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Forward2025 Vizient Pharmacy Network Meeting: Poster Session 3
Las Vegas, NV US
December 6, 2025
Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) pose a challenge in antimicrobial management due to the overlapping symptoms found in viral and bacterial infections. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance remains a pressing concern, with up to 50% of inpatient antibiotic use being deemed inappropriate as reported by the Centers for Disease Control. Procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker that rises particularly in bacterial infections, has demonstrated efficacy in optimizing antimicrobial initiation and treatment duration through guided protocols. Despite widespread use of the PCT test at Jackson South Medical Center (JSMC), averaging 517 tests per month at an estimated annualized cost of more than $200,000, its impact on antibiotic utilization has not been evaluated. Literature supports that PCT-guided algorithms can reduce antibiotic exposure, duration, and adverse events without increasing mortality or readmission rates. However, these outcomes may vary when algorithms are applied inconsistently or used without stewardship oversight, leading to limited benefit despite high testing costs.
Introduction/Purpose: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) are designed to promote safe and effective use of antimicrobials to improve outcomes, reduce harm, and prevent antimicrobial resistance. Although the intravenous (IV) route is often used for its rapid onset and reliable bioavailability, prolonged use can increase hospital length of stay (LOS) and costs(1). Switching from IV to oral (PO) antibiotics once a patient is clinically stable, tolerating oral intake, and without contraindications is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship. Despite implementation of ASPs, studies show 45–75% of eligible patients are not transitioned to PO therapy when appropriate(2). Several studies evaluating impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on IV to PO conversion in hospitalized adults discovered conversion resulted in cost savings associated with decreased IV use and hospital LOS without increase in mortality or readmission rates(1,2). Furthermore, a multi-center study involving patients with sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), found that IV to PO transition was associated with shorter ICU stays, reduced rates of acute kidney injury and antibiotic costs while showing no difference in mortality nor infection recurrence(3). This supports the idea that IV antibiotics can be safely transitioned to PO in critically ill patients. However, guidance is limited for IV to PO antibiotic conversion in this population resulting in missed opportunities for safe and effective transition to oral therapy in patients who are clinically stable. The purpose of this study is to improve Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center’s (MH-TMC) practices by piloting a MICU IV to PO conversion algorithm that helps identify eligible patients and promotes appropriate transitions to oral antimicrobials.
Purpose: Heart failure remains a leading cause of mortality, with a national 30-day hospital readmission rate of 21%. The economic impact is substantial, with national annual costs of approximately $30.7 billion. A significant barrier to optimizing transitions of care in patients is nonadherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Prior studies suggest that pharmacist involvement during transitions of care is associated with reduced readmissions and lower healthcare costs. Pharmacist-led discharge counseling and medication reconciliation (DCMR) is a potential strategy to improve medication adherence. DCMR can reduce 30-day readmissions and improve medication optimization in patients with heart failure following an exacerbation.
Obesity is a prevalent condition that significantly alters drug pharmacokinetics, leading to variability in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. When drug dosing is not tailored to body size, patients are placed at increased risk for both toxicity and treatment failure. Despite the clinical importance, current guidelines at Intermountain Health do not include obesity-specific recommendations, leaving a critical gap in practice and creating variability across providers and facilities.
Target Audience
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Other Healthcare Professionals
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be able to:
- Apply data-driven insights and best practices to enhance medication management, improve patient outcomes, and support institutional performance goals
Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV
3950 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV
89119
United States
FACULTY & PLANNERS
Faculty
Aitana M. Valdes Alsina
PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Jackson South Medical Center
PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Jackson South Medical Center
Paige Smith, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
MeShell Green, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
Vanessa Nightingale, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
Maria Joseph, PharmD
PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident
Medstar Harbour Hospital
Medstar Harbour Hospital
Neden Yacine, PharmD
PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Resident
Intermountain Medical Center
PGY2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Resident
Intermountain Medical Center
Planners
Mital Desai, PharmD
Director, Pharmacy Network
Vizient, Inc.
