Pharmacist News and Research

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There are many tasks that a pharmacist is responsible for each day. Pharmacists are some of the most accessible members of the healthcare team, as individuals can seek their advice quickly and easily, even without an appointment.

FDA joins Abbott Diabetes Careto to recall 359 glucose test strips

The test strips being recalled may give falsely low blood glucose results. False results may lead patients to try to raise their blood glucose unnecessarily, or they may fail to treat elevated blood glucose because of a false, low reading. Both scenarios pose risks to a patient's health.

22 Dec 2010

Gifts to help navigate daily routine best for people living with chronic conditions

For those living with chronic conditions, the best holiday gift is something that will make navigating the daily routine easier.

22 Dec 2010

Golden Living establishes in-house consulting pharmacy company

Golden Living has established a new, in-house consulting pharmacy company that will focus on improving medication safety and patient outcomes. Golden Clinical Rx Services is based on an innovative clinical pharmacist model that will make certified geriatric pharmacists (CGPs) part of the interdisciplinary clinical teams that care for Golden LivingCenter patients and will leverage technology to improve patient outcomes.

8 Dec 2010

Conn. addresses insurance rates, Mass. physician groups evaluate controversial payment plan

"House and Senate leaders are eyeing passage of a second midyear spending bill before the start of the next legislative session to address more caseload-driven accounts that are running short on funds five months after Gov. Deval Patrick signed the fiscal 2011 budget. The deficiencies, which follow inaccurate enrollment estimates for MassHealth and other social service programs, threaten to eat into some the revenue surpluses the state has amassed over the first half of fiscal 2011, when tax receipts have exceeded projections" (Murphy, 12/7).

8 Dec 2010

Prostate cancer imaging shows real-time tumor metabolism

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.

3 Dec 2010

Medical groups weigh in on health reform, pay freeze

News outlets report on how new treatment models impact care, as well as political developments and positions among medical organizations.

2 Dec 2010

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

30 Nov 2010

North Sunflower Medical Center to deploy McKesson health IT solutions

As part of its mission to become the first critical access hospital in Mississippi to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health record EHR) technology, North Sunflower Medical Center plans to deploy a suite of McKesson information technology solutions. The new systems will replace paper-based records and disparate technologies and address duplicate data entry challenges with communications capabilities designed to automate outdated manual processes and better coordinate care.

22 Nov 2010

Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment, increase healthcare costs

Failure to have a prescription filled can undermine medical treatment, result in increased health care costs and potentially have devastating results for the patient.

19 Nov 2010

NYU Langone creates new pharmacy with advanced robotic equipment

As part of its ongoing commitment to providing patient-centered care, NYU Langone Medical Center has created a state-of-the-art pharmacy to maximize efficiency and enhance patient safety. Made possible as part of a generous gift from the Tisch families, the new pharmacy features advanced robotic equipment that automatically sorts and dispenses medications with 99.99% accuracy. Located on the 3rd floor of the Medical Center's flagship Tisch Hospital, the new pharmacy is the first of its kind in New York City and the second in New York State.

17 Nov 2010

Changes to flexible spending accounts; High co-pays prompt abandoned prescriptions

Minnesota Public Radio: "[T]he federal health care reform law is cutting back on what [flexible spending] accounts will cover and how much workers can put into them. … These two changes are designed to raise more tax revenue to help pay for insuring another 32 million Americans beginning in 2014.

16 Nov 2010

Color of tablet appears to be integral component for OTC product

According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. Now, researchers at the University of Bombay, New Mumbai, India, have surveyed users of over-the-counter (OTC) medication to find out just how much the color of a tablet influences patient choice.

16 Nov 2010

Medicare's annual open-enrollment period starts in Idaho

Today marks an important day for roughly 15% of Idaho's population, it's the start of Medicare's annual open-enrollment period, the only time of the year beneficiaries can drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2011.

16 Nov 2010

Teens abuse prescription drugs more than illegal drugs

According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, teens abuse prescription medications more than all illegal drugs combined, excluding marijuana. Many teens are under the misconception that these highly addictive, easily accessible drugs are "safer" than illicit drugs.

9 Nov 2010

IU's cost-saving model of home-based care management for low-income older adults earns recognition

A model program developed at Indiana University to provide care to low-income older adults in their homes has earned recognition for its effective approach and cost-saving benefits in a leading national medical journal.

3 Nov 2010

PharmaTrust signs agreement with Sagamok community to provide MedCentre

PharmaTrust has signed the first agreement of its kind to provide a MedCentre to a First Nation community in northern Ontario. In a signing ceremony on October 29th the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation community finalized an agreement with PharmaTrust for the deployment of a MedCentre, which will give the community the option of convenient 24/7 access to pharmacy services.

2 Nov 2010

Thomson Reuters launches Pharmacy Xpert dashboard to manage medication therapy

Thomson Reuters, a global provider of information for healthcare professionals, today announced the launch of Thomson Reuters Pharmacy Xpert the first-of-its-kind clinical intelligence dashboard that helps hospital pharmacists better manage medication therapy to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and manage risk.

2 Nov 2010

Catalina Marketing's blueprint can help shoppers to make positive choices in nutrition, lifestyle management

A new consumer attitude research study conducted by Catalina Marketing, the global leader in shopper-driven marketing solutions, reveals that, despite the industry's healthy-eating consumer initiatives, shoppers have not changed their old buying habits, behavior and perceptions.

1 Nov 2010

Rite Aid to host flu shot clinics at nationwide pharmacies

With the holidays getting closer, Rite Aid is reminding people to get a flu shot so that the only thing they are spreading this season is good cheer. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can take up to two weeks for flu shots to be effective and protect against the flu; those who get their flu shot now can help protect themselves by the time they sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

30 Oct 2010

CutisPharma receives U.S patent for suppository compounding

CutisPharma, Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its patent (US 7,815,929) regarding a method for the preparation, storage and dispensing of compounded suppositories.

28 Oct 2010