as the WMSHP resident member-at-large during her PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and went on to complete a PGY-2 Ambulatory Care residency with the Spectrum Health Medical Group. After graduation, Ashley accepted the position of Supervisor of the Spectrum Health West Michigan medication history team. Special interests are population health, precepting, transitions of care, research, and corny jokes! Ashley looks forward to the opportunity to promote the professional interests of pharmacists in West Michigan by serving as a WMSHP board member.

Jessie Prociv PharmD BCACP graduated from Ferris State University with her PharmD and worked in retail pharmacy for two years before completing an ambulatory care focused PGY1 at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She started the ambulatory care pharmacy clinic at Ascension Borgess and expanded the footprint to 4 primary care offices. Jessie then transitioned to Bronson and is now one of the lead pharmacists for the ambulatory care pharmacy team.

Kristina Stoncius graduated from Purdue University College of Pharmacy in 2021. After graduating, she pursued a PGY1 Residency position at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During her residency she served as the Resident Board Member of WMSHP and assisted in planning events with the Community and Membership Committee. Currently she holds an inpatient pharmacist position at Ascension Borgess Hospital where she spends a majority of her practice in the intensive care units, emergency department, and co-managing sterile compounding activities. Kristina hopes to serve on the board to continue her involvement in events such as Mock Interviews for Students and Spring Seminar while encouraging participation from students and residents!

President's Corner - October 2022

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 19:05:00 GMT

It is officially autumn, WMSHP! If you are like me, this is your favorite time of the year. I love the drop in temperature, the change in colors, and all things cinnamon. Even if it isn’t your favorite season, I hope you find something to enjoy as we shift away from the hot summer months.

Our fall continuing education programming started out with a bang in September with WMSHP’s first in-person general meeting since March 2020! The group heard a great and engaging presentation on “Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Updates” given by our very own board member, Benjamin Pontefract, PharmD, BCPS. This month’s presentation will be given virtually on October 13^th. Dr. Autumn Neff, PharmD, MBA will be presenting “Osteoporosis”. Registration for the meeting can be found here.

On Thursday evening, October 6^th, WMSHP is hosting its annual Residency Showcase with Ferris State University. After such positive feedback from the last couple years, the event will be hosted virtually over Zoom again this year. The program will begin at 17:00 with a Panel Discussion given by pharmacy leaders. More information about the event can be found here.

Annual WMSHP Board Member Elections will take place at the end of this month. If you are interested in joining the board, or would like to nominate a colleague for a board member position, please contact me or any other member of the Board. Please include a brief bio about the person being nominated. The positions up for election for 2023 are President-Elect, Secretary, and Board member (four pharmacist board member positions). The deadline for nominations is Friday October 21^st.

The MSHP Annual Meeting takes place on October 28th in Novi, and you don't want to miss it! Registration and more information about the event can be found on their website, here.

Attention students! Are you planning to travel to ASHP Midyear in Las Vegas this December? WMSHP is pleased to announce that we will be giving away three $370 scholarships to P4 students who want to attend the Midyear meeting! This will cover student ASHP member registration fees for the conference. To be eligible for one of these scholarships, students must have an expected graduation date in 2023, be in good standing with their College of Pharmacy, and be a current or native resident of West Michigan. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit their CV along with a cover letter outlining their interest in attending the Midyear Clinical Meeting and future career goals. All submissions and/or any questions can be directed to me at sarah.hoerner@spectrumhealth.org. Applications must be submitted by November 1^st.

I hope you all have a chance to enjoy some cider and donuts this fall! I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.

President's Corner - September 2022

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:09:47 GMT

Greetings, WMSHP. Can you believe that August is almost over?! I hope you all had an enjoyable summer, and experienced the beautiful outdoors of Michigan. As the schoolyear gets underway for many of you, we are excited to kick off the 2022 – 2023 series of WMSHP continuing education.

Mark your calendars! The first meeting of the season will take place on Thursday, September 22^nd at Luna in downtown Grand Rapids. We look forward to eating some great Mexican food while listening to an “Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Update (Summer 2022)” presented by Dr. Benjamin Pontefract. If there are topics that you’d like to learn more about, or know of a speaker to present at a WMSHP event, please send me an email at sarah.hoerner@spectrumhealth.org.

Thursday, October 6^th, WMSHP will be hosting our annual Residency Showcase with Ferris State University. This year’s event will be held virtually. More details and registration will be available on the WMSHP website in the coming weeks.

Attention Pharmacy Technicians! Did you know that all of our CE programming is approved for both pharmacist and technician live CE credits? We would love to have you join us at our monthly meetings for CE, food, and networking. WMSHP is still offering FREE one year membership to pharmacy technicians who join by December 31^st, 2022. Registration can be found here.

A final reminder that tomorrow (Thursday August 25^th) is our summer outing at the Whitecaps baseball game. There are still a few tickets available for the game and barbecue. Registration can be found here. I hope to see you there!

President's Corner - May 2022

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:57:08 GMT

Thank you, WMSHP, for once again remaining flexible this year! As many of you are aware, we planned to have our April meeting in person but decided last minute to host it virtually in consideration of safety concerns. Thanks for your cooperation and patience as those decisions were made and communicated to the membership. An especially big thank you to our presenters, pharmacy residents Abby French and Kristina Stoncius, who did an excellent job presenting their research projects!

Can you believe that it is already time for our 53^rd Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar? Please join us in person at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College on Tuesday, May 10^th for this day-long event. This year the CE topics include pharmacy law, C. diff guideline updates, COPD, pain management, and renal function. We also look forward to our vendor engagement. A full agenda of the day’s events and registration can be found at 53rd Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar . Please register by May 1^st to receive the best pricing. (On-site registration will be available for an additional cost).

The board will hold our annual summer planning meeting on June 9^th. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns you would like us to review at the meeting, please do not hesitate to email me or anyone on the board. Stay tuned for more information about our summer outing at the West Michigan White Caps. We look forward to gathering this summer at LMCU Ballpark to enjoy a game and BBQ!

As a reminder, any technician that would like to join WMSHP can do so for free through the end of June. The membership will be good for one year, starting from the date of joining. Find the link to join WMSHP here.

We can’t wait to see you all in person on May 10^th!

President's Corner - April 2022

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 20:40:49 GMT

Spring has sprung! I hope you all have been able to enjoy the warmer and sunny days that we have had so far this year On March 3rd, WMSHP enjoyed a virtual presentation that focused on “Pharmacogenomics in the Primary Care Setting” given by Amanda J. Place, PharmD, BCACP. The following week, a group of members had a great time chatting at our virtual WMSHP Happy Hour on Zoom. A big “thank you!” to Tara McAlpine who hosted that event for us. Our next continuing education presentation will take place on Thursday April 14^th, and I am very pleased to announce that this will take place in person at Luna Taqueria in downtown Grand Rapids! Our presenters are Abigail French, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident at Bronson Methodist Hospital and Kristina Stoncius, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident at Ascension Borgess Hospital (and WMSHP resident-at-large board member). They will be presenting their yearlong residency research projects focused on weight loss with GLP-1 and SGLT-2s and pharmacist-guided stress ulcer prophylaxis, respectively. Yay for gathering again as a group and enjoying delicious food together! Registration for the meeting can be found here.

Please join us for our 53^rd Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar! This will take place on Tuesday May 10^th in person at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College. The seminar will include informative programming including five live CE credits for both technicians and pharmacists. Registration and more specific programming details can be found here.

Reminder for current P3 students: The application is still open for this year’s WMSHP Scholarship. This year, WMSHP will award one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships to deserving students. Completed applications must be received by April 1^st, 2022. The winners will be notified by May 2^nd, 2022 and announced at the WMSHP Annual Spring Seminar on May 10^th, 2022. Please complete your application here.

President's Corner - March 2022

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:32:32 GMT

WMSHP kicked off the month of February with a comprehensive presentation delivered by Lacy Worden, PharmD, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Health St. Mary’s. Dr. Worden covered so much helpful information about sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment guidelines, updates in STI treatment recommendations, and indications to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for patients at risk for HIV. Our next continuing education presentation will take place on March 3^rd, and will focus on “Pharmacogenomics in the Primary Care Setting”. The presenter will be Amanda J. Place, PharmD, BCACP who is an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Ascension St Vincent Joshua Max Simon Primary Care Center in Indianapolis. Registration for the meeting can be found here.

Please join us for a virtual WMSHP Happy Hour on Thursday, March 10^th at 6:30-7:30pm. Bring your favorite beverage and hang out with fellow WMSHP members on Zoom. It’s been quite a while since we have been able to enjoy each other’s company in person, but hopefully we will be able to do that soon. Registration for the event can be found here. I hope to see you there!

Reminder: there is still time to register for the Michigan Pharmacist Association Annual Convention and Exposition (MPA ACE) that is taking place on February 25^th- 27^th with both virtual and in person offerings at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center. Three members of WMSHP will be representing our organization at the House of Delegates taking place on Sunday of the MPA ACE.

President's Corner - February 2022

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:27:59 GMT

Thank you to Chad Hutson, PharmD, BCPS for delivering our first continuing education presentation of 2022, entitled “Key Changes with Proposed USP General Chapter <797>”. On February 3^rd, we will hold our next virtual CE opportunity, “STI Treatment Updates and HIV PrEP Recommendations”. This will be presented by Lacy Worden, PharmD, PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Health St. Mary’s Campus. Registration for the meeting can be found here.

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) is hosting their Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) at the end of this month. ACE is scheduled as an in-person event taking place February 25-27^th at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center. Virtual offerings will be available for those not able to attend in person. Register here before January 31^st to receive early bird pricing!

I’m sure many of you saw the news that Mark Cuban (billionaire investor and Dallas Mavericks owner) launched an online pharmacy earlier this week. The pharmacy, called Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, will negotiate drug prices directly with manufacturers to provide affordable generic drugs for patients. They will not accept insurance, but state that prices will still be lower than what is typically paid at a pharmacy. The pharmacy’s prices reflect actual cost plus a flat 15% margin and pharmacist fee. It will be interesting to see how this changes the pharmaceutical industry!

As a reminder, WMSHP will be offering FREE one year membership to pharmacy technicians. This will be offered for any pharmacy technician that signs up before June 30, 2022. Please share this offer with any technicians you know. Registration may be found here.

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Research abstracts are due to Shelby Kelsh (shelby.kelsh@spectrumhealth.org) by February 7^th for an opportunity to present your research project to our membership. Each year WMSHP selects two residents to share their research at our April meeting. This is a great opportunity to practice your presentation before the Great Lakes conference!

President's Corner - January 2022

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 01:21:27 GMT

Happy New Year, WMSHP! As 2022 begins, it is hard for me to believe that we are entering the third calendar year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I know many of us are weary of the challenges that we face on a daily basis, but our work does not go unnoticed by patients or other members of the medical team. Thank you so much for everything you do to give our patients the best and safest care possible during this difficult time.

Our first CE presentation of the year will take place on January 6^th. We had hoped to begin meeting in person, but in light of the Omicron Variant and the high number of COVID cases affecting West Michigan, WMSHP will be meeting virtually in January. We hope you join us online to hear Chad Hutson, PharmD, BCSCP present “Key Changes with Proposed USP General Chapter <797>”. You can register for this virtual-only presentation here.

In case you haven't heard, WMSHP will be offering FREE one year membership to pharmacy technicians! This will be offered for any pharmacy technician that signs up between December 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. This is a great opportunity to expand the involvement of pharmacy technicians in our organization, and I encourage everyone to share this offer with any technicians you know. Registration can be found here.

As we enter the new year, I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your President. I have learned so much from Julie and Kyle, and hope to follow their excellent examples. I am looking forward to what this year has in store for us as an organization!

I hope you all have a safe and joyful holiday season, and hope to see you soon!

President's Corner - December 2021

Julie Schmidt — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 18:31:55 GMT

Our November continuing education programming was presented by Kumar Ramakrishnan, Pharm.D. Dr. Ramakrishnan delivered an up-to-date presentation on “Going with the flow: An overview of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy”. Our next continuing education presentation will be on January 6^th, 2022. Chad Hutson, Pharm.D., BCSCP, will discuss “Key Changes with Proposed USP General Chapter <797>”. At our November Board meeting, the Board voted to resume in-person restaurant meetings, which will include our January and April 2022 meetings. This decision is subject to change, especially in light of the current COVID-19 surge in Michigan and our local areas. As long as technology allows, we plan to provide both an in-person and virtual option. The in-person option on January 6^th will be at Martell’s in Kalamazoo. We will certainly provide you with any updates in the coming weeks.

Our Board elections for terms starting in 2022 were also conducted in November. Congratulations to President-Elect Shelby Kelsh, Treasurer Andrea Borst, and pharmacist Board members Chad Hutson, Nathan Kanous II, Tara McAlpine, and Benjamin Pontefract. I am excited to see what is in store for WMSHP with your leadership!

As a recruitment/retention effort, WMSHP will be offering FREE one year membership to pharmacy technicians. This will be offered for any pharmacy technician that signs up between December 1 and June 30, 2022. This is a great opportunity to expand the involvement of pharmacy technicians in our organization and I encourage everyone to share this offer with any technicians you know! Registration may be found here.

This is my last President’s Corner! My how time flies. I would like to thank you all for allowing me to lead WMSHP this year. While it has looked different than how I originally planned, it has still been a great honor and leadership opportunity. I look forward to serving as your immediate Past-President in 2022. As always if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about WMSHP or your membership, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any Board member.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy Happy Holidays.

Julie

President's Corner - November 2021

Julie Schmidt — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:59:44 GMT

Thank you to Autumn Neff, PharmD, MBA, for delivering our October CE “The Fundamentals of Dementia Care.” Dr. Neff did a great job explaining the current pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options for dementia and how pharmacists can help in the care of these patients. Our November CE presentation will take place on November 11^th. Kumar Ramakrishnan, PharmD, will discuss the different types of CRRT and how to dose medications correctly in his presentation “Going with the flow: An overview of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy”. You can register here!

The annual WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase was held virtually on October 7^th. Thank you to all of the students and residency programs that made this a successful event this year. Speaking of resident recruitment, WMSHP is offering five Midyear student scholarships this year for current P4 students attending the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. Interested P4 students should reside in West Michigan and submit application materials to me at schmidtj@bronsonhg.org no later than November 1^st. More information may be found here.

Thank you to everyone interested in running for a board position for the upcoming term starting in 2022. Please keep an eye on our website for candidate bios as well as voting information. Those chosen for an upcoming term will be announced at our November meeting. We are still looking for a pharmacy technician board member. If you are interested or know a technician that is interested in this leadership opportunity, please let myself or any current board member know!

I hope you are all enjoying the fall color changes and changes in temperature as the holidays will soon be approaching. If you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve your membership experience, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other board member.

Julie

2021 WMSHP Election - Nominee Bios

Brad Miller — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 20:09:06 GMT

President-Elect

Shelby Kelsh graduated from SUNY-Buffalo with her PharmD and moved to Western Michigan to complete her PGY1 at Spectrum Health. She joined WMSHP as a resident and has been a member since. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Ferris State University. She holds a clinical practice site at Spectrum Health Internal Medicine Residency Clinic as an ambulatory care pharmacist. Shelby has had the pleasure of serving as a WMSHP board member since January 2019. Shelby has coordinated multiple CE events and the WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase. Please consider electing Shelby as president-elect.

Treasurer

Andrea Borst attended Hope College from 2008-2012 where she received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry. From 2012-2016, she attended Ferris State University and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy. Following pharmacy school, Andrea successfully completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health and a PGY-2 pediatric residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Andrea currently works at Helen DeVos as a clinical pharmacist with a focus on general pediatrics, cystic fibrosis, and kidney transplant. In her free time, Andrea enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her husband and 14-month-old daughter. Andrea has been a WMSHP board member since 2018. During her time on the board, Andrea has planned three monthly meetings, including the Resident Continuing Education Event in 2021, and has volunteered at the annual WMSHP Mock Interview and CV Review at Ferris State University. Andrea is excited to continue her involvement with WMSHP by serving as treasurer.

Board Members

Chad Hutson is a 2012 graduate of Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy. During pharmacy school, Chad was an intern at Ascension Borgess Hospital for several years where he completed several projects such as drug use evaluations and nursing in-services. Shortly after earning his doctorate Chad moved into a management role at Portage Pharmacy as director of compounding, where a large portion of his time was spent responding to and developing policy changes to address FDA and Michigan state board of pharmacy inspection findings. After this role, Chad moved to a clinical compounding consultant role at Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA), where his role consisted of offering regulatory and process guidance to numerous compounding pharmacies in the US, Canada and Australia. In addition to consulting, Chad’s role included serving as an instructor for new and experienced sterile compounders, developing and giving presentations on various compounding related topics, and developing standard operating procedures for pharmacies to align with regulatory requirements. Chad has also earned his board certification in sterile compounding. Most recently, Chad has moved to a staff pharmacist position at Ascension Borgess Hospital where he also manages various aspects of compounding activities and policies and continues to serve as a contract consultant for PCCA.

Nathan L Kanous II, PharmD, BCPS is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care at the Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo. He received his PharmD from Ferris State University and completed an ASHP-accredited ambulatory care residency at the William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Since graduation, Nathan has worked in many practice settings including academia at two different universities, the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy benefits and managed care. His clinical interests focus on ambulatory endocrinology and cardiology, geriatrics, and de-prescribing.

Tara McAlpine is a current WMSHP Board member and a co-chair of the Membership and Community Outreach Committee. She is an ambulatory care pharmacist and has enjoyed over five years working for Bronson Healthcare in Southwest Michigan, where she remained after completing her residency. At Bronson she has helped grow the ambulatory care program since 2018. She is now excited to be transitioning to join the ambulatory care team at Mercy Health in November, serving the Grand Rapids area where she resides. She has been a member of WMSHP since 2015 and has served on the WMSHP Board since 2018. Tara looks forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on the Board, including continuing her involvement with events like the Mock Interview and CV review for Ferris students.

Benjamin Pontefract graduated from the University of Toledo with his PharmD in 2016. The following year, he completed a PGY1 ambulatory care residency at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He finished his post-graduate training by completing a 2-year antimicrobial stewardship fellowship at the Boise VA Medical Center in Boise Idaho. After completing his post-graduate training, he accepted a position as an assistant professor at Ferris State University where he currently teaches calculations and infectious diseases topics. Through this, he also works at Spectrum Health Blodgett Medical center as a clinical pharmacist. This allows him to precept P4 students on internal medicine APPE rotations.

Technician Board

We currently have no nominees for this position. If you or someone you know would be interested in this post, please contact any WMSHP Board Member.

President's Corner - October 2021

Julie Schmidt — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:30:48 GMT

Our fall continuing education programming started off with an excellent presentation by Curtis Smith, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS. Dr. Smith discussed the most up-to-date research and recommendations for vaccinations in his presentation “Vaccine Update 2021: COVID-19 and Beyond.” A huge thank you to Dr. Smith for providing our members with such an informative presentation. Our October Board meeting and CE presentation will take place virtually on October 14^th. Autumn Neff, PharmD, MBA will present to our membership on “The Fundamentals of Dementia Care.” Make sure you RSVP here!

The annual WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase will take place virtually on Thursday, October 7^th. Programming will begin at 5 pm with a panel discussion followed by the showcase from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. From 5:30 – 6:30 the showcase will be open to current P4 students and PGY1s, and from 6:30 – 7:30 all potential trainees are welcome as long as you are registered! More information and registration can be found here.

It is almost time for our annual WMSHP Board elections. If you are interested or would like to nominate a colleague for one of our open Board positions, please contact myself or any other member of the Board. Please include a brief bio about the person being nominated. The positions up for election this year are: President-elect, Treasurer, and Board (four pharmacists and one pharmacy technician). The deadline for nominations is October 22^nd.

The change of seasons means the annual ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting is not far away! This year WMSHP is giving away five(!) $250 scholarships to deserving pharmacy students. While the meeting will be conducted virtually, these scholarships will still help to offset the registration costs. To be eligible for one of these scholarships, students should have an expected graduation date in 2022, be in good standing with their respective College of Pharmacy, and be a current or native resident of West Michigan. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit his/her CV along with a cover letter outlining his/her interest in attending the Midyear Clinical Meeting and his/her future career goals. All submissions and/or any questions can be directed to myself at schmidtj@bronsonhg.org. Applications must be submitted by November 1^st.

I hope you all have a great month and take the opportunity to enjoy the fall weather! As always if you have any comments or concerns about improving your membership experience, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Julie

President's Corner - September 2021

Julie Schmidt — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:11:56 GMT

While the weather this week sure does not feel like fall is upon us, it’s time for the kiddos to get back to school which also means it’s time for WMSHP activities to start up again. Our June summer planning meeting was quite productive and I am excited for the upcoming months. While the Board was hopeful we would be able to gather in person this fall, we have decided that our monthly meetings will continue to be via Zoom through the remainder of 2021. We do not take this decision lightly but know it is in the best interest of our members, families, and patients. Other organizations have also decided to conduct their annual fall meetings virtually, including MSHP and ACCP.

Our fall continuing education programming will kick off on September 16^th with Dr. Curtis Smith presenting “Vaccine Update 2021: COVID-19 and Beyond.” I am confident Dr. Smith will deliver a very engaging and educational presentation. Both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may register here. As health-system pharmacists, technicians, residents, and students, we have all been aware of the importance of vaccination against preventable diseases even before the current pandemic. The current days we are living in have certainly heightened this awareness. ASHP has developed a free toolkit that can be accessed by members as well as non-members. I encourage you to visit their COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Toolkit and utilize their resources to promote vaccinations in our communities.

With the start of fall, comes the next group of P4 students interested in post-graduate training. Our annual WMSHP/Ferris State University Residency Showcase will be held virtually on October 7^th. Registration may be completed via the WMSHP website in the coming weeks. We received positive feedback after the last showcase last year. If you have any suggestions of how we may improve it for this year, please do not hesitate to contact me at schmidtj@bronsonhg.org.

Board nominations: Current West Michigan PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents should have received information from your RPD earlier this month regarding our Resident-At-Large position. Please remember to submit your application no later than this Friday, August 27^th. In addition to our Resident-At-Large position, we will also be accepting nominations in the near future for President-elect, Treasurer, and Board (four pharmacists and one technician). Please strongly consider nominating a coworker, friend, or yourself who is interested in advancing health-system pharmacy!

President's Corner - May 2021

Julie Schmidt — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:59:29 GMT

For our April WMSHP meeting, pharmacy residents Aleah Hunt and Emily Thurnherr presented their research projects on apixaban and rivaroxaban reversal and vancomycin AUC dosing. Both residents did an excellent job presenting their research on these timely topics in the pharmacy world.

Our 52nd Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar will be here before we know it! Join us virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, May 11th for this daylong event. The Board has been working hard to make sure it is a well-rounded, informative conference. This year we are excited the day’s activities will be free for current WMSHP members. If you are not a current WMSHP member there is a reduced cost this year compared to previous years: $20 for pharmacists and $10 for pharmacy technicians. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be able to obtain up to five live continuing education credits. This year CE topics include gout, telepharmacy, vancomycin dosing, pharmacy law, and chronic pain. We also look forward to our vendor engagement and reverse exhibitor program. Register by May 7th at https://wmshp.net/event-4218735.

I think it is safe to say the majority of us are looking forward to warmer weather and sunshine. While we normally look forward to our annual summer outing at the West Michigan Whitecaps, in the best interest of our membership we will not be gathering as a group there this year. I hope next year proves different and we are able to gather in person and enjoy the all-you-can-eat BBQ.

The board will be holding our summer planning meeting via Zoom on June 3rd. If you have any comments, concerns, or items you would like us to review at this meeting please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or the entire board.

I hope to “see” you all on May 11th!

Julie

President's Corner - April 2021

Julie Schmidt — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:01:13 GMT

March started off with a virtual continuing education presentation delivered by Dr. Kevin Bozymski, Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. Dr. Bozymski delivered a very educational presentation regarding pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Our April continuing education programming will feature our annual pharmacy resident presentations. This year Dr. Aleah Hunt, Spectrum Health PGY1, will deliver her presentation “The Effects of FEIBA® and Andexanet Alfa for the Reversal of Apixaban and Rivaroxaban in Uncontrolled Hemorrhage,” while Dr. Emily Thurnherr, Ascension Borgess PGY1, will share her research "Impact of Implementing a Vancomycin Area Under the Curve (AUC)-based Dosing Protocol on Nephrotoxicity.” We look forward to hearing how their hard work has paid off for their research projects this year.

Our annual P3 scholarship application is now open for interested third year pharmacy students. This year WMSHP will award one $1000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships. The link to the application can be found at WMSHP Scholarship. Please see this link for scholarship criteria. Further questions can be directed to Sarah Hoerner at sarah.hoerner@spectrumhealth.org. Please note the deadline for application submission is April 2, 2021.

This month also brings about finalizing the details for our Annual Spring Seminar. Last year this seminar was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year it will be held in May as it traditionally has been. Mark the date for Tuesday, May 11^th! This seminar will include informative programming including 5 live CE credits for both technicians and pharmacists, including one law and one pain CE. Additionally, we are excited to have vendor engagement to provide a well rounded experience for all attendees. Registration is open now at Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists - 52nd Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar.

President's Corner - March 2021

Julie Schmidt — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:15:40 GMT

WMSHP started off the month of February with an excellent continuing education presentation delivered by Bryant Froberg, PharmD, PGY2 Infectious Disease Resident at Munson Medical Center. Dr. Froberg discussed antifungal pharmacotherapy concepts, including spectrum of activity and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations. A big thanks to Dr. Froberg for an informative presentation. Our March continuing education session will be presented by Kevin Bozymski, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP. Dr. Bozymski is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. We look forward to hearing his presentation entitled “More Than Immediate-Release Tablets: Exploring Treatment Options for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” via Zoom on March 11^th.

Highlights from our February Board meeting include discussing a committee merger between our current Community Outreach Committee and our Membership Committee. This merged committee will be jointly led by our Resident-at-Large as well as a Board member. Prior to the merge, our Community Outreach committee has been working diligently on a new project. The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, including health-system pharmacy personnel who have spent countless hours directly caring for these patients and staying up-to-date with ever evolving treatment protocols. As a token of our appreciation for our local health-system pharmacies’ dedication, we will be sending gift cards to institutions to be used to purchase treats for pharmacy staff. As a member of WMSHP, if you would like to join this committee and assist with their future events/activities, please email leadership@wmshp.net

Reminder: The Michigan Pharmacists Association Annual Convention and Exposition (MPA ACE) will be taking place virtually this upcoming weekend February 26 – 27, 2021. I hope you strongly consider joining in this educational and networking opportunity. As an organization, WMSHP will be adopting four students this year for the Adopt-A-Student networking event during the MPA ACE. Each of these students will have a networking opportunity with a WMSHP member via Zoom. Three members of WMSHP will also represent our organization at the House of Delegates at the MPA ACE. For more information on the MPA ACE please visit MPA Virtual Annual Convention & Exposition (michiganpharmacists.org).

President's Corner - February 2021

Julie Schmidt — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:34:46 GMT

Happy New Year! I would like to start off by saying thank you to all of you for the opportunity to serve as your next President this year, and thank you to Kyle and Stacy for setting great examples for me the past two years. Last year looked a lot different than anticipated for us and I am hopeful for what this year has in store.

We started off the year with our first virtual CE presentation on January 7^th. Emily D’Anna, PharmD, CPPS, gave an excellent presentation on medication safety entitled “Preventing Errors is Not Perfection.” On February 11^th, we will hold our next virtual CE presentation on “Antifungal Pharmacotherapy Concepts.” This will be presented by Bryant Froberg, PharmD, PGY-2 Infectious Disease Resident at Munson Medical Center.

At our first Board meeting of the year, it was decided that our Spring Seminar for 2021 will be held virtually this year. We received great feedback regarding our virtual seminar last September, and we plan on providing the same level of quality this year. Traditionally this seminar has taken place in May, and we are happy to report it will be this year as well. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 11^th! Registration will be posted on www.wmshp.net at a later date.

The new year also brought newly elected WMSHP board members. Your newly elected board members for 2021 are:

President-Elect 2021: Sarah Hoerner

Secretary 2021 – 2022: Brad Miller (Incumbent)

Board Members 2021 – 2022:

· Shelby Kelsh (Incumbent)
· Derek Vander Horst (Incumbent)
· Amy Quinones
· Kwanta Wu

Resident-at-Large: Ashley Blanchette (Spectrum Health PGY1)

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Research abstracts are due to Andrea Borst (andrea.borst@spectrumhealth.org) by February 5^th for an opportunity to present your research project to our membership. Each year WMSHP selects two residents to share their research at our April meeting. This is a great opportunity to practice your presentation before the Great Lakes conference!

2020 WMSHP Election - Nominee Bios

Brad Miller — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 19:37:18 GMT

President-Elect (2021):

Sarah Hoerner is a clinical pharmacist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, with interests in hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant. She is a Michigan native who grew up in the metro-Detroit area. After graduating from Concordia University Wisconsin with her PharmD, Sarah completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health. Following residency, she stayed on at the children’s hospital. She has been a member of WMSHP since moving to west Michigan in 2015, and has served as a board member for several terms. In her free time she enjoys figure skating, spending time outdoors, knitting, and trying new restaurants and breweries.

Secretary (2021-22):

Brad Miller is an Informatics Pharmacist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids (but really spends all of his time working from home, thanks to COVID). He graduated from Ferris State University in 2002, and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Spectrum Health. He has worked as the Pharmacy Director at Pennock Hospital in Hastings, and as Lead Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Brad has been the WMSHP Secretary since 2004, so it's a good thing for him that there aren't term limits in this organization.

Board Members (2021-22):

Shelby Kelsh graduated from SUNY-Buffalo with her PharmD and moved to Western Michigan to complete her PGY1 at Spectrum Health. She joined WMSHP as a resident and has been a member since. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Ferris State University. She holds a clinical practice site at Spectrum Health Internal Medicine Residency Clinic as an ambulatory care pharmacist. Shelby has had the pleasure of serving as a WMSHP board member since January 2019. Over the last two years, Shelby has coordinated multiple CE events and the WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase. Please consider re-electing Shelby to the board, so she can continue serving this great organization.

Amy Quinones is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo MI. She was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, Canada and completed part of her undergraduate training at Lake Superior State University. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ferris State University in 2008. She has been an active member of WMSHP for many years and would love the opportunity to serve on the board to further her involvement. Her current areas of interest include oncology, infectious disease, diabetes, and neurology.

Derek Vander Horst is a native resident of west Michigan, currently residing in Grand Rapids. He obtained his PharmD from Ferris State University in 2015; and then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He currently serves as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in adult infectious diseases at Spectrum Health. Derek achieved board certification in pharmacotherapy and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy in 2016 and 2018 respectively. He is an active member of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP), serving on the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee since its inception; and also served as the secretary of the Northern Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NMSHP) in 2016. He is excited about the opportunity to continue to serve his community as a WMSHP board member for a second term.

Kwanta Wu is the Pharmacy Manager at Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital, a critical access hospital located in Dowagiac, MI. Prior to that, Kwanta served as the Director of Pharmacy at a long term acute care hospital in Indiana for 9 years. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, completed a PGY1 General Practice Residency and a Nephrology Research Fellowship from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Pharmacy. She is also board certified in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS) and Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP). Although new to the Michigan pharmacy world, working in a rural, critical access hospital like Borgess Lee has brought her long term interests in transitions of care and opioid stewardship to the forefront. If selected to be a board member, broadening her network and collaborating with other organizations in Michigan is her key goal. Outside work, tennis is her passion, with a few of the USTA league championships under her belt.

President's Corner - November 2020

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 19:15:32 GMT

Early last month we hosted our annual WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase with a little twist of the virtual variety. The event was a great success with 25 programs, representing 4 states, and over 70 prospective residents that attended! Thank you to all who participated and to especially to those who were integral in making the first virtual residency showcase a successful event. Later in October, we also held our first virtual CE of the year on a very relevant and emerging topic. Thank you to Giulia Barlow for sharing her unique perspective and expertise on the abuse potential of gabapentinoids!

We will be continuing our virtual CE meetings with Spectrum Health’s PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Reisdent, Juan Reyes, PharmD, who will be presenting "'Relax, take a deep breath. Everything will be fine.' -Your inhaler" on November 12^th. We look forward to seeing all of you virtually!

Board elections are fast approaching and we plan to open the polls for membership voting starting on October 29^th. Please keep an eye out for more information on the candidates, which will be posted on the website and emailed to active members for consideration. The voting period will end just prior to our November 12^th meeting, so make sure you cast your votes!

If you have not already done so, please make sure you set up an account online with our CE provider, WMed, prior to attending our monthly meetings. If you need assistance, please consult our website’s Help page at https://wmshp.net/help, or you can view the instructional videos on WMed’s website at https://wmed.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=2000.

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net.

President's Corner - October 2020

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 19:40:59 GMT

Earlier this month, we successfully delivered our 51^st Annual Spring Seminar over a virtual format. This meeting is typically held in May but due to the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic, the conference was first delayed and then transitioned to a live, virtual format. There were some great presentations from highly accomplished speakers, as well as some great opportunities for industry networking. In addition, WMSHP presented two scholarships to local P3 pharmacy students. Congratulations to Tayler Jones, who received a $1000 scholarship, and Dawn Nguyen, who received a $500 scholarship! A huge thank you to all who participated, especially the Board of the organization for planning and executing a successful event!

As we progress through these uncertain times, we are continuing to deliver our programming virtually. On October 1^st, in collaboration with Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy, we will host our annual pharmacy residency showcase. This too will be conducted in a virtual format. More information on the event can be found at https://wmshp.net/event-3957805.

October will also mark the resumption of our monthly CE meetings. The next scheduled meeting for WMSHP will be held on October 15^th with Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Psychiatry Clinical Pharmacist, Giulia Barlow, PharmD, BCPS presenting “Gabapentinoids: Unnerving Trends in Misuse and Abuse”. Subsequent monthly meetings will continue at the normal regularly scheduled intervals with the plans for most to be delivered virtually.

It’s almost time for our annual WMSHP Board elections. If you are interested in becoming more involved in WMSHP by running for a Board position, please contact me or any other member of the Board. The deadline for nominations, including a brief applicant bio, is Friday, October 9^th.

We look forward to continuing to meet your needs as a member of our organization and hope to "see" each of you at our upcoming meetings!

Best Regards,
Kyle

President's Corner - June 2020

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:10:07 GMT

National pharmacy organizations recently released a joint statement regarding racial injustice. The WMSHP Executive Board firmly supports the stance of these national organizations and embraces our duty to listen, learn and collectively address this crisis. Our communities bestow upon us the responsibility to advocate for change to improve every patient’s care. The Board strongly encourages open and honest discussion of the issues we face to identify actions that we can pursue to eliminate all forms of racism, discrimination and injustice.

The WMSHP Executive Board remains committed to serving you, our members, through these unique times. We recently met to discuss upcoming events and begin planning for next year’s programming. The next event that was planned is the July social event with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Due to the current conditions with the pandemic, and uncertainties surrounding the current state of professional baseball, we will be cancelling this year’s social event. Next, in discussing the upcoming Spring Seminar, which was rescheduled for September 8^th, 2020, we reached consensus to transition this to a virtual format. We will be working diligently to finalize the plan and details of the event to ensure the event provides the same high quality benefits that you have become accustomed to with previous events. Once these plans are finalized, they will be shared with you.

We remain committed to ensure that future meetings and events of WMSHP are delivered safely, effectively, and in concordance with state and national guidance. Monthly meetings will continue into the fall, as scheduled, and we will make every effort to proactively share a transparent plan for the delivery (virtual vs face-to-face) for each meeting.

Each of you will be receiving a survey in the near future. This survey will be a collection of questions from both WMSHP and MSHP to inform future directions of the organizations and characterize your needs as a member. Please take the time to complete this survey and provide us with valuable feedback and information.

Finally, I would like to recognize the tireless efforts that each of our board members have made over the past 6 months to ensure the continued success of our organization. These are unprecedented times and each member of the board has risen to the challenge before us. I sincerely appreciate their efforts and urge you to take the time to thank each of them for their hard work and dedication to this great organization.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or the entire board with any questions, concerns or requests. We welcome all ideas and thoughts and look forward to continuing to serve your professional needs.

