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Embattled Valeant Pharmaceuticals International…that its accounting related to its relationship with a specialty pharmacy was legal and appropriate, but added that its board was nonetheless forming a special committee to investigate the relationship…disclosed for the first time last week that it had acquired an option to buy the specialty pharmacy, Philidor Rx Services, which dispenses some of Valeant’s dermatology drugs… If doctors send prescriptions to Philidor, rather than having their patients go to a retail pharmacy, it makes it harder for the pharmacies or insurers to switch the patient to a cheaper generic alternative…Philidor negotiates for reimbursement with insurers, relieving doctors of the hurdles that might otherwise discourage them from prescribing a high-priced drug. Patient co-payments are also reduced or eliminated, removing another barrier to use of Valeant’s drugs.

Victorian pharmacists will play a pivotal role under proposals announced by the Victorian Government to make medicinal cannabis available to some patients under exceptional circumstances…pharmacists will dispense medicinal cannabis after authorisation is provided by medical specialists…“Having pharmacists acknowledged as best-placed to dispense medicinal cannabis is welcomed as it ensures that medicines experts are available to advise and counsel patients using these products,”…there were specific eligibility requirements for the scheme based on conditions and corresponding symptoms. These were:

• Severe muscle spasms or severe pain resulting from multiple sclerosis
• Severe pain, nausea, vomiting or wasting arising from cancer, HIV/AIDS
• Severe seizures resulting from epileptic conditions where other treatment options have failed or have intolerable side effects
• Severe chronic pain with the approval of two specialists

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.

Ronna B. Hauser, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy affairs for the National Community Pharmacists Association, provides an overview of some of the most important aspects of the Drug Quality and Security Act.

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.

James Schiffer, RPh, associate at Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLC, discusses some red flags related to prescriptions that can lead to administrative action from the DEA. (video)

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...