Pharmacy resident response to CPR events was required in approximately 30% of responding pharmacy residency programs. Various methods were used in educating, assessing, and evaluating pharmacy residents in this role.

Blood transfusions and blood products are often given as a life-saving measure in patients with critical illness. However, some patients, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, may refuse their administration due to religious beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses accept most available medical treatments, but not blood transfusions or blood products due to their religion's interpretation of several passages from the Bible. Since recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) became available, several cases have been reported in which rHuEPO was successfully administered to critically ill Jehovah's Witnesses. Administration of rHuEPO in combination with other blood conservation techniques has been shown to increase hemoglobin levels and survival in patients who experienced trauma, burns, general surgery, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We performed a literature search of the MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases of rHuEPO therapy in the Jehovah's Witness population. Fourteen cases were identified in which rHuEPO was administered to Jehovah's Witnesses who required the drug for critical care resuscitation as an alternative to blood products. In each clinical situation, rHuEPO enhanced erythropoiesis; however, time to the start of treatment, dosages, route of administration, and treatment duration varied widely. Supplementation with adjunctive agents, such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, was also beneficial. Use of rHuEPO in Jehovah's Witnesses may provide an alternative to blood transfusions or blood products. Other alternatives, such as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and perfluorocarbons, are also being explored.

The use of daptomycin has been associated with an elevation in creatine phosphokinase level, with a reported incidence of 2.8% in phase III clinical trials. Published case reports have documented the presence of myopathy in patients who received daptomycin; however, there have been no previously reported cases of rhabdomyolysis in animals or humans to date. We describe a case of rhabdomyolysis during therapy with daptomycin.

Pharmacists completed pharmacist-to-dose consultations for dosing guidance of vancomycin and aminoglycosides within a median of 30 minutes. Implementation of a computerized request for clinical pharmacists to provide medication-related clinical decision support increased medication turn-around time of vancomycin and aminoglycosides and reduced medication errors. Consultation of clinical pharmacists by computerized request for initial antibiotic dosing of medications with narrow therapeutic windows is an option for medication-related clinical decision support but providers should be aware that consultation may delay medication turn-around time.

The Frontline Pharmacist column gives staff pharmacists an opportunity to share their experiences and pertinent lessons related to day-to-day practice. Topics include workplace innovations, cooperating with peers, communicating with other professionals, dealing with management, handling technical issues related to pharmacy practice, and supervising technicians. Readers are invited to submit manuscripts, ideas, and comments to AJHP, 7272