Practice Arm of the School’s Department of Forensic Psychology Dedicates New Facility in the Merchandise Mart

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is poised to further connect its psychology services to the legal sector and community agencies that interface with the court system thanks to its new Forensic Center, which was formally dedicated at a Merchandise Mart event on January 30.

As the practice arm of the Forensic Psychology Department, the center brings students together with local organizations on projects that bolster hands-on learning experiences while addressing unmet needs in the community. Students benefit from the opportunity to put classroom instruction into practice in real-world settings that range from the Cook County Department of Juvenile Probation to women’s shelters, residential treatment centers, and programs for ex-offenders.

“For nearly three decades, we sent students, faculty, and alumni into the community to lend their skills and compassion to the underserved,” said Chicago School President Michael Horowitz in his event remarks to faculty, staff, students, trustees, and community partners. “Now, because of the center, we are inviting the community to our campus and providing services to our neighbors who need help keeping their families together and strong. The Forensic Center is another example of how our campus isn’t just in Chicago but of Chicago.”

The new home for the Forensic Center is the school’s 40,000 square feet of annex space in the Merchandise Mart, which opened last fall. At the heart of the center is the new Mr. and Mrs. Philip R. Utigard and Transwestern Treatment and Observation Room, which supports the center’s initiatives including instruction of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The facility is equipped with a one-way mirror and a separate observation room that will allow the use of a “bug-in-the-ear” communication system to facilitate observation and discreet coaching by therapists to parents as they interact with their children. Because PCIT is empirically based, it carries the endorsement of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a recognized model for helping families with a history of abuse. Although it is a therapy that has been shown to be effective with abusive families in several states, few Illinois practitioners have been trained in its use.

The Forensic Center is staffed by Chicago School Forensic Psychology Department faculty, who collectively bring years of experience and expertise to the initiative. Although launched with a single program, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, the center has since expanded to include a wide range of short-term services that address issues of delinquency, child maltreatment, pre- and post-transitional living for offenders, and victim-related trauma. In addition, the center offers professional development and continuing education workshops. The center was developed under the leadership of Dr. Mike Fogel, department chair; Dr. Darlene Perry, executive director; and Dr. Tiffany Masson, director of the center.

“With students working alongside faculty gaining hands-on experience and direct supervision, we have provided psychological services to ex-offenders to address factors that lead to increased rates of recidivism,” said Dr. Fogel at the event. “We have provided parent training to individuals working toward reunification with their child or children after a finding of child abuse or neglect. And we have assessed the effectiveness of a high school to college program for youth in care and a life skills program for gang involved youth.”

Started in 2002, The Chicago School’s M.A. in Forensic Psychology was the first of its kind in the Midwest. Since then, the program has grown to become one of the school’s most popular with more than 200 students currently enrolled and more than 300 graduates.

The Forensic Center is the latest example of initiatives introduced by Chicago School faculty and staff to open the campus community to the outside world. Other examples are the Center for International Studies, the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Studies, and the Center for Latino Mental Health.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology:

Founded in 1979, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is the nation’s leading nonprofit graduate university exclusively dedicated to the applications of psychology and related behavioral sciences. TCS is an active member of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, which has recognized The Chicago School for its distinguished service and outstanding contributions to cultural diversity and advocacy. The Chicago School’s community service initiatives resulted in recognition on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth.

For more information about The Chicago School Forensic Center, visit www.forensiccenter.org.

For more information about The Chicago School, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu.


Traditional Risk Factors Often Miss Heart Disease Warning Signs

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Jan 31,2009

VAP(R) Cholesterol Test helps physicians identify emerging risk factors better than standard cholesterol test and traditional risk factors, study shows

Traditional risk factors such as age, standard cholesterol levels and blood pressure do a poor job of predicting heart disease risk in younger, healthy adults with a family history of early heart disease. That’s according to a recent study published in Clinical Cardiology, which revealed that “emerging risk factors,” including detailed cholesterol measurements such as HDL(2) and remnant lipoprotein particles, play a much greater role in determining heart disease risk than previously thought.

