June 19th 2024
A survey of health system specialty pharmacy employees found that hybrid work significantly improved quality of life and workplace productivity.
May 2nd 2024
A siloed approach to care can worsen patient outcomes, but collaboration between one health system specialty pharmacy and a manufacturer led to better patient care.
A review found that many guidelines that recommended pharmacogenetic testing were inconsistent between clinical associations.
April 30th 2024
The role of health care specialty pharmacies has expanded.
December 8th 2023
The analysis revealed deeper issues created by payer and manufacturer lockouts placed on Integrated Health System Specialty Pharmacies.
Notes from HOPA: Not just for oncology pharmacists
Advocacy issues discussed at the conference included two pieces of proposed legislation that would affect compensation for pharmacists and collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians.
MedsOnCue: A pharmacy tool to help patients with medication adherence
A brief video, accessed by prescription label QR code scanned with a smartphone, instructs patients in proper drug use and much more.
Apixaban cuts stroke risk regardless of BP control
A subanalysis of the Phase 3 ARISTOTLE trial indicates that apixaban reduces the risk of stroke regardless of whether a patient’s blood pressure is controlled.
Empowering patients with limited health literacy
Medication adherence suffers when patients do not understand dose or use instructions. Pharmacists can use multisensory tools to help patients learn and remember.
New Products for Pharmacists
New Rx, new generics, and new OTC
Small-town pharmacist dispenses liberal doses of TLC
This pharmacist's decision to follow her bliss has made countless patients a whole lot happier.
Health literacy tools in the pharmacy
Using verbal, written, and visual communication strategies, pharmacists can empower patients with limited health literacy to manage complex medication regimens.
Breo Ellipta: A new fixed-dose inhalation combo for COPD patients
FDA approves a powder delivery system combining a corticosteroid and a LABA.
My campaign to promote poison prevention awareness in the community
Since pharmacists dispense potentially harmful medications, it is critical that we also impart information about poison control.
Drug Topics Voices 05-10-2014
Letters, e-mails, comments, and posts from Drug Topics readers
Report: Cost drives formulary decisions on pain meds
Cost is the primary non-efficacy factor that drives decisions on which pain medications to include in formularies, according to a survey that included hospital pharmacy directors.
Senior pharmacists: Too busy to retire
Who sez older pharmacists should be put out to pasture? Not these guys - they're too busy working to consider the possibility.
Top Stories from Drug Topics: April 2014
From controlled substances to retail chains in trouble and back to controlled substances, Drug Topics readers found plenty to talk about during the month of April.
Costly HCV drug combo cures 90% of non-cirrhotic patients
An eight-week regimen of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir was highly effective in treating non-cirrhotic HCV patients with genotype infection.
Rxs for antipsychotics to treat ADHD on the rise for young in foster care
Nearly one-third of the ADHD-diagnosed foster-care youth received atypical antipsychotics regardless of age group.
FDA approves Merck’s Grastek for grass pollen allergy
The sublingual tablet provides a new treatment option for patients who decline allergy shots
Pharmacist follow-up can reduce readmission rates of lower-risk Medicare patients
Study finds that targeting the pharmacy service to patients who are most likely to benefit is important.
FDA requires label change for Doribax; increased death risk cited
“Healthcare professionals should consider whether the benefits of Doribax treatment are likely to exceed its potential risks in patients who develop pneumonia while on ventilators,” says FDA.
Pharmacists, can I get a witness?
There is no testimony without tests. How are we handling ours?
Higher costs of doctor-dispensed drugs draw state reform efforts
Drugs dispensed by physicians are far more expensive than those dispensed by pharmacies. And there are other issues.
What's in a name, Part 2
The fight over whether pharmacists serve "patients" or "customers" continues. And now there's a new question: How come a major national pharmacy organization has no opinion?
Social media and pharmacy: 6 tips on best practices
Pharmacies that don't use social media will soon go the way of the dinosaur. Here are six tips for making these modalities work for you.
The evolving role of pharmacists in treatment of Hepatitis C
By maintaining a strong knowledge base about HCV infection and management, pharmacists can be a resource to providers and patients alike.
Diversion of opioids: Red flags and green flags
Things aren't as simple as the DEA would have us believe.
Dietary supplements: Reclaiming the roots of pharmacy
Pharmacists and consumers alike need to educate themselves about the proper use of these products, taken either alone or with Rx medications.
Federal judge slams secrecy of compounding pharmacies
As opposition to execution drugs grows, manufacturers are cutting off supplies and compounding pharmacies are under pressure.
Google Glass: Seeing is believing
Some early adopters - well, beta testers - give us the lowdown on current and future applications of Google Glass in pharmacy.
AHA and ASA issue guidelines for stroke prevention in women
Conditions targeted by the first guidelines geared specifically to women include migraine, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and atrial fibrillation.
New treatment combo for hep C virus infection, genotype 1
Once-daily simeprevir should be used in combination with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin. It is not a monotherapy.
The changing world of hepatitis C
Groundbreaking new therapies for HCV are now available. As experts in screening and treatment guidelines, pharmacists can lead in managing these new options for patient care.