Antibacterial therapy offers many choices. Guidelines help clinicians make the optimal antibiotic choice for treatment of specific infectious diseases, but recommended treatment options can change with the development of antimicrobial resistance and the introduction of newer agents. Pharmacists must maintain updated knowledge about antibiotics, including spectrum of activity, therapeutic uses, ADRs, and drug interactions. This course covers commonly used antibiotics, serving as a refresher on mechanism of action; spectrum of activity; common clinical uses, resistance mechanisms, ADRs and drug interactions; and patient counseling points.

The purpose of this course is to provide current, evidence-based information for pharmacists (RPhs) on the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics parameters, potential adverse events, adverse event management strategies, and special considerations affecting medication use and selection for medications used to treat depressive disorders. Although many medications used to treat depression have been around for several decades, new medications are constantly under development and it is important that healthcare professionals stay abreast of these new developments.

This course is designed for pharmacists in all settings. This course provides an overview of the psychiatric pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, as well as essential information on anxiolytic and mood stabilizer medications. Clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics are briefly discussed in order to explain the actions of the drugs, their effects on symptoms, their most common side effects, and their most serious adverse reactions. Interactions with other medications and potential for abuse of some drugs are also presented. Learners should be able to apply the material from this course to patient management and teaching scenarios.

This course is for the average to advanced-level pharmacy provider. It is a general primer providing a theoretical framework to help pharmacists apply the presented principles to overall medication management as well as to specialized therapeutic categories of medication use, such as cardiovascular, endocrinological, pulmonary, and psychotropic.

This course is intended to increase the knowledge and awareness of pharmacists about the diagnosis, management, and counseling of patients with asthma. After completing this course, it is anticipated that pharmacists will be able to select appropriate first-line and add-on treatment for the management of chronic and acute asthma based on current evidence-based practice guidelines. Additionally, pharmacists will be able to provide effective education and counseling on pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management.

As a result of its high incidence and economic burden, diabetes management is an area of tremendous research. Many new pharmacotherapies have become available in recent years. In order to effectively manage patients with diabetes, it is important to stay current with the standard of care for treatment of diabetes and the therapeutic options available. This course provides a review the current treatment guidelines for diabetes management and the pharmacotherapies, both new and time-tested, available on the market today.

Echinacea was the number one dietary supplement in the U.S. according to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (Barnes et al., 2004). Garlic, a top ten dietary supplement, has a long history as a medicinal agent with anti-infective, anti-tumor, cardiovascular, and performance enhancing effects. Many uses have been proposed for Echinacea and garlic. Consumers have difficulty evaluating the literature and making appropriate choices with regard to the uses, dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and product quality of these supplements. Pharmacists who are knowledgeable about Echinacea and garlic supplements can assist patients in the appropriate use of these products to achieve better health.

Fish oil is currently the number one dietary supplement used by adults and children in the United States. According to the 2012 NHIS, nearly 8% of adults and approximately 1% of children had taken fish oil within the previous 30 days before completing the survey. Many uses have been proposed for fish oil supplements. Consumers have difficulty evaluating the literature and making appropriate choices with regard to the uses, dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and product quality. Health professionals who are knowledgeable about omega-3 fatty acid supplements can assist patients in the appropriate use of these products to achieve better health.

Gingko biloba is an herbal product obtained from a long-lived tree that has been cultivated and used as a therapeutic agent in Asia for centuries. Many indications have been proposed for Gingko biloba, but none has received strong evidence-based support to date. Consumers have difficulty evaluating the literature and making appropriate choices with regard to the uses, dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and product quality of gingko. Pharmacists who are knowledgeable about ginkgo supplements can assist patients in the appropriate use of these products to achieve better health.

The popular herb Ginseng is valued as a general tonic and for the ability to help the body cope with stress. There are two primary types of ginseng: Asian ginseng, also called Panax, Chinese, or Korean ginseng, and American ginseng. The active principles in ginseng are the ginsenosides. The quantity and type of ginsenoside differs between the types of ginseng, explaining the different properties of Asian versus American ginseng. This course helps pharmacists assisting patients in the appropriate use, dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and product quality of ginseng.

