Drug Fix

02/15/2013 - 4:19pm

Pharmacy ideal for proactive health interventions

A smoking cessation program developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy will be deployed through Safeway pharmacies, the university announced. As part of the program, Safeway pharmacists will receive special training in counseling techniques.

It's one of the first partnerships of its kind and another example of how community pharmacy will be stepping into a more preventive healthcare role. You can expect to see more types of these smoking cessation programs along with other proactive health interventions tackling weight loss and encouraging healthier behaviors.

02/15/2013 - 4:06pm

Telehealth can further expand retail clinic model

Telehealth is expected to experience a sharp rise in the number of patients, according a new report by health market research firm IHS, which projects that telehealth will reach 1.8 million patients around the world by 2017.

02/08/2013 - 4:59pm

Rx-to-OTC switches could be boon as FDA looks at switch paradigm

A new report by Francesco International identified $35.7 billion worth of potential Rx-to-OTC switches in a wide range of indications, from hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder to high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, and the Food and Drug Administration has been looking at ways technology and pharmacists could be employed to ensure that patients taking drugs new to the consumer health space take them appropriately.

With growth in traditional pharmaceuticals expected to slow down significantly, a growing number of drug makers — branded and generic alike — see specialty drugs as their main sources of revenue for the foreseeable future. At the same time, those drug makers not invested in specialty may be looking for growth opportunities in consumer health.

02/08/2013 - 4:37pm

In true hedgehog fashion, Walgreens taps an experienced pro to lead merchandising

RadioShack on Thursday evening tapped Joe Magnacca, who played a key role in making Walgreens' front-end transformation pop, to be the small-box electronics retailer's chief executive. On Friday morning, RadioShack's shares jumped as Wall Street absorbed the news.

And while that hire makes perfect sense for RadioShack, where does that leave Walgreens? While merchants the likes of Magnacca don't exactly grow on trees, in classic hedgehog style the news also speaks to the depth of Walgreen's bench. The company has a lot of faith in Bryan Pugh. They hired him to be chief merchant before they bought Duane Reade and acquired a problem just about any retailer would love to have: two very talented men leading the merchandising drive.

02/08/2013 - 4:21pm

It's official: CVS Caremark has acquired Brazil's Onofre. What's next?

During its fourth-quarter conference call on Wednesday, CVS Caremark officially unveiled its foray into the international drug store space with the acquisition of Brazilian retailer Onofre, the eighth-largest drug chain in Brazil.

Now that the other shoe has dropped, what's next?

While chains are prevalent, Brazil remains a highly fragmented market that is clearly ripe with opportunities thanks, in part, to an aging population, a decline in unemployment and a rise in incomes.

02/01/2013 - 4:03pm

Magnacca — nothing short of a visionary merchant

Walgreens promoted Joseph Magnacca to EVP from SVP. Magnacca also retains his title as president of daily living products and solutions. In this capacity, Magnacca will continue to oversee Walgreens merchandising and inventory strategy, private brands, insights and analytics, and the New York-based Duane Reade drug store chain, which Walgreens acquired in 2010.

And that means Magnacca will continue to do what he does best, which is change everything you've ever thought you knew about drug store retailing across the front-end. If you've ever met him in person, you'd know he's not a static person. He doesn't stand still. He's always moving toward identifying that next thing, that next offering or presentation that resonates with people at the crossroads of health and happy and at the same time is something they never thought they'd find in a drug store.

02/01/2013 - 3:19pm

Pharmacists can improve health outcomes

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and nearby healthcare institutions shows that patients with diabetes experience better outcomes when they undergo face-to-face medication therapy management sessions with pharmacists.

Drug Store News has reported enough about the benefits of MTM to fill a book, but a scientific study showing a demonstrable benefit to it only makes the case stronger. It speaks to the growing role of the pharmacist as a key member of the patient's healthcare team, every bit as important as nurses and doctors, and also points to a role of growing importance to pharmacy retailers themselves as they seek to distinguish themselves in the marketplace.

02/01/2013 - 3:12pm

Take Care Health Systems, Community Health Network further illustrates growing role of clinics

Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has formed a clinical collaboration with Community Health Network to improve access to care for patients throughout central Indiana.

01/25/2013 - 5:02pm

SCIO, Walgreens partnership makes ROI picture even clearer for big employers

SCIO Health Analytics and Walgreens have teamed up to help employers gain maximum return on investment through worksite health centers. Through the partnership, SCIO will provide actionable data and reporting to demonstrate the value and impact of worksite health centers, while giving Walgreens’ clients areas of opportunity to further improve employee health and reduce costs.

More and more employers get it, and there is growing belief that as the clock ticks down to 2014 and full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, even more employers will get it. In the meantime, projects like this that help provide outcome reporting will help make the ROI picture even clearer for big employers who still might be on the fence.

01/25/2013 - 4:39pm

Monster flu season makes last year's non existent flu season a distant, bad memory

For the week ended Jan. 19, flu incidence was predominant in the central United States and picking up across the West Coast. According to data provided through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network, 4.3% of patient visits reported through the network were due to influenza-like illness, above the national baseline of 2.2%.

At this time last year, the conversation was all about the flu season that never materialized. Only one week in January last year did flu-like incidence rise above the 2.2% national baseline, and then only slightly. So cough-cold and flu comparisons across the front-end and pharmacy were both projected to be double-digit positive if even there were a moderate flu season this year.