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Community pharmacy, also known as retail pharmacy, is the most common type of pharmacy that allows the public access to their medications and advice about their health. Traditionally known as a chemist, it is the healthcare facility that is responsible for the provision of pharmaceutical service to a specific community group or region.

Coalition publishes new evidence on patient impact of drug shortages in US

According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety. Nearly half of the responding directors reported adverse events at their facilities due to drug shortages, including patient deaths.

13 Jan 2014

Aetna is helping to reverse abuse of prescription painkillers

Abuse of prescription painkillers, known as opioids, is a widespread and growing problem in the United States. The epidemic adds billions of dollars to health care, work place and criminal justice costs each year.

10 Jan 2014

More standardised methods needed for extemporaneous preparation of paediatric medicines

More standardised methods are needed for the extemporaneous preparation of paediatric medicines, indicates a doctoral dissertation examined at the University of Eastern Finland. Hospital pharmacies modify adult medicines for children when there are no suitable paediatric medicines available. Medicines intended for adults can be modified for children into oral suspensions, oral powders or capsules the contents of which are emptied for use.

9 Jan 2014

Study links dietary fat content with excess of abdominal fat in adolescents, irrespective of physical exercise

The prevalence of excess weight and obesity among adolescents and, as a result, the concomitant problems, has increased considerably in recent years. A study by the UPV/EHU has confirmed that, irrespective of the total calories consumed and the physical activity done, an excessive proportion of fat in the diet leads to a greater accumulation of fat in the abdomen.

9 Jan 2014

Health industry insiders analyze, predict and prescribe

Kaiser Health News checks in with former HHS chief Michael Leavitt while CQ HealthBeat details insights from another insider, Robert Laszewski.

9 Jan 2014

State highlights: N.C. officials detail Medicaid personal info mishap; comparing childbirth at Mass. hospitals; fixing Fla.'s pharmacy law 'glitch'

North Carolina health officials have clarified precisely when they first learned that cards with the personal information of nearly 49,000 children receiving Medicaid benefits had been mailed to the wrong addresses.

7 Jan 2014

Diabetic patients benefit from online patient portal, study finds

Patients with diabetes who used an online patient portal to refill medications increased their medication adherence and improved their cholesterol levels, according to a new study in the journal Medical Care.

7 Jan 2014

Study examine effect of high out-of-pocket drug costs for targeted cancer therapies on patients

The cost of insurance co-payments for cutting-edge pharmaceuticals can vary widely from patient to patient. When the patient's share of prescription costs becomes too high, many patients skip doses or stop taking medication entirely, according to research conducted at the University of North Carolina.

6 Jan 2014

University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System to open new Mile Square Health Center

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System will open the doors to a new Mile Square Health Center Jan. 6.

5 Jan 2014

Research confirms superior antitumor activity of novel anticancer agent FL118

A team led by Fengzhi Li, PhD, of Roswell Park Cancer Institute has reported significant new findings regarding the chemical structure of the novel anticancer agent FL118. The research, which included comparative analysis of the agent and several similar compounds, confirms the broad, superior antitumor activity of FL118 and suggests promising directions for further studies.

2 Jan 2014

White paper outlines pitfalls of administering Medicare Part D

Compliance is a particular concern for Health Plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers in the Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid markets. With regulations continually changing in response to Health Care Reform, payers can minimize the risk of sanctions and increase plan ratings (and thus, revenue) by employing automated checks and balances, a less burdened internal system and best practice enforcement, according to a new white paper published by TMG Health.

28 Dec 2013

MD Now opens new urgent care center in Sunrise, Florida

MD Now Medical Centers, the fastest growing Urgent Care company in Florida today announced the opening of its newest urgent care in Sunrise, Florida at the corner of West Oakland Park and Nob Hill Road.

27 Dec 2013

State highlights: Mass. compounding pharmacy agrees to $100M victim settlement over meningitis outbreak; Texas grand jury clears late-term abortion provider

The Massachusetts pharmacy whose tainted steroid injections were blamed for a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis has agreed to pay more than $100 million to victims and their families, according to lawyers involved in a tentative settlement.

26 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 24, 2013

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby, working in collaboration with NBC News, reports: "If you buy one of the less expensive insurance plans sold through the health law's marketplaces, you may be in for a surprise. Some plans will not pay for a doctor visit before you meet your annual deductible, which could be thousands of dollars" (Appleby, 12/23).

24 Dec 2013

Monthly pharmacist appointments help patients solve medication-related problems

Patients are more likely to take chronic medications when they meet monthly with pharmacists to coordinate medication schedules and treatments, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University study.

22 Dec 2013

Study reveals that pharmacy staff misleads teens on emergency contraception

Despite the fact that emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, has been available since 2003, many teens still face barriers to obtaining the medication, a safe and effective way to prevent up to 74 percent of pregnancies following the failure of birth control or after unprotected sex.

20 Dec 2013

Walgreen's net earnings increase $695M to 68.3% in fiscal 2014 first quarter

Walgreen Co. today announced earnings and sales results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 ended Nov. 30. Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the fiscal 2014 first quarter were $695 million, a 68.3 percent increase from $413 million in the year-ago quarter.

20 Dec 2013

St. Louis College of Pharmacy's Amy Tiemeier suggests four easy resolutions for a healthier 2014

With the new year quickly approaching, many are beginning to think about resolutions. Amy Tiemeier, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy suggests four easy resolutions for a healthier 2014.

18 Dec 2013

Study: Health care costs increase in parallel with body mass measurements

Researchers at Duke Medicine are giving people another reason to lose weight in the new year: obesity-related illnesses are expensive. According to a study published in the journal Obesity, health care costs increase in parallel with body mass measurements, even beginning at a recommended healthy weight.

17 Dec 2013

Researchers work on breathalyser device to detect early signs of cancer

Researchers at the University of Huddersfield are working on a breathalyser device that will be able to detect very early signs of cancer, making a cure much more likely.

16 Dec 2013