Sincerely,

Kyle

President's Corner - April 2020

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:15:58 GMT

Our March meeting, which seems like an eternity ago, was exceptional. Dr Greg Wellman from Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy delivered a riveting, assumption challenging presentation that undoubtedly vaulted us all to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the challenges facing our nation related to the pricing of prescription products. His attention to detail, focusing on reputable facts and literature, was a breath of fresh air as we prepare to enter into the next presidential race where this will likely be a major issue. Thank you, Dr. Wellman, for sharing and displaying your logic in the pursuit of a greater understanding of the prescription drug pricing problems that so many of our patients routinely face. I feel confident in saying your precise analysis and passion for this topic moved not only myself but many of the attendees to take action.

We are certainly, now, in different times. As of the writing of this post, Michigan has 334 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1 confirmed death - numbers that will continue to rise in the coming days. The pandemic engulfing our world has challenged us all personally and professionally and WMSHP has not been spared from these challenges. At our March meeting, and through numerous communications since, the WMSHP Board of Directors has made several difficult decisions to help guide the organization through these troubling times.

As a result, our April 9^th meeting will showcase the works of pharmacy residents Dr. Niki Krancevich and Dr. Yoon Soo Park virtually to do our part in mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus and preserve appropriate social distancing measures. Continuing education credit will be provided to those who tune into the YouTube livestream. The second difficult decision the Board was tasked with making was to postpone our Spring Seminar, initially scheduled for May. The meeting has been rescheduled to occur September 8^th, 2020 at the Prince Conference Center. We are acutely aware of the challenges this may present for some members to secure live CE prior to the licensing renewal deadline of June 30. Some alternative options are available online. There are free online webinars through ASHP (do NOT need to be a member to access) here. Several online programs are also available through MPA here. Sites such as Pharmacists Letter and FreeCE.com often have an abundance of online webinars that can be utilized to secure the necessary credits as well. Various health institutions, given recent conference cancellations, have taken up the responsibility to provide CE to their professionals. Reach out to your respective institutions to identify other potential opportunities. These decisions were not made lightly, we truly pride ourselves on serving our members. However, the current circumstances dictate we make adjustments in the interest of a greater responsibility to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On a lighter note, the WMSHP Board would like to congratulate Dr. Katie Axford, a past-president of WMSHP, on her election as Speaker of the MPA House of Delegates at the Annual Convention and Exposition last month! We are confident her leadership will be very much appreciated at the state level!

Finally, each year, the Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (WMSHP) makes available one or more non-renewable scholarships to eligible P3 students who are native or current residents of West Michigan. This year, WMSHP will award one $1,000 scholarship and one $500 scholarship to deserving students. Completed applications must be received by April 3rd, 2020. The winners will be notified by May 1st, 2020 and presented an award at the Spring Seminar on September 8^th, 2020. For more information, please visit our website here.

In closing, I wish you all continued health and safety through these difficult times. We will get through this together. I will spare you all from yet another inspirational quote on overcoming adversity.

Best Regards,
Kyle

President's Corner - March 2020

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:53:37 GMT

I sincerely hope each and every one of you was able to soak in some of the recent sunshine! What a welcome surprise for February in Michigan! It is certainly an exciting time of year being fresh off the MPA Annual Convention and Exposition with all of the exciting discussions about our great profession!

Last month, we had a great discussion led by Peg DeVoest and Shelby Kelsh, along with PharmD Candidate Trenton Cunningham, on optimizing the delivery of transitions of care services through the use of student pharmacists. Thank you all for your participation and discussion of this innovative and practical solution to a commonly encountered scenario!

Our next meeting will be held on March 12th at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Dr. Gregory Wellman, PhD, RPh, Professor of Pharmacy Administration at Ferris State University, will be discussing one of the many hot topics in the recent presidential debates, "Why do prescription medications cost so much? It's not for the reason everyone keeps telling you...". What a timely topic, which we are all deeply connected to, for an election year being delivered by a highly respected member of our profession, and many other professions! Be sure to RSVP early to secure your spot at this meeting to ensure the advancement of both your professional and civilian knowledge! I look forward to a great turnout next month and seeing each of you in Kalamazoo.

Best Regards,

Kyle

President's Corner - February 2020

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:01:28 GMT

We kicked off the year with a thorough and practical review of oral antimicrobial dosing discussion in various infectious diseases, giving thoughtful insight into condition, patient and microbe specific considerations. Thank you to Dr. Shen and all of our member who were able to make it to Martell’s earlier this month for a great educational and networking event.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 13th, and will feature Ferris State University College of Pharmacy faculty members, Peggy de Voest and Shelby Kelsh, along with a Ferris State University PharmD Candidate, Trenton Cunningham. They will be discussing the role of pharmacy students in transitions of care. This will be a great session to inform higher-level engagement of PharmD candidates, as well as creating opportunities to broaden our clinical impact with students. The meeting will be held in the lower level of the Wege Center (Classroom 1, 2 and 3) at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids. We hope to see you all there!

Many of you may have seen emails and calls for action from various pharmacy organizations on an interesting item that came about in October this year. President Trump signed executive order 13890, “Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors”. A specific component of the executive order included instruction to eliminate specific Medicare regulations that require more stringent supervision than existing state scope of practice laws, or that “limit health professionals from practicing at the top of their license”. In an interview on October 29^th, CMS Administrator, Seema Verma, indicated that the agency may grant pharmacists provider status, citing the president’s Medicare executive order. Open comment to CMS regarding potential changes recently closed on January 17^th. The timeline for a plan in relation to the executive order is within 1 year, meaning that by October 2020, there could be significant progress toward pharmacists being recognized as providers, at the federal level, potentially paving the way toward the ability to bill Medicare directly for pharmacist services.

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Submit your research abstract for an opportunity to share your residency project with our members at the April WMSHP meeting! Abstract should be submitted to Shelby Kelsh (shelbykelsh@ferris.edu). Don’t miss out on this chance to practice your presentation before the Great Lakes conference!

President's Corner - January 2020

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:51:00 GMT

With 2019 set to close soon and 2020 clearly in our sight, I eagerly welcome the opportunity to serve as your next President. This past year we’ve accomplished a lot and had exceptional program offerings providing our membership with relevant, up-to-date information on an abundance of topics. These offerings were capped off with a great review of recent updates from the realm of infectious diseases led by Dr. Juliet Chijioke. We will be looking to continue our excellent programming, as well as expanding opportunities to serve our communities with opportunities led by our Community Outreach Committee.

We are excited to kick off 2020 with our first meeting in Kalamazoo on Thursday, January 9^th at Martell’s. Dr. James Shen, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Diseases at Ascension Borgess will be presenting “Oral transition of antibiotics for bloodstream infections: a tough pill to swallow?”. We look forward to seeing each of you there for our first meeting of 2020 and to a great presentation to start off the new decade!

As each year passes, we also get the opportunity to welcome the next batch of newly-elected WMSHP board members. The most recent election results for 202 are as follows:

President-Elect: Julie Schmidt

Technician: Marie Mitchell

Treasurer: Jordan Posey

Board Members:

· Tara McAlpine (incumbent)

· Andrea Borst (incumbent)

· Thomas Beuschel

· Natalie Washburn, PharmD (incumbent)

Resident-at-Large: Tawnie McGraw (Mercy Health Muskegon PGY1)

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net. We hope everyone has a great holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in 2020!

President's Corner - November 2019

Stacy Brousseau — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 00:19:12 GMT

Our annual WMSHP/FSU Residency Showcase was a big success earlier this month, with 23 residency programs and over 75 students attending. Thank you to all those who participated! We also want to thank Katie Axford, PharmD, BCPS for her entertaining and informative CE session on the social determinants of health. We all learned a lot and had a great time participating in the active learning component of the presentation!

We will be back in Grand Rapids for our next monthly meeting on November 14^th at Gravity Taphouse. Munson Medical Center’s PGY2 resident in Infectious Diseases, Juliet Chijioke, PharmD, will be presenting on “Literature Updates in Infectious Diseases: Pneumonia, Asymptomatic Bacteriuria, and MRSA Blood Stream Infections.” We hope you will join us there!

Board elections are fast approaching, with the polls opening for membership voting on October 24^th on the WMSHP website. Information on each candidate is available at https://wmshp.net/news/8073946. The voting period will end just prior to our November 14^th meeting, so make sure you cast your votes!

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net.

Nominees for 2019 WMSHP Board Elections

Brad Miller — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 19:33:49 GMT

Below are the nominees for this year's annual board member elections. Please place your vote by November 13th.

President-Elect:

Julie Schmidt graduated from Ferris State University and completed a PGY-1 residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Following residency, she stayed on at Bronson working on the Neurovascular Unit until she transitioned to her current position in cardiology approximately one year ago. She has been actively involved in WMSHP having served as a board member for the past two years. During these two years she has enjoyed planning monthly meetings, the annual Whitecaps Summer Outing, and most recently presenting at the September 2019 monthly meeting. She is excited to lead the organization. Julie is also the current co-chair for the MPA/MSHP Public Affairs Committee and has been since 2017. She is also a member of ASHP and enjoys precepting both students and residents on their cardiology rotation.

Technician:

Marie Mitchell has been a Certified Pharmacy Technician since 2005, working in community pharmacy, technician education, and most recently in hospital pharmacy. Marie has worked at Bronson Methodist Hospital for the past 6 years as a decentralized pharmacy technician in the orthopedic surgery and trauma/burn units. She enjoys performing patient education, aiding the pharmacist in code situations, and she has a special interest in pharmacy process improvement initiatives. Marie has been a member of WMSHP for the past 2 years, and she would love the opportunity to serve the organization as their technician board member

Alecia Penning started her pharmacy career in 2008 as a wonderful accident. Fresh out of high school, working as a grocery store cashier and eager to learn something new, she anxiously accepted a position as a retail pharmacy technician. Seven years later, she started working at Ascension Borgess. Today, she works as the Lead Technician for Ascension Borgess in their inpatient pharmacy. As a technician, she has experience in general inpatient and outpatient settings and an OR satellite. Her current employment allows her to really stretch her mind, participating in the pharmacy decentralization team and assisting with the implementation of the new chapters of USP 795, 797 and 800.

Treasurer:

Jordan Posey has been serving as Treasurer for WMSHP since 2017. After completing his residency at Spectrum Health in 2010, Jordan worked as an ED and ICU pharmacist for adult and pediatric patients. In the past few years, he completed his MBA and started working in project and leadership roles. He is the inpatient pharmacy manager for Mercy Health in Muskegon.

Board Members (2020-2021):

Thomas Beuschel is a 2016 graduate of Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy. After graduation, he completed his PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Mercy Health Saint Mary's hospital in downtown Grand Rapids. Thomas currently practices at Mercy Health Saint Mary's as a clinical pharmacy specialist and created a clinical pharmacy practice at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation hospital in 2017. His professional interest areas include infectious diseases, the opioid crisis, and harm reduction strategies in substance use. Outside of pharmacy, Thomas enjoys black coffee, Jeopardy, a game of cribbage, and world travel.

Andrea Borst (Incumbent), born and raised in Denver, Colorado, attended Hope College from 2008-2012 where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. From 2012-2016, she attended Ferris State University and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy. Following pharmacy school, Andrea successfully completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health and a PGY-2 pediatric residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Andrea currently works as a clinical pharmacist at Helen DeVos and her primary interest area is General Pediatrics. In her free time, Andrea enjoys running, reading, and taking care of her 6 month old Labrador puppy. Andrea has been a member of WMSHP since 2017 and is excited to continue her role on the board.

Caitlin Durkin is a 2015 graduate of Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy. Following pharmacy school, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She currently practices at Bronson, often “pinch hitting” on the general surgery, cardiology, neurovascular and adult medical care units. She has enjoyed her time as a member of WMSHP and is excited to further increase her involvement within the organization. Outside of pharmacy, Caitlin is a chips and salsa eating, nap seeking, gardening golfer, who will gladly talk your ear off about her dog, Jerry.

Tara McAlpine (Incumbent) has been an active member of WMSHP since 2015 and has served on the Board since 2018. Her current role on the Board includes chair of the membership committee, where her duties have included facilitating member spotlights and organizing WMSHP’s first Mock Residency Interview and CV Review Event for pharmacy students, which took place this fall. If reappointed, she looks forward to continuing to serve on the Board in these, and other, capacities. Tara’s pharmacist role is in ambulatory care for Bronson Healthcare Group, with primary care offices in Vicksburg and Portage.

Natalie Washburn (Incumbent) is a Clinical Pharmacist for the Medical and Neurointerventional Intensive Care Units at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. She is a graduate of Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy, and completed a PGY1 and PGY2 Critical Care residency at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, IN. In addition to serving as a current WMSHP Board Member, her other professional appointments include serving as an active committee member for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section Membership and Practice Advancement Committees. She have served as a member of the board for the last two years, and recently became the co-chairperson for WMSHP’s Community Outreach Committee. If selected to remain a board member, she hopes to continue bringing in speakers from outside our immediate area to broaden our organization’s networking reach and explore other practice patterns.

President's Corner - October 2019

Stacy Brousseau — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:41:29 GMT

Thank you to those who joined us on September 12^th at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids for our first WMSHP meeting this fall. Julie Schmidt delivered an excellent presentation on the newest data surrounding STEMI treatment through the various transitions of care.

September has been a busy month for us, as we also co-hosted our first mock residency interview & CV review event on September 18^th for interested P3 and P4 students. We had more than twenty students participate, and it was also great to see the WMSHP membership engaged in the development of our future pharmacists.

We are looking forward to our annual WMSHP/FSU Pharmacy Residency Showcase on October 3^rd at the FSU College of Pharmacy in Grand Rapids. Our next monthly meeting will be held on October 10^th at the Bronson Methodist Hospital Gilmore Center, where Katie Axford, PharmD, BCPS will help us promote the health of our patients with her presentation titled “The Game of Life: Exploring Social Determinants of Health in Pharmacy.” We hope you can join us in Kalamazoo!

Just a reminder that WMSHP is now using Western Michigan University’s School of Medicine (“WMed”) as our new pharmacy CE provider. This means that all of our members will be claiming their WMSHP meeting CE through WMed’s CE Attendee Portal. The WMed CE process is very easy and streamlined once you set up an account on their website. To set up an account, you can go to https://wmed.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=100 and click “sign in with your email and password.” You can then choose the “Don’t have an account?” link to create a new account. If you need assistance, instructional videos detailing how to create an account and claim CE are also located on WMed’s website at https://wmed.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=2000. Most importantly, make sure your profile information includes your name, birth month/day, NABP e-profile ID, cell phone number, email address, and what type of CE you will be claiming (Continuing Pharmacy Education ACPE). It is not mandatory that you create an account prior to attending a WMSHP meeting, but it does make the process a lot easier if your account is already set up at the time of attendance.

It’s almost time again for annual WMSHP Board elections. If you are interested in becoming more involved in WMSHP by running for a Board position, please contact me or any other member of the Board. The deadline for nominations, including a brief applicant bio, is Thursday, October 10^th.

If you have any questions or would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net.

President's Corner - September 2019

Stacy Brousseau — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 19:37:49 GMT

It’s hard to believe, but summer 2019 will soon be coming to a close. However, with the end of summer comes another excellent year of WMSHP programming!

We had a great turnout at our WMSHP Summer Outing in July, where we all got to enjoy the sunshine, some Whitecaps baseball, and of course the all-you-can-eat BBQ. Thanks to everyone who participated and to those who also brought their friends and family!

Our minds may still be in summer vacation mode, but we hope you will join us for our first CE event of the fall on Thursday, September 12^th. The meeting will be held in Grand Rapids at Uccello’s Restorante - East Beltline GR. Our speaker Julie Schmidt, PharmD, BCPS will be discussing “Acute Myocardial Infarction: From Door to Discharge.” One hour of live CE credit will be offered to pharmacist and pharmacy technician members who attend the meeting.

Starting with our upcoming September 12^th meeting, WMSHP will be using Western Michigan University’s School of Medicine (“WMed”) as our new pharmacy CE provider. This means that all of our members will be claiming their WMSHP meeting CE through WMed’s CE Attendee Portal. The WMed CE process is very easy and streamlined once you set up an account on their website. To set up an account, you can go to https://wmed.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=100 and click “sign in with your email and password.” You can then choose the “Don’t have an account?” link to create a new account. If you need assistance, instructional videos detailing how to create an account and claim CE are also located on WMed’s website at https://wmed.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=2000. Most importantly, make sure your profile information includes your name, birth month/day, NABP e-profile ID, cell phone number, email address, and what type of CE you will be claiming (Continuing Pharmacy Education ACPE). It is not mandatory that you create an account prior to attending a WMSHP meeting, but it does make the process a lot easier if your account is already set up at the time of attendance.

If you have any questions or would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website (which has a snazzy new look!) at www.wmshp.net.

WMSHP 2019 Summer Outing - July 25th

Brad Miller — Mon, 13 May 2019 15:17:27 GMT

This year, we're having another summer outing with the West Michigan Whitecaps. WMSHP Members who RSVP will receive a free ticket to the game and an all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet. Friends & family can also attend the game & eat at the buffet for $15/person. In addition, Pepsi products, hot dogs, and beer will all be $2 each.

Click here to RSVP for the Summer Outing. The RSVP deadline for the program is June 25th. We hope to see you there!

President's Corner - May 2019

Brad Miller — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:15:36 GMT

For our April WMSHP meeting, pharmacy residents Alice Chen and Jessica Hirsch presented their yearlong research projects on fixed-dose 4-factor PCC for warfarin reversal and on the effect of postoperative ketamine on opioid consumption in abdominal surgery patients, respectively. Both residents did a fantastic job addressing innovative alterations to current medication therapy practices.

Our 50th Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar is also quickly approaching! It will be held on May 14th at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids, with a pre-registration deadline of May 6th. This year we have excellent speakers presenting on a wide range of topics in pain management, infectious diseases, pharmacy law, critical care, and cardiology. Pharmacist and pharmacy technician attendees will be able to obtain up to five live continuing education credits and will be provided with a delicious lunch and a chance to win multiple prizes. If you haven’t registered yet, be sure to head over to wmshp.net/seminar to sign up!

Mark your calendars for our annual WMSHP Summer Outing on July 25th with West Michigan Whitecaps baseball at Fifth-Third Ballpark! Based on all of the positive feedback from last year’s game, we will again be offering the all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner on the Altogas Patio. The event will be free for WMSHP members, with an additional $15 per person cost for accompanying friends or family. Registration for the event will be available in May!

President's Corner - April 2019

Brad Miller — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:39:09 GMT

I think I speak for everyone who attended our March meeting when I say that the presentation was one of the best we’ve seen in WMSHP history. Dr. Graham Carlos gave a remarkable, captivating presentation on evading healthcare burnout. He spoke on the science behind burnout and offered valuable commentary and advice on managing the stressors encountered while working in healthcare. WMSHP would like to thank Dr. Carlos for making the drive up from Indianapolis to deliver such an exceptional presentation!

On April 11th we will be meeting at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids to support two pharmacy residents as they present their yearlong research projects. Alice Chen, PharmD, from Bronson Methodist Hospital will be presenting her project entitled “Fixed-Dose Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Warfarin Reversal” and Jessica Hirsch, PharmD from Spectrum Health will also be presenting her research project entitled “Postoperative Ketamine on Opioid Consumption in Abdominal Surgery Patients.” Both projects will address newer concepts in medication therapy, and I expect that the audience will be able to bring back valuable, emerging information to their institutions.

Each year WMSHP offers two scholarships to eligible P3 students who are native or current residents of West Michigan. This year, there will be one $1,000 scholarship and one $500 scholarship up for grabs. The application deadline is April 5th, 2019, and the winners will be announced at the annual WMSHP Spring Seminar on May 14th in Grand Rapids. For more information please visit our website at http://www.wmshp.net/scholarship.

President's Corner - March 2019

Brad Miller — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 16:11:21 GMT

I hope everyone has been staying warm during the stretch of frigid temps we’ve had recently in West Michigan. Punxsutawney Phil says that winter will be over soon, so we’ll probably be in shorts and sandals in no time!

I want to thank everyone who came out to our February meeting in Grand Rapids. Mark Wilson kept us laughing while educating us on the newest recommendations and up-and-coming treatment options for our heart failure patients. I can confidently say that everyone in attendance came away from the presentation with new insight and ideas on how to best optimize care in patients with heart failure.

Our next meeting will be held on March 14th at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Graham Carlos, MD, MSCR will be talking to us about evading healthcare burnout in his presentation “A Prescription for Positivity.” Dr. Carlos is the Chief of Medicine at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, as well as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Carlos has been widely recognized for his outstanding teaching and clinical care, so make sure to get your RSVPs in early to secure your spot at the meeting, as it’s one you won’t want to miss!

President's Corner - February 2019

Brad Miller — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:12:51 GMT

WMSHP kicked off the year with a fantastic, interactive presentation from Todd Walroth on facilitating pharmacy residents and technicians in applying project management skills. Thank you to everyone who came out to Latitude 42 in Kalamazoo for the meeting. I’m positive that all attendees came away from the presentation with some great insight and ideas for utilizing and empowering pharmacist extenders in project management roles.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 14th, and will feature Mark Wilson, PharmD, BCPS presenting “An Update on Current and Future Heart Failure Management.” Hopefully everyone appreciates the “heart failure presentation on Valentine’s Day” humor. The meeting will be held at the Wege Center at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids. We hope to see you all there!

There have been a few important changes in the Michigan pharmacy law rules this month. I’m sure by now everyone knows that gabapentin was newly categorized as a Schedule V controlled substance a few weeks ago. This has rocked a lot of worlds on both the prescribing and dispensing sides. Another law update that was overshadowed by the gabapentin news was that any individual seeking a controlled substance license must now complete a training in opioids and controlled substances awareness. This new rule applies to all pharmacists, starting with those who are up for re-licensure this upcoming June. The training must include integration of treatments, alternative pain management treatments, counseling patients on the effects and risks associated with using controlled substances, stigma of addiction, proper disposal requirements for prescriptions, utilizing the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS), and state and federal controlled substance dispensing laws. More to come on this in the coming months!

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Submit your research abstract for an opportunity to share your residency project with our members at the April WMSHP meeting! Abstracts are due to Sarah Klingenberg (sarah.joy93@yahoo.com) by January 31st. Don’t miss out on this chance to practice your presentation before the Great Lakes conference!

President's Corner - January 2019

Brad Miller — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 16:20:20 GMT

With 2018 winding down, the holiday season provides us with a time for reflection and anticipation for 2019. This past year we have had exceptional offerings for programming, with speakers who provided our membership with relevant, up-to-date information on an abundance of topics. We ended the year on a high note with an excellent, forward-thinking presentation on multiple sclerosis from Jim Curtis.

We will kick off the new year with a restaurant meeting at Latitude 42 in Kalamazoo on Thursday, January 10th. Todd Walroth, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP will be presenting on "Facilitating Pharmacy Residents and Technicians in Applying Project Management Skills in Clinical and Administrative Settings." Todd is a burn/critical care clinical pharmacy specialist and the clinical pharmacy manager at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis. This will be an extremely informative and engaging presentation for those who work with pharmacy residents and technicians, so we hope to see everyone there!

In the spirit of giving, WMSHP would like to start giving back more to the communities in the region. We will begin by asking those attending the January meeting to please bring 1-2 non-perishable food items to Latitude 42 to be donated to a local pantry.

The new year is also bringing us a batch of newly-elected WMSHP board members. Your elected board members for 2019 are:

President-Elect 2019: Kyle Schmidt, PharmD, BCCCP

Secretary 2019-2020: Brad Miller, PharmD

Board Members 2019-2020:

Sarah Hoerner, PharmD (incumbent)

Mitchell Stein, PharmD (incumbent)

Shelby Kelsh, PharmD

Derek Vander Horst, PharmD

Andrea Borst, PharmD

Resident-at-Large 2019: Danielle Murphy, PharmD (Spectrum Health PGY1)

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net. We hope everyone has a great holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in 2019!

2019 WMSHP Board Member Election Results

Brad Miller — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:22:18 GMT

Congratulations to our new and returning board members, and thank you to all that ran for a board position. Our newly elected board members are:

President-Elect 2019: Kyle Schmidt, PharmD, BCCCP

Secretary 2019-2020: Brad Miller, PharmD

Board Members 2019-2020:

Sarah Hoerner, PharmD (incumbent)

Mitchell Stein, PharmD (incumbent)

Shelby Kelsh, PharmD

Derek Vander Horst, PharmD

Andrea Borst, PharmD

Resident-at-Large 2019: Danielle Murphy, PharmD (Spectrum Health PGY1)

2019 WMSHP Board Elections

Brad Miller — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 18:51:59 GMT

Please see the list of nominees for this year's annual board elections below. Members: please vote at wmshp.net/vote. Voting deadline is November 30th.

President-Elect 2019:

Kyle Schmidt received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from Ferris State University in 2013. After graduation, he accepted and successfully completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia, followed by a PGY-2 Specialty Residency in Critical Care at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University and has been an active WMSHP Executive Board Member since January of 2016.

Secretary 2019-20:

Brad Miller (incumbent) is currently an Informatics Pharmacist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ferris State University in 2002, and then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Spectrum Health. Prior positions he has held include Pharmacy Director at Pennock Hospital in Hastings, and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Brad has served as the Secretary for WMSHP since 2004.

Board Members 2019-20:

Andrea Borst, born and raised in Denver, Colorado, attended Hope College from 2008-2012 where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. From 2012-2016, she attended Ferris State University and earned her PharmD. Following pharmacy school, Andrea successfully completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health and a PGY-2 pediatric residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Andrea currently splits her time between Adult Internal Medicine at Spectrum and Pediatrics at Helen Devos. In her free time, Andrea enjoys running, reading romance novels, and photography. Andrea has been a member of WMSHP since 2017 and is excited to expand her role in the organization by serving on the board.

Abby Dalman is a clinical pharmacist at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and Zeeland Community Hospital. She splits time working with the internal medicine and Investigational Drug Service teams. A native of West Michigan, Abby attended Hope College before earning her PharmD at Ferris State University. Outside of pharmacy, she enjoys visiting local breweries with friends, going to the symphony, spending time with family, and catching up on Netflix.

Sarah Hoerner (incumbent) is a clinical pharmacist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, with interests in hematology/oncology and general pediatric medicine. She is a Michigan native who grew up in the Metro Detroit area. After graduating from Concordia University Wisconsin with her PharmD, Sarah successfully completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health. Following residency, she stayed on at the children’s hospital. In her free time she enjoys figure skating, spending time outdoors, knitting, and trying new restaurants and breweries.

Shelby Kelsh is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids. In 2016, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from SUNY-Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. Upon graduation, Kelsh completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency with Spectrum Health. Currently, she is developing a new ambulatory care practice site at Spectrum Health Internal Medicine Residency Academic Medicine Practice where she hopes to develop a transitions of care program. She has been a key planner for Ferris State University's Spring Seminar and the 2018 District IV meeting. Finally, Kelsh has been a member of WMSHP since moving to Michigan in 2016 and currently resides in Sparta, MI.

Mitchell Stein (incumbent) is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine/Critical Care and the Pharmacy Residency Program Director at Ascension Borgess. He has stayed in Michigan throughout his education and career and is dedicated to serving the West Michigan region. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University, went to the University of Michigan for pharmacy school, and came back to West Michigan to complete the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Borgess. He has worked at Borgess since completing residency in 2015. Mitchell is currently serving as a board member, a position he has held since 2016.

Derek Vander Horst has been a resident of western Michigan the entirety of his life; often jokingly stating that he “lives on US 131”. He obtained his PharmD from Ferris State University in 2015; and then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. After completion of his residency training, he relocated to Grand Rapids to continue his career at Spectrum Health as one of their pharmacists working in antimicrobial stewardship and adult infectious diseases. He is an active member of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP), serving on the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee for several years; and he also served as the secretary of the Northern Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NMSHP) in 2016.

President's Corner - November 2018

Brad Miller — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:52:59 GMT

As always, October was a busy month! Our annual Residency Showcase at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Grand Rapids was very successful, with 22 programs and over 80 students attending. We also want to extend a big thank you to Tracy Mersfelder, PharmD, BCPS, for her excellent and engaging presentation about pain management.

We hope you will join us at our November meeting, where we will learn about multiple sclerosis from Jim Curtis, PharmD, BCPS.

Board elections are just around the corner, so if you are interested in running for a board position, please contact any current board member to submit your bio. The deadline for submission is October 22nd.

November is our last meeting of the season. We will be taking December off and returning in January. We hope everyone has a happy holiday season!

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net.

President's Corner - October 2018

Brad Miller — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:55:39 GMT

Thank you to all of the members who joined us in Grand Rapids for our first meeting of the 2018-2019 year, and a big thank you to Tiffany Jenkins, PharmD, BCACP, and Rachel Walters, PharmD, for their illuminating discussion about the pharmacist’s role in population health.

We are looking forward to our annual Residency Showcase, held in conjunction with the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, on October 4th in Grand Rapids. Our next monthly meeting will be on October 11th at Borgess Medical Center, with Tracy Mersfelder, PharmD, BCPS, discussing "A Painful Decision." We hope to see you there!

Board elections are coming up, so if you are interested in becoming more involved in WMSHP by running for a board position, please submit your bio to any board member by October 22nd. Election results will be announced at our November meeting.

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net

President's Corner - September 2018

Brad Miller — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 17:07:38 GMT

The weather might not be getting cooler, but fall is just around the corner. It’s time for another great year of programming for WMSHP! The Board had their summer planning meeting in June to start to organize activities for the upcoming year. This year, we are excited to announce the formation of the Community Outreach Committee. If you have any interest in joining the Community Outreach Committee or the Membership Committee, please contact any board member for more information.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came out for the Whitecaps game on July 26th. Although the Whitecaps didn’t get a win that day, everyone enjoyed the all-you-can-eat BBQ, and spending some time outside!

We hope you will join us on Thursday, September 6th for our first live CE event of the year. The meeting will be held at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids. Our speakers will be discussing “The Role of the Pharmacist in Population Health.” One live hour of CE credit will be offered to pharmacists and technicians.

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net

MPF Leadership Academy Sponsorship

Brad Miller — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 17:12:40 GMT

The 2018-2019 Michigan Pharmacy Foundation Health Professional Leadership Academy is accepting applications, and WMSHP is offering one scholarship to a qualified pharmacist. The application for the next year of the academy can be accessed online by clicking here. To be considered for sponsorship from WMSHP, please submit your completed application to Katie Adrian at ktjw22@gmail.com by midnight on Sunday, July 22nd.

The Health Professional Leadership Academy is a year-long program designed to train healthcare providers and administrators in the skills necessary to lead teams and organizations in interdisciplinary settings. The Academy is an excellent way to expand your network, increase your involvement in Association and professional activities, and acquire the skill sets that are essential to any leadership role.
Enrollment in the Academy gets you access to:

Four face-to-face workshops covering core leadership topics
Monthly online webinars, interfacing with the top leaders in the healthcare industry
Establishment of a personal leadership project and personal leadership goals

For more information about the Academy, please contact Dianne Malburg, Pharm.D., Executive Director of the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation at Dianne@MichiganPharmacists.org.

President's Corner - April 2018

Brad Miller — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 17:16:35 GMT

Those who attended our March meeting were treated to an excellent presentation about updates in diabetes management from Susan Cornell, BS, PharmD, CDE, FAPhA, FAADE. We want to extend a big thank you to Susan for the very informative and interactive discussion.

On April 12th we will be back at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids to support two pharmacy residents as they present their yearlong research projects. Lauren Fay, PharmD, from Mercy Health Saint Mary’s will be presenting her project entitled “The Urgent Need for Urgent Care Antimicrobial Stewardship.” We will also be hearing from Lauren VanDenBos, PharmD, from Borgess Medical Center, as she presents her project entitled “Effect of Initiation of Pharmacist Driven MRSA PCR Testing on Duration of Anti-MRSA Antibiotic Therapy.” Both projects focus on the impact pharmacists can have on patient care.

Each year WMSHP offers two scholarships to eligible P3 students. This year, the Board has voted to approve a scholarship in the amount of $1000, and a second scholarship in the amount of $500. The application deadline is April 6th, 2018, and the winners will be announced at the annual WMSHP Spring Seminar. For more information please visit our website at http://www.wmshp.net/scholarship/.

New this year: Members now have the opportunity to join the Membership Committee or the Community Outreach Committee. Joining a committee is a great way to get involved with WMSHP, and to give back to the community. For more information about the committees, please contact Katie Adrian at ktjw22@gmail.com.

Pharmacy Technician Relicensure Resource

Brad Miller — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 17:17:28 GMT

The qualifications from LARA are as follows:

Pharmacy Technician Relicensure

Applicants for relicensure must submit the following:

Submit copies of certificates showing proof of having completed 20 hours of continuing education within the 2-year period immediately preceding the application for relicensure including 1 hour in pain and symptom management relating to the practice of pharmacy, 1 hour in patient safety, 1 hour in pharmacy law and 17 hours of pharmacyrelated subject matter including the following topics: Medication or drug distribution; Inventory control systems; Mathematics and calculations; Biology; Pharmaceutical sciences; Therapeutic issues; Pharmacy operations; Pharmacology, drug therapy or drug products; Preparation of sterile products; Prescription compounding; Drug repackaging; Patient interaction or interpersonal skills and communication. A minimum of 5 hours must be obtained by attending live programs, courses or activities

Notice how a minimum of 5 hours must be LIVE. Our CE credits are important for expanding our knowledge and sustaining our certifications and licensures. WMSHP is a resource that will help you accomplish both of those requirements.

If you go to www.wmshp.net you will be linked to a great resource that costs Pharmacy Technicians $30 for a one-year membership which includes a complimentary dinner and live CE once a month (skipping summer months) on a Thursday evening.

WMSHP also has a Spring Seminar (Tuesday, May 15th, 2018) where you can earn all 5 live CE credits (it costs $45 for non-members and $30 for members)

In total, by being a pharmacy technician member you can obtain 12 CE credits in total *7 of them from the monthly meeting and 5 from the spring seminar* for only $60 for the YEAR!

Don't stress about your relicensure and recertification requirements, join WMSHP and enjoy a complimentary dinner before learning alongside your peers!

[Click here to download a printable PDF version of this information.]

President's Corner - March 2018

Brad Miller — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 18:21:15 GMT

We had a great turnout for our February meeting, where we learned about different uses of ketamine. Thank you to Matthew Gurka, PharmD, BCCCP for the very engaging and interesting presentation!

Congratulations to Lauren Fay (Mercy Health Saint Mary’s) and Lauren VanDenBos (Borgess Medical Center) for being selected to present their year-long projects at our April meeting. We are looking forward to hearing more about their research!

We invite you to join us at our next meeting on Thursday, March 8th at Borgess in Kalamazoo. We will be featuring a presentation from Susan Cornell, BS, PharmD, CDE, FAPhA, FAADE, entitled “2018 Diabetes Update: The Medication Makeover Edition.”

President's Corner - February 2018

Brad Miller — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:21:49 GMT

We had a great start to 2018 with our January meeting at Martell’s in Kalamazoo. Thanks to everyone who came out to hear an excellent presentation on updates in heart failure by Jona Lekura. Our next meeting will be in Grand Rapids at the Wege Center in the lower level classroom. Matthew Gurka, PharmD, BCCCP will be presenting on the expanding uses of ketamine. Hope to see you all there!

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Submit your research abstract for an opportunity to present your residency project at our April WMSHP meeting! Interested residents will need to email their research abstracts to Carrie Morrison (cmorrison00@hotmail.com) no later than February 1st.

President's Corner - January 2018

Brad Miller — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 18:22:30 GMT

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! We had another great year of programming in 2017, including our November speaker, Lauren Ice, PharmD., BCPS, BCOP, who educated us about the treatment of oncologic emergencies. It’s hard to believe that it’s already time to look ahead to the opportunities of 2018. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 11th at Martell’s in Kalamazoo. Jona Lekura, PharmD., BCPS, who is a clinical pharmacy specialist in cardiology at Henry Ford, will be presenting “An Overview of Chronic Heart Failure Management.” We hope to see everyone there!

