Content about Patient safety

November 28, 2011
Walgreens' Kang joins National Committee for Quality Assurance board

The National Committee for Quality Assurance on Monday named Jeffrey Kang, Walgreens SVP pharmacy, health and wellness services and solutions, to its board.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The National Committee for Quality Assurance on Monday named Jeffrey Kang, Walgreens SVP pharmacy, health and wellness services and solutions, to its board.

NCQA is a private nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations. The group also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care, the committee stated.

November 22, 2011
BioPlus now offering e-prescribing

BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy announced that it now is allowing physicians to electronically submit prescriptions to its pharmacies.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy announced that it now is allowing physicians to electronically submit prescriptions to its pharmacies.

BioPlus said its e-prescribing offering is designed to lessen the risk of errors, lower costs and improve compliance. The use of computerized medication order entry potentially could prevent up to 84% of dose, frequency and route errors in medication use, according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,a Department of Health and Human Services agency.

November 18, 2011
Electronic health records offer new ways to monitor medication nonadherence

Catalina Health’s latest program and two previous studies illustrate the ways in which electronic health records and e-prescribing open the door for new ways to monitor medication nonadherence and, along with them, new ways to combat it.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Catalina Health’s latest program and two previous studies illustrate the ways in which electronic health records and e-prescribing open the door for new ways to monitor medication nonadherence and, along with them, new ways to combat it.

(THE NEWS: Catalina Health addresses medication nonadherence with Health Consumer Journey. For the full story, click here.)

November 9, 2011
Majority of office-based doctors use e-prescribing, Surescripts says

A majority of doctors in the United States now prescribe electronically, the country's largest e-prescribing network said Wednesday.

ARLINGTON, Va. — A majority of doctors in the United States now prescribe electronically, the country's largest e-prescribing network said Wednesday.

Surescripts announced that more than 52% of office-based doctors now use e-prescribing. The company presented the statistic in an online event featuring healthcare leaders and providers from across the country who gathered to receive the Safe-Rx Award, which Surescripts gives to the top 10 states based on their use of e-prescribing.

November 4, 2011
Affordable Care Act provision doesn't fit healthcare puzzle

If the ultimate goal of the Affordable Care Act is to save money and expand patient care, then making patients visit their physicians and get prescriptions just to get reimbursed for over-the-counter medications — which wastes money, as well as the time of physicians, a precious commodity when the country is set to have a shortage of them — makes no sense.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — If the ultimate goal of the Affordable Care Act is to save money and expand patient care, then making patients visit their physicians and get prescriptions just to get reimbursed for over-the-counter medications — which wastes money, as well as the time of physicians, a precious commodity when the country is set to have a shortage of them — makes no sense.

November 4, 2011
Op-ed: CHPA, AMA call on Congress to repeal OTC Rx-only FSA provision

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association last week teamed up with the American Medical Association in a joint op-ed published in Roll Call that called for the repeal of the over-the-counter prescription requirement for flexible spending accounts.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association last week teamed up with the American Medical Association in a joint op-ed published in Roll Call that called for the repeal of the over-the-counter prescription requirement for flexible spending accounts.

November 3, 2011
Walgreens after-care MTM yields improved patient care

DeKalb Medical has teamed up with Walgreens pharmacists to help patients understand and comply with medication therapies following treatment at the hospital — a collaborative relationship, which already has in just its first three months of existence, improved patient care and satisfaction, DeKalb reported Thursday.

DECATUR, Ga. — DeKalb Medical has teamed up with Walgreens pharmacists to help patients understand and comply with medication therapies following treatment at the hospital — a collaborative relationship, which already has in just its first three months of existence, improved patient care and satisfaction, DeKalb reported Thursday.

November 2, 2011
Wellpartner to fulfill OTC prescription orders for FSAStore.com

Wellpartner, a provider of pharmacy distribution services, on Monday announced that the company will fulfill over-the-counter prescription orders placed by FSAStore.com customers.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Wellpartner, a provider of pharmacy distribution services, on Monday announced that the company will fulfill over-the-counter prescription orders placed by FSAStore.com customers.

