New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists

2010 Balloon Fiesta Symposium – Register Online!

To learn more – click here

The NMSHP Twenty-second Annual Balloon Fiesta Symposium will occur Monday and Tuesday, October 4 – 5, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM.

Location:
Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown
2600 Louisiana Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Ph: (505) 881-0000
Fx: (505) 881-373
Ask for the Albuquerque Uptown rate.

This year’s event features more than 10 hours of Continuing Education credit as well as exhibit displays. This is New Mexico’s finest health-system continuing educational event! Don’t miss your opportunity to learn, socialize, and network with some of New Mexico’s top health-system professionals – you!

Registration: Now Available!!
Register Today & Save!
Printable Form

FDA has issued a reminder of an increased mortality risk associated with the use of the intravenous antibacterial Tygacil^® (tigecycline) compared to that of other drugs used to treat a variety of serious infections. The increased risk was seen most clearly in patients treated for hospital-acquired pneumonia, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia, but was also seen in patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections and diabetic foot infections. FDA has updated sections of the Tygacil drug label to include information regarding increased mortality risk of Tygacil. Tygacil is not approved for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (including ventilator-associated pneumonia) or diabetic foot infection. Alternatives to Tygacil should be considered in patients with severe infections. For additional information, see the FDA MedWatch website.

FDA has issued a statement assuring the public that the current salmonella outbreak caused by infected eggs will have no effect on flu vaccines. While many people know that flu vaccine is made by growing the virus in fertilized chicken eggs, FDA and manufacturers have been quick to point out that the eggs used for vaccines come from different farms than those sold to consumers as food. Sanofi-aventis SA, the largest supplier of flu vaccine in the U.S. has its own suppliers of eggs, and locations of their farms are ketp secret as part of the company’s biosecurity measures. Additionally, sanofi and FDA test every lot of vaccine before it is released. Just a bit of information to tuck away once the questions start to come from your patients.

Nationwide, headlines are laying out the challenges facing public and nonprofit hospitals. The Wall Street Journal reports that many local governments are getting out of the hospital business, buried under growing debt and increasing costs. More than 20% of the 5,000 government run hospitals are caught between costs, a spike in uninsured patients, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid and ongoing payment on high interest construction bonds sold in better times. The Orlando Sentinel and The Washington Post have commented on the fact that legislators are increasingly viewing the tax exempt status of nonprofit hospitals, which are huge financial operations, but are not paying any taxes. Some of the “community benefit” provided by some hospitals amounts to health fairs and screenings for various diseases. The Boston Globe reports that patient visits are declining, reimbursement shrinking and pressure to hold down healthcare costs growing. During the past 6 months, healthcare employment in the Bay State has had no growth, despite a history of adding jobs over the years even through the worst recessions. The downturn is having a broader effect on the entire Massachusetts economy, and, more recently, hospitals in several cities have cut jobs, further adding to the problems of the industry.

Join us as we participate in the Parkinson’s Run/Walk for a Cure. All proceeds for this event go to the American Parkinson Disease Association. For more information on this event click here to view the printable flyer or contact Davena Norris at (877) 515-4560.

Sunday, September 12, 2010
8:30 a.m.
UNM North Campus Golf Course
Albuquerque, NM