Category Archives: Pharmacy

The first pharmacy robbery I covered was on a slushy, gray day in December 1991. Pharmacy robberies were virtually unheard of, so interest in the newsroom was piqued at once. The robber didnt get far, just a couple of miles from the Downeast Pharmacy in Hampden to the parking lot of the former Burger King restaurant on Main Street in Bangor. He had stopped there to get a soda with which to swallow some of the 100 Percodan tablets he had stolen at knifepoint just about 10 minutes before. By the time I dashed down the block to Burger King, 73-year-old Emil Garrett already had assumed the position and was under arrest. Turned out Mr. Garrett was a very smart man a retired Army colonel and a chemical engineer but he also was an addict and, as it turned out, not a terribly swift robbery suspect. It was nine years later when the BDN ran its bold headline: Heroin. Its Cheap. Its Deadly. Its Here. Dealers find markets in Maine for addictive drug. Garrett wasnt using heroin, but what we all learned nine years after his failed robbery attempt was that heroin and prescription opiates are interchangeable. We also learned … Continue reading →

KIRKLAND, Wash., June 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Talyst, a leader in pharmacy automation, announces AutoSplit Contract Pharmacy at the 16th Annual 340B Coalition. The conference highlights will include sessions devoted to program integrity and audits, key considerations when developing contract pharmacy relationships, how the 340B program helps improve and expand patient care, and practical steps and policy solutions to address drug shortages. AutoSplit Contract Pharmacy allows health systems to capture additional 340B savings from hospital scripts dispensed at retail pharmacies. The solution is an end-to-end managed service that gives covered entities the opportunity to capture increased 340B savings. "Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) can benefit from a 340B program," said Carla Corkern, Chief Executive Officer at Talyst. "Through their additional savings from Contract Pharmacy, the DSH can provide better and safer care to their patients." Talyst will be exhibiting at the Coalition in booth #33. For more information on the conference, visit http://www.340bcoalition.org/conferences/2012_annual/index.cfm. About Talyst Talyst is a leader in pharmacy automation and engineers the safer pharmacy. Our solutions provide enterprise-wide medication management across your entire health system to offer greater inventory control, enhanced workflow efficiency, and improved patient safety. As of 2012, Talyst has installed automated systems in more than 600 … Continue reading →

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University's new doctoral pharmacy program has been granted pre-candidate accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education board of directors. University officials were notified earlier this week of the decision, which was made last week at the biannual meeting following a recommendation from the team that made a site visit the first week of May. Pre-candidate status means the School of Pharmacy is authorized to start teaching its inaugural class of up to 80 students when the fall semester starts in August. Marshall President Stephen Kopp said that during conversations with ACPE representatives, they made it very clear that they are not accrediting new pharmacy schools that do not meet the agency's stringent standards. "We have met those standards and will continue to do so," Kopp said. "This achievement is a momentous one, one that is on the level approaching that of the founding of the School of Medicine." Pre-candidate accreditation for the doctoral program extends through June 30, 2013. Another comprehensive on-site evaluation will take place during the upcoming school year to allow for consideration of advancing the program from candidate accreditation status. The accreditation process consists of three steps, culminating with graduation of the … Continue reading →

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall University can begin enrolling the first class in its School of Pharmacy, after getting approval from a national accreditation body. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education granted the new pharmacy school "precandidate" status, which Marshall University President Stephen Kopp said was a major step in gaining national accreditation status. "This achievement is a momentous one, one that is on the level approaching that of the founding of the School of Medicine," Kopp said in a news release. "It should be a source of great pride for all who care about Marshall and the future of those we serve." Marshall expects to enroll up to 80 students in the new program. In March, nearly 350 students had submitted applications to the new pharmacy school. Marshall's pharmacy school's "precandidate" accreditation extends until June 30, 2013. The national accrediting body will then conduct an on-site evaluation of Marshall's program during the 2012-2013 academic year where they will decide whether to advance the program's accreditation to "candidate" status. The Marshall University Board of Governors voted in December 2009 to begin the process of offering a doctor of pharmacy degree. The university expects 40 new high-paying faculty and staff positions to … Continue reading →

Posted on: 6:30 pm, June 27, 2012, by Carter Watkins, updated on: 07:16pm, June 27, 2012 FLORENCE, Ala (WHNT) Its been happening far too often for police in the valley, a person smashes a window or door to a pharmacy attempting to break-in to steal valuable prescription drugs. But pharmacy owners in Russellville are helping police by upgrading their own security systems. In surveillance video released by police, two men can be seen walking down the sidewalk, scoping out Russellville Pharmacy. Eventually, one of the men can be seen taking a brick and throwing it through the front glass window. Surveillance cameras serve as the eye in the sky for police to help catch these would-be criminals. Every time they attempt to break-in, whether they get anything or not, its costing the pharmacy because of the damage to windows, doors and that type of thing, says Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett. So, I think they are seeing also in the long run, its paying off to invest in some type of security systems. These two men tried breaking into the Russellville Pharmacy early Sunday morning. This particular pharmacy has been plagued by break-ins over the past several years. But police … Continue reading →

