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.

Utah tries to improve state health insurance exhange; Mich. plans for doctor shortage

The Salt Lake Tribune: "State health reform got a boost Tuesday with House passage of a fix-it bill to improve the Utah Health Exchange, an online tool for purchasing health insurance. Pitched as a free-market approach to lowering costs for small businesses, the exchange has had limited success. Only 400 people are receiving health insurance in its experimental first stage. And some of its 66 plans are up to 130 percent more expensive than what some companies were already paying. That's because insurers are calculating premiums differently 'inside' and 'outside' the exchange, said House Speaker Dave Clark" (Stewart, 2/16).

17 Feb 2010

Study shows value-based plans can improve adherence for diabetes medicines

A study by CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), published this week in the American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits, finds that insurance benefit designs that reduce the cost of medications for plan participants result in patients being more likely to start and stay on their medication therapy.

17 Feb 2010

Teva Novopharm announces name change to Teva Canada Limited

Teva Novopharm announced today it is implementing a name change to Teva Canada Limited, which reinforces the company's relationship with its parent, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the world's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer.

16 Feb 2010

SimMan 3G robotic patient helps pharmacy students practice diagnostic skills

A robot that can be programmed to have a range of medical conditions, from heart disease to constipation, is being used by Pharmacy students at the University of Bath to help practise diagnostic skills and treating patients.

16 Feb 2010

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

A case study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, demonstrates the positive impact of a diabetes management program designed to educate and motivate members to engage in their health care. The program was implemented by CVS Caremark and Polk County, Florida, a self-insured government employer client.

16 Feb 2010

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

Republican leaders are now saying they will not participate in the meeting unless the president takes his health reform plan off the table to start over. I understand their concerns with a variety of issues in the current bills, but where you start is not nearly as important as where you finish. After all, fees continue to skyrocket and millions remain uninsured, costing our country in many ways. ... There is no time like the present for Washington to show America that it is interested in governing, not just in campaigning. The cameras will be rolling, and we will be watching (Christine Todd Whitman, 2/12).

14 Feb 2010

Combination of Motrin and Robitussin drugs is safe for adults and children

A viral e-mail currently making the rounds between private accounts and public message boards warning of a danger posed by mixing over-the-counter medications Motrin and Robitussin is unfounded.

6 Feb 2010

MPR drug information now available for iPhone and iPod touch

MPR – the most widely used drug reference by clinicians – is now available as a free App for the iPhone and iPod touch. The MPR drug database is also available for free for BlackBerry, Palm, and Microsoft Mobile devices, as well as desktop and laptop computers running Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista (www.empr.com/download).

3 Feb 2010

Arthritis pain relief drug ALEVE now available OTC in British Columbia

This winter, British Columbians may be inspired to increase their activity level and take part in some favourite winter pastimes. For those who have joint and arthritis pain, getting back to doing the activities they love may be more of a challenge. ALEVE(R) is the first over-the-counter naproxen sodium tablet, and is now available province-wide. With just one pill, ALEVE(R) offers convenient access to pain relief for up to 12 hours.

29 Jan 2010

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center opens Geriatric ED to treat senior patients

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, recently opened the region's first dedicated Geriatric Emergency Department (Geriatric ED). Treating patients age 65 and older, the department is designed to meet the complex needs of older patients in a senior-friendly environment.

27 Jan 2010

Researchers produce DVD to help patients live with and manage neuropathic pain

Health professionals and patients can now go online for help and tips from a groundbreaking pain clinic, which halved referrals to hospital.

22 Jan 2010

ACP applauds Minister's Advisory Committee on Health for proposed Alberta Health Act

The Alberta College of Pharmacists (ACP) commends the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health for the vision for health care in Alberta outlined in their report, A Foundation for Alberta's Health System.

22 Jan 2010

Albertsons launches new online community to provide value-driven choices for healthier living

Albertsons, a SUPERVALU company, today launched a new online community, AlbertsonsWellbeing.com, that will provide users with tools to help them make easy, value-driven choices for healthier living.

11 Jan 2010

Lives of 400 Swedes can be saved annually if side effects of pharmaceuticals prevented

A scientific study indicates that the lives of 400 Swedes could be saved annually if measures were taken to prevent side effects of pharmaceuticals. Now these researchers in Sweden, at the Nordic School of Public Health (NHV) and elsewhere, have reviewed randomly selected deaths in three Swedish counties and found that 14 percent of these deaths could have been avoided if a drug had been replaced or if the dosage had been lowered.

11 Jan 2010

Bryant Ranch Prepack tracks medications from its manufacture to the patient with E Pedigree

“More and more physicians are realizing that prescriptions that leave the office are like money walking out of the door,” said Fred Ganjian, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Bryant Ranch Prepack, a leading supplier of prepackaged physician-dispensed prescription programs. “In this day of continuing pressure on physicians to cover their costs, physician-dispensed prescriptions have become increasingly important to a physician’s bottom line,” he added.

11 Jan 2010

Apoteket and Medco Health Solutions develop centralized prescription safety program

Apoteket, Sweden's largest pharmacy chain, and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today announced that it has developed one of the first national centralized drug utilization review (DUR) programs outside of the United States to improve prescription safety by reducing adverse drug events and thereby reducing the risk of costly hospitalizations.

7 Jan 2010

NCPA offers lawmakers updated health care reform recommendations

With Senate and House leaders trying to craft a health care reform bill to send to the White House, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today offered lawmakers updated recommendations for the would-be final legislation.

7 Jan 2010

Physicians fail to provide pain treatment for fear of prescription drug abuse

Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive pain treatment - either due to inadequate training, personal biases or fear of prescription drug abuse.

5 Jan 2010

Stop & Shop to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics at select pharmacies

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company Giant today announced it will hold H1N1 vaccination clinics at select pharmacies starting January 8, 2010. Immunizations will cost $15 and be administered as long as quantities associated with this program are available.

5 Jan 2010

H1N1 vaccine available at Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics

Every Walgreens pharmacy, every day. The once-scarce H1N1 vaccine is now available daily at all of the more than 7,100 Walgreens pharmacies and 350 Take Care Clinics throughout the country.

5 Jan 2010

Pharmacist News and Research

Further Reading

Utah tries to improve state health insurance exhange; Mich. plans for doctor shortage

Study shows value-based plans can improve adherence for diabetes medicines

Teva Novopharm announces name change to Teva Canada Limited

SimMan 3G robotic patient helps pharmacy students practice diagnostic skills

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

Combination of Motrin and Robitussin drugs is safe for adults and children

MPR drug information now available for iPhone and iPod touch

Arthritis pain relief drug ALEVE now available OTC in British Columbia

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center opens Geriatric ED to treat senior patients

Researchers produce DVD to help patients live with and manage neuropathic pain

ACP applauds Minister's Advisory Committee on Health for proposed Alberta Health Act

Albertsons launches new online community to provide value-driven choices for healthier living

Lives of 400 Swedes can be saved annually if side effects of pharmaceuticals prevented

Bryant Ranch Prepack tracks medications from its manufacture to the patient with E Pedigree

Apoteket and Medco Health Solutions develop centralized prescription safety program

NCPA offers lawmakers updated health care reform recommendations

Physicians fail to provide pain treatment for fear of prescription drug abuse

Stop & Shop to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics at select pharmacies

H1N1 vaccine available at Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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