Health System

According to the findings of the DECISIONS survey study published in a September/October supplement of Medical Decision Making, Americans frequently find themselves faced with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression medication decisions that they are ill prepared to make.

Lack of patient awareness coupled with ballooning numbers of diabetes cases across the United States have impelled pharmacies and organization to make diabetes care and education a priority.

In late September, presenters at the annual meeting of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported their phase 1 evaluation findings for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance medication-use demonstration project.

To help provide consumers with some protection against winter ailments, manufacturers have introduced a number of new treatments and preventives for dry lips and cold sores, as well as cold and flu medicines for children.

Jon Roth, who has 20 years' experience in healthcare and healthcare association management, will begin his new role as CEO of the California Pharmacists Association on Nov. 22.

A question was posed to students of a pharmacy ethics class. In every case, the answers given by the students were different from the responses of the practicing pharmacists.

Many community pharmacists do not want to get the influenza vaccination; they don't think they need it, and employer incentives aren't there, a new study reveals.

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

Recreational drug use has evolved over the years and "pharming" - kids lifting pills from the folks' medicine cabinets - is now second only to marijuana use.

A growing body of data supports greater pharmacist involvement in medication safety, said speaker Deb Saine at a recent Pharmacy OneSource webinar.

The pharmacist sitting in the office is interested in squeezing out another penny per prescription. The pharmacist behind the locked gate is interested in going home before midnight. Both cannot happen. A side must be chosen.

Interventions for medication adherence should be multifaceted, speakers told attendees at the recent Pharmacy and Technology Conference in San Diego sponsored by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Ongoing diabetes education facilitated by qualified diabetes educators can reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes for those diagnosed with diabetes and those at high risk for the disease.

Kathleen Jaeger's appointment as executive vice president and CEO of the NCPA was announced October 25 at the association's annual Convention and Trade Expo in Philadelphia.

The Office of the Inspector General found that CMS reimbursed plan sponsors $43.3 million for prescription drugs on the market that FDA classifies as less than effective.

A growing body of evidence links use of proton pump inhibitors to increased risk of nosocomial Clostridium difficile infection and other morbidities.

Fewer pharmacists than ever before are devoting their full time to dispensing medication.

As the nation rolls out the new healthcare reform law, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores is urging more recognition for the role of pharmacists in medication adherence.

In a unique partnership, Walgreens, the YMCA, and United Health Group are teaming up on a diabetes prevention and control program.

CMS moved to withdraw provisions of the Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement formula under the AMP model, according to a statement issued by the NACDS and NCPA.

The former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, will be the keynote speaker for the 12th Annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Dinner on November 30, 2010, in New York City.

The American Pharmacists Association has announced 6 new 2010 offerings of the Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate program.

"Know Your Medicine, Know Your Pharmacist" is the theme of American Pharmacists Month (APhM). Sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association, APhM is a time to recognize the significant contributions to healthcare made by pharmacists around the country.

The National Community Pharmacists Association announced a new division of the association dedicated to advancing the interests of independent long-term-care pharmacy providers.

The California Pharmacists Association has appointed Jon Roth its new CEO.

The National Institutes of Health awarded ScriptPro a contract to provide pharmacy automation systems to assist in the internal control and identification of drugs and to enhance the safety and efficiency of medication dispensing as well as use by patients.

Four acute-care hospitals have chosen ROBOT-Rx, an automated medication-dispensing and pharmacy-integration system manufactured by McKesson Corp., as part of a total bar-code-based pharmacy system for medication safety and operational efficiency.

With this issue of Drug Topics' e-newsletter, we expand our OTC Product Update page to showcase products and product news that fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories or ran up against space limitations in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Drug Topics e-newsletter!

Pfizer plans to acquire King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6 billion in cash, expanding its current portfolio of treatments for pain relief and pain management.

The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus and the Liberty Partnership Program debuted a "Future Pharmacists Program" this past summer.