Retail Clinics

NEW YORK — Cough, cold and flu are among the most commonly experienced conditions in adults and children, leading them to seek medical care.

In an effort to support healthcare provider education around these topics, Kaz has sponsored CE lessons for pharmacists, technicians, and nurse practitioners.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — While a majority of physicians are comfortable with generic medications, there is a small segment who still have negative perceptions about the effectiveness and quality of generic drugs, and that may lead to doctors prescribing unnecessarily expensive medications, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Despite an increase in flu activity, a recent CVS/pharmacy survey showed that 56% of respondents still had not received their flu shot, although 93% were aware that there already have been reported cases of the flu this season, the pharmacy retailer stated.

Flu activity steadily is increasing in the United States, with eight states now having reported widespread outbreaks of influenza cases, according CVS/pharmacy, which cited the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

DALLAS — Aspirinpod recently launched its Aspirinpod emergency aspirin container — a small heart-shaped container that can be carried on a key chain.

Aspirinpod is a reminder to have aspirin with you at all times in the event of a heart attack, noted company founder Patti Frenette.

The small container, which does not include the aspirin, is large enough for two 325-mg tablets or four 81-mg tablets. Suggested retail price is $2.99.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Friday announced a partnership with New Hope Natural Media’s NPIcenter, in which CRN will provide a monthly blog commentary posted on the supplement industry website, NPIcenter.com, as well as on the newly launched NewHope360.com.

DENVER — State health authorities in Colorado are promoting immunization to parents through a broad media campaign.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Vaccine Advisory Committee of Colorado, a coalition of vaccination research and policy leaders, announced Thursday the “Immunize for Good” program, which they described as a way to communicate to parents vaccinating their children that they’re making the right decision and preventing serious illnesses.

LAS VEGAS — Walgreens’ increasing use of mobile technology platforms is transforming the way the company reaches patients and is expanding its ability to deliver health services via smart phones and other devices, a Walgreens official asserted Friday.

Speaking at the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show’s Digital Health Summit this morning, Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus laid out the ways the health services and retail pharmacy giant is leveraging technology to make personal health management easier for patients.

WASHINGTON — The economic recession attributed to a mere 4% rise in healthcare spending, the slowest rate of growth in the 50-year history of the National Health Expenditure Accounts, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

That number translates to $2.5 trillion, or about $8,086 per person.

CMS added that, despite the slowdown, healthcare spending growth continued to outpace overall economic growth, which declined 1.7% in 2009, as measured by nominal Gross Domestic Product.