Health System

2D barcodes hold more than the NDC. Their 2,300 characters (compared to 48 in linear barcodes) can hold lot numbers and expiration dates, along with the product IDs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical report released this week provides guidance for physicians about the use of psychotropic drugs, substance abuse treatments, narcotics, galactagogues, herbal products, and vaccines in breast-feeding women and the potential effects on the breast-feeding infant.

Pharmacists in Canada were recently given broader responsibilities including, in certain provinces, prescribing privileges, vaccination abilities, and the ability to order and interpret laboratory tests. This newly expanded role for Canadian pharmacists can benefit both patients and physicians, according to an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

New study shows that simultaneous treatment of alcohol dependence and PTSD is more effective than either treatment would be alone.

A severe decline in the use of estrogen therapy (ET) due to misunderstanding the findings of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen Plus Progestin Trial has particularly affected hysterectomized women in their 50s, leading to excess mortality, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Public Health.

New Rx, indications, generics, and OTC

A recent OIG study reveals that in 2009, Medicare Part D paid $5.4 million to massage therapists, dieticians, and other individuals who clearly lacked authority to prescribe drugs

It's cheaper to prevent chronic diseases than to treat them. Through promotion of health literacy, medication adherence, health screenings, and tertiary care, pharmacist can have a real impact on public health.

When it comes to employee drug utilization reviews, one pharmacist is beating PBMs at their own game. If businesses and healthcare systems followed her lead, more would change than just the DURs.

The Specialty Sterile Pharmaceutical Society launches, with its own product and safety standards standards and a plan to march on Washington.

BMJ study finds small but statistically significant changes in Qmci scores of dementia patients who initiate hypertension treatment with ACE inhibitors.

Surescripts this week announced it has added 19 state health information exchanges and health information service providers to its network, which is the largest in the nation.

The first study to investigate the long-term reproducibility of the sensitivity of blood pressure to salt and potassium yields results.

Risk is highest for post-menopausal women who have used calcium channel blockers for 10 years or more.

Illinois has become the 21st state to legalize some form of medical marijuana with the establishment of a 4-year pilot program that targets patients with chronic pain and debilitating conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cancer, and HIV.

Adding flow regulators to liquid medication bottles is an effective way to limit the amount of medication administered to children, according to a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Between 1969 and 2013, 107 cases of SJS, TEN, and ACEP, involving 67 hospitalizations and 12 deaths, were reported to FDA.

The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee called for the Senate to act on its bill to provide clear oversight of compounding manufacturers, following the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak, and to protect the U.S. drug supply chain from counterfeiting and theft, according to a HELP Committee statement on July 25.

FDA has decided to limit the use of oral ketoconazole (Nizoral) to life-threatening mycoses because the drug can cause severe liver injuries and adrenal gland problems, according to an FDA statement released at the end of July.

The use of electronic health records saved more than 3% in ambulatory health costs but did not reduce overall inpatient costs, according to a study published in the July 16, 2013 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has announced a request-for-proposals to research integrating medication therapy management services into the hospital discharge process.

Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches that employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1

Take 15 minutes and make a difference

Impressions from a working visit to McLaughlin, S.D.

Some thoughts about the things that count

A short history of biologics and biosimilars, with some pointers on what comes next

As the first biosimilar has yet to make its way through the approval process, many practical and hypothetical questions remain

As new therapies for HIV/AIDS extend many patients' lives, pharmacists are well situated to help them manage the disease

FDA advisers recommended in early June the easing of restrictions on the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline), following an independent re-examination of GSK’s RECORD study conducted by Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Results from the RELY-ABLE trial, the RE-LY extension study, support the long-term safety profile of dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) 150 mg twice daily in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), according to a study published in Circulation.