Sybil Thomas, PharmD
AVP Member connections
Vizient, Inc.
Lauren E. McCree, MBA
Networks Manager, Pharmacy
Vizient, Inc.
Samantha Gordon, MS
CE Programs Manager
Vizient, Inc.
Marilu Kelly, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHCP
Director, Continuing Education
Vizient, Inc.
DISCLOSURE
As an accredited provider of continuing education, Vizient, Inc. is dedicated to ensuring this activity presents learners with only accurate, balanced, scientifically justified recommendations, and is free from promotion, marketing, and commercial bias. In accordance with The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all planners, faculty, and others in control of the educational content have disclosed the absence or existence of all financial relationships (of any dollar amount) with ineligible companies within the past 24 months.
Ineligible companies – those companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
It is Vizient’s policy that owners and employees of ineligible companies, and any individuals who refuse to disclose the absence or existence of financial relationships with any ineligible companies are disqualified from participating as planners or faculty.
Disclosure Statements
Absence of Relevant Financial Relationships
None of the planners, faculty, or others in a position to control content for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Relevant Financial Relationships
Vizient, Inc., Jointly Accredited for Interprofessional Continuing Education, defines companies to be ineligible as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
An individual is considered to have a relevant financial relationship if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.
[Insert name], speaker for this educational activity, is [nature of relationship(s)] for [insert name of the ineligible company(ies)].
[Insert name], speaker for this educational activity, is [nature of relationship(s)] for [insert name of the ineligible company(ies)].
All relevant financial relationships listed for these individual(s) have been mitigated.
All others in a position to control content for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Statement of Content Validity
Vizient, Inc. educational activities are intended to assist healthcare teams advance their professional responsibilities in accordance with the definition of continuing education. It is the policy of Vizient, Inc. to review and ensure that all content and recommendations for patient care within accredited CE is evidenced-based, based on current science and clinical reasoning while ensuring the content is fair and balanced. All recommendations must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Vizient, Inc. does not permit accredited continuing education if it advocates for unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or if the education promotes recommendations, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients.
FDA Off-Label Use
Faculty presenters are also expected to disclose any discussion of (1) off-label or investigational uses of FDA approved commercial products or devices or (2) products or devices not yet approved in the United States.
Off-label/unapproved drug uses or products are mentioned within this activity.
Low/absence of evidence-based topics are mentioned within this activity.
Disclaimer
The education provided through this activity is for continuing education purposes only. The views and opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vizient, Inc.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Vizient, Inc. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation Statement(s)
Pharmacists (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 contact hours for pharmacists.
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-25-317-L04-P
Pharmacy Technicians (CPE)
Vizient, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 contact hours for pharmacy technicians.
Universal Activity Number: JA0006103-0000-25-317-L04-T
Other Healthcare Professionals (General CE Credit)
Vizient, Inc. will award all other healthcare professionals who successfully complete the activity a Certificate of Participation. Various state license boards and credentialing bodies accept certificates of participation from accredited CE activities to meet CE requirements for license renewals and re-certification. It is the responsibility of the participant to contact their state licensing board and/or certifying body for verification on credit eligibility reciprocity.
Available Credit
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacist
- 0.75 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
Select the “Obtain Credit” button to access the activity evaluation and to claim CE Credit.
Please Note:
- If the "Register/Take Course" tab is displayed instead of the "Obtain Credit" tab, you must first login to proceed with the credit claim process.
- This activity requires learners to confirm their attendance using an activity code. An Access Denied error message indicates that your attendance was not recorded via SMS text or QR code scanning.
Please click here to enter the code you received at the end of the activity to verify your attendance if you have not already done so: https://continuingeducation.vizientinc.com/code
Required Hardware/software
The Vizient CE Learner Portal is compatible with most modern web browsers (such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari) and can also be accessed with mobile devices.