HD Clinical Insights
Clinical Insights from HealthDirect keep you informed and up-to-date with actionable content including did-you-know and product-focused resources.
HealthDirect Clinical Articles
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DYK? Recognizing & Managing Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Recognizing & Managing Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesWhat is Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)? Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a drug-induced involuntary movement disorder (DIMD) generally of the tongue, lower face, jaw, and extremities (but sometimes also pharyngeal, diaphragmatic, and trunk muscles) that can persist even after…
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DYK? Ophthalmic Medication Beyond-Use Date Guide – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Ophthalmic Medication Beyond-Use Date Guide – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesFrom the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) From CMS: §483.45(g) Labeling of Drugs and Biologicals and §483.45(h) Storage of Drugs and Biologicals: “ensure that all drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in…
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DYK? Pharmacogenomic Testing Partner – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Pharmacogenomic Testing Partner – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesWhat is Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing? PGx is rapidly evolving science focused on how an individual’s genes may affect his or her response to medications. While many patients may metabolize a medication appropriately, others may metabolize it too…
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Did You Know? GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA)
Read More: Did You Know? GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA)What are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RA)? The GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications, also referred to as incretin mimetics or GLP-1 analogs, are biochemical variations of naturally occurring GLP-1 altered for enhanced potency and stability that…
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Did You Know? Anticholinergic Medication Burden
Read More: Did You Know? Anticholinergic Medication BurdenWhat are Anticholinergic Drugs? Anticholinergic medications (‘anticholinergics’) are drugs that block and inhibit the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine found in the central and peripheral nervous system. In doing so, these drugs inhibit the actions of the…
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Did You Know? Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
Read More: Did You Know? Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)What is a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)? A CGM is a wearable device that as the name implies, continually monitors your interstitial blood glucose (sugar) level providing real-time data to inform diabetes management. With expanded access, increasing…
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DYK? Preparing for Seasonal Respiratory Illness – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Preparing for Seasonal Respiratory Illness – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesCommon Fall & Winter Respiratory Illnesses Circulating respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) aremore common in fall and winter, and can lead to significant illness and disease. COVID-19, flu and RSV…
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Did You Know? Medication Management to Address Polypharmacy
Read More: Did You Know? Medication Management to Address PolypharmacyAddressing Polypharmacy Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications by a single individual, is a common and concerning issue among older adult patients. As we age, the risk for developing chronic health conditions becomes more common, along…
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Did You Know? RSV Vaccines for Adults 60+
Read More: Did You Know? RSV Vaccines for Adults 60+FDA Approves First RSV Vaccines In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first vaccines for prevention of RSV associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in adults aged ≥60 years. RSVPreF3 (Arexvy, GSK) is…
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DYK? Expiration Guidance: Inhalation Devices – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Expiration Guidance: Inhalation Devices – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesCertain inhalation devices once opened or assembled and in use, must be used within a specified timeframe to avoid reduced stability and sterility, which can impact efficacy of treatment. Medications with shortened expiration dates, as specified by…
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Did You Know? AGS Beers Criteria® 2023 Update
Read More: Did You Know? AGS Beers Criteria® 2023 UpdateAbout the Beers List The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM) Use inOlder Adults, commonly called the Beers List, serves as a comprehensive list of medications that older people may want to…
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DYK? TD & Drug-Induced Movement Disorders – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? TD & Drug-Induced Movement Disorders – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesWhat is Tardive Dyskinesia? [1,2] Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is an involuntary movement disorder characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal andrepetitive movements of the face, torso and /or other body parts. The physical symptoms of TD often can be persistent…
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DYK? 2023 Summary of GOLD Report for COPD – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? 2023 Summary of GOLD Report for COPD – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesThe 2023 GOLD Report: Global Strategy for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease On an annual basis the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) releases a strategy report covering all of the…
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Updated Heart Failure Management Guidelines – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: Updated Heart Failure Management Guidelines – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesAHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure (HF) [American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America 2022 Joint Committee Clinical Practice Guideline Update] What’s New from 2022? Stages of HF, Redefined [1] Emphasis on…
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ADA (Diabetes) Guidelines Update for Older Adults – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: ADA (Diabetes) Guidelines Update for Older Adults – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesADA Standards of Care in Diabetes Guidelines 2023 – What’s New? Type 2 DM Pharmacotherapy Selection Update and Management Considerations for Older Adults: Key updates related to T2DM pharmacotherapy from the 2023 ADA guideline include the following:…
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DYK? Co-Circulating Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Co-Circulating Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesCDC Recommendations: Per the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), the following practices should be considered when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are found to be co-circulating based upon local public health surveillance data and…
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Product Focus: Aspruzyo Sprinkle® [Ranolazine]
Read More: Product Focus: Aspruzyo Sprinkle® [Ranolazine]Description: ASPRUZYO Sprinkle contains ranolazine, an antianginal available as white to off-white coated extended-release granules filled in unit-dose sachets containing 500 mg or 1000 mg. Indications & Dosage: ASPRUZYO Sprinkle is indicated for the treatment of chronic…
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DYK? Naloxone Administration – HealthDirect Pharmacy Services
Read More: DYK? Naloxone Administration – HealthDirect Pharmacy ServicesOpioids are a prescription drug class most commonly prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. They include drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl. Improper use of these medications, however, can lead to an…
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