The study is titled Prevalence of Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Younger Individuals with a Family History of Premature Coronary Heart Disease and Low Framingham Risk Score. It is the latest in a series of clinical studies showing that the traditional Framingham risk score doesn’t always do a good job of estimating that risk, especially among people in their mid-30s to early 60s.

Measurement of emerging clinical and lipid risk factors in the study was done with the VAP(R) (Vertical Auto Profile) Cholesterol Test from Atherotech, Inc. Physicians are increasingly using such detailed cholesterol testing to more accurately identify their parents’ true risk of heart disease, allowing for treatment and lifestyle changes that can decrease the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Atherotech Chief Medical Officer James Ehrlich, M.D., said the study is consistent with a growing body of research revealing how poorly the office-based exam using Framingham analysis and traditional cholesterol testing performs in identifying true cardiac risk.

“Clearly it is time for physicians to take a much more sophisticated and individualized approach to cardiac risk assessment,” said Ehrlich, “which may include imaging tests and more revealing and accurate cholesterol profiling such as the VAP Test.” The evidence is growing that younger individuals and most women would have been considered at such low risk by standard tests in the months prior to their heart attacks that they would not have even qualified for preventive therapy, explained Ehrlich.

The VAP Test, which is covered by most insurance providers and Medicare, provides physicians with direct measurement of LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol) and all relevant cholesterol subclasses. These important but often overlooked subclasses include non-HDL, particle number as determined by accurate apoB, and emerging risk factors such as Lp(a), low-density lipoprotein remnants and small dense LDL.

The VAP Test is also the only commercially available advanced lipid profile that routinely reports all three lipoprotein parameters — LDL, non-HDL and apoB — considered necessary by the 2008 expert consensus guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology.

In the Clinical Cardiology study, researchers evaluated 89 younger men and women (average age of 47) with a family history of premature coronary heart disease (CHD) and who had a low Framingham risk score. The risk factors included in the Framingham calculation are age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension and cigarette smoking. Patients with existing CHD or CHD equivalents were excluded.

The most common emerging risk factor for heart disease that was missed using traditional cholesterol testing methods was low HDL(2). The second most overlooked emerging risk factor was high levels of triglyceride rich remnant lipoproteins such as IDL (intermediate density lipoproteins) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL(3)). Low HDL(2) was present in 72 percent of the study group, and high levels of IDL + VLDL(3) were present in nearly half (49 percent) of patients. In addition, 38 percent of the participants had coronary atherosclerosis as reflected in EBCT derived coronary calcium scores, and 24 percent of the participants had “at-risk” levels of C-reactive protein (above 3 mg/dl).

All patients were screened for emerging clinical and lipid risk factors with the VAP Test. Researchers noted that only 11 percent of the participants would have been prescribed lipid-lowering therapy based on current National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

The authors concluded that, “The Framingham risk score underestimates cardiovascular risk in individuals with a family history of premature CHD, and screening for emerging cardiovascular risk factors may better assess CV (cardiovascular) risk in these patients.”

People with a family history or an existing condition of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease — or who are already taking cholesterol – lowering medication — are candidates for the comprehensive VAP Test. The VAP Test is available nationwide. For more information call 877.901.8510 or visit www.thevaptest.com.

Source: Atherotech, Inc.


The commonwealth’s latest statewide survey on uninsured rates shows that more than one million Pennsylvanians lack health insurance coverage — an increase from a similar study in 2004, Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario said.

“Overall, the study showed that increases in uninsured numbers were seen in almost every category; including adults, children, certain ethnic groups and most geographic areas,” Ario said. “Adults are more likely than children to be uninsured, and this shows up in the fast-growing waiting list for our adultBasic program, which provides subsidized health coverage to adults who have been uninsured for at least six months.

“The waiting list stands at more than 183,000 individuals this week and is projected to grow to 282,000 by the end of June,” said Ario. “This compares to a projected enrollment of more than 41,000; meaning that the waiting list may soon be seven times the number of enrollments unless the General Assembly addresses the problem. Some people have been on the waiting list since November of 2006.

“Coverage through private health insurance dropped from 66 percent covered in 2004 to 62 percent in 2008. Some of this decline was made up by an increase from 14 to 18 percent in Pennsylvania residents who have health insurance through a state-sponsored program.

