Massachusetts Pharmacists Association

Researchers reviewed findings from 27 randomized clinical trials in an effort to identify the best inhaled intervention for asthma: short-acting beta agonist (SABA) monotherapy, SABA plus inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), or ICS combined with the long-acting beta agonist formoterol. Based on study data from almost 50,500 adult and minor patients, the likelihood of severe asthma exacerbations was lower with ICS plus either SABA or formoterol than with SABA by itself. The risk of severe exacerbations decreased by 4.7% with ICS-SABA and by 10.3% with ICS-formoterol, both of which are anti-inflammatory reliever treatments, with no greater risk of adverse events. The systematic review and network meta-analysis also associated ICS-based inhaled relievers with modestly better asthma control compared with SABA, a bronchodilator-only reliever. https://lnkd.in/eFhHsZq9

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) updated their clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the management of headache. Last updated in 2020, the guidelines feature recommendations for primary care clinicians for the treatment and prevention of migraine and tension-type headache. Subjects experts from VA and DoD developed 12 key questions for their review. https://lnkd.in/ehgCeFwv

The Standards of Care in Diabetes (Standards of Care) includes all of current clinical practice recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and is intended to provide clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and other individuals with the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals, and tools to evaluate the quality of care. #diabetesawarenessmonth https://lnkd.in/g3TzxbuT

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Scientists at Keio University School of Medicine and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have isolated 18 bacterial strains from stool from healthy people that could potentially be a more effective treatment for antibiotic-resistant gut infections. #infectiousdisease #pharmacy https://lnkd.in/eTTHMwh4

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As a pharmacist your success depends not just on individual talent but on how effectively members of the pharmacy team function together. Collectively embracing five core traits — direction, discipline, drive, dynamism, and collaboration — can transform what you achieve as a unit. Here’s how. Direction. Effective teams align on shared goals, setting clear short- and long-term priorities. Without alignment, even the most ambitious vision can falter. Discipline. Top teams stick to routines, maintain productive meetings, and ensure everyone knows their roles. Discipline provides the structure needed for decision-making and execution. Drive. The most effective leadership teams are resilient, debating constructively and working hard to overcome obstacles. They thrive in crises because they don’t shy away from problems — they tackle them head-on. Dynamism. Successful teams adapt and respond quickly to change, embracing risk and learning from failure without fear. Collaboration. Collaborative behaviors include developing personal relationships, giving everybody an equal voice, and sticking to commitments. Top teams foster trust and connection and aren’t afraid to hold each other accountable

The end of the year is coming! Don't forget to sign up to get your 6 Hours of Live CE virtually this Saturday, November 16th - 9am to 3pm! masspharmacists.org #endoftheyear #continuingeducation #pharmacy

Pharmacists play a crucial role in diabetes management, offering a range of services that significantly improve patient outcomes. Here are some key ways they contribute: Medication Management: Pharmacists help ensure that patients are taking their medications correctly, managing dosages, and avoiding harmful drug interactions. Patient Education: They provide education on how to manage diabetes, including lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, which are essential for controlling blood sugar levels Monitoring and Follow-Up: Pharmacists often monitor patients’ progress, checking blood glucose levels and other health indicators to ensure that treatment plans are effective Screening and Prevention: They can screen for diabetes and identify patients at high risk, providing early intervention and advice to prevent the onset of the disease Support and Counseling: Pharmacists offer support and counseling to help patients cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of living with diabetes By being accessible and knowledgeable, pharmacists are an integral part of the healthcare team, helping to manage and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. #diabetesawarenessmonth

Illnesses caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae have been increasing in the United States, particularly among young children, and levels continue to be high, CDC reported. The agency said that cases of M. pneumoniae-associated pneumonia or acute bronchitis have risen over the past 6 months, peaking in late August. CDC is using various surveillance tools to better understand the increase. While cases of M. pneumoniae have increased among all age groups during that time, the increase was highest among children, with the percentage of cases rising from 1.0% to 7.2% among children aged 2-4 years and from 3.6% to 7.4% among children aged 5-17 years. https://lnkd.in/eVyu8-2m