We also welcome our new and returning board members. The newly elected board members are:

President-Elect 2018: Stacy Brousseau, PharmD, BCPS

Treasurer 2018-2019: Jordan Posey, PharmD, MBA, NHDP-BC

Board Members 2018-2019:

Tara Longman, PharmD

Julie Schmidt, PharmD, BCPS

Kyle Schmidt, PharmD, BCCP (incumbent)

Mitchell Stein, PharmD (incumbent)

Natalie Washburn, PharmD

Resident-at-Large 2018: Stephanee Schrader, PharmD (Spectrum Health PGY1)

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net

2018 WMSHP Board Elections

Brad Miller — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:23:02 GMT

Polls are now open for this year's WMSHP Board Elections! The voting deadline is just prior to our November 9th General Meeting.

President-Elect 2018

Stacy Brousseau is a 2013 graduate of Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy. Following pharmacy school, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Stacy currently practices at Bronson as a clinical pharmacist in the Emergency Department, where she precepts pharmacy residents and facilitates an Emergency Medicine rotation for fourth year pharmacy students. Stacy is currently the chairperson of the MSHP Educational Affairs Committee and is actively involved in the MPA Education Task Force. She has enjoyed serving as a WMSHP board member for the past three years and is excited to further increase her involvement within the organization.

Treasurer 2018-19

Jordan Posey is a clinical pharmacist at Spectrum Health. These days, he teaches pharmacists how to use computers so that they can be prepared for Spectrum’s implementation of Epic in November. He used to work in emergency medicine and critical care at Spectrum and still misses being elbow deep in codes, intubations, and various bodily fluids (less so that last one). Jordan recently had the opportunity to take over as Treasurer for WMSHP and would be ecstatic to continue serving in that role.

Technician 2018-19

There were no nominees for this position. If you are a technician or know a technician who would be interested in serving on our board, please contact any of our current board members.

Board 2018-19

Tara Longman graduated from Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy in 2016 and recently completed her PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Tara remained at Bronson after residency, where she is now working as a clinical pharmacist on the general surgery and cardiac surgery units. She continues to be active in the pharmacy profession, has special interests in infectious diseases and academia, and is excited to begin precepting students and residents on a new surgical rotation she is developing at Bronson. Tara has been a member of WMSHP since 2015 and looks forward to continued involvement in the organization.
Julie Schmidt graduated from Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy in 2015. Following pharmacy school, she completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Julie remained with Bronson after her residency where she currently practices as a clinical pharmacist on the neurovascular unit. She enjoys precepting fourth year pharmacy students and also being involved in the MSHP/MPA Public Affairs Committee, currently serving as co-chair. Julie has been a member of WMSHP since 2015 and is excited to further increase her involvement in the organization.
Kyle Schmidt (Incumbent) attended Ferris State University where he completed both his Undergraduate Studies and Doctorate in Pharmacy. Following graduation, he accepted and successfully completed a PGY-1 and PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency. His PGY-1 Residency in Pharmacy Practices was at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia, followed by a PGY-2 in Critical Care at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Kyle is the Neurocritical Care Clinical Pharmacist at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. He has been an active WMSHP Board Member for the past 2 years and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be involved. Kyle would be honored to be re-elected and continue to serve the West Michigan Health Systems Pharmacists.
Mitchell Stein (Incumbent) is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at Borgess Medical Center. He has stayed in Michigan throughout his education and career, and is dedicated to serving the West Michigan region. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University, went to the University of Michigan for pharmacy school, and then came back to West Michigan to complete the PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Borgess. He has worked at Borgess since completing residency in 2015. Mitchell is currently serving as a board member, a position he has held since 2016.
Natalie Washburn is a 2015 graduate of Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy. Following pharmacy school, she completed both a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency and a PGY-2 Critical Care Residency at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, IN. Natalie currently practices at Bronson Methodist Hospital as a clinical pharmacist in the Medical and Neuro Intensive Care Units, where she precepts pharmacy residents and facilitates a Critical Care rotation for fourth year pharmacy students. Natalie is an active member of SCCM's Membership and Patient Safety Committees, has been a member of MPA since 2011, and is excited about this opportunity to join the WMSHP board since recently returning to West Michigan.

President's Corner - November 2017

Brad Miller — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 17:23:54 GMT

October was a busy month, as usual! Our annual Residency Showcase at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Grand Rapids was a fun and successful event, with 23 residency programs represented and over 75 students in attendance. Thanks to Dean Van Loo for coordinating the panel discussion that evening, then turning around the next week to present “Guidelines and Landmark Studies: Script or Suggestion?” at our monthly CE program. His review and commentary on how we should cautiously interpret guideline recommendations was thoughtful and much appreciated by those in attendance.

Our last meeting for the 2017 year will feature Lauren Ice, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP sharing her insight into “Treatment of Oncologic Emergencies” on November 9th in the Lacks Grand Room at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids. As a reminder, the general board meetings conducted at 5:30pm prior to the CE presentation are open to members and guests; if you’re curious about what the WMSHP executive board is up to, please consider joining us!

Elections for our 2018-2019 Board will be held in the coming weeks. The ballot this year will include candidates for President-Elect, Treasurer, Technician, and four 2-year Director positions. A link to the electronic ballot will be emailed to WMSHP voting members soon, and the polls will close immediately prior to the meeting on November 9th.

Please note that beginning January 1st, 2018, annual membership dues will be adjusted to $50 for pharmacist members, $40 for resident members, and $30 for technician members. Per the bylaws, student members are exempt from payment of annual dues. Members who would like to take advantage of the current dues structure ($40 for pharmacists and residents, $30 for technicians) should renew prior to January 1st.

MSHP Volunteer Interest Form

Brad Miller — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 17:24:29 GMT

Posted on behalf of Dana Staat, WMSHP member and current MSHP President:

Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) relies on volunteer participants to help the organization meet its professional goals. Volunteers can serve as Committee members, officers or members of the MSHP Board of Directors, or serve as delegates to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) House of Delegates. Please note that you must be a MPA/MSHP member to volunteer for Committees or groups. Volunteers are appointed in November and December for the following calendar year. In addition, please note that the size of each Committee is limited to the number of volunteers deemed appropriate for each participant to be effective.

The MSHP Volunteer Interest Form is available at http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/Portals/0/mpa/sections/mshp/committees/2018volunteerinterestform.pdf

If you are an MPA/MSHP member and haven't served on a committee before, please consider this opportunity to get more involved!

President's Corner - October 2017

Brad Miller — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:25:12 GMT

Many thanks to those of you who joined us at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids for our first WMSHP meeting of the 2017-2018 year. It was great to see participants engage with each other in thoughtful discussion, goal-setting, and learning plan development as we practiced "The ABCs of CPD: Building Blocks for Lifelong Learning."

We are looking forward to our annual Pharmacy Residency Showcase on October 5th at FSU College of Pharmacy in Grand Rapids. Our next monthly CE meeting will be held on October 12th at the Bronson Methodist Hospital Gilmore Center Auditorium, with Dean Van Loo, PharmD digging in to "Guidelines and Landmark Studies: Script or Suggestion?" Hope you can join us in Kalamazoo!

It’s almost time again for annual Board elections. If you are interested in becoming more involved in WMSHP by running for a board position, please contact me or another board member for more information. Positions on the ballot this year include President-Elect, Treasurer, Technician, and four 2-year Board Member terms. The deadline for nominations, including a brief bio, is Friday, October 20th.

Second Annual MPF Oktoberfest - October 21, 2017

Brad Miller — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 17:25:54 GMT

Join us at the Second Annual MPF Oktoberfest event being held this year at Kitzingen Brewery in Wyoming from 5-8 p.m! (click here to register) Inspired by the small town Kitzingen in Germany where the Brewery's owner served on a U.S. military base, the interior of the brewery is designed to tell his story and "pay homage to the relationship between the American soldiers and the German people at the base."

In addition to beverages of your choice (non-alcoholic beverages will be available), registration will include delicious pretzel bites & cheese and deep fried mushrooms for appetizers with your choice of one of the following dinner options:

Jaegerschnitzel – Tender pork cutlet prepared old world Bavarian style, pan-fried and smothered with a mushroom cream gravy, served with our specialty spatzle, red cabbage and a side of cucumber salad.
Wienerschnitzel – Tender pork loin freshly breaded with our own signature breading and fried to a golden brown, served with spatzle, red cabbage and a side of cucumber salad.
Our Wurst Plate – Our sausage platter including Bockwurst, Currywurst and Weisswurst on a bed of sauerkraut, served with a pretzel and cucumber salad.

The meal will be topped off with delicious, homemade Black Forest Cake! So get your German on! Come and experience the brewery’s unique charm, as well as a variety of authentic German food and craft beer on tap. Everyone is welcome to attend – be sure to invite your family and friends for an evening of fun and fellowship, all while supporting a worthy cause!

Please note that $75 of your contribution to attend this event is tax-deductible within the limits of IRS rules (Tax ID #38-3122918). Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the Foundation’s investments in the future of pharmacy.

President's Corner - September 2017

Brad Miller — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:27:06 GMT

For many of us, preparing for back-to-school signals the end of summer…but it also means it is time to start another year of great programming for WMSHP! The Board met in June to plan activities for the year ahead, and we are excited to start broadening services and opportunities for our membership. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the ballgame with us on July 13th for the annual summer outing at Fifth Third Ballpark. The weather was beautiful, the Whitecaps won, and the all-you-can-eat BBQ was a home run!

We look forward to seeing many of you Thursday, September 14th for our first CE event of the 2017-2018 year at Uccello's in Grand Rapids. We’ll be talking about “The ABCs of CPD” and how embracing a continuous professional development process can help maximize lifelong learning. One hour of live CE credit will be offered for pharmacists and technicians.

Please consider encouraging any pharmacists and technicians you know who are not WMSHP members to consider joining. The annual membership fee ($40 for pharmacists, $30 for technicians) gives members access to up to 7 hours of live CE credits from our regular monthly meetings September through November and January through April. With an additional registration fee, our annual Spring Seminar in May provides another 5 hours.

If you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net. If you’re looking to get more involved in our organization, please contact any Board member to discuss opportunities.

President's Corner - April 2017

Brad Miller — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:28:01 GMT

At our March meeting, Zachary Smith, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, shared valuable insights during his presentation entitled “Review of the 2016 HAP/VAP Guidelines: Focus on Application at the Patient and Health-System Level” at Bronson. Zach is a critical care pharmacist with Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, and we appreciate him driving all the way across the state to help us dig into these guidelines in a practical way.

Join us on April 13th at Gravity Taphouse Grille in Grand Rapids as Ben Kulwicki (Mercy Health Saint Mary’s) and Katie Guido (Borgess Medical Center) present results of the research projects they have been working on during this residency year. Both projects explore the impact pharmacists can have on optimizing patient care…a topic important to all of us!

WMSHP is still accepting scholarship applications from eligible P3 students. For the second year, the Board voted to offer one $1000 scholarship and one $500 scholarship to deserving students who are native or current residents of West Michigan. The application deadline is April 7th, and winners will be announced at the annual WMSHP Spring Seminar. More information is available at www.wmshp.net/scholarship.

The 2017 WMSHP Spring Seminar will be held on Tuesday, May 9th at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids. We will be offing 5 hours of live continuing education accredited for pharmacists and technicians, including 1 hour of pain and 1 hour of law. Visit www.wmshp.net/seminar for more information and to register for the event. We hope to see you there!

As always, if you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at www.wmshp.net.

President's Corner - March 2017

Brad Miller — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:29:07 GMT

I hope you were able to get out this weekend and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures…perhaps a sign that spring is just around the corner?!

Members who joined us at Saint Mary’s last week were treated to an engaging presentation entitled “Mechanical Circulatory Support: Sounds Highly Non-Pharmacologic to Me” from CJ Michaud, PharmD, BCPS, cardiothoracic critical care pharmacist at Spectrum Health – Butterworth. Many thanks to CJ for sharing his knowledge and passion for a topic that is unfamiliar (and a little bit uncomfortable) to many of us!

Congratulations to Katie Guido (Borgess Medical Center) and Ben Kulwicki (Mercy Health Saint Mary’s) for being selected to present at our April meeting. We look forward to hearing about the research projects they have been working on this year.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 9th at Bronson in Kalamazoo and will feature a presentation from Zach Smith, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP on the 2016 IDSA guidelines for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

MPF Adopt-a-Student: If you are headed to the MPA Annual Convention this weekend (February 24-26), please consider sponsoring a student to attend the awards banquet through the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation’s Adopt-a-Student program. If you are not going to the meeting, you can still sponsor a student and MPF will see to it that the student is paired with another pharmacy professional during the event. The cost for the program is $100 for one student or $185 for two students. Please email Eric Roath (eric@michiganpharmacists.org) if you are interested in supporting the next generation of pharmacists in this way!

President's Corner - February 2017

Brad Miller — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:29:33 GMT

Happy New Year! Thanks to all who came out to Martell’s in Kalamazoo as we started off 2017 learning about “What’s New on TAP? The ADRs of PPIs” from Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD, a Ferris faculty member and clinical pharmacist at Borgess Medical Center. Tracey presented an extensive review of the available literature linking proton pump inhibitor use with B12 and magnesium deficiency, osteoporosis, infections, kidney disease and more; and we truly appreciate the time and energy she put into providing this education for us.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 16th, and will feature CJ Michaud, PharmD, BCPS presenting on mechanical circulatory support. There’s room for a crowd in the Lacks Grand Room at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids… please consider joining us!

Reminder to Pharmacy Residents: Submit your research abstract for an opportunity to share your residency project with our members at the April WMSHP meeting! Abstracts are due to Kyle Schmidt (kyle.schmidt@spectrumhealth.org) by January 27th. Don’t miss out on this chance to practice your presentation before the Great Lakes conference!

Stay warm, all…it will be spring before we know it (at least that’s what I’m telling myself)…

President's Corner - January 2017

Brad Miller — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:30:02 GMT

As another year comes to a close, I would like to thank all who participated in and contributed to our 2016 WMSHP programming. We wrapped up the year with an information-packed presentation on “Adult Immunization Updates” from Shalyn Quigly, PharmD, an ambulatory care pharmacist at Mercy Health Muskegon.

While December offers the chance to take a break and enjoy the holidays with family and friends, we also look forward to what is ahead in 2017! As has become a tradition, we will kick off the new year with our restaurant meeting in Kalamazoo…Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD, will present “What is New on TAP? The ADRs of PPIs” at Martell’s on January 12th. We hope many of you will be able to join us for what is sure to be an engaging presentation about this commonly used class of medications.

We are also happy to welcome our new and returning board members this year, who were announced at the November meeting. For those of you who were unable to join us, the newly elected board members are:

President-Elect 2017: Katie Adrian, PharmD, BCPS

Secretary 2017-2018: Brad Miller, PharmD (incumbent)

Board Members 2017-2018:

Stacy Brousseau, PharmD, BCPS (incumbent)

Christin Campbell, PharmD (incumbent)

Carrie Morrison, PharmD (incumbent)

Jordan Posey, PharmD

Resident-at-Large 2017: Courtney Carroll, PharmD (Spectrum Health Peds PGY2)

Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season, and I hope to see many of you in the new year!

2017 WMSHP Board Elections

Brad Miller — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:30:44 GMT

Below are the nominees for our 2017 WMSHP Board Elections. Votes will be due before the start of our November General Meeting on November 3rd.

President-Elect 2016:

Katie Adrian received her Pharm.D. degree from Ferris State University in 2011. She then completed a PGY-1 residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Katie is currently practicing as one of the Adult Medical Unit and Extended Medical Care Unit pharmacists at Bronson Methodist Hospital. She is also the Assistant Residency Director and helps to coordinate the orientation experience, along with the staffing rotation and the clinical pharmacy rotation at the end of the residency year. She has enjoyed being on the board and would love to continue her involvement.

Secretary 2017-18:

Brad Miller (incumbent) is an Informatics Pharmacist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ferris State University and completed a PGY-1 residency at Spectrum Health. He has previously worked as Pharmacy Director at Pennock Hospital in Hastings, and as an Emegency Department Clinical Pharmacist at Spectrum Health. He has served as WMSHP's secretary and webmaster since 2004.

Board Members 2017-18:

Stacy Brousseau (incumbent) graduated from Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy in 2013. Following pharmacy school, Stacy completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and was subsequently hired on at Bronson as a clinical pharmacist in the Emergency Department. She is also adjunct faculty with Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy, facilitating an Emergency Medicine rotation for fourth year pharmacy students. Stacy is currently the chairperson of the MSHP Educational Affairs Committee, a board member for WMSHP, and is actively involved in the MPA Education Task Force. She has enjoyed serving as a WMSHP board member for the past two years and would love the opportunity to continue working to provide interesting and informative continuing education programs for WMSHP's members..

Christin Campbell (incumbent) is a 2014 graduate of the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy and completed a PGY-1 residency at Borgess Medical Center. She is now a clinical pharmacy specialist at Borgess on the general medical/oncology unit. Christin has enjoyed serving as a WMSHP board member this year and is seeking re-election so that she can continue to actively contribute to the organization. She has been a member of WMSHP since 2014.

Carrie Morrison (incumbent) is an ambulatory care pharmacist at Mercy Health in Muskegon and serves as the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator for Affinia Health, Mercy's clinically integrated physician network in Muskegon and Grand Rapids. She has been on the WMSHP board for 2 terms and is seeking election for a 3rd . She received her bachelor degree in pharmacy from Ferris State University and completed her PharmD with Creighton University in Nebraska..

Jordan Posey: After going to school at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, I managed to convince Spectrum to take me on as a resident. Since then, I have been taking care of adult and pediatric patients in the ED and ICU. I am (in)famous with students and residents for my 8 hour trauma topic discussions. I am running for a board position because I want to contribute to the great work that WMSHP does to support pharmacist education and camaraderie!

President's Corner - November 2016

Brad Miller — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 17:31:27 GMT

A big thank you to Stacy Brousseau, Pharm.D., BCPS, for her excellent presentation on “STDs: The Aftermath of Netflix and Chill” and for all the members who joined us in Kalamazoo. We will be back in Grand Rapids at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 3rd for Shalyn C. Quigley, Pharm.D.’s presentation on Adult Immunization Updates.

It’s time to finalize our ballot and begin the election process for our 2017-2018 Board. The positions for elections this year are President-Elect, Secretary, and 4 two-year Board Member terms. If you are interested in running for a board position, email your bio to our secretary, Brad Miller, at webmaster@wmshp.net. Bios should be brief (a few sentences) and typically contain alma mater, additional training (if applicable), current practice and a brief description of your interest in being a board member, and are due by Friday, October 21st. Finalized ballots will be emailed to WMSHP members the week of October 24th, and the polls will close immediately prior to our general meeting on November 3rd.

President's Corner - October 2016

Brad Miller — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 17:32:07 GMT

Thank you to all of the members who joined us in Grand Rapids for our first meeting of the 2016-2017 WMSHP year, and to Derek Vander Horst, Pharm.D., for an excellent review of “HIV Pharmacotherapy: Back to the Basics.”

We look forward to a busy October, starting with our annual Residency Showcase, held in conjunction with Ferris State University, on October 6th in Grand Rapids. Our next monthly meeting will be held on October 13th at Borgess Medical Center’s Lawrence Education Center in Kalamazoo, where Stacy Brousseau, Pharm.D., BCPS, will give an engaging presentation on “STDs: The Aftermath of Netflix and Chill.”

Board elections are just around the corner, so if you are interested in taking the next step in organizational involvement and running for a board position, please contact me or another board member for more information. Last month, we welcomed Derek Wilson to the Board, filling the vacant technician position. We thank everyone for being part of such an engaged organization!

President's Corner - September 2016

Brad Miller — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 17:32:40 GMT

The dog days of summer are over, and it’s time to start another year of great programming for WMSHP. Starting with our September meeting, WMSHP will now be partnering with the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) for joint providership of accredited pharmacy continuing education for both pharmacists AND technicians. We will be updating our website with new instructions for submitting CE credit starting with the September meeting and providing instructions at each program.

Thanks to everyone who joined us June 30th for the annual summer outing at Fifth Third Ballpark to watch the West Michigan Whitecaps on a beautiful summer night. It’s always great to have a fun night of networking with other pharmacists, technicians, family and friends. If you’re interested in more social networking opportunities, the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) is hosting Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 15th at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. The cost is $175/person (60% is tax-deductible) and includes dinner, a brewery tour, and guided tasting with Founders’ brewery experts. The event is open to all pharmacy professionals and their friends, spouses and significant others. The money raised will be used by the MPF to support investments in the future of pharmacy through scholarships and grant funding. More information about the event, the Foundation and overnight lodging accommodations can be found at www.michiganpharmacists.org/Oktoberfest. The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, October 3rd.

We look forward to seeing many of you Thursday, September 8th for our first CE event of the 2016-2017 year at Uccello's in Grand Rapids, where Derek J. Vander Horst, Pharm.D. will be giving a presentation on “HIV Pharmacotherapy: Back to the Basics“ for 1 live CE credit for pharmacists and technicians. Please consider encouraging any pharmacists and technicians you know who are not WMSHP members to consider joining. The $40 annual membership fee gives members access to up to 7 hours of live CE credits from our regular monthly meetings September through November and January through April. With an additional registration fee, our annual Spring Seminar in May provides another 5 hours.

We hope to see you September 8th!

President's Corner - June 2016

Brad Miller — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 17:37:06 GMT

Summer is here! We hope many of you will be able to join us for our annual summer outing at Fifth Third Ballpark to watch the West Michigan Whitecaps take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Thursday, June 30th. Admission is free for registered WMSHP members, and $14.50 for non-members (friends & family). Each ticket includes a complementary hot dog and soda. The game night promotion is $2 Pepsi products, $2 hot dogs, $2 beers and Social Media Night. Children under 2 years of age get in free. Parking is $7 and is paid on-site.

The WMSHP Board is in need of a technician board member for the remainder of the 2016-2017 two year term (committed until December 31, 2017). If you are interested in serving on the executive board, please submit your name and practice site to the current President, Becky Maynard at rebecca.maynard@borgess.com. For more information on executive board service, click here to review the WMSHP Bylaws. Any additional questions can be directed to Becky Maynard at the email above.

MPF Leadership Academy Sponsorship

Brad Miller — Fri, 13 May 2016 17:37:51 GMT

The 2016-2017 Michigan Pharmacy Foundation Health Professional Leadership Academy is accepting applications, and WMSHP is offering one scholarship to a qualified pharmacist. The application for the next year of the academy can be accessed online by clicking here. To be considered for sponsorship from WMSHP, please submit your completed application to Becky Maynard at rebecca.maynard@borgess.com by midnight on Sunday, June 5th.

Four face-to-face workshops covering core leadership topics

Eight online webinars, interfacing with the top leaders in the healthcare industry

Access to our members-only online forum to receive coaching and advice from past graduates of the Academy

For more information about the Academy, please contact Eric Roath, Pharm.D., Executive Director of the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation at Eric@MichiganPharmacists.org.

President's Corner - May 2016

Brad Miller — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 17:38:29 GMT

It is finally time to wrap up our 2015-2016 WMSHP year with Spring Seminar on Wednesday, May 11th. We would like to thank Corinne English, PharmD, and Julie Schmidt, PharmD for presenting their residency projects at our April meeting. It is always wonderful to see the great work of our local pharmacy residents, and we wish all of them good luck at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference next week!

Registration is still open for the 47th Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar until May 4th. Onsite registration will be available for an additional $10. We encourage early registration to ensure sufficient seating and materials. Registration can be made online and paid by credit card at www.wmshp.net/seminar.

As many of you may have already seen, the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has now provided guidance on how the Department is going to be enforcing the CE requirement for technician licensure. Here is an excerpt of the most recent information that we have:

LARA is NOT going to require any pharmacy technician CE until licenses expire in June 2017 (meaning pharmacy technicians who have their licenses come due on June 30, 2016 do not need to have CE (this time only).

In June 2017, if the pharmacy technician has had their license:

Less than one year – there will be no CE required

Greater than 1 year, but less than 2 = 10 hours of CE

For 2 years = 20 hours

The 20 hours of CE must include 1 hour in pain and symptom management, 1 hour in patient safety and 1 hour in pharmacy law with at least 5 of the CE credits earned by attending live courses

The Department will NO longer be accepting the PTCB Universal CE Forms that WMSHP has used in the past. In order to ensure that technicians renewing in June 2017 have CE that can be used in their renewal, WMSHP has taken immediate action to obtain ACPE accreditation for technicians at Spring Seminar.

As always, if you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at wmshp.net. We hope to see you May 11th!

President's Corner - April 2016

Brad Miller — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:39:10 GMT

We are on the home stretch for wrapping up our 2015-2016 WMSHP year. A big thank you to Danielle Daunais, PharmD, BCACP for her wonderful March presentation, “Long Live the Liver: Updates on the Battle Against Hepatitis C.”

On April 14th we will be back at Uccello’s in Grand Rapids for our annual residency project presentations. The two residents and their project titles are:

Corinne English – “Dexmedetomidine versus Usual Care for Treatment of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal in the Medical Intensive Care Unit” (Spectrum Health)

Julie Schmidt – “Feasibility of an Early Discharge Protocol in Patients with New Venous Thromboembolism in an Emergency Department” (Bronson Methodist Hospital)

WMSHP is still accepting scholarship applications from eligible P3 students. The Board increased the scholarship to one $1,000 scholarship and one $500 this year. Applications must be submitted by April 8th, and the winners will be announced at the WMSHP Annual Spring Seminar. For more information, visit wmshp.net/scholarship.

Registration is now open for our 2016 Spring Seminar at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, May 11th with 5 hours of continuing education credit. Members will be receiving the pamphlet shortly, or you can view the schedule and register anytime at wmshp.net/seminar. The deadline for pre-registration is May 4th. We hope to see you there!

As always, if you would like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at wmshp.net.

President's Corner - March 2016

Brad Miller — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:39:43 GMT

Things are finally starting to warm up and bring hope for an early spring. Thank you to everyone who attended our February meeting where Sara Feinauer, PharmD, BCPS, spoke about the new PCSK9 inhibitors. We look forward to our upcoming continuing education program, "Long Live the Liver: Updates on the Battle against Hepatitis C" by Danielle Daunais, Pharm.D., BCACP on March 10th at Bronson in Kalamazoo.

Our area residents have submitted their residency project abstracts for consideration to speak at our April meeting. It is great to see how the next generation of pharmacists are making contributions to pharmacy practice, and we look forward to hearing from the two residents that are selected.

President's Corner - February 2016

Brad Miller — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:40:12 GMT

We had a great kick-start to 2016 with our January meeting at Old Burdick's at Wings West in Kalamazoo. Trevor Warner, PharmD, presented an "Update on Pain Management and Opioid Induced Constipation." A big thank you to Trevor for a wonderfully informative program!

Our next meeting will be back in Grand Rapids at the Wege Center in the lower level classrooms. Sara Feinauer, PharmD, BCPS will be presenting on "Statin Intolerance and the novel PCSK9 Inhibitors". Hope to see you there!

President's Corner - January 2016

Brad Miller — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:40:51 GMT

We've had a wonderful year of programming at WMSHP. A big thank you to all of our presenters for the past year, including our November speaker, Heather Hilgart, MS, SPHR who helped us learn how emotional intelligence can increase leadership impact. It's hard to believe that it's already time to look ahead to the opportunities of 2016. We will be starting the new year with our restaurant meeting in Kalamazoo at Old Burdick's at Wings West, where Trevor Warner, PharmD will be presenting an "Update on Pain Management and Opioid Induced Constipation".

We also welcome our new and returning board members this year. The newly elected members are:

President-Elect 2016: Katie Axford, PharmD, BCPS

Treasurer 2016-2017: Kim Melgarejo, PharmD, MHA (incumbent)

Technician 2016-2017: Trina Stojak, CPhT

Board 2016-2017:

Katie Adrian, PharmD (incumbent)

Tara Holt, PharmD, BCPS (incumbent)

Kyle Schmidt, PharmD

Ashley Tocco, PharmD, BCPS

Julie Belfer, PharmD, BCPS (2016)

Resident at large 2016: Sarah Hoerner, PharmD

As always, if you'd like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at wmshp.net.

President's Corner - November 2015

Brad Miller — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 17:41:23 GMT

October was a busy month! Dean Van Loo, PharmD, presented at our October meeting proving that "Resistance is Not Futile." It was a wonderful program and very informative. We also held our annual Residency Showcase at Ferris State University. The showcase was very successful – lots of programs and students in attendance!

Please consider attending our November meeting in Grand Rapids. On the 12th, Heather Hilgart, MS, SPHR, will be talking about "Increasing Leadership Impact through Emotional Intelligence." Hope to see everyone there!

November is our last meeting in the fall. We'll be taking December off and returning in January. As always, if you'd like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at wmshp.net

2016 WMSHP Board Elections

Brad Miller — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:41:51 GMT

Below are the nominees for our 2016 WMSHP Board Elections. Votes will be due before the start of our November General Meeting on November 12^th.

President-Elect 2016:

Katie Axford, PharmD, BCPS is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy and practices with the inpatient Academic Family Medicine service at Mercy Health Saint Mary's. She is a 2010 graduate of FSUCOP and completed a 2-year Pharmacotherapy Residency through Indiana University Health and Butler University. Katie has been an active member of WMSHP, serving on the Board for the last three years.

Treasurer 2016-17:

Kim Melgarejo, Pharm.D. (incumbent) is currently a Pharmacy Manager at Borgess Medical Center. She graduated from West Virginia University with her pharmacy degree and then pursued a pharmacy practice residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Soon after her residency she moved to Michigan and has worked at BMC as a clinical pharmacy specialist, clinical pharmacy manager, and now a pharmacy manager. She has been a board member of WMSHP since 2005.

Technician 2016-17:

Trina Stojak, CPhT started working in pharmacy 18 years ago. For the first 4 years, she found herself in a retail setting. For the last 14 years, she has worked in hospital settings in the Chicagoland area and across Michigan, including Helen Devos /Spectrum and University of Michigan's Mott's Children's. As a certified technician, she has experience in mainly pediatrics, but some adults in an OR/ER setting, oncology inpatient and outpatient, and general inpatient setting. Her current employment at Mercy Health enables her to hold an integral position on their USP 797 task force/implementation team. She is also currently finishing up her pre-pharmacy classes with a goal of pharmacy school in the near future.

Board Members 2016-17:

Katie Adrian, PharmD, BCPS (incumbent) received her degree from Ferris State University in 2011. She then completed a PGY-1 residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Katie is currently practicing as one of the Adult Medical Unit and Extended Medical Care Unit pharmacists at Bronson. She is also Assistant Residency Director and helps to coordinate the orientation experiences for new residents, as well as the clinical pharmacy rotation at the end of the residency year. She has enjoyed being on the board and would love to continue her involvement.

Julie Belfer, PharmD, BCPS is a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Health Saint Mary's and practices in critical and progressive care medicine units. She is a 2011 graduate of Ferris State University and completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Mercy Health Saint Mary's followed by a PGY-2 critical care pharmacy practice residency at Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville, Florida.

Christin Campbell, PharmD recently completed the PGY-1 Residency program at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo and transitioned into her role as a staff pharmacist in July 2015. She is seeking a position on the WMSHP Board so that she can have a more active role in the organization, with the intent to contribute her leadership skills and enthusiasm for advancing pharmacy practice. On her days off, Christin and her husband Doug spend most of their time chasing after their six-month old Bernese mountain dog, Gunner, and cleaning up the disaster usually left in his wake.

Tara Holt, PharmD, BCPS (incumbent) graduated from Purdue University in 2010, then went on to complete a PGY1 and PGY2 critical care residency at Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA. She currently works as a clinical pharmacist in the neuro and medical intensive care units at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. She is also an adjunct faculty with Ferris State University working with pharmacy students and residents at BMH. Professional involvement includes membership with WMSHP and she is an active member of the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology section of SCCM.

Kyle Schmidt, PharmD attended Ferris State University where he completed both his undergraduate studies and PharmD. Following graduation, he successfully completed a PGY-1 and PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency. His PGY-1 Residency in Pharmacy Practices was at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia, followed by a PGY-2 in Critical Care at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Throughout each of his residencies, he took an active role in teaching, research, process improvement and protocol development. Kyle is now the clinical pharmacist in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. He hopes to become a leader in the profession and contribute to the advancement of healthcare.

Mitch Stein, PharmD received a bachelor's degree in biomedical science from Western Michigan University in 2010 and graduated from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in 2014. He recently completed the PGY-1 residency at Borgess Medical Center and now works as a staff pharmacist at Borgess. He has lived in West Michigan nearly his entire life and would be proud to represent health system pharmacists in the region.

Ashley Tocco, PharmD, BCPS is the Lead IV Room Pharmacist at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, a position she accepted shortly after completing her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency in 2013. She has special interests in sterile processing, chemotherapy preparation, handling of hazardous drugs, and medical surveillance. She has been an active member of WMSHP since moving to the west side of Michigan in 2012 and would love the opportunity to serve the organization as a member of the board.

President's Corner - October 2015

Brad Miller — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 17:42:34 GMT

We had a wonderful meeting in September to kick-off our fall programming! A big thank you to Dana Staat, PharmD, for talking about the "Treatment of Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients." A very interesting topic.

On October 8th, please join us in Kalamazoo to hear from Dean Van Loo, PharmD, BCPS. Also in October, on the 15th, WMSHP will be hosting its annual Residency Showcase in conjunction with Ferris State University. Looking forward to seeing all the students, residents, and programs in attendance!

The board encourages Western Michigan residents to consider joining WMSHP. Residents are always invited to attend our board meetings which occur prior to the educational portion of the meeting. We had a great resident turn-out this past month and look forward to meeting all who are interested!

Finally, a big congratulations to Carissa Jacobs, PharmD! She is a PGY2 pediatrics resident at Spectrum Health and the winner of our Michigan Pharmacy Foundation Health Professional Leadership Academy Scholarship!

As always, if you'd like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website at wmshp.net.

President's Corner - September 2015

Brad Miller — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:43:07 GMT

I hope everyone is enjoying what's left of the summer! Cross your fingers that the weather stays nice a little longer! It's hard to believe that September is already here. WMSHP has been on hiatus for a bit, but meetings resume this month.

Here's a quick update of WMSHP events:

In May, WMSHP enjoyed another successful Spring Seminar. Attendees were presented with a diverse range of topics such as sickle cell pain, diabetes treatment, discussions from the Capitol, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, and transforming care. Thank you to Angela Green and all of the WMSHP board members for making this event a success!

In June, the WMSHP board met to plan activities for the year ahead. Look forward to some great programming in the months to come!

In July, WMSHP members and their families enjoyed a social night out with the West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, but it was still a great time with friends and colleagues! Luckily, the Whitecaps were able to brave the rain and score a win over the Dayton Dragons!

In September, we will kick-off our fall monthly meetings at Uccello's on the 17th. Hope to see everyone there!

New this year, WMSHP will provide financial support for WMSHP members and pharmacy students interested in conducting community service projects that fulfill the Society's purpose of advancing public health, patient care, and the interests of the pharmacy profession in Western Michigan. Please review the community service grant application for more details!

As always, if you'd like more information about WMSHP, please visit our website wmshp.net.

President's Corner - April 2015

Brad Miller — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:43:46 GMT

We learned about “MRSA in the USA” at our March meeting in Kalamazoo. A big “thank you” to Dr. Dean VanLoo, PharmD, for presenting.

At our April meeting, we will continue the tradition of having pharmacy residents present their residency projects. Two residents were selected by the WMSHP Board to present. Congratulations to them! The scheduled presenters and their project titles are listed below.

“Assessing the Use of a Standardized Order Set for Postoperative Pain Management in Total Arthroplasty Patients,” presented by Brittany Bowen, PharmD (Spectrum Health Medical Center).

“Adjunctive Valproic Acid for the Treatment of ICU Delirium in Intensive Care Patients: A Retrospective Study,” Phuong Tran, PharmD (Bronson Methodist Hospital).

Until April 3rd, WMSHP will be accepting scholarship applications from eligible P3 students. Please visit http://www.wmshp.net/scholarship/ for more information.

Don’t forget to register for WMSHP’s Spring Seminar on Tuesday, May 5th at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Registration is available at http://www.wmshp.net/seminar/

Hope to see everyone at our upcoming events!

President's Corner - March 2015

Brad Miller — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 18:44:20 GMT

We're about one month away from the first official day of spring! I'd like to be hopeful that spring is right around the corner, but the frigid temps this week are convincing me otherwise. Winter is still in full force!

