KCHP's Schneider Elected Treasurer of ASHP
Philip J. Schneider; B.S.; Pharm.D., was elected by the ASHP House of Delegates to a three-year term as Treasurer of the Society. Schneider is Director of Pharmacy at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe. He has served ASHP in a variety of capacities including as a member of the Board of Directors (2004-2007), chair of the Council on Organizational Affairs; member, Committee on Nominations, and ASHP delegate for approximately 8 years. He is a past Treasurer and Presidential officer of the Kansas Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He was the recipient of KSHP’s Harold Godwin lecture award for outstanding achievement in hospital pharmacy (1994) and the Kansas Health-System Pharmacist of the Year (1997).  Congrats to Phil on his election!

Get Together Planned
An informal "get together" will be held on Thursday, July 15th at 6:00 pm at Johnny's Bar at HWY K-10 and Ridgeview in Olathe. Stop in to congratulate Phil on his election as ASHP Treasurer.

KCHP's Lichauer Named "Fellow" of ASHP
James H. Lichauer, Pharm.D., BCPS, was one of thirty-three health-system pharmacists given the title “Fellow” by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in recognition of the excellence they have achieved in pharmacy practice. The 2010 Fellows were honored during the 2010 ASHP Summer Meeting in Tampa, FL, earlier this month.  Lichauer works at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, MO.

The ASHP Practitioner Recognition Program recognizes excellence in practice and promotes public awareness of outstanding pharmacists. Each applicant’s credentials are assessed against rigorous criteria that include contributions to the scientific literature, research, education and active involvement and leadership in professional activities. Applicants also must have practiced in health-system pharmacy for at least 10 years. The program has recognized 652 Fellows since it began in 1988.  Congrats to Jim on this prestigious honor!

KCHP Offices Moving, Will Be Closed Next Week
KCHP offices will be closed July 5-9th as it relocates to the top floor in the 800 Jackson tower adjacent to the Kansas Capitol.  During this week, you will be unable to contact KCHP staff by phone, but email will still be functioning.  KCHP's new headquarters address will now be:

Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists
800 SW Jackson St., Ste. 1500
Topeka, KS  66612-1200
785.271.0208  Phone
785.271.0166  Fax

The KCHP Board of Directors will hold its August meeting in the new headquarters, as well as an October strategic planning session.  KCHP members are invited to stop by and see the new offices once the move has been completed, which features two conference rooms, a large conference facility, a newly built video production studio and more.  Furthermore, KCHP is currently planning its first ever Christmas party for all members in the new headquarters.  Stay tuned for more information on this even soon.

KCHP Welcomes Its New Members from May/June
KCHP is proud to announce the following new members, who joined in May and June 2010:

Tarita Clarke, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Stacey Gray, Cerner Corporation
Thomas Lupton, Olathe Medical Center
Brandi Pogue, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Wanda Stipek, Sanofi-Aventis
Paul Walker, VA Eastern Kansas HCS

Welcome to KCHP!  We are so very happy to have you as members of this fine organization!

KCHP Offers Webinars on Sedation Therapy
The Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacists (KCHP) recently partnered with the France Foundation to offer a series of webinars on various topics related to sedation therapy. Please mark your calendars for the next webinars listed below. If you are interested in viewing these webinars, please email Sara Neiswanger, who will provide you with the necessary information.

July 9 at 12:00 Noon
Changing Sedation Paradigms to Improve Patient Outcomes: Lessons Learned from Recent Trials

August 13 at 12:00 Noon
Beyond Guidelines: Tailoring Sedation, Analgesia, and Delirium Therapy to your Patient

September 10 at 12:00 Noon
Delirium in the ICU

October 8 at 12:00 Noon
Management of Pain in the Intensive Care and Perioperative Settings

ASHP Advantage Launches National Initiative on Antimicrobial Practice Improvement in Hospitals
Recognizing that the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance is a public health threat and that pharmacists are integral in antimicrobial stewardship programs, ASHP Advantage has launched an initiative to improve antimicrobial practice in hospitals. The initiative is designed to update pharmacists about implementing or augmenting antimicrobial stewardship programs in their institutions.   Read More

ASHP Urges Senate to Approve Berwick Nomination as CMS Head
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) communicated its strong support for the nomination of Donald M. Berwick, M.D., as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).   Read More

National Alert Network Issued: EPINEPHrine Shortage May Cause Dangerous Medication Errors
A National Alert for Serious Medication Errors (NAN) was issued yesterday by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), warning health care practitioners about dangerous medication errors that could be caused by a shortage of EPINEPHrine* pre-filled syringes. The alert was prepared as a caution to health care organizations and practitioners even though there had been no reports of deaths or serious errors at that time. However, days before the alert was finalized, news media in Bangor, Maine, reported the death of a hospital patient from an overdose of EPHINEPHrine. It is unknown at this time whether the EPHINEPHrine shortage was a factor in the deadly error.   Read More

Pharmacy Organizations Launch New Certification Exam Prep Program
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) are partnering to develop and deliver a certification exam preparation program to support pharmacists interested in taking the new Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification Examination. The prep program will encompass the knowledge domains covered in the exam that will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2011.   Read More

Nuclear Pharmacists Cope With Isotope Shortage
A long-standing shortage of technetium 99m (^99mTc) generators has nuclear pharmacists changing their methods so that patients can receive critical imaging studies.  "We’ve done things like reducing the dosages that we’re providing for the studies, which means that oftentimes the imaging procedure takes a little bit longer," said George Hinkle, professor of pharmacy and director of nuclear pharmacy at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.  Read More

Navy Takes Telepharmacy Worldwide
The Navy Bureau of Medicine’s investment in telepharmacy is giving isolated Navy pharmacy technicians real-time access to a pharmacist—in some cases, for the first time ever.  Navy Medicine’s telepharmacy project was undertaken to meet the Joint Commission’s requirements for prospective pharmacist review of outpatient prescriptions, said Lieutenant Commander Marc Young, program manager for the project.  Read More

P&G Recalls 4-Hour Sinex Spray
Consumers should discard all their Sinex Nasal Spray and VapoSpray 4-Hour Nasal Spray by Sinex having an expiration date before June 2013, Procter & Gamble Company announced Thursday. The company said it is recalling those products because the formulation "may not meet the expiration dates on the package."  Read More