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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.

VA commits last of its Recovery Act funds to increase access to health care, services to Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs committed the last of its $1.8 billion in Recovery Act funds July 31, one of the first federal agencies to achieve that milestone. Projects at more than 1,200 sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will increase access to health care and services to Veterans, while creating jobs and stimulating the economy.

6 Aug 2010

Need for trained medical professionals to treat medical emergencies in high school athletes

As summer football practice gets into full swing, it's essential to be aware of the risk of exertional heat stroke (EHS) in high school athletes, according to a Safety Alert in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

6 Aug 2010

Fidaxomicin, CDA1/CDB1 effective for treating CDI : Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in first- and second-line treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, nearly 70 percent of surveyed infectious disease specialists and internists will use Optimer's fidaxomicin and nearly half will use Medarex/Merck's CDA1 and CDB1, one year after the launch of these agents. The lower recurrent/relapse rate associated with fidaxomicin and CDA1/CDB1 is the most influential attribute surveyed clinicians cite in their decisions to prescribe these emerging agents for CDI.

6 Aug 2010

HHS Secretary announces $159.1M in grants to health care workforce training programs

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today will announce $159.1 million in grants to health care workforce training programs. These grants build on the multimillion dollar investments made under the Affordable Care Act and Recovery Act to strengthen and grow our primary care workforce. The grants will target three types of programs: Nursing Workforce Development programs; interdisciplinary geriatric education and training programs; and Centers of Excellence programs for underrepresented minority students.

6 Aug 2010

CIGNA second-quarter consolidated revenues increase to $5.4 billion

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders' net income of $294 million, or $1.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2010 compared with shareholders' net income of $435 million, or $1.58 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders' net income included a loss of $0.37 per share in the second quarter of 2010 and income of $0.40 per share for the same period last year from results of the GMIB business, primarily related to interest rate movements.

5 Aug 2010

EBRI publishes detailed summary of consumer-driven health plans

The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute today published a detailed summary of what is known about consumer-driven health plans, a relatively new option for paying for medical expenses that first began to appear nearly a decade ago.

5 Aug 2010

Catalyst Health Solutions second-quarter 2010 net income up 21%

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., a pharmacy benefit management company, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The Company reported quarterly net income of $19.5 million, up 21% compared to $16.2 million in the prior year. Earnings per diluted share increased by $0.07 to $0.44 from $0.37. Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, grew by 24% to $890.1 million from $717.6 million in the prior year.

5 Aug 2010

USN-DAAT to collect unused, expired prescription and OTC drugs from public

Following the overwhelming success of Southern Nevada's first Operation Medicine Cabinet event in February, University of Southern Nevada's Drug Abuse Awareness team and a coalition of local organizations have come together for a second event to collect unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs from the public.

4 Aug 2010

PCV-7 vaccine introduction leads to changing patterns of hemolytic uremic syndrome

Introduction of the PCV-7 vaccine to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) has led to a shift in the types of bacteria causing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)—an important cause of acute kidney failure in children, reports a study in the August issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

4 Aug 2010

drugstore.com announces extension of strategic alliance with Medco Health Solutions

drugstore.com, inc., a leading online retailer of health, beauty, vision, and pharmacy products, today announced the extension through 2018 of its strategic alliance with Medco Health Solutions, Inc., one of the nation's leading healthcare companies.

4 Aug 2010

Special issue on new developments in vestibular rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is essential for patients with disabling symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness caused by disorders of the vestibular system. A special issue of The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) presents an update on new and emerging vestibular rehabilitation techniques, highlighting the physical therapist's role on the multidisciplinary teams providing patient care and research.

4 Aug 2010

CorVel quarterly revenues increase 13% to $91.5 million

CorVel Corporation reported earnings per share of $0.64 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a 30% increase compared to $0.49 in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The Company reported quarterly revenues of $91.5 million, a 13% increase compared to $81.3 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year.

3 Aug 2010

Acorda second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.8 million

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Hospitals, health systems select Service Line Analytics solution from MedAssets

To improve margins and increase efficiency ahead of healthcare reform implications, more than 100 hospitals and health systems have signed up to use MedAssets' Service Line Analytics. Launched in October 2009, the online solution identifies sustainable financial improvement opportunities across all service lines by connecting supply costs with both clinical outcomes and patient encounters.

3 Aug 2010

New, improved ClinicTools now available

The new and improved ClinicTools is deployed. Physicians can send error-free prescriptions, including test orders, electronically. Pharmacies, labs and diagnostic centers can now register for free to increase their respective business. ClinicTools started out as simply an electronic medical record platform for healthcare providers.

3 Aug 2010

Humana second quarter consolidated revenues rises 10% to $8.65 billion

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (2Q10) of $2.00, above management's guidance of $1.65 to $1.70. The 2Q10 results compared to EPS of $1.67 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 (2Q09). For the six months ended June 30, 2010 (1H10) the company reported $3.52 in EPS compared to $2.89 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 (1H09).

2 Aug 2010

DR Walk-in Medical Center at Union Square for quality health care

A new way to receive affordable, quality health care arrives in lower Manhattan today, as the physicians of New York Walk In Medical Group, PC, open a DR Walk-in Medical Center in the new Duane Reade at 1 Union Square.

2 Aug 2010

Aetna offers help to fire-impacted areas in Southern California

Aetna is making it easier for members impacted by the wildfires burning in Kern County and Northern Los Angeles County to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs. The company is monitoring the situation carefully, and will re-evaluate its medical and dental policies for members as necessary to help them access care in the fire-impacted areas in Southern California where many people face evacuations from their homes.

31 Jul 2010

BioScrip second-quarter 2010 revenue increases 25% to $412.0 million

BioScrip, Inc. announced 2010 second quarter revenue of $412.0 million, operating income of $13.5 million and net income of $3.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. Second quarter adjusted earnings per share (detailed in schedule 5) was $0.07 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $18.4 million. All 2010 per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the Company's issuance of 13.1 million shares in conjunction with the acquisition of CHS.

30 Jul 2010

America Service Group second-quarter healthcare revenues increase 2.4% to $156.2 million

America Service Group Inc. announced today results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010, and increased its guidance for full year 2010 pro forma net income.

30 Jul 2010