How Pharmacists Can Protect Patients from Outdated COVID-19 Treatment
April 12th 2021The pharmacist is the last barrier between a patient and a drug, which is why it's critical for pharmacists to check for allergies, potential drug interactions, patient understanding of how to use the drug, and whether the prescription is appropriate for the diagnosis.
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Artificial Intelligence Identifies Novel Multiple Sclerosis Subtypes
April 12th 2021A new study published in Nature Communications used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify 3 new multiple sclerosis (MS) subtypes, which may help identify which individuals are more likely to have disease progression, according to the authors.
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Choice of Blood Pressure Medications Impacts Long-Term Heart Disease Risk in Patients With HIV
April 12th 2021Among patients with HIV who had not been diagnosed with heart disease at the beginning of the study, the risk of developing heart disease, heart failure, or stroke for the first time was 90% higher among those taking beta-blockers.
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Study: Mild Diet, Exercise Improves Survival for Young People With Leukemia
April 12th 2021The researchers found that patients who reduced their calorie intake by 10% or more and adopted a moderate exercise program immediately after their diagnosis had, on average, 70% less chance of having lingering leukemia cells after a month of chemotherapy than those not on the diet-and-exercise regimen.
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Gridlock, Middleman Lobbying Cause Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reforms to Fail Again in New York Budget
April 12th 2021Many pharmacies and safety-net providers were preparing for the long-anticipated transition from Medicaid managed care to fee-for-service (FFS)—known as the carve-out—that was set to take effect on May 1, 2021.
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Approaching the Process of Operationalizing Biosimilars in Cancer Care
April 9th 2021The first step toward operationalizing the uptake of biosimilars is having a program-level discussion that not only describes what biosimilars are, but also assesses how they impact the bottom line and could get incorporated into treatment plans.
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Study: Consumption of Processed Meat Linked to Higher Rates of Mortality, Cardiovascular Disease
April 9th 2021The study did not find significant associations between the intake of unprocessed red meat or poultry with either of these conditions, in contrast to prior studies that linked red meat to higher risks of cardiovascular disease.
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Managing Vaccines and COVID-19 Testing With Paperless Technology
April 9th 2021COVID-19 has increased the demand for new, safer curbside conveniences and the health care industry—including the pharmacy—has transformed rapidly to meet patient needs and prioritize safety as a result of the pandemic.
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New Drugs Show Promise in Triple-Negative, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
April 8th 2021A session at the Community Oncology Alliance virtual 2021 conference noted that clinical trials have found promising new treatments for patients with breast cancer, offering opportunities for future new approvals and indications.
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Integrating Palliative Care Early in Cancer Diagnosis Improves Quality of Life, May Improve Outcomes
April 8th 2021In patients who received early palliative care, researchers noted a lower percentage of patients with depression, improved quality of life, and, significantly, longer survival.
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Oncology Pharmacists Discuss Pandemic Management, Ongoing Impact for Patients with Cancer
April 8th 2021Panelists at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) virtual 2021 conference said the impacts of the pandemic on their day-to-day operations were challenging, although they all said they were proud of how their staff handled the rapid changes in spring of 2020.
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