“While this survey was conducted before the recession became evident, even at that time, more than 75 percent of the uninsured ranked cost as the main reason for not having health insurance. Also, those without insurance are not accessing the routine care necessary to prevent or address health conditions before they become bigger problems.

“Additionally, the uninsured are a diverse population. Most uninsured adults are working, but either are not offered insurance or cannot afford the insurance that is offered to them. Others are temporarily uninsured because they’re between jobs. These numbers would be worse if not for public programs, but some also fall through the cracks of public programs.

“Survey results demonstrate the effectiveness of our Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP, with only 5 percent of children, up to age 18, uninsured compared to 12 percent of adults 19-64 years old. One reason our track record with children is better than with adults is that CHIP has substantial support from the federal government, while adultBasic does not.

“Our state’s uninsured percentage rate — at just over eight percent — continues to be better than the 15.8 percent national average, but the trends are heading in the wrong direction. The CHIP program illustrates how public-private collaborations can work, especially with state and federal dollars, and the Governor’s health reform proposals would apply those lessons to expanding the adultBasic program. We will continue to work with the General Assembly and the federal government to cover the uninsured.”

Ario noted that the federal government is currently considering an expansion of the SCHIP program, as well as targeted assistance to uninsured adults through increased support to state Medicaid programs and subsidies for individuals on COBRA (health insurance) coverage.

Specific findings of the survey:

  • The survey found that more than 1 million (1,021,790) Pennsylvanians lack health insurance coverage. This is an increase from a 2004 study indicating that nearly 900,000 Pennsylvania residents were uninsured.
  • Overall, the percentage of Pennsylvania residents that are uninsured rose from 7.5 percent in 2004 to 8.2 percent in 2008. Individuals in the 19-44 age bracket are the most likely to be uninsured.
  • Adults lacking health insurance rose from 755,000 in 2004 to nearly 883,000 in 2008.
  • The percentage of Pennsylvanians covered by private health insurance dropped from 66 percent in 2004 to 62 percent in 2008. However, when looking at individuals under age 65, more than 70 percent are covered by private health insurance. This is slightly above the national average of 68.9 percent.
  • About 18 percent of Pennsylvania residents have health insurance through a state-sponsored program, an increase from 14 percent in 2004.
  • The number of uninsured children increased from about 133,500 to approximately 138,500. However, more than 60 percent of eligible children are enrolled in the CHIP program and nearly all (83 percent) of the CHIP parents would recommend the program.
  • Characteristics of those who are uninsured show that: nearly 18 percent have lacked coverage for more than 5 years; 62 percent, ages 19-64, are working; of those people who are working and uninsured, nearly 48 percent work for small employers of fewer than 50 people; 61 percent have not seen a doctor or health care provider for routine care during the last 12 months (this compares to 24 percent of those with coverage); only 6 percent have stayed in a hospital overnight during the last 12 months (this compares to 11 percent of insured Pennsylvanians).

The survey, conducted by the research group, Market Decisions, LLC, is a follow-up to the department’s original Health Insurance Status Survey from 2004. The survey provides information about health insurance coverage, demographic and employment characteristics and the financial barriers to health care for Pennsylvania residents. A random, digit-dial telephone survey interviewed over 20,000 households representing every county in the commonwealth and gathered information on nearly 50,000 Pennsylvanians, a sampling more than three times the population surveyed in 2004. The percentages reported for the entire survey sample have a margin of error of 0.7 percent statewide. Interviews were conducted between September 27, 2007 and May 15, 2008.

Results of the survey can be found at www.insurance.state.pa.us.


Despite Risks, Wide Range of Volumes and Doses Used in Small Injection Areas

At the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s 25th Annual Meeting, researchers from University of California at San Diego report that no standardized practices exist for administering an epidural steroid injection for back pain. Researchers looked at many factors including: which steroids were given, the amount of steroid used, and whether or not a local anesthetic was mixed with the steroid.

Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are minimally invasive procedures used to treat pain in the neck, arms, back and legs caused by inflamed nerves. While injections in the lumbar (low back) region are low risk, injections in the thoracic (mid back) and cervical (neck) region have the risk of injury to the spinal cord and brain. It usually consists of a steroid diluted with sterile saline, and sometimes also addition of local anesthesia. Controversy exists on the long-term efficacy of this procedure to treat spine associated pain.

