Thomas Menighan, co-founder of PursueCare and the CEO Emeritus of the American Pharmacists Association, discussed National Recovery Month, substance use disorder and a pharmacist’s role in helping those struggling with addiction understand what treatments are available and find the best options for them.

He talked about why National Recovery Month is important, what resources pharmacists can use to aid individuals on the road to recover, and how pharmacists can address the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction.

Videos

Thomas Menighan, co-founder of PursueCare and the CEO Emeritus of the American Pharmacists Association, discusses a pharmacists role in National Recovery Month.

Pharmacists Can Help Address the Stigma Around Substance Abuse

 interviewed Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, on her recent presentation at the Society of Hematologic Oncology Annual Meeting 2021 conference on the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) in 2021.

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown explained whether the current advanced CTCL treatment strategies available are applicable for all patients with advanced CTCL and how patients are selected for treatment.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, explained whether the current advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) treatment strategies available are applicable for all patients with advanced CTCL and how patients are selected for treatment.

Understanding the Patient Selection Process for CTCL Treatment

With the recent announcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in addition to private businesses potentially requiring vaccines for employees, pharmacies and other health care facilities could have questions about legal issues surrounding these mandates.

Experts Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, JD, a pharmacist-attorney with Much Shelist Law, and Ron Lanton III, Esq, a principal with Lanton Law, discussed these implications in a recent video. In part 1 of the discussion, they reviewed what they’re hearing about the mandates as well as whether there are legal precedents for potential lawsuits regarding vaccine requirements.

With the recent announcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in addition to private businesses potentially requiring vaccines for employees, pharmacies and other health care facilities could have questions about legal issues surrounding these mandates. 

Vaccine Mandates Present Potential Legal Questions for Pharmacies, Health Professionals

 interviewed Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, on her recent presentation at the Society of Hematologic Oncology Annual Meeting (SOHO) 2021 conference on the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) in 2021.

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown addressed and described what advanced CTCL is in terms of classification and what current treatment approaches are available.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, described what advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma is in terms of classification and what current treatment approaches are available.

Overview of Treatment Approaches in Advanced CTCL

In The Legal Prescription series with Ned Milenkovich, we discuss a set of important topics in the pharmacy landscape. Our second installment revolves around HR 841 and the FDA's restrictions and loopholes around the bill in the marketplace.

Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, J.D., is chair of the Health Care legal practice at Much Law.

Ned provides pharmacies, health care providers, drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors, third-party

logistics providers, technology companies, and other entities with essential business counseling,transactional, regulatory, government affairs, and litigation services. You can contact Ned with questions at

In The Legal Prescription series with Ned Milenkovich, we discuss a set of important topics in the pharmacy landscape.

The Legal Prescription at Pharmacy Times with Ned Milenkovich: HR 841 Hemp Bill Part 2

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, MHA, said data are continuing to evolve around the safety and recommendations of COVID-19 booster doses, especially for the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech.

In the interview, Humphreys discussed the difference between a third vaccine dose and a booster dose, which patients are considered to be immunocompromised by the CDC, and what she's hearing about a full vaccine approval for children ages 12 to 15. She also discussed the evolving data for Johnson & Johnson and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines.

Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, MHA, said data are continuing to evolve around the safety and recommendations of COVID-19 booster doses, especially for the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech.

A Review of Recent Safety Data on COVID-19 Booster Vaccines

Gemtesa (vibegron; Urovant Sciences) tablets are indicated to treat overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence (UUI), urgency, and urinary frequency.

OAB results from the involuntary contraction of the detrusor. Symptoms can include a sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control, unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate, urinating 8 or more times in 24 hours, and waking more than twice nightly to urinate.

OAB affects more than 30 million adults in the United States and often significantly affects daily activities.

Gemtesa (vibegron; Urovant Sciences) tablets are approved to treat overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency.

Pharmacist Medication Insights: Vibegron for Overactive Bladder 

Pharmacy Times spoke with Dr. Bradley Monk, investigator for KEYNOTE-826, #LBA2, which was presented at the ESMO Congress 2021, about the study and its importance to the world of cervical cancer.

Dr. Monk discussed the highlights of the study, limitations and gaps, and what he feels were the most important findings of the study in the interview. 

Latest Treatment Updates in Cervical Cancer 

Shereen Stutz and Mark Alwardt, of McKesson, said the rise in oral oncolytics during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed pharmacists to be more innovative and to become an even more integrated part of the oncology care team.

In the interview, Stutz and Alwardt discussed the necessity for close monitoring when patients receive oral oncolytics, potential concerns about adherence, and how telemedicine enabled this care and monitoring. Stutz and Alwardt also co-authored an article on the subject, which will be featured in the October issue of 

Shereen Stutz and Mark Alwardt, of McKesson, said the rise in oral oncolytics during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed pharmacists to be more innovative and to become an even more integrated part of the oncology care team. 



COVID-19 Pandemic Provides Opportunities to Innovate With Oral Oncolytics, Medically Integrated Dispensing

September is National Recovery Month, so 

 interviewed Rich Dion, PharmD, pharmacy clinical program manager for clinical surveillance and compliance at Wolters Kluwer, Health, on the critical role hospital pharmacy plays in offsetting opioid addiction levels.

During the discussion, Dion addressed the role of hospital pharmacies in the management of opioid prescriptions, key steps that hospital pharmacies can take to help prevent unnecessary initial exposure to opioids, how opioid stewardship programs can help to optimize patient medications, and what the value of the hospital pharmacist is in the ongoing effort to fight the opioid epidemic.

September is National Recovery Month, so Pharmacy Times interviewed Rich Dion, PharmD, of Wolters Kluwer, Health, on the critical role of the hospital pharmacist in ongoing efforts to fight the opioid epidemic.