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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.

Free web-based e-prescribing solution for Iowa physicians

Iowa's largest integrated health care system and the nation's largest provider of electronic prescribing software today announced the launch of an initiative to convert a majority of the state's physicians from paper prescriptions -- known to be the cause of costly medical errors -- to electronic prescribing.

12 Oct 2009

Holistic care needed for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia

Whilst cognitive function can be improved by the medicines currently available for the treatment of dementias, the positive effects of improved socialibility, initiative and motivation on the patient and their carer as well as their capability of coping with everyday life should not be overlooked says a research report published by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (the Trust).

12 Oct 2009

Orion Genomics enters collaboration and license agreement with Novartis Pharma

Orion Genomics today announced that it has entered into a multi-year collaboration and license agreement with the molecular diagnostics unit of Novartis Pharma AG. Under the collaboration, the parties seek to discover novel epigenetic biomarkers, and both parties have rights to independently develop and commercialize diagnostic products in their respective fields.

12 Oct 2009

Federal stimulus funds for comparative-effectiveness research in cancer

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington schools of Public Health and Pharmacy have been selected to lead four projects backed by approximately $16 million in federal stimulus funding for comparative-effectiveness research in cancer.

12 Oct 2009

Up-to-date compendium of state and federal pharmacy statutes and regulations now available

The most comprehensive, up-to-date compendium of state and federal pharmacy statutes and regulations is now available from Point of Care Partners (POCP), a nationally known boutique healthcare information technology (HIT) strategy and management consulting firm with expertise in ePrescribing, chronic care management, electronic health records, health information exchanges and personal health records.

9 Oct 2009

Generic medicines and mail-service pharmacies are viable options for reducing health care costs

Many consumers looking for ways to reduce their health care costs are taking potentially dangerous steps such as foregoing prescription drug medications altogether or skipping necessary refills, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports.

9 Oct 2009

Educational Summit to address healthcare and pharmacies’ role in the coming years

The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), a not-for-profit pharmacy standards development organization, announced its upcoming Educational Summit, Looking Ahead: Healthcare in the Next Decade, November 3, 2009 in New Orleans.

9 Oct 2009

Aetna releases its 2009-2010 Latino Calendar

Aetna has released its 2009-2010 Latino Calendar, which celebrates contemporary Latino role models who are helping to build stronger, healthy communities. The online version of the calendar is available at www.aetnahispaniccalendar.com.

8 Oct 2009

CVS/Pharmacy honored with two national safety awards

CVS/pharmacy was recently honored by two transportation trade associations with national safety awards for the transportation operations of its Logistics Department.

8 Oct 2009

New cancer drugs boost drug spending

Cancer treatments are on track to become the biggest driver of specialty pharmacy spending as its contribution to overall drug spending hit five percent for the first time in the first half of 2009, according to Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

8 Oct 2009

Privately insured African-Americans HMO enrollees more likely to use emergency rooms

Health insurance, and the access it provides to a primary care physician, should reduce the use of a major driver of health care costs: the emergency room.

8 Oct 2009

Rite Aid pharmacists provide regular seasonal flu shots to help prevent flu

Patients have more options than ever this year at their local Rite Aid pharmacy to help prevent the flu. More than 2,000 Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacists in more than 1,500 Rite Aid stores have been giving regular seasonal flu shots and will continue to do so throughout the flu season.

8 Oct 2009

Medicare fraud, once a white-collar crime, now attracts Mafia, violence

The Associated Press reports: "Lured by easier money and shorter prison sentences, Mafia figures and other violent criminals are increasingly moving into Medicare fraud and spilling blood over what was once a white-collar crime."

8 Oct 2009

Effective use of economic incentives and clinical tools help employers to control drug benefit costs

Employers are effectively controlling drug benefit costs and utilization, according to research findings in the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute's (PBMI) 2009-2010 Prescription Drug Benefit Cost and Plan Design Report. PBMI's employer survey shows the average rate of increase in drug costs has dropped to 4.4%, the lowest rate of increase since PBMI began conducting the study in 1995.

8 Oct 2009

The Prescription Center Pharmacy launches 'Be Prepared, Not Scared' campaign

The Prescription Center Pharmacy, headquartered in Beverly Hills, California announced its “Be Prepared, Not Scared” campaign today. The purpose of the campaign is to help both businesses and consumers stay healthy, without dramatically changing their daily routines. Dr. Afshin Nassir, the pharmacy’s Founder and CEO, states that “We want to help businesses and consumers create a realistic plan to deal with the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus, which is now, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), at a Pandemic stage.”

8 Oct 2009

2010 Medco Medicare Prescription Plan to identify lower-cost medication options

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is helping seniors in this tough economy find smart solutions for getting the most value out of their Medicare prescription drug plan.

7 Oct 2009

Views on primary source of healthcare reform funding differ between payers and physicians

Responding to President Obama's claim that funding for proposed US healthcare reforms exists within the current system, payers and physicians have different views on where the savings will be found to support the new initiatives.

7 Oct 2009

Deadline for pharmacies to meet Medicare’s DMEPOS accreditation requirements extended, Senate lauded

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) commended the Senate for passing a bill extending from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2009 the deadline for meeting pharmacy accreditation requirements to continue offering Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS).

7 Oct 2009

Research to explore diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases

The National Institutes of Health announced today a second phase of the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) including funds for 19 research consortia.

7 Oct 2009