Pharmacy Pearls Information

All Pharmacy Pearls

February 29th, 2024 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

In this two-page edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a brief review of the pharmacologic management of urinary incontinence, including recommended dosing and approximate costs. You will also find…

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February 6th, 2024 | Pharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

In this three-page edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we review the updated guidelines for Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination. An algorithm for screening and testing, as well as how to interpret testing…

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December 29th, 2023 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

In this two-page edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a review of the 2023 updates to the GOLD Guidelines for the treatment of COPD. There are several notable changes…

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December 8th, 2023 | Pharmacy Pearls

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find an update on weight loss medication. Specifically, this pearl highlights the recently approved medication ZepboundTM, which contains the same active ingredient,…

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May 12th, 2023 | COVID-19 Pharmacy PearlPharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

This multi-page pharmacy pearl provides guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on bivalent COVID-19 vaccine use in adult and…

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April 6th, 2023 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

In this two-page edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we review the network-wide pharmacy savings opportunities identified by the AHP Pharmacy Team for 2023. There continue to be opportunities in several therapeutic…

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March 28th, 2023 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

Starting April 1, 2023, NYS Medicaid-enrolled patients will have a change in who is providing their prescription benefits. Currently, NYS Medicaid-enrolled patients access prescription benefits through a health plan, and the…

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March 16th, 2023 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a brief review of the management of gout, including dosing guidance for preferred agents for treating acute gout attacks and for…

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February 3rd, 2023 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we have compiled some of the key updates from the 2023 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. One major highlight is…

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January 27th, 2023 | Medication AccessPharmacy Pearls

In an effort to assist providers in navigating shortages of Methylphenidate products, the AHP/URMC Pharmacy team is providing our network’s primary care providers with guidance on available alternatives, dosage recommendations,…

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December 15th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes
November 28th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a review of the indications for the SGLT-2 inhibitors. This class of medications initially marketed for type 2 diabetes, has now…

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November 28th, 2022 | Medication AccessPharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

General Tips for Practices & Patients Navigating Backorders Supplies of backordered medications frequently vary among pharmacies within the same chain. Most pharmacies have the ability to see if the product…

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November 21st, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

In response to several inquiries regarding the limited availability of liquid amoxicillin, the AHP/URMC Pharmacy team is providing the guidance below to our network’s pediatric and family medicine providers. The Pharmacy…

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November 7th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find information about the new medication approved for treating type 2 diabetes in adults, tirzepatide (Mounjaro®). It has a novel mechanism of…

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October 17th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find updated guidance released by the US Preventive Services Task Force and reviewed by local cardiologists about when to use and when…

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August 11th, 2022 | Pharmacy Pearls

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find an updated version of our Best Practice Guidance for Reduction of Outpatient Migraine in Adults. Diagnosis, lifestyle management, and first-line treatment…

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July 5th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics
May 25th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsPain Management

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we compare the gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) risks of the most common non-selective and selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You will also find strategies…

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April 5th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

In this two-page edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a summary of the 2022 pharmacy savings opportunities identified by the AHP Pharmacy Team. There are opportunities in several therapeutic areas…

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March 7th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology
March 7th, 2022 | Behavioral HealthPharmacy Pearls
February 17th, 2022 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, you will find a few key updates from the 2022 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. Most notably, metformin (while still…

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January 26th, 2022 | COVID-19 Pharmacy PearlPharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we review the two new outpatient COVID-19 antiviral treatment options under EUA, Paxlovid™ and molnupiravir. Place in therapy, indications for use, clinical data, dosing and…

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December 3rd, 2021 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we review the use of Trelegy Ellipta for COPD, including some of the clinical trial outcomes that demonstrate benefits of triple therapy and which…

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October 26th, 2021 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews single maintenance and reliever therapy (or SMART) for asthma management in patients >12 years old. Referenced in both GINA 2021 and NHLBI 2020 asthma…

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September 7th, 2021 | COVID-19 Pharmacy PearlPharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls addresses the alarming rise in outpatient prescribing and dispensing of ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19. There is insufficient evidence at present to support the use…

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September 2nd, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews some of the evidence supporting the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for weight loss, including a review of the newest approved…

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July 30th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls provides an overview of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs), including: patient populations where the use of CGMs may be beneficial based on recommendations in the…

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June 18th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

For 2021 we have identified eight opportunities for cost-savings on pharmacy spend across the network in several therapeutic areas. Here are recommendations that you can put into practice today that impact quality…

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June 9th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls gives an overview of the 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure (BP) in Adults. This pearl includes:…

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April 15th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsMigraine

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls is to assist with challenges faced in clinical practice managing migraineurs and with the approval of new agents to help prevent migraine. AHP assembled a…

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March 30th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews guidance for prescribing PrEP for HIV prophylaxis in primary care. Highlights include which patients are eligible for PrEP, available medications, and recommended monitoring- as…

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March 2nd, 2021 | Medication AccessPharmacy PearlsAdditional Topics