Despite the weather, we had a great turnout at our February meeting. Ciji Marckini, CPhT, spoke about the medication history process and how this can transform care. Thank you to those who attended!

WMSHP will soon be accepting applications for our annual scholarship awarded at Spring Seminar. For interested students, more info will be coming shortly.

If you're willing to brave the cold temps and snow, our next meeting will be Thursday, March 12th, at the Bronson Gilmore Center in Kalamazoo. Please join us! Hope to see everyone there!

President's Corner - February 2015

Brad Miller — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:44:47 GMT

Brrr...is anyone else ready for warm weather yet! Fortunately, the cold temps didn't keep anyone away from our January meeting! Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD, BCPS, presented an interesting and informative topic about the history of pharmacy!

Attention Pharmacy Residents! Don't forget to submit your Great Lakes Project abstract to WMSHP if you would like the opportunity to present your project to our members at the April meeting. This is a great opportunity to practice your presentation before attending the Great Lakes Conference.

Reminder! 2015 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition February 27-March 1 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. WMSHP has three delegate positions for the MPA House of Delegates. If you are interested in being a delegate, please email me at kari.vavra@yahoo.com.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 12th, in the East Auditorium at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Hospital. Stay warm and hope to see everyone there!

President's Corner - January 2015

Brad Miller — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:45:31 GMT

Happy Holidays! During this hectic time of the year, I hope that everyone is enjoying time with family and friends and also hopefully enjoying some downtime as well! We had a lot of wonderful programming in 2014 and planning for the spring is already well underway. You should expect great speakers/topics in the year ahead!

In January, we welcome a new set of board members! For 2015, the WMSHP leadership is as follows:

President: Kari Vavra (FSU)

Past-President: Angela Green (Mercy)

President-Elect: Rebecca Maynard (Borgess)

Treasurer: Kim Melgarejo (Borgess)

Secretary: Brad Miller (Spectrum Health)

Technician: Ciji Marckini (Spectrum Health)

Returning Board Members: Katie Adrian (Bronson), Ryan Bickel (Borgess), Kasey Bucher (St. Mary's), and Tara Holt (Bronson); Katie Axford (FSU) and Carrie Morrison (Mercy) are returning for a second term

New Board Members: Stacy Brousseau (Bronson) and Allison Rider (Spectrum Health)

Additionally, a big "thank you" to Dana Staat (Spectrum Health) and Michael Michutka (Borgess) as they complete their terms as past-president and board member, respectively.

We've been on hiatus this month, but will return in January! Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 15 at Mangia Mangia in Kalamazoo. Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD, BCPS, who is a Professor at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, will be presenting "A Traveling Pharmacist through Time and Place." Should be a great topic! Hope to see you there!

Finally, Save the Date! This year's WMSHP Spring Seminar will be held on May 5, 2015 at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

President's Corner - November 2014

Brad Miller — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 17:47:05 GMT

It is election time for WMSHP. Make sure to vote for officers and board members. We also are updating the WMSHP bylaws. If you attend the November meeting you will be given a hard copy of the bylaws. Voting for approval of changes will happen in January.

WMSHP hosted their annual residency showcase at Ferris State University on October 16th. It was another successful event with more than 20 programs in attendance.

Sarah Feinauer, PharmD, BCPS from Mercy Health Muskegon will be presenting "Medical Marihauna: Clearing the Air." Hope to see you there.

2015 WMSHP Board Nominees

Brad Miller — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 17:46:04 GMT

Below you will find a short bio for each member running for a 2015 WMSHP Board position. Ballots are open now, and will remain open until the beginning of our next General Meeting on November 13th.

____________

President-Elect 2015:
Rebecca Maynard, Pharm.D. is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine and Residency Program Director at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University and completed a PGY-1 Residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Becky has been a WMSHP Board Member since January 2011.

Treasurer 2015-16:
Kim Melgarejo, Pharm.D. (incumbent) is currently a Pharmacy Manager at Borgess Medical Center and Borgess Pipp Hospital. She graduated from West Virginia University with her pharmacy degree and then pursued a pharmacy practice residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Soon after her residency she moved to Michigan and has worked at BMC as a clinical pharmacy specialist, clinical pharmacy manager, and now a pharmacy manager. She has been a board member of WMSHP since 2005.

Secretary 2015-16:
Brad Miller, Pharm.D. (incumbent) is currently an Informatics Pharmacist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ferris State University in 2002, and then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Spectrum Health. Prior positions he has held include Pharmacy Director at Pennock Hospital in Hastings, and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Brad has served as Secretary for WMSHP since 2004.

Board Members 2015-16:
Katie Axford, Pharm.D. (incumbent) is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy and maintains a practice site in Inpatient Family Medicine at Mercy Health Saint Mary's. Katie has been an active member of WMSHP and has served on the Board for the last two years.

Charles Berklich, Pharm.D. graduated from the University of Michigan in 2013. He currently rotates as the Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Specialist at the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion (LHCP). Additionally, he works in the outpatient chemotherapy infusion clinic at the LHCP as well as the emergency department at Butterworth Hospital. Charles is also an adjunct assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at Ferris State University and active in ASHP but eager to become more involved in WMSHP. In his spare time, Charles plays rugby for the Grand Rapids Gazelles and serves as community volunteer coordinator for the team.

Stacy Brousseau, Pharm.D. is a 2013 graduate of Ferris State University. She recently completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, and she is currently practicing as a clinical pharmacist in the emergency department there. Stacy is actively involved in both the Education Task Force and the Educational Affairs Committee for MPA / MSHP, and she would like to become more involved in WMSHP as well.

Lisa Dumkow, Pharm.D. is a 2011 graduate of the University of Toledo. She currently works at Mercy Health St. Mary's in Grand Rapids as a Clinical Pharmacist as part of the Antimicrobial Stewardship program at that facility.

Kristen Felice, Pharm.D. received her degree from the University of Michigan, then completed an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and an ASHP-accredited PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Specialty Residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her previous experiences include starting Emergency Medicine pharmacy services and expanding ICU clinical coverage at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. She is currently a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

Carrie Morrison, Pharm.D. (incumbent) is employed with Mercy Health Muskegon as an ambulatory care pharmacist. She is a current WMSHP board member, serving since 2013. She graduated from Ferris State University with her bachelors in pharmacy (1998) and later went back to school for her PharmD with Creighton University in Nebraksa (2009).

Julie Pardy, Pharm.D., BCPS graduated from Ferris State University. Julie completed her PGY1 residency at Spectrum Health which where she works as a clinical generalist. She has been a member of WMSHP since 2011 and would love the opportunity to expand her involvement as a board member.

Allison Rider, Pharm.D. is a Clinical Generalist at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, where she works primarily in the ICU. Allison graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Cell Biology and Chemistry from Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana in 2009, followed by her Pharm.D. from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 2013. After pharmacy school graduation and prior to starting at Spectrum Health, Allison completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Allison has enjoyed being involved with pharmacy organizations such as APhA/ASHP, and has found being a part of WMSHP for the past year to be a great experience and would appreciate the opportunity to become more involved as a board member.

President's Corner - October 2014

Brad Miller — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:47:50 GMT

WMSHP kicked off with a great educational event at Uccello's last month. We learned a lot about the different roles dexmedetomidine can play in our acutely ill patients. Slides are available on our website, wmshp.net, if you missed it.

In October we will hear from Jessica Prociv, PharmD at Bronson on a topic surrounding transitions of care. WMSHP will also be hosting their annual pharmacy residency showcase on October 16th at Ferris State University. This is a great event for students to learn about residency programs in the area.

See you in October!

President's Corner - September 2014

Brad Miller — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 17:48:17 GMT

Hope everyone had a great summer. It is hard to believe that it is already September. Here is a quick update of WMSHP events.

WMSHP enjoyed another successful Spring Seminar in May. There were a variety of topics presented including cardiovascular disease, informatics, and the affordable care act. Thank you to Dana Staat and all of the WMSHP board members for making this event a success.

WMSHP also held two summer events this year. We enjoyed a night at the ballgame in June and happy hour in August. It was really fun to be able to meet and spend time with colleagues and friends outside of the workplace.

If you missed these events, WMSHP kicks off their monthly meetings at Uccello's on September 11th. Julie Belfer, PharmD from Spectrum Health will be presenting "Dexmedetomidine: Various Roles and Utilization Strategies."

Hope to see you in September!

President's Corner - April 2014

Brad Miller — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 17:48:45 GMT

We had a great time in March eating and learning about honey, garlic, and elderberry and their place in treating infectious diseases. Thank you to Tracey for her interesting presentation.

April is the month where we hear from two pharmacy residents about their residency project. Kayla Uganski from Mercy Health St. Mary's will present "Do criteria-based urine cultures contribute to unnecessary antibiotic use in a community teaching hospital?" and Emily Chan from Mercy Health Muskegon will present "A joint collaboration between nursing and pharmacy to improve medication-related HCAHPS score".

WMSHP is offering a scholarship to a west Michigan native P3 student. If you are looking for more details, click on the scholarship tab. Application deadline is April 4th.

Also look forward to our 45th annual Spring Seminar on May 6th 2014 including topics on cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, pain management, and the affordable care act. More details to follow on our website.

See you in April.

President's Corner - March 2014

Brad Miller — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:49:14 GMT

Again we had great attendance at our meeting in February. Heather Draper presented current topics in toxicology including treatment options for overdoses and new and upcoming drugs of abuse. It was informative and thought provoking. Thank you to Heather for a great presentation.

In March, Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD, BCPS, professor at Ferris State University will be presenting "Health on the Homestead" a look at natural products and their place in medicine.

Congratulations to residents Kayla Uganski of Mercy Health Saint Mary's and Emily Chan of Mercy Health Muskegon for being selected to present their residency projects at April's meeting.

Thank you to all our WMSHP members for their attendance and helping to make these programs successful. Hope to see you all at the March meeting.

President's Corner - February 2014

Brad Miller — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:49:41 GMT

We had a great January meeting. Thank you to everyone for braving the weather and attending to hear Mike Schrimer speak on Pulmonary Hypertension. In case you missed it, Mike's slides are on our website.

Heather Draper, PharmD, is a pharmacist practicing in emergency medicine at Mercy Health Saint Mary's. She will be presenting a topic in February on toxicology.

Just a friendly reminder that if you RSVP for a meeting and cannot attend, please contact the board member that is organizing the event, even if it is the day of the event. Many times we have a waiting list or know of someone who would like to attend and could allow for them to come to the meeting if we are aware of a cancellation. We would appreciate your help with this.

Hope to see you at February's meeting.

President's Corner - January 2014

Brad Miller — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 18:50:08 GMT

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season and have been able to spend time with family and friends. We have had great attendance during our fall meetings and have great topics planned for the winter and spring.

In October, Peggy de Voest, PharmD and Mike Schirmer, PharmD presented patient cases to help the audience learn heart failure guidelines. It was a great mix of inpatient and outpatient concepts and it was a fun way to learn.

Mike Shirmer, PharmD returns in January to present “Pulmonary Hypertension Updates.” I can’t wait to see what Mike has in store for us.

We also welcome 3 new board members and 1 returning member in January. New members include Katie Wenzel, Ryan Bickel, and Tara Holt. Kasey Bucher returns for a second term as a board member and Kari Vavra transitions to President-elect. Thank you to Abby Sturm and Kristina Rak as they completed their board member term in December.

Again, Happy Holidays and hope to see you at the January meeting.

2014 WMSHP Board Nominees

Brad Miller — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 17:50:43 GMT

Ballots for the 2014 WMSHP Board Elections are in the mail to all of our current members. Please complete your ballot and follow the enclosed directions to ensure that your vote is counted. Below are short bios for each of this year's nominees.

Charles Berklich was born and raised in a suburb of Flint where he kept to his humble beginnings on the east side of the state and attended the University of Michigan. He studied neuroscience for three years before being accepted to the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. Throughout his 7 years of school he was employed as a certified student hardware technician for UM. He also had the opportunity to complete a PharmD project that had implications for compliance with meaningful use criteria. He has a unique background focused on technology and he hopes to leverage his background to apply it to the practice of pharmacy. Specifically, he is interested in working with drug knowledge vendors for technology optimization. He currently works as a pharmacist at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He also lives in Grand Rapids. In his free time, he plays rugby. He played every year of college and was voted the captain of the UM team two years in a row. He currently plays for the Grand Rapids Gazelles. He is also an avid fisherman, enjoys hitting the firearm range occasionally, and is currently in talks with a Michigan brewery website to work as an intern. He is also active with ASHP, having attended last year's midyear and presented a poster.

Ryan J. Bickel, Pharm.D., BCPS, is the pharmacy manager at Borgess Pipp Hospital in Plainwell, MI. Ryan earned is pharmacy degree from Ferris State University and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Spectrum Health. He is a graduate of ASHP’s Pharmacy Leadership Academy and is currently pursuing a MHA degree from Simmons College. He is a Fellow of the Michigan Pharmacists Association and has been actively involved in ASHP, MSHP, and WMSHP. His professional areas of interest include infectious diseases, pain management, medication safety, and quality improvement.

Kasey Bucher (Incumbent Board Member) graduated from the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 2008 and then went on to complete a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency and a PGY-2 Specialty Residency in Critical Care. Kasey currently works on the clinical pharmacy team at Mercy Health St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Specialist.

Adam Drzewicki graduated with his Pharm.D. from the University of Michigan in 2000. After graduation, he completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then accepted a clinical pharmacist position in cardiology at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

Tara Holt graduated with her Pharm.D. from Purdue University in 2010. Upon graduation she went on to complete a PGY1 and PGY2 critical care residency at Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA. She currently works as a clinical pharmacist in the neuro and medical intensive care units at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. She is also an adjunct faculty with Ferris State University working with pharmacy students and residents at BMH. Professional involvement includes membership with WMSHP and she is an active member of the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology section of SCCM.

Julie Pardy graduated with her Pharm.D. from Ferris State University in 2011. She then completed a PGY1 residency at Spectrum Health. Julie now works at Spectrum Health United Memorial. She has been a member of WMSHP since 2011 and she would love the opportunity to become more involved as a board member.

Katie Wenzel received her Pharm.D. degree from Ferris State University in 2011. She then completed a PGY-1 residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Katie is currently practicing as one of the Adult Medical Unit and Extended Medical Care Unit pharmacists at Bronson. She is also Assistant Residency Director and helps to coordinate the orientation experiences for new residents, as well as the clinical pharmacy rotation at the end of the residency year.

President's Corner - November 2013

Brad Miller — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 17:51:09 GMT

The first two months of WMSHP continuing education programs have gone very well. We have had exceptional attendance at each meeting, both in Grand Rapids and in Kalamazoo. To meet the needs of our membership, we have tried to expand the meeting limit to the highest number possible, while still meeting our monthly budget. We often have a meeting waiting list. If you do sign up for a meeting and are later unable to attend, please contact the meeting organizer as soon as possible (listed on the website). We can then open up the meeting to members on the waiting list.

Peggy de Voest, PharmD and Mike Schirmer, PharmD will both be speaking at our November meeting. The will be discussing “Pharmacy and the Failing Heart”. The talk will be interactive and informative, so please try to attend.

Keep an eye out for our yearly ballot and remember to vote!

President's Corner - October 2013

Brad Miller — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 17:51:36 GMT

Now that fall is in full force, I hope you have a chance to attend one of our fall continuing education programs. As in years past, we will continue to alternate program sites between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

Our October meeting features a practitioner who is new to our area, Lisa Dumkow PharmD, the clinical pharmacist in antimicrobial stewardship at the St. Mary's Campus of Mercy Health. Lisa will discuss pharmacists at the transitions of care and opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship.

October is a busy month for WMSHP with our monthly meeting and our residency showcase. The WMSHP residency showcase will occur in Grand Rapids at the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy classrooms. We usually have a great turnout of interested students and residency programs.

Our November meeting is back in Grand Rapids and will feature Peggy de Voest and Mike Schirmer who will be talking about heart failure. Please try to attend!

President's Corner - September 2013

Brad Miller — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:52:04 GMT

Welcome back to the fall continuing education session of WMSHP. I hope you all had a great summer and are ready to participate in some great education topics. I would also like to welcome our newest members. Our first ever happy hour/membership drive was quite a success. We had a full house with over 50 attendees, 19 of whom were potential new members.

Our September meeting features one of our board members, Kasey Bucher PharmD, BCPS who will be speaking on blood products and pharmaceutical emergencies.

October is shaping up to be a busy month for WMSHP. Besides our general October meeting, we are busy planning our annual residency showcase. The residency showcase is a great way for potential residents to meet with various residency programs across the state. The general October meeting will be in Kalamazoo on October 10, with the residency showcase in Grand Rapids on October 17.

We are also happy to report that WMSHP will be supporting the Michigan Pharmacists Association Young Practitioner Leadership Academy. We are sponsoring a board member, Kasey Bucher, who will attend the academy this year. We are excited to see what ideas Kasey will be able to share with the WMSHP board and the general membership after attending the academy.

President's Corner - April 2013

Brad Miller — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:52:32 GMT

It's that time once again….time for spring? I guess we have to say, not quite. It is time for our yearly opportunity to showcase how much great work is being done by local pharmacy residents. Once again, congratulations to Jessica Rademacher from Spectrum Health and Corie Kellogg from Mercy Health Partners. Dr. Rademacher and Dr. Kellogg were selected by the WMSHP board to present their residency projects at our meeting this month.

May brings another exciting time for WMSHP, our 44^th annual Spring Seminar. We will be returning to the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College in Grand Rapids on May 7^th. Look for the brochure soon. This year’s programming includes 5 hours of live continuing education with topics ranging from compounding pharmacy to incorporating students and resident’s into practice to pain management. We hope to see you all there!

President's Corner - March 2013

Brad Miller — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:53:01 GMT

I wish I could say that I can see the signs of spring approaching, but unfortunately winter seems to be sticking around in West Michigan.

Don’t let the weather stop you from attending our next meeting in Kalamazoo. Laura Ritter MS, CDE, RD will be discussing insulin pumps in the hospital. Make sure you take a look at the dinner choices and indicate your selection ahead of time.

Congratulations to Jessica Rademacher from Spectrum Health and Corie Kellogg from Mercy Health Partners. Dr. Rademacher and Dr. Kellogg were selected by the WMSHP board to present their residency projects at our April meeting. Mark your calendars for April 11. We are changing the venue this year based on feedback we received regarding the meeting we had at the Griffins game last year. Check back as more details will be added to the website.

I hope you all enjoy the end of winter! Stay safe!

President's Corner - February 2013

Brad Miller — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:53:29 GMT

After staying away until the end of January, West Michigan has seen the snow return in force! Thankfully, all we had to deal with was rain for our January meeting in Kalamazoo. We had a great turn-out to hear Don Scott, PharmD from Spectrum Health, speak on antibiotic dosing in obese patients.

To avoid Valentine's Day, our February meeting will be held a week later than normal on February 21, 2013. Dr. Yvan Tran, an Epileptologist at Saint Mary's Health Care, will speak on seizures and epilepsy. The meeting will be held in the Saint Mary's Lacks Cancer Center. Please plan on attending.

Reminder:

2013 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition
Feb. 22-24, 2013, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

Attention Pharmacy Residents! Don't forget to submit your Great Lakes Project abstract to WMSHP if you would like the opportunity to present your project to our members at our April meeting. Two residents will be selected to present their projects on Thursday, April 11 in Grand Rapids. This is a great opportunity to practice your presentation before attending the Great Lakes Conference.

President's Corner - January 2013

Brad Miller — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 18:54:03 GMT

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. It seems like only yesterday I was serving as WMSHP president for the first time. It has actually been 5 years! Time does fly. I am pleased to be serving as your WMSHP president once again.

You will see a mix of new and familiar faces within the leadership of WMSHP this year. The WMSHP leadership for 2013 is as follows:

President: Dana Staat (Spectrum Health)
Past-President: Kali VanLangen (FSU)
President-Elect: Angela Green (Mercy)
Treasurer: Kim Melgarejo (Borgess)
Secretary: Brad Miller (Spectrum Health)
Technician: Ciji Marckini (Spectrum Health)
Returning Board Members: Kasey Bucher and Abby Sturm (Saint Mary's), Kari Vavra and Kristina Rak (FSU)
New Board Members: Becky Maynard (Borgess), Michael Michutka (Borgess), Katie Axford (FSU), and Carrie Morrison (Mercy).

Our next meeting will be held January 10, at Borgess Medical Center-Lawrence Education Center Auditorium. Donald Scott, Pharm.D. , Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist at Spectrum Health, will be speaking about antimicrobial dosing in the obese patient.

Save the date: The WMSHP Spring Seminar will be held May 7, 2013 at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

President's Corner - November 2012

Brad Miller — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:54:29 GMT

The last WMSHP Meeting of 2012 is just around the corner!! Make sure to RSVP early!

Not only is November our last meeting of the year, but it is also time to vote for who our incoming Board Members are going to be. Watch for your ballot to arrive and return it to any Board Member to make sure your vote is counted.

As a reminder, monthly meetings will resume in January.

Also, we are starting to plan for the 2013 WMSHP Spring Seminar. If you have ideas or topics you would like to hear about please send me an email at KaliVanLangen@ferris.edu.

Finally, thank you to all of the members of WMSHP for allowing me to serve as your President for the past year. I have enjoyed the experience and look forward to serving as Past President in 2013 and planning our annual Spring Seminar Meeting. I would also like to welcome Dana Staat as President for the 2013 year and for agreeing to serving for a second time!

President's Corner - October 2012

Brad Miller — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:55:04 GMT

The cooler temperatures and shorter days means Fall has arrived and WMSHP is back in full swing.

WMSHP is hosting two events this month and both events are being held on October 18. The first event is our monthly meeting. Shawna Kraft, PharmD from the University of Michigan will be presenting on "Oncologic Emergencies" at this month's meeting which is being held at the Lawrence Education Center auditorium on the campus of Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

The second event is our annual Residency Showcase. This year, the residency showcase is being held at Ferris State University's new College of Pharmacy building located at 25 Michigan Ave in Grand Rapids. Many programs from around the state will be in attendance. Pharmacy students are welcome to attend and learn more about the residency programs in our area.

This is the time of year that WMSHP is also looking for members to volunteer their time as a Board Member. Board Members serve 2 years terms and are primarily responsible for planning one monthly meeting for each year they are on the board. If you are interested in adding your name to the ballot for Board Member, please notify any current Board Member by October 12, 2012.

Also, we are starting to plan for the 2013 WMSHP Spring Seminar. If you have ideas or topics you would like to hear about please send me an email at KaliVanLangen@ferris.edu.

2012 WMSHP Residency Showcase

Brad Miller — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:55:31 GMT

Let the search begin! The time has come to begin the search for the 2012-2013 residency class. Western Michigan Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists will be holding a Residency Showcase in conjunction with Ferris State University on Thursday, October 18th. The showcase is scheduled to commence at 5:30 pm and will be held at the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, 25 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, Room 713.

Please RSVP via e-mail to Angela Green by Thursday, October 11th to secure your place in the showcase. The cost for a program to participate in the showcase is $30 and payment can be made online or at the showcase. There is no charge for residency candidates who would like to attend and view the showcases.

As the date of the Residency Showcase approaches, we will contact registered programs with important information needed regarding set-up and parking.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Angela Green by phone at (231) 672-4929 or via e-mail at greenak@trinity-health.org

President's Corner - September 2012

Brad Miller — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:56:14 GMT

Welcome back to another season of WMSHP meetings! The end of summer means the beginning of monthly CE programs for WMSHP members. In keeping with last year's format, we will be hosting the majority of monthly meetings at our institutions to help control the cost, however; Board Members approved for one meeting to be held in a restaurant in each our two main cities, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

Our first speaker to help us get back into the swing of things in John Jameson, PharmD. As many of you know, John is faculty member at Ferris State's College of Pharmacy and always brings a wealth of experience all of his presentations. This year, John's presentation is titled "Insulin: First Do No Harm" and will discuss the key concepts to help optimize insulin therapy in our patients.

WMSHP and Ferris State University will also hosting it's annual Residency Showcase this October. More details will be coming soon!

President's Corner - April 2012

Brad Miller — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:56:40 GMT

The recent record setting temperatures have most people enjoying backyard barbeques and fun in the sun. But don’t forget to enjoy the wonderful things Spring has to offer including the last two meetings before WMSHP takes a break from monthly meetings to enjoy the summer.

Be sure to join WMSHP on Friday, April 13 to support two area pharmacy practice residents as they each present their residency project. The scheduled presenters and their project titles are listed below.

“A comparison of extended infusion versus traditional infusion piperacillin-tazobactam: a retrospective study”, presented by Katie Wenzel, PharmD (Bronson Methodist Hospital)

“Evaluation of Fixed Dose Recombinant Factor VII for Warfarin Reversal in Neurosurgical Patients”, presented by Gregory F. Blank II, PharmD (Spectrum Health)

Immediately following the presentations, join us at the last Grand Rapids Griffins game of the year at Van Andel Arena. Family and friends are welcome to attend the game. More information on how to order tickets is available on the meeting's RSVP page on WMSHP.net.

WMSHP is still accepting applications for the annual WMSHP Scholarship. This year, one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded. Deadline for scholarship applications is March 31, 2012.

Save the Date
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for WMSHP’s Spring Seminar scheduled for Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Registration should be available soon!

President's Corner - March 2012

Brad Miller — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:57:09 GMT

As I watched my dog run around our yard this morning, I was able to take a minute and realize that February is almost over and the signs of spring are all around. The snow has melted, the days are growing longer, and my flowers are starting to grow. With spring right around the corner, WMSHP is getting ready for our busiest time of the year.

Our next meeting will be held on March 15 at the Lawrence Education Center Auditorium on the campus of Borgess Medical Center. Tracey Mersfelder, PharmD will be presenting a topic entitled "Grow to Your Health".

Congratulations to Katie Wenzel and Gregory Blank II! Dr. Wenzel and Dr. Blank were selected by the board out of over 20 entries to present their residency projects at our meeting on Friday, April 13 to be held at the last Grand Rapids Griffins game of the year. Mark your calendars and watch for the RSVP to come out earlier than usual so that we can ensure enough seats for everyone who wants to attend. Family and friends are welcome!

WMSHP is now accepting applications for the annual WMSHP Scholarship. Deadline for scholarship applications is March 31, 2012.

President's Corner - February 2012

Brad Miller — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:57:39 GMT

Well, it appears Old Man Winter did not forget about us after all. Snow and frigid temperatures are back and winter has officially begun but that isn't stopping WMSHP.

The January meeting resulted in good attendance and a very informative talk on heart failure by Dr. Michael Mitchuka. Despite the threat of dangerous roads and heavy snowfall, many members were able to attend. I can only hope for similar results for the remainder of the winter months.

Brad Miller, PharmD will updating us on recent happenings in Emergency Medicine. The meeting will be held at Saint Mary's Lacks Cancer Center on February 9.

Attention Pharmacy Residents! Don't forget to submit your Great Lakes Project abstract to WMSHP if you would like the opportunity to present your project to our members at our April meeting. Two residents will be selected to present their projects on Friday, April 13 prior to everyone attending the last Grand Rapids Griffins game of the year. This is a great opportunity to practice your presentation before attending the Great Lakes Conference.

Use of Cyanokit for Suspected Cyanide Poisoning

Brad Miller — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:58:44 GMT

In the January 2012 WMSHP Newsletter, Chelsey Timmer, a PGY1 pharmacy resident at Spectrum Health, writes about therapy for suspected cyanide poisoning.

_____

Use of Cyanokit^® for Suspected Cyanide Poisoning

Chelsey Timmer, Pharm.D.

Poisoning due to cyanide can cause severe harm and death within minutes to hours. For this reason, it is critical that clinicians are aware of common sources of cyanide exposure. Exposed patients must be quickly assessed for signs and symptoms of toxicity, and clinicians must be able to identify how and when to appropriately use the available cyanide antidotes.

The major source of cyanide exposure in the United States is via smoke inhalation from structural fires^1,2,3. Cyanide gas is produced when materials such as wool, silk, polyurethane, and synthetic polymers combust². During a fire, inhaled cyanide gas can rapidly diffuse into tissues, causing signs and symptoms of toxicity within minutes. Other sources of cyanide poisoning include intentional ingestion in an attempt to commit suicide, accidental ingestion, and occupational or industrial exposures to the chemical. The anti-hypertensive medication sodium nitroprusside, which contains 44% cyanide by molar weight, can also lead to cyanide accumulation in select patient populations such as those with a defect in cyanide metabolism or renal dysfunction¹.

Cyanide binds to the ferric ion of cytochrome oxidase a₃, a component of the mitochondria that is essential for oxidative phosphorylation. When cyanide levels rise, the normal elimination pathway is overwhelmed, oxidative phosphorylation is inhibited, and levels of lactate rise to cause a metabolic acidosis^1,4. This may manifest initially as an anxiety, headache, giddiness, tachycardia, and tachypnea. As the toxicity progresses, hypotension, arrhythmias, seizures, and coma may occur^1,3.

It is imperative that practitioners recognize that cyanide exposure needs to be assessed and promptly treated. The two antidote kits currently available for treatment are the cyanide antidote kit and Cyanokit^®. Quick Drug References are available on Insite for both products^5,6. The cyanide antidote kit consists of 3 drugs: amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate. Amyl nitrite is to be administered via inhalation while IV access is obtained; if IV access is already established, sodium nitrite should be administered first. Amyl nitrite and sodium nitrite work to oxidize hemoglobin to methemoglobin. Cyanide will preferentially bind to methemoglobin, freeing cytochrome oxidase a₃ and allowing the resumption of ATP generation and cellular respiration. Sodium thiosulfate is administered immediately following sodium nitrite. It facilitates excretion by acting as a sulfhydral group donor to cyanide. This forms the compound thiocyanate, which is renally eliminated^1,5.

The cyanide antidote kit is associated with multiple adverse events as well as administration difficulties, making it the non-preferred treatment for cyanide poisoning. The major side effect is hypotension, due to both the nitrites and the sodium thiosulfate portions of the kit. Sodium nitrite should be administered slowly over at least two minutes, and sodium thiosulfate over at least 10 minutes to minimize the risk of hypotension. The production of excessive amounts of methemoglobin can also be concerning in patients who may already have low levels of functioning hemoglobin due to concurrent carbon monoxide poisoning. Patients should be observed for signs of methemoglobinemia, including a blue color of the skin or mucus membranes, vomiting, shock, and coma⁵.

Cyanokit^®, which contains hydroxocobalamin, is the preferred treatment for suspected cyanide poisoning due to its comparative ease of administration and less severe side effects. Hydroxocobalamin works by binding to cyanide to form cyanocobalamin (vitamin B₁₂). Cyanocobalamin is renally eliminated, freeing cytochrome oxidase a₃ for cellular respiration. Each Cyanokit® contains two 2.5 g vials of hydroxocobalamin, two sterile transfer spikes, and one sterile intravenous infusion set. The starting dose for adults is 5 g (two 2.5 g vials), which should be reconstituted in 200 mL 0.9% sodium chloride. A second dose of 5 g may be administered if signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning persist. For children, the starting dose is 70 mg/kg IV. The first dose should be administered over 15 minutes, the second dose over 15 minutes to 2 hours⁶.

Side effects of hydroxocobalamin include discoloration of skin and body fluids as well as hypertension. In a prospective, open-label trial, diastolic blood pressure increased by an average of 10 mmHg, while systolic increased an average of 7.5 mmHg. This transient increase may actually benefit patients who are hypotensive due to cyanide poisoning. Blood pressure returned to baseline without treatment in all patients³. Red discoloration of the skin and urine are the most common side effects of hydroxocobalamin. Skin redness may last up to 2 weeks, urine redness up to 5 weeks⁶. Hydroxocobalamin can also interfere with colorimetric laboratory tests, including bilirubin, creatinine, magnesium, serum iron, oxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin¹.

Whether or not to empirically treat fire victims for cyanide poisoning is a long-debated issue, with some clinicians arguing that cyanide poisoning is over-diagnosed and treated, and others in favor of treating all patients who have potential symptoms of cyanide poisoning². One reasonable approach is to administer hydroxocobalamin to any patient who has been in a structural fire and has mental status changes. If it is an available service, toxicology should also be consulted for these patients.

References

Hammel J. A review of acute cyanide poisoning with a treatment update. Crit Care Nurse. 2011 Feb;31(1):72-82.
Barillo DJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cyanide toxicity. J Burn Care Res. 2009;30(1):148-152.
Borron SW, Baud FJ, Barriot P, Imbert M, Bisumth C. Prospective study of hydroxocobalamin for acute cyanide poisoning in smoke inhalation. Ann Emerg Med. 2007 Jun;49(6):794-801.
Hall AH, Dart R, Bogdan G. Sodium thiosulfate or hydroxocobalamin for the empiric treatment of cyanide poisoning? Ann Emerg Med. 2007 Jun;49(6):806-813.
Posey J, Thomas W. Amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, sodium thiosulfate kit (Cyanide Antidote Kit®). Spectrum Health Drug Quick Reference. Updated 2011 Jan; pp 1-2.
Posey J, Thomas W. Hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit®). Spectrum Health Drug Quick Reference. Updated 2011 Jan; pp 1-2.

President's Corner - January 2012

Brad Miller — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:58:13 GMT

The holidays are upon us once again and it is hard to believe that another year is over. As we get ready to welcome 2012, it is also time to welcome a new set of board members to the WMSHP family.

First, I would like to welcome back Dana Staat as President-Elect. Dana served as WMSHP president in 2008 and returned as a Board Member in 2011. Thank you to Dana for agreeing to serve as President-Elect again.

I would also like to thank Kim Melgarejo (Treasurer), Ciji Marckini (Technician), and Kristina Rak (Board Member) who all agreed to continue in their previous positions and survived the tight election this year.

Our newest board members are Kasey Bucher and Abby Sturm from Saint Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids and Kari Vavra, PharmD of Ferris State University.

The next monthly meeting will be held on January 12, 2012 at Borgess Medical center in the Lawrence Education Center Auditorium. Michael Mitchutka, PharmD will be presenting "From Heart Failure to Heart Success".

Save the Date! This year's WMSHP Spring Seminar will be held on May 14, 2012 at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

2012 WMSHP Election Results

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:59:32 GMT

Congratulations to our new and returning board members for 2012!

President-Elect: Dana Staat

Treasurer: Kim Melgarejo

Technician: Ciji Marckini

Board Members: Kasey Bucher, Kristina Rowley, Abby Sturm, & Kari Vavra

2012 WMSHP Election Information

Brad Miller — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Listed below are the nominees for next year's new WMSHP officers. Each active WMSHP member will receive an official ballot in the mail within the next few days. This ballot should be completed and either mailed back to us, or given directly to a current WMSHP board member. All votes must be received before the November General Meeting on November 10, 2011. Results will be announced at the meeting.

Proposed Addition to the WMSHP By-Laws:

It is proposed that the following definition be added to Chapter II, Article I, Section 1 of the WMSHP By-Laws:

D. "STUDENT" MEMBER: A person enrolled at a college or university in a pharmacy or pharmacy technician curriculum who supports the objectives of the Society may apply for a Student membership. A Student member shall be eligible for the services of the Society, but is not eligible to vote or hold an elected office. Student members shall be exempt from payment of annual dues.

President:

Dana Staat, Pharm.D. is a Clinical Pharmacist in Internal Medicine at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI. Dana attended Ferris State University for her Pharm.D. degree and completed a PGY1 residency at Spectrum Health. Dana's interest areas include infectious disease, cystic fibrosis, and pugs.

Treasurer:

Kim Melgarejo (INCUMBENT) is currently a Pharmacy Manager at Borgess Medical Center and Borgess Pipp Hospital. She been a member of WMSHP since 2005 and treasurer since 2007.

Technician:

Ciji Marckini (INCUMBENT) has been a certified pharmacy technician for 6 years and is currently working at Spectrum Health as lead medication reconciliation technician. She have a biomedical science degree from Grand Valley State University. While going to school at GVSU she started working at Walgreens pharmacy and became certified. After becoming certified, she started teaching technician certification classes for the Grand Rapids Walgreens district. She started working at Spectrum health 4 years ago as an inpatient technician and then a medication reconciliation technician. In October of 2010 she became lead medication reconciliation technician.

