Diamond

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation (ASCP Foundation) is pleased to announce that the 2018 Herb Langsam Pharmacy Provider Services Award has been conferred to Diamond Pharmacy Services for their distinguished “Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP).” Bestowed annually by the Foundation, the Herb Langsam Pharmacy Services Award acknowledges a pharmacy organization that is an exemplary provider of pharmacy services.

Diamond, established in 1970 as a provider of retail pharmacy services, has grown into the nation’s largest correctional pharmacy provider and Pennsylvania’s largest independently owned long term care pharmacy.

Committed to stewardship, Dr. Deborah Milito, Pharm.D., BCGP, FASCP of Diamond Pharmacy Services, developed the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, incorporating the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) Core Elements for nursing homes. The basis of the program, is to provide other consultant pharmacists with the educational background to optimize antimicrobial prescribing and improve outcomes while empowering them to become educators and facilitate staff training within their own facilities. The ASP, which was launched in 2016, identified some early goals to help Diamond facilities drive their antimicrobial stewardship initiative. These goals include lowering the amount of urinalyses (UA) ordered, determining an appropriate diagnosis of all antimicrobials, and identifying a discontinuation date. Since the inception of the ASP, Diamond Pharmacy Services has realized a reduction in unnecessary UAs by up to an impressive 75% in some facilities in the first quarter of 2018, increased the use of facility specific antibiograms by almost 70%, and stayed focused on obtaining cut dates for all antimicrobial orders.

Integral to the continued success of the ASP, is the leadership provided by Joan Zilner,R.Ph., President; Gilbert Zilner, R.Ph., P.D., FASCP, Vice President; Mark Zilner, R.Ph., Chief Operating Officer; Matthew Valasek, R.Ph, MBA, Director of Pharmacy Operations; Deborah Milito, Pharm.D., Director of Clinical/Consultant Services Long-Term Care Antibiotic Stewardship Officer; and Paul Daisley, R.Ph., Director Long-Term Care.

The ASCP Foundation is the research and education affiliate of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). The Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older persons through appropriate, effective, and safe medication use.