Healthy Living

ASHP Seeks Changes to Economic Incentives in Drug Shortages Bill Draft

In a letter sent to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) last week, ASHP commended a legislative proposal that promotes notification and provides economic incentives to reduce drug shortages, but noted that one provision could result in the loss of patient access to needed care.

Motor Vehicle Safety During Pregnancy

Motor vehicle crashes during pregnancy are the leading cause of traumatic fetal mortality and serious maternal injury, morbidity, and mortality in the United States, injuring approximately 92 500 pregnant women each year. Little is known about the circumstances surrounding these crash events and the maternal characteristics that may increase women’s vulnerability to crash-related injuries during pregnancy. Even less is known about the effects of crashes on fetal outcomes. Crash simulation studies using female anthropomorphic test devices and computational models have been conducted to better understand the mechanisms of maternal and fetal injuries and death resulting from motor vehicle crashes. In addition, several case reports describing maternal and fetal outcomes following crashes have been published in the literature. Only a few population-based studies have explored the association between motor vehicle crashes and adverse maternal and/or fetal outcomes, and even fewer have examined the effectiveness of seat belts and/or airbags in reducing the risk of these outcomes. This article reviews what is presently known about motor vehicle crashes during pregnancy, their effects on maternal and fetal outcomes, and the role of vehicle safety devices and other safety approaches in mitigating the occurrence and severity of maternal crashes and subsequent injuries. In addition, this article suggests interventions targeted toward the prevention of crashes during pregnancy.

ASHP Honors Earth Day
ASHP supports Earth Day with community clean ups! Last Saturday, ASHP staff members volunteered for a highway clean up day at the stretch of road that ASHP has adopted, near our Bethesda headquarters. And on Saturday, April 21, ASHP staff will be cleaning up the Elm Street Park, a community park across the street from our offices.  In addition to these community clean-up activities, ASHP sponsors a number of initiatives as a responsible citizen of the Earth, including membership in the Maryland Green Registry and establishing a Green Committee that recommends ways for ASHP improve and sustain our green efforts.  As a result, ASHP has a robust recycling program, uses compact fluorescent lights, uses eco-friendly cleaning materials, participates in an energy saving program, and offers a number of programs that help reduce employee commute miles.

ASHP Launches Ad Campaign Telling Congress to Help Resolve Drug Shortages
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, together with its partners, the American Hospital Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, launched a series of advertisements urging Congress to keep the strong drug shortages provisions currently in the bill that reauthorizes funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A bipartisan workgroup of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions developed the drug shortages provisions in the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), which is must-pass legislation. The bill includes a requirement that drug manufacturers notify the FDA of any problems that may decrease production. ASHP and our partners have worked hard to support this provision as a critical step that can make a significant improvement in preventing drug shortages. The first of three ads appears in the May 17 issue of Politico, a print and online publication read by Congress, congressional staff, and policy makers.

Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Survivorship: Evidence-Based Recommendations

The completion of primary treatment for breast cancer has been referred to as a "teachable moment" for health behavior change, suggesting that women are receptive to receiving physical activity counseling. However, the majority of breast cancer survivors are not sufficiently active. Health care providers may play a pivotal role in increasing patients’ physical activity behavior, yet physician counseling for physical activity is not done regularly. One reason for this failure may relate to the limited guidelines put forward to assist health care providers in how best to optimize the benefits of physical activity among breast cancer survivors. To help provide guidelines for physical activity counseling with breast cancer survivors, the authors synthesized evidence-based recommendations based on a review of 30 intervention studies. The evidence on (1) type, (2) intensity, and (3) frequency and duration of physical activity for this population was examined. On the basis of the reviewed studies, the authors find that physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors should include aerobic training at least 3 times/wk for 30 minutes, resistance training 2 to 3 times/wk (6-12 exercises), and flexibility training 3 times/wk for 50 to 60 minutes to obtain health benefits. The provision of these recommendations may facilitate effective and consistent delivery of physical activity counseling to breast cancer survivors.

2012 Conferences