Clinical tips: COVID-19
Some pharmacies are almost in lockdown while others are barely acknowledging COVID-19 at all… this inconsistency confuses the public, writes Karalyn Huxhagen SA Health this week announced COVID testing in …
Clinical tips: Palliative Care and pharmacy
Karalyn Huxhagen takes a look at the pharmacist’s role in end of life care, and how they can support patients and their loved ones In community pharmacy we often touch …
Clinical tips: acute pain
These days community pharmacy has a greater opportunity to truly address pain, writes Karalyn Huxhagen Acute pain is defined as: Being of a fast onset and a short duration Stems …
Clinical tips: swallowing difficulties
From crushing to patients who have had bariatric surgery, pharmacists need to keep up to date when dealing with swallowing issues, writes Karalyn Huxhagen Difficulty in swallowing causes may include …
Looking behind the curtain
The reality of medication reviews is a program full of band-aids and add-ons, argues Karalyn Huxhagen When Home Medicine Reviews (HMRs) were launched, we were promised interactive programs with GPs …
Clinical tips: migraine
Karalyn Huxhagen looks at the debilitating condition of vestibular migraine, or migraine-associated vertigo There are many forms of migraine. The term can be used ‘loosely’ by patients presenting to the …
Clinical tips: deprescribing
A recent case of probable serotonin toxicity provides a good example of the importance of deprescribing, writes Karalyn Huxhagen Deprescribing covers many areas: removing medication that is no longer needed; …
Clinical tips: Language, culture and medicines
Language and culture doesn’t have to be a barrier to communication about health and medicines, writes Karalyn Huxhagen When interacting with patients/consumers it is important that they understand the pharmacist …
Clinical tips: discharge from hospital
When patients are discharged from care, what role do pharmacists play… and what role could they be playing? asks Karalyn Huxhagen Pharmacists of all callings touch the patients who are …
Clinical tips: Opioid replacement therapy
Why should pharmacies participate in opioid replacement therapy programs? asks Karalyn Huxhagen There has been a comment of late on pharmacy social media sites as to whether pharmacists should charge …
Clinical tips: ADHD
It’s a stigmatised and often poorly understood condition… but what is the pharmacist’s role in managing ADHD? asks Karalyn Huxhagen Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined as a complex …
Clinical tips: prescription medication dependence
Pharmacists need to think beyond the headlines when it comes to dependence on medications, writes Karalyn Huxhagen When we think about dependence on medications our minds quickly consider opioids, benzodiazepines, …