Content about Patient safety

April 4, 2011
NACDS responds to proposed Rx labeling recommendations

Following the release of U.S. Pharmacopeia's Proposed General Chapter Prescription Container Labeling recommendations, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores issued a letter to USP urging flexibility and an open dialogue with pharmacy and prescriber communities as review of the recommendations continues.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Following the release of U.S. Pharmacopeia's Proposed General Chapter Prescription Container Labeling recommendations, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores issued a letter to USP urging flexibility and an open dialogue with pharmacy and prescriber communities as review of the recommendations continues.

March 31, 2011
Rite Aid's pharmacy sales, Rxs filled rise

Total and front-end same-store sales at Rite Aid decreased during March, while pharmacy sales and prescriptions filled increased, the pharmacy retailer said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Total and front-end same-store sales at Rite Aid decreased during March, while pharmacy sales and prescriptions filled increased, the pharmacy retailer said Thursday.

Compared with last year, front-end same-store sales decreased by 1.8% during the four-week period that ended March 26, which the 4,711-store chain attributed to Easter falling on a later date this year, April 24, than last year, when it occurred on April 4.

March 25, 2011
DAW Rxs drive up healthcare costs, study finds

"Dispense-as-written" prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — "Dispense-as-written" prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark.

March 24, 2011
NCPA, healthcare groups recommend CMS delay 'short cycle' rule

In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Community Pharmacists Association and 20 healthcare groups expressed their concerns over the proposed Medicare Part D long-term care “short cycle” rule.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Community Pharmacists Association and 20 healthcare groups expressed their concerns over the proposed Medicare Part D long-term care “short cycle” rule.

The groups recommended that CMS postpone its implementation of a rule that would require dispensing certain prescription medications in seven-day supplies or less, rather than the traditional 30-day supply.

March 21, 2011
Kerr Drug boosts free delivery program with new website

Customers looking to take advantage of Kerr Drug's free delivery service now can visit a new website developed by the chain.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Customers looking to take advantage of Kerr Drug's free delivery service now can visit a new website developed by the chain.

By logging on to KerrDrugDelivers.com, customers can find the nearest Kerr Drug pharmacy to request free delivery. The service allows customers to find the nearest Kerr Drug pharmacy and phone number to call and order their prescriptions, along with anything else in the store they may need.

March 10, 2011
FDA backs NCL's medication adherence campaign

The Food and Drug Administration is putting its weight behind a campaign by the National Consumers League to combat poor medication adherence.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is putting its weight behind a campaign by the National Consumers League to combat poor medication adherence.

March 9, 2011
NCPA emphasizes Dispose My Meds program during Patient Safety Awareness Week

In line with Patient Safety Awareness Week, which began Sunday, the National Community Pharmacists Association is encouraging patients to properly dispose of their expired or unused medications safely and effectively.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In line with Patient Safety Awareness Week, which began Sunday, the National Community Pharmacists Association is encouraging patients to properly dispose of their expired or unused medications safely and effectively.

March 7, 2011
Building Lone Star loyalty, the H-E-B way

Not many retail companies would give their customers a vote on how they design their new stores. It’s just one of many ways that H-E-B works to cultivate millions of loyal consumers.

March 3, 2011
NACDS responds to reimportation legislation

In a letter penned Thursday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the association stated that while it shares the goal of reducing prescription drug costs, authorizing the reimportation of prescription medications — as sought in S.319, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 — raises concerns about patient health and safety.

ALEXANDRI, Va. — In a letter penned Thursday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the association stated that while it shares the goal of reducing prescription drug costs, authorizing the reimportation of prescription medications — as sought in S.319, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 — raises concerns about patient health and safety.

February 22, 2011
Rite Aid expands free Rx delivery

Rite Aid has expanded its free prescription delivery service to more than 400 stores in the New York metropolitan area, the retail pharmacy chain announced Monday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has expanded its free prescription delivery service to more than 400 stores in the New York metropolitan area, the retail pharmacy chain announced Monday.

The service allows patients to receive their medications between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., though they must wait until the next day if they send their prescriptions after 11 a.m., and some limitations apply, such as for medications that require refrigeration.

February 18, 2011
Phone apps, telepharmacy 
streamline Rx experience

When ScriptPro started 
in­troducing pharmacy robots, it entered an industry where the pharmacist was mostly dolling out medications. Today, pharmacy automation and technology continue to evolve, freeing pharmacists’ time and taking on everything from workflow automation to smart-phone applications.

February 18, 2011
Tech, interconnectivity 
focus of NCPDP summit

Technology is not only bringing more benefits to patients in the pharmacy, but it’s also offering them a host of products so they can be more involved in their health care. This was a theme at the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs’ educational summit, “Leveraging New Technologies: Impact on the Patient and the Healthcare Industry,” on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas.


February 15, 2011
HealthWarehouse.com to acquire online assets of Hocks Pharmacy

HealthWarehouse.com on Tuesday announced that it has consummated two separate transactions to acquire all the online assets of Hocks Pharmacy, an online reseller of over-the-counter medications, diabetic supplies and medical equipment. HealthWarehouse.com also will merge with a newly formed subsidiary of Hocks Pharmacy.

CINCINNATI — HealthWarehouse.com on Tuesday announced that it has consummated two separate transactions to acquire all the online assets of Hocks Pharmacy, an online reseller of over-the-counter medications, diabetic supplies and medical equipment. HealthWarehouse.com also will merge with a newly formed subsidiary of Hocks Pharmacy.

February 4, 2011
NACDS Foundation: Patient care database more than doubled in size

A free, publicly accessible and searchable healthcare resource developed last year by the charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores dramatically has grown since its inception.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A free, publicly accessible and searchable healthcare resource developed last year by the charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores dramatically has grown since its inception.

February 4, 2011
Sam's Club pharmacies offer customers free Rx checkup

Sam's Club pharmacies, which ranked highest among retailers in the prescription ordering and pickup process category in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. National Pharmacy Study, is expanding its services this month.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club pharmacies, which ranked highest among retailers in the prescription ordering and pickup process category in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. National Pharmacy Study, is expanding its services this month.

Throughout the month of February, Sam's Club is emphasizing its pharmacy segment by offering customers a free prescription checkup on any medication, as well as a free 10-count sample of its Member's Mark fish oil supplements (except in Puerto Rico-based stores).

February 3, 2011
Medi-Ring introduces reusable Rx label

A new consumer-oriented compliance tool was introduced by Medi-Ring on Tuesday.

PHOENIX — A new consumer-oriented compliance tool was introduced by Medi-Ring on Tuesday.

The Medi-Ring reusable prescription label can be customized by the consumer to match prescription drugs to disease-state needs, the company said. The plastic Medi-Ring slips onto a prescription bottle, and the patient can write whatever he or she wants on it (e.g., “heart medicine” or “blood pressure”).

February 1, 2011
Report: Pa. officials may limit Rx transfers among patients

Fears about the likelihood of medication errors have officials in Pennsylvania mulling the possibility of restrictions on patients transferring prescriptions from one pharmacy to another, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Fears about the likelihood of medication errors have officials in Pennsylvania mulling the possibility of restrictions on patients transferring prescriptions from one pharmacy to another, according to published reports.

CNBC reported Sunday that a rule recently put in place by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy that allows only one transfer per year had inspired Pennsylvania officials to consider a similar rule for their own state.

February 1, 2011
Zipnosis: Giant leap forward for retail health

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Convenient care industry pioneer Kevin Smith took a leap more than 10 years ago and helped create the successful nurse practitioner-staffed retail clinic concept. Today, the industry trailblazer is embarking on a new venture to further revolutionize access to health care. Enter Zipnosis.com.


January 7, 2011
At CES, Walgreens’ medical chief cites advances in multichannel technology to boost access to care

Walgreens’ increasing use of mobile technology platforms is transforming the way the company reaches patients and is expanding its ability to deliver health services via smart phones and other devices, a Walgreens official asserted Friday.

LAS VEGAS — Walgreens’ increasing use of mobile technology platforms is transforming the way the company reaches patients and is expanding its ability to deliver health services via smart phones and other devices, a Walgreens official asserted Friday.

Speaking at the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show’s Digital Health Summit this morning, Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus laid out the ways the health services and retail pharmacy giant is leveraging technology to make personal health management easier for patients.

January 5, 2011
Rx software-data linkups ease verification process

FORT WORTH, Texas — Unveiling its second pharmacy automation alliance in the space of a few weeks, integrated pharmacy systems provider PDX announced a new partnership in December with Health Market Science, a leading source for health provider data and solutions. Both firms said the goal is to make the prescription verification process safer and more accurate for dispensing pharmacists.


January 4, 2011
NACDS Foundation encouraging research on problem of primary medication nonadherence

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation is inviting health and pharmacy experts and other researchers to join the Herculean effort to improve patient adherence rates.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation is inviting health and pharmacy experts and other researchers to join the Herculean effort to improve patient adherence rates.

The invitation comes in the form of a new Request for Proposal, issued Tuesday by the NACDS Foundation. The foundation is seeking bids from research organizations to study primary medication nonadherence, which occurs when a patient fails to fill or pick up his or her newly prescribed medication.

December 23, 2010
Study: More research needed to improve patient medication adherence

The industry has a lot to learn in order to determine how to most effectively use electronic communications to improve patient medication adherence, as few studies show how health information technology can be leveraged to motivate patients to take medications as prescribed, according to research sponsored by CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The industry has a lot to learn in order to determine how to most effectively use electronic communications to improve patient medication adherence, as few studies show how health information technology can be leveraged to motivate patients to take medications as prescribed, according to research sponsored by CVS Caremark.

December 21, 2010
URAC revises accreditation programs

A healthcare accrediting organization is revising three products in its Pharmacy Quality Management suite of programs.

WASHINGTON — A healthcare accrediting organization is revising three products in its Pharmacy Quality Management suite of programs.

URAC said its pharmacy committee approved revisions to its mail service, specialty pharmacy, and workers' compensation and property and casualty for pharmacy benefit management accreditation programs. The products revised include:

  • Mail-service pharmacy, version 2.0;

  • Specialty pharmacy, version 2.0; and

December 20, 2010
Kerr Drug to extend free drug delivery program

Just a few months after launching its free delivery program, Kerr Drug on Monday said it will continue the service into the New Year.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Just a few months after launching its free delivery program, Kerr Drug on Monday said it will continue the service into the New Year.

The delivery program allows Kerr Drug customers to call their prescriptions in to the store pharmacist and request the prescription be delivered to their home or office and may add any other item from the store to their delivery list, which also can be delivered free of charge.

December 20, 2010
MinuteClinic to promote Ask Me 3 health literacy program

CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has entered into an agreement with the National Patient Safety Foundation to become the nation's first retail clinic provider to implement the Ask Me 3 health literacy program.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has entered into an agreement with the National Patient Safety Foundation to become the nation's first retail clinic provider to implement the Ask Me 3 health literacy program.

MinuteClinic will launch the program in early 2011 in its approximately 500 medical clinics located inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in 26 states and the District of Columbia.