Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - (Page 3) PERSONAL DIAGNOSTICS Special Report PRODUCT UPDATES Several ways your pharmacy can benefit from expanding personal diagnostics category Personal diagnostics is an evolving category that includes home blood pressure monitors, thermometers, and a plethora of at-home testing kits. These days, consumers can test everything from their cholesterol levels to their child’s paternity, all from the comfort of their own homes. As technology advances and patients become more interested in managing their health, this category continues to grow. According to Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the athome testing kits segment generated more than $41 million in food, drug, and mass outlets (excluding Wal-mart) during the 52 weeks ending Oct. 5, 2008 and has seen a 6 percent increase in sales from just one year earlier. The personal thermometers segment generated over 107 million dollars with 76 million of those sales taking place in drugstores. Blood pressure kit sales have held steady over the past year at approximately $83 million. GETTY IMAGES / BLEND IMAGES / JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC Consumer-driven healthcare The past decade has meant a movement toward patients’ personal involvement in managing their health. One example of this is the thousands of medical Web sites that have emerged, allowing people to research their symptoms and access information previously only available to doctors and pharmacists. Another example is the ability patients now have to shop online for lower-cost prescription medications or purchase an OTC alternative. The evolution of athome testing is a logical advancement of the consumer-driven healthcare movement. Many consumers view at-home tests and monitoring systems as a less-costly and more-convenient alternative to visiting the doctor. Though the tests are typically purchased out-of-pocket, they are often less expensive than office visit co-pays, and many consumers access their flexible spending and health savings account funds to help cover the costs. AHA backs home blood pressure monitor use In May 2008, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a joint scientific statement with the American Society of Hypertension and the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses’ Association encouraging people with hypertension to routinely monitor their blood pressure at home. Although past W W W.D R U GTO P I C S .C O M AHA guidelines included the use of blood pressure monitors, this was the first statement to make specific recommendations for their use, including Oscillometric monitors with an upper arm cuff The best way to use an oscillometric monitor with an upperarm cuff is by aking two or three daily readings, one minute apart; and taking the readings at the same time every day. Newer blood pressure monitors average readings over time. Some even allow people to upload the readings to their computer for further tracking. D E C . 22, 2008 DRUG TOPICS 3 http://WWW.DRUGTOPICS.COM
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 Special Report: Several Ways Your Pharmacy Can Benefit from Expanding Personal Diagnostics Category Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 (Page 1) Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 (Page 2) Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - Special Report: Several Ways Your Pharmacy Can Benefit from Expanding Personal Diagnostics Category (Page 3) Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - Special Report: Several Ways Your Pharmacy Can Benefit from Expanding Personal Diagnostics Category (Page 4) Drug Topics - December 22, 2008 - Special Report: Several Ways Your Pharmacy Can Benefit from Expanding Personal Diagnostics Category (Page 5)
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