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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.

VCU receives $1 million to improve health care for geriatric patients

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine has received a Next Steps in Physicians' Training in Geriatrics grant totaling nearly $1 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to support programs to train medical students, residents and physicians in geriatrics.

1 Dec 2010

USC purchases WaferGen SmartChip system for Molecular Pathways and Drug Discovery center

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced that the University of Southern California (USC) has purchased the WaferGen SmartChip system for its USC Center for Molecular Pathways and Drug Discovery to discover and validate biomarkers for pancreatic and colorectal cancer applications to expedite the development of a cancer therapy. USC purchased a solution that includes the SmartChip platform and validated gene panels for biomarker profiling.

1 Dec 2010

Queensland allied health workers go on strike over pay issues

Nearly 10,000 allied health professionals of Queensland health have gone on strike for 24 hours from midnight (AEST) over a pay dispute with the government. The health workers include occupational therapists, social workers, radiographers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, theatre technicians and dental workers. They feel that the government’s proposed 7.5 per cent pay increase over three years is not enough.

30 Nov 2010

Ascension Health to deploy MedAssets' suite of charge integrity solutions

Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and non-profit health system, signed a long-term agreement to deploy MedAssets' suite of charge integrity solutions and consulting services to drive best practices and standardize the management of its charge and acquisition cost data at more than 65 of its acute care locations.

30 Nov 2010

Researchers conduct real-time metabolic imaging in human patient with prostate tumor

A UCSF research collaboration with GE Healthcare has produced the first results in humans of a new technology that promises to rapidly assess the presence and aggressiveness of prostate tumors in real time, by imaging the tumor's metabolism.

30 Nov 2010

Apricus announces publication of NexACT technology data in Pharmaceutics Journal

Apricus Biosciences, Inc., announced today that the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, a peer reviewed journal, has published new data on the NexACT technology in their November 2010 issue, based on research conducted by, and at, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey in Piscataway, NJ.

30 Nov 2010

Wolters Kluwer Health subsidiary to acquire Pharmacy OneSource

Wolters Kluwer Health today announced that one of its wholly- owned subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire Pharmacy OneSource, a leading healthcare Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that helps hospitals manage the complex challenges of patient safety, compliance and efficiency. The transaction will allow Wolters Kluwer Health to extend its Clinical Decision Support (CDS) solutions into the hospital pharmacy market and will further strengthen the company's leadership position in the growing point-of-care market.

29 Nov 2010

Genesis deploys BIO-key's finger-based biometric identification solutions

BIO-key International, Inc., a leader in finger-based biometric identification solutions, announced the successful deployment by Genesis HealthCare System, based in Zanesville, Ohio, of BIO-key's biometric identification for staff to quickly, conveniently and securely establish their identity when ordering, verifying or administering medications as required by Ohio law.

29 Nov 2010

New drug research, incidence rates and Pope's comments brighten AIDS outlook

The Associated Press: "In the nearly 30 years the AIDS epidemic has raged, there has never been a more hopeful day than this. Three striking developments took place Tuesday: U.N. officials said new HIV cases are dropping dramatically worldwide. A study showed that a daily pill already on pharmacy shelves could help prevent new infections in gay men. And the pope opened the way for the use of condoms to prevent AIDS" (Marchione, 11/23).

25 Nov 2010

Headline-grabbing offers may not best meet needs of Medicare Part D plan enrollees

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Executive Vice President and CEO Kathleen Jaeger issued the following statement today in response to the Avalere Health study analyzing how the formulary and cost-sharing benefits changes made by various Medicare Part D prescription drug plans affect seniors:

24 Nov 2010

Policy of routine error disclosure may minimize impact of medical errors

People who believe their doctor or hospital would inform them if a medical error occurred are "far more forgiving" than those who doubt their health care provider would disclose the error, reports a study in the November issue of Medical Care.

24 Nov 2010

FDA warning leads to decrease in antidepressant prescribing for young patients

An FDA warning regarding increased suicide risk in children and teens taking antidepressant drugs has led to an overall decrease in antidepressant prescribing for young patients, reports a study in the November issue of Medical Care. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

24 Nov 2010

Testing less frequently not a good way to economize for people living with diabetes

The American economy is struggling— and people living with diabetes are feeling the brunt of the rising prices of medical supplies and doctor visit co-pays. In a recent poll by dLife.com, more than 400 people living with diabetes revealed they struggle when it comes to paying for diabetic supplies.

24 Nov 2010

Two surveys show 'huge variation' in health costs in U.S.

The Wall Street Journal: Two studies out Monday - one is a country-by-country survey by the International Federation of Health Plans, and the second from Change: healthcare - "attempt to bring some clarity to how costs stack up, both between different countries and among U.S. providers that might be just a few blocks apart."

24 Nov 2010

Siemens receives ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Complete EHR certifications

Siemens Healthcare has achieved Complete EHR ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Certification for Soarian® EHR version 2010, INVISION® EHR version 2010 and MedSeries4® EHR version 2010. These Complete EHRs are 2011/2012 compliant and have been certified by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria for Hospitals adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

23 Nov 2010

UnitedHealthcare introduces Pharmacy Saver program to provide affordable prescription drugs

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, announced a new program that will enable enrollees in the company's market-leading Medicare plans to save money on hundreds of prescription medications in 2011.

23 Nov 2010

Ergothioneine international congress 2011 to be held at UCLA

OXIS International, Inc., today announced that the "First International Congress on Ergothioneine, Anti-Oxidants, and Age Management Medicine" will be held Friday to Sunday, July 15-17, 2011, in the DeNeve Auditorium at the University of California, Los Angeles.

23 Nov 2010

Scientists make breakthrough in techniques for exploring faults in 'smooth' muscles

Clues to the causes of serious, and often fatal, diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, are being investigated at the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, both in Scotland, with the use of a -1 million grant.

23 Nov 2010

$7.5 million Queensland diabetes action plan to roll

According to the latest $7.5 million diabetes action plan, nearly 8,000 people across the Ipswich region who are living with the disease and have not been diagnosed will be helped. Diabetes is growing at a shocking rate with more than 50 Queenslanders diagnosed with the condition every day. Diabetes Australia Queensland says more than 8,000 people in the Ipswich and West Moreton region have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another 8,000 people have the condition but remain undiagnosed.

22 Nov 2010

Australian university students a ‘stressed out’ bunch: Study

According to the latest findings the rates of serious mental illness are more than five times higher among university students than in the general population. The study conducted by researchers at University of Queensland was published in the latest issue of Australian Psychologist. It also found that rate of pyschological distress among university students is almost three times higher than in the general population.

22 Nov 2010