Tom Dodge | Dispatch From left, Bob Febes talks with pharmacist Karlyn Neff about the drugs his wife, Linda, takes during a consultation at Schieber Family Pharmacy in Circleville. The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday June 27, 2012 11:56 PM CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio The U.S. health-care system cant just pop a pill to fix all that ails it. But in Pickaway County, population 55,698, Berger Health System is turning to the people who dispense pills as a way to improve community health at a lower cost. The hospital is paying two independent pharmacies to teach recently discharged patients about their medications, hoping to head off noncompliance that can lead to costly and unnecessary hospital readmissions. The hospital already has cut readmission rates by hiring a pharmacist to reconcile patients medications, ensuring that they wont have any adverse effects, before the patients are discharged. Between August 2011 and March 2012, the hospital halved its readmission rates for patients with congestive heart failure, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with the year-earlier period, said Aaron Kanas, the health systems pharmacy director. More than 1,000 consultations have taken place so far. Now the health system wants to build on that success by joining with Schieber … Continue reading →

Marshall University's doctor of pharmacy program has been granted precandidate accreditation status by the Accreditation Council For Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Board of Directors, MU President Stephen J. Kopp announced Wednesday, June 27. The precandidate status is a major step toward Marshall receiving full accreditation. The status authorizes the School of Pharmacy to enroll its inaugural class, which will begin this fall. The first class is expected to total up to 80 students. To reach its decision, the ACPE board reviewed the report of an evaluation team, documenting the findings from a comprehensive on-site evaluation. "This achievement is a momentous one, one that is on the level approaching that of the founding of the School of Medicine," Kopp said. "It should be a source of great pride for all who care about Marshall and the future of those we serve." The precandidate accreditation term granted for the doctor of pharmacy program extends until June 30, 2013. A comprehensive on-site evaluation for consideration of advancing the program from precandidate to candidate accreditation status will be scheduled during the 2012-13 academic year.The accreditation process consists of three steps culminating with graduation of the first class and adherence to all ACPE accreditation standards. "The … Continue reading →

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is holding regional forums in June to discuss the proposed inclusion of pharmacy as a benefit of BAYOU HEALTH prepaid plans (Amerigroup, LaCare and Louisiana Healthcare Connections) and gather feedback on how the Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits Program should be restructured and enhanced. At these forums, DHH Medicaid program leadership will give an overview of the planned transition of pharmacy into BAYOU HEALTH and strategies to improve Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits Management, and engage in an open dialogue with advocates and stakeholders to answer common questions and clear up any misunderstandings. The forum for the Southwest Louisiana Region will take place from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, at the Lake Charles Civic Center, Jean Lafitte Room, 900 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Charles. DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein and DHH Medicaid leadership have written a concept paper that addresses the pharmacy proposal. DHH has added a "Pharmacy" section to http://www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com, which will be updated frequently during this process. The public is advised to check here often to see the latest details. Visitors to the site also can review information about BAYOU HEALTH, subscribe to the newsletter for frequent email updates and submit questions … Continue reading →

Barbara Stewart MP Spokesperson for Health 27 June 2012 Pharmacy Services Threatened under New Contracts New Zealand First warns the Governments mishandling around new contracts for pharmacists may force some pharmacies to reduce prescription services. Health spokesperson Barbara Stewart says copies of the 160 page contract were not delivered in hard copy to some pharmacists until four days before it had to be signed. "Pharmacy owners cant be expected to provide a public service and effectively run their businesses when they havent been given time to enter good faith negotiations with the Government. It is estimated that some pharmacists will lose more than $100,000 over the three years covered by the new contracts. It may force some to close down. Mrs Stewart says the Government is deliberately interfering with the relationship between pharmacy staff and their customers as part of their policies of reducing services to cut costs. This short-sighted policy threatens an essential part of the health service. ENDS Scoop Media Read the original post: Pharmacy Services Threatened under New Contracts … Continue reading →

24-06-2012 14:33 Condensed Advanced Pharmacy Course from YPBA Academy by Dr.Yasser Allaa ElDeen "Dr.Yayooo" Fan Page at facebook: Dr.Yayooo Online Pharmacy Courses Original post: Condensed Advanced Pharmacy Course - Video … Continue reading →