Clinical pharmacy education in new England: a report of the Whispering Pines Conference.

Clinical pharmacy practice as it relates to the future of the pharmacy profession has been examined at Hilton Head in 1985 and at regional conferences throughout the U.S. between 1986 and 1988. However, clinical pharmacy education and its role in the future of the profession had not been the focus of this type of "futuristic" conference. In 1988, the clinical pharmacy faculties from the four colleges of pharmacy in New England met to discuss the "Directions for Clinical Pharmacy Education in New England." Through a series of workshops, and stimulated by challenges from keynote speakers, the participants focused on the current status of clinical pharmacy education in New England, the barriers to change, and the strategies required to accomplish these changes. Consensus on prioritization of changes and their strategies was reached, and those that could be implemented in the near future were identified. Since the conference, changes have occurred and the professional networking that began at the conference has continued. This paper is a summary of the proceedings of this conference.

Pain cocktails: survey of formulations used in US hospitals.

Brompton's cocktail is an oral formulation used widely for intractable pain associated with cancer. In the United States, however, formulations are not standard, and questions concerning the efficacy and safety of some ingredients have been raised. Hospitals were surveyed to determine the formulation of Brompton's cocktail used, how the cocktail is compounded, and who is responsible for deciding on the pain cocktail formula. Controversy surrounding the use of cocaine as an ingredient is discussed, and problems with dating of formulations are described. P & T Committees are encouraged to review the literature concerning pain cocktail formulations and reevaluate the use of pain cocktails within their own institutions.