CHS Pharmacy News
December 2024
Upcoming Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve: 9 AM – 3 PM *
Christmas Day: Closed *
New Year’s Eve: Normal business hours *
New Year’s Day: Closed *
Normal business hours are 9 AM – 5:30 PM M-F, and 9 AM – 3PM Saturday and Closed on Sunday
*Emergency services available 24/7/365
Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives*
Handwashing helps prevent illness. It involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses. Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick.
Intervention Ideas for Mealtimes in LTC**
Families and residents ranked “dining environment” as their top priority for identifying ways to make the long-term care centers more like home. Of these, ideas included:
- Play quiet, instrumental music during meals
- Do not rush the mealtime
- Offer fresh, seasonal fruit or offer treats
- Improve staff knowledge on how to engage in safe practices
UTIs: Clinical Pearls
Classic urinary tract infection symptoms include dysuria, frequent voiding of small volumes, urinary urgency, fever or flank pain. Reminder, that confusion, foul smelling urine, dark urine or falls are not primary indicators of a UTI, however, they could be secondary symptoms. Current first line agents to treat UTI’s include fosfomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin.
Reordering – Stock & Control Meds
It is encouraged to reorder stock supplies and controlled medications Monday through Thursday from the pharmacy to reduce the likelihood of the community running extremely low on an item, especially during the upcoming holiday season.
FDA Updates: Drug Shortages***
Drug shortages can arise from various causes, including manufacturing or quality issues, delays, and product discontinuations. Manufacturers typically inform the FDA of potential shortages, and the agency collaborates closely with them to minimize their impact.
To address these challenges, please work with your consultant pharmacist and pharmacy team to develop strategies that mitigate the effects of shortages. This may include communicating with providers to identify and implement alternative therapies.