To compare currently taught techniques, Yogesh Patel, MD, and his colleagues at UCSD, identified and surveyed attending pain physicians at interventional pain programs in the United States about their protocols regarding ESI. Results showed that no standard protocols with regard to type of steroid, dose or use of local anesthesia exist. In fact, the data showed that while most physicians use a moderate volume and dose of steroid, some physicians are giving very high volumes (up to 10 cc) of steroids in areas such as the cervical epidural space. In limited enclosed areas like the cervical region that volume of medicine could lead to increased pressures which could potentially be painful for patients.

“Epidural steroid injections are an important and common option for the treatment of back pain. However, we found that a great variety of techniques are being used. There is no gold standard,” said Dr. Patel, lead author of the study and resident at the University of California at San Diego. “Guidelines may need to be explored with regard to this procedure to increase the effectiveness and decrease risk when using this approach to treat pain.”

Dr. Patel’s study found there were differences from institution to institution regarding which steroid was preferred for these injections. The most common steroids identified for this procedure and respective dose ranges were: depomedrol (dose range 40-120 mg), celestone (dose range 6-15 mg), decadron (dose range 4-12 mg), and kenalog (dose range 10-80 mg).

“These variations in technique might affect why some patients get better results from ESI than others and may also explain good and poor outcomes. This needs to be explored further,” Patel concluded.

Source: American Academy of Pain Medicine


Blood Donors Needed in Wake of Winter Storm

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Jan 29,2009

Wednesday’s winter storm has impacted the blood supply in the Philadelphia area. Several area blood drives were cancelled or postponed on Wednesday and many blood donors could not honor their appointments, resulting in a 32.5% reduction of Penn-Jersey Regional blood donations.

In all, 6 blood drives that were scheduled to collect over 410 units of blood have been cancelled due to the inclement weather throughout the region. This will affect the Red Cross’s ability to provide blood and blood products to local hospitals.

The American Red Cross is asking people to donate blood at area blood drives and donation centers over the next four days to help make up for Wednesday’s lost donations.

“This is a serious situation that can only be resolved by the willingness of people in our community to step forward and give blood for others in need,” says Brigid O’Neill-LaGier, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross, Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “We are relying on local blood donors to schedule a donation immediately in order for blood to be available for each and every patient.”

To ensure that patient needs are not compromised, the Penn-Jersey Region urgently asks all scheduled donors to make every effort to keep their scheduled appointments and encourages those who are not currently scheduled to call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) for an immediate appointment. A call to action is sent to all members of the community.

Blood drives are held seven days a week in communities across the region. To make an immediate appointment for an American Red Cross blood drive this week, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or visit www.pleasegiveblood.org to find a listing of community blood drives.

Most healthy people who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate whole blood every 56 days. In January of 2008 a law went into effect in the state of Pennsylvania that allows 16-year-old donors to donate blood with parental or legal guardian written consent. Donors can give blood at any one of nearly 200 blood drives sponsored by business and community groups in southeastern Pennsylvania and in New Jersey weekly, or at one of nine community donor centers.

Source: American Red Cross, Penn-Jersey Region


USAID Sends Additional Assistance for Zimbabwe Cholera Outbreak

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Jan 29,2009

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continues to provide assistance to the people of Zimbabwe in the aftermath of a widespread cholera outbreak that began in August 2008. USAID is consigning nearly 440,000 bars of soap — valued at nearly $365,000 — to the U.N. Children’s Fund, which will provide it to humanitarian organizations to distribute as part of hygiene education programs in areas most affected by the cholera outbreak.

According to the World Health Organization, the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has now affected all provinces and 57 out of 62 districts. As of January 22, 2009, more than 48,000 cases of cholera and 2,755 deaths have been reported.

Cholera is usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. Outbreaks can occur sporadically in any part of the world where water supply, sanitation, food safety, and hygiene are inadequate and spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. Although cholera is contagious, it can be prevented. USAID and the international community are diligently working in Zimbabwe to help prevent the spread of the disease.

