JCAHO seeks hospitals to test psychiatric measures
September 18th 2006The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is looking for a few good hospitals. A few good psychiatric hospitals, that is. JCAHO is rolling out its first-ever hospital-based performance measures for inpatient psychiatric care for a year-long trial run starting in January 2007. Final measures will be released in October 2008.
Pharmacist intervention benefits diabetic patients
September 18th 2006Data from a new study funded in part by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) revealed a robust reduction in patients' blood sugar levels when pharmacists or nurses were utilized as case managers who made independent decisions regarding medication use instead of waiting for physician approval.
FDA puts compounding pharmacies on hot seat
September 18th 2006The Food & Drug Administration recently issued letters to three pharmacies warning them to "stop manufacturing and distributing thousands of doses of compounded, unapproved inhalation drugs nationwide." The three named companies, RoTech Healthcare, CCS Medical, and Reliant Pharmacy Services, were all warned that if they did not comply, they risked injunctions and the possible seizure of their products in question.
Managing hyperglycemia in Type 2 diabetes: Here's how
September 18th 2006The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) recently created a consensus statement on the management of hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes. "This is a consensus document that is supported by evidence from clinical trials. Some of the recommendations are based on expert opinion, but this is true for any guideline. These guidelines will likely be useful to pharmacists and nurses because many times their practice is driven by guidelines," stated Stuart Haines, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP, professor and vice chair for education at the University of Maryland school of pharmacy.
New guide addresses valvular heart disease
September 18th 2006Managing patients with valvular heart conditions can be a real challenge. They often require lifelong monitoring, with replacement surgery and subsequent anticoagulation. Recently, in a joint effort, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) revised their 1998 recommendations to create the ACC/ AHA 2006 Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease. The executive summary and recommendations were published in the Aug. 1, 2006, issues of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation.
Hepatitis C treatments show early promise
September 18th 2006For a disease that affects an estimated 3.9 million Americans, the treatment of choice works only about 50% of the time for patients with genotype 1, the most common type of hepatitis C virus (HCV) found in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Sustained response rates are slightly higher in genotypes 2 and 3 (up to 80%).
Updated guidelines target treatment of STDs
September 18th 2006In an effort to improve the care of patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently updated its STD guidelines. The update is an evidence-based document, the result of experts' evaluation of the medical literature since the previous publication of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines in 2002.
R.Ph.s support Plan B's new pharmacy-only status
September 18th 2006The pharmacy community seems to be solidly behind the Food & Drug Administration's move to switch Duramed Pharmaceuticals' Plan B (levonorgestrel) emergency contraception to over-the-counter status. In giving the green light, the FDA granted OTC status for consumers 18 years of age and older, while maintaining the prescription status for girls 17 and younger.
Pharmacists want federal drug pedigree standard
September 11th 2006A majority of pharmacists want an overarching federal approach to drug pedigree laws, according to an Instant Poll on Drug Topics' Web site, posted in August. Fifty-six percent of the 538 voters stated that they preferred a standard law across the country to a patchwork of state laws.
Work group studying how to measure R.Ph.s' performance
September 11th 2006A Pharmacy Quality Alliance work group is drafting a starter set of measures to evaluate pharmacy performance under Medicare Part D. This is a part of CMS' pay-for-performance approach, under which health plans would pay pharmacists who perform according to metrics identified by industry stakeholders.
FDA asks U.S. marshals to seize dietary supplements
September 11th 2006On Sept. 5, U.S. marshals seized quantities of Ellagimax capsules, Coral Max capsules, Coral Max without Iron capsules, and Advance Arthritis Support capsules distributed by Advantage Nutraceuticals LLC of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., valued at about $55,000. The products are alleged to be in violation of the new drug and misbranding provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
New diabetes treatment combines two drugs into one
September 4th 2006As the saying goes, two are better than one. And that's just what Takeda Pharmaceuticals is saying about its new combination drug recently approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Duetact takes pioglitazone (Actos, Takeda)-a thiazolidinedione-and adds glimepiride-a sulfonylurea-in an effort to offer Type 2 diabetes patients a new, once-daily alternative.
New diabetes treatment combines two drugs into one
September 4th 2006As the saying goes, two are better than one. And that's just what Takeda Pharmaceuticals is saying about its new combination drug recently approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Duetact takes pioglitazone (Actos, Takeda)-a thiazolidinedione-and adds glimepiride-a sulfonylurea-in an effort to offer Type 2 diabetes patients a new, once-daily alternative.
Medco employee found shot to death
September 4th 2006Paul Duncsak, a pharmacist who was employed by Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco Health Solutions, was found shot to death in his Ramsey, N.J., home on Aug. 23. According to newspaper reports, Duncsak was involved in a bitter divorce and child-custody battle with his ex-wife.
Managing drug expenses through the Part D donut hole
September 4th 2006There are several important things that all Medicare Part D beneficiaries can do to avoid falling in the Medicare Part D "donut hole," according to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. Recommendations from the organization include make use of generic drugs whenever appropriate; talk to your doctor or pharmacist about alternative drugs; don't stop taking your medications to save money; talk to your doctor or pharmacist about cutting tablets in half; and remember to use your Medicare card each time you purchase drugs, whether or not you have reached the donut hole.
Study faults FDA approval process
September 4th 2006Seventy-nine percent of drugs and medical devices are approved by the FDA's outside advisory panels, according to a study conducted by National Research Center for Women & Families. The Washington-based nonprofit research group termed the committees as little more than "rubber stamps" for drug companies.
March of Dimes to FDA: Approve preterm birth drug
September 4th 2006The March of Dimes medical director, Nancy Green, has testified before the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee on the benefit of injectable progesterone for pregnant patients at risk of delivering premature infants. The drug, known as 17-P, or 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (Gestiva), is currently under priority review by the FDA for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a history of early delivery.
FDA warns of Canadian counterfeit drugs
September 4th 2006Consumers should not purchase medications from Web sites that have prescription orders filled by Mediplan Prescription Plus Pharmacy or Mediplan Global Health in Manitoba, warned the FDA. Apparently the sites are selling counterfeit drugs to U.S. consumers that include versions of Lipitor, Actonel, Nexium, Hyzaar, Ezetrol (sold as Zetia in the U.S.), Crestor, Celebrex, Arimidex, Propecia, and Diovan.
R.Ph.s: Sudafed replacement is ineffective
September 4th 2006Sudafed PE, Pfizer's OTC decongestant that replaced Sudafed on drugstore shelves, is not "sufficiently absorbed into the bloodstream to make it an effective oral medication," according to pharmacists at the University of Florida. A Pfizer spokesman said the drug is effective, but consumers also can ask for the original Sudafed, which is now kept behind pharmacy counters to prevent criminals from buying it to make methamphetamine.
California to pass drug discount program
September 4th 2006Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R, Calif.) is expected to sign a compromise bill passed by the Democrat-controlled state legislature that would create a prescription drug discount program for many residents lacking drug coverage or with inadequate drug coverage. The compromise allows the drug companies three years to negotiate discounts or risk exclusion from the Medi-Cal list of approved drugs.