Patty Vander Hoff is currently Program Chair at Sanford Brown College Grand Rapids campus for the Medical Billing/Coding, Medical Billing and Administrative Specialist, and Health Information Technology with possible Pharmacy Technician certification program. She has been a Certified Pharmacy Technician since 2000, and has 23 years experience in retail pharmacy and 13 years in a hospital pharmacy. She was a Pharmacy Technician Educator at West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology (WMCAT 2/09 -11/09). She has been a member of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board since 2000, and a previous member of Pharmacy Technician Educator Council (PTEC 2009-2010) and National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA 2009-2010).

Board:

Kristina Rowley (INCUMBENT) completed her Pharm.D. training at Ferris State University. She completed her PGY1 residency at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Then, she completed her PGY2 residency with a specialty in Ambulatory Care at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. She currently practices at the Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies Clinic as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Ferris State University.

Kasey Bucher graduated from the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 2008 and then went on to complete a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency and a PGY-2 Specialty Residency in Critical Care. Kasey recently joined the clinical pharmacy team at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Specialist.

Louis Kynard MBA, Pharm D. has practiced in the profession of pharmacy since 1984. He has served in various roles throughout his career in pharmacy as Informatics Pharmacist, Purchasing Supervisor, Pharmacy Site Manager, Regional Director of Pharmaceutical Care and Respiratory Care and currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy Services at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Dr. Kynard's primary focus as a leader has been Patient Safety, and was involved in the implementation of Automation and Progressive Pharmacist Clinical models at several hospitals prior to joining the Pharmacy Team at Bronson.

Michael Michutka is a clinical pharmacy specialist in Internal Medicine at Borgess Medical Center. He graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2009 from Ferris State University and completed an ASHP accredited PGY-1 at Borgess in 2010. Michael's professional interests include heart failure, acute coronary syndrome and public health.

Abby Sturm graduated with a Pharm.D. from Butler University in 2004, and then completed 2 years of residency experience at Clarian/IU Health Partners in Indianapolis,Indiana with a focus in IM/Family Medicine. Following residency, she worked in as a clinical pharmacist and adjunct faculty for the University of Cincinnati. In 2008, she began working as a staff pharmacist at St. Mary's Hospital after she and her husband moved to Grand Rapids. Currently, she is a part-time clinical pharmacist at St. Mary's and full-time mother of 2 kids.

Kari Vavra, Pharm.D. is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. Her General Medicine clinical practice site is at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2009 from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. After obtaining her Pharm.D., she completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Michigan. Kari is a current member of several professional organizations, including MPA and MSHP, and hopes to become more actively involved as a member of WMSHP!

Cherie Woodhams is a graduate of Ferris State University and currently practices as a Pharmacy Educator at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. Cherie currently holds the position of WMSHP's Past President and is also a MSHP Board Member. She looks forward to continue to serve the members of WMSHP.

Lacosamide (Vimpat) for Partial Onset Seizures

Brad Miller — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:04:35 GMT

In the October WMSHP Newsletter, Julie Pardy, a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Spectrum Health, reviews the use of lacosamise for partial onset seizures.

_____

Lacosamide (Vimpat^®) for Partial Onset Seizures

Julie Pardy, PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident

Despite extensive research and multiple treatment options, the ideal anti-epileptic is yet to be found. Patients that suffer from epilepsy often find themselves taking multiple medications, experiencing adverse reactions, requiring serum drug monitoring, and still experiencing seizures.

In October of 2008, Lacosamide (Vimpat^®) was approved as an adjunctive treatment for partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older. Lacosamide is available as an oral tablet (50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg), oral solution (10 mg/mL), and solution for injection (10 mg/mL). Lacosamide has a novel mechanism of action. Lacosamide selectively enhances slow inactivation of sodium channels, this causes decreased neuronal hyperactivity while preserving physiological activity. Additionally, lacosamide has shown evidence of activity at the collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2). CRMP-2 has multiple actions including neuronal differentiation and regulation of gene expression. However, the clinical significance of CRMP-2 in seizure control is unknown. There is some evidence in animal models that CRMP-2 inhibition may prevent neuronal development and this is why in Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (HDVCH) we are not recommending lacosamide for infants less than 1 year old.

Many aspects of lacosamide’s pharmacokinetic profile are favorable. It has 100% oral bioavailability, it has rapid absorption that is not affected by food, and it has a long half life allowing for twice daily dosing. Its 100% bioavailability allows for equivalent daily doses when switching from IV to oral formulations. Additionally, it has low protein binding and has predominately renal elimination as unchanged drug (>40%). Lacosamide has minimal CYP 450 interactions.

Lacosamide is generally well tolerated by patients. The most common adverse effects with the oral formulations include dizziness, headache, nausea and diplopia. All of these adverse effects were dose related except for headache, which was more predominant during dosage titration. Adverse effects associated with the IV formulation include those of the oral formulation as well as injection site pain. The most predominant adverse effect and most likely cause for discontinuation is dizziness. Of note, lacosamide may prolong the PR interval, so patients at risk for arrhythmias should have cardiac monitoring performed prior to therapy.

Lacosamide is initially dosed in adults at 50 mg twice daily with dose titrations at weekly intervals by 100 mg/day. The maintenance dose is usually between 200 to 400 mg/day for most patients. In a human abuse study, lacosamide produced euphoria in 15% of patients when dosed at 800 mg leading to its schedule V status. The incidence of euphoria was minimal (<1%) in clinical trials at therapeutic doses.

As stated previously, lacosamide is only indicated as adjunctive therapy of partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older. However, ongoing research suggests that lacosamide may have a role in other types of seizures as well as treatment refractory status epilepticus. Currently there is a lack of data and dosing recommendations for pediatric patients, although there are two ongoing multicenter dose-ranging pharmacokinetic trials for this population. The dosing recommended and approved for use in HDVCH is provided in the table below and is based on the on-going studies.

Lacosamide is being investigated as a treatment option for diabetic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraine prophylaxis. With its novel mechanism of action and favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile, there is no doubt that we will be seeing more of this drug in the future.

Pediatric Lacosamide (Vimpat^®) Dosing

Loading Dosing (oral or IV):	2-4 mg/kg/dose (max dose of 200 mg)
Maintenance Dosing (oral or IV):	4-6 mg/kg BID (max 400 mg/day)
Note: Pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies are not available in children. Dosing is provided per clinicaltrials.gov on-going investigational studies.

References

Halford et al. Clinical Perspectives on Lacosamide. Epilepsy Currents. 2009; 9(1): 1-9.
Kelemen and Halasz. Lacosamide for the Prevention of Partial Onset Seizures in Epileptic Adults. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2010; 6: 465-471.
Vimpat [package insert]. Smyrna, GA: UCB, Inc; 2011.
Chung. New Treatment Option for Partial-Onset Seizures: Efficacy and Safety of Lacosamide. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2010: 3(2): 77-83.
Kellinghaus. Lacosamide as Treatment for Partial Epilepsy: Mechanisms of Action, Pharmacology, Effects and Safety. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2009; 5: 757-766.
Abou-Kalil. Lacosamide: What can be expeted from the next new antiepileptic drug? Epilepsy Currents. 2009; 9(5): 133-134.
A Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Investigate the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Lacosamide in Children with Partial Seizures. NCT00938431. Last updated on July 25, 2011.
The Safety of Intravenous Lacosamide. NCT00832884. Last updated on Mar 5, 2010.
An Open-label Extension Study to Determine Long-Term Safety, NCT00938912. Last updated 25, 2011.

President's Corner - November 2011

Brad Miller — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:01:03 GMT

WMSHP elections are coming this month. Please take time to review the candidate biographies and vote! I am pleased that we have more candidates than positions, and want to thank everyone for showing interest. I especially want to acknowledge Dana Staat for stepping forward to accept the position of president-elect.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 10^th at the Wege Institute on the campus of St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids. The topic this month is on Parkinson’s Disease. Please RSVP as soon as possible and join us for an exciting presentation.

President's Corner - October 2011

Brad Miller — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:05:32 GMT

We had a great meeting in September to kick off WMSHP’s return to monthly meetings after the summer break. The attendance at the meeting was quite impressive. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the great pain talk and good dinner!

I want to share a few things with you regarding our monthly meetings. As most of you are aware, WMSHP pays for the majority of our monthly meetings. It is very difficult to find grants or industry sponsorship for these meetings. The board meets after Spring Seminar and sets a budget for each meeting in the upcoming year. The budget includes the cost of food, speaker honorarium, and the charge for ACPE continuing education credits. The board has attempted to hold down the cost of food by not holding meetings at restaurants. This year it was decided to hold one WMSHP funded meeting at a restaurant in Grand Rapids and another in Kalamazoo. We are working diligently as a board to come up with ways to expand the space available at these meetings. If you aren’t able to get a RSVP in before the deadline or if the meeting is full, please email the meeting planner. This information is always found on the website or in the newsletter. Typically we can add your name to a waiting list, or add you directly. In addition, please be considerate of your fellow members and email if you are unable to attend the meeting. This will allow us to invite those on the waiting list. To assist in this, we will begin sending reminders to each person that has registered on the Monday prior to the meeting. Please let us know if you can no longer attend the meeting!

The next meeting is scheduled for October 13^th at the Lawrence Education Center on the campus of Borgess Medical Center. The topic being presented is "Trauma Induced Coagulopathy: A Review" by Shanna Cole, Pharm.D.. Shanna is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist practicing in the intensive care units at Borgess. Food is being catered by Chinn Chinn Asian Bistro, so plan on attending the great food and exciting presentation!

President's Corner - September 2011

Brad Miller — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:06:16 GMT

I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable summer vacation! I know that it has taken me by surprise that the monthly WMSHP meetings begin on September 8th. WMSHP has had a very successful year thus far, and the board members are working hard to continue this momentum. We are again seeking nominations for board member positions and for President-Elect. Please contact me or any of the current board members if you are interested in running!

The next meeting is being scheduled for September 8^th at Pietro’s Italian Restaurant in Grand Rapids. We are excited to have Cheryl Genord coming over to West Michigan to discuss "Opioid Analgesics - What is the optimal drug and dose?". Cheryl is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Pain Management at St. Joseph Mercy Health in Ann Arbor. Please plan on joining us for this meeting and complete your pain CE requirement!

President's Corner - April 2011

Brad Miller — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:06:46 GMT

We are headed into the final WMSHP events before the summer break. Coming up on Friday, April 8^th we will be having our annual resident presentations in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena. The presentations will begin at 5:30, with the hockey game to follow at 7:00. The two local residents selected by the board members are Dr. Todd Super and Dr. Jennifer Lunger. Todd will be presenting "Impact of Pharmacist Facilitated Discharge Medication Reconciliation" and Jennifer will be presenting "Comparison of Cumulative Drug Doses Administered for Sedation and Analgesia During Day and Night Shifts in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in a Medical Intensive Care Unit". Please see the website for more information on this exciting event.

The 42^nd Annual Spring Seminar is being held on May 17^th at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College. There are several interesting topics planned that should appeal to a variety of pharmacists and technicians. Please plan on joining us again this year. Watch your mailbox and email for more information!

PRE-PEN: A Skin Test for the Diagnosis of Penicillin Allergy

Brad Miller — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:07:15 GMT

In the April WMSHP Newsletter, Juan Miretti, a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Spectrum Health reviews PRE-PEN's use for penicillin allergy testing.

PRE-PEN: A skin test for the diagnosis of penicillin allergy

By Juan Miretti, PharmD, PGY1 Resident

BACKGROUND

Approximately 10% of patients report a penicillin allergy. When these individuals become ill with a serious bacterial infection, healthcare providers will often avoid using inexpensive first-line therapies over fear of a potential reaction. These patients must not only avoid penicillin antibiotics, but also the numerous other beta-lactam antibiotics available (i.e. cephalosporins, carbapenems). This forces healthcare providers to resort to other antibiotics that may limit effective antimicrobial stewardship and leads to about 30% higher costs for antibiotic treatment.

The most common hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin is an IgE-mediated reaction. IgE-mediated reactions, also known as type I hypersensitivity reactions, are life-threatening reactions characterized by systemic manifestations of anaphylaxis, which may include but not limited to erythema, urticaria, pruritis, angioedema, bronchospasm, and hypotension. Individuals having experienced such a reaction are diagnosed as having a penicillin allergy.

Patients may report an allergy to penicillin, but often the reaction experienced (i.e. nausea/vomiting) was an adverse drug reaction. There also exists the possibility that the reaction experienced (i.e. rash) was caused by the underlying infection and not by the penicillin. Of patients with a reported penicillin allergy, 80 to 90% do not have an IgE-mediated penicillin allergy when assessed by penicillin skin testing. Moreover, about 80% of patients that have had an IgE-mediated reaction to penicillin have negative skin tests after 10 years of avoidance. This indicates that many patients outgrow their allergy over time. It is also estimated that approximately 50% of penicillin allergic patients have outgrown their allergy after 5 years.

PRE-PEN is the only FDA approved commercially available skin test for the diagnosis of penicillin allergy. With the recent return of PRE-PEN to the market, healthcare providers are now able to accurately determine the risk of IgE-mediated reactions to penicillin antibiotics and related beta-lactam antibiotics in patients with a reported penicillin allergy. PRE-PEN was widely used for over 30 years but in 2004 it was withdrawn from the market due to the lack of a dedicated manufacturing facility. This significantly limited a healthcare provider’s ability to evaluate for penicillin hypersensitivity. Healthcare providers turned to penicillin desensitization, which was the only way to assure safe retreatment of patients with a documented penicillin allergy. Now with the availability of PRE-PEN, many patients who have been incorrectly labeled as allergic to penicillin will be able to receive inexpensive first-line antibiotic therapies. Appropriate use of PRE-PEN can reduce hospital costs and improve antimicrobial stewardship.

USAGE

Candidates for PRE-PEN include any patient with a history of a reaction to a penicillin antibiotic that may have been IgE-mediated, or any patient who is currently denied access to beta-lactam antibiotics out of concern of such reactions. PRE-PEN is contraindicated in patients with clear histories of severe skin reactions (i.e. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), patients known to be extremely hypersensitive to penicillin, and patients who have developed a systemic or marked local reaction to its previous administration.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Occasionally, patients may develop an intense local inflammatory response at the skin test site. Rarely, patients will develop a systemic allergic reaction characterized by manifestations of anaphylaxis. Skin testing should be performed under direct medical supervision and treatment for an anaphylactic reaction should be available.

THE SKIN TEST

A proper skin test involves 4 prick/puncture skin tests, and if these tests are negative, then 5 intradermal skin tests. The 4 prick/puncture tests include tests with PRE-PEN (major determinant), Penicillin G (minor determinant), histamine (positive control), and a diluent (negative control). The 5 intradermal tests include tests with PRE-PEN in duplicate, Penicillin G in duplicate, and a diluent (negative control).

Prick/puncture testing is performed first to decrease the risk of precipitating a systemic allergic reaction with intradermal testing. Most patients who have an IgE-mediated penicillin allergy will exhibit a negative prick/puncture skin test.

The reasoning for performing the intradermal skin test in duplicate is to prevent healthcare providers from making the wrong diagnosis due to ambiguous results. A false positive or false negative may be observed since the changes at the test site are relatively small.

To understand the rationale of using both major and minor determinants for the skin test, it is important to understand the immunochemistry of penicillin. When put into physiologic solution, penicillin spontaneously degrades into a number of intermediates, so called determinants. Penicillin mostly breaks down to penicilloyl, the major determinant, as well as other minor determinants that subsequently bind to host proteins. An allergic reaction occurs if the individual is sensitive to one or more of these determinants.

PRE-PEN is benzylpenicilloyl poly-L-lysine and is the major determinant. Skin testing with PRE-PEN should be done in conjunction with Penicillin G, which is the only commercially available minor determinant. Studies have shown that skin testing with PRE-PEN along with Penicillin G identifies up to 97% of patients who have an IgE-mediated penicillin allergy.

APPLICATION TO YOUR INSTITUTION

An important and underappreciated aspect of penicillin allergy is the unnecessary withholding of appropriate antibiotic therapy. This can lead to less effective antimicrobial stewardship and increased medical costs in patients who are labeled as penicillin allergic. Implementing skin testing with PRE-PEN at your institution can facilitate appropriate antibiotic therapy in patients with a reported penicillin allergy. Moreover, it will demonstrate the absence of penicillin allergy in many patients, will provide cost-effective antibiotic treatment options for healthcare providers and patients, and may help avoid the development of resistance to more powerful antibiotics.

REFERENCES

Park MA, Li JTC. Diagnosis and Management of Penicillin Allergy. Mayo Clin Proc. 2005; 80(3): 405-410.
PRE-PEN® [package insert]. Round Rock, Tex: ALK-Abelló, Inc. 2009.
“PRE-PEN®, Penicillin Allergy Skin Test Antigen.” Fight the Cause Newsletter. Winter 2010. 1-5. Print.
PRE-PEN®, Penicillin Allergy Skin Testing Reference. Round Rock, Tex: ALK-Abelló, Inc. 2010.
PRE-PEN®. Round Rock, Tex: ALK-Abelló, Inc. 2010. DVD.

Dabigatran: Simplified Anticoagulant Therapy for Some Patients

Brad Miller — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:07:57 GMT

In the March WMSHP Newsletter, Sara D. Schepcoff, a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Spectrum Health, reviews the new oral anticoagulant dabigatran.

Dabigatran overview

For approximately half a century, warfarin has been the gold standard anticoagulant for patients living with atrial fibrillation (AF). The new oral anticoagulant, dabigatran (Pradaxa – Boehringer Ingelheim), may be a simpler option for these patients. On October 19^th, dabigatran became the first FDA-approved oral direct thrombin inhibitor in the United States. Its sole indication is to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular AF. Contrary to warfarin, dabigatran requires no monitoring of international normalized ratios (INRs), has minimal drug interactions, and comes with no known dietary restrictions.

Dabigatran etexilate is a prodrug which is rapidly absorbed and then converted in vivo to the active form, dabigatran, through esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis in the plasma and liver. It inhibits thrombin, thereby preventing the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin in the coagulation cascade. Free thrombin, clot-bound thrombin and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation are inhibited by dabigatran.

Key studies

The efficacy and safety of dabigatran have been evaluated in numerous clinical studies. The pivotal trial for US approval was RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy), in which dabigatran 110 mg or 150 mg twice daily was compared to dose-adjusted warfarin in more than 18,000 patients with AF. After a median duration of 2 years, dabigatran 150 mg twice daily was associated with lower rates of stroke and systemic embolism versus warfarin. The two drugs had similar rates of major bleeding (3.11% per year with dabigatran 150mg and 3.36% per year with warfarin).

In a more recent analysis of RE-LY, it was noted that for all vascular events, non-hemorrhagic events, and mortality, the advantages seen with dabigatran therapy were greater at sites with poor INR control than at those with good INR control. Therefore, many experts believe that dabigatran may be a good option for patients who have difficulty maintaining their INR within range, who are troubled by dietary or drug interactions, or who experience adherence issues. However, for patients who are currently stable on warfarin therapy, there may be no benefit to switching.

Dosing and therapeutic considerations

Dabigatran (Pradaxa)

Drug class: Direct thrombin inhibitor

Indication: Reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF)

Dosage:

150 mg twice daily, by mouth, with or without food, for patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) above 30 mL/min.
- For patients with renal impairment (CrCl between 15 and 30 mL/min), the recommended dose should be reduced to 75 mg twice daily as dabigatran is primarily renally excreted (80%).
- No dose recommendations are available for patients with CrCl less than 15 mL/min or for patients on dialysis.
- Patients can be converted from warfarin to dabigatran by starting dabigatran once their INR is less than 2.0.
- Dabigatran should be discontinued 1 to 2 days (CrCl ≥ 50 mL/min) or 3 to 5 days (CrCl < 50 mL/min) before an invasive or surgical procedure.

Other considerations:

Dabigatran is contraindicated for patients with active bleeding or those with a history of serious hypersensitivity to the drug. As with all anticoagulants, dabigatran increases the risk of bleeding, especially when used in combination with other medications that increase this risk, such as antiplatelet agents, heparin, and NSAIDs. While dabigatran is not a substrate, inhibitor, or inducer of cytochrome P450 enzymes, it is a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate and should not be used with P-gp inducers such as rifampin, as exposure to the drug will be reduced. No dosage adjustments are required if administered with P-gp inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, verapamil, amiodarone, quinidine, or clarithromycin.

Advantages and limitations

For patients treated with dabigatran, ecarin clotting time (ECT) is considered the best assessment of bleeding risk, but is not readily available. The aPTT test provides an approximation of dabigatran’s anticoagulant activity, but is nonlinear at higher doses. There is no readily available reversal agent for patients who develop bleeding complications with dabigatran. Bleeding may be managed with diuresis and dialysis to remove the drug as well as replacement with fresh frozen plasma.

The high rate of dyspepsia (11.5% of patients treated with dabigatran in the RE-LY trial versus 5.8% treated with warfarin) may also be a concern for clinicians and patients. At the beginning of the study, nearly 14 % of the patients in each treatment group were taking a PPI and roughly 4% were taking an H2-receptor antagonist. Researchers reported a 20% dropout rate by the year-2 follow-up visit.

Dabigatran became available in US pharmacies at a wholesale acquisition cost of $6.75 per day. An early-release article in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that dabigatran is cost effective compared with warfarin therapy because of the associated costs of warfarin monitoring and complications. However, for patients taking dabigatran as outpatient therapy, it may come at a high co-pay cost. For these patients, and for those requiring infrequent INR monitoring, cost savings may not occur.

Summary

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a promising new oral anticoagulant indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. It may be a good alternative for patients who have difficulty maintaining a therapeutic INR on warfarin therapy as it requires no lab monitoring, has minimal drug interactions, and no dietary limitations.

References

Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz MD, Yusuf S, Eikelboom J, et al, and the RE-LY Steering Committee and Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2009;361:1139-51.
Tanzi MG. Dabigatran: Anticoag simplifies therapy. Pharmacy Today 2010:34-35.
Thompson CA. First oral thrombin inhibitor enters market. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2010;67:1974-76.
Pradaxa (dabigatran etaxilate mesylate) capsules for oral use (package insert).Ridgefield, CT; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;October 2010.
Freeman JV, Zhu RP, Owens DK, Garber AM, et al. Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran compared with warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Ann Intern Med 2011;154(1):1-11. Epub 2010 Nov 1.
Wallentin L, Yusuf S, Ezekowitz MD, Alings M, et al; RE-LY Investigators. Efficacy and safety of dabigatran compared with warfarin at different levels of international normalised ratio control for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: an analysis of the RE-LY trial. Lancet 2010;376:975-83.

President's Corner - March 2011

Brad Miller — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:08:38 GMT

The snow is finally starting to melt, and spring is hopefully right around the corner. We have a great meeting planned for March 24th at Mangia Mangia in Kalamazoo. The presenter is Dr. John Devlin from Northeastern University and Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. He will be presenting on sedation in the intensive care unit. Please make note that this meeting is later in the month than typical meetings. This change was made to accommodate the presenter’s schedule.

The following meeting will be held on April 8^th. This is the second year that we are holding a special Friday meeting in conjunction with a Grand Rapids Griffins game. Two local residents had their presentations selected by our board members. Dr. Todd Super will be presenting "Impact of Pharmacist Facilitated Discharge Medication Reconciliation” and Dr. Jennifer Lunger will be presenting "Comparison of Cumulative Drug Doses Administered for Sedation and Analgesia During Day and Night Shifts in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in a Medical Intensive Care Unit".

WMSHP is still accepting applications for the annual scholarship awarded at Spring Seminar. The application deadline is March 31, 2011.

The WMSHP board has a vacancy for the pharmacy technician representative. We are currently seeking nominations for any interested technician members. Please send an email to adamdrzewicki@borgess.com by March 1^st if you are interested in being considered for this board position.

President's Corner - February 2011

Brad Miller — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:09:27 GMT

We have an exciting meeting planned for February 10th at the Lacks Cancer Center on the campus of Saint Mary's in Grand Rapids. Jean Lee will be presenting on medication errors in HIV patients. Please plan on attending!

As in years past, WMSHP is offering a scholarship for a local third year pharmacy student. Please share this information with any eligible pharmacy students that you know.

MPA is hosting Legislative Day in Lansing on March 23rd. Legislative Day will offer 4 hours of continuing education on pain management, medical marijuana, and an important presentation on how pharmacists can protect their license. In addition, Lt. Governor Brian Calley will be speaking as well as several others from the state government. Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with their state representative and discuss pertinent pharmacy issues. WMSHP has decided to sponsor two members and two board members to attend this meeting. More details regarding this exciting meeting can be found at http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/eventDetails.php?x=499. If you are interested in attending on behalf of WMSHP, please send me an email at adamdrzewicki@borgess.com. The board will draw names to determine who will be sponsored. In addition, there is still time to register for the MPA Annual Convention being held February 25 to 27. Please visit www.michiganpharmacists.org for more information.

President's Corner - January 2011

Brad Miller — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:10:06 GMT

The holidays are officially over, and WMSHP is back from our December break. Our January meeting will be on January 13th at Borgess Medical Center in the Lawrence Educational Center. The topic will be "Health Literacy: Making Information Understandable for Healthcare Consumers" presented by Marge Kars. This should be an interesting topic that is quite different than our usual monthly offerings. Please plan on trying to make it to Kalamazoo for this exciting topic.

You may have noticed that ballots for the WMSHP board were not sent out this year. We ended up with an extra board opening when Ben Mgboh stepped down to move to Ohio, and, therefore had an equal number of candidates to board positions. In order to save on printing and postage costs, the board elected to not send ballots out. Without further adieu, it is my pleasure to announce that Kali Shulz is the new president-elect. Andrea Goodrich, Angela Green, and Stacy Vaeth were all re-elected to new two-year terms. Dana Staat is returning to the board to finish out the final year of Ben’s term, and Becky Maynard has been newly elected to a board position. Please welcome the new and returning board members!

Finally, we have set a date for the 2011 WMSHP Spring Seminar. Mark your calendars for May 17th, and plan on joining us at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids.

President's Corner - November 2010

Brad Miller — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:10:31 GMT

It is time for election season again! I am sure everyone has experienced the latest round of political ads on the radio, television, and in the newspaper. Luckily, there aren’t any campaigns for WMSHP offices, but you will be receiving an official WMSHP ballot very soon. As the process was last year, the ballot must be mailed back or brought to the November meeting. This official ballot is the only means by which you will be able to vote.

The MSHP Annual Meeting is being held on November 5th at the Crowne Plaza in Grand Rapids. There is still time to register to attend this great meeting so close to home!

This month's WMSHP meeting is being held in the Wege Room at St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids. The topic is “Diagnosis and Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension” presented by Allan Gutierrez. We hope to see you there!

President's Corner - October 2010

Brad Miller — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:10:59 GMT

Fall has officially arrived and WMSHP is back in full swing. There is still time to submit nominations for 2011-2012 WMSHP Board Members. Please talk with a current board member for more information. We are also always looking for brief articles on pharmacy related topics for the newsletter. This is a great opportunity for any pharmacists, technicians, residents, and students out there!

This month's meeting will be on October 14th at Bronson in the Gilmore Center. The topic this month is “Ischemic Stroke: New Opportunities for Treatment” presented by our very own WMSHP secretary, Brad Miller. Our RSVP slots for our monthly meetings have been filling up quickly, so be sure to check wmshp.net often; or better yet, follow WMSHP on Twitter and Facebook for additional information.

President's Corner - September 2010

Brad Miller — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:12:12 GMT

Unfortunately summer break is nearly over. Hopefully everyone has had time to enjoy the great weather that we have had over the past months. Our WMSHP meetings began their summer vacation back in May following the very successful 41st Annual WMSHP Spring Seminar. Cherie Woodhams put a lot of effort into the planning and coordination of this meeting, and deserves recognition for all her hard work. This year has been unique as far as the role of WMSHP president goes. Cherie had agreed to stay on as president for an additional 6 months, and, beginning with this newsletter, I am assuming those duties for the remainder of the year. On behalf of the WMSHP members, I would like to thank Cherie for everything she has done during her tenure as president.

As summer comes to a close, we are resuming our monthly meetings beginning with the meeting on September 9th at St. Mary’s Hospital on the topic of “Radiation Countermeasures, What’s the Buzz” presented by Greg Pratt.

Nominations for board positions are open for any interested members. Contact a current board member via email or at the next meeting if you are interested in being nominated for a position. Also be sure to check out www.wmshp.net and see how you can find WMSHP on Twitter and Facebook.

President's Corner - April 2010

Brad Miller — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:12:38 GMT

Welcome to Spring! We are excited about a new venue this year for our Great Lakes Residency Presentations! We will be meeting just before a Grand Rapids Griffins Game at a different time - from 5:30-6:30PM for our CE presentation. After that, we'll all enjoy the final game of the season together! Please join us!

All hockey tickets will be distributed prior to the presentation. Any tickets not claimed by the completion of the presentation at 6:30 PM will be placed for pick-up at the box office will-call.

Also, mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 18th, 2010. This is the date of our Annual Spring Seminar. Topics to be discussed include a Legislative Review, Cultural Competency in our AM session, Preceptor Development, Pharmaceutical Waste, and a 2009 H1N1 review will be discussed in our afternoon Administrative section. In the PM clinical section, Antiplatelet medications, Pain management, and Emergency Room pearls will be reviewed.

Happy Spring!

President's Corner - March 2010

Brad Miller — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:13:01 GMT

Please join us on March 11th in Grand Rapids at the St. Mary’s Lacks Conference Center when we discuss "Current Treatment Options for Gout.” Tracy Mersfelder, PharmD, will be our speaker for the evening.

Due to the PhRMA Standards that are now in place, it has become more challenging to obtain funding for our monthly meetings. This is why you may have seen an increase in the amount of times we have had our meetings on hospital premises in their conference rooms. When you see this venue, it most likely means that support was not received for the event and WMSHP is paying for the event from their general fund. Also, if the event is being held at a restaurant, we have a budget based on grant funding that we must adhere to. In light of this information, the WMSHP Board is respectfully asking that if you RSVP and then find out you are unable to attend, please contact us by the Monday preceding the meeting to let us know so that we can minimize waste.

Mark your calendar for Friday, April 9th! We will be hosting our meeting on this day in conjunction with a Grand Rapids Griffin’s Hockey game as they play the Lake Erie Monster’s. Because of this alternative venue, our CE presentation will begin at 5:30PM so that we will be ready for game time of 7:00PM. Friends and family will have the opportunity to join you for the game as well. More details to follow!

President's Corner - February 2010

Brad Miller — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:13:29 GMT

Please join us on February 11th in Kalamazoo when we discuss "Current Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder. Kevin Furmaga, Pharm.D., BCPP will be our speaker for the evening. This year’s Annual Convention and Expo (ACE) meeting will be held the weekend of Feb. 26-28, 2010 and MSHP will be offering three sessions. Be sure to look for these sessions when deciding what programs to attend at the convention! If you register for the Annual Convention prior to Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m. to receive member discounts. Visit the MPA Website to register and to obtain the most up to date information! Mark your calendars for Friday, April 9th in which we will have having our monthly meeting with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Our Continuing education will be held at 5:30PM with the game to follow. There will be an opportunity to invite your friends and family, too

President's Corner - January 2010

Brad Miller — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:13:52 GMT

Welcome 2010! The election results for 2010 have been completed and I would like to welcome the following new as well as returning board members to the WMSHP Board:

Adam Drzewicki, President-Elect
Kim Melgarejo, Treasurer
Ben Mgboh, Kym Moline, Sarah Paulson, Kristina Rowley as Board Members
Aaron Britton Technician Representative

Please join us on January 14^th at the Lacks Grand Room at the Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids. Dr. Colleen Tallen will be discussing Pain and symptom management: a clinician's perspective.

See you then!

Secretary's Corner - November 2009

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:14:45 GMT

Submit Your Newsletter Articles!
We are always looking for original newsletter articles for the WMSHP Newsletter. This is a great opportunity if you or one of your students or residents have an article that you’d like to see published in this newsletter and online at WMSHP.net.

Please send all submissions to me. The email address is webmaster@wmshp.net.

Holiday Break:
Please note that there will be no general meeting or newsletter for the month of December. Have a happy holiday season, and we’ll see you again in 2010

President's Corner - November 2009

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:14:16 GMT

In the next couple days, you will receive your "official" WMSHP ballot in the mail! The ballot may be mailed back to Brad Miller, WMSHP Secretary; handed in to an Executive Board member; or turned in at the November WMSHP meeting in Kalamazoo. There won't be extra ballots available at the monthly meeting, so keep that in mind. Also, note that we cannot accept votes that are faxed or emailed.

Try to make it to the MSHP Annual Meeting being held November 6^th at Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. There are a variety of topics including and adult, child, and infant CPR course for both Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists. You can register on-line at http://www.michiganpharmacists.org.

Join us at our next monthly meeting where Sandra Chase will be discussing "Recent Developments in the Treatment and Management of Atrial Fibrillation” at the Food Dance Café in Kalamazoo.

See you then

2010 WMSHP Officer Nominees

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:15:42 GMT

President Elect

Adam Drzewicki graduated with his Pharm.D. from the University of Michigan in 2000. After graduation, he completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then accepted a clinical pharmacist position in cardiology at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

Board Members

Ben Mgboh is a graduate of Purdue University. He completed a PGY1 residency in pharmacy practice at Spectrum Health. He is currently employed at Spectrum Health and his interest areas include cardiology, critical care and emergency medicine. Ben is currently an associate member of ACCP and is looking forward to more involvement with WMSHP.

Kym Moline (Incumbent) works as a clinical pharmacist at St Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. Kym is an adjunct instructor for Ferris and a precepts pharmacy externs and residents. She received her B.S and Pharm.D. degrees from Ferris and M.S.A. from Central Michigan University.

Sarah Paulson (Incumbent) attended Ferris State University and graduated with her Pharm.D. in 2005. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at St. Mary's Health Care in 2006. She is currently a clinical pharmacist at Saint Mary's Health Care. Sarah has been a member of WMSHP since 2005 and has served as a board member since June 2007. She also has membership with ACCP, ASHP, MPA, MSHP, Phi Lambda Sigma, and Lambda Kappa Sigma.

Kristina Rowley completed her Pharm.D. training at Ferris State University. She completed her PGY1 residency at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Then, she completed her PGY2 residency with a specialty in Ambulatory Care at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. She looks forward to joining her practice site at the Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies Clinic as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Ferris State University.

Abby Sturm graduated from Butler University with her Pharm.D. in 2004. Post-graduation she completed a PGY1 residency and PGY2 residency in Internal Medicine/Family Medicine at Clarian Health Partners in Indianapolis. After residency, Abby worked as a clinical pharmacist on a med/surg unit and adjunct faculty at Mercy Mt. Airy Hospital and the University of Cincinnnati - College of Pharmacy in Cincinnati. Over the past few years, she has enjoyed participating in a variety of teaching environments, precepting students, and working in a Coumadin clinic. Abby and her husband moved to Michigan in the spring of 2008. She is currently a inpatient pharmacist at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids.

Technician

Aaron Britton began working as a Pharmacy Technician at Kay Pharmacy in 2000 and became a Certified Pharmacy Technician in 2003. In 2006, he began working as a technician at St. Mary's Healthcare where he was trained in sterile products and hazardous medication compounding and served on several committees. He recently joined Spectrum Health Butterworth Pharmacy as the Sterile Products Technician Supervisor. In 2008, he began pre-pharmacy coursework at Grand Rapids Community College.

Wendy Benkert is a lifelong resident of West Michigan, Wendy completed her pharmacy technician training at Baker College of Muskegon in 2000. She has been employed at Mercy Health Partners as a Certified Pharmacy Technician since. Wendy primarily works as an IV Technician, but also assists with peer interviewing, technician competencies, and USP 797 compliance processes.

Marijke Rathke has been employed as a pharmacy technician at Bronson Methodist Hospital since 1998. In 2004, she became a Certified Pharmacy Technician and in 2005, advanced to a Level III pharmacy technician in which she began working on the nursing unit as a decentralized technician. Marijke is currently taking pre-mortuary courses at Kellogg Community College and is a member of the Everest Institute Advisory Board for Pharmacy Technicians.

