Hot off the Press for September 19, 2005

September 19, 2005

• Pharmacy colleges nationwide offer hurricane aid
• Walgreens launches exclusive line for women of color
• California R.Ph.s design consumer Rx booklet
• Florida pharmacy firm offers MTM
• Spanish fact sheets to help seniors take meds safely
• Hutchinson appointed to AIHC post
• Florida county to use in-house R.Ph.
• Brooks Eckerd to provide in-store nurse practitioner
• Parents unaware of diarrhea guidelines for kids
• Nevada approves seven Canadian pharmacies
• MTM programs save $1 million
• Walgreens expands senior pharmacy services

Pharmacy colleges nationwide offer hurricane aid
More than 90 colleges of pharmacy nationwide have rallied to offer assistance to the two colleges of pharmacy most significantly impacted by Hurricane Katrina—Xavier University College of Pharmacy and the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) is coordinating the various offers. More information on efforts to assist the affected colleges of pharmacy can be found at www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/myMedicines.htm. Back to top

Florida pharmacy firm offers MTM
Florida-based Pharmacy Provider Services Corp. is offering medication therapy management (MTM) services to employers, health plans, and consumers to help them control drug costs and improve health care. The Tallahassee firm is partnering with Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care, a leading MTM provider. Back to top

Spanish fact sheets to help seniors take meds safely
The National Institute on Aging is offering free fact sheets in Spanish to help seniors take medicines safely and learn how to recognize and protect themselves from health scams. The fact sheets provide hints to help avoid risks and get the best results from medicine. They also tell seniors how to spot the false claims of those who sell unreliable remedies that promise a quick or painless cure. Call 1-(800) 222-2225 for free copies of the fact sheet or visit www.talltoilettales.com. Back to top

Nevada approves seven Canadian pharmacies
The Nevada pharmacy board approved seven of the 10 Canadian mail-order pharmacies that had applied to sell Rx drugs in the state. The board's attorney and an inspector will travel to Canada later this month for on-site inspections of the endorsed pharmacies. Operations that pass inspection will appear on a state Web site by Sept. 23. Back to top

MTM programs save $1 million
Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care's "Encounter" Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program has saved an estimated $1 million in healthcare costs since its launch last October. The program uses community pharmacists in 40 states to help covered patients properly use their medications through education, regimen review, and compliance monitoring. The program is offered in conjunction with the Community Care Rx drug discount card. Back to top

Walgreens expands senior pharmacy services
The Walgreen Co. has entered into a joint venture to extend its pharmacy services to the senior and assisted-living marketplace. The joint venture with Senior Healthcare Partners LLC (known to its customers as SeniorMed Pharmacy), an Aurora, Colo., pharmaceutical company, will form a new company called SeniorMed LLC. SeniorMed Pharmacy will continue providing prescription services to residents in assisted-living, specialty care, and independent communities across the country. Back to top