Drug Topics - October 22, 2007 - (Page 8)

8 DRUG TOPICS OCTOBER 8, 2007 www.drugtopics.com > > > Latebreakers In Depth Legislative victory builds momentum for pharmacy month Reid Paul harmacists began American Pharmacists Month buoyed by legislative and policy successes and ready for a month-long celebration of the role of pharmacists in providing health care. In the last days of September, pharmacists celebrated the successful effort to delay implementation of the tamper-resistant prescription pad rule for Medicaid as well as the announcement that the Food & Drug Administration is considering forming a behind-the-counter class of drugs. Throughout the month of October numerous events and celebrations are planned to highlight the importance of pharmacists. For the celebration, the American Pharmacists Association is pushing its slogan: “Know your medicine … know your pharmacist.” The slogan is designed to make consumers recognize the accessibility and importance of pharmacists as healthcare providers. “Our biggest priority is to get consumers to recognize that their pharmacist is there for them,” APhA president Winnie Landis told Drug Topics. “We are trying to strengthen the bond between consumers and pharmacists.” P dent and CEO of CVS Caremark. “We’re grateful for the hard work and daily commitment of these men and women across the country.” CVS currently employs more than 20,000 pharmacists. Celebrations Pharmacies around the country are holding events that highlight the role of pharmacists. University of Iowa pharmacy students, for example, are offering free diabetes screenings, influenza vaccinations, and a blood drive, during the month of October. The month-long effort will culminate in a health fair, which will feature glucose, cholesterol and hypertension screenings, heartburn awareness education, and poison prevention education. Many states also took the opportunity to honor pharmacists. In Alaska, Gov. Sarah Palin signed a resolution urging state residents “to recognize the vital contributions pharmacists make every day in the lives of patients, through their efforts in improving safe medication use strategies and impacting improved health outcomes, and acknowledge the valuable services of pharmacists to provide safe, affordable, and beneficial pharmacy care services and products to all citizens.” In addition to American Pharmacists Month, some organizations are also pushing shorter celebrations. From Oct. 21 to 27, hospitals will be celebrating National Hospital and Health-System Pharmacy Week, which is sponsored by ASHP. Furthermore, on Oct. 23, pharmacy technicians will be honored on the 17th annual National Pharmacy Technician Day. Many pharmacists and pharmacy organizations hope that the pharmacy-related celebration, following on the heels of the legislative delay for tamper-resistant prescription pads, will give the industry the opportunity to raise the profile of pharmacists and to come together over common concerns. Already many are turning their attention to combating the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ planned rollout of average manufacturer price (AMP) for Medicaid reimbursement and pushing for the expansion of behindthe-counter drugs. “All the pharmacy organizations worked very closely together on the tamper-resistant prescription pads,” explained Landis. “It is evidence that when we work together things do happen that are positive for pharmacy.” DT Who is your favorite pharmacist? Chain pharmacies are getting into the game as well. Rite Aid, for example, has created a contest in celebration of pharmacists. Patients can vote for their favorite pharmacist. Both the pharmacist and the patient will be entered into separate drawings for $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards. A pharmacist and patient will each be randomly selected in the contest, now in its fourth year. All nominated pharmacists will receive a commemorative pin and a letter of commendation from Rite Aid chairman, president, and CEO Mary Sammons. “American Pharmacists Month is the perfect time for us to honor our pharmacists, who are medication experts and on the front lines counseling and answering patient questions every day,” explained Phil Keough, Rite Aid senior VP of pharmacy operations. CVS Caremark also used the occasion to publicly thank its pharmacists. “Our pharmacists work hard every day to deliver high-quality pharmacy service to our customers,” explained Thomas Ryan, R.Ph., presi- http://www.drugtopics.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - October 22, 2007

Drug Topics - October 22, 2007 Contents Latebreakers Legislative Victory Builds Momentum for Pharmacy Month Letters Health-System Edition R.Ph.s Brace for Payment Denial for Hospital-Acquired Conditions Topical Human Thrombin Helps Arrest Bleeding FDA Panels Fail to Set Target Levels for Renal Patients’ Hemoglobin Warning Letters Raise Patient Safety Concerns for Fentora Ending/Reversing Weight Gain Man Given Fatal Drug Overdose at Staten Island Hospital Pharmacists Playing More Important Role in Dialysis Treatment AHA President R.Ph.'s Here's How You Can Increase Your Value Premier Launches Comprehensive Quality Improvement Project FDA Approves Dexrazoxane for Treatment of Extravasation New Federal, State Reforms to Ease Disaster Relief Kinks 150 Years of American Pharmacy Ten Tips for MTM Success Independent Superstars: The Ones to Watch The New Dynamic Duo A Parkinson's Disease Primer Classified New Products Advertisers Index Viewpoint

Drug Topics - October 22, 2007

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