The Academic Triathlete: Applying Triathlon Training Principles to Guide Academic Success

Introduction: Academic faculty are evaluated on their service, teaching, and research performance with the reward of tenure, promotion, and self-fulfillment. Triathletes spend numerous hours building their swim, bike, and run endurance in aspiration of crossing the finish line on race day. Given the workload required for academic and triathlon success, effective time and task management is essential. In this commentary, the authors posit that academic faculty can effectively structure their day-to-day “training” to achieve their career ambitions similarly to how a triathlete structures their training plan in preparation for a race. Perspective: Triathlon requires mastery of three disciplines - swimming, biking, and running - each of which requires specific training approaches, skills, and techniques. Likewise, the service, teaching, and research pillars of academia involve planning, development, and application of diverse knowledge, skills, and techniques. The authors apply the fundamental aspects and lessons learned of triathlon training to the planning and execution of faculty academic work. Implications: Through the adaptation of a triathlete training framework to an academic position, the reader will be prepared to cross the finish line and realize their career goals as an academic triathlete

Opioid toxicity due to CNS depressant polypharmacy: A case report

The interaction between methadone and central nervous system depressants can cause serious adverse effects, including profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. This poses a challenge in the treatment of patients with concurrent psychiatric and substance use disorders as the combined use is often unavoidable. We report a case of a patient with opioid use disorder, mood disorder unspecified, chronic pain, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who experienced 2 serious episodes of CNS and respiratory depression due to polypharmacy-induced opioid toxicity. Careful consideration of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and patient-specific factors was imperative to identify the suspected contributing medications: methadone, lorazepam, divalproex, gabapentin, and cyclobenzaprine. Cognitive and system factors that contributed to these adverse events and strategies to mitigate risk of recurrence were also identified

Intranasal ketamine as a treatment for psychiatric complications of long COVID: A case report

Background Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with long COVID are a growing concern. A proposed pathophysiology is increased inflammatory mediators. There is evidence that typical serotonergic antidepressants have limited efficacy in the presence of inflammation. Although ketamine has shown promise in MDD, there is limited evidence supporting the use of ketamine to treat depressive symptoms associated with long COVID. Case Report This case took place on an inpatient psychiatry unit in a Canadian hospital. The patient was admitted with a 10-month history of worsening depression and suicidality following infection with COVID-19. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were assessed throughout treatment using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Written informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. This patient received 4 doses of intranasal ketamine which resulted in rapid improvement of depressive symptoms and complete resolution of suicidality with no major adverse events. Discussion There is evidence to support long COVID symptoms result from dysregulated inflammatory processes. The presence of inflammation in patients with MDD has correlated to poor outcomes with first-line antidepressants. It has been demonstrated that IV ketamine is associated with decreased inflammatory mediators and proportional decrease in depressive symptoms. Conclusions Intranasal ketamine in this case was effective at treating depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation associated with long COVID. This is consistent with available data that demonstrates ketamine's efficacy in reducing inflammatory mediators associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Therefore, ketamine may be a potential therapeutic option to treat long COVID and persistent depressive symptoms

The Time is Now for Mental Health Care: Evaluating the Impact of a Clinical Pharmacist on an Acute Mental Health Unit