October 31, 2011
Health Market Science, PDX team up to provide access to provider database

Health Market Science and PDX are offering PDX system clients access to the HMS Provider MasterFile, the companies said.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Health Market Science and PDX are offering PDX system clients access to the HMS Provider MasterFile, the companies said.

HMS, a company that supplies provider data and data management services, and PDX, which provides technology products for the retail pharmacy industry, said PDX Classic Pharmacy System and Enterprise Pharmacy System users would have the same access as "top-tier pharmacy chains across the country."

October 31, 2011
United Supermarkets to roll out FlavoRx's Fillmaster Plus dispensing technology

Texas-based supermarket operator United Supermarkets has teamed up with FlavoRx to roll out the Fillmaster Plus dispensing technology at all of the chain's pharmacies.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas-based supermarket operator United Supermarkets has teamed up with FlavoRx to roll out the Fillmaster Plus dispensing technology at all of the chain's pharmacies.

Fillmaster Plus is a pharmacy device that automates drug reconstitution. How it works: When a prescription bottle is scanned using the Fillmaster Plus, the unit displays the medication's name, volume, strength and the amount of purified water it needs for reconstitution. This process reduces the risk of dispensing errors and reconstitution is completed in a matter of seconds, FlavoRx said.

October 28, 2011
CVS Caremark-sponsored study sheds greater light on medication nonadherence

The results of the CVS Caremark-sponsored review of e-prescriptions, which revealed an issue of primary nonadherence to prescription medications, is yet one more step toward a weapon in the fight against medication nonadherence.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The results of the CVS Caremark-sponsored review of e-prescriptions, which revealed an issue of primary nonadherence to prescription medications, is yet one more step toward a weapon in the fight against medication nonadherence.

(THE NEWS: CVS Caremark-sponsored review of e-Rxs uncovers issue of primary nonadherence. For the full story, click here)

October 28, 2011
GPhA shows support for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Saturday is the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and the country's largest lobbying group representing the generic drug industry is expressing its support.

WASHINGTON — Saturday is the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and the country's largest lobbying group representing the generic drug industry is expressing its support.

October 27, 2011
Winn-Dixie introduces smartphone app that helps manage Rxs

Winn-Dixie is looking to help pharmacy customers better manage their prescriptions by introducing a new mobile application for iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphones.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie is looking to help pharmacy customers better manage their prescriptions by introducing a new mobile application for iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphones.

October 26, 2011
CVS Caremark-sponsored review of e-Rxs uncovers issue of primary nonadherence

Twenty-four percent of patients given a new medication by their doctor did not fill the prescription, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Twenty-four percent of patients given a new medication by their doctor did not fill the prescription, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

October 20, 2011
NACDS highlights value of community pharmacy in Los Angeles Times letter to the editor

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has engaged its Rapid Response Program, issuing a letter to the editor to the Los Angeles Times to highlight the importance of maintaining prescription medication access to prevent patient health complications and the increased need for costly forms of health care.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has engaged its Rapid Response Program, issuing a letter to the editor to the Los Angeles Times to highlight the importance of maintaining prescription medication access to prevent patient health complications and the increased need for costly forms of health care.

Through the Rapid Response Program, NACDS proactively addresses media reports and other communications in the public domain in a way that raises awareness of the value of community pharmacies as the face of neighborhood healthcare.

October 19, 2011
Heavy 
hITters

How many times have we heard it said that one day in America there will be a nationwide health information network that will link patients, providers and payers seamlessly, efficiently and securely, across a universal standardized system?

How many times have we heard it said that one day in America there will be a nationwide health information network that will link patients, providers and payers seamlessly, efficiently and securely, across a universal standardized system? It’s been the dream of health information technology strategists and engineers for decades. And yet, when you take a look at the healthcare experience of the typical American consumer, you’d be hard-pressed to find evidence that we are any closer to achieving that dream today than we were in the days of the Carter administration.


October 19, 2011
Mr. Eder goes to Washington

I’m not going to lie about it. The first thing I thought as I checked into the U.S. Capitol on official business for the story that appears at the bottom of this page was: “Wow, this is pretty cool.”


I’m not going to lie about it. The first thing I thought as I checked into the U.S. Capitol on official business to moderate a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists was: “Wow, this is pretty cool.”


Truth is, the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists believed that Drug Store News could make some pretty complex ideas understandable for a group of 20-somethings whose job it is to tell 435 members of Congress what to think and how to vote.


October 19, 2011
Survey: Understanding blood test results would lead to healthier behaviors

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, in partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, on Wednesday released a survey that determined consumers would more likely discuss health-and-wellness plans with their doctors, and take action, if they understood their blood test numbers.

RARITAN, N.J. — Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, in partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, on Wednesday released a survey that determined consumers would more likely discuss health-and-wellness plans with their doctors, and take action, if they understood their blood test numbers.

October 13, 2011
Abusable prescription drugs easy to find for young people, survey finds

More than half of parents in Massachusetts said their children have access to prescription drugs that could be abused, according to a new survey.

BOSTON — More than half of parents in Massachusetts said their children have access to prescription drugs that could be abused, according to a new survey.

October 11, 2011
CVS explores cause, cost of nonadherence

How much adherence lowers total costs, why some patients do not take their medications as prescribed and whether what’s saved in health care offsets higher drug costs are among the questions that have not been as clearly understood.


Industry members would likely agree that those patients who are adherent to their prescription medications use less health care and have lower overall costs; however, how much adherence lowers total costs, why some patients do not take their medications as prescribed and whether what’s saved in health care offsets higher drug costs are among the questions that have not been as clearly understood.


October 11, 2011
Dispense-as-written Rxs 
exacerbating healthcare costs

“Dispense-as-written” prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system up to $7.7 billion annually, according to a study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and CVS Caremark.


“Dispense-as-written” prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system up to $7.7 billion annually, according to a study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and CVS Caremark.


October 11, 2011
NPLEx gaining strength in battle against meth

More and more, the diversion of nonprescription pseudoephedrine is being halted at the pharmacy counter in real time thanks to tools like the National Precursor Log Exchange, funded entirely by the industry and now active in 17 states.

More and more, the diversion of nonprescription pseudoephedrine is being halted at the pharmacy counter in real time thanks to tools like the National Precursor Log Exchange, funded entirely by the industry and now active in 17 states.

October 11, 2011
Patients with complex therapies struggle to stay adherent

Patients with chronic heart disease are likely to have several doctors and take nearly a dozen medications that are filled in at least two different pharmacies, resulting in many patients struggling to keep their medications straight, according to a new study.


Patients with chronic heart disease are likely to have several doctors and take nearly a dozen medications that are filled in at least two different pharmacies, resulting in many patients struggling to keep their medications straight, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and CVS Caremark.


October 10, 2011
NCPA Digest: Fewer independents but majority operating in underserved communities

The number of new independent pharmacies and new prescriptions filled with independents were down in 2010, though the number of refilled prescriptions continued to grow slightly, according to the latest 2011 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, released Monday by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The number of new independent pharmacies and new prescriptions filled with independents were down in 2010, though the number of refilled prescriptions continued to grow slightly, according to the latest 2011 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, released Monday by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

Now in its 79th year of publication, the NCPA Digest reports these 2010 findings:

October 5, 2011
NACDS expresses position on two drug safety bills

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday voiced its strong opposition to a piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, which would require a mandatory track-and-trace system — a move that could cost the typical pharmacy chain millions of dollars to implement across all stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As Congress considers measures to protect the nation's prescription drug distribution system, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday voiced its strong opposition to a piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, which would require a mandatory track-and-trace system — a move that could cost the typical pharmacy chain millions of dollars to implement across all stores.