Retail Clinics

WASHINGTON Passage of the mammoth health-reform bill Sunday night by the U.S. House of Representatives is drawing guarded support from several sectors of healthcare industry, including community pharmacy providers, physician groups and the pharmaceutical industry. But the insurance industry is expressing alarm over provisions in the bill aimed at forcing insurers to cover Americans regardless of pre-existing conditions.

NEW YORK Diabetics who are less inclined to seek help with managing their condition are at increased risk of premature death, a new study found.

WASHINGTON “Systemic underfunding” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Viral Hepatitis puts the health of millions of Americans with viral hepatitis at risk, a group of organizations focused on the disease said this week.

NEW YORK Drug Store News’ sister publication, Retail Clinician, has issued a special report on an exclusive study conducted by Take Care Health Systems in conjunction with Gallup Consulting that measured patient engagement levels among Take Care Clinic visitors, with an eye toward elevating the patient experience.

WESTLAKE, Texas MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals plans to promote its extended-release antibiotic by expanding a Web-based marketing program, the drug maker announced Wednesday.

IncreaseRx is a virtual sales-contract organization that gives healthcare professionals access to electronic sampling, learning and education tools. The company has entered an agreement with DoctorDirectory.com, its promotion partner for Moxatag (amoxicillin), and plans to use Web-based educational and promotional tactics to reach prescribers with sales and marketing messages for the drug.

PHOENIX Matrixx Initiatives recently introduced a new line of Zicam products — Cold Remedy Plus, a multi-ingredient formulation that both reduces the duration of the common cold and helps relieve the symptoms of someone who already has a cold.

The Cold Remedy Plus products, cherry-flavored Liqui-Loz and cherry-flavored Zavors, retail for a suggested $11.59. Two mint flavors — including a rapid melt and oral mist — will launch in the fall.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. AccuDial Pharmaceutical recently shared plans to launch its line of patented dosing systems in the United States this fall. The system features an accurate dosing spoon, coupled with weight-based dosing recommendations, as opposed to age-based dosing recommendations found on many kids' product labels today.

BUFFALO, N.Y. American Scientific Resources plans to launch a premium thermometer — the Kidz+Med NeverTouch 5-in-1 — beginning Aug. 1.

The no-touch thermometer allows mom to take her child’s temperature without waking them if their asleep. Other uses include determining the temperature of a feeding bottle, bath water or even an ambient temperature. The company is planning a $1.5 million consumer ad spend this fall, reaching consumers on all three major networks as well as Bravo and the Weather Channel.