Community Practice

The study, published recently in Drug Safety, looked at 650 patients who were experiencing side effects from statins and reported that 87% spoke to their doctors about a possible connection between a statin they had been prescribed and the symptom they experienced afterward.

The American Thoracic Society has issued a checklist for parents to prevent asthma exacerbations and hospitalization in children as they head back to school.

With damage to homes, businesses, and property estimated to be in the billions of dollars, Humana has temporarily lifted its normal 30-day restriction on early refills for flood victims in parts of Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The American Thoracic Society has issued a checklist for parents to prevent asthma exacerbations and hospitalization in children as they head back to school.

Covering Kids and Families has issued a back-to-school campaign that includes thousands of activities, including health and enrollment fairs.

Former NACDS president and CEO Craig Fuller has joined the board of PharmMD.

Former NACDS president and CEO Craig Fuller has joined the board of PharmMD.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals commissioned a report on ways osteoarthritis costs are being managed.

Biopure Corp. has drafted a protocol for patients with life-threatening anemia for whom blood transfusion is not feasible to obtain its investigational product Hemopure (HBOC-201) on a compassionate-use basis.

U.S. Senator supports NACDS efforts to reduce burdensome Medication Guide (MedGuide) requirements for a growing number of prescriptions.

Baxter International is starting a program next year to provide continued access for patients relying on Gammagard Liquid and Gammagard S/D immune globulin intravenous-Human.

New research published in the Sept. 1 issue of Blood involving the use of genetic testing to predict a therapeutic warfarin dose has led to the development of a new dosing model for the drug.

Confidence Inc. is recalling one lot of Metabolism Apple Cider Vinegar brand dietary supplement capsules because the product contains the undeclared drug ingredient sibutramine.

Looking for discounts in specialty drugs? If so, consider Armada Health Care.

CMS has come out with a final rule that says it will not pay hospitals if Medicare patients catch a hospital-acquired infection.

The Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity has promised to raise $200,000 over the next four years for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Duane Reade Holdings and Consumer Health Services (CHS), a manager of on-site physician-centric consumer healthcare, have announced a formal affiliation agreement with Continuum Health Partners, one of the major hospital and healthcare providers in the New York City area.

Duane Reade Holdings has expanded its service offering at the Duane Reade Diabetes Resource Center.

Duane Reade and HealthTrans have announced that Duane Reade?s Performance Script Network has been awarded a two-year contract to provide prescription drug benefit services to the members of a retail, wholesale, and department store union.

Entecavir (Baraclude, Bristol-Myers Squibb) should not be used in patients coinfected by HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) who are not also receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), according to an FDA-issued warning to healthcare professionals.

Alaska has become the last state to join a national network that delivers electronic prescriptions to pharmacists.

Following the death of a 13-day-old infant, the FDA has issued a public health advisory alerting mothers of the risk of taking codeine while breastfeeding.

The FDA has issued an advisory warning for parents never to give cough and cold medicines to children under the age of two unless instructed to do so by a doctor.

The FDA is warning consumers not to buy or eat three red yeast rice products sold on Web sites as dietary supplements for treating high cholesterol.

A new law in the Ohio allows pharmacists to administer vaccines to patients 14 years or older and adds meningitis, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines.

The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board has a new man at the top. It's Tom Murry from North Carolina. Like his predecessor Ken Baker, Murry is both a pharmacist and lawyer by training.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah has introduced a generic drug plan to be used for antidepressants. Beginning next month, Regence said it will need prior authorization before filling prescriptions for some brand-name drugs.

According to National Vaccine Information Center, following analysis of reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a statistically significant increased risk of GBS and other serious adverse event reports was found when the HPV vaccine was coadministered with other vaccines.

Many hospitals have instituted paper-based systems to capture inpatient prescription information to avoid adverse drug events, but one community-based hospital has gone a step further to adopt an automated medication reconciliation program. Fauquier Health System in northern Virginia is currently testing a pilot system that electronically provides the hospital staff with a patient's medication history.

Terrorism and natural disasters are putting pharmacists into the forefront of emergency medical care, prompting pharmacy schools to expand their curriculum.