Background: Clinical pharmacists have a significant role in optimizing pharmacotherapy for patients admitted to acute care settings. Patients with mental health disorders are especially vulnerable to polypharmacy, adverse drug effects, medication nonadherence, and misconceptions about medication use. The Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, currently lacks resources to provide optimal clinical pharmacy coverage for mental health inpatients. Objectives: To determine the optimal clinical role for a pharmacist providing specialized care to mental health inpatients and to evaluate the potential impact of the pharmacist on medication use and patient care. Methods: A pharmacist with 5 years of mental health–related pharmacy practice experience was temporarily assigned to the Mental Health Short Stay Unit as a practical component of a Master’s program in pharmacy. Clinical activities to be completed by the pharmacist were defined on the basis of available evidence, existing performance and quality assurance indicators, and prior experience. The pharmacist’s activities and recommendations during each shift were tracked and reported. Results: The pharmacist saw 94 patients over a total of 88 hours. The pharmacist made a total of 61 recommendations, of which 55 (90%) were accepted by the psychiatrist, and initiated 42 medication changes. Forty-one patients (44%) received a thorough medication assessment, and individualized, often specialized, education was provided to patients 39 times. The pharmacist was consulted by the psychiatrist 19 times. Conclusions: Pharmacists have an important role in medication management and patient education for psychiatric inpatients, and the health care team values pharmacists’ unique expertise. Additional resources dedicated to defining and expanding clinical pharmacy services on inpatient psychiatry units could further optimize patient care. RÉSUMÉ Contexte : Les pharmaciens cliniciens jouent un rôle important dans l’optimisation de la pharmacothérapie pour les patients admis en milieu de soins aigus. Les patients souffrant de troubles de la santé mentale sont particulièrement vulnérables à la polypharmacie, aux effets indésirables des médicaments, au non-respect de la médication et aux idées fausses circulant sur leur utilisation. L’hôpital Royal University, à Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), manque actuellement de ressources pour offrir une couverture pharmaceutique clinique optimale aux patients hospitalisés en santé mentale. Objectifs : Déterminer le rôle clinique optimal du pharmacien fournissant des soins spécialisés aux patients hospitalisés en santé mentale et évaluer son impact potentiel sur l’utilisation des médicaments et les soins aux patients. Méthodes : Un pharmacien ayant 5 ans d’expérience dans la pratique de la pharmacie liée à la santé mentale a été temporairement affecté à l’unité de séjours de courte durée en santé mentale dans le cadre de la composante pratique d’un programme de maîtrise en pharmacie. Les activités cliniques qu’il devait réaliser ont été définies sur la base des données probantes à disposition, des indicateurs de performance et d’assurance de la qualité existants, ainsi que sur la base de son expérience antérieure. Les activités et les recommandations du pharmacien au cours de chaque quart de travail étaient suivies et signalées. Résultats : Le pharmacien a visité 94 patients sur un total de 88 heures. Au total, il a fait 61 recommandations, dont 55 (90 %) ont été acceptées par le psychiatre, et il a amorcé 42 changements de traitement. Quarante et un patients (44 %) ont reçu une évaluation approfondie concernant le traitement, et des patients ont reçu une explication individualisée, souvent spécialisée, 39 fois. Le psychiatre a consulté le pharmacien 19 fois. Conclusions : Les pharmaciens jouent un rôle important dans la gestion des médicaments et l’éducation des patients hospitalisés en psychiatrie, et l’équipe de soins de santé apprécie leur expertise unique. Des ressources supplémentaires consacrées à la définition et à l’élargissement des services de pharmacie clinique dans les unités de psychiatrie pour patients hospitalisés pourraient optimiser davantage les soins aux patients

Audit and Feedback-Focused approach to Evidence-based Care in Treating patients with pneumonia in hospital (AFFECT Study)

