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Technology now exists that can verify the contents of a drug vial or syringe, benefiting retailers, hospitals, and manufacturers.

Medication therapy management programs are intended to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Community pharmacist Tony Bastian offers a detailed report on how MTM is working at his pharmacy.

Pharmacy and Therapeutics committees around the country are taking a second look at what they're using for pediatric rehydration and how much they're willing to pay.

Cabazitaxel, an investigational compound under development by Sanofi-aventis, plus prednisone/prednisolone, is associated with overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic (advanced) hormone-refractory prostate cancer whose disease advanced after treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy.

Letters: February 2010

Pharmacists speak out about Medicaid patients, professional organizations, medication therapy management, and more.

Spotlight on oral care

Since February is National Children's Dental Health Month, it's an appropriate time to introduce new oral care products for children and adults.

Walgreens pushes back

Cutbacks to Washington's Medicaid reimbursements have resulted in Walgreens receiving below its cost or break-even point on nearly 95 percent of brand-name medications.

Most agents used for presurgical prophylaxis are not effective against MRSA. To reduce MRSA-related surgical site infections,says one expert, you need to prevent all SSIs.

Pipeline drugs 2010, part 2

The following months promise the appearance on the market of a diverse group of new drug therapies. Breakthroughs will include drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease.

Tax-free retirement?

Financial adviser Rick Schultenover discusses how to distinguish between a Roth IRA and 401k.

Surescripts cuts rates

Operational efficiences and economies of scale resulting from its 2008 merger with RxHub have enabled Surescripts to cut its pharmacy routing and transaction fees, which should lead to decreases in the prices independent pharmacies are paying.

Pharmacies are experiencing financial, regulatory and reimbursement challenges that have increased pressure on their operations. A regular review of financial circumstances and business options can help pharmacies stay afloat in turbulent times.

As their growing role in healthcare causes pharmacists to focus more on medication management and patient consulting, some are specializing in healthcare issues and needs specific to women.

Another vote for team care

Medication therapy management interventions by community pharmacists reduced prescription drug costs by $35 per month on average.

A webinar examining the pharmacy error that led to the death of a two-year-old girl and the conviction of an Ohio pharmacist criticized the legal system for criminalizing the event as well as the flawed hospital procedures that prevented discovery of the pharmacy tech's fatal error.

Increasing enrollment in pharmacy schools and changing economic factors appear to have eased the national pharmacist shortage. In order to plan appropriately for all stakeholders, we need to quantify the numbers when we talk about a pharmacist shortage.

Its very name implies that the American Pharmacists Association would be looking for and advocating solutions to the problems of actual pharmacists, but when it comes to addressing the barriers that stand in the way of our practicing our profession, APhA is nowhere to be found.