Pharmacy News and Research

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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.

Government cracks down on drug marketing

Recent crackdown on pharmaceutical companies suggests that drug marketing remains an issue with federal authorities. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Novartis AG's agreement to settle criminal allegations involving marketing of an epilepsy drug is the latest in a string of cases showing that improper marketing practices are still a problem years after the U.S. government started cracking down on them.

30 Jan 2010

URAC's 2010 Best Practices Awards will recognize innovative leadership and successful health programs

URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation and education organization, has issued a call for entries for its 2010 Best Practices Awards in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection to find which companies are setting the standard in advancing the role of consumers as active participants in health care.

29 Jan 2010

Surgeons have a lower preference for back surgery than family doctors

Surgeons are less likely than family physicians or patients to view surgery as the preferred treatment option for low back pain, according to a study in the January 1 issue of Spine.

29 Jan 2010

Collaborative approach will build drug system that works for patients, pharmacies, government

The Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) stated that they strongly support the new pharmacy funding and services model agreement announced today by Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW).

29 Jan 2010

Ecstasy-related death rates in young users is a major public health issue

A paper by a University of Hertfordshire academic due to be published tomorrow (29 January 2010), reports that excess ecstasy-related death rates in young users is a cause for concern.

29 Jan 2010

WellPoint's profits are up; CEO says premiums would rise under health overhaul

WellPoint's profits are up in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, CEO Angela Braly says premiums would rise under the Democrats' plans to require insurers to cover all Americans.

29 Jan 2010

AccuDial Pharmaceutical introduces eight new OTC medications in Canada

AccuDial® Pharmaceutical, Inc. delivered a power-packed launch with their new family of eight over-the-counter (OTC) medications in Canada. Colorful floor displays enjoyed prominent placement in every Quebec Walmart pharmacy, and were filled with AccuDial's pain and fever, allergy, and cough and cold pediatric medications.

29 Jan 2010

Christiana Care Health System introduces COPE technology for common diagnoses

Christiana Care Health System is taking a giant leap forward toward a comprehensive Electronic Health Record with the launch of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE), technology that makes it easier, more efficient and safer for doctors to order tests and medications.

28 Jan 2010

Scientific and regulatory experts to discuss global and domestic public health issues

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) will convene a meeting of its member organizations on April 21󈞄 in Washington, D.C. Member delegates and experts from around the world will gather to discuss pressing global and domestic public health issues.

28 Jan 2010

Workers' compensation status may affect treatment outcomes for herniated disks

Surgery provides better results than nonsurgical treatment for most patients with back pain related to a herniated disk—but not for those receiving workers' compensation for work-related injuries, reports a study in the January 1 issue of Spine.

28 Jan 2010

Study shows ActiveHealth's VBID programs increase adherence to medications

ActiveHealth Management (ActiveHealth®), a subsidiary of Aetna, today announced the publication of a paper in the February issue of Health Affairs. The paper demonstrates that properly structured value-based insurance design (VBID) programs can be effective at increasing adherence to drug regimens for specific chronic medical conditions without increasing overall costs.

28 Jan 2010

FreeRxReminder.com launches new online Institutional Reminder Service

Patient compliance with their drug regimen is of vital importance to both the individual and the various parties that are involved in the patient's health, like doctors, pharmacies and insurance companies.

28 Jan 2010

Heavy backpacks can increase back pain in children

Heavy backpacks place a measurable strain on the spines of children, with heavier loads causing greater spinal strain and increased back pain, reports a study in the January 1 issue of Spine.

28 Jan 2010

Vitamin D supplements can counter the effects of Crohn's disease

A new study has found that Vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease. John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, led a team of scientists from McGill University and the Universit- de Montr-al who present their findings about the inflammatory bowel disease in the latest Journal of Biological Chemistry.

27 Jan 2010

Health care stocks gain as reform falters

"Health care stocks lagged the broader market's recovery in 2009," Forbes reports.

27 Jan 2010

Conmed Healthcare Management and Pima County, Arizona sign $2.8M medical services agreement

Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc., a leading full service provider of correctional facility healthcare services to county and municipal detention centers, today announced that it has signed a medical services contract with Pima County, Arizona to provided services at their Juvenile Detention Center. The initial term of the contract is two years and five months with projected revenues of approximately $2.8 million.

27 Jan 2010

WellPoint announces net income of $2.7 billion for fourth-quarter fiscal 2009

WellPoint, Inc. today announced that fourth quarter 2009 net income was $2.7 billion, or $5.95 per share. The results included net after-tax income of approximately $2.2 billion, or $4.79 per share, resulting from a gain on the sale of the NextRx pharmacy benefit management subsidiaries ("NextRx"), partially offset by costs for restructuring activities and intangible asset impairments.

27 Jan 2010

BioScrip signs definitive agreement to acquire Critical Homecare Solutions

BioScrip, Inc. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Critical Homecare Solutions (“CHS”), a leading provider of home infusion and home health agency services to patients suffering from chronic and acute medical conditions.

25 Jan 2010

New book on fraud and abuse laws and regulations affecting health care industry published

BNA Books, a division of specialized news and information publisher BNA, announced today the publication of the 2009 Cumulative Supplement to Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Practical Perspectives, Second Edition.

23 Jan 2010

First U.S. facial transplantation procedure: Functional, psychological, and social outcome excellent

Detailed information on the first facial transplantation procedure performed in the United States is presented in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). 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.

23 Jan 2010