The dietary supplements discussed in this course are among the most popular in the United States, according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (Clarke, Black, Stussman, Barnes, and Nahin, 2015). Each of these supplements will be discussed individually and the course will provide the criteria for the effectiveness ratings used for the dietary supplements.

Although several antiobesity drugs are now available, they remain underutilized. This may be attributed to safety concerns, perceptions of limited efficacy, and a general unwillingness of patients and prescribers to view obesity as a disease. Cost is another barrier to widespread use; these agents are available only as brand name products and can be costly. Furthermore, many health insurers do not cover these agents. It is the purpose of this course to familiarize pharmacists with the current options for the management of obesity in adults, with an emphasis on pharmacotherapy, so that they may better educate other healthcare providers and patients about their selection, uses, and potential adverse effects.

This course provides an understanding of Medication Therapy Management (MTM), essential for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. As a result of the passing of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (2003), beginning in 2006, health plans that provide Medicare Part D benefits were required to establish MTM programs to offer to customers who met certain criteria for enrollment. The goal of these MTM programs is to improve the use of prescription medications, improve the outcomes of medication use, and reduce adverse drug interactions, especially in high risk individuals such as those receiving Medicare benefits.

The emerging climate of medical marijuana now calls for healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable of the plant and its inherent characteristics. State regulatory challenges differ and in order to guide patients who often have questions related to the risk/benefits of this plant, pharmacists need to understand the different extractions and their properties. The course highlights the botanical perspective and strives to teach pharmacists about the plant and its origin in healthcare. This information is foundational in better understanding the medical applications of cannabis.

The uptake of novel oral anticoagulants in clinical practice has been successful, although there are important drug and patient characteristics to consider when selecting among these therapies. This course is designed for pharmacists who are involved in decision making for oral anticoagulant selection or who take care of patients who have already been prescribed oral anticoagulants. The purpose of this course is to increase pharmacists” knowledge of oral anticoagulants so that they can identify patients in whom therapy is indicated, assist in selecting the most appropriate option, and monitor and counsel the patient.

Pain affects more than 100 million people in the United States. To address the multifactorial aspects of pain, a multimodal approach-using nonpharmacological, pharmacological, and supportive care modalities to manage different types of pain-has been the recommendation according to the most recent guidelines. The purpose of this course is to provide evidenced-based information of nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies for appropriate pain management using a multimodal approach. This course is designed for pharmacists practicing in any setting to be able to recommend different modalities to manage those suffering from different types of pain.

This course is designed for pharmacists who are involved in decision making for parenteral anticoagulant selection or who provide care for patients who have already been prescribed a parenteral anticoagulant. The purpose of this course is to increase pharmacists’ knowledge of parenteral anticoagulants so that they can identify patients in whom therapy is indicated, assist in selecting the most appropriate option, and monitor and counsel the patient.

Pharmacists employed in a variety of settings have frequent opportunities to both educate parents and immunize children and adolescents. This course will provide information to the pharmacists regarding immunization recommendations for children and adolescents, including route and dosing, contraindications, clinical recommendations, clinical options for altered schedules or delayed vaccinations, and distinguishing between immunization myths and facts. With updated information, pharmacists can be instrumental in improving immunization rates in their communities and, as a result, decrease the incidence of immunization-preventable diseases. This course provides information essential to pharmacists who immunize patients or care for any child or adolescent who is a candidate for immunization.

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature disease in the United States. This course is intended to educate pharmacists on the health consequences of smoking, the health benefits of quitting, and the medications available to assist with smoking cessation.

Pharmacy is the most regulated profession in healthcare. Pharmacists need to aware of the development of laws and regulations, and the implications for practice and patient care. Beginning with the Food Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938, legislation has distinguished between prescription and over-the-counter medications; established that drugs must be safe, effective, and properly labeled. The Controlled Substances Act has expanded to allow for electronic prescribing and re-scheduling medications to reflect misuse and abuse. This course provides in depth information on FDCA and CSA while providing an overview of federal laws that affect how pharmacy is practiced.

