Cultural Competence

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In collaboration with the National Minority AIDS Council, Walgreens is furthering its commitment to improve HIV treatment outcomes for African Americans living with HIV by deepening pharmacists’ training and expanding access to the pneumococcal vaccination specifically indicated for persons living with HIV as incidents of flu and pneumonia rise, the retailer announced Tuesday.

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat on Wednesday released its second episode in partnership with Pharmacy Podcast. The new installment discusses the role of patient advocacy within the specialty pharmacy field. Diplomat’s manager of patient advocacy, Brenda Hawkes, joins Pharmacy Podcast’s Todd Eury for this conversation. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Post wants to help Americans maintain healthy digestive systems with the introduction of Great Grains Digestive Blend cereals, the company announced.  

TUCSON, Ariz. — Approximately 1-in-3 chronically-ill National Health Interview Survey participants are unable to afford food, medications or both, according to a study published Jan. 21 in the American Journal of Medicine. WIC and public health insurance participation are associated with less food insecurity and cost-related medication underuse.

WASHINGTON — Interim financial results for 114 ACOs that began work in 2012 show that they generated $128 million in savings for the Medicare trust fund in the first year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported in a blog posted Thursday. Additionally, initial results from an independent evaluation of 23 Pioneer ACOs, which are those that have more experience with coordinated care, show that they saved the Medicare program $147 million in their first year of operation.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A proposed state health department regulation that would require children up to ages 5 years and older to get an annual flu immunization and would keep those with medical exemptions out of school or day care during flu outbreaks has received opposition from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to the Associated Press.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Little Clinic opened earlier this month a new clinic in Colorado in the Parker King Soopers.
 
"Access to quality, convenient health care is becoming increasingly important as more and more consumers enter the healthcare marketplace," said Ken Patric, chief medical officer for The Little Clinic. "Patient response in Colorado has been tremendously positive and continued growth in the region is a natural progression for The Little Clinic."
 

What’s at the root of most morbidity and mortality from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases? Under-immunization. Retail clinicians (i.e., nurse practioners, physician assistants and doctors) are in a unique position to influence immunization rates by educating patients on the benefits of appropriate vaccines.