To date, USAID has pledged $6.8 million in emergency assistance for Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak. USAID’s assistance is supporting the provision of emergency relief supplies for affected populations, humanitarian coordination and information management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and health interventions.

This assistance is in addition to the more than $4 million that USAID has provided for emergency WASH programs in Zimbabwe since October 2007. The U.S. Government has provided more than $264 million in humanitarian assistance for Zimbabwe’s ongoing health and food crisis since October 2007.

For more information about USAID’s emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

Source: U.S. Agency for International Development


“A 2005 Japan impotence study uses soft words about hard seats suggesting motorbike ‘vibration may cause ED’ and ‘more studies are needed to determine the cause,’ ” says patent-granted author Randall Dale Chipkar. “Based upon limited information one cannot conclude motorcycle seats as causation for impotence.”

“Bicycling or hard scooter seats on rough roads are much more rigorous on the groin rather than modern day cruising seats. Not to mention motorcycle rubber-mounted engines, sophisticated suspensions, smooth asphalt and contoured padded seats,” Chipkar says.

“Subtle groin vibrations increase blood flow and are actually stimulating not debilitating on our tissues. Regular motorcycle seat vibration is not going to damage penile nerves,” Chipkar adds.

The pelvis and perineum are designed for prolonged sitting properly displacing pressure and any eventual discomfort can be walked off without sustaining biological harm or compromised blood flow.

“Causation of impotence or erectile dysfunction involves many issues including lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, I feel there is a much greater issue than pressure or vibration linking impotence to motorcycle riders,” says Chipkar.

“Most motorcycles have electrical components beneath the seat. Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) radiation passes through the seat penetrating into the rider’s groin. ELF EMFs can disrupt zinc ions which are linked to impotence and erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, excessive ELF EMF invasion compromises electromagnetic homeostasis involving neuron function, hormone imbalance and adrenal fatigue all linked to impotence and libido loss,” Chipkar says.

“I discovered up to 500 milliGauss of ELF EMF radiation above motorcycle seats zapping the prostate. In contrast, many doctors raise cancer concerns involving 3 to 5 milliGauss of ELF EMF exposure from hydro tower power lines and other sources,” adds Chipkar.

“On my website doctors prove ELF EMF danger. Impotence, erectile dysfunction, infertility, sterility, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are linked not to motorcycle seats but what’s ‘rising up’ through them,” Chipkar says.

Chipkar authored Motorcycle Cancer? to expose the truth. Chipkar is now campaigning worldwide to enhance the motorcycle industry to keep riders safer.

Randall Dale Chipkar is available for interviews and has a motorcycle cancer website for rider safety. For more information about The Motorcycle Cancer Book, proof of EMF danger, studies, erectile dysfunction, lymphoma, impotence, enlarged prostate, prostatitis, BPH, prostate cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, RiderSaver(TM) motorcycle seat shielding, etc. Please visit http://www.motorcyclecancer.com/

Source: Chipkar Health Concepts Limited


Novel Diabetes Drug Discovery Has Potential to Reverse Disease

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Jan 28,2009

A study released in Endocrine Practice (2008;14:1075), the leading peer-reviewed journal for practicing endocrinologists in the US and 65 countries, reports a ground breaking discovery with the potential to reverse type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Scientists at CureDM, Inc. have identified a 14- amino acid human peptide, Human proIslet Peptide (HIP), consisting of the bioactive region in the human REG3a gene responsible for regenerating pancreatic islets, a process also known as islet neogenesis. “Utilizing an innovative and proprietary approach to evaluate the human genome and proteome from a physiologic perspective, we were able to identify a highly conserved bioactive gene product that triggers islet neogenesis. Restoring functional islets as a therapeutic approach is fundamental to curing the underlying disease,” said Claresa S. Levetan, MD, FACE, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of CureDM, Inc.

CureDM has produced, stabilized and characterized this unique peptide in a variety of preclinical studies. In these studies, researchers have demonstrated that HIP stimulates insulin secretion in human pancreatic ductal tissue devoid of islets. HIP was also shown to stimulate new islet formation with a 3-fold increase in islet numbers in validated diabetic animal models compared to placebo, effectively reversing the disease in such animals. “Having demonstrated the preclinical proof of concept of this promising and novel therapeutic approach, we look forward to obtain regulatory approval and initiation of clinical testing of HIP in 2009,” said H. Joseph Reiser Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of CureDM.

