Editorial: 8-Tracks for Sale

I remember hearing back in the '70s that as computers became more and more popular we would no longer need "books" made of paper, etc. That was an interesting time because I think many people believed that statement. Almost forty years later, let's summarize what has happened to the way we store and retrieve information.

1. 8-track players are gone (what are we supposed to do with all the 8-tracks now?)
2. 78's, 45's, and 33-1/3 rpm records are almost gone but at least you can still purchase the turntables.
3. Cassette tapes are on the way out (even though there are some still being sold, the trend is obviously to move them on out).
4. VHS video tapes are on the way out (I remember paying $80 for a "blank" video to record on and now they are only a couple of dollars each!).
5. 8-inch floppy disks are no longer used for storage of information in computers.
6. 5.25-inch floppy disks are no longer used for storage of information in computers.
7. 3.5-inch floppy disks are no longer used for storage of information in computers.
8. CDs come in a variety of types that sometime tend to be confusing.
9. DVDs are now being replaced by Blue-Ray DVDs.
10. Hard drives are also moving out in favor of solid-state electronics.
11. Earlier "i-pod" type devices and MP3 players are already losing out to some of the newer devices; some of the earlier ones are no longer supported.
12. The "life" of much of the newer technology is only about 3-5 years; after that, the manufacturers no longer support it and parts become scarce.
13. The new "electronic books" are convenient and useful but when the battery goes, they're not much good until they can be recharged.

What is interesting in all this is that "books" are still around, and in fact book stores are growing in number and popularity. I guess the reason is that "batteries are not required." Seriously, we need to be somewhat concerned about what information is stored on these older technologies because they may not be able to be "read" in the future. We can still read "written" documents dating thousands of years old�however, we cannot necessarily "read" data stored on older electronic media that is only 40 years old! Also, the "porcelain library" is most conducive to print media.

In summary, we need to be aware of what information we want to have available in the future and ensure that it will be capable of being read and interpreted. Otherwise, we may have a "gap" in history from the 1970s to the 2xxxs!


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

CSTDs Are Not All the Same for Handling Hazardous Drugs
In an article in this week's Hospital Pharmacy, the authors tested different marketed, closed-system drug transfer devices (CSTDs). Although there are no official specifications for closed-system devices, they should meet the recommendations provided by the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Of the 5 devices tested, only 1 of the 5 met the criteria or definition of a CSTD.
Spivey S, Jorgenson JA. Contamination comparison of transfer devices intended for handling hazardous drugs. Hospital Pharmacy 2007; 43(9): 723-727.

FDA to continue cracking down on unapproved drugs
Of the 3.6 billion prescriptions filled annually in the U.S., the FDA says roughly 2% are for drugs that lack federal approval. The FDA recently seized more than $24 million in extended release products containing guaifenesin. It has also taken action against makers of carbinoxamine, quinine, ergotamine, trimethobenzamide suppositories, hydrocodone, and colchicine for injection. The agency is focusing on companies whose products contain unapproved drugs and lack approved labeling. The notice stated that future enforcement efforts generally will focus first on patient safety, followed by dealing with unapproved drug products competing with FDA-approved drugs.
Lavine G. FDA plans to continue cracking down on unapproved drugs. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2008; 65(17): 1594.

Telepharmacies may help patients receive medications in rural areas
The days of walking down to the general store for prescription drugs are returning to rural America, thanks to a virtual pharmacy system that has been tested on the frozen prairