Mitchell S. Buckley

Study Objective Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) increases the risk of thrombotic complications with unfractionated heparin (UFH) as a commonly used agent in managing venous thromboembolism (VTE). The optimal anticoagulation intensity and monitoring parameters in intensive care unit (ICU) COVID‐19 patients remains controversial. The primary study aim was to evaluate the relationship between anti‐Xa and thromboelastography (TEG) reaction (R) time in patients with severe COVID‐19 receiving therapeutic UFH infusions. Design Single‐center, retrospective study conducted over a 15‐month period (2020–2021). Setting Academic medical center (Banner University Medical Center Phoenix). Patients Adult patients with severe COVID‐19 administered therapeutic UFH infusions with one or more corresponding TEG, and anti‐Xa assessments drawn within ≤2 hours of each other were included. The primary end point was the correlation between anti‐Xa and TEG R time. Secondary aims were to describe the correlation between activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and TEG R time, as well as clinical outcomes. Pearson's coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation using a kappa measure of agreement.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex therapy aimed at providing mechanical support for patients with severe, life‐threating cardiac and/or respiratory failure. Research has demonstrated variability in pharmacokinetic changes in the critically ill patient population receiving ECMO. There is a need to understand the complexity of these pharmacokinetic changes to provide optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens thereby maximizing effectiveness and mitigating harm. However, the number of pharmacokinetic studies in patients receiving ECMO remains small, and very few prospective studies have been published addressing optimal analgesic, sedative, or antimicrobial therapy. Anticoagulation is an additional important component of ECMO therapy but the preferred agent as well as dosing and monitoring strategy are unclear. The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss analgesia and sedation, antimicrobial, and anticoagulation management strategies in adult patients receiving ECMO.

Clinical pharmacy has continually evolved, with significant expansion in clinical pharmacists' qualifications and roles. However, this growth has not necessarily correlated with improved job satisfaction among clinical pharmacists. A survey of practicing clinical pharmacists performed by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Clinical Practice Affairs Committee A identified low satisfaction with the time allocated for clinical activities, quality improvement, research and scholarship, and teaching and mentorship. There was also low satisfaction with the recognition provided, despite a high desire for recognition and strong agreement that recognition affects job satisfaction. Rewards for workplace successes and advancement pathways are also not commonly provided. This white paper provides an update to the previous ACCP publications from 1995 and 2010 on the current state of rewards, recognition, and advancement for clinical pharmacists. Suggestions for the pharmacy profession and administrators on how to improve job satisfaction and retention and reduce burnout were developed by the committee and are provided as best practice recommendations.