The beginning of the year often brings affordability issues for patients with newly-reset deductibles. It is important to keep value-based prescribing at the forefront of practice to ensure that patients…

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January 25th, 2021 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews the available long-acting insulins on the market and how to convert between them if insurance coverage or patient preference necessitates switching products. As always,…

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November 24th, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls offers a review of therapies for anticoagulation: including how to determine whether warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) might be the most appropriate choice for…

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August 31st, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls focuses on using low-dose aspirin for ASCVD prevention. We highlight when aspirin is indicated to reduce ASCVD risk, as well as when it might be…

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June 29th, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls compares the CV outcome study characteristics and results for both the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor classes…

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June 16th, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews the benefits of utilizing generic statins for treatment of hyperlipidemia, as certain brand-name statins can reach almost $900 per month. Generic statins have an…

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May 27th, 2020 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

In the following edition of Pharmacy Pearls, the AHP Pharmacy Team has reviewed and presents the 2020 GOLD guidelines for COPD management, focusing on medication therapy. There is also information…

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May 8th, 2020 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews medication management of asthma- in children, adults, and how management is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You will also find inhaler device technique steps…

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May 8th, 2020 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews medication management of asthma- in children, adults, and how management is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You will also find inhaler device technique steps…

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May 8th, 2020 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews medication management of asthma- in children, adults, and how management is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You will also find inhaler device technique steps…

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March 31st, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

Click the link here to download a PDF of COVID-19 Pharmacy Pearls.

March 3rd, 2020 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

In this edition of Pharmacy Pearls, we have updated our inhaler chart to include a new generic ICS/LABA that has come to market. Budesonide/formoterol, an authorized generic of Symbicort, is…

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February 5th, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls critically reviews the data of the REDUCE-IT trial for Vascepa, which resulted in its new FDA-labeled indication for cardiovascular risk reduction with mild hypertriglyceridemia. We…

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January 24th, 2020 | Pharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

According to the CDC, Influenza B/Victoria viruses are predominant nationally, which is unusual for this time of year. H1N1 viruses are the next most common. H3N2 and B/Yamagata viruses are…

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December 18th, 2019 | DepressionBehavioral HealthPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls provides a depression management algorithm for adult and pediatric (age 12+) patients that was developed in collaboration with AHP’s Behavioral Health Integration Team. In these…

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November 22nd, 2019 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls gives an overview of best practices for management of type 2 diabetes. In it you will find AHP endorsed principles for the management of type…

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November 11th, 2019 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls gives an overview of insulin lispro U-100, the new authorized generic for Humalog U-100, which is now available. Insulin lispro U-100 is considered therapeutically equivalent…

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September 30th, 2019 | Medication AccessPharmacy Pearls

With one in four patients reporting difficulty affording prescription medications, practice staff and clinicians are often engaged with patients faced with mediation access issues related to cost and affordability. The…

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August 28th, 2019 | HyperlipidemiaPharmacy PearlsCardiology

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls gives an overview of the recent updates made to the ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. This guideline (last updated in 2013)…

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July 12th, 2019 | AllergyPharmacy Pearls

This edition of Pharmacy Pearls reviews the available epinephrine injector options for the treatment of anaphylaxis. There are several devices available (both brand and generic), and the cost to patients…

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May 9th, 2019 | AllergyPharmacy Pearls

One of the 2019 AHP Pharmacy Team targets is to limit the use of Nasonex for allergic rhinitis given the availability of equally effective and far less expensive OTC products,…

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February 19th, 2019 | Pharmacy PearlsDiabetes

The AHP Pharmacy Task Force works to identify opportunities that will enhance the quality, safety and value of medication treatment for our patients. Recently, we identified a cohort of patients…

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November 13th, 2018 | Pharmacy PearlsInfectious Diseases

As a reminder, November 12-18, 2018 is U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. The CDC is urging healthcare professionals to prescribe antibiotics only when necessary to help fight antibiotic resistance and protect…

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April 2nd, 2018 | Pharmacy Pearls

As discussed in the last Pharmacy Pearls “Less Expensive Inhaler Now Available,” switching patients to RespiClick will help AHP realize significant savings as well as help patients with their out-of-pocket…

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April 2nd, 2018 | Asthma/COPDPharmacy Pearls

As discussed in the last Pharmacy Pearls “Less Expensive Inhaler Now Available,” switching patients to RespiClick will help AHP realize significant savings as well as help patients with their out-of-pocket…

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December 8th, 2016 | Pharmacy PearlsGERD

By Matt Devine, D.O. With all of the holiday food that we are preparing, this discussion is meant to inform all of us on our PPI therapy use. From review…

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September 14th, 2016 | Pharmacy PearlsGERD
May 31st, 2016 | Pharmacy PearlsGERD

Welcome to the first installment of the Pharmacy Pearls newsletter. This edition discusses the evidence behind some recently raised concerns surrounding PPI use along with guidance for tapering to minimize…

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