Susan Thomas: After returning to her hometown of Kalamazoo in 2002 and working as a CENA, she enrolled in Olympia's Pharmacy Technician Program. She graduated at the top of her class, earning the opportunity to extern at Bronson Hospital. She became certified and took a full time position with Bronson upon completion of her externship in November of 2004. While working in the inpatient setting she was able to train in multiple areas of the pharmacy and be a part of the peer interviewing team. In April of 2006 she moved into a position in Bronson's Outpatient setting. She continues to attend education seminars and pharmaceutical dinners to further her knowledge, and is an active technician preceptor.

Stephen Wolthuis has been employed as a Pharmacy Technician at Bronson Methodist Hospital inpatient pharmacy since 2004 and has been a certified technician since 2007. He recently obtained Technician Level III status. He is trained in a number of areas including unit dose, IV, supply (Pyxis), decentralized technician, and medication reconciliation. His primary role is as an emergency room medication reconciliation technician. In this capacity he has helped develop and further Bronson Pharmacy's role outside of pharmacy. Along with that he frequently precepts both pharmacist and pharmacy technician students in the medication reconciliation process. He is currently taking nursing prerequisite classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. As well, he is the co-chair of the department's Shared Governance Council and anticipates chairing the council in 2010.

President's Corner - October 2009

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:15:10 GMT

Soon we will be electing new officers for the 2010 year. Each active WMSHP member will be mailed an official ballot. The ballot may be mailed back to Brad Miller, WMSHP Secretary, handed in to an Executive Board member, or turned in at the October WMSHP meeting in Grand Rapids or the November WMSHP meeting in Kalamazoo. To eliminate the possibility of voting multiple times, there will not be extra ballots available at the monthly meetings. Please do not attempt to fax the ballots. To verify that WMSHP has your current address, log in to our website at wmshp.net and select "Update Address".

In October, please join us at the Lacks Grand Room at Saint Mary’s Health for a talk on Dyslipidemia. Kristin Smith and Matt Moran will be presenting an overview of lipid physiology, guidelines and pharmacotherapy.

President's Corner - September 2009

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:16:11 GMT

Even though some of us may feel that summer has barely begun, August is coming to a close! It is hard to believe that it is time to ‘prepare’ ourselves for cooler days and evenings even though we seem to have not ‘heated up’ this summer!

This year, WMSHP completed our First Annual Summer Outing! Ryan Bickel, general member, organized and facilitated this event that occurred on Wednesday 7/29/09. Over 80 people (WMSHP members, prospective members, and their families) attended a baseball game at Fifth-Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids. The West Michigan Whitecaps hosted the Burlington Bees. I loved this outing because we all had a chance to catch up on peoples lives, see how their summer’s were going, and meet their family members! I am hopeful that an event like this can continue year after year. I would also like to take this time to thank Ryan Bickel for his efforts in organizing this event

During the summer the WMSHP Executive Board has been busy preparing for the year ahead. We are currently seeking nominations for Executive Board members. According to the WMSHP bylaws, only active members of WMSHP may be nominated for executive board positions. If you are interested in being a board member or know of other interested candidates, please submit their name, contact information, and a brief description of current practice and professional interests to WMSHP Secretary, Brad Miller, at email: webmaster@wmshp.net.

Happy final days of Summer and I look forward to re-convening in the Fall with our first meeting scheduled September 10th, 2009.

President's Corner - April 2009

Brad Miller — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:16:40 GMT

Spring has sprung and with the arrival of Spring comes the hustle and bustle of Spring time activities! Please try to fit our April meeting into your busy schedule as we have two great topics from two of our area Pharmacy Practice Residents: These topics are: "Evaluation of Haloperidol Continuous Infusions in Critically Ill Patients" and "The Relationship Between Cumulative Aminoglycoside Doses and Renal Impairment in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis".

Also, we are currently holding nominations for an open board member position as we have had a member of our board resign due to relocation reasons. This would be an 18 month commitment. If you have someone you think would be a great candidate, please contact myself or another board member.

Thanks and Happy Spring!

President's Corner - March 2009

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:17:06 GMT

On Monday Feb 2nd, 2009 the bucktoothed rodent known as Punxsutawney Phil saw his own shadow, which means, if you believe in this sort of thing, we can expect six more weeks of wintry weather. For us in Michigan, I have a feeling this will come to be a truth!

Greg Baron, our Director of Governmental Affairs for MPA, is looking for individuals in each local and regional association that he can send information regarding proposed rules, legislation and fundraising events that should and would be of interest to pharmacists. His hope is that these individuals would then share the information with their membership and help formulate responses with him. If interested in being a contact for Greg, please let me know.

In March, we look forward to meeting to discuss the topic of "Inpatient Glycemic Control". Please join us at the Bistro Bella Vita Downtown in Grand Rapids!

President's Corner - February 2009

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:17:28 GMT

As we all continue to stay safe and warm in this bitter cold I had the pleasure of attending both my first MSHP Committee Day as well as my first MSHP Board Meeting! Areas of discussion at Committee Day included (but was certainly not limited to!) forming a list serve for Michigan Residents on the MPA website, organizing a networking location for residents at future ACE and ASHP meetings, as well as providing information for the underinsured residents in Michigan on where they may obtain assistance for both medical treatment and medication assistance. Participating in these events was extremely inspiring and I look forward to working with all of the great pharmacy colleagues we have in Michigan!

Our MSHP President Jim Lile discussed his theme for 2009 which includes "membership participation". This can mean anything from taking part in a small task needed to be completed to sharing and engaging others in MSHP. As a reminder, the ACE Meeting will be held this year from 2/27-3/1/09 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. What a great way to participate and network with other Michigan Peers!

Please join us on February 19th (note this is the 3rd Thursday of the month) at the Radisson in Kalamazoo Michigan. Laura Aykroyd, PharmD, BCPS will be discussing "Achieving Blood Pressure Control in Severe Hypertension".

Until then, please stay safe and warm!

Importance of Inpatient Hyperglycemic Management

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:17:55 GMT

In the January WMSHP Newsletter, Brenda (Schulz) McCracken, a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Spectrum Health, writes about managing hyperglycemia at her institution using basal-bolus insulin order sets.

_________

Importance of Inpatient Hyperglycemic Management

Brenda J. (Schulz) McCracken, PharmD
_________

When insulin is ordered for a patient who has high blood glucose levels, practitioners tend to think that the patient must have a history of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, this is not necessarily true. In a study by Umpierrez et al (2002), hyperglycemia was present in 38% of patients admitted to the hospital, of which 12% had no history of DM before the admission.1 If the patients do not even have DM, why are their blood glucose levels elevated and why do practitioners bother initiating the patients on insulin therapy while in the hospital? Will high blood glucose levels for a few days really affect anything?

It has been shown that hyperglycemia may be an independent risk factor for an increased risk of infection.² In fact, patients with poor glucose control (at least one blood glucose value >220 mg/dL) undergoing major cardiovascular or abdominal surgery are at nearly 6 times the risk of serious postoperative nosocomial infections compared to patients with adequate blood glucose control (all blood glucose values ≤220 mg/dL).² Hyperglycemia can also lead to increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and in patients with stroke.^2-5

A landmark study by Van den Berghe et al (2001) showed that maintaining controlled blood glucose levels via insulin continuous infusions significantly improved clinical outcomes among critically ill patients.^6,7 This trial demonstrated a 43% reduction of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and a 34% decrease in overall hospital mortality in patients whose average blood glucose levels were maintained at 103 mg/dL, with a target range of 80-110 mg/dL. The strict control of blood glucose was associated with fewer blood stream infections, reduced frequency of neuropathy, lower incidence of dialysis-dependent renal failure, fewer blood transfusions, and less need for mechanical ventilation. In addition, more recent studies have shown that poor blood glucose control is related to adverse outcomes, including mortality, infectious complications, longer hospital stays, and more costly care.⁶

Although attention is often focused on controlling blood glucose levels in patients undergoing major surgeries and patients in the ICU, hyperglycemia is actually a major issue for all other inpatients as well. In fact, it is normal for many patients to have what is termed “stress hyperglycemia,” which is elevated blood glucose levels associated with acute illness.⁶ The body naturally increases blood glucose levels in response to injury, stress, certain medications, severe illness, or surgery. Even though hyperglycemia may be a natural response to illness for some patients, numerous studies have clearly shown that uncontrolled hyperglycemia negatively affects patient outcomes.^2-7 As a result, tight glycemic control for all inpatients is becoming a healthcare priority and a standard of care.⁶ The recommended targets for blood glucose levels in hospitalized patients according to the American Diabetes Association are shown below in Table 1.⁹

Table 1⁹

Patient Population	Goal Blood Glucose Levels
Critically ill patients	As close to 110 mg/dL as possible and generally <180 mg/dL
Non-critically ill patients	Pre-meal (fasting): As close to 90-130 mg/dL as possible and generally around 110 mg/dL Postprandial: <180 mg/dL

In response to research showing the significant benefits of controlling inpatient hyperglycemia, Spectrum Health has recently implemented new basal-bolus insulin order sets. In addition, all sliding scale insulin order sets have now been officially eliminated at Spectrum Health in order to provide tighter glycemic control for our patients through evidence-based medicine. Basal-bolus insulin regimens more closely mimic the body’s natural physiologic secretion of insulin (Figure 1) and provide continuous 24-hour coverage with basal insulin (i.e. insulin glargine). Also, basal-bolus regimens use a proactive rather than reactive approach to prevent future episodes of hyperglycemia. On the other hand, sliding scale regimens did not provide any insulin to patients until their blood glucose levels were already significantly elevated and the rapid-acting insulin doses often over-corrected the blood glucose level, resulting in undesirable frequent episodes of hypoglycemia.

Fear of hypoglycemia is the primary barrier to achieving target blood glucose levels in patients.⁶ Many healthcare providers are more concerned about avoiding hypoglycemia rather than detecting and controlling hyperglycemia, which is potentially the more profound threat to inpatient safety.⁶ Instead of reducing insulin therapy to avoid hypoglycemia, several strategies can be used to prevent it, such as increasing the frequency of blood glucose monitoring, establishing higher thresholds for withholding insulin doses, and adjusting for changes in the patient’s medical status and nutritional intake (i.e. new NPO status, interruption of TPN or IV dextrose infusions, tapering of steroid medications, etc).

With strict hyperglycemic management and the appropriate use of insulin therapy, Spectrum Health can reduce hospital lengths of stay, decrease costs, improve therapeutic outcomes, and prevent patient mortality.

References:

Umpierrez GE, Isaacs SD, Bazargan N, You X, Thaler LM, Kitabchi AE. Hyperglycemia: an independent marker of in-hospital mortality in patients with undiagnosed diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar;87(3)978-82.
Pomposelli JJ, Baxter JK 3rd, Babineau TJ, Pomfret EA, Driscoll DF, Forse RA, et al. Early postoperative glucose control predicts nosocomial infection rate in diabetic patients. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1998 Mar-Apr;22(2):77-81.
Furnary AP, Gao G, Grunkemeier GL, Wu Y, Zerr KJ, Bookin SO, et al. Continuous insulin infusion reduces mortality in patients with diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 May;125(5):1007-21.
Weir CJ, Murray GD, Dyker AG, Lees KR. Is hyperglycaemia an independent predictor of poor outcome after acute stroke? Results of a long-term follow up study. BMJ. 1997 May 3;314(7090):1303-6.
Jorgensen H, Nakayama H, Raaschou HO, Olsen TS. Stroke in patients with diabetes. The Copenhagen Stroke Study. Stroke. 1994 Oct;25(10):1977-84.
Hirsch IB, Braithwaite SS, Verderese CA. Practical management of inpatient hyperglycemia. Lakeville (CT): Hilliard; 2005.
Van den Berghe G, Wouters P, Weekers F, Verwaest C, Bruyninckx F, Schetz M, et al. Intensive insulin therapy in the critically ill patients. N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 8;345(19):1359-67.
Ergun-Longmire B, Ten S, Maclaren N. Management of type-1 and type-2 diabetes in children. In: New M, editor. Pediatric endocrinology. 2005 May 5. Available from: http://www.endotext.org/pediatrics/
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:S4-S36.

President's Corner - January 2009

Brad Miller — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:18:47 GMT

Once again, it is time for our second session of WMSHP. I hope you all had a good holiday season. I can’t believe how quickly 2008, and my term as WMSHP President, has passed. It has been a great experience to serve you, the members of WMSHP, this past year.

I’d like to welcome 4 new board members to the WMSHP Executive Board. Angela Green (Mercy Health Partners), Andrea Goodrich (Saint Mary’s Health Care), Kali Schulz (Ferris State University), and Bridgette Sharif (Borgess Medical Center) were all elected to the board in our general November election. Current board member, Natalie Paul (Spectrum Health) will serve as our President-Elect for 2009 and Brad Miller, also from Spectrum Health, will continue his role as WMSHP Secretary. Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting process.

Please join us at our January meeting. Please note that the January meeting has been scheduled for January 15. John Jameson, PharmD, Professor-Pharmacy Practice, from Ferris State University will discuss “Management Problems in Diabetes.”

Also, please see our website (www.wmshp.net) to determine if your membership is ready to expire. To do this, click on “Update Address” which you can find in the left-column, then enter your membership number. If you receive the newsletter via email, you can check your membership expiration date by clicking the link on the top of newsletter.

President's Corner - November 2008

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:19:14 GMT

Remember to Vote: The ballots are out! By now, you all should have received an official WMSHP ballot in the mail. The ballot may be mailed back to Brad Miller, WMSHP Secretary, handed in to an Executive Board member, or turned in at the November WMSHP meeting in Kalamazoo. There won't be extra ballots available at the monthly meeting, so keep that in mind.

MSHP Annual Meeting: Try to make it to the MSHP Annual Meeting being held November 14 at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing. There are a variety of topics for both Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists. You can register on-line at www.michiganpharmacists.org.

Join us at our next monthly meeting where Kevin Hess, MD will discuss "Similarities and Differences Among SSRI's for the Treatment of Depression." The meeting will be held at the Sol World Cafe inside the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo

President's Corner - October 2008

Brad Miller — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:20:06 GMT

Important Notice - Please Read: After lengthy discussions regarding the best way to conduct WMSHP elections, the WMSHP Executive Board has decided to adopt a method of voting that is similar to the voting structure of both MSHP and MPA. The new WMSHP voting structure is also in-line with our current bylaws. Each active WMSHP member will be mailed an official ballot. The ballot may be mailed back to Brad Miller, WMSHP Secretary, handed in to an Executive Board member, or turned in at the October WMSHP meeting in Grand Rapids or the November WMSHP meeting in Kalamazoo. To eliminate the possibility of voting multiple times, there will not be extra ballots available at the monthly meetings. Please do not attempt to fax the ballots. To verify that WMSHP has your current address, log in to our website at www.wmshp.net and select "Update Address".

We are still working on developing the best process to obtain CE and funding for our monthly meetings with the new Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) guidelines. The updated code will take effect January 2009. We are still not sure how this will affect our monthly meetings, but we will be sure to let you all know as soon as possible.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Michigan Pharmacy Week Health Fair is being held in Baldwin, MI on Saturday, October 18 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Ann's Human Services Center on 690 9th Street. Volunteers are needed to help with medication reviews and screening activities.

Please join us for our October meeting being held in at Tre Cugini Grand Rapids. Gregory Pratt, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Michigan Pharmacists Association will be speaking on Bioterrorism.

Meet the 2009 WMSHP Board Nominees

Brad Miller — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:20:38 GMT

PRESIDENT-ELECT
Natalie Paul received her Pharm.D. from Purdue University and completed a residency with McKesson Medication Management at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, IL. After completion of her residency she worked for Ferris State University as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with a focus of Internal Medicine. Recently, Natalie has taken the role of Clinical Specialist- Staff Development and Residency Program Director of the PGY-1 Residency at Spectrum Health. She has been a member of the WMSHP board since 2005.

SECRETARY
Brad Miller is a clinical pharmacist in the Emergency Department at Spectrum Health's Butterworth Campus. He is a graduate of Ferris State University, and completed a pharmacy practice residency at Spectrum Health. He has served as WMSHP's Secretary since 2004, and has maintained WMSHP's website since 2003

BOARD MEMBERS:
Andrea Goodrich is a clinical pharmacist at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. Andrea received her B.S. in pharmacy from Ferris State University in 2001 and Pharm.D. from Midwestern University in 2006. Andrea currently works on the orthopedics/neurology unit and the Anticoagulation Management Service at St. Mary's Hospital. Other professional areas of interests include internal medicine and infectious disease/HIV medication therapy. Andrea has been a member of WMSHP since 2001 and is serving as a committee member for MPA membership committee since 2007. Andrea's professional affiliations also include ACCP, MPA, MSHP, and ASHP.

Angela Green currently serves as the Pharmacy Education Coordinator and geriatrics specialist for Mercy Health Partners and is a residency preceptor and adjunct professor for Ferris State University. She graduated pharmacy school from Ferris State University in 2006 and completed a residency with ambulatory focus at Mercy General Health Partners in 2007. She has been an active member of WMSHP since 2007.

Kali Schulz is a 2007 graduate of Ferris State University, College of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, she went on to complete a PGY-1 Residency at Saint Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. While enrolled in the PGY-1 Residency program, she also completed the Teaching and Learning Certificate Program at FSU. Schulz most recently accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. This opportunity has allowed her to return to Saint Mary's while precepting fourth-year pharmacy students on their internal medicine clerkship. Schulz has been a member of WMSHP for two years and was the 2005 recipient of the WMSHP Scholarship. She is also an active member of ACCP and MPA.

Bridgette Sharif graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Wayne State University in 2004 and subsequently completed a pharmacy practice residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. She relocated to western Michigan in 2006 and has since been working as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her primary interest areas are cardiology and anticoagulation management. She has been a WMSHP member since 2006.

President's Corner - September 2008

Brad Miller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:21:03 GMT

Once again it is time for another fall session of WMSHP. I hope that you all had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to a great year of education and networking within WMSHP.

During the summer the WMSHP Executive Board has been busy preparing for the year ahead. We are currently seeking nominations for Executive Board members. According to the WMSHP bylaws, only active members of WMSHP may be nominated for executive board positions. If you are interested in being a board member or know of other interested candidates, please submit their name, contact information, and a brief description of current practice and professional interests to WMSHP Secretary, Brad Miller, at email: webmaster@wmshp.net.

Another important item to mention is the new code established by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to guide the interactions of pharmaceutical representatives and healthcare professionals. The new guidelines became effective July 2009 and may affect the ability of pharmaceutical companies to sponsor continuing education programs. To get an event sponsored, WMSHP may have to apply for educational grants each month. We will let you know more specific information as the effect of the new guidelines becomes clearer.

Hope you can make it to our first meeting being held at Bravo Restaurant and Cafe in Portage (Kalamazoo). Dr. Jihad Mustapha will discuss the use of LMWH in the advanced cardiac setting.

President's Corner - April 2008

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:21:26 GMT

Spring has sprung! The return of Spring reminds me of our upcoming WMSHP Spring Seminar, which is scheduled for May 22, 2008 at the 28th Street Hilton in Grand Rapids. Make sure you put it on your calendar.

Another Spring event is the selection of a recipient for the annual WMSHP scholarship. One scholarship in the amount of $1000.00 is awarded to a 3rd year pharmacy student from Ferris State University, the University of Michigan, or Wayne State University. The pharmacy student must be a native or current resident of the Western Michigan area, demonstrate involvement and/or leadership within professional organizations, and express an interest in health-system pharmacy upon graduation. The applicant must fill out an application form before the deadline of March 31. The scholarship recipient will be selected by the WMSHP board and the scholarship will be presented at the Spring Seminar.

Hopefully many of you were able to make it to the MPA ACE meeting. A highlight for WMSHP was the recognition given to our current Past-President, Ryan Bickel. Ryan received the MPA Distinguished New Pharmacist Practitioner award. This is the 3rd year in a row that a member of WMSHP has won this award. Previous winners were Jodie Backus and Jesse Hogue. Congratulations, Ryan!

Our next meeting will be held April 10, 2008 at Sam's Joint in Plainwell. Two area pharmacy residents will be presenting their Great Lakes Pharmacy Residency Project. Bailee Wienke is a pharmacy practice resident at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Her project is entitled "Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia in the Critically Ill: Value of the 4T Score and Compliance with Evidence-based Guidelines". Betsy Hoida is a pharmacy practice resident at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon. The title of Betsy's project is "A Pharmacist-Managed Medication Reconciliation Process".

President's Corner - March 2008

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:21:51 GMT

As in years past, our April meeting will feature continuing education presentations from 2 local pharmacy residents. It is good practice for the residents and a great way to highlight some of the remarkable and interesting projects that take place at health-systems in western Michigan. Each resident will present their major residency project. This is the same project that they will discuss at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Residency Conference at the end of April. Ten area residents submitted descriptions of their project. The WMSHP board selected projects submitted by Bailee Wienke, Pharm.D. and Betsy Hoida, Pharm.D.

Bailee Wienke is a pharmacy practice resident at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Her project is entitled "Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia in the Critically Ill: Value of the 4T Score and Compliance with Evidence-based Guidelines".

Betsy Hoida is a pharmacy practice resident at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon. The title of Betsy's project is "A Pharmacist-Managed Medication Reconciliation Process".

Our next meeting will be held March 13, 2008 at Pietro's Italian Restaurant in Grand Rapids. Tracey Mersfelder, Pharm.D., BCPS will be discussing therapy for neuropathic pain.

With spring right around the corner, don't forget about our annual WMSHP Spring Seminar scheduled for May 22. More information will be sent out in the future.

President's Corner - February 2008

Brad Miller — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:22:28 GMT

Well, I guess we can say that winter is finally here. I hope you are all staying warm and safe on those icy Michigan roads. The results are in from our membership survey regarding the ACPE guidelines for standards for commercial support. The majority of our membership wish to continue with our current format of dinner and a live CE presentation. To accomplish this it is likely that the average meeting time will lengthen by about a half-hour.

As the WMSHP representative, I attended my first MSHP board meeting and committee day on January 17. MSHP has been working hard on the 2nd version of Changing Perceptions, a promotional brochure aimed at accurately presenting what clinical activities pharmacists do. Changing Perceptions is used to promote the profession of pharmacy to state and federal legislators as well as the general public. The initial version of Changing Perceptions is still available in pdf form on the MSHP website at http://www.michiganpharmacists.org/pharm_prof/changing_perceptions.htm.

The new version will be available sometime in the next few months. I encourage all of you to get involved and join a MSHP committee. What a great way to positively affect our profession and network with other pharmacists from across the state of Michigan.

Don't forget to attend the 2008 MPA Annual Convention and Exposition February 29-March 2 in Dearborn. Registration information can be found on MPA's website at www.michiganpharmacists.org .

Coming soon: Please note that our next meeting will be held on February 21, 2008 at the Sol World Cafe in Kalamazoo. Dr. Kahn Nedd will be discussing the use of beta blockers in hypertension.

Pharmacist Medication Reconciliation

Brad Miller — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:22:53 GMT

In the February WMSHP Newsletter, Chelsey Skiba, a Ferris State University Pharm.D. Candidate, writes of the benefits of pharmacists performing medication reconciliation.

____

Question
Are pharmacists more effective at promoting patient safety by performing medication reconciliation compared to other healthcare professionals?

Evidence Based Answer
Evidence suggests that pharmacists do promote patient safety by performing medication reconciliation more effectively than other health care professionals (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: C-, based on six pilot studies). Pharmacists performed more complete medication histories by identifying a higher average of home mediations per patient than other health care professionals (SOR: C-, based on four pilot studies). Pharmacists identified more discrepancies between home medication orders and medication histories than nurses (SOR: C-, based on two pilot studies).

Evidence Summary
An accurate and complete medication history is important because if it is incorrect it can lead to inappropriate drug treatment. According to a pilot study carried out by Nester and Hale, patients who had a pharmacist take their medication histories rather than a nurse received a significantly larger fraction of clinical interventions (34% vs. 16%, p<0.001). It was also found that nurses had significantly fewer patients noted as taking a herbal/nonprescription medication than the pharmacists (70% vs. 98%, p<0.001). Patients' community pharmacies were also contacted significantly more often by pharmacists than by nurses for clarification (24% vs. 4%, p<0.001).¹ Nester concluded that pharmacists are more effective at taking medication histories than nurses, but a small sample size and representation are limitations to this study.

In a pilot study performed by Gleason et al, pharmacists conducted medication histories and reconciled the information received with the patients chart history, which was first obtained by doctors and nurses. When a medication discrepancy was noted between the two histories the pharmacist would alert the doctor and if the doctor acted on the discrepancy it was defined as an error and was then accessed for its potential to have caused patient harm. Physicians adhered to pharmacists suggestions about the discrepancies the bulk of the time (n = 69/97 or 71%). Complete omission of a drug that a patient was on prior to hospitalization was the discrepancy requiring intervention most frequently (n= 41/97 or 42%). The authors then used the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention's (NCCMERP) 9-point rating scale to determine potential patient harm if the intervention had not been made in the first 24-48 hours of admission. They noted 38/69 (55%) of the discrepancies fell into the least likely to cause harm category (A-C). On the contrary, if 15/69 (22%) of the discrepancies had not been intervened by a pharmacist the patient outcome could have resulted in harm (categories E & F).² Gleason concluded that medication reconciliation by a pharmacist may have prevented patient harm, but this is up to interpretation due to the descriptive nature of their statistics. Lessard et al performed a similar study to describe medication discrepancies in senior patients and found that the majority (57%) of the discrepancies noted were omissions also. They used a modified version of the NCCMERP and found that a portion (25.8%) of the discrepancies fell into the category that could have necessitated monitoring and/or intervention to prevent harm (category D).³

A pilot study completed in a hospital's inpatient behavioral health unit comparing nurse and pharmacist obtained medication histories found that pharmacists identified a significantly higher average number of medications per patient than nurses (5.3 vs. 4.0, p<0.05).⁴ A pilot study carried out in a hospital Emergency Department (ED) had 252 patients complete medication histories by an ED provider and then by a pharmacist. ED providers only identified 817 home medications from the same patients that pharmacists identified 1096 home medications.⁵ Another study in the ED compared the effect a pharmacist had on a hospitals medication reconciliation form that was usually filled out by a nurse and found that pharmacists had significantly less errors upon completion of the form than the nurses (3% vs. 59%, p = 0.001). The nurses also recorded significantly less allergy documentation than the pharmacists (79% vs. 100%, p = 0.001).⁶

Author Comments
The 2008 National Patient Safety Goals of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) necessitate that "medications are accurately and completely reconciled across the continuum of care." JCAHO rational stated that medication reconciliation is "essential in the reduction of transition related adverse drug effects."⁷ Although JCAHO does not recommend a specific health care professional be responsible for medication reconciliation the American Pharmacists Association recommends that "pharmacists be responsible for reconciling medication use when patients move between practice settings within the continuum of care".⁸ The American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists set a goal for their 2015 initiative for pharmacists to be "involved in managing the acquisition, upon admission, of medication histories for the majority of inpatients with complex and high-risk medications in 75% of hospitals".⁹

References:

Nester TM, Hale LS. Effectiveness of a pharmacist-acquired medication history in promoting patient safety. Ann J Health-Syst Pharm. 2002;59(22):2221-25.
Gleason KM, Groszek JM, Sullivan C, Rooney D, Barnard C, Noskin GA. Reconciliation of discrepancies in medication histories and admission orders of newly hospitilzed patients. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61(16):1689-95.
Lessard S, DeYoung J, Vazzana N. Medication discrepancies affecting senior patients at hospital admissions. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2006;63(8):740-3.
Lizer MH, Brackbill ML. Medication history reconciliation by pharmacists in an inpatient behavioral health unit. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2007;64(10):1087-91.
Carter MK, Allin DM, Scott LA, Grauer D. Pharmacist-acquired medication histories in a university hospital emergency department. 2006;63(24):2500-2503.
Hayes BD, Donovan JL, Smith BS, Hartman CA. Pharmacist-conducted medication reconciliation in an emergency department. 2007;64(16):1720-3.
Joint Commission on Accrediation of Healthcare Organizations. 2008 National Patient Safety Goals.http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/82B717D8-B16A-4442-AD00-CE3188C2F00A/0/08_HAP_NPSGs_Master.pdf (accessed 2007 Sept 24).
American Pharmacists Association. Final Report of the 2007 APhA House of Delegates.http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search1&section=About_APhA1&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=3311 (accessed 2007 Sept 24).
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. 2015 Health-System Pharmacy Initiative. http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/docs/files/2015_Goals_Status_0307.pdf

President's Corner - January 2008

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:23:31 GMT

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

You will see a mix of new and familiar faces within the leadership of WMSHP this year. Contact information for the 2008-2009 WMSHP leadership can be found on our website (www.wmshp.net). As always, please contact me or another board member with any questions or concerns.

We look forward to a year filled with some changes. One of the biggest changes has come from modifications to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACPE) guidelines for continuing education. To meet the guidelines, WMSHP must separate dinner from each monthly presentation. We are currently conducting a survey to determine how best to comply with this standard. Surveys were distributed at the November meeting and will again be distributed at the January meeting. A copy of the survey is also included with this month's newsletter. If you did not attend the November meeting and are not able to attend the January meeting and would like to take part in the survey, you can e-mail me at danastaat@ferris.edu or fax me a copy of the survey at (616) 752-6434. Results of the survey will be disseminated to the membership on our website. The changes to our meeting design will go into effect for the February meeting.

The January meeting will be held at the Saint Mary's Health Care Lacks Grand Room. Kevin Furmaga, Pharm.D., BCPP, Saint Mary's Health Care and Pine Rest Psychiatric Hospital, will be speaking about the clinical use of buprenorphine/naloxone.

President's Corner - December 2007

Brad Miller — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:23:54 GMT

Wow! This year has gone by fast. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your president. It has been an honor. I would also like to thank the current board for sharing all of their time and talents with WMSHP. It has been a pleasure working with all of them. I would especially like to recognize the outgoing members, Jesse Hogue, Ted Riley, and Shaun Phillips, for their dedication over the last several years. Finally, congratulations to the newly elected board members:

President-Elect
Cherie Woodhams

Treasurer
Kim Melgarejo

Technician Member
Bill Kriel

Board Members
Michelle Brodin
Adam Drzewicki
Renee Marana
Sarah Paulson

I have one last order of business to share with you before I turn the reigns over to Dana Staat, your incoming president. The MPA has just called for WMSHP to select three delegates to send to the 2008 MPA House of Delegates. The Session of the House will be held on Saturday, March 1st, from 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency. If you are an active MPA member and are interested in representing WMSHP as a delegate or would like to obtain more information, please contact me via e-mail at ryanbickel@borgess.com by Monday, December 31, 2007. The Session of the House is held during the MPA Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE), but participation in the ACE is not mandatory. Delegates, who choose to only participate in the Session of the House, will have their registration fee waived for that event.

Finally, if anyone would like to offer a resolution to the House of Delegates, please notify myself or another WMSHP board member by the January 10th meeting. This will give us adequate time to discuss it and file it with the Secretary of the House for consideration.

WMSHP Board Nominees

Brad Miller — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:24:32 GMT

To vote, WMSHP members should fill out the ballot which has been mailed to them. Return the completed ballot via U.S. Mail (postmarked by Nov. 2nd), give it to any Board member, or take it to the November meeting.

President-Elect

Cherie Woodhams is a 1991 graduate of Ferris State University with a Bachelors of Pharmacy degree. She has experience as a staff and clinical pharmacist on Cardiology, Pediatrics, and the Neonatal ICU. In her current position as Pharmacy Educator, she is involved in training and orientation of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. She is also presently on the Advisory Board of Everest Career Training Institute.

Treasurer

Kim Melgarejo is currently a Pharmacy Manager at Borgess Medical Center and Borgess Pipp Hospital. She graduated from West Virginia University with her pharmacy degree and then pursued a pharmacy practice residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Soon after her residency she moved to Michigan and has worked at BMC as a clinical pharmacy specialist, clinical pharmacy manager, and now a pharmacy manager. She has been a board member of WMSHP since 2005.

Board

Michelle Brodin graduated in 2003 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy from South Dakota State University. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon in 2004. Dr. Brodin is currently serving as the Pharmacy Education Coordinator and Residency Program Director at MGHP. She has a passion for clinical pharmacy and has presented numerous at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meetings focusing on clinical advancement of the profession of pharmacy.

Melanie Crain graduated from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 2006. She completed her Pharmacy Practice Residency at Saint Mary's Health Care in August 2007, and currently works at Metro Health Hospital as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

Andrea Goodrich is a clinical pharmacist at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. Andrea received her B.S. in pharmacy from Ferris State University in 2001 and Pharm.D. from Midwestern University in 2006. Andrea currently works on the orthopedics/neurology unit at St. Mary's Hospital. Other professional areas of interests include internal medicine and infectious disease/HIV medication therapy. Andrea has been a member of WMSHP since 2001 and is serving as a committee member for MSHP in 2007. Andrea's professional affiliations also include ACCP, MSHP, and ASHP.

Renee Marana graduated from Ferris State University with her Pharm.D. in 2003. She went on to complete a PGY1 residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Upon completion of her residency, she accepted a decentralized pharmacist position on the General Medical and General Care Units at Bronson, where she continues to practice. In the fall of 2006, she became the residency program director for the Bronson residency program. She has also served on the educational committee and currently serves on the residency committee for the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Kym Moline works at St Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids as a clinical pharmacist in the area of Drug Information and Medication Safety. Kym is an adjunct instructor for Ferris and precepts pharmacy externs and residents. She received her B.S and Pharm.D. degrees from Ferris and M.S.A. from Central Michigan University.

Jackie Morse recently completed a community pharmacy practice residency with Meijer, Pfizer and Ferris State University. She currently holds a shared position as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Ferris State University and Disease Management Pharmacist with Meijer Pharmacy in Grandville. Jackie is an active member of ASHP, APhA and currently sits on the Michigan Pharmacists Association's New Practitioner Advisory Committee.

(Incumbent) Sarah Paulson attended Ferris State University and graduated with her Pharm.D. in 2005. She completed a general pharmacy practice residency at Saint Mary's Health Care in 2006. She is currently a clinical pharmacist at Saint Mary's Health Care assisting in coverage of the inpatient orthopedic unit, neurology unit, and inpatient pharmacy. Sarah has been a member of WMSHP since 2005 and has served as a board member since June 2007. She also has membership with ACCP, ASHP, MPA, MSHP, Phi Lambda Sigma, and Lambda Kappa Sigma.

Technician

(Incumbent) Bill Kriel worked at Spectrum Health Butterworth for 10 years prior to starting at Saint Mary's Health Care 7 years ago. Bill currently compounds chemotherapy medications and NICU TPNs.

Suzanne Rodgers has been a pharmcacy technician at Borgess Medical Center since February 2005. She graduated in January '05 from Olympia Career Institute with her technician degree. She became a member of WMHSP in '05 and has since attended many CE Dinners. Her outside involvement is with the jail ministry, ministry with community, retention, and nursing home ministry with her local church.

President's Corner - November 2007

Brad Miller — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:25:00 GMT

The American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recently changed some of their standards, which will effect the way we offer our educational programs. The two changes which effect us most are: 1) continuing education (CE) presentations cannot be given while the participants are eating a meal and 2) presentations should have a different set of questions for pharmacists and technicians. To address the first change, WMSHP's Board will be surveying the membership some time in the next couple months to determine the importance of ACPE-accredited CE (Michigan Board of Pharmacy's CE standards have not changed yet), the importance of offering dinner, and reasonable meeting times. To address the second change, the Board decided to accredit our own CE credits for our technician members. Not only will this solve the issue of separate questions, but it will also save the organization some money, as we currently pay $5 per credit hour of ACPE-accredited CE per person.

Speaking of technician CE, did you know that any pharmacist can approve continuing education (CE) credits for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs)? The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) will allow CPhTs to obtain up to 10 CE credits per licensure period for participating in inservices and other education activities. To obtain credit, a pharmacist must complete PTCB's Universal Continuing Education form, which can be found at their website, www.ptcb.org (click on "CE Credits" under the "CPhT Services" menu).

It is election season again. WMSHP's board has the following open positions: president-elect, treasurer, board member (4), and technician member. You will be receiving a ballot in the U.S. Mail in the next couple days. Please take the time to fill it out and return it to us. You may return the completed ballot via U.S. Mail, give it to any Board member, or take it to the November meeting. The results will be tallied and announced at the November meeting.

