ACCP guidelines focus on post-operative atrial fibrillation
September 26th 2005Beta-blockers are the top choice for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and control of ventricular rate, according to the first evidence-based clinical guidelines for the prevention and management of postoperative AF after cardiac surgery, published recently by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
New guidelines help manage chronic heart failure
September 26th 2005Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem and a leading cause of hospitalizations among the elderly. Keeping pace with the new treatment approaches, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) task force recently released updated Guidelines for the Diagnosis and the Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult.
R.Ph.s brace for payment cutbacks from Medicaid
September 26th 2005Community pharmacists, beware. Congress is considering ways to reduce Medicaid spending. The goal is to save $10 billion over the next five years. Among the pharmacy product payment options Congress is evaluating are average selling price (ASP), average manufacturers' price (AMP), and wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) to replace average wholesale price (AWP), which many think has been responsible for Medicaid overpaying for Rx drugs.
CMS proposes giving LTC residents flu shots
September 26th 2005The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published a proposed rule in the Aug. 15 Federal Register that would require long-term care (LTC) facilities to vaccinate all residents against influenza and pneumococcal disease as a condition of participation in Medicare and Medicaid.
Duane Reade on fast track with DR Express
September 26th 2005Picture this scenario. A patient goes into a chain pharmacy, walks over to a kiosk, touches a bull's eye on a screen and is instantly connected with a pharmacy technician. They can see and hear each other, thanks to interactive video conferencing. The patient fills a new prescription, receives counseling from pharmacy staff, and orders OTC products. The order can be picked up at any of the chain's stores, or the items can be delivered free of charge.
Get ready for competitive bidding for DME
September 26th 2005CMS is pursuing changes in the durable medical equipment (DME) benefit under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) that will have a profound effect on the way beneficiaries receive services and the way pharmacies and other DME suppliers provide those services. Laurence Wilson, director of the Chronic Care Policy Group for CMS' Center for Medicare Management, delivered this message to attendees of the National Association of Chain Drugstores Pharmacy and Technology Conference held recently in San Diego.
Pen/cartridge devices aid in treatment of infertility
September 26th 2005Advances in delivery systems for gonadotropins, and specifically the pen/cartridge delivery system for FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), were the focus of "Managing Great Expectations," a recent program on infertility held in New York City. Sponsored by Organon USA, a division of Akzo Nobel, the event included presentations by Steven D. Spandorfer, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist affiliated with Cornell University, and Judy Kuriansky, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist.
Alcoholism guidelines stress use of meds
September 26th 2005Last month, in an effort to make it easier for health professionals to identify and treat patients with heavy drinking and alcohol-use disorders, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinician's Guide. One major difference in the 2005 guide, which replaces an earlier 2003 version, is the recommendation that medications be considered in addition to traditional therapies as part of the treatment process.
New eyedrop treats cataract surgery patients
September 26th 2005Surgeons perform an estimated three million cataract surgeries annually in this country. To help reduce inflammation following ophthalmic surgery, eye care professionals commonly prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.
Hot off the Press for September 19, 2005
September 19th 2005Pharmacy colleges nationwide offer hurricane aid Walgreens launches exclusive line for women of color California R.Ph.s design consumer Rx booklet Florida pharmacy firm offers MTM Spanish fact sheets to help seniors take meds safely Hutchinson appointed to AIHC post Florida county to use in-house R.Ph. Brooks Eckerd to provide in-store nurse practitioner Parents unaware of diarrhea guidelines for kids Nevada approves seven Canadian pharmacies MTM programs save $1 million Walgreens expands senior pharmacy services
Hot off the press for September 12, 2005
September 12th 2005Wal-Mart and SAM's CLUB to host free diabetes screenings USW, NPhA form Pharmacists Council HHS looking for volunteers who want to help hurricane victims ACAM defends use of FDA-approved therapy CMS offers document on Medicare Rx drug coverage Medicare Today partnership: Rx plans will benefit beneficiaries Ten Canadian pharmacies apply to Nevada Mail order use declined, survey finds FDA wants clarity on conditions for dual Rx-to-OTC drug status Analyst positive about 2006 market Medi-Span adds to Rx info CMS readies Medicare provider satisfaction survey Follistim AQ adds 900-IU formulation to product linebr> New Jersey toughens Rx drug trafficking law New Alphagan formulation gets FDA nod Pharmacist personnel firms merge Get your genetic tests at these pharmacies
Under mounting pressure, new breed of PBM is born
September 12th 2005A new type of pharmacy benefit manager has sprung up, preaching transparent pricing. The ideal is to disclose ingredient and dispensing costs, rebates, discounts, and all other financial details to plan sponsors. Rebates, discounts, and other payments flow through to the sponsor. Administrative fees are the PBM's only revenue source.
Pharmacists laud new patient safety legislation
September 12th 2005Reactions throughout the health-system pharmacy community have been overwhelmingly favorable regarding the new federal legislation that would protect medical error information from being used against healthcare practitioners who report adverse events and medication errors.
Who's eligible for financial assistance under Medicare Part D?
September 12th 2005Undoubtedly the public will be hearing much more about Medicare Part D as prescription drug plans (PDPs) are selected and begin promoting their programs. At least one group of people with Medicare already received preliminary information in mailings from the Social Security Administration (SSA): those with low incomes who may qualify for extra help with their out-of-pocket costs associated with the Medicare plans.
Diabetes agent also lowers cholesterol
September 12th 2005Many Type 2 diabetes patients also have a type of dyslipidemia characterized by elevated triglycerides and reduced levels of HDL cholesterol, with total and LDL cholesterol levels normal or elevated. Dual alpha/gamma PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), or glitazars, not only activate PPAR-gamma (as the current glitazones do) but also target the PPAR-alpha to reduce triglyceride concentrations and enable HDL-C increases.
First-ever guideline for skin infections reevaluated
September 12th 2005The first-ever guideline for the treatment of uncomplicated skin infections, produced in January of this year by a panel of six physicians with funding by Abbott Laboratories, is undergoing major revisions and may result in the production of several other algorithms for treatment by other medical specialists. So reported speakers at an Abbott-sponsored symposium in conjunction with the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in Chicago.
Latebreakers: Drug approved for children with growth failure
September 12th 2005The FDA has approved Tercica's Increlex (mecasermin [rDNA origin] injection) for the long-term treatment of growth failure in children with severe primary IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) deficiency (IGFD) or with growth hormone gene deletion who have developed neutralizing antibodies to growth hormone. Increlex is identical to IGF-1, the natural hormone produced in the body that has a broad range of activity central to growth and metabolism.
Hot off the press for September 5, 2005
September 5th 2005Hurricane displaces pharmacy students Wholesalers are meeting customer needs in New Orleans New Orleans hospitals forced to evacuate Most want DTC advertising banned for Rx drugs Albuminar recalled Indictments handed down on counterfeit Lipitor Tech firms partner for electronic health record Cholestyramine for oral suspension gets FDA nod FDA MedWatch issues warning for Trypan FDA recalls Medline alcohol-free mouthwash, hygiene kits
What to look for in paperless pharmacy order management systems
August 22nd 2005Hospitals are seeing the advent of a new generation of systems in the context of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) that are more user-friendly and yield a quicker return on investment (ROI). Several products have evolved in the marketplace. These products are called Paperless Pharmacy Order Systems (PPOSs). They provide a paperless environment in pharmacy and a work-flow engine between pharmacists and clinicians.
Here's the first nonscheduled prescription sleep aid
August 22nd 2005Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, affects more than 70 million Americans. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2005 Sleep in America poll, about 75% of adults have experienced a symptom of a sleep problem a few nights a week or more in the past year.
Remote monitoring can prevent system crashes
August 22nd 2005Automation governs medication-dispensing systems in many health systems, enhancing safety and efficiency-as long as the computers that operate the systems don&t crash. A growing trend in automation aggressively addresses this problem by allowing vendors to remotely monitor automation computer servers in real time, preventing crashes before pharmacists even know there&s a problem.