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.

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

Patients may not benefit from e-samples of prescription drugs, says UW

Search the Internet to learn about your asthma, high cholesterol or other common disorder, and odds are you'll be directed to a pharmaceutical company-sponsored Web homepage. There you'll often find an offer for a free sample or a one-time discount on a top-selling prescription medication.

25 Nov 2009

Team-based care and medical homes may improve chronic disease management

Patients whose hypertension is managed by a physician-pharmacist team have lower blood pressure levels and are more likely to reach goals for blood pressure control than those treated without this collaborative approach, according to a report in the November 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

24 Nov 2009

Majority of mothers personally manage their children's health this coming winter

Three out of four mothers with a child between the ages of two through 12 are extremely, very, or somewhat concerned about their child's health this coming winter, according to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation and commissioned by Bionorica, an international company pioneering clinical research of natural remedies including Sinupret® for Kids, a product which supports healthy respiratory function in children (www.bionoricausa.com).

18 Nov 2009

Intervention to reduce over-dispensing of asthma medications effective without compromising patient safety

Research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting shows that an intervention to reduce over-dispensing and waste of asthma medications can succeed without compromising patient safety and can result in substantial cost savings.

13 Nov 2009

54% of Americans are inconsistent in taking prescriptions, reveals survey

A new survey finds that 54 percent of Americans say they do not consistently take prescriptions as instructed even though 87 percent believe prescription medicines are important to their health – pointing to a growing public health problem.

12 Nov 2009

Majority of pharmacists say patients should use OTC drugs at the first sign of cold and flu symptoms

A recent national survey of 505 pharmacists found that nine out of 10 pharmacists believe it is important for a patient to seek treatment early to help shorten the duration and severity of a cold.

11 Nov 2009

Diabetic Care Services responds to NRF's updated “Buyer Beware” list

Diabetic Care Services responds to the National Retail Federation’s updated “Buyer Beware” list with tips on avoiding fraudulent diabetes supplies. The NRF updated its list of common household items, including diabetes supplies, sold on online auction sites that are at risk of being stolen or tainted.

10 Nov 2009

Thomson Reuters releases CareFocus 2.0 clinical surveillance solution

Thomson Reuters today announced the newest release of Clinical Xpert(TM) CareFocus, a leading clinical surveillance solution that enables hospitals to identify at-risk patients in real-time and respond immediately to improve clinical quality and reduce total cost of treatment.

9 Nov 2009

Health experts report rising number of oral cancer in younger age groups

Mouth cancer (also called oral cancer) is a malignant growth which can occur in any part of the mouth including the lips and tongue. In the UK, the numbers of new cases have risen by over 41 per cent over the last ten years(1).

7 Nov 2009

Majority of women smokers unaware of immediate and long term health risks

Many women are aware that smoking can lead to lung cancer, heart disease and premature death. But a recent survey conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of nicotine replacement therapy brands, NICODERM(R) and NICORETTE(R) reveals that the majority of Canadian women who smoke are not necessarily aware of the host of other impacts that smoking can have on their immediate and longer term health.

4 Nov 2009

Tamiflu in short supply, pharmacists compound doses for children suffering from the H1N1 flu virus

Community pharmacists have stepped up to meet the shortage of Tamiflu by compounding doses for children suffering from the H1N1 flu virus, but they are struggling with supply problems and insurance plans, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.

3 Nov 2009

National Sleep Foundation offers tips and countermeasures to prevent fall-asleep crashes

Sleepiness is often overlooked as a major contributor to vehicle crashes. The National Sleep Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll shows that 1% or as many as 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in the past year. Even more surprising, 54% of drivers (105 million) have driven while drowsy at least once in the past year, and 28% (54 million) do so at least once per month.

2 Nov 2009

Requests to compound liquid Tamiflu have steadily increased over the past couple of weeks

There has been a lot of information about the importance of taking preventative measures against H1N1, primarily through vaccination. But what if a person has already contracted H1N1? What if that person is a young child?

31 Oct 2009

MedImpact to provide a suite of free, online flu self-assessment tools

MedImpact has collaborated with the American Medical Association (AMA) and other health care organizations to provide a suite of free, online flu self-assessment tools to MedImpact clients and to the 32 million individual members they serve.

31 Oct 2009

Any cuts to the prescription drug program will affect senior citizens, says Network/Alliance

The Older Canadians Network / Alliance of Seniors (Network/Alliance) is warning the Ontario government that any cuts to the prescription drug program would disproportionately affect the province's senior citizens.

30 Oct 2009

Dr. Heather Greene to receive 2009 C.A.R.E. Pharmacy Award

Eisai Inc. and the Alzheimer's Association announce today that Heather Greene, PharmD is the recipient of the 2009 C.A.R.E. Pharmacy Award.

30 Oct 2009

Tips for affording expensive medication

You've lost your prescription insurance benefits because of unemployment; you don't have the extra money you once did for the co-pay; you have an expensive medication that isn't covered. Unfortunately, this is the current situation for many Americans. Carriann Richey, director of outreach and assistant professor of pharmacy practice for Butler University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, says while affording medications in today's economy may be more difficult than ever before, there are options out there that can help.

28 Oct 2009

Rhode Island launches new system for tracking swine flu

At a press conference featuring healthcare leaders from throughout the state, Governor Donald L. Carcieri will announce that Rhode Island has launched a new system for tracking swine flu. Unprecedented in its approach, the system makes use of prescribing data provided by pharmacies throughout the state via a secure electronic link. In yet another first for the state and the nation, Rhode Island will also announce that it has now connected 100 percent of its retail pharmacies for e-prescribing.

27 Oct 2009

Kmart Pharmacies rewards its customers for having all prescriptions filled at one pharmacy

While preparing for the final months of 2009, remember that not only is Kmart a store for holiday gift buying, but it's also a great location for taking care of health and wellness needs during winter and throughout the year. Kmart Pharmacies nationwide are now offering services and rewards to encourage customers to manage their wellness in one place, which includes having all prescriptions filled at one pharmacy.

24 Oct 2009