Pharmacy preparedness emergency

BACKGROUND: In the absence of similar studies in Lebanon, this study aimed at upgrading and validating the Lebanese specialized competencies framework for community pharmacists (SCF-CP) as a tool to transform community practice and support the professional development and career progression of community pharmacists. METHODS: Content validity was assessed and improved through a team of experts. After a thorough literature review and utilizing the Delphi technique, six domains were defined in the framework, with their respective competencies and behaviors...

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to identify the impact of interventions implemented by pharmacy programs to support students pursuing postgraduate residency training. METHODS: We conducted a literature search through March 8, 2022 to identify articles that studied an intervention made by a pharmacy program aiming to prepare students to qualify for a postgraduate residency position. Data were collected to describe each study's methods, the included population, and outcomes and to evaluate study risk of bias...

BACKGROUND: People with HIV (PWH) are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of wildfires, given the need for frequent access to healthcare systems, higher burden of comorbidities, higher food insecurity, mental and behavioral health challenges, and challenges of living with HIV in a rural area. In this study, we aim to better understand the pathways through which wildfires impact health outcomes among PWH. METHODS: From October 2021 through February 2022, we conducted individual semi-structured qualitative interviews with PWH impacted by the Northern California wildfires and clinicians of PWH who were impacted by wildfires...

BACKGROUND: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to increased stress among healthcare professionals. Among these healthcare providers are Ontario pharmacists, who are facing new and pre-existing challenges and new stressors since the pandemic. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to understand the stressors and lessons learned by Ontario pharmacists during the pandemic through their lived experiences. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured one-on-one interviews with Ontario pharmacists virtually to learn about their stressors and lessons learned during the pandemic...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the level of preparedness of pharmacists working in the emergency department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for any emergency disasters that may take place during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ by evaluating their awareness (A), attitude (A), and readiness (R). METHODS: A cross-sectional quantitative observational study was conducted through a web-based survey. The survey was distributed among emergency pharmacists working in general hospitals under HMC...

Vaccines are a daycare and school requirement for children. The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act 3rd amendment grants pharmacists and pharmacy interns the capability to vaccinate children ages 3 to 18 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices schedule of recommended vaccines. Before this, only some state boards of pharmacy allowed pharmacists to administer pediatric vaccines. Despite these opportunities, immunization training programs lack the comprehensive training of pediatric vaccines and administration for pharmacists and pharmacy interns without additional financial cost...

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists and pharmacy interns were instrumental in vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: To identify pharmacy intern involvement in COVID-19 immunization practices in New York State (NYS) and explore interns' perceptions of experiences. METHODS: A 34-item survey was developed and administered at 5 pharmacy programs in NYS. Data collected included: perceptions of immunization readiness, participation in immunizations, description of experiences, and perceptions on the role of pharmacists...

OBJECTIVE: Nerve agent attacks pose a serious threat worldwide and ensuring optimal readiness is essential to management. We review a mass casualty incident (MCI) drill in a busy urban New York City Emergency Department incorporating an antidote-dosing tool. METHODS: Emergency Management and Preparedness planned an MCI drill involving a nerve agent exposure and engaged the pharmacy department to participate on a more comprehensive level. The clinical pharmacist prepared a treatment tool with antidote dosing recommendations to distribute to team members participating in the drill...

BACKGROUND: The uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has revolutionized the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic. Consistent obstacles remain that have influenced the slow uptake of PrEP in the United States of America (USA). In order to address these barriers, pharmacists must be included in the dispensing and management of PrEP through collaborative pharmacy practice agreements (CPPAs). Our aim for this study was to characterize pharmacists' perceptions of initiating PrEP through a CPPA in the state of Tennessee...

Background: Pediatricians' offices are primary locations for pediatric influenza vaccination; however, pharmacists are also well-positioned as immunizers. Considering the current COVID-19 pandemic and Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, pharmacists' authority to vaccinate children has been recently expanded. Methods: We used the de-identified Optum ClinformaticsTM Data Mart database to identify demographic and clinical predictors of pharmacist-administered pediatric influenza vaccination compared with influenza vaccination in pediatricians' offices...

To address diminishing pediatric vaccination rates resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act allows pharmacists, technicians, and pharmacy interns to administer any vaccine that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines recommend for all patients aged 3 years and older. A survey was conducted to evaluate the role of pharmacy personnel in the community setting providing immunizations for the pediatric patients. Sixty-seven pharmacies were contacted in a state where pharmacists are allowed to administer vaccinations to any patient over the age of six months...

BACKGROUND: Needle Exchange Programme (NEP) mobile outreach services in Aotearoa New Zealand distribute injecting equipment to people who inject drugs (PWID) living in remote regions. In disasters, continued access to such services is imperative for the health and wellbeing of PWID. Disasters can compound existing inequities, particularly in regions characterised by poor or limited infrastructure, smaller populations, and challenging socioeconomic conditions. To gain insight into the barriers that prevent access to NEP harm-reduction services and understand the needs of PWID prior to and during disasters, this study foregrounds the voices of PWID based on the West Coast of the South Island, Aotearoa New Zealand...

OBJECTIVE: Most emergency preparedness planning seeks to identify vulnerable population subgroups; however, focusing on chronic conditions alone may ignore other important characteristics such as location and poverty. Social needs were examined as correlates of anticipated needs and desire for assistance during an emergency. METHODS: A retrospective, secondary analysis was conducted using assessments of 8280 adult Medicaid beneficiaries in Louisiana, linked with medical ( n = 7936) and pharmacy claims ( n = 7473)...

Hurricanes are one of the most catastrophic natural hazards faced by residents of the United States. Improving the public's hurricane preparedness is essential to reduce the impact and disruption of hurricanes on households. Inherent in traditional methods for quantifying and monitoring hurricane preparedness are significant lags, which hinder effective monitoring of residents' preparedness in advance of an impending hurricane. This study establishes a methodological framework to quantify the extent, timing, and spatial variation of hurricane preparedness at the census block group level using high-resolution location intelligence data...

Background: Patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers suffer considerable burdens, and palliative care is a fundamental right for anyone who needs it. However, the overwhelming majority of patients do not receive timely palliative care before the end of life, despite robust evidence for improved outcomes. Goals: This policy statement by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and partnering societies advocates for improved integration of high-quality palliative care early in the care continuum for patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers and provides clinicians and policymakers with a framework to accomplish this...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Disaster events can increase demand for medication supplies and interfere with supply chains, leading to compromised care in hospitals. Providing an organized response to an additional surge of disaster-related patients requires pre-planned emergency management procedures. Hospital pharmacists can address this with prioritized drug procurement and inventory management strategies which may improve the availability of key medications for a disaster response. Previous disaster events have provided insight on medications used to treat disaster-related injuries and exacerbations of medical conditions in emergency departments...

In response to the increased demand for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act amendments and guidance authorized pharmacy technicians, who are not otherwise authorized in their state, to administer the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended immunizations and COVID-19 vaccines under pharmacist order. Subsequently, many pharmacies nationwide have expanded technician duties to include immunization administration. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the attitudes and experiences associated with technician-administered immunizations among community pharmacists and technicians...

BACKGROUND: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most states limited administration of vaccines to trained pharmacists and pharmacy interns. In October 2020 due to the public health emergency, the Federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorized qualified pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines nationally. Currently available research on the perception of pharmacy technician-administered vaccines is limited. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to evaluate the perceptions of licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians regarding pharmacy technician-administered vaccines...