Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Driven Protocol to Reduce Inappropriate Use of Acid-Suppressive Medications In the Non-ICU
Purpose:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) continue to be over utilized for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP). Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a pharmacist-driven termination protocol in a community teaching hospital to limit the inappropriate use of acid-suppressive medications in the non-intensive care unit (ICU) setting.
Methods:
Patient charts were evaluated for the appropriate use of PPIs or H2 blockers. A centralized pharmacist contacted healthcare providers for medication discontinuation if the acid suppressant use was deemed inappropriate. The primary outcome of the study was the number of patients who had acid-suppressive medication discontinued after the implementation of the pharmacist-driven termination protocol.
Results:
Acid-suppressive medication was inappropriately prescribed for nine patients. It was discontinued for eight of those patients based on the pharmacist-driven termination protocol; this was a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001). The pharmacist spent, on average, less than one minute on each patient's chart.
Conclusion:
Our study revealed that a pharmacist-driven termination protocol resulted in a 6% overall reduction rate in inappropriately used acid-suppressive medications, with little impact on pharmacist workflow. Implementing such a termination protocol could help to decrease the inappropriate use of acid-suppressive medications in an inpatient hospital service.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Antacids
However, this neutralization reaction between...
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Proton Pump Inhibitors
Gastric acid, a potent cocktail of hydrogen and chloride ions, is produced in specialized parietal cells within the...
Mixtures of Acids
A Mixture of a Strong Acid and a Weak Acid
In a mixture of a strong acid and a weak acid, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions...
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Inhaled Medications
Reducing Line Loss
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...

