Content about medication errors

January 28, 2013
Pharmacy trends and outlook for 2013

Health care is evolving. As obvious of a statement as that is, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very real. Throughout last year, there was intense discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and what impact the outcome of the presidential election might have on its future. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and elections are settled, healthcare companies and providers across the country are implementing strategies to meet ACA requirements.

Health care is evolving. As obvious of a statement as that is, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very real. Throughout last year, there was intense discussion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and what impact the outcome of the presidential election might have on its future. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and elections are settled, healthcare companies and providers across the country are implementing strategies to meet ACA requirements.

December 11, 2012
Electronic prescribing comes full circle with automated refill authorizations

E-prescribing offers many well-known benefits to physicians, pharmacists and patients alike. Beyond the well-known patient benefits, real-time transactions with automated requests and responses promise to create efficiencies by speeding the medication ordering process, reducing or eliminating the back-and-forth communications between pharmacists and clinicians commonly associated with handwritten prescriptions.

E-prescribing offers many well-known benefits to physicians, pharmacists and patients alike. Beyond the well-known patient benefits, real-time transactions with automated requests and responses promise to create efficiencies by speeding the medication ordering process, reducing or eliminating the back-and-forth communications between pharmacists and clinicians commonly associated with handwritten prescriptions.

October 16, 2012
The essential value of HIEs in delivering patient-centered pharmacy care

Emerging multidisciplinary healthcare models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, promise to elevate quality and lower costs by harnessing the power of provider, payer and patient collaboration. Often overlooked in the coordinated care equation, however, is the integral role pharmacists can play in delivering efficient and effective care.

Emerging multidisciplinary healthcare models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, promise to elevate quality and lower costs by harnessing the power of provider, payer and patient collaboration. Often overlooked in the coordinated care equation, however, is the integral role pharmacists can play in delivering efficient and effective care.

July 23, 2012
Electronic medication reconciliation: When the healthcare industry collaborates, everyone wins

Healthcare providers in today’s environment are committed to promoting patient safety while providing access to the most reliable and innovative treatments. Medication reconciliation, which is defined by The Joint Commission as “the process of comparing a patient’s medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking,” is designed to prevent drug-related errors — including adverse interactions, overdoses or allergic reactions — and can assist healthcare providers, especially during care transitions when patients are most likely to receive new medications or alternative doses.

Healthcare providers in today’s environment are committed to promoting patient safety while providing access to the most reliable and innovative treatments.

June 14, 2012
E-prescribing of controlled substances: The next generation of medication ordering

In healthcare technology circles, e-prescribing is among today’s hottest topics. A vital component of patient-centered care, it creates a connectivity platform that encourages collaboration between the physician and pharmacist who are in joint pursuit of an enhanced patient experience.

In healthcare technology circles, e-prescribing is among today’s hottest topics. A vital component of patient-centered care, it creates a connectivity platform that encourages collaboration between the physician and pharmacist who are in joint pursuit of an enhanced patient experience.

April 17, 2012
BioPlus launches application for physicians

A specialty pharmacy provider has launched an application that it said will reduce the administrative burden of reimbursement, writing prescriptions, monitoring adherence and reviewing drug lists.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A specialty pharmacy provider has launched an application that it said will reduce the administrative burden of reimbursement, writing prescriptions, monitoring adherence and reviewing drug lists.

BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy announced the launch of TAP App, short for Therapy Access Portal, designed to allow physicians to monitor patients from initial intake through benefit verification and shipping, and make data on adherence issues, medication possession ratios, adverse drug reactions and other issues more easily available.

April 13, 2012
Finding new benefits to e-prescribing

Electronic prescribing has long been touted as a way to reduce medication errors and healthcare costs, but one retail pharmacy chain has found another use for it.


Electronic prescribing has long been touted as a way to reduce medication errors and healthcare costs, but one retail pharmacy chain has found another use for it.


March 8, 2012
NACDS expresses pharmacy's commitment to patient safety in House Panel testimony

Written testimony submitted by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores underscored chain pharmacies’ commitment to patient safety as part of the next Prescription Drug User Fee Act reauthorization, and emphasized that community pharmacist-provided services help improve health outcomes without the introduction of unproven technologies.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Written testimony submitted by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores underscored chain pharmacies’ commitment to patient safety as part of the next Prescription Drug User Fee Act reauthorization, and emphasized that community pharmacist-provided services help improve health outcomes without the introduction of unproven technologies.

July 13, 2011
Lower concentrations of flu drug will be available, FDA says

A new formulation of a common drug for flu will be available in lower concentrations to reduce the possibility of medication errors, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A new formulation of a common drug for flu will be available in lower concentrations to reduce the possibility of medication errors, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

The FDA said the change applies to the oral suspension form of Genentech’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir). The formulation is a powder that the pharmacist mixes with water to make it easier to take for patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules.

May 16, 2011
FDA to debate pediatric APAP dosing during mid-week advisory committee meeting

The Food and Drug Administration is convening its Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Tuesday and Wednesday to debate mandating weight-based dosing for pediatric medicines containing acetaminophen on the Drug Facts label, as well as the potential expansion of dosing instructions to incorporate children under the age of 2 years old, according to material posted online by the FDA on Friday.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is convening its Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Tuesday and Wednesday to debate mandating weight-based dosing for pediatric medicines containing acetaminophen on the Drug Facts label, as well as the potential expansion of dosing instructions to incorporate children under the age of 2 years old, according to material posted online by the FDA on Friday.

May 11, 2011
Lucky No. 7: Annual Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit attendance grows 50%

The seventh annual Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit, convened at The Wynn resort and casino this week, attracted nearly 1,500 attendees — a rise of almost 50% over 2010 — and about 80 exhibiting companies.

LAS VEGAS — The seventh annual Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit, convened at The Wynn resort and casino this week, attracted nearly 1,500 attendees — a rise of almost 50% over 2010 — and about 80 exhibiting companies.

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 19, 2009
SEMI helps Michigan doctors go paperless

Michigan has long been regarded as one of the nation’s most proactive states in the...

Michigan has long been regarded as one of the nation’s most proactive states in the push for adoption of e-prescribing, along with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Nevada, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio and Washington. The state is home to the Southeastern Michigan ePrescribing Initiative, or SEMI, whose goal is to prove that doctors would actually find paperless prescribing useful once they began working with it and incorporating it into their day-to-day routine.