Reducing Length of Stay in Complex Infections: The Long and Short of It_LIVE

November 9, 2026

CE program to be offered to all UPMC Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians across the system. This CE program will explore innovative strategies to optimize antimicrobial therapy and support earlier hospital discharge for patients with complex infections. Participants will review common antimicrobial-related barriers to discharge, examine the role of stewardship and transitions-of-care interventions through the POSITIVE Program, evaluate emerging evidence for long-acting antimicrobial therapies such as dalbavancin and rezafungin, and discuss how oral therapies, shorter treatment durations, and long-acting agents can be incorporated into patient-centered discharge planning.

This activity will enhance pharmacists' ability to collaborate with infectious diseases providers, hospitalists, case managers, nurses, and transitions-of-care teams to identify antimicrobial-related barriers to discharge and recommend evidence-based treatment alternatives. Improved pharmacist involvement in discharge planning can support more efficient transitions of care, reduce avoidable hospital length of stay, and promote safe, patient-centered management of complex infections.

Target Audience

Pharmacist

Pharmacy Technician

Learning Objectives

· Describe common antimicrobial-related barriers that contribute to prolonged hospitalization among patients with complex infections.

· Explain how the POSITIVE Program leverages antimicrobial stewardship and transitions-of-care interventions to reduce hospital length of stay and facilitate discharge.

· Evaluate the evidence supporting long-acting antimicrobial therapies, including dalbavancin and rezafungin, as alternatives to traditional outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT).

· Incorporate oral therapy, shorter treatment durations, and long-acting antimicrobials into patient-centered discharge planning when clinically appropriate.

Additional Information

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 ACPE Technician
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Course opens: 
11/09/2026
Course expires: 
11/24/2026
Event starts: 
11/09/2026 - 12:00pm EST
Event ends: 
11/09/2026 - 1:00pm EST

CE program to be offered to all UPMC Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians across the system. This CE program will explore innovative strategies to optimize antimicrobial therapy and support earlier hospital discharge for patients with complex infections. Participants will review common antimicrobial-related barriers to discharge, examine the role of stewardship and transitions-of-care interventions through the POSITIVE Program, evaluate emerging evidence for long-acting antimicrobial therapies such as dalbavancin and rezafungin, and discuss how oral therapies, shorter treatment durations, and long-acting agents can be incorporated into patient-centered discharge planning.

This activity will enhance pharmacists' ability to collaborate with infectious diseases providers, hospitalists, case managers, nurses, and transitions-of-care teams to identify antimicrobial-related barriers to discharge and recommend evidence-based treatment alternatives. Improved pharmacist involvement in discharge planning can support more efficient transitions of care, reduce avoidable hospital length of stay, and promote safe, patient-centered management of complex infections.

Teams Meeting
Pittsburgh, PA
United States

Cory Hale, PharmD, BCIDP; UPMC

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh 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.

 

Pharmacy (CPE)

This knowledge-based activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
  • 1.00 ACPE Technician
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Please login or register to take this course.