Profession: Pharmacist

The profession of pharmacy is changing more rapidly than ever before. Patients, too, are paying attention and often have questions or concerns about trending healthcare topics in the news. On a daily basis, information is released that has the potential to impact clinical processes and/or patient conversations at the pharmacy level. It is important, then, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians remain abreast of trending newsworthy conversations related to healthcare. In this weekly session, the instructors carefully select the most noteworthy items from the headlines to discuss potential professional implications in this interactive and informative format.

This course provides pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a comprehensive understanding of USP and its critical role in protecting workers from hazardous drugs. Learners will explore how the NIOSH Hierarchy of Risk informs safe practices under, identify the official document that defines and lists hazardous drugs, and review additional trusted resources for staying current on drug and biologic safety. The course also details the facility requirements for both nonsterile and sterile hazardous drug handling, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Finally, participants will gain insight into the essential education, training, and monitoring practices needed to equip personnel with the knowledge and skills to handle hazardous drugs safely and effectively.

The profession of pharmacy is changing more rapidly than ever before. Patients, too, are paying attention and often have questions or concerns about trending healthcare topics in the news. On a daily basis, information is released that has the potential to impact clinical processes and/or patient conversations at the pharmacy level. It is important, then, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians remain abreast of trending newsworthy conversations related to healthcare. In this weekly session, the instructors carefully select the most noteworthy items from the headlines to discuss potential professional implications in this interactive and informative format.

Guidelines are prevalent in every sector of healthcare, and the prominent guiding force in the care of the elderly known as the American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers List of Medications has had multiple updates that can truly assist in our care of elderly patients. However, no other medical condition facilitates more consternation with the AGS Beers List medications list than pain management. In fact, upon first review, a clinician may wonder just what treatment options are recommended to help improve function and reduce pain for any given elderly patient. Compounding the scenario further, all of us are generally living longer these days, and as our geriatric population is exponentially growing, we need to be armed with the most updated and comprehensive knowledge to provide the highest quality patient care possible.
This presentation will review generational, anatomical, and physiological aging differences in order to assess pain management-related medication scenarios referenced in the 2023 AGS Beers List Update. Considerations discussed include which medications to avoid or use with caution and drug-drug interactions to avoid, all with particular attention to viable treatment alternatives, as it is relatively easy to recall what to avoid, but considerably more difficult to remember an alternative. You’re either a geriatric patient (≥ 65yo) or hope to be and, either way, you’ll leave this presentation with new knowledge for patient care!

This session provides both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a comprehensive understanding of evolving approaches to diabetes care, highlighting the importance of lifestyle modifications and their progression from former to current recommendations. Through patient case studies, pharmacists will identify opportunities for targeted treatment interventions and reinforce their essential role in educating and empowering patients with diabetes to optimize outcomes. Pharmacy technicians, meanwhile, will develop skills to recognize when pharmacist intervention is warranted and will gain insight into their vital contribution to patient safety, particularly in supporting adherence and monitoring for potential issues in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The knowledge gap for pain and addiction exists in several key areas, affecting how we understand, treat, and manage both conditions. These gaps stem from the complexity of pain mechanisms, the biological and psychological nature of addiction, and the challenges of balancing effective pain relief with the risk of substance dependence. Addressing these gaps requires a multidisciplinary approach, including neuroscience research, improved clinical guidelines, public health policies, and patient-centered care. Enhanced education for both healthcare providers and patients will also help bridge these divides.

Clinicians such as pharmacists and nurses are not widely trained on the use of dietary or herbal supplements. These topics typically appear in the curriculum as electives and are not required to be understood in the context of licensing or board specialty examinations. This is not consistent with the public’s needs and frequently asked questions. Clinicians need to be equipped with the basic knowledge to answer dietary and supplement-related questions in order to combat misinformation and provide evidence-based recommendations, as well as to identify relevant drug interactions.    

The profession of pharmacy is changing more rapidly than ever before. Patients, too, are paying attention and often have questions or concerns about trending healthcare topics in the news. On a daily basis, information is released that has the potential to impact clinical processes and/or patient conversations at the pharmacy level. It is important, then, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians remain abreast of trending newsworthy conversations related to healthcare. In this weekly session, the instructors carefully select the most noteworthy items from the headlines to discuss potential professional implications in this interactive and informative format.

The profession of pharmacy is changing more rapidly than ever before. Patients, too, are paying attention and often have questions or concerns about trending healthcare topics in the news. On a daily basis, information is released that has the potential to impact clinical processes and/or patient conversations at the pharmacy level. It is important, then, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians remain abreast of trending newsworthy conversations related to healthcare. In this weekly session, the instructors carefully select the most noteworthy items from the headlines to discuss potential professional implications in this interactive and informative format.

This program will provide tools and techniques to aid pharmacists in determining if controlled substance prescriptions are for a legitimate medical purpose. The program will also review Florida Laws regarding the steps in validating controlled substance prescriptions. It will also discuss common red flags of prescription diversion and how to address those red flags. Finally, the program will conclude with relevant federal laws regarding the dispensing and recordkeeping of controlled substances by pharmacies.

This course has been approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy to meet the 2.0 credit-hour requirement for education on validation of controlled substance prescriptions for pharmacists.

The profession of pharmacy is changing more rapidly than ever before. Patients, too, are paying attention and often have questions or concerns about trending healthcare topics in the news. On a daily basis, information is released that has the potential to impact clinical processes and/or patient conversations at the pharmacy level. It is important, then, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians remain abreast of trending newsworthy conversations related to healthcare. In this weekly session, the instructors carefully select the most noteworthy items from the headlines to discuss potential professional implications in this interactive and informative format.

As the new year begins, many patients commit to improving their health through diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, but sustaining these resolutions can be challenging. This unique panel style session equips pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with practical strategies to support patients in reaching and maintaining their goals. Through patient case discussions, participants will explore effective recommendations for motivating lifestyle changes, identify the most common barriers to adherence, and determine appropriate next steps in managing weight loss efforts. In addition, the session will highlight the role of pharmacologic agents in nicotine cessation, providing participants with the knowledge to guide patients toward evidence-based, individualized plans for long-term success.