Medication Management

Regional independent grocer Hy-Vee, Inc. has teamed up with Omaha, Neb.-based Amber Pharmacy to offer specialty pharmacy services through Hy-Vee’s retail stores.

Giant Eagle Inc., recently received a Cheers award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for its “superlative standard of excellence” in the prevention of medication errors and adverse drug events in its efforts to ensure high-quality customer service and accuracy.

When a retail culture dictates that policies are more important than people, there are bad things ahead.

Under a joint initiative with the Department of Health, select Winn-Dixie pharmacies in Florida, Louisiana and Alabama are filling prescriptions of the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and/or Relenza at little or no charge for patients who have inadequate or no prescription insurance coverage.

Because of limited inventories and commercial supplies of liquid Tamiflu®, over 4,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies across the United States are converting the available capsules to liquid form.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. (A&P) has introduced what it calls an “aggressive” flu vaccine program enabling shoppers to get free and discounted seasonal flu and, when available, H1N1 (“swine flu”) vaccinations.

Following reports of a shortage of liquid Tamiflu, all of Publix’s 795 pharmacies are offering to compound drug into an oral suspension. Tamiflu, which is used to treat flu-like symptoms, is usually available in either capsule or liquid form. The latter is often prescribed to children, as well as to adults who have trouble swallowing capsules.

Regional independent Stater Bros. Supermarkets yesterday began offering a free 14-day supply of selected antibiotics, including refills, to anyone with or without health insurance coverage who presents a prescription at its Super Rx Pharmacies.