prescribing
A nudge in the right direction
Lowering the default amount of opioid pills in EMRs may reduce prescribing in midst of an opioid crisis, new study finds A new study published in JAMA Surgery has found …
Script issues
Study reveals disproportionately high rates of oxycodone prescribing in a rural area New Australian research has revealed concerning levels of oxycodone in western Victoria, with experts calling for investigation on …
Oxycodone 20-packs too much for majority
Smaller oxycodone pack sizes and an enhanced role for pharmacists are part of a model being suggested by Melbourne researchers Dr Megan Allen and colleagues from the Royal Melbourne Hospital …
Struck off for prescribing to self and partner
A former doctor and pharmacist has been disqualified from practising medicine for three years after he prescribed drugs including Valium and Duromine for his partner, a male sex worker The …
Call to lift RMMR cutbacks
Pharmacists are calling for restrictions on RMMRs to be lifted after study results reveal “concerning” levels of psychotropic overuse in aged care settings A new study published in the Australian …
Evidence for pharmacist-led education in prescribing
An Australian trial has found hospital pharmacists providing guidance to junior doctors led to significantly reduced prescribing errors Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne Medical School …
Getting the dose right
Children should not just be considered “small adults” when it comes to prescribing medications, say Australian researchers A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology article by researchers from the University …
How good are pharmacists at antimicrobial stewardship?
According to this QLD study, they’re doing quite well at delaying ‘wait and see’ prescriptions – but improvements can be made A number of strategies have been trialled in primary …
NSW win for script efficiency
Prescribers no longer need to handwrite scripts in NSW aged care facilities, with Webstercare order sheets approved by Ministry of Health Changes to prescribing and dispensing of medications in NSW …
Australia’s 10 most expensive drugs
Expensive medicines used to treat hepatitis C have cost the government more than any other drugs over the past year New figures based on PBS and RPBS scripts for the …
Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics rife
New hospital survey reveals 60% of antibiotics given to patients after surgery were prescribed inappropriately The Surgical National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (SNAPS) is an annual survey of antimicrobial prescribing for …
Pharmacists aren’t aiding stockpiling
Doctors have taken to mainstream media to claim that codeine addicts are stockpiling – and pharmacists are letting them Pharmacy leaders have described as a “beat-up” the suggestion that pharmacists …