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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.

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 health assessment system from RedBrick Health

RedBrick Health, the Health EarningsSM company, today announced the launch of its own next-generation, highly interactive health assessment. Integral to RedBrick’s Health Earnings System, the company’s new health assessment is compact, conversational and graphical, all significant departures from conventional health assessments.

18 Dec 2009

Duane Reade offers H1N1 immunization vaccines for New York residents

Duane Reade, the largest drug store chain in New York City, today announced plans for its H1N1 immunization program as part of the Company's commitment to meet the health and wellness needs of New Yorkers and to be a destination for their flu related needs.

18 Dec 2009

Triad Isotopes enters into agreement to acquire the U.S. radiopharmacy network

Triad Isotopes, Inc., a portfolio company of Parthenon Capital Partners, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the U.S. radiopharmacy network currently owned and operated by Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company based in Dublin, Ireland.

18 Dec 2009

Switching between A-rated anti-epileptic drug formulations does not increase seizure risk

Express Scripts, Inc., one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, announced today results of a study that examined the association of seizure risk among epilepsy patients after switching between A-rated anti-epileptic drug formulations. The study found no evidence that switching between A-rated anti-epileptic drugs, including brand to generic substitution, was associated with increased emergency room visits or hospitalizations for epilepsy.

17 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

New application developed by AIM increases health plan staff productivity

A new application developed by American Imaging Management® (AIM) to manage the clinical review of specialty pharmaceuticals has increased health plan staff productivity and the number of drugs reviewed while reducing costs.

17 Dec 2009

Mission Health System to implement RIVA

Mission Health System in Asheville, North Carolina has ordered a RIVA System (Robotic Intravenous Automation) - a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags - from Intelligent Hospital Systems (IH Systems). The Mission Health System, which includes the Memorial and St. Joseph's campuses, will be using the RIVA System on their off-site pharmacy for both centers.

16 Dec 2009

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that 70 percent of surveyed pharmacy directors expect to cover Pfizer's tanezumab if it is approved for the treatment of chronic pain. Tanezumab, which is expected to be the first biologic approved for chronic pain and is administered intravenously under medical supervision, will likely be covered as a medical benefit rather than a pharmacy benefit according to surveyed pharmacy directors.

16 Dec 2009

CDHPs deliver quality and accessible health coverage at lower costs

As overall medical costs continue to increase by double digits annually, medical costs for individuals in account-based consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) went down 26% over four years, while levels of care for their preventive medicine, chronic disease management and evidence-based treatments were higher than their counterparts in traditional PPO and HMO health plans, according to a new multi-year study of health care claims experience of 655,000 CIGNA customers.

16 Dec 2009

Magellan Health Services announces projected 2010 revenue and earnings growth

Magellan Health Services, Inc. today announced that, for 2010, it expects to generate net revenue in the range of $3.0 billion to $3.2 billion, net income in the range of $95.5 million to $115.0 million, and earnings per share in the range of $2.73 to $3.29 on a diluted basis.

15 Dec 2009

Freie Universität professor receives ERC grant for bacterial biofilm formation study

Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge at the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy at Freie Universität Berlin has been awarded funding from the European Research Council (ERC) for her research project to investigate the formation of bacterial biofilms. Hengge will receive an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant in an amount of up to two million euros.

15 Dec 2009

Beneficiaries may need to pay coinsurance for orally delivered oncology drugs, says new report

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that over the next five years, a greater percentage of health plans will transition orally delivered oncology drugs from a copayment structure to a reimbursement model that incorporates a coinsurance payment, thereby shifting more costs onto patients. Copayments represent a set dollar amount associated with a pharmacy benefit while coinsurance represents a percentage of cost that must be paid by the beneficiary.

15 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

Mediware Information Systems acquires two software companies

Mediware Information Systems, Inc. announced today that it has finalized the acquisitions of Healthcare Automation Inc. (HAI) and Advantage Reimbursement Inc. (ARI), which provides software and outsourcing solutions for home health providers.

15 Dec 2009

Manchester Pharmaceuticals' Chenodal now available for patients suffering from gallstones

Manchester Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(TM) announced today the availability of Chenodal(TM) 250 mg (chenodiol tablets). On October 22, 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Chenodal, an important therapy for patients suffering from gallstones in whom surgery poses an unacceptable health risk due to disease or advanced age.

15 Dec 2009

Study shows elderly blacks more likely to skip medication compared to white counterparts

Older adults experience a number of medication-related problems, including under treatment, suboptimal drugs, suboptimal dosing, and non-adherence, which can have negative effects on their quality of life. Now new research, from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that blacks have more medication-related problems than whites, and non-adherence to medical regimens is a particular issue for this group.

15 Dec 2009

ZYPREXA RELPREVV approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ZYPREXA RELPREVV (olanzapine) For Extended Release Injectable Suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, Eli Lilly and Company announced today.

14 Dec 2009

Synexus organises conference to raise awareness of the role of clinical research in drug development

Synexus in Poland organised the first ‘Importance of Clinical Trials in Medical Practice’ conference last week, in conjunction with Wroclaw Medical University. The event, targeting senior medical professionals, aimed to raise awareness of the role of clinical research in drug development and the importance of the business to Poland.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 14 Dec 2009