Content about Patient safety

SAN DIEGO Three-in-10 Americans recently surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute said they would use their cell or smart phone to track and monitor their personal health, and 40% would be willing to pay for a remote monitoring device that sends health information directly to their doctor.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Since the turn of the 21st century, community pharmacy and its technology allies have waged a long fight to shift the nation’s fractious healthcare system to a common communications and record-keeping platform via electronic prescribing and information technology. Those efforts -- led by such companies as Surescripts, the pharmacy industry-founded e-prescribing network -- have made progress.

Behind every prescription that lands at the pharmacy counter is a series of
events that influence the prescriber’s decision. Powered by data from SDI
Health, Drug Store News goes inside the examination room in this exclusive
report, providing an in-depth look at the critical factors that shape
pharmaceutical sales trends and shift market share from one drug to another
in 10 key market segments.

DORCHESTER, Mass. Codman Square Health Center on Thursday hosted a press conference to celebrate the launch of its pilot Fruit and Veggie Prescription program, a health initiative whereby physicians can prescribe vouchers for local farmers markets and then monitor the impact of the increased fruit and vegetable consumption on patients’ health.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is moving quickly to establish a working relationship with newly installed Medicare and Medicaid chief Donald Berwick.

NACDS on Wednesday sent a letter to Berwick, who was tapped by President Obama to serve as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson urged continued collaboration with CMS on issues related to pharmacy that he said are vital to quality health care and cost reduction.