The incidence of diabetes continues to grow at a double-digit rate worldwide with nearly 300 million patients estimated by 2030. At the time of diagnosis, islet mass is often reduced by 80% in type 1 patients and 50% in type 2 patients, supporting the importance of islet restoration as a therapeutic approach. Pancreatic islets contain four primary cell types and are responsible for producing insulin, amylin, glucagon and other hormones critical to maintaining normal glucose regulation. Current diabetes therapies, including insulin, help to control the disease but do not restore new islets. HIP addresses the underlying mechanism of the pathology of diabetes and represents a potentially curative approach to both, type 1 and 2 diabetes. If successful in human clinical trials, HIP-induced restoration of islet function has the potential to become a first-line treatment approach for diabetes and pre- diabetes.

About HIP

Human proIslet Peptide (HIP) is a 14-amino acid, stabilized human peptide that stimulates the signal pathways that induce new islet formation in the pancreas, without the use of stem cells. HIP creates new insulin-producing beta cells by generating new islets that contain alpha, beta, gamma and delta cells, all of which are necessary to regulate glucose metabolism. The core patent for the HIP technology was issued in July 2008.

Source: CureDM, Inc.


Patients to Have a Say in Decisions About Their Medicine

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Jan 28,2009

Up to 50 per cent of medicines prescribed for long-term conditions are not taken as recommended. This can have dire consequences for patients leading to treatment failure and a worsening of their condition.

The pharmacy bodies have jointly welcomed the new guidance published by NICE, aiming to help all health professionals to engage with patients and to ensure that patients are involved in decisions about their treatment. Pharmacists have a key role to play in helping patients to understand more about their medicines and the options that they have.

“The guidance is a golden opportunity for all healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, dispensing or reviewing medicines to take their relationship with patients further, by working together to achieve the best results from the treatment of their patients. Pharmacists are critical to this process, if we are to solve the problem of non-adherence to medicines.” Beth Taylor, Chair, English Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

The new guidelines apply across all sectors of the pharmacy profession and cover all parts of the medicines management process from prescribing, dispensing medication review, including Medicine Use Reviews (MURs), through to admission, discharge and medicine reconciliation.

The pharmacy bodies will work in partnership to support pharmacists to implement the recommendations outlined in the guidelines and to improve communication with other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care.

“This guidance puts patients at the centre of medicines use and provides an opportunity for pharmacists to play a key role, as envisaged in the White Paper, Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths – delivering the future, published in April 2008, helping individual patients to take their medicines as intended.

Pharmacists across primary and secondary care have an important contribution to make to this process – at the point of supply, as part of MURs and as prescribers.” Jonathan Mason and Martin Stephens, National Clinical Directors.

John Turk, Chief Executive, National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said:

“The most expensive medicines prescribed by the NHS are those that aren’t taken correctly, or at all. This guidance recognises that the best way of improving adherence is to involve patients in decisions about treatments, to inform them of risks and benefits and view each patient as an individual, rounded person, not merely the embodiment of a disease group.

“Pharmacists, as the health professionals seen more frequently than any other by people taking long term prescribed medicines, are carrying out interventions such as MURs and repeat dispensing, to support patients. These guidelines will focus the NHS, pharmacists and other health professionals on creating opportunities for greater patient involvement, improving clinical outcomes through greater adherence.”

“All the evidence tells us that patients will open up to pharmacists about their use of medicines – appropriate and inappropriate. On this occasion we believe that pharmacists should be centre stage in working with general practice to ensure a coherent patient-centred approach. The guidance should just be the focus adherence needs to make it centre-stage in NHS planning.” Rob Darracotte, Chief Executive, Company Chemists’ Association (CCA).

Sue Wright, Chair, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiation Committee (PSCN) said: “Community pharmacy has a central role in helping people understand more about the medicines they use; the MUR service was introduced in 2005 to focus community pharmacy efforts on this task and to tackle problems with adherence. Over three quarters of pharmacies in England are now providing the service and we expect around 1.5 million MURs to be conducted this year.”

