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Biomedical subjects

M P Pevonka

Publications and source records attributed to M P Pevonka.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of hypertensive therapy in a skilled nursing facility.

Treatment of hypertension in the elderly has recently received increased attention. Both systolic and systolic plus diastolic hypertension are risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in patients older than age 65, but the value of antihypertensive therapy in reducing morbidity and mortality has not been adequately studied. The authors evaluated the appropriateness of antihypertensive therapy prescribed for elderly patients in a skilled nursing home and determined the effect reductions in antihypertensive therapy had upon the function and mental status of these patients. Of the 120 patients surveyed, 26.7 percent were found to have a diagnosis of hypertension, and 1/3 of these patients were not receiving any medications at the time of the study. Assessment of the remaining treated patients resulted in a recommendation to alter therapy in 43 percent of the cases. Results from this study suggest that periodic assessment of antihypertensive therapy in long-term care facilities should be considered.

Aged↗

Monitoring patient care in the long-term care facility: the coordinated patient care conference as a method for interacting with the primary care physician.

A systematic approach for monitoring patient care in the long-term care facility is presented. The value of long-term care facilities having coordinated patient care conferences is discussed, and a structured format for these conferences is presented. A case example is utilized to demonstrate the importance of interaction between the personnel providing direct patient care and the primary care physician. Effective use of this system provides better patient monitoring and a method for improving the quality of patient care.

Interprofessional Relations↗

Legal status and organizational attitudes toward use of supportive personnel in pharmacy.

The status of supportive personnel in state pharmacy statutes and regulations and the attitudes toward supportive personnel of state pharmacy organizational representatives were studied. The board of pharmacy, pharmacy association, and hospital pharmacists' society of each state and the District of Columbia were surveyed by mail to determine legislative or regulatory control of supportive personnel and the attitudes towards the use of supportive personnel. Overall, 84% of the questionnaires were completed. In 21 states and the District of Columbia, nonpharmacist personnel were not mentioned in pharmacy laws or regulations. In the other 29 states, nonpharmacist personnel were allowed. Laws in 20 of these states specified ratios of technicians-to-pharmacists, usually 1:1. The term "supportive personnel" was most frequently used in these regulations. However, "pharmacy technician" was the term most frequently suggested as most appropriate by the respondents. Requirements for education and certification of supportive personnel are not common at this time. Hospital pharmacists' societies unanimously supported the use of technicians; slightly over half the boards of pharmacy and pharmacy associations did so. There is little uniformity currently in statutes or regulations concerning pharmacy supportive personnel.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Nonpharmacy outlets providing prescription medications to ambulatory patients.

Nonpharmacy outlets providing prescription medication to ambulatory patients in Alachua County, Florida, were investigated. The sample included 16 ambulatory clinics and 44 dispensing physicians. The types of medications dispensed and dispensing procedures used by these outlets are described. The magnitude of prescription drug dispensing in ambulatory clinics and physicians' offices was far greater than was initially expected. Numerous drug-related problems were identified within these outlets, including a failure to comply with state and federal laws, inadequate drug control and storage, and inadequate patient medication records. Practicing pharmacists should consider the possibility of their patients receiving medication from similar outlets in evaluating therapies for appropriateness and interactions. In addition, such centers have apparent need for pharmacy consultation services to ensure adherence to the principles of responsible pharmaceutical services.

Adult↗