The Mechanical Pharmacy

Every year, approximately 30 million dispensing errors occur at outpatient pharmacies in the U.S., says the National Patient Safety Foundation. Mix-ups can occur if two drugs may have similar names or the prescribing physician’s handwriting is unclear. The right pill might be given, but at the wrong...

Providing Relief to Patients In Their Last Days

When a patient’s health deteriorates to the point where treatment is no longer an option, physicians and caregivers turn their focus to making the patient as comfortable as possible. Patients may be given hospice care at home, or may be transferred to a hospice facility. Hospice care aims to improve or...

Three Trends That Will Impact Pharma’s Future

The future of the pharmaceutical industry depends on three key trends, says a recent editorial in the Harvard Business Review. First on the list? Generic drugs. The market for off-brand versions of popular medications is set to expand over the next few years as consumers look to cut healthcare costs and the...

Medication Mistakes Can Be Deadly But Preventable

Medication error received national attention in 2007 when actor Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins were given a near-fatal overdose of the blood thinner heparin. The high-profile story highlighted the fact that medication error occurs with frightening regularity. Medication error is one of the top 10 causes of...

Dodd’s Bill: Harmful to Medical Device Start-Ups?

A financial reform bill currently moving through the Senate is causing a furor among businesspeople and investors, with experts predicting that the bill will harm innovation in America. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has proposed a 1,400-page financial reform bill that...

EHR Efficacy Varies Among Healthcare Organizations, Studies Find

Medical News Today recently published a round-up of studies related to the efficacy of health information technology. Among the findings: -A study published in the journal Health Affairs found that the use of computerized physician order entry and electronic health records (EHR) led to significant...

Where Do All Those Unused Medications Go?

Once a medication expires or is no longer needed, healthcare facilities and patients have to decide what to do with the unused portion. Some people may flush the unwanted pills down the toilet, while others may toss them in the trash. However, disposing of drugs in this manner can be hazardous. Improperly...

Mobile Apps Help Patients Manage Their Medications

Some of the most popular techniques for medication management may fall short when patients are on the go. Pill boxes can be forgotten in one’s jacket pocket or car, and some automatic pill dispensers are too large to fit inside a purse. However, many people carry cellular phones. Small and noisy, these...