The November meeting will be held on November 8th at the Food Dance Cafe in Kalamazoo. Dennis Parker, Jr., Pharm.D. from Detroit Receiving Hospital will be giving a presentation on the Management of Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Due to space constraints, the meeting will be limited to the first 40 individuals who RSVP. Please be sure to select your dinner preference when you RSVP.

President's Corner - October 2007

Brad Miller — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:25:29 GMT

Help Wanted: WMSHP is seeking actively engaged members to run for a board position for 2008-2009. Openings include: president-elect, treasurer, board member (4 positions), and technician board member. Experience is not necessary. Mentoring will be provided. If you are interested in running or nominating another member to run, please contact Ryan Bickel at ryanbickel@borgess.com or (269) 226-6616 by October 11th. Elections will be held in late October/early November and the results will be announced at the November meeting.

Coming Soon: The next WMSHP meeting will be held in Grand Rapids on October 11th at Bar Divani. Dr. David Langholz will discuss hypertension and the role of Tekturna. Continuing education credits will not be offered at this meeting. Please RSVP at www.wmshp.net, if you would like to attend. Seating may be limited, so sign up now.

Announcement: The MSHP Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, November 2, 2007 at the Lansing Center. This event is open to both MSHP/MPA members and non-members. Students and residents are offered complimentary registration if they register by October 19th. To register, please visit the MPA website, http://www.michiganpharmacists.org, and go to the "Events Calendar" which is found at the "Pharmacy Professionals" link.

rFVIIa for Massive Hemorrhage of Traumatic Injury

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:26:23 GMT

In this month's WMSHP Newsletter, Jeffery Tichenor Pharm.D. writes of the use of recombinant factor VII for massive hemorrhage due to traumatic injury.

_____

Exsanguination is a leading cause of mortality in severe trauma patients, accounting for approximately 40% of mortality.¹ This high incidence of mortality stems from the "lethal triad" of coagulopathy, hypothermia and acidosis associated with massive hemorrhage. Preventing transition to any aspect of the lethal triad is the goal of current treatment. The mainstays of massive hemorrhage management are: ligation, tamponading, or compression of the affected vessels. Other common interventions being: transfusion with fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and/or platelet concentrates. The high mortality rate associated with massive hemorrhage bears witness to the fact that current therapeutic options often fall short of their goal in this patient population.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; Novoseven^®) currently has Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with Factor VII deficiency, and those with hemophilia with inhibitors to Factors VIII and IX. Factor VII is a vitamin K dependent glycoprotein, structurally similar to human factor VII. Factor VII can exert activity via both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in the clotting cascade (see figure below). As predicted by these mechanisms of action, rFVIIa only induces clot formation where vascular injury is present. This ability to form clots only at sites of injury has lead to the investigation of rFVIIa for the management of massive hemorrhage secondary to traumatic injury. Other traits of rFVIIa which make it a potentially attractive agent for use in patients with massive hemorrhage are its short half life of approximately two hours, and its ability to be rapidly infused over 2-5 minutes. rFVIIa has been studied in both penetrating (gunshots and stabbings) and blunt (collisions and attacks) traumas.

The largest and best carried out of the trials using rFVIIa for the treatment of massive hemorrhage was performed by Boffard and colleagues in 8 countries and 32 hospitals.² This study included 301 patients with severe trauma. It was a parallel, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial to evaluate the ability of rFVIIa to control bleeding in trauma patients experiencing extensive hemorrhage.² One arm evaluated the use of rFVIIa in patients with blunt trauma, while the other evaluated its use in patients with penetrating trauma. rFVIIa was administered in consecutive doses of 200, 100, and 100 mcg/kg as deemed necessary by the clinician. The first dose was given after transfusion of the eighth unit of red blood cells (RBCs); and subsequent doses were given after 1 and 3 hours respectively. The blunt trauma arm resulted in RBC transfusions being significantly reduced by 2.6 units (90% CI 0.7 - 4.6, p= 0.02) with rFVIIa compared to placebo.² The need for massive RBC transfusion, defined as > 20 units of RBC, was also significantly reduced from 33% in patients on placebo to 14% with rFVIIa (p= 0.03).² Similar trends were noted in the penetrating trauma group, though the results there were not statistically significant.²

Another well performed trial of rFVIIa for the management of massive hemorrhage was done by Dutton and colleagues. This was a compassionate use study performed on 81 coagulopathic patients.³ The decision to use rFVIIa went through 1 of 2 "gatekeepers" at the facility, dosing was done at 100 mcg/kg. Factor VII restored hemostasis in 75% of the patients (61 of 81), with an average of 1.23 doses.³ Despite this success, mortality at hospital discharge was still approximately 32%.³ This trial also showed that an acidic body pH tempers the effects of rFVIIa. Responders to rFVIIa (n=61) in this study had an average pH of 7.29 while non-responders (n=20) averaged 7.02 (p= 0.0016).³ The research also confirms that patients must have sufficient functional platelet counts at baseline in order for rFVIIa treatment to be effective (patients below 50,000/mcL did not form clots with rFVIIa).³ The researchers compiled a group comparable to their patients as a control (matched on: age, sex, mechanism of injury, abbreviated injury score, laboratory data, clinical outcome, and TRISS probability of survival) and were unable to associate rFVIIa with a long-term survival benefit in their patients.³

Both of these extensive studies concluded rFVIIa to be beneficial in restoring hemostasis to patients suffering traumatic massive hemorrhage, especially those due to blunt trauma. However, no overall mortality benefit was established with the use of rFVIIa in their patient populations. Though, use of rFVIIa may be beneficial in a select group of trauma patients with massive hemorrhage. Patients with the following characteristics appear to be the best served by rFVIIa therapy.

- Blunt trauma victim
- Current treatments exhausted
- Absence of negative prognosis (sepsis, major organ failure, penetrating head injury)
- pH >7.1
- Glasgow Coma Score >8
- Age >18 & <65 years
- No history of atherosclerosis or thrombosis

References

Sauaia A, Moore FA, Moore EE, et. al. Epidemiology of trauma deaths: a reassessment. J Trauma. 1995;38:185-193.
Boffard KD, Riou B, Warren B, et. al. Recombinant factor VIIa as adjunctive therapy for bleeding control in severely injured trauma patients: two parallel randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trials. J Trauma 2005;59:8-18.
Dutton RP, McCunn M, Hyder M, et. al. Factor VIIa for correction of traumatic coagulopathy. J Trauma 2004;57:709-719.

President's Corner - September 2007

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:25:56 GMT

The summer is drawing to an end. The kids are heading back to school. It is also time for WMSHP to return from its summer break. The next meeting will be held in Kalamazoo on Thursday, September 13th. Check out the website, www.wmshp.net, for more details and to RSVP.

While we were on our summer recess, ASHP held the House of Delegates meeting. One of the hottest topics at this year's meeting was should residency training be required for new pharmacy graduates to provide direct patient care. After much discussion, they resolved the following:

To support the position that by the year 2020, the completion of an ASHP-accredited postgraduate-year-one residency should be a requirement for all new college of pharmacy graduates who will be providing direct patient care.

I am sure that this resolution, as well as, other new professional policies will be discussed at MSHP's annual board retreat this September. I will keep you posted on highlights.

In addition to our upcoming meeting, I would like to remind you of some other important upcoming dates. First, National Pharmacy Week this year is October 21-27. Information and planning resources can be found at the MPA website, www.michiganpharmacists.org. MSHP's annual meeting is Friday, November 2nd, at the Lansing Center. Registration forms for this meeting will be available at our September and October meetings. Finally, ASHP's 42nd Midyear Clinical Meeting will convene December 2 - 6 in Las Vegas, NV. Reserve your hotel now.

President's Corner - April 2007

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:26:57 GMT

Now that April is almost upon us, we are starting to see the first signs of spring. For WMSHP, this means that we are also nearing our annual meeting, which highlights some research projects done by Western Michigan pharmacy residents. After a close vote, the Board selected the following two projects to be presented at the April meeting: "Pharmacist Interventions to Improve Adherence Among Patients with HIV/AIDS Starting Antiretroviral Therapy" by Melanie Crain, Pharm.D., and "Evaluation of Microorganisms Responsible for Early versus Late-Onset Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Patients" by Sarah-Ann Brown, Pharm.D. I would like to thank all of the area residents for submitting their projects and encourage you to come to the meeting and support Melanie and Sarah-Ann.

Another spring tradition is the WMSHP Spring Seminar. This year's seminar will be held on Thursday, May 10th, at the Grand Rapids Airport Hilton. It is an excellent opportunity to earn continuing education credits and network with colleagues. Our morning sessions will focus on toxicology and advancing the pharmacy profession, while the afternoon will be broken into two tracks, Administration and Therapeutics. The Administration track will touch upon innovative technician practices, pharmacy law, and the benefits of being a preceptor. Historically, technicians have found the Administration track useful, because it fulfills their law review requirement for certification. The Therapeutics track will provide updates on HIV therapy, women's health, and glycemic control in patients with infections. Reserve the date on your calendars and watch our website, www.wmshp.net, for more information and to register.

President's Corner - March 2007

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:27:23 GMT

Greetings! I just returned from MPA's Annual Convention and Exposition in Dearborn. It was nice to see many of you out there. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some highlights from the convention.

One of the main topics which the MPA focused on this year was getting their membership involved politically to strengthen the profession of pharmacy. They suggested identifying legislators (or potential legislators) in your district that you believe in and supporting them. Support can be as simple as sending them a $10 check to support their campaign or as involved as knocking on doors for them during the campaign season. If you are not comfortable supporting a legislator, please consider supporting MPA's Political Action Coalition (PAC).

Another highlight of the meeting was finding more preceptors and sites to become involved with training pharmacy students in their P-3 and P-4 years. WMSHP will be working closely with the Michigan Colleges of Pharmacy Experiential Programs (McPEP) group to assist them in identifying preceptors and sites in our region, as well as, supporting their current preceptors and sites. WMSHP has arranged for McPEP to give a presentation at our May 10th Spring Seminar in Grand Rapids. Please mark your calendars for this event.

Finally, I would like to inform you that Jesse Hogue, Fred Schmidt, and I served as your delegates to the MPA House of Delegates session. During the session, Laura Shaw, Chairman of Michigan's Board of Pharmacy, provided the House with a special report. She reminded us that Michigan's new continuing education (CE) standards (R 338.3041) were recently signed into law. For those of who are not aware of the new standards, starting July 1, 2007, pharmacists will be required to obtain 10 hours of live CE per renewal period, will be required complete one hour of CE in pain management, and will not be permitted to obtain more than 12 hours of CE per day. The new rules can be found at www.michigan.gov/healthlicense under the "Health Professional Administrative Rules" link.

President's Corner - February 2007

Brad Miller — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:27:50 GMT

Wow! We saw record attendance at last month's meeting. Approximately 75 WMSHP members attended the 2006 ICAAC review in Grand Rapids. I want to thank Dana Staat for doing a great job facilitating the unusually large crowd and arranging for Michael Klepser to do the presentation for Michael Tiberg, who encountered a family emergency at the last minute. As a thank you for giving the presentation at such short notice, WMSHP's Board of Directors is extending an honorary lifetime membership to Michael Klepser. Thanks again, Mike!

One of my responsibilities as your president is to serve as the Regional Delegate to the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). I attended my first MSHP board meeting and committee day on January 18th. It was a great experience meeting pharmacy leaders from around the state and providing them with a summary of our recent activities. I would like to recognize several WMSHP members, who also currently serve on MSHP's Board of Directors: Fred Schmidt, President; Jesse Hogue, Director, and Jean Lee, Director.

February is going to be a short, but busy month. On February 8th the WMSHP meeting will take place in Kalamazoo. Sandra Chase will be giving a presentation on using low molecular weight heparin in medically ill patients. Also, the MPA's Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) meeting will take place February 23 -25th in Dearborn. More information regarding the ACE meeting can be found at MPA's website, www.michiganpharmacists.org. I hope to see you at one of the events.

President's Corner - January 2007

Brad Miller — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:28:15 GMT

Happy New Year! Hopefully, you were able to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

I would like to start off the year by introducing this yearï¿½s board of directors to you. Your officers include: Ryan Bickel, President; Jesse Hogue, Past President; Dana Staat, President-Elect; Ted Riley, Treasurer; and Brad Miller, Secretary. Your board members include: Jodie Bakus, Bill Kriel, Jean Lee, Kim Melgarejo, Natalie Paul, Shaun Phillips, Cindy Pollock, Jeff Van Houten, and Cheri Woodhams.

On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Jesse Hogue for all of his hard work and guidance as President. I would also like to recognize Jean Lee for her service as Past-President last year. Fortunately, she will be remaining with us as a board member. Finally, I would like to welcome our newest board member, Cindy Pollock.

I am honored to serve as your president and look forward to working with you to promote the profession of pharmacy. To assist me in serving you, please feel free to share your ideas regarding educational opportunities, topics of interest, or anything else that pertains to advancing health-system pharmacy.

Many of you are currently making New Year resolutions. I have a couple ideas that I would like to offer. If you are not currently a member of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacy (MSHP) and Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), consider joining. If you are already a member, consider becoming involved with a committee, serving as a delegate, and/or attending the MPA's Annual Convention & Exhibition in February. More information regarding these opportunities can be found at MPA's website, http://www.michiganpharmacists.org.

Neuroprotection in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Brad Miller — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:29:09 GMT

In the November WMSHP Newsletter, Sakar Wahby, a pharmacy practice resident at Spectrum Health, writes about recent studies of vitamin E's potential neuroprotective effect in patients receiving chemotherapy drugs.

" "

_____

Neuroprotection in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Sakar Wahby, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Practice Resident
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
_____

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in the United States for the population younger than 85 years of age since 1999.¹ Chemotherapeutic agents have played a big role in curative therapy for various types of cancers since their discovery in the nineteen fifties and sixties. However, these agents have the potential for causing adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, alopecia, and myelosuppression. Other side effects could be specific to some agents and cause damage to certain organs of the body such as toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system, the kidneys, heart, and nerve tissues.²

Neurotoxicity is one of the widely known side effects for a various number of chemotherapeutic agents. Among the classes of chemotherapy known to cause neurotoxicity are the platinum compounds (cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin), the taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel), vinca-alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, and vinorelbine), methotrexate, thalidomide, and ifosfamide. Neurotoxicity caused by vincristine, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and oxaliplatin can limit the dose of these agents that potentially can be used for treatment, thus leading to discontinuation of therapy and thereby hindering the possible full use of very effective cancer treatments.²

Currently no standard of therapy is approved for neuroprotection for cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy. Two pilot, randomized, controlled trials (Pace et al. and Argyriou et al.) were conducted in Europe investigating the effectiveness of vitamin E as a neuroprotective agent in patients receiving cisplatin or paclitaxel.^3,4

Cisplatin is a widely used agent in the treatment of various solid tumors such as testicular, ovarian, cervical, head & neck, bladder, and lung cancer. The incidence of neuropathy is up to 100% with this agent, and the severity varies depending on cumulative doses, duration of treatment, and possible underlying diseases that can also cause neuropathy, in addition to having received previous treatments with other neurotoxic medications.^2,5 With cisplatin treatment, neurotoxicity is cumulative and signs and symptoms of neuropathy usually appear with cumulative doses of 300-500 mg/m². Patients treated with cisplatin present with sensory signs and symptoms of paresthesia and numbness. The former manifests itself as tingling, "pins-and-needles" sensation, pulling, pressure, and tightness in the limbs, most often seen in the toes and feet.^2,5

Paclitaxel is a taxane compound used in the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.⁵ Besides myelosuppression, paclitaxel can cause neurotoxicity with severity depending on single-dose and cumulative doses administered. At doses of 135 mg/m² mild neuropathies have been observed in 50% of patients, but neurotoxicity can be dose-limiting when 175 mg/m² doses are administered. A dose greater than 200 mg/m² can cause significant neurotoxicity. The pattern of neurotoxicity from paclitaxel is manifested as paresthesia and numbness in a glove and stocking distribution in the limbs, Lhermitte’s sign (sensation similar to electrical shock) and loss of deep tendon reflexes. ^2,5

Both pilot studies have shown vitamin E to be effective in reducing the incidence and severity of neurotoxicity in patients receiving chemotherapy and vitamin E.

Pace et al. randomized 47 patients into two groups. Group one received a cisplatin regimen with vitamin E and group two received a cisplatin-only regimen serving as control. After six cycles of cisplatin administration, the incidence of neuropathy was significantly lower in the vitamin E + cisplatin group as compared to the control group (cisplatin alone). Four out of 13 patients in the vitamin E group (30.7%) and 12 out of 14 patients in the control group (85.7%) reported some sign or symptom of neuropathy (p<0.01). The relative risk of developing neurotoxicity was lower in the vitamin E group compared to the control group (RR= 0.36; 95% CI = 0.15-0.83, P<0.001).³

Argyriou et al. evaluated the neuroprotective effect of vitamin E in patients receiving cisplatin, paclitaxel, or combination of both agents. A statistically significant higher incidence of neurotoxicity were reported in the chemotherapy regimen group (16/20, 80%), versus (8/20, 40%) in the vitamin E + chemotherapy group (Yates p value= 0.023). The relative risk of developing neurotoxicity was lower in the vitamin E group compared to control (RR=0.34, 95% CI =0.14-0.84).⁴

The results of both studies have shown great potential for vitamin E in reducing the incidence of neuropathy, acting as a free radical scavenger and protecting non-tumor cells from free radical damage. However, this hypothesis raises a concern regarding the potential of vitamin E to protect cancer cells as well from free radical damage, therefore reducing the efficacy of chemotherapy.⁶

Neither study was powered enough to evaluate overall response rate and overall survival rate of those patients given vitamin E compared to placebo. Therefore, using vitamin E as a standard therapy with chemotherapeutic agents causing neurotoxicity can not be recommended at this time. Larger randomized, placebo controlled studies are warranted to further establish efficacy and safety of vitamin E in combination with chemotherapy.

References:

Jemal A, Murray T, Ward E, Samuels A, Tiwari RC, Ghafoor A, Feuer EJ, Thun MJ. Cancer Statistics, 2005. CA Cancer J Clin. 2005 Jan;55(1):10-30.
DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. CANCER: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 6th ed. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.
Pace A, Savarese A, Picardo M, Maresca V, Pacetti U, Del Monte G et al. Neuroprotective Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation in Patients Treated With Cisplatin Chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Mar;21(5):927-31.
Argyriou AA, Chroni E, Koutras A, Ellul J, Papapetropoulos S, Katsoulas G et al. Vitamin E for Prophylaxis Against Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy. Neurol. 2005;64:26-31.
National Comprehensive cancer network [homepage on the internet]. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology [updated 2005; cited 2006 Feb 26]. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp?button=I+Agre
Labriola D, Livingston R. Possible Interactions Between Dietary Antioxidants and Chemotherapy. Oncology. 1999 Jul;13(7):1003-8.

President's Corner - November 2006

Brad Miller — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:28:45 GMT

Don’t forget! If you have not done so already, please send in your ballot for the WMSHP Board elections. We plan to announce the results at the November 9 meeting, so ballots need to be received before then.

Hopefully every one participated in Michigan Pharmacy Week activities. Remember, if you are an MPA member please take a moment to fill out the reporting form with what you or your department did to celebrate.

Varenicline for Smoking Cessation

Brad Miller — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:30:07 GMT

In the October WMSHP newsletter, Benjamin Mgboh, Pharm.D., a pharmacy practice resident at Spectrum Health, discusses a new medication to aid in smoking cessation.

_____

What Is New in the World of Smokers?

Benjamin Mgboh, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Practice Resident
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
_____

In the United States, over 50 million people smoke annually with estimated deaths of 438,000 per year.¹ Of current smokers, approximately 41% try to quit yearly with only 10% succeeding.² The problem that arises most times is how to achieve the goal of quitting or what regimen is best for an individual. Smoking is an addictive act that could and has caused cardiovascular diseases. Smoking increases one’s risk of lung cancer, as well as causing drug toxicity by affecting metabolism in hepatic enzymes. According to the World Health Organization, every eight seconds a person dies of a smoking-related disease.³ Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. Smoking cessation is important because of the harmful role that smoking has on life. Smoking cessation tools such as the use of nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine gums, patches, lozenges), or a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (Zyban^®) are currently available. In spite of these tools, cessation is still a big issue.

Varenicline (Chantix®) is a phase III smoking cessation drug which stimulates nicotine receptors in the brain without being addictive. It is an α-4, β-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist.^1,2,4 This unique mechanism of action helps to prevent withdrawal in people trying to quit smoking. Two studies were designed to compare the safety and efficacy of varenicline with bupropion SR and placebo. The studies’ (n= 1025¹ and n=1027²) results showed varenicline was significantly better for quitting smoking than placebo throughout the 52 weeks of study. The investigators also reported that varenicline was notably better for smoking cessation than bupropion SR at the end of 12 weeks of study, and 24 weeks of follow-up. The methodology of the study includes a brief counseling to participants and varenicline titrated up to 1 mg orally twice a day. Furthermore, bupropion SR was titrated to 150 mg orally twice a day or placebo for 12 weeks, with 40 weeks of non-drug follow-up.

Gonzales et al reported for weeks 9 through 12, the 4-week continuous abstinence rates was 26.3% higher for varenicline vs placebo (44% vs 17.7%). Continuous abstinence in varenicline was 14.5% higher than bupropion SR (44% vs 29.5%). For weeks 9-24 continuous abstinence rates was 8.8% higher for the Varenicline group than (29.5% vs. 20.7%) for bupropion SR. In both instances, the results were statistically and clinically significant. However, for weeks 9 through 52, the continuous abstinence rates was 13.5% higher for varenicline vs placebo but not statistically significant when compared with bupropion SR (21.9% vs 16.1%). Similarly, Jorenby et al reported that varenicline showed higher continuous abstinence than placebo at all times. For weeks 9 through 12, the 4-week continuous abstinence rate was 26.3% higher for varenicline vs placebo (43.9% vs 17.6%). Continuous abstinence in varenicline was 14.5% higher than bupropion SR (43.9% vs 29.8%). For weeks 9-24 continuous abstinence rates was 8.8% higher for the varenicline group than (29.7% vs. 20.2%) for bupropion SR. In both instances, the p value was statistically significant. However, for weeks 9 through 52, the continuous abstinence rates was 13.5% higher for varenicline vs placebo but not statistically significant when compared with bupropion SR (23% vs 14.6%).

Both studies showed that varenicline was safe and generally well tolerated when compared with bupropion SR and placebo. There were no gender differences in efficacy for varenicline.^1,2,5 Varenicline reduced craving, withdrawal symptoms, and smoking satisfaction for those who smoked during the studies.^1,2,5 Nausea (28.1%) was the most common adverse events observed in participants receiving varenicline. It was mostly mild or moderate and rarely involved discontinuation of therapy.^1,2,5 Minimal weight gain and insomnia were also associated with this treatment. However, these adverse effects were also present in the use of bupropion SR (insomnia 21.9%) or placebo.

In conclusion, both studies stated that varenicline has a better efficacy than both placebo and bupropion SR in smoking cessation. However, it should be noted that the generalization of varenicline across all age groups (mean age studied = 42 years) or populations is limited based upon the inclusion criteria. Thus it is essential for anyone intending to use this drug for smoking cessation to be well evaluated to ensure they do not fall into the category of people that were excluded in the trial studies. The current FDA dosing recommendation for varenicline use in smoking cessation is 1 mg orally twice daily. However, this regimen starts after a one week titration with 0.5 mg orally once daily on days 1, 2 & 3, then 0.5 mg twice daily on days 4, 5, 6, & 7, then 1 mg twice daily for 12 weeks (including 1 week titration).⁴ Patients are advised to begin therapy one week prior to the date set to quit smoking. Renal adjustment is required in severe renal dysfunction.⁴

References:

Gonzales D, Bennard SI, Nides M, et al. Varenicline, an α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Sustained-Release Bupropion and Placebo for smoking cessation. A Randomized controlled Trial. JAMA. 2006;296(1):47-55
Jorenby DE, Hays J, Taylor MD, et al. Efficacy of Varenicline, an [alpha]4[beta]2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Placebo or Sustained-Release Bupropion for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2006; 296(1):56-63
Pfizer's Varenicline Receives U.S. FDA Priority Review. http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/investors_releases/2005pr/mn_2005_1221.jsp (accessed 07/16/06)
Klasco RK (ED): DRUGDEX® System. Thomson MICROMEDEX, Greenwood Village, Colorado (accessed 07/13/06).
Varenicline May Be More Effective Than Bupropion for Smoking Cessation. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540203. (accessed 07/17/06)

President's Corner - October 2006

Brad Miller — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:29:39 GMT

It’s time for our annual elections again, and since we have so many nominations this year we decided to feature short bios on the candidates (see below). Hopefully they help you in your voting! We will be electing five candidates. Just a reminder, Michigan Pharmacy Week is fast approaching, October 22-28. If you are a member of MPA please take a moment after the week wraps up to report back on what you or your department did to celebrate. Individuals and departments that promote Pharmacy Week well and then submit a follow up report to MPA will be considered for MSHP or MPA Public Affairs awards. Also, don’t forget the MSHP Annual Meeting Nov. 3 in Lansing.

Phil Early, Pharm.D., M.S., is the Administrative Director for Pharmacy Services at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. He received his B.S. and M.S. from The Ohio State University and Pharm.D. from Idaho State University. He completed a two year ASHP accredited general residency at Mount Carmel Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio in conjunction with completing his master’s degree. He is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy for Ferris State University. Prior to coming to Borgess, Dr. Early was Director of Pharmacy Services at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio.

Andrea Goodrich is a clinical pharmacist at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. Andrea received her B.S. in pharmacy in 2001 and will be completing her non-traditional Pharm.D. from Midwestern University this fall. Andrea's professional areas of interests include Internal Medicine and HIV.

Jean C. Lee is a HIV/AIDS clinical pharmacist at the McAuley Health Center of Saint Mary’s Health Care in Grand Rapids. Lee completed her BSc. Pharm. from Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada (1994), Hospital Practice Residency at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario (1995) and a Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology (1999) before completing her Pharm D at Ferris State University (2001). In Canada, she has served on the National Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) Board of Directors as the Newfoundland CSHP Chapter Branch Delegate (1997-1999) and on the National CSHP Strategic Planning Committee (1997-1999). At the local level she served as co-chair for the Awards Committee (1999-2001). In Michigan, Lee is now completing her term as WMSHP Past-President and has been a member since 2001. She has also served on the MPA Employee Pharmacists Committee (2002), MSHP Organizational Affairs Committee from (2004-2005) the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists Internet Committee (2003-2004) and will serve on the MSHP Board of Directors (2007-2009). Lee’s professional affiliations also include ACCP, SIDP, NPhA, and MSHP.

Sarah Paulson attended Ferris State University and graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2005. She then went on to complete a general pharmacy practice residency at Saint Mary's Health Care. After completion of the residency, she accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist at Saint Mary's Health Care assisting in coverage of the inpatient orthopedic unit, neurology unit, and inpatient pharmacy. Other interests include internal medicine, infectious disease/HIV, and psychiatry. Sarah has been a member of WMSHP since 2005 and also has membership with MPA, ASHP, ACCP, Phi Lambda Sigma (President 2003), and Lambda Kappa Sigma (Recording Secretary 2002). She has been married for 1 year and has 4 furry children (2 cats and 2 dogs). She would like to become more involved with WMSHP and is excited about this opportunity.

Cindy Pollock received her PharmD at the University of Michigan in 2001. She completed a pharmacy practice residency from 2001-2002 at Spectrum Health/DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. She completed the examination to become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2002. Currently Cindy is the General Pediatrics Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at DeVos Children's Hospital, and has held this position for 4 years. She holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. She is also a preceptor for pharmacy practice residents at DeVos Children's Hospital. She is married with one child and lives in Byron Center, MI.

Jeff Van Houten received his B.S. from Ferris in 1990 and graduated from FSU's first Pharm.D. class in 1992. He completed a one year pharmacy residency in Pennsylvania and began working at Saint Mary's in Grand Rapids as a clinical pharmacist in 1993, where he has been since. Jeff' clinical interests are in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He worked along with Jean Lee to start the Pharmacy Residency program at Saint Mary's. Jeff has been on the Board of WMSHP in some capacity for the last 10 years, and held the president's position in 2000. Jeff is married (12 years) and has two daughters (6 and 8).

Natalie Vazzana is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. She obtained her Doctorate of Pharmacy at Purdue University and followed with a pharmacy practice residency with McKesson Medication Management at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. She is currently practicing at Spectrum Health – Butterworth campus and is the clinical pharmacist on the progressive care unit. Natalie participates with the pharmacy residency program and is a member of the residency advisory committee. Also, she is completing her second year as a board member of the Western Michigan Society for Health-systems pharmacists.

President's Corner - September 2006

Brad Miller — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:30:40 GMT

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a safe and fun-filled summer. The WMSHP Board has prepared yet another excellent year of CE programming for you to take part in, beginning September 14 with a talk on chronic kidney disease at Webster's Restaurant in Kalamazoo. I hope to see everyone there!

The WMSHP Board will soon begin accepting nominations for 2007 Board positions. If interested, stay tuned for more information.

Mark your calendars! Michigan Pharmacy Week takes place October 22-28 this year. This is a great opportunity to remind patients and other health care workers of the important role we play in patient care, or even to take your legislator to work with you. For more details or to download resources please check the MPA website (www.michiganpharmacists.org). Right on the heels of Pharmacy Week, the MSHP Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 3 in Lansing. This has traditionally been an excellent day of educational programming tailored to the needs of health system pharmacists. Stay tuned to the MPA website for details on programming and registration.

Managing Supratherapeutic INR Due to Warfarin

Brad Miller — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:31:02 GMT

In this month's WMSHP Newsletter, Heather Draper, Pharm.D. writes about strategies for managing elevated INR in patients on warfarin.

_____

Management of INR above the therapeutic range in patients treated with warfarin

Heather Draper, Pharm.D.

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Anticoagulation with warfarin is effective for the primary and secondary prevention of thromboembolic events. However, this therapy exposes the patient to a higher risk of bleeding. Patient factors may precipitate the risk of bleeding—including advanced age, malignancy, decreased oral intake, or the use of new medications known to potentiate warfarin.

Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index, with the therapeutic INR typically targeted at 2-3. The risk of bleeding in patients on warfarin increases significantly when the INR exceeds 4-6, although the absolute risk of bleeding remains fairly low, at less than 5.5 per 1000 per day.¹ Therefore, patients with an INR less than 9 and no significant bleeding can be managed by omitting subsequent doses of warfarin, more frequent monitoring of the INR, and resumption of therapy at a lower dose when the INR is therapeutic.²

When rapid reversal of the INR is needed, fresh frozen plasma, prothrombin complex, or recombinant factor VIIa can be administered. Administration of coagulation factors provides only a temporary solution due to the short half-life of the provided clotting factors (3-4 hours for Factor VII), compared with a duration of action of 2 to 5 days for warfarin, as well as relative instability of clotting factors upon administration. Administration of either fresh frozen plasma or factor concentrates will decrease the PT/INR for 4 to 6 hours.³ Complete return to a therapeutic INR will require supplementation with vitamin K₁.²

Treatment of an INR above the therapeutic range requires a balance between reducing the risk for hemorrhage while minimizing the risk of thrombembolism. Treatment approaches are based on the current INR, presence of bleeding, and the time frame in which reversal is required.² Vitamin K₁ may be administered to reverse the anticoagulation effect of warfarin. The most appropriate dose of vitamin K₁ will lower the INR to a safe level without resulting in a subtherapeutic INR. High doses of vitamin K₁, although effective, may lead to warfarin resistance for a week or more, resulting in an increased risk for thromboembolism.^1,2 In this situation, heparin can be given until the effects of the vitamin K₁ are complete.

Vitamin K₁ is available for intravenous (IV), subcutaneous, and oral administration. Table 1 provides a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages for each route of Vitamin K₁. The subcutaneous route has a delayed onset and is less predictable.¹ If rapid reversal is desired, the IV route should be utilized, as this route is associated with the fastest onset of action. Historically, intravenous vitamin K₁ has been associated with an increased risk of anaphylaxis. A retrospective review of anaphylactic reactions associated with IV vitamin K₁ from the Mayo Clinic revealed that the risk of anaphylaxis with vitamin K₁ was 3 per 10,000 doses—a rate comparable to all forms of penicillin and less than that of IV iron dextran.⁴ If is administered by the IV route, lower doses and slower infusion rates are recommended. Unless rapid reversal of the INR is critical, oral vitamin K₁ is the preferred route of administration. In the United States, oral vitamin K₁ is only available as a 5 mg tablet (Mephyton^®). Therefore, oral doses prescribed should reflect even divisions of 5 mg (e.g., 2.5 mg).

Table 1. Summary of the Use of Vitamin K¹

Route	Advantages	Disadvantages
IV	Fastest Onset of Action	Must be given by slow IV infusion Warfarin resistance
Subcutaneous	Lower risk of anaphylaxis	Delayed onset Unpredictable response Least desired route
Oral	Safest route Low risk of anaphylaxis No IV site needed	Slower onset of action Warfarin resistance

The following table provides a summary of recommendations for managing elevated INRs and bleeding patients treated with vitamin K antagonists.

Table 2. Management of Elevated INR in Patients Receiving Vitamin K Antagonists²

INR	Bleeding Present	Rapid Reduction Required	Management*
< 5	No	No	Lower dose or omit dose; resume at lower dose when INR is therapeutic
5-9	No	No	Omit one or two doses, resume at lower dose.
No	Yes — high risk	May give vitamin K₁ 1-2.5 mg orally if at increased risk for bleeding.
No	Yes—surgery	2-4 mg oral vitamin K₁ for reduction of INR in 24 hours; if INR still high, can repeat with 1-2 mg orally.
≥9	No	No	Hold dose and give vitamin K₁ 5—10 mg orally to reduce INR in 24 to 48 hours; may use additional vitamin K₁as necessary. Resume at lower dose when therapeutic.
Any	Yes—Serious Bleeding	Yes	Hold dose, give vitamin K₁ 10 mg by slow IV infusion, supplemented with fresh frozen plasma, prothrombin complex, or recombinant factor VIIa; vitamin K₁ may be repeated every 12 hours.
Any	Yes—Life Threatening	Yes	Hold dose, give prothrombin complex supplemented with vitamin K₁ 10 mg by slow IV infusion; repeat if necessary depending on INR.

*Note: Oral vitamin K₁ is only available in the United States as a 5 mg tablet (Mephyton^®). Therefore, oral doses prescribed should reflect even divisions of 5 mg (e.g., 2.5 mg).

References
1. Hanslik T, Prinseau J. The use of vitamin K in patients on anticoagulant therapy. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2004; 4: 43-55.

2. Ansell J, Hirsh J, Poller L, et al. The pharmacology and management of the vitamin K antagonist: the seventh ACCP conference on antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy [published correction appears in Chest 2005; 127: 415-416].Chest 2004; 126 (3 suppl): 204S-233S.

3. Wittkowsky AK. Thrombosis. In: Young LY, Koda-Kimble MA, eds. Applied Therapeutics: the Clinical Use of Drugs. 6th ed. Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics, Inc; 1995: 12-16.

4. Reigert-Johnson DL, Volcheck GW. The incidence of anaphylaxis following intravenous phytonadione (vitamin K₁): a 5-year retrospective review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002; 89: 400-406.

Diabetes: No More Shots?

Brad Miller — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:32:10 GMT

In the April WMSHP Newsletter, Andy Howells, a Pharm.D. Candidate at Ferris State University, writes about inhaled insulin therapy for diabetic patients.

_______

Diabetes: No More Shots?

Andy Howell, Pharm.D. Candidate, Ferris State Univeristy

_______

Diabetes is a severe but controllable disease that affects many people. It is estimated that 20.8 million people in the U.S. had diabetes in 2005, while only 14.6 million of those were diagnosed. That makes up about 7% of the population. Approximately 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were found in 2005 in people over the age 20, most of whom were between the age of 40 and 59 years. In 2002, diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death with a total of 224,092 people dying due to the disease. The total estimated cost of having diabetes in the U.S. was about $92 billion in medical costs and another $40 billion due to indirect costs such as disability, work loss, and premature mortality.