ABSTRACTBackground: Pneumonia is the eighth leading cause of death in Canada. Use of guideline-concordant therapy tempers the development of resistance, decreases health care costs, and reduces morbidity and mortality.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to optimize the treatment of patients with pneumonia under hospitalist care by focusing on best practice and local antibiogram data. The objectives were to collaborate with a hospitalist representative to optimize in-hospital treatment of patients with community acquired, hospital-acquired, and health care–associated pneumonia; to complete a baseline audit to determine the proportion of antibiotic orders adhering to the strategy; to present the strategy and baseline audit findings to the hospitalists; to perform a post-intervention audit, with comparison to baseline, and to present results to the hospitalists; to expedite de-escalation to a narrowerspectrum antibiotic; to expedite parenteral-to-oral step-down therapy and promote appropriate duration of therapy; and to determine if a pneumonia scoring system was used.Methods: An audit and feedback intervention focusing on pre- and post-intervention retrospective chart audits was completed. Review of pneumonia guidelines and the local antibiogram assisted in identifying the study strategy. A presentation to the hospitalists outlined antimicrobial stewardship principles and described the findings of the baseline audit. Pre- and post-intervention audit results were compared.Results: Local best-practice treatment algorithms were developed for community-acquired pneumonia and for hospital-acquired and health care–associated pneumonia. The pre-intervention audit covered the period December 2011 to January 2012, with subsequent education and audit results presented to the hospitalists in November 2012. The postintervention audit covered the period December 2012 to January 2013. Adherence to the treatment algorithms increased from 10% (2/21) in the pre-intervention audit to 38% (5/13) in the post-intervention audit. There was a trend to reduced duration of therapy in the postintervention group.Conclusion: An audit and feedback intervention related to hospitalists’ prescribing for pneumonia increased adherence to local best practice.RÉSUMÉContexte : La pneumonie est la huitième cause de mortalité au Canada. L’utilisation d’un traitement qui respecte les lignes directrices permet de freiner le développement de la résistance, de diminuer les coûts de soins de santé et de réduire la morbidité et la mortalité.Objectifs : Le but de cette étude était d’optimiser le traitement des patients atteints de pneumonie qui sont suivis par des médecins hospitaliers en mettant l’accent sur les meilleures pratiques et les données locales d’antibiogrammes. Les objectifs étaient de collaborer avec un représentant des médecins hospitaliers afin d’optimiser les traitements à l’hôpital de patients atteints d’une pneumonie extrahospitalière, nosocomiale ou associée aux soins de santé; d’effectuer une vérification initiale afin d’établir la proportion d’ordonnances d’antibiotiques qui respectent la stratégie; de présenter la stratégie et les conclusions de la vérification initiale aux médecins hospitaliers; d’effectuer une vérification post-intervention ainsi qu’une comparaison de cette dernière à la vérification initiale et de présenter les résultats aux médecins hospitaliers; d’accélérer le passage à un antibiotique à spectre plus étroit; de hâter le passage d’un traitement parentéral à un traitement oral et de favoriser le respect de la durée recommandée de la thérapie; et de déterminer si un système de notation pour la pneumonie a été utilisé.Méthodes : Une vérification et une intervention de rétroaction portant sur les vérifications rétrospectives de dossiers médicaux pré- et postintervention ont été réalisées. Un examen des lignes directrices de traitement de la pneumonie et des données locales d’antibiogrammes a aidé à définir la stratégie d’étude. Une présentation destinée aux médecins hospitaliers exposait les principes de gestion responsable des antimicrobiens et décrivait les conclusions de la vérification initiale. Les résultats des vérifications pré- et post-intervention ont été comparés.Résultats : Des algorithmes de traitement stipulant les meilleures pratiques locales ont été élaborés pour la pneumonie extra-hospitalière et pour les pneumonies nosocomiale et associée aux soins de santé. La vérification pré-intervention a porté sur la période de décembre 2011 à janvier 2012 et elle a été suivie de la présentation des conclusions en découlant aux médecins hospitaliers ainsi que de la formation de ceuxci en novembre 2012. La vérification post-intervention a porté sur la période de décembre 2012 à janvier 2013. L’observance des algorithmes de traitement est passée de 10 % (2/21) lors de la vérification pré-intervention à 38 % (5/13) lors de la vérification postintervention. Une tendance à la réduction de la durée du traitement dans le groupe post-intervention a été observée.Conclusion : Une vérification et une intervention de rétroaction portant sur les habitudes de prescription des médecins hospitaliers traitant les personnes atteintes de pneumonie ont permis d’améliorer l’observance des meilleures pratiques locales

Evaluation of Prescribing Appropriateness and Initiatives to Improve Prescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors at Vancouver General Hospital