The PSNC, CCA, NPA, RPSGB and DH have jointly responded to the guidelines published by NICE, encouraging healthcare professionals to open a two-way dialogue with their patients. This will give patients an opportunity to make an informed decision about the medication available and is crucial in understanding any concerns that they might have about the benefits or the side-effects of taking prescribed medicines and how this may influence their condition in the future.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB)

The RPSGB is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. It also regulates pharmacy technicians on a voluntary basis, a role that is expected to become statutory under forthcoming legislation. The primary objectives of the RPSGB are to lead, regulate, develop and represent the profession of pharmacy.

Company Chemists Association (CCA)

Through the CCA, its member companies work together to create an environment where community pharmacy can flourish, and where pharmacy contractors compete in a fair and equitable way. Our nine companies – Alliance Boots, Co-operative Group Pharmacy, Lloyds pharmacy, Tesco, J Sainsbury, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Asda Wal-Mart, Rowlands Pharmacy and Superdrug – together operate over 6,000 pharmacies in the United Kingdom.

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)

The NPA has, in voluntary membership, the vast majority of the UK’s community pharmacy owners. The Association supplies members with a range of services to help them maintain and improve the health of the communities they serve.

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)

The PSNC is the body recognised by the Secretary of State for Health as representing community pharmacy owners in England on NHS matters. It negotiates the national community pharmacy contractual terms with the Department of Health and the NHS.

Source: Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain


Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) applauds the Senate Appropriations Committee for including $16 billion in funding to improve the health of Americans while stimulating the economy in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This funding is desperately needed to revitalize and modernize the country’s ailing public health system, and we’ll be putting more Americans to work in programs that will directly improve the health of communities where they live,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. “These investments will have wide and far reaching impact. In addition to the immediate stimulus of creating jobs, we’ll be improving the productivity of our workforce and containing the skyrocketing cost of health care.”

“Getting health care costs under control is critical for getting the country’s economy back on track. Fundamental health care reform, particularly reform that focuses on ways to keep Americans healthier, must be part of solving our current financial crisis. The funding for public health and disease prevention in the stimulus bill is a down payment toward reducing health care costs over the long term,” Levi continued.

Some disease prevention and public health preparedness highlights in the stimulus bill include:

  • $5.8 billion for prevention and wellness to fight preventable diseases and conditions. This includes more than $600 million to bolster the health workforce, $400 million for community prevention (healthy communities) programs, $750 million for immunization programs, $400 million for sexually transmitted disease prevention programs (including HIV/AIDS), $75 million for smoking and other tobacco use prevention programs, $60 million for prevention science research, $40 million for IT improvements at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and $15 million for newborn screening;
  • $870 million to complete funding for the national pandemic flu plan; and
  • $5 billion to jumpstart modernizing Health Information Technology.

The investment will create new jobs and help revitalize the infrastructure of state, local, and community-based programs aimed at reducing rates of disease, such as providing increased access to affordable nutritious foods and increasing immunization efforts. At the same time, these programs can help reduce health care costs. In 2008, TFAH recently released Prevention for a Healthier America, a study that found that for every $1 spent on proven community-based disease prevention programs, the country could net a return of $5.60 in health care costs within five years.

The bill also provides funding to stimulate research, development, and implementation of technology to modernize the nation’s ability to respond to a potential pandemic flu outbreak, including equipment and medications needed to detect, contain, and treat pandemic flu.

The investment in improving health information technology (HIT) could also lead to advancements in epidemiological research, making it easier to investigate the causes and cures of diseases and detect new infectious outbreaks.

A range of analyses from authorities ranging from the Institute of Medicine to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded that America’s public health system is “structurally weak in nearly every area.” TFAH assembled an expert panel in 2008 which found the country currently faces a shortfall of $20 billion annually — across state, local, and federal government — in funding for critical public health programs in the U.S., based on research conducted by The New York Academy of Medicine and a panel of leading experts. Approximately $1 billion of this shortfall is due to cuts to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget from fiscal year 2005 levels.

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.

Source: Trust for America’s Health


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