Glycemic control, assessed by blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C (A1C), is important in the treatment of all types of diabetes. With the finding that intensive glycemic control with the use of insulin decreases the complications associated with diabetes, other routes of insulin administration have been studied instead of the subcutaneous injections currently available. Pfizer set out to create an oral insulin human [rDNA] inhalation powder called Exubera^®. In association with Nektar Therapeutics, they developed an inhaler to deliver insulin into the lungs. This device uses blister packs of 1 or 3 mg; each mg is equivalent to 2.5 to 3 units of insulin. A study measuring the time-action profile of Exubera^® was completed. It was found that the onset of action was similar to rapid-acting insulin analogs and had a duration similar to regular insulin. Exubera^®appears to be usable as a short-acting pre-meal insulin to help control blood glucose levels in the treatment of diabetes.

Selected studies show that rapid-acting, dry-powder inhaled insulin, Exubera^®, is safe and effective as pre-meal treatment in select type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These results coincide with the results of previous preliminary studies with Exubera^®. Other studies have been conducted assessing satisfaction with the use of inhaled insulin as opposed to injecting insulin. All studies showed that patients were more satisfied with the use of inhaled insulin as compared to subcutaneous insulin. The results of one study showed that patients with type 2 diabetes were more willing to start insulin therapy with Exubera^® than subcutaneous insulin.

Exubera^® has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. An FDA approved Medication Guide will be required to accompany the inhaler when it is dispensed. Exubera^® cannot be used in current smokers or those who have smoked within the previous 6 months due to changes in absorption of the insulin. It is also not recommended in patients with lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema. Lung function tests will be required at the beginning of treatment and every 6 to 12 months throughout treatment.

The most common side effects of Exubera^® were similar to normal insulin with increased chances of hypoglycemia and weight gain. Patients in clinical studies also experienced a cough but it was usually mild and decreased in severity over time. The long term effects of inhaled insulin are currently unknown, although studies are being conducted to determine these effects.

The inhaler device is manually pumped to produce a cloud of insulin into a chamber which is then inhaled through the mouthpiece. The inhaler, when closed, is about the size of an eyeglass case that measures 6.5 inches in length and is opened to be used at a length of about 11 inches. The cost has not yet been determined, however it will probably be much more expensive than current insulin products.

Exubera^® appears to be an innovative inhaled insulin device that will prove itself to be very useful in a select population. It will not be appropriate for all patients with diabetes but may serve to be very helpful in patients with an overwhelming fear of needles. Future technology may improve upon the idea of inhaled insulin and possibly remove any need for injections ever again.

President's Corner - April 2006

Brad Miller — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:31:46 GMT

Following the tradition established over the past few years, our April meeting will again highlight two research projects done by Western Michigan Pharmacy Practice Residents. We had many excellent submissions this year, and voting within the Board was very close. The projects chosen for presentation are “Vancomycin and Metronidazole in the Treatment of CDAD: A Retrospective Analysis,” presented by Joshua Petersen, and “Investigating the Role of a Clinical Pharmacist in the Emergency Department of a Community Teaching Hospital,” presented by Erin Lingenfelter. Although only two projects can be presented at our meeting, I would like to commend all the area residents for the hard work they put into their research projects.

Mark you calendars! Just another reminder that the WMSHP Spring Seminar is fast approaching. It will again be held at the Grand Rapids Airport Hilton, on May 25. This is a great event to earn valuable CE as well as network with colleagues. Topics this year include addiction medicine, emergency preparedness, physician order entry, and pharmacy law. Clinical topics include a pharmacotherapy update, interactions between drugs and herbals, and HIV adherence and resistance.

Stay tuned to the website (www.wmshp.net) for more details on cost and registration information.

President's Corner - February 2006

Brad Miller — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:32:40 GMT

Mark your calendars! This year’s Michigan Pharmacist Association Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) will be held at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency February 17-19. The ACE is a perfect opportunity to attend high quality continuing education programs as well as network with pharmacists from all over our state. Technicians, don’t forget that there is also targeted programming for you at the ACE. Students are encouraged to participate, too. I know from personal experience that the ACE is a perfect environment for students to begin building a network of peers that will be very beneficial when you start practicing. To register or obtain specific programming information please visit the MPA website at www.michiganpharmacists.org.

The MPA House of Delegates is held annually during the ACE. Representatives of WMSHP this year include Jeff Van Houten, Shaun Phillips and Jesse Hogue. The delegates will be voting on issues and policies brought forward by MPA members. If you have any questions or would like an issue to be considered, please contact one of the representatives. Please keep in mind that the deadline for resolution submission is February 8.

Don’t forget – the February WMSHP meeting will be Thursday, February 9 in Kalamazoo. Hope to see all of you there!

President's Corner - January 2006

Brad Miller — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:33:07 GMT

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and merry Christmas Holiday.

As you may be aware, we have several new faces on the WMSHP Board this year:

Cherie Woodhams, who is the pharmacy educator at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Shaun Phillips, who is the clinical coordinator at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon.

Kim Melgarejo, who is a clinical pharmacy specialist at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

Bill Kriel, who was elected to the pharmacy technician position on the board, from St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids.

I look forward to working with all of them for the next two years. I would also like to welcome back Jodie Bakus for another two year term on the board, as well as Natalie Vazzana for a one year term.

On behalf of the WMSHP board, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Jean Lee for her hard work as President this past year, as well as to those leaving the board, including Jody Mehren who served as a board member, and Peggy deVoest who set the bar high as Past-President.

I am very excited to serve as president for 2006 year, and hope to see all of you at our monthly meetings, starting this month at St. Mary’s.

President's Corner - November 2005

Brad Miller — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 19:34:17 GMT

On October 17, WMSHP and FSU co-sponsored a residency showcase which was held at MERC in Grand Rapids. The format was slightly different this year, as it consisted of a panel of current residents, moderated by Dean VanLoo, discussing common questions when deciding on a residency program. Programs from all over the state were present, allowing our FSU students the opportunity to speak to these representatives about their specific programs.

And don’t forget that it’s the time of year to give consideration to those pharmacists and technicians who would like to volunteer their time to serve on the WMSHP board. Please give your consideration to these candidates for the executive board positions. An election ballot is included in this month’s newsletter.

Amendment to the WMSHP By-Laws

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:34:45 GMT

The by-laws indicate the duration of terms for each executive board member. However, there is no term duration indicated for the Pharmacy Technician position. The executive board would like to add the following amendment to the by-laws:

Article III – Nominations, Elections and Terms of Office
Section 4. – Terms of Office
Part F. – The Pharmacy Technician shall serve for two years.

The vote for this amendment will take place at the January 2006 meeting in Grand Rapids. A simple majority vote of the active members present at this meeting shall carry the amendment to the by-laws.

President's Corner - October 2005

Brad Miller — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 18:35:17 GMT

As you know, our President-elect position was vacated this summer. Jesse Hogue from Bronson Hospital has graciously accepted to fulfill the remaining time for this position. He will serve as President-elect for 2005, President in 2006 and Past-president in 2007. Jesse has served on WMSHP’s board for a number of years and has participated on MPA committees.

Elections for four board positions, treasurer and President-elect will be conducted in November. Please consider the nominations carefully. We will announce the results at our November meeting.

Again, as a reminder, the MSHP Annual meeting will be held in Lansing on November 4, 2005. Check out MPA’s website for more details.

Secretary's Corner - October 2005

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:35:44 GMT

We are still looking for members who would like to serve on our board. The following positions are up for election this November:

Board Members (4 positions) - Each board member will organize the CE and meeting place for one general meeting per year. The term for this position is from January 2006 through December 2007.
President-Elect - This person will serve as President-Elect (Vice-President) in 2006, President in 2007, and Past-President in 2008. The President presides over monthly board meetings and serves as the regional delegate to the MSHP Executive Board (MSHP membership dues will be paid for by WMSHP). The Past-President organizes each year's Annual Spring Seminar.
Treasurer - This person is in charge of the finances for WMSHP. The term for this position is from January 2006 through December 2007.
Technician - This person may elect to organize a monthly CE meeting. The technician on our board often helps to arrange the Technician Track for the Annual Spring Seminar.

Please contact any of our current board members if you or someone you know would be interested in running for any of these positions. Please make any nominations by Friday, October 21st.

President's Corner - September 2005

Brad Miller — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 18:36:13 GMT

Another fun filled summer again has passed. I hope all of you had fun this summer enjoying the heat and sun. Welcome back to another term of CE programs that our Board members are currently organizing.

For those of you who have not heard, our current President-Elect, Mitzi McGinnis is now working with University of Illinois in Chicago. I would like wish Mitzi and her husband all the best from WMSHP. In light of Mitzi’s departure, we will be looking for her replacement. This year we will be filling two president-elect positions. One to fulfill the remaining term and to serve as President in Jan 2006 and the other to serve as President-elect next year.

We will again be conducting elections in the fall for the upcoming year. We will be looking for a number of board members. Please consider serving on our board. If you have any questions regarding these positions, please speak of any of our current board members.

Also as a reminder, MSHP will be having their annual meeting on November 4, 2005 in Lansing. I will update you with details.

President's Corner - April 2005

Brad Miller — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:36:44 GMT

For our April meeting, we will again be showcasing pharmacy practice residency projects conducted by our area pharmacy residents who have been working hard in preparing their projects to present to our membership. The first presentation is titled "Compliance with Sequential Compression Devices Used for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Surgical Patients" presented by Heather Bockheim, Pharm.D. from Spectrum Health. Our second presentation is titled "Pharmacokinetics of Once Daily Tobramycin for Therapy of Pulmonary Exacerbation of Cystic Fibrosis" presented by Margaret Lincoln, Pharm.D. from Bronson Hospital. I would like to thank these residents for sharing their projects and results with us.

Further update on the increase in membership: The increase to $20 will be in effect as of January 2006. A reminder will be sent to you in the fall.

Again, I wanted to remind all of you of our annual WMSHP Spring Seminar held on May 5, 2005 at the Grand Rapids Hilton. We have a number of great speakers this year. Keep an eye out in your mailbox for our flyer!

President's Corner - March 2005

Brad Miller — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 19:37:32 GMT

Annual dues for WMSHP members were increased from $10 to $20 at the February WMSHP Board meeting. This is the first ever increase in membership dues and will aid WMSHP in continuing to provide you with all the benefits of membership.

Just a reminder, the annual WMSHP Spring Seminar is just around the corner. It will be held on May 5, 2005 at the Grand Rapids Hilton. Peggy DeVoest has been working very hard to organize this seminar for the membership. The goal of this seminar is to provide pharmacy health care professionals with an opportunity to explore state-of-the-art pharmacy practice issues while earning continuing education. We have a roster of great speakers, so mark your calendars!!!!

Hope to see you at the March program in Kalamazoo!

President's Corner - February 2005

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 19:39:57 GMT

February 18-20 is the Michigan Pharmacist Association 2005 Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) held at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency. The theme is year is “Building a Brighter Future”. The ACE program welcomes pharmacists, technicians, students and guests. Continuing Education credits are also available.

MPA House of Delegates will be held on Saturday, February 19. Jesse Hogue, Vicki Sternhagen and Mitzi McGinnis will be representing WMSHP. These delegates, along with other delegates from MSHP, will be voting on issues and policies identified by the membership and considered by the Executive Board. Please contact any of these representatives if you have any issues that you would like discussed at their meetings.

Please note that this year at the MPA-ACE meeting, there is an Emergency Preparedness Certificate Program in Pharmacy. Pharmacists have been identified as key players in the event of a new emerging infectious disease outbreak or bioterrorism. This certification consists of seven live programs scheduled throughout the ACE program, providing 10.5 contact hours, as well as home study, independent practical demonstration exercises and post tests. To receive additional information you may contact Mary Farrington at MPA 517-377-0234 or mary@michiganpharmacists.org

Hope to see you in Grand Rapids for the February CE program!

President's Corner - January 2005

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 19:40:31 GMT

I hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday season with lots of good friends and warm cheer!

A warm ‘welcome back’ to Jeff VanHouten, Jesse Hogue, and Ryan Bickel, who will be serving for an additional two years as board members. I would also like to take this time to introduce two new board members:

Dana Staat is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University. Originating from Port Hope, she traveled to West Michigan to obtain her Pharm D from Ferris State University and then completed her pharmacy practice residency program at Spectrum Health. She oversees the internal medicine rotation at Saint Mary’s Health Care and her interests include pharmacokinetics and infectious disease.

Natalie Vazzana is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University. Hailing from Homer Glen (suburb of Chicago), IL, she obtained her Pharm D degree at Purdue University and completed a pharmacy practice residency from McKesson Medication Management at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Her clinical site is Spectrum Health – Butterworth’s internal medicine program. Natalie will be serving for one year, as a replacement for Mitzi McGinnis who will be your new President-Elect.

On behalf of the WMSHP board, I would like to thank Peggy DeVoest, who has done a tremendous job as President in 2004. Also, thanks to Mike Jonkman for his two-year service as Board Member and Jaci DeYoung for her service during her Past-President year. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

I hope to see all of you in the months ahead for the great educational programs we have planned. Please feel free to contact any member of the board or myself with ideas you may have for educational programs, topics you would like to have addressed, or ideas for our website. Please check out our website at www.wmshp.net.

President's Corner - November 2004

Brad Miller — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 19:40:58 GMT

On October 18th, WMSHP co-sponsored a residency showcase with Ferris State University in Grand Rapids at MERC. There were about forty people in attendance, which included program directors, residents and P2-P4 pharmacy students. The program was set up so that the each of the eleven programs from around the state could provide a brief overview of their pharmacy practice residencies and specialty residencies. Following the presentations, each of the programs’ representatives was available so the students could ask additional questions. Overall, the program was very valuable for both students and residency directors.

An upcoming event to consider is the MSHP annual meeting on November 12 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. The program agenda and registration can be obtained at www.michiganpharmacists.org.

President's Corner - October 2004

Brad Miller — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 18:41:24 GMT

It is well-known that all licensed pharmacists must complete thirty hours of continuing education every two years for renewal. These hours can consist of any of the following forms of education: on-line, journals or live programming. Currently, pharmacists can elect to earn all their credits in one venue and may never attend a single program; but, this may all change in the future. The Board of Pharmacy has proposed that at least ten of the thirty hours be obtained from live programs. This proposal is being considered, and if passed, may go into effect starting next year. The WMSHP Board is considering this proposal very carefully and working hard to ensure that most if not all of our programs will offer continuing education for all of its members. We want to offer programs that are informative and useful for daily practice. Please let me know what you would like to see in the programming.

Another opportunity to obtain live continuing education is the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists annual meeting. This year, the conference will take place on November 12th at the Lansing Center from 9:00-4:30. The program includes a wide variety of topics for pharmacists, technicians and students. The opening session includes two presentations: one on Bioethics, followed by a discussion on Emergency Preparedness. The afternoon offers three concurrent sessions focusing on leadership, pharmacy technicians and a clinical session. Some topics of note include pharmacogenomics, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacy informatics and technology. For more information log on to the MPA website at www.michiganpharmacists.org.

Call for Nominations

Brad Miller — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:42:21 GMT

We are now accepting nominations for the following positions:

Board Members – 2005 through 2006
President-Elect – 2005

Please email the names of potential candidates to us at nominations@wmshp.net. Our membership will have the opportunity to vote on candidates when the October newsletter is distributed.

President's Corner - September 2004

Brad Miller — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:41:55 GMT

Labor Day marks the last celebration of summer. This Holiday is also very unique since it doesn’t glorify a conflict, battle, person, race or nation. It is celebrated the first Monday of September and is devoted to the achievements of all American workers. Labor Day for me symbolizes the beginning of Fall. Usually at this time I stop to regroup and reflect on the events that occurred over the Summer and plan the upcoming Fall.

During the Summer, the Board had a meeting to plan the education programs for the upcoming months. As in years past, we are having monthly meetings starting in September and rounding out the year in May with the Annual Spring Seminar. December is the only month we will not conduct an education session. The programs will be rotating between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo monthly. We are attempting to schedule meetings on the second Thursday of the month based on speaker and facility availability. We are also beginning to organize the Spring Seminar for May 2005. If you have topics you would like presented at either monthly education meetings or Spring Seminar please forward those to me at devoestm@ferris.edu. Also, remember to check out the WMSHP website (www.wmshp.net) for program details. It is loaded with useful information including information on our monthly CE programs, resources for PDA’s, and much more. I look forward to hearing from you!

President's Corner - April 2004

Brad Miller — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 19:43:33 GMT

This month our education program is slightly different than most programs. Two pharmacy practice residents will present their residency projects that they have been working on during the year. This year Dana Staat from Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and Michelle Brodin from Mercy Health System in Muskegon have been selected.

Dana completed her pre-Pharmacy education and Pharm.D. degree through Ferris State University. Dana’s project is entitled "The Development and Implementation of a Pharmacy Competency Program". This was formed around the premise that health care is a rapidly changing field that requires constant education and a commitment to learn. Competencies are one way to accomplish continual education and training. To begin this continual process at Spectrum Health, a survey was administered to pharmacists to gauge the interests and needs that each individual pharmacist required for optimal education. After the results of the survey were tabulated, it was clear that a combination of CE and a shared-drive-based packet would serve best as a competency tool. Community-acquired pneumonia was chosen as the pilot focus for the competency template. After the competency was given, a follow-up survey was distributed to the same pharmacists to gain further information on the effectiveness of this education process. Documentation of pharmacist competency was also created as part of the formation of the competency program. Results of the effectiveness of the competency template will be reported at the April WMSHP meeting.

Michelle received her Pharm.D. from South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy in May of 2003. Michelle’s project involves anemia management in renal failure. She is working with area nephrologists to develop and improve a pre-dialysis monitoring service for outpatient kidney disease patients who are on either Procrit or Aranesp. She will describe their current practice and outline future plans for the service. Included in her evaluation of the project will be dosing of the medications, hemoglobin goals, hemoglobin monitoring frequency, iron lab frequency, management of missed doses, and a cost assessment. Since it is in the early stages, it is difficult to draw many conclusions on the success of the program, however preliminary data look promising.

Even Water Can Be Dangerous

Brad Miller — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 19:42:56 GMT

Ironically, some of the most serious consequences of hypernatremia can result not from the condition itself but from the inappropriate management of the condition. The intravenous infusion of profoundly hypotonic solutions can lead to hemolysis and other severe consequences.

Jennifer Hagerman, Pharmacy Practice Resident at Borgess Medical Center, writes of the dangers of sterile water in the April WMSHP Newsletter.

____

Even Water Can Be Dangerous

Jennifer Hagerman, Pharm.D.

____

Hypernatremia, defined as a serum sodium concentration greater than 145 mEq/L, is a serious electrolyte disorder and is associated with significant mortality in the hospitalized patient. Ironically, some of the most serious consequences of hypernatremia can result not from the condition itself but from the inappropriate management of the condition. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has recently published several reports of medication errors involving the inappropriate management of hypernatremia. Most of the reports involved physicians who wrote for “plain water” or “free water” to be administered intravenously. Free water does not contain any additives to normalize tonicity and as a result has an osmolality of 0 mOsm/L.

In the body, normal serum osmolality is tightly regulated between 275 – 290 mOsm/L. The intravenous infusion of profoundly hypotonic solutions can lead to hemolysis and other severe consequences. Although sterile water can be administered orally for the treatment of hypernatremia, it should never be administered intravenously without additives to normalize tonicity.

In one case cited by ISMP, an elderly patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe hypernatremia. The patient also presented with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, respiratory failure and hyperglycemia. The physician decided that the rising serum sodium precluded the further use of sodium solutions and that the presence of hyperglycemia made the use of dextrose solutions undesirable. These circumstances lead to the physician’s ill-fated decision to order “free water” to be administered through a peripheral IV at 100 mL/hr. In response to the physician’s order, a pharmacy intern sent a two-liter bag of sterile water for injection up to the patient’s floor. The bag was then hung by the patient’s nurse despite the warning label stating “Not for Direct Infusion”. The patient received a total of 550 mL of sterile water intravenously before the warning was noticed and the infusion was discontinued. As a result of the profoundly hypotonic infusion the patient experienced a hemolytic reaction, acute renal failure, and ultimately died. This case illustrates that even water can be dangerous when given inappropriately.

As a result of this case and reports of similar cases, ISMP has made several recommendations to help prevent the intravenous administration of sterile water from occurring at other institutions. It is important that practitioners have an understanding of the physiology behind infusing hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic solutions in response to a patient’s electrolyte concentrations.

The treatment of hypernatremia can be especially difficult in patients with co-mordid conditions that appear to limit therapeutic options. Guidelines should be established to aid in the treatment of hypernatremia in these complicated situations. It is important that practitioners recognize that the appropriate treatment of hypernatremia generally consists of infusions that contain some sodium. It is crucial that hypernatremia is corrected slowly in order to prevent cerebral edema from occurring. Any order that is received for the intravenous administration of sterile water should prompt an immediate call to the physician. In addition, ISMP urges that all large-volume parenteral bags of sterile water are stored in the pharmacy and are not available up on the floors.

Please help educate fellow practitioners about the appropriate treatment of hypernatremia and the inherent dangers of infusing sterile water intravenously.

References

Even more about sterile water. ISMP Medication Safety Alert! 2003;8(6):3.
How sterile water bags show up on nursing units. ISMP Medication Safety Alert! 2003;8(19):1-2.
Water, water everywhere but please don’t give IV. ISMP Medication Safety Alert! 2003;8(2):1-2.

President's Corner - March 2004

Brad Miller — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 19:44:38 GMT

Whether March is in like a lion and out like a lamb, or in like a lamb and out like a lion, Spring is just around the corner, which means WMSHP 35th Annual Spring Seminar. This year, past-president Jaci DeYoung is feverishly working to confirm speakers for the seminar. The seminar this year is May 6th at the Hilton Grand Rapids Airport. It will include a general session with a presentation on Emergency Medicine, and a review of the new community acquired pneumonia guidelines. The afternoon will offer three tracks to select from with three presentations within each. The tracks are categorized into technician, critical care and ambulatory care. The technician track will include presentations on vaccines, law review and math review. Ambulatory care track will include discussions on Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular and anticoagulation updates. The final track, critical care, will include presentations on proton pump inhibitors, prevention of venous thromboembolism and nutrition support in the critically ill. So mark your calendars for May 6th. I hope to see you there

NSAIDs in Neonates: Are They Safe?

Brad Miller — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 19:44:01 GMT

NSAIDs have gained popularity as a pediatric treatment for pain and fever. However, these drugs may still be associated with some important risks. In the March WMSHP newsletter, Renee Marana, Pharm.D., a Pharmacy Practice Resident at Bronson Methodist Hospital, writes of the use of NSAIDs in neonatal patients.

___________

NSAIDs in Neonates: Are They Safe?

Renee Marana, Pharm.D.

___________

Pain and fever are common symptoms in neonates for which effective treatments are necessary.¹ Neonates may experience pain after procedures or related to underlying conditions. Acetaminophen is often used first line to treat pain and fever, although physicians, nurses, and families often find the need for additional analgesics and/or antipyretics. This is usually when nonsteroidal agents are considered.

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has become routine for adults and children in the management of pain, and NSAIDs have gained popularity for the treatment of fever secondary to the association of Reye syndrome with aspirin.¹ NSAIDs are also commonly used in neonates for closure of patent ductus arteriosus. Although generally considered relatively safe agents, NSAIDs are not without their risks, especially when used during the neonatal period. Overall, there is a lack of data concerning the use of NSAIDs in the neonatal population for purposes other than closure of the ductus arteriosus.

NSAIDs inhibit the cyclooxygenase enzyme, which leads to decreased synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are important for the healthy development of neonates. They are involved in the development of numerous organ and physiologic systems such as the sleep cycle, cerebral blood flow, renal hemodynamics, thermoregulation, hemostasis, and the pulmonary, central nervous, and cardiovascular systems.¹ There is evidence that the proper genesis of these systems may be adversely affected by NSAID exposure in utero and during the neonatal period.¹

Therefore, interfering with prostaglandin synthesis with the use of NSAIDs may expose the newborn child to unique developmental risks. There have been numerous reports of nephrotoxicity in neonates that were exposed to NSAIDs at an early age.³ Although indomethacin appears to have the most effect on renal blood flow, other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are also associated with decreased renal function.⁴ When assessing the increased risk for bleeding, ketorolac has been associated with the most pronounced effect, although other NSAIDs also increase the risk of bleeding.²

The NSAIDs are also associated with adverse effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) system, such as abdominal pain and ulceration. In response to adverse GI effects came the development of the cyclooxyenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Although they are relatively safe to use in adults, safety and efficacy have not been evaluated in neonates. The COX-2 enzyme is also involved in the development of many organ systems, and its inhibition may lead to a prothrombotic state.¹

NSAIDs should be used cautiously in infants with underlying hepatic dysfunction, impaired renal function, hypovolemia or hypotension, coagulation disorders, thrombocytopenia, or active bleeding from any cause.^2,3 It is important to be aware of the possible adverse reactions caused by NSAIDs so that proper monitoring can be performed and the agent can be discontinued, if needed.²

When the need for an analgesic or antipyretic arises in the neonatal population, many factors must be considered before choosing a non-steroidal agent. Intermittent doses of a non-steroidal may at times be needed and appropriate, although regular scheduled use of these agents is usually not indicated. It has been stated that NSAIDs should be used with extreme caution in infants. Other agents, such as acetaminophen, and narcotic agents should be used preferentially for fever and pain. Neonates that do receive NSAIDs should be monitored closely for adverse effects on the kidneys, platelets, hemostasis, and other organ systems.

References:

Morris JL, Rosen DA, Rosen KR. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in neonates. Paediatr Drugs 2003;5:385-405.
Kokki H. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for postoperative pain: a focus on children. Paediatr Drugs 2003;5:103-23.
Cuzzolin L, Dal Cere M, Fanos V. NSAID-induced nephrotoxicity from the fetus to the child. Drug Saf 2001;24:9-18.
Pezzati M, Vangi V, Biagiotti R, et al. Effects of indomethacin and ibuprofen on mesenteric and renal blood flow in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus. J Pediatr 1999;135:733-8.

President's Corner - February 2004

Brad Miller — Mon, 26 Jan 2004 19:45:10 GMT

February is the Michigan Pharmacy Association (MPA) Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) in Dearborn. This year’s theme is Pathways to Positive Outcomes. The conference offers programs for pharmacists, technicians and students.

As is previous years, WMSHP will be participating in the MPA Leadership Breakfast scheduled Saturday morning during the ACE. The breakfast meeting theme will revolve around membership retention and recruitment. The WMSHP members that will be representing you are Jeff Van Houten, Jesse Hogue and Vicki Sternhagen. Also, there is the MPA house of delegates session at the ACE. WMSHP this year is entitled to four delegates. Your 2004 delegates are Jeff Van Houten, Jesse Hogue, Brad Miller and Jean Lee. The alternative delegate is Vicki Sternhagen. The delegates will identify issues and policies to be considered by the Executive Board, and consider bylaw changes. Please contact any of the above representatives with topics or ideas that you would like discussed at their meetings.

New this year at the MPA ACE meeting is a session that will be conducted by pharmacy students. Each College of Pharmacy will have one student presenting. The student representing Ferris State University is Sheila Duffy. Her presentation is entitled “The Use of Alternative Medicines in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Panacea, Placebo or Poison?”. Specifically, Sheila will be discussing the affects of chromium and ginseng in type 2 diabetes and providing recommendations for their use in therapy.

I hope to see some of you at the MPA ACE meeting Dearborn and the WMSHP meeting in Kalamazoo this month.

President's Corner - January 2004

Brad Miller — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 19:45:37 GMT

Happy Holidays! I hope you are all enjoying the Holiday season.

January is the time of year that we induct our new officers. This year we have several changes to the Board. Specifically, we have three new members that I would like you to get acquainted with, Brad Miller, secretary and Jodie Bakus and Vicki Sternhagen as Board members. We also welcome Jody Mehren back to the Board for a second term.

Brad Miller is Director of Inpatient Pharmacy Services at Pennock Health Services in Hastings. He received his Pharm.D. degree from Ferris State University. In 2003, he completed a pharmacy practice residency at Spectrum Health. Also, Brad is the designer and webmaster of the WMSHP website. He as done an outstanding job creating the website and maintaining it. Please check it out at www.wmshp.net.

Jodie Bakus is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University. She received her Pharm.D. degree from Ferris State University. Following graduation, she completed a community pharmacy practice residency sponsored by Meijer Pharmacy, Ferris State University and Pfizer. She has practiced community pharmacy in the chain and the independent setting where she participated in patient care activities including: diabetes education, immunizations, hyperlipidemia screening, and a pharmacy-based anticoagulation clinic.

Vicki Sternhagen is originally from Atlantic Mine, Michigan; a small copper mining town in the Upper Peninsula. She received her Pharm.D. degree at Ferris State University. After graduation, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin to complete a pharmacy practice residency at Meriter Hospital. Vicki is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University. Her practice site is located at Borgess Medical Center with a focus on internal medicine. Her main interests are in cardiology and nutrition.

On behalf of the WMSHP board, I would like to thank Jaci DeYoung for her service as president, and Tracey Mersfelder as Board member. Especially, I would like to thank Lisa DeVries for her eight years of service as secretary to WMSHP. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication.

I hope to see you at the January meeting where we will be inducting the new members. Please feel free to contact myself or any of the board members with ideas you may have for meetings, topics you would like discussed in the newsletter or current issues to be posted on the website. Thanks for the opportunity to serve as WMSHP President.

Secretary's Corner - November 2003

Brad Miller — Fri, 24 Oct 2003 18:46:45 GMT

Elections – 2003
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to vote for our new Board Members – we had a great response! Congratulations to the following:

President-Elect:
Jean Lee, Saint Mary’s Mercy Medical Center, Grand Rapids

Board Members:
Jodi Bakus, Ferris State University, Kalamazoo
Mitzi McGinnis, KCMS – Ferris State University, Kalamazoo
Jody Mehren, Saint Mary’s Mercy Medical Center, Grand Rapids
Vicki Sternhagen, Ferris State University, Kalamazoo

Secretary:
Brad Miller, Pennock Hospital, Hastings

President's Corner - November 2003

Brad Miller — Fri, 24 Oct 2003 18:45:56 GMT

WMSHP's second annual residency showcase was a great success with 11 programs and institutions participating. There were many Ferris students in attendance and it was great to see such interest in residency training. There were even P1's asking about specialty residencies! It's never too early to investigate career opportunities and it was wonderful to see students so early in their education thinking so far ahead.

On behalf of the WMSHP board, I would like to congratulate Joan Rider, PharmD on her selection as honorary member. Joan currently serves as President of MPA and has a long history of involvement in professional organizations, including WMSHP. As honorary member, Joan will receive a lifetime of paid dues to WMSHP.

I would also like to congratulate the recently elected board and thank all of our members for voting. We will be formally inducting new officers at the January meeting.

The vote for the by-law revision limiting the associate member status to students was passed by a vote of 25 to 1. Thank you for taking the time to vote at the October meeting.

Regarding Pharmacy Residency Funding

Brad Miller — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 18:47:19 GMT

CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) had again changed the response date for their proposed re-classification of pharmacy residency programs to continuing education programs, thus not eligible for Medicare "pass-through" dollars. On Monday, the date for response was moved back to the original date, July 8, 2003. CMS justifies this policy change because not all pharmacists that work in hospitals are required to complete a residency program. CMS further argues that residency programs are "continuing education," comparable to seminars and workshops, since they do not lead to "specific certification in a specialty." Continuing education programs are treated as normal operating costs included in the prospective payment rate.

This change will go into effect on October 1, 2003 UNLESS YOU ACT by July 8. Residency preceptors, current, future and past pharmacy residents, administrators, physicians and patients should write CMS concerning the value of pharmacy residencies and their impact on direct patient care. For more information and a complete description of the issues, please go to the ASHP Residency and Accreditation Information webpage, http://ashp.org/rtp/index.cfm?cfid=20280037&CFToken=7632685 or directly to the information page describing the CMS action and what you can do: http://ashp.org/rtp/writecms.cfm?cfid=20280037&CFToken=7632685.

President's Corner - April 2003

Brad Miller — Tue, 01 Apr 2003 19:47:55 GMT

I recently received a videotape from ASHP entitled "Translating National Goals into Local Action". The videotape is narrated by Debra S. Devereaux, MBA, FASHP, President of ASHP. The 10 minute video describes ASHP's progress on the 6 planks of the Society's 2002-03 Leadership Agenda. Although ASHP's intent is to play the video during one of our meetings, I felt that this would be difficult due to the availability of equipment and time constraints. Therefore, I have summarized the main points below.

The 2002-2003 Leadership Agenda formally communicates ASHP's organizational priorities and serves as a framework for future activities. The six major planks of the Agenda are listed below with the progress to date indicated as indented bullet points.

Foster fail-safe medication use in health systems.

Center for Patient Safety provides CE, comprehensive website, strategic alliances, and supports barcoding.
Medication safety officer job description available on ASHP's website.
Expand access to the patient-care services of health-system pharmacists.

Support Medicare and Medicaid provider status for pharmacists.

Public relations initiative with pharmacy directors to convey pharmacists' unique roles to the public (publicinfo@ashp.org).
Collaborative Drug Therapy Management authority in 34 states

Help health-system pharmacists deal with the affordability and accessibility of pharmaceuticals.

"Drug-cost technique" checklist being developed.

Foster an adequate supply of practitioners and practice leaders in health-system pharmacy.

New section of Pharmacy Practice Managers
Advocated federal support for pharmacy training and education
Foster expansion of residency training
New virtual mentoring program instituted

Close the gaps in health-system pharmacy emergency preparedness.

Advocate that pharmacists be involved at all levels of emergency preparedness planning
Close drug supply chain gaps
Counterterrorism website and CE
Assist Public Health Services
Recruit pharmacist volunteers to participate in chemoprophylaxis and mass vaccination if needed

Accelerate efforts to help health-system pharmacists prepare for advances in science and technology.

Section of Clinical Specialists and Researchers to provide input.
Establish genetics resource center
Provide CE in the areas of genome project, nanotechnology, genomics, and immunomodulation

For more information, please visit www.ashp.org

President's Corner - March 2003

Brad Miller — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 19:48:26 GMT

Although it may be difficult to believe with the continued cold weather, spring is just around the corner. WMSHP Past-President, Stacy Brownell, is busy planning the program for the Annual Spring Seminar. The Spring Seminar will be held on Thursday, May 1 at the Crowne Plaza in Grand Rapids. Technician, internal medicine, and infectious disease tracks will be available. Topics for the technician track include technology and law updates and an overview of small pox vaccination programs. The internal medicine track will offer presentations about diabetes, psychiatric issues, and a pediatric topic. Nosocomial infections, community acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis will be covered in the infectious disease track. A program announcement will be sent out in the near future with more details.

Our April meeting will occur on the 3rd of the month and two pharmacy practice residents have been selected to present their residency projects at the meeting. All pharmacy practice residents are required to complete a project during their residency program. The project may be in the form of original research, a problem-solving exercise, or development, enhancement or evaluation of some aspect of pharmacy operations or patient care services. Residents from our area present their projects at the Great Lakes Pharmacy Residents Conference. This year's conference will occur in April at Purdue University. Approximately 160 residents and 150 preceptors from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin participate in this conference. It is the "capstone" event for residents and also provides the residents and preceptors an opportunity to network and learn about other resident projects and programs. The two residents who will present at WMSHP in April are Brian Berryhill, PharmD, Pharmacy Practice Resident at Spectrum Health and Sheila Kasten, PharmD, Managed Care Pharmacy Resident with Pfizer, Ferris State University, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Brian will be presenting "Development and Implementation of an Inpatient Heart Failure Protocol" and Sheila will discuss the "Impact of Pharmacist Intervention on LDL-C Goal Attainment in Diabetics".

Brad Miller, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Practice Resident at Spectrum Health, has graciously volunteered to serve as WMSHP's webmaster in designing and maintaining a website for us. I'll keep you posted about the progress and let you know when it's available.

I'd also like to extend WMSHP's congratulations to Joan Rider, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Experiential Coordinator at Ferris State University, on her installation as President of the Michigan Pharmacists Association. Joan is past-president and board member of WMSHP and was installed as MPA's president on February 22 during the 2003 MPA Annual Convention and Exposition.