Medication Adherence News and Research

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Post-Katrina stress contributes to three-fold increase in heart attacks

Chronic stress following Hurricane Katrina contributed to a three-fold increase in heart attacks in New Orleans more than two years after levee breaches flooded most of the city, according to researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine.

23 Jan 2010

VNSNY receives funding for testing IT strategies to aid elderly cognitive impairment patients

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) Center for Home Health Care Policy & Research, the only research center focused on studying home health care in the U.S., has received funding from The Center for Technology and Aging to test state-of-the art information technology (IT) strategies designed to help elderly patients with cognitive impairment and their caregivers safely manage multiple medications.

21 Jan 2010

Medco Health Solutions launches Medco TRC for oncology patients

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today announced the launch of the Medco Therapeutic Resource Center® (TRC) for oncology patients headquartered in Whitestown, Ind., where specialist pharmacists will manage the company's more than 850,000 patients currently living with cancer, one of the fastest growing segments of healthcare.

21 Jan 2010

Research suggests mail-order pharmacies are associated with better medication adherence

Buying medicine by mail may encourage patients to stick to their doctor-prescribed medication regimen, new research suggests.

18 Jan 2010

Study finds patients more likely to skip diabetes medicine while in the 'doughnut hole'

Consumers experiencing a gap in their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage were more likely to forgo diabetes medications than those who had supplemental drug benefits.

9 Jan 2010

Diabetes patients with Part D coverage gap are less likely to stick to their medications

Medicare recipients with diabetes who have a gap in their Part D prescription drug benefits—known as the "doughnut hole" — have higher out-of-pocket drug costs and are less likely to stick to their medications than those who have supplemental drug benefits, a new study confirms.

7 Jan 2010

Center for Technology and Aging announces grants to improve medication use in older adults

The Center for Technology and Aging today announced grants to five organizations for projects that promise to help improve medication use in older adults with chronic health conditions.

6 Jan 2010

CoachRx: An interactive website for CIGNA’s customers

As former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. once said, “Drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them.” That’s why CIGNA is introducing CoachRx, an interactive Web site to help CIGNA Home Delivery Pharmacy customers identify their personal barriers to taking their medications, and then providing ways to help people stay on track with the medications they need.

28 Dec 2009

Technologies for optimizing medication adherence in older adults needed

Avoiding medication-related errors and improving medication adherence among older adults could save the nation billions of dollars and save thousands of lives, according to information included in "Technologies for Optimizing Medication Use in Older Adults," a recent report produced by the non-profit Center for Technology and Aging, and available at www.techandaging.org.

21 Dec 2009

CIGNA suggests the 'To Do' list to stay healthy during this holiday season

‘Tis the season for celebrating with family and friends -- and searching for those perfect gifts. CIGNA suggests adding another item to the top of the holiday “To Do” list: Be sure to take needed medications to stay healthy this holiday season and into the New Year.

19 Dec 2009

UCSF/SFGH project to improve health outcomes among diabetes patients honored

A UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital project that used a novel communication tool to improve health outcomes among diabetes patients was honored recently with a quality leadership award from the California Health Care Safety Net Institute.

18 Dec 2009

Interactive conference session focuses on strengths and weaknesses of new trends in drug benefit plan design

Benefits executives from Caterpillar, Inc., Procter & Gamble, and Delta Air Lines are among the employers who will share innovative approaches to plan design at the 2010 Drug Benefit Conference sponsored by the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI).

17 Dec 2009

Anthem Blue Cross to receive Tri-County Commercial contract renewal award

Anthem Blue Cross announced today that the California Department of Health Care Services intends to award Anthem the Tri-County Commercial contract renewal to provide Medi-Cal benefits to residents in the Fresno, Kings and Madera Counties.

15 Dec 2009

Patients can reduce their health care costs, improve overall wellness by communicating with doctors

Patients can reduce their health care costs and improve their overall wellness by communicating more effectively with their doctors, according to a recent report and list of 10 tips released by InfoMedics, Inc., a patient feedback company that works to improve patient-physician communication.

11 Dec 2009

Schizophrenia: Once-monthly INVEGA SUSTENNA not inferior to bi-weekly RISPERDAL CONSTA

Treatment with once-monthly INVEGA® SUSTENNA(TM) is not inferior to treatment with bi-weekly RISPERDAL® CONSTA®, according to new data from a comparative study of both treatments in patients with schizophrenia. Results of the 13-week clinical trial were released this week.

10 Dec 2009

Group Health selects Avaya contact center solutions to improve patient service operations

Group Health Cooperative, one of the nation's largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care systems, selected Avaya contact center solutions to achieve greater efficiencies and faster service in their patient service operations.

8 Dec 2009

CHS introduces the Optic onsite health care solution

Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS), a leading national workforce health management company specializing in onsite health care solutions, announced today the successful deployment of Optic™, the next iteration of its wireless, paperless technology platform that provides electronic health record and enterprise practice management functionality, predictive modeling, clinical reporting, evidence-based medicine compliance reporting, and advanced financial outcome reporting.

1 Dec 2009

Pharmacists could play important role in reform

Pharmacists may play an important role in the health care system by filling in health care gaps and advising patients, according to a series of articles in The Los Angeles Times, which reports on one clinical pharmacist Steven Chen and the "Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative, a national project under the Health Resources and Services Administration that is working to integrate clinical pharmacy services into the care of patients with chronic diseases.

30 Nov 2009

2009-10 AACP Student Community Engaged Service Award announced

Four student-led community engagement projects will be awarded the 2009-10 AACP Student Community Engaged Service Award for their outstanding programs delivering consumer education about medication use, expanding access to affordable healthcare and improving the public’s health.

24 Nov 2009

Employers take action to improve medication adherence

More employers are taking steps to improve their employees' health by making sure they take their medicines as prescribed, a move that could stave off more serious and costly health consequences, according to a new report sponsored by the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).

21 Nov 2009