House Committee Passes Conscience Clause Bill
by
Associated Press
Posted
on March 11, 2010 at 10:38 AM
BOISE
-- A House committee has approved a bill that lets health care professionals
who are morally opposed to specific drugs or procedures to opt out of providing
care.
The
measure approved 13-5 by the House State Affairs Committee Thursday would
enable nurses to step away from providing care they find objectionable or allow
pharmacists to avoid dispensing medicine if it violates their conscience.
Idaho
law already allows doctors to abstain from procedures that go against their
beliefs.
Democrats
who voted against the measure said it diminished the rights of vulnerable patients,
like the elderly or women who are victims of rape or incest. Dissenters also
said the legislation would make it harder for patients in rural areas with few
providers to get care quickly if their regular nurse or pharmacist resists.
The
full House will now take up the bill, which has already been approved by the Senate.
here . Blog . Fish Oil Shows Promise in Preventing Psychosis
February 1, 2010 CHICAGO - Fish oil pills may be able to save some young people with signs of mental illness from descending into schizophrenia, according to a preliminary but first-of-its-kind study. For the new study, researchers identified 81 people, ages 13 to 25, with warning signs of psychosis. After one year of monitoring, 2 of 41 patients in the fish oil group, or about 5 percent, had become psychotic. In the placebo group, 11 of 40 became psychotic, about 28 percent. Some prior studies on omega-3 supplements have shown benefits in people with full-blown schizophrenia. Full story.
ACCP White Paper Reports Rewards, Advancements for Clinical Pharmacists
here .
CMS Explains New Medicare Part B Codes for Providers
December 14, 2009. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published an article explaining the new Medicare Part B payment codes for physicians and others performing patient evaluation and management consultations on or after Jan. 1. Click here for the PDF.
Ladd Pharmacy Studies Pharmacist Prescribing for Flu
November 18, 2009. It’s a science experiment only eight pharmacies in the country are trying, and Ladd Family Pharmacy in Boise, owned and operated by ISHP member Elaine Ladd is one of them.
The primary focus of the study is to see whether pharmacists should be able to screen, diagnose and treat patients with flu-like symptoms. If someone shows up to the pharmacy to be tested, and the tests come back positive, the study then gives Ladd a random variable. One option is to give the patient Tamiflu. The other is to refer the patient to a doctor who prescribes Tamiflu, which delays the treatment three to four days. The study compares the difference between immediate treatment and delayed treatment.
This study is free to the public and will be on going for the next one to two years. Click here to watch the news video and read more.
FDA Unveils Safe Use Initiative
Safe Use Initiative , a program aimed at reducing the likelihood of preventable harm from medication use.
Today, tens of millions of people in the United States depend on prescription and OTC medications to sustain their health - as many as 3 billion prescriptions are written annually. Too many people, however, suffer unnecessary injuries, some die as a result of preventable medication errors. The FDA believes that many of these medication-related risks are manageable if parties committed to the safe use of medications work together.
The mission of the Safe Use Initiative is to create and facilitate public and private collaborations within the healthcare community. The goal of the Safe Use Initiative is to reduce preventable harm by identifying specific preventable medication risks and developing, implementing ad evaluation cross-sector interventions with partners who are committed to safe medication use.
Read more here . Read the Safe Use Initiative Report here .
TOOL KIT TAKES ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE BY TEENS
here. Teen pot & alcohol use on
the rise, study shows (03/02/10)
MERIDIAN LAUNCHES DRUG DROP-OFF PROGRAM
October 1, 2009 a new Meridian program is offering residents a convenient way to safely dispose of unused prescription and over the counter medications.
Meridian residents can drop off unused medication, including prescription, OTC, and pet medications, as well as liquid medications in leak-proof containers, at the Meridian Police Department, 1401 E. Watertower, between the hours of 8:00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Al Frisk and the Capital Pharmacy Association have placed fliers to advertise the program in area pharmacies and other institutions.
For more information, click here . Capital Pharmacy Association.
Ada County Launches Drug Drop Off Program
BOISE -- Keeping prescription drugs out the wrong hands and our water. That's the idea behind a new law enforcement program announced Thursday.
People with unwanted medications and old prescriptions can get rid of them safely -- for free.
- Medications must be bagged.
- Liquid containers must be sealed in plastic bags.
- Needles and aerosol cans are not allowed.
Drop-off bins are at three locations -- Boise City Hall West near Emerald Street and Five Mile Road, the Ada County Sheriff's Office on Barrister Drive, and the Garden City Police Station.
For more information, click here .
JUST ASK! Campaign
Patients
sometimes don’t even realize that there is a pharmacy department in the
hospital or that pharmacists are key members of the patient’s
healthcare team. That’s why ASHP created the Just Ask! Campaign. This
program is designed to increase the visibility of pharmacists and
pharmacy departments among hospital patients, visitors, and staff. For
the starter pack, click on the picture below.
Please wait...