Author: Peter

Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc…The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Valeant investors under the federal securities laws… Defendants issued materially false and misleading statements to investors and/or failed to disclose that:

• deficient internal controls
• relationship with a network of specialty pharmacies used to boost Valeant’s sales of its high-priced drugs
• the use of specialty pharmacies left Valeant vulnerable to increased regulatory risks
• under government scrutiny for its financial assistance programs for patients, pricing decisions and the distribution of its products
• faced the risk of scrutiny over its price increases
• without using specialty pharmacies, Valeant’s financial performance would be negatively impacted
• without using specialty pharmacies, Valeant’s Class Period performance would have been negatively impacted
• true relationship with Philidor and the extent of that relationship
• controlled Philidor
• Valeant’s subsidiary KGA had a secured lien interest on Philidor’s ownership
• engaged in a scheme to manipulate Valeant’s stock price
• public statements were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

You and your practice team could be spending several hundred hours on prescription renewals each year. What if you could get most of that time back while also ensuring your patients don’t run out of medications between appointments? Here’s a physician-proven solution that you can implement in your practice right away…Random prescription renewals have become so ingrained in office-based practices that you may not have even realized that it was an inefficient allocation of resources. But synchronizing prescription renewals—renewing all of a patient’s stable medications for 12-15 months—can save your practice time and money, so you can dedicate more time to directly caring for patients.

Follow these three steps to synchronize prescription renewals.

1. At a dedicated annual comprehensive care visit, renew all medications for chronic illness for the maximum duration allowed by state law.
2. Include instructions for the pharmacy on all prescription modifications and renewals as applicable.
3. Take the opportunity to review all of the patient’s prescriptions for chronic conditions when you receive a prescription renewal request.

Washoe County Health District reports gastrointestinal illness outbreaks in schools and daycares have sickened 1,762 staffers and faculty as of ..Oct. 23...A Health District spokesman says a total of 17 schools continue to be in outbreak mode, including 15 schools, one daycare and one charter school.

Next week, on October 27 and 28, the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee is reviewing ten (nine) active pharmaceutical ingredients to be included on the list of approved bulk drugs that traditional compounders can use in preparing prescriptions. As required within 503A, a bulk ingredient must have an applicable USP monograph, be a component of an FDA approved drug, or be added to an official list authorized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The ten (nine) drugs to be reviewed were nominated by stakeholders…in response to formal requests issued by the agency…FDA has released documents for the PCAC that show their recommendations on each of the nominated drugs. (each item, FDA does not recommend addition to the approved bulk ingredient list)

1. Methylsulfonylmethane
2. Curcumin
3. Germanium Sesquioxide
4. Rubidium Chloride
5. Deoxy-D-Glucose
6. Alanyl–L-Glutamine
7. Glycyrrhizin
8. Glutaraldehyde
9. Domperidone

Abstract

Objectives To improve understanding of the logistics of transitions of care (TOC) clinics and to provide guidance to pharmacists in developing and implementing a new TOC clinic or improving an existing one.

Setting Outpatient TOC clinic within an ambulatory care practice.

Practice description Two general internal medicine practices collaborated with a university health system to create an interdisciplinary TOC clinic to improve quality and continuity of patient care. The clinic accommodates any patients of the practice who are not able to get an appointment with their primary care physician within 1 to 2 weeks of discharge from any hospital. Physician residents, an attending physician, a clinical pharmacist, a nurse, medical assistants, and a social worker (if necessary) are involved in the patient's care during the transition process.

Practice innovation Pharmacists can play a vital role in developing and implementing a TOC clinic or enhancing a current one. There are many logistical components to consider in developing a clinic, and this article provides guidance in the various steps required in creating a clinic, including support and coordination, personnel, workflow, operations, reimbursement, marketing, metrics, and measures.

Conclusion This tool may help pharmacists implement or enhance an outpatient TOC clinic to improve patient care, quality, and continuity.

(full text req. subscrip.)

Donnie Calhoun, RPh, PD, National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation vice president, discusses the integrated resource and support center and how it can help pharmacists with their contingency planning.

Join Together Northern Nevada teamed up…with UNR's Medical School to educate community members about a Sacramento-based pilot program that's treating addiction with a non-narcotic, non-addictive drug (naltrexone)…Prescription drug abuse is the number one growing problem in the country and Nevada is one of the highest-ranked states when it comes to prescription painkillers…"It's a big problem; we're the number two prescriber of oxycodone and hydrocodone in the nation,"…"People may not want to intentionally abuse prescription drugs but let's say they get injured, they take a narcotic prescription painkiller and become addicted to it, then they just keep coming back for more."...

As part of its advocacy and community outreach efforts during American Pharmacists Month, the American Pharmacists Association is partnering with the co-chairs of the House Community Pharmacy Caucus, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Walgreens to host the 3rd Annual Capitol Hill Health Fair on October 28. Flu shots and health screenings, including bone density, glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, and body composition will be available to members of Congress, staff, and the general public in the Rayburn Foyer in the Rayburn House Office Building from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Pharmacists from Walgreens and student pharmacists from:

• University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy
• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
• Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy
• Howard University College of Pharmacy
• Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy

Dr. Katherine Smith, Director of Continuing Education and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Roseman University was recently elected as one of 24 Fellows of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy...Dr. Smith was nominated for consideration as an ACCP Fellow by her colleagues, then underwent a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation by the 35-member Credentials: Fellowship Committee. The evaluation process included a review of both practice and research accomplishments...

University of Nevada School of Medicine is asking residents of Minden and Gardnerville to open their homes and hearts to medical students studying in their community later this year…Starting now, some members of the Class of 2016 will begin their four-week small community rotation requirement in these communities. The required program for graduation relies on the goodwill and generosity of community members to help house students during their four-week rotation…"We have placed students in the Minden and Gardnerville area in the past and hope we can rely on the town's willingness to do so again this year," said Jamie Anderson, director, Rural Medical Education for the medical school. "Our students have truly loved learning about these communities and working with the physicians there."