Drug Topics’ Top Stories of the Month: August 2014

Whenever a pharmacist takes on the country’s largest pharmacy, it’s bound to make news. So, perhaps, it’s no surprise that “Pharmacist sues Walgreens over uniform and training pay” was our most-read story in August.

In his column, “Farewell to the druggist culture,” pharmacist Jim Plagakis laments how corporate mandates have tilted the pharmacists’ job more toward filling scripts than counseling patients. It was the second-most read story of the month.

“7 best practices for pharmacists,” by Agnes Ann Feemster, PharmD, BCPS, and Marc R. Summerfield, MS, suggests practice elements that maintain high standards for the profession.

Unfortunately, the increasing amount of drug abuse and overdose deaths has fueled an increase in pharmacy robberies. As such, our story “Walgreens using time-delayed safes to deter robberies” was very popular.

Our fifth most-read story of the month, “Archaic North Dakota pharmacy ownership law targeted,” details the latest challenge to a North Dakota law that has kept retailers such as Wal-Mart and Walgreens from operating pharmacies in the state.

Rounding out our Top 10 stories were:

Bilingual drug labels: Pharmacists speak out

New vancomycin dosing tool

CVS pharmacy sales offset lost tobacco revenues

DEA tightens restrictions on hydrocodone combination products

Drug shortages continue; hospitals cope