Pharmacy is the most regulated profession in healthcare. Beginning with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act of 1938, legislation has been enacted to distinguish between prescription and OTC medications and to establish that drugs must be both safe and effective, must be properly labeled, and must be manufactured and stored under sanitary conditions. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 provides a regulatory foundation for the distribution of controlled substances. This course reviews the history and fundamentals of pharmacy law, focusing on the FDCA and Amendments and the CSA, along with implications of these laws for practice and patient care today.

Pharmacy is the most regulated profession in healthcare. Beginning with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act of 1938, legislation has been enacted to distinguish between prescription and OTC medications and to establish that drugs must be both safe and effective, must be properly labeled, and must be manufactured and stored under sanitary conditions. This course reviews the history and essentials of pharmacy law, focusing on the FDCA and Amendments, along with implications of these laws for practice and patient care today.

This course provides pharmacists with information concerning the current state of medical errors, the impact of medical errors on the safety of patients, and the importance of establishing and working in a culture of safety. Contributing causes and types of medical errors are reviewed. Strategies to reduce or prevent medical errors and improve patient outcomes are presented. Methods to identify, analyze, and report medical errors are reviewed, populations at risk for medical errors are identified, and patient safety initiatives including education for the pharmacists are explored.

This course is designed for pharmacologists who provide care to patients currently prescribed medications that prolong the QTc interval. The purpose of this course is to increase clinicians” knowledge of the area and of these medications so that they can identify the optimal therapy and safely utilize the medications. Pharmacotherapy is rapidly changing, new pharmaceutical agents are continually being developed and approved, and older agents are being investigated in new ways; therefore, the clinician should stay abreast of new medications and ongoing research findings and their implications in the delivery of patient care.

Immunizations are vital to the public health goal of preventing diseases that can cause significant death and disability. Vaccines can protect not only the person immunized, but also those with whom they come into contact. The purpose of this course is to provide information on immunizations, including updated recommendations provided by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The course begins with background on current immunization practice and then presents information about general contraindications and precautions. An overview of immunizations for children, adolescents, adults, and special populations is presented, along with recent updates, including the influenza vaccine for 2018/2019.

Telepharmacy is a growing practice model in many states, but telepharmacy practice is still in its infancy; its relative newness and the many variations among state regulations leaves many pharmacists and other healthcare stake holders unclear about the details and various uses of telepharmacy practice. This course reviews the current landscape of telepharmacy practice and regulations, telepharmacy technology and workflow, remote oversight of advanced pharmacy technicians, and patient care through telepharmacy.

Pharmacists in multiple practice settings are confronted daily with the need to strike an ethically acceptable balance between appropriate treatment of a patient’s chronic pain and the avoidance of opioid addiction. This course will provide pharmacists with an understanding of the disease state of opioid use disorder, how opioids affect the brain, and the benefits of medically-assisted treatment and harm-reduction approaches in certain populations of patients. Pharmacists will gain an understanding of appropriate pain management and current guidelines for the prescribing of opioids and will review ways that the safety of a patient’s opioid therapy can be evaluated and improved.

Clinicians play an important role in managing patients with these conditions who are eligible for high-risk pharmacologic therapies, such as thrombolytics. Specific knowledge of the general information and caveats associated with thrombolytic therapy is vital for optimal patient care outcomes to be achieved. This course is designed for clinicians who provide care to patients currently prescribed thrombolytic medications.

The purpose of this course is to increase the knowledge of pharmacists on the diagnosis, counseling, and management of HTN. After completion of this course, pharmacists will be able to select and implement appropriate first-line and add-on treatment for the management of HTN based on current evidence-based practice guidelines. They will be able to identify appropriate therapeutic goals based on stages of HTN and comorbidities. Additionally, they will be able to provide effective education and counseling on medication management and lifestyle modifications. As a result, these clinicians will be able to incorporate evidence-based strategies, tools, and patient resources into the workflow to enhance quality of care.