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The only primary care provider who isn’t officially a provider
Greg L. Alston PharmaceuticalWhat if the federal government told you that pharmacists were not healthcare providers even though they have been providing healthcare since the birth of our nation? Curiously enough, Section 1861 of the Social Security Act fails to recognize pharmacists as providers.
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Seasonal allergies: Cough up the dough
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareSpring has sprung, and that means so have seasonal allergies for many folks. An inappropriate immune response to a harmless substance, seasonal allergies generally create quality-of-life concerns without creating major illness.
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What really drives drug development inefficiencies — Part II
Mike Wokasch PharmaceuticalIn Part I of this article, we discussed the magnitude of drug development inefficiency. With the cumulative, mind-boggling amount of money and resources dedicated to drug development, it is hard to believe that fewer than 50 new drugs get approved every year. So why is drug development so inefficient?
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Students and stimulants: Risky business on college campuses
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalIt's finals time, and college kids (among others) are looking for any approach that will give them the edge they need on their final exams and papers. But according to a recent study, some students are consuming more than copious amounts of coffee and energy drinks to push the limits of their studying stamina.
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Is overprescribing really to blame for antibiotic resistance?
Lauren Swan Medical & Allied HealthcareThe World Health Organization (WHO) released a report last week regarding antimicrobial resistance and how it's being found in every part of the world. According to the WHO, the cause of this resistance is overuse and abuse of antibiotic medications, posing a potential threat for civilization as more diseases become drug resistant.
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What really drives drug development inefficiencies — Part I
Mike Wokasch PharmaceuticalAccording to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, there are currently more than 5,000 potential new drug treatments in clinical trials. Yet every year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves fewer than 50 new drugs, and many of these approvals include new indications for previously-approved drugs.
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The day that hospital-based pharmacy died
Greg L. Alston PharmaceuticalSomewhere between 1980 and now, the practice of hospital pharmacy was severely crippled and mortally wounded. Clearly hospitals still employ pharmacists, and pharmacists in hospitals do good work. But the pharmacy department as a thriving business unit was delivered a fatal blow when the reimbursement for pharmacy services was converted to the diagnosis-related group (DRG) method of payment.
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Novel therapies for neuroprotection in stroke
Dr. Afsaneh Motamed-Khorasani Mental HealthcareStroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. There is considerable interest in investigating novel treatments for neuroprotection during stroke, but at present no approved treatment is available for pathological processes occurring in the brain during stroke.
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Is hospital outpatient pharmacy the new frontier?
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalThere's a new trend sweeping the nation. Well, it's not brand new. But it is hard to miss the growing interest in this pharmaceutical phenomenon. Hospitals are recognizing the benefits of incorporating an outpatient pharmacy program into their comprehensive health services offerings.
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New research showing promise in contraceptives for women
Dr. Afsaneh Motamed-Khorasani PharmaceuticalMany contraceptive methods are available in the market. However, they are associated with the risk of side effects and with chances of drug failure. The cost of the contraceptives is also important, but many of the new contraceptives are not affordable for millions of women.
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