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 →