Trends in Bone Metastases Therapy:
Evolving Role of Health-System Pharmacies


View Webcast
(requires free Flash plug-in)

Dear Colleague:

The 2005 Medicare regulations are likely to reduce the reimbursement rate for IV infusions, which in turn is expected to push IV infusions out of community oncology practices and into hospital and large university settings. Are you ready to accommodate the needs of these additional patients? How much do you know about bisphosphonates, a class of IV therapies commonly used in treating bone metastases? Busy health-system pharmacists need to start preparing for a potential influx of patients treated with IV bisphosphonates, and may have to adjust the way they use these infused therapies in order to utilize them in the most clinically appropriate and cost-effective manner.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear the experts explore the changing climate of healthcare regulations and how it is apt to affect your patients and clinical approaches. Join us at this continuous, on demand webcast beginning January.

Sincerely,

top

Development Faculty

CHAIR

This activity has been designed for pharmacists who practice in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, home care, and other components of healthcare systems.

The goal of Trends in Bone Metastases Therapy: Evolving Role of Health-System Pharmacies is to provide an overview of bone metastases, focusing on the role of bisphosphonates and the impact of the 2005 Medicare regulations on the use of IV therapies in hospital vs community settings.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Review the pathophysiology of bone metastases, focusing on therapeutic targets.
• Optimize the use of bisphosphonate therapy in the management of metastatic bone disease.
• Recognize the implications of the 2005 Medicare regulations on health-system pharmacies.
• Compare and contrast risks and benefits, including economic impact, of available bisphosphonates, taking into account not only reimbursement rates but also overall costs to the system resulting from the selection of particular therapies.

top

CE Information

Statement of Accreditation/Credit Designation

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the ACPE Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. The ACPE Universal Program Number assigned to this program, for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs), is 052-000-04-002-L01.

Disclosure Information

The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that faculty participating in a CE activity disclose to the audience: any significant relationship they may have with a pharmaceutical or medical equipment company, product, or service that may be mentioned as part of their presentation; any relationship with the commercial supporter of this activity; if discussion includes 1) therapies that are unapproved for use or are investigational; 2) ongoing research; or 3) preliminary data. Faculty will disclose such discussion.

For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

David C. Gammon, BSPh - Speakers Bureau: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc; Advisory Board: GlaxoSmithKline. Mr. Gammon does not refer to any off-label drug uses.

Harold A. Harvey, MD - Grant/Research Support: Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Celgene Corporation, NSABP Foundation, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Speakers Bureau: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Dr. Harvey refers to off-label use of bisphosphonates to preserve bone health and trials evaluating the investigational use of bisphosphonates in the prevention of bone metastases.

Laura Boehnke Michaud, PharmD, BCOP - Oncology Pharmacist Advisory Board: Amgen Inc, Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Ortho Biotech Pharmaceuticals; Pharmacist Advisory Committee: GlaxoSmithKline Oncology and Ortho Biotech Oncology; Speakers Bureau: Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Genentech, Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Pharmacia & Upjohn. Dr. Michaud refers to investigational use of ibandronate, and investigational bisphosphonate clodronate.

The opinions expressed during this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CE activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the healthcare professional caring for the patient.

This independent CE activity is supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.