ASHP 2021: News and Updates

A significant reduction in mean drug cost per 1000 patient-days for opioids was also noted ($2.98 ± $0.57 vs $2.15 ± $0.31); the same reduction was not seen with nonopioid medications. *'Many variables may have contributed to the significant decrease in opioid use during the COVID-19 pandemic," the authors noted, adding that these variables include ongoing provider education and a decrease in elective surgeries.1 Addition of Pharmacists to Diabetes Management Teams Enhances Care Including a pharmacist on diabetes management teams can improve patient care while increasing therapy optimization and enhancing medication access, according to a poster presented at the 2021 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.2 The study was conducted over a 3-month period, with patients chosen through reports taken from the electronic health record. "2 Magnesium Supplements Affect Patient Blood Pressure Control Use of magnesium supplementation may lead to a "significant difference" in blood pressure control, according to the results of a retrospective chart review presented at the 2021 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.4 Investigators evaluated whether there is a correlation between magnesium supplementation and blood pressure control in patients with a cardiovascular diagnosis. The CDC has since released guidelines for health care providers prescribing naloxone; however, study findings presented at the 2021 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists(ASHP) MidyearClinical Meeting and Exhibition revealed that naloxone is prescribed to only about 1% of patients.3 To study naloxone prescribing and the role that community pharmacists have on the opioid crisis, investigatorsat 5 retail pharmacies screened patientswith an opioid prescription.