ABSTRACTBackground: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have proven clinical efficacy for a variety of indications. However, there is emerging evidence of adverse events associated with their long-term use. The emergence of these adverse events has reinforced the need to regularly evaluate the appropriateness of continuing PPI therapy, and to use only the lowest effective dose for the minimally indicated duration. Objectives: To characterize the appropriateness of PPI orders continued or initiated in the internal medicine and family practice units of Vancouver General Hospital, to detect adverse events associated with PPI use, and to explore the impact of multidisciplinary teaching and provision of educational resources on health care practitioners’ views about PPI use.Methods: A chart review was conducted for patients admitted (for at least 24 hours) between January 1 and December 31, 2015, for whom a hospital formulary PPI was prescribed. An educational initiative, which included interprofessional in-service sessions, a PPI prescribing infographic, a PPI prescribing card, and a patient counselling sheet, was implemented. The impact of these interventions was assessed using a qualitative survey of health care practitioners. Results: Of the 258 patients whose charts were reviewed, 175 had a PPI prescription before hospital admission, and 83 were initiated on PPI therapy during their hospital stay. Overall, 94 (36%) of the patients were receiving PPIs without an appropriate indication. Community-acquired pneumonia and Clostridium difficile infections were the most common adverse events potentially associated with PPI use. In-service sessions and educational resources on PPI prescribing were reported to affect the clinical practice of 24 (52%) of the 46 survey respondents. Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the need for ongoing re-evaluation of long-term PPI therapy at the time of admission, during the hospital stay, and upon discharge. Implementing multidisciplinary teaching and providing educational resources may encourage more appropriate prescribing.RÉSUMÉContexte : Les inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons (IPP) ont prouvé leur efficacité clinique pour une gamme d’indications. Cependant, de nouvelles données sur leur utilisation à long terme leur imputent des événements indésirables. L’émergence de ces événements indésirables a renforcé l’idée qu’il est nécessaire d’évaluer régulièrement la pertinence d’un traitement prolongé par IPP et d’employer seulement la plus faible dose efficace pendant la durée indiquée la plus courte. Objectifs : Offrir un portrait de la pertinence des ordonnances d’IPP, renouvelées ou nouvelles, dans les services de médecine interne et de médecine familiale de l’Hôpital général de Vancouver, détecter les événements indésirables liés à l’utilisation des IPP et étudier l’effet qu’ont une formation multidisciplinaire et une fourniture de ressources éducatives sur les points de vue des professionnels de la santé à propos des IPP. Méthodes : Une analyse rétrospective de dossiers médicaux a été menée auprès de patients qui ont été admis (pendant au moins 24 heures) entre le 1er janvier et le 31 décembre 2015 et qui se sont vu prescrire un IPP inscrit sur la liste des médicaments de l’hôpital. On a mis en place un programme éducatif comprenant des séances de formation interprofes-sionnelles internes, un document infographique de prescription des IPP, une carte de prescription des IPP et une fiche de conseils aux patients. L’effet de ces interventions a été évalué à l’aide d’une enquête qualitative auprès des professionnels de la santé. Résultats : Parmi les 258 patients dont le dossier a été examiné, 175 avaient une ordonnance d’IPP avant l’admission à l’hôpital et 83 ont amorcé un traitement par IPP pendant leur séjour. Dans l’ensemble, 94 (36 %) des patients recevaient un IPP sans indication pertinente. Les infections à Clostridium difficile et les pneumonies extra-hospitalières représentaient les événements indésirables les plus courants potentielle-ment liés à l’utilisation des IPP. On a signalé que les séances de formation interne et les ressources éducatives sur la prescription des IPP avaient eu un effet sur la pratique clinique de 24 (52 %) des 46 participants à l’enquête.Conclusions : Les résultats de l’étude font ressortir la nécessité d’une réévaluation continuelle des traitements à long terme par IPP au moment de l’admission, pendant le séjour et lors du congé. La mise en place de formation multidisciplinaire et l’offre de ressources éducatives pourraient favoriser des pratiques de prescription plus adéquates. 

The role of pharmacists in opioid stewardship: A scoping review

Background: The opioid epidemic is an international public health concern. Pharmacists are in a strategic position to promote and implement effective opioid stewardship due to both their central role on health care teams and frequent interaction with patients. Despite this integral role, pharmacists do not have harmonized scopes of practice in opioid stewardship.Objectives: This scoping review was conducted to identify and critically review the role of pharmacists in opioid stewardship and identify future areas of study.Methods: The scoping review was conducted according to the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, which was further modified by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Six databases were searched for original, peer-reviewed research; PubMed (MEDLINE), Ovid Embase, Ovid International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and APA PsycInfo.Results: In 92% of the included studies (n = 77), opioid stewardship interventions led by either a pharmacist or in an interdisciplinary team resulted in improvements in at least one outcome measure, with education and medication therapy adjustments being the most predominant activities. Other areas supported by evidence include community stakeholder education, policy and guideline setting, and risk assessment.Conclusion: This scoping review provides valuable insight into the various roles pharmacists can have in opioid stewardship. The findings from this review identified opioid stewardship activities that can make significant contributions towards reducing the impact of the opioid crisis. This review informs future research and has the potential to influence pharmacy practice on a national and international scale

The role of pharmacists in opioid stewardship:Protocol

Background: The opioid crisis is a worldwide public health concern. In North America, evidence suggests that the increase in opioid prescriptions correlates with the observed increase in opioid-related mortality and morbidity. Pharmacists are in a strategic position to promote effective opioid stewardship as they have a central role on healthcare teams. However, in many contexts, pharmacists do not have a harmonized scope of practice and no standardized opioid stewardship approach has been implemented. Objectives: A scoping review will be conducted to identify and summarize evidence on the role of pharmacists in opioid stewardship and identify areas for future study. Methods: The scoping review will be conducted according to the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, which was further modified by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Six databases will be searched which include PubMed, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and APA PsycInfo. Project impact: The findings of this review will identify opioid stewardship activities that can contribute towards reducing the impact of the opioid crisis. Additionally, it will provide foundational strategies to promote policy level change and foster a harmonized scope of practice. This review has the potential to inform future research, impact pharmacy practice, and drive policy change.</p