Chain Pharmacy

The CEO of APhA responds to the recent AMA policy statement on the place of pharmacists in healthcare.

The promise of personalized medicine is approaching realization. As more medications are developed, pharmacists will be on the front line of individualized prescribing based upon genome-based diagnostic tests.

Our feet contain one-fourth of all the bones in our bodies, 33 joints, and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments, to say nothing of blood vessels and nerves. Small wonder that foot ailments afflict millions of Americans. Fortunately, manufacturers offer an arsenal of relief.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores recognized Charles Vance Burnett, JD, BS Pharm, and Stanley F. Barshay with its highest honors at the 2010 annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

Adding fenofibrate to statin therapy fails to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to results of the first trial to evaluate combination therapy presented at the 59th annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology.

The healthcare reform legislation signed into law March 23 is expected to give healthcare access to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured. The legislation gives pharmacists a role in helping alleviate the influx of new patients.

Named for Ohio pharmacy pioneer John Uri Lloyd, the Lloyd Medicinal Garden at the governor's residence in Columbus pays tribute to the history of the profession.

The continuing debate over healthcare reform keeps the subject of medication adherence in the public eye. For pharmacy, says NACDS, the issue is a top priority.

Pharmacies can enhance their continuous quality improvement program results by working on three critical elements: implementation, training, and monitoring.

More than 850 U.S. community pharmacies are participating in the "Dispose My Meds" campaign sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association and Sharps Compliance.

Despite the wear and tear on most pharmacists at the bench, when new pharmacies are built, ergonomics are rarely considered.

A growing public health concern is the presence of potentially harmful pharmaceuticals in drinking water, due to improper disposal of waste prescription drugs. At least 20 states now have collection programs for unused medications. The greater use of such programs requires the reeducation of the community to raise awareness of the dangers and of the solutions to the problem of waste pharmaceuticals. The more convenient the options for disposal of most medications, the more likely they will be disposed of properly.

On May 11th the news that Walgreens, partnering with Pathway Genomics, was going to offer customers a genetic testing kit made headlines almost as fast as a world peace announcement. Then Pathway received a letter of inquiry from the FDA, and Walgreens decided to halt the initiative until more clarity was reached. However, when genetic testing kits do become available at retail outlets, there will be a need for plenty of patient education, which pharmacists can best provide.

Both the FTC?s consumer protection and competition bureaus are spearheading an investigation into CVS Caremark?s alleged monopolistic practices. HHS is investigating possible false Medicare claims. DEA is investigating charges of improper sale of pseudoephedrine in 2007 and 2008. And the SEC has received complaints of insider trading.

Even though Bruce Roberts strongly criticized pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) during his tenure as executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), he is enthusiastic about the prospect of heading up a type of PBM.

The American Pharmacists Association annual meeting opened in Washington just days before the big March vote on healthcare reform, and a number of people from the political realm were there to praise pharmacists and ask for their support.

FDA would like to alert healthcare providers to the recent proprietary name change for dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules. Now known as Dexilant, dexlansoprazole is the proton pump inhibitor formerly known as Kapidex.

An overview of several provisions of "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" affecting pharmacies and pharmacy practice.

Drug Topics' 2010 Chain of the Year award goes to Kerr Drug, a regional chain based in Raleigh, N.C.

Clinical pharmacy pioneer Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD, dean of the School of Pharmacy at University of California, San Francisco, was awarded the 2010 Remington Honor Medal, the highest honor given by the American Pharmacists Association, at its recent annual meeting in Washington.

Compounded medicines - also called personalized solutions - have become an important element in many independent pharmacies.

Prescription-drug benefit plans prosper by exploiting a non-transparent, non-accountable system. This needs to change.

Supermarket chains Albertsons and Harris Teeter have launched online tools to help shoppers pursue health and wellness.

There is an answer to 12-hour shifts, inadequate support, 20-minute lunch hours, and no bathroom breaks. Ask the United Steelworkers of America.

While many people were trying to escape the scenes of death and destruction within Haiti, pharmacists Tamara Neff and Jess Streif were finalizing plans to travel there.