The Emerging Storm: Suicide & COVID-19

“We are all in the same boat,” the social media posts proclaim, in reference to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  And, while I appreciate the sense of unity that such posts imply, I adamantly disagree. We are not all in the same boat here. Even professionally, I hear from colleagues who are absolutely inundated at work, […]

COVID-19: Trading in the Lab Coat for the Cape… and a Mask, Where Available

COVID-19:  Trading in the Lab Coat for the Cape… and a Mask, Where Available What a difference a month can make! Last month, I decided to blog about COVID-19, this mysterious virus that was quickly making its way into social conversation. At the time, public schools were still in session here in South Carolina and, aside […]

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Coronavirus. COVID-19. Pandemic. These are words that everyone in the nation has become intimately familiar with over the past weeks as media outlets push the constant updates of major closings, cancellations, and drastic adjustments to the daily lives of millions. And, admittedly the information being pushed forward is both frightening and confusing for many.  In the […]

90-Day Supply

90-Day Supply We have spent a considerable amount of time ‘unpacking’ the New York Times article by Ellen Gabler entitled, “How Chaos at Chain Pharmacies is Putting Patients at Risk” that was originally published on January 31st. And, it is with good reason that this has consumed so much our conversation. It was one of […]

Exhaustive Refill Requests

Exhaustive Refill Requests Many of us grew up hearing the story of “The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf.”  In the story, a young boy was tasked with guarding the town’s sheep and to yell for help when necessary. The boy, however, had a habit of screaming ‘wolf’ at the slightest hint of a problem. Any slight rustling […]

Pharmacy Metrics

Pharmacy Metrics In our last bit of ‘blog time’ together, we discussed the January 31st New York Times article written by Ellen Gabler entitled, “How Chaos at Chain Pharmacies is Putting Patients at Risk.” And, there was simply too much to ‘unpack’ in this article with one posting. In the last blog, we discussed the […]

New York Times Essential Article for Pharmacists

New York Times Essential Article for Pharmacists Among the pharmacy community, it has become known as the New York Times article. From outside the profession, this may seem to be an odd, non-specific reference. In speaking with those in the community, however, pharmacists immediately recognize that I am referring to the January 31st New York Times article […]

5 Minutes With a Pharmacist Episode 2: Robert Kress

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp

5 Minutes With a Pharmacist Episode 2: Robert Kress In freeCE’s second episode of 5 Minutes With a Pharmacist, pharmacist Kevin Hope interviews Dr. Robert Kress, a functional pharmacist with extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical practices and lifestyle wellness. Dr. Kress discusses how important it is for pharmacists to understand and find the balance between traditional […]

Dollar Tree Faces FDA Scrutiny

Dollar Tree Faces FDA Scrutiny On November 14, the FDA issued a warning letter to Greenbrier International, Inc, who operates as Dollar Tree. Greenbrier International, Inc. is being warned by the Food and Drug Administration for distributing over-the-counter products (marketed in-store as Assured Brand) which are in violation of the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices […]

Drug Shortages

Drug Shortages In June 2018, 31 United States senators and 104 United States representatives wrote to Scott Gotlieb, MD, who was the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. The representatives and senators approached Gotlieb to create a task force looking into root causes of drug shortages. The task force would also then be asked to create […]