Content about Physician

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Anyone wondering what the future of health care under a more consumer-directed model will look like got a glimpse of it from two pieces of news this week.

(THE NEWS: Sam’s Club celebrates men’s health with free screenings. For the full story, click here)

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association has published its white paper on risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, the group said.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Northeast supermarket chain Price Chopper will expand several of its health-and-wellness programs to combat diabetes as part of its participation in the American Pharmacists Association Foundation’s Project Impact: Diabetes initiative, the chain said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has entered into a clinical affiliation with Advocate Health Care and Advocate Physician Partners is important as it reflects a larger focus within the U.S. healthcare landscape: medical homes, or for a growing number of Americans, the lack thereof.

NEW YORK — The Manhattan Institute has come up with a novel idea to help New York state slash its healthcare costs by a hefty $350 million by 2020: Expand access to retail health clinics.

Sounds simple enough, right? Think again.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic announced that it is offering spring sports physicals at its facilities across the country to make it easier and more affordable for children and teenagers to head to the field and participate in organized sports.

Beginning March 1 to 31, MinuteClinic will offer the pre-participation physicals, which are required by many states, school systems and athletic leagues. MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and physician assistants will offer the exams seven days a week, including weekday evenings. No appointment is necessary.

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.


NEW YORK — As employers try to engage employees in health management programs to slow healthcare cost inflation, fewer employees are placing a high priority on managing and improving their health, according to a survey released Wednesday of more than 9,000 employees at large and midsize employers, conducted by Towers Watson.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — GlaxoSmithKline company Stiefel has made its popular acne wash formulations available for over-the-counter use.

Stiefel will market two products that are indicated for the treatment of acne over the counter under the PanOxyl brand: PanOxyl acne creamy wash will be available in 4% BPO and 8% BPO.

A marketing campaign directed toward pharmacists and dermatologists will communicate details of the new PanOxyl 4% and 8% BPO acne creamy washes. The products will be available for shipment in May.

Hollywood, Fla. — The chain that wants to be the top retail destination for wellness has added another plank to its accessible care platform.


Walgreens has allied with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation to launch a new partnership aimed at helping an estimated 200,000-plus Broward County, Fla., residents affected by diabetes. The new initiative, called Diabetes Research Institute Live Well Broward County, is a joint effort of the DRIF, Walgreens, LifeScan and South Florida physicians.


NEW YORK — Convenience and cost savings offered by retail-based health clinics are attractive to urban patients. Given sufficient cost savings, those urban patients are likely to seek care at such facilities, causing possible further growth and employment opportunities for nurse practitioners in these clinics, according to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.