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Valley Fever Awareness Week

In recognition of Valley Fever Awareness Week, and following up on my December 2007 post concerning rising cases of Valley Fever in Arizona, I though I would post this very informative Horizon interview with Deputy State Epidemiologist, Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine as she talks about the disease, symptoms, and ongoing research to learn more about it.

You can also download the Arizona Department of Health Services, 2007 Valley Fever Annual Report (pdf) and read more about vaccine development.

American Pharmacists Month

October 2008 is American Pharmacists Month. American Pharmacists Month provides a golden opportunity to celebrate the pharmacy profession, recognize your pharmacy staff, and to reach out to your patients. This month-long observance is a channel to conduct special events or to offer new services that will recognize your contribution to the healthcare team.

American Pharmacists Month theme is: Know Your MEDICINE, Know Your PHARMACIST. Read more

AzPA Brick Paver Donation

APhA and the APhA Foundation are embarking on the most ambitious fund-raising campaign in their history, Bringing Your Medicines to Life, which will fundamentally change the way pharmacists serve their patients.

The campaign will establish a cutting-edge Center for Pharmacist-Based Health Solutions to respond quickly and decisively to emerging health care issues and significantly enhance the organization’s capacity through the renovation of its landmark facility in Washington, DC.

The Arizona Pharmacy Alliance (AzPA) is supporting this campaign and needs to raise $5000.00 in order to get our State association engraved brick paver placed on the East Terrace of the newly renovated APhA headquarters.

You don’t have to be either an AzPA or APhA member in order to donate, and your gift to the APhA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is fully tax-deductible.

So, take the fishhooks out of your wallet or purse and help support your State Pharmacists Association’s goals. I know you can afford $100.00. Donate today.

Back to School Immunizations

Maricopa County Public Health & Community Partners to Hold

FREE Back to School Immunization Clinics

THIS SATURDAY, August 2

This year, all kids entering 6th grade now require the TDAP and Meningococcal vaccine.

With thousands of kids around the Valley needing to meet new immunization requirements for school, Maricopa County Public Health is using the challenge as a cost effective way of practicing for an emergency. “We’re partnering with 5 Valley cities to practice opening and operating vaccine distribution points that could be used in a public health emergency” said Dr. Bob England, public health director. “Giving kids the shots they need to start school makes the exercise more realistic while adding value to the community.”

Clinic hours are: Saturday, 9am - 2:30pm. Visit We Are Public Health for further information and to find clinic locations. Download a printable flyer written in both English and Spanish.

Adios Free Viagra Pens

Say goodbye to all the free toys often provided by your local drug rep, including the ever popular drug pen.

According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) news release:

Reflecting the continuing commitment of America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies to pursue policies and practices that best serve the needs of patients and the healthcare community, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Board of Directors has adopted measures to enhance the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals.

Read more

Health Care Heroes Awards

Please join the Phoenix Business Journal along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Abrazo Health Care, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, A.T. Still University, Delta Dental and The Plaza Companies as we honor the finalists and announce the winners of the 2008 Health Care Heroes awards at a celebratory breakfast on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort - McArthur Ballroom.

Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast and the awards program will begin at 7:30 and conclude at 9:30 a.m.

After 7 years of honoring the unsung heroes of the Valley’s health care community there isn’t yet a pharmacist category. Past and present categories include Dental, Nursing, and Physician, and others. Let’s see if we can get our profession represented with next year’s nominations.
Read more

Don’t Shoot the Pharmacist!

I knew it would happen more sooner than later. Someone eventually stole my idea for a movie.

With a cast of world-class comedians, this laugh- out-loud comedy will keep you entertained from start to finish. A project that is truly a work of passion by the writer and director, Dave Broitman is now a reality as he prepares to take the stage for several screenings in the New York area in early June.

Zack Wright, played by Emmy nominated Ben Bailey (from Cash Cab), is a Brooklyn Pharmacist stuck on a zany graveyard shift that must do everything in his power to simply survive the night. Sound familiar?

I wish this production the best of success. Maybe it’ll eventually play in Arizona.

NeedyMeds Prescription Assistance

I’m sure that every pharmacist has encountered patients prescribed medications that they can’t afford. Most pharmacists would like to help, but determining who can help patients financially is time-consuming.

Let NeedyMeds.com lend you a hand.

NeedyMeds is a 501(3)(c) non-profit with the mission of helping low-income people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs find free information about assistance with the cost of medicine and healthcare. It is the ultimate nationwide source for Patient Assistance Programs that provide free or low cost prescription medicine to low-income people who are uninsured or under-insured and meet the guidelines. Read more

MRSA - Live CE Program

The Arizona Pharmacy Alliance presents a live CE program: MRSA - The New Plague on Humanity?, at each of our State’s Colleges of Pharmacy from 6:30-8pm on May 7th in Tucson, and May 8th in Glendale.

The purpose of this program is to provide an update of infectious diseases caused by methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), including: the most common clinical manifestations; the differences between community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and health-care facility associated MRSA (HA-MRSA); the current approaches to management of these infections (with both oral and injectable antimicrobial agents); and a glimpse into the future of potentially useful investigational agents.
Read more

Humana Opens Tempe Facility

According to the Business Journal of Phoenix:

On April 21, Humana Inc. will celebrate the opening of its call center in Tempe, which initially will employ more than 300. The 81,789-square-foot center at 7333 S. Hardy Drive houses Humana’s RightSource mail-order prescription drug service. The facility is expected to have 450 employees at full capacity.

RightSource serves 600,000 Humana Medicare and commercial health plan customers nationwide, with plans to fill nearly 6 million prescriptions this year. Read more

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