Region meetings are a-comin’

GPhA is hosting the 2019 fall Regional Presidents’ Briefings, where pharmacy professionals from your corner of the state will gather for a fellowship*, education, and a great dinner at a local eatery. You’ll even get an hour of CPE!
It includes…

• A critical run-down of the changes to laws and regulations that are going to impact your pharmacy practice … and your patients;
• GPhA membership update
• One hour of CE credit;
• A sponsor presentation on a current pharmacy-related topic
• A chance to meet and connect with other pharmacy pros in your area;
• A great meal for only $10 ($25 for non-GPhA members)!

Find your region — and your meeting — today!

• Region 1 (Statesboro area): Tuesday, October 22
• Region 2 (Valdosta area): Tuesday, October 15
• Region 3 (Americus area): Wednesday, October 23
• Region 4 (Peachtree City area): Thursday, October 24
• Region 5 (Atlanta area): Thursday, October 10
• Region 6 (Macon area): Thursday, October 24
• Region 7 (Acworth area): Tuesday, October 15
• Region 8 (Waycross area): Wednesday, October 16
• Region 9 (Ellijay area): Wednesday, October 16
• Region 10 (Athens area): Thursday, October 17
• Region 11 (Augusta area): Wednesday, October 23
• Region 12 (Dublin area): Thursday, October 17

Sign up now at GPhA.org/briefings!

* Trip to Mount Doom is optional

Hurricanes kill diabetics

That’s actually the story right there. A study finds that seniors with diabetes who live through a hurricane “had a nearly 40 percent higher all-cause mortality risk in the first month after the storms,” mostly from heart disease and nephritis.

The computer will see you now

Artificial intelligence might be as good as human physicians at making diagnoses — at least those based on images. So finds a new British study … although it’s still fairly preliminary and there are plenty of questions. Still, the writing is on the wall — we’re just not sure what language it’s in.

At this point they might want to try yoga

Yet another blood-pressure med has been recalled for possible carcinogen contamination: This time it’s Torrent Pharmaceuticals’ losartan — specifically Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and Losartan Potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets. Click for the details.

Another home robot for meds

This one is from Black+Decker. Called “Pria,” it’s designed primarily to dispense meds. A caregiver loads it … sorry, her — with pills, and Pria will dispense them on time, alerting the patient, we assume, with a loud siren of some sort.

It also allows video calling, and can notify caregivers if someone doesn’t take his pills. It can also answer important questions, like “What’s the weather today?” and “How many ounces are in a cup?” All this can be yours for just $600, plus $10 a month.

Sertraline may not do what you think

Sertraline seems to be better at helping with anxiety than with depression.

The researchers found sertraline had no effect on depressive symptoms through six weeks, and only a mild impact through 12 weeks. The drug had a much stronger effect, however, on the overall mental state of patients.

News from the big retailers

Walmart is expanding its “Live Better, U,” dollar-a-day tuition program to healthcare. It’s offering to pay tuition, fees, and for books for employees looking to get a bachelor’s degree in any of seven health-related fields, or if they want to become pharmacy technicians or opticians. The company already offered the program for some business degrees.

Amazon is experimenting (in the Seattle area for now) with a virtual care program for employees — an alternative to an ER or urgent care visit. “Amazon Care” can provide an “in-app video visit with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse … for advice, answers, diagnosis, treatment or referrals.”

Today’s e-cig quickies

Juul Labs fired its CEO and is suspending all its advertising.

Massachusetts is banning all sales of vaping products for four months.

The ninth person has died from the Mysterious Vaping Illness, and the CDC expects hundreds more cases to surface.

This came across my health news and, even though it isn’t exactly pharmacy related, I still thought it was interesting

Remember that whole “sonic illness” thing with U.S. diplomats in Cuba? Turns out it might just have been a reaction to an anti-Zika insecticide.