In this last issue of the year, the Editorial Board and publishers of Inside Patient Care have put together a wide array of practical information that you can use in your everyday practice. The featured article in this issue pertains to immunization, and the importance of keeping patients up to date with their pneumococcal vaccines (see “The Role of Pneumococcal Vaccines in the Community Pharmacy”). In their article, Joseph B. Cavanaugh Jr, PharmD, and Nicole East, PharmD, discuss the 2 vaccinations that are available, vaccine administrations and indications, as well as considerations for pharmacists. “Community pharmacies are able to target these patients and potentially help them with immunizations to decrease their risks for developing a pneumococcal infection,” explain Drs Cavanaugh and East.
We also provide tools that you can share with your patients, including a patient tip on how to update and upkeep immunization records, and recommendations for how to locate documentation (see “5 Tips to Update and Upkeep Your Immunization Record”). Immunization records can help patients become more responsible of their healthcare, and provide centralized information to healthcare providers taking care of patients.
As part of this issue, we have included information on the pediatric over-the-counter acetaminophen labeling and packaging updates. Cassandra Miller, PharmDc, discusses the use of uniform concentrations, standardized labels, as well as delivery devices (see "Pediatric Over-the-Counter Acetaminophen Labeling and Packaging Updates"). The article is followed by the latest installment in our series on Influenza Readiness, wherein Lisa Waldowski, MS, APRN, CIC, explains the importance of raising awareness about influenza vaccinations in high-risk populations, and describes the impact of flu vaccines on hospitalization rates (see "Influenza Vaccines: Raising Awareness Among High-Risk Populations"). “In order to raise awareness—and, subsequently, the amount of people getting vaccinated—among high-risk populations, there needs to be a true push toward awareness and accessibility,” she explained.
In the pharmacy section of the journal, you will find key considerations for community pharmacists to grow their business to include specialty pharmacy. Phyllis Houston discusses the importance of being data-driven, creating a strong adherence program, and identifying the health needs in the community (see “Growing into the Specialty Market”). We also provide a real-world view of errors that occur in the pharmacy and clinic as part of our malpractice news section. “In the healthcare paradigm, and with the utilization use of prescription medications, the pharmacist is often the last healthcare professional given the opportunity to validate and verify; one cannot overestimate the importance of this role in the dispensing of prescription medications,” Donald J. Dietz, RPh, MS, commented in an accompanying note from the Editor-in-Chief (see “Toprol Prescription Filled with Nortriptyline”).
Last but not least, we have also included an article with practical information that you can use in your personal financial life about the common deductions that are taken by aggressive taxpayers (see "Common Deductions Taken by Aggressive Taxpayers").
As always, we hope you will enjoy this issue of Inside Patient Care, and wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
