Retail Clinics

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's retail-based clinic operator, MinuteClinic, is experiencing exponential gains in utilization and posted a 22% increase in acute visits during the past year, Larry Merlo, CVS Caremark president and COO, told investors Wednesday during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

ATLANTA — Nationwide rates of asthma have been on the rise in recent years, though they’ve risen at a slow pace, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the report, released Wednesday, around 24.6 million people in the United States had asthma in 2009, meaning a prevalence of 8.2%. Rates have risen by around 1.2% per year since 2001, with asthma attack prevalence staying between 3.9% and 4.3% between 1997 and 2009.

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.

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.

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.