Content about Health & Wellness

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — iHealth Lab Inc., today announced the the release of two new fitness products to its existing lineup of wireless blood pressure monitors and scales: the Wireless Pulse Oximeter and Wireless Activity and Sleep Tracker. The company also announced new partnerships with two health and fitness communities: MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.

NEW YORK — The Ad Council and Autism Speaks have launched a series of public service announcements encouraging awareness about autism among African-American and Hispanic parents.

The groups announced the new series, part of the "Learn the Signs" campaign, which they have launched under a partnership with advertising agency BBDO New York and LatinWorks. Research has indicated that autism is often diagnosed later among children in African-American and Hispanic communities than in others, they said.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug has introduced a new prescription-synchronization service, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Kerr, a regional chain based in Raleigh, N.C., announced the introduction of the new Simplify My Meds synchronized prescription refill service. The service uses the chain's new central-fill center in Kerr, and the company said it hoped the program would solidify customer loyalty by increasing convenience.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck Consumer Care, the makers of Coppertone, launched today the "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program to equip parents with tools to help their children develop lifelong sun habits, including those that protect them from the sun during the school day.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — "Numerous" physicians in Pennsylvania are supporting a bill that would expand the range of immunizations that pharmacists can provide, a state pharmacy group said Thursday.

The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association said doctors around the state were urging legislators to support House Bill 776 in letters to the House Professional Licensure Committee, urging that members support the bill and vote it out of committee soon. The bill would expand the immunizations pharmacists can provide to children older than 7 years.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm a former Virginia Health and Human Services secretary as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Members of the Senate voted 91-7 in favor of confirming Marilyn Tavenner to lead CMS, drawing praise from a retail pharmacy trade group.

NEW YORK — The makers of a pill bottle that uses wireless technology to keep patients adherent won the grand prize at a recent healthcare innovation contest.

AdhereTech developers Josh Stein, John Langhauser and Mike Morena will receive $50,000 in prize money as winners in the Healthcare Innovation World Cup, an international diabetes innovation challenge funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and organized by HITLAB.

BALTIMORE — The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is piloting a program that will allow state employees to receive medication therapy management services, the university announced.

CHICAGO — Health and wellness not only is the most compelling trend in today’s consumer packaged goods environment, but it also is among the hardest on which to capitalize, noted IRI Consulting in its new executive briefing, “What’s in Store for Health & Wellness.” Growth trends indicate that a number of products with individual health and wellness claims have recently experienced declining sales; however, there is evidence that products providing a holistic approach that advances general health and well being are gaining market traction. 

NEW YORK — A Harris Interactive poll released Tuesday found that 44% of all adults reported getting their flu shot this past season, the second time flu shot penetration has reached that high in four years, and even more are expected to get a flu shot next season. Almost half of consumers had reported getting the flu shot in the previous season in April 2011.

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy is among the sponsors of a fundraising effort to expand an adult-fitness program run by a Flint, Mich.-based nonprofit.

WASHINGTON — Finals can be a stressful time for any college or graduate student, with many hours spent studying and few spent socializing or relaxing. But many students are using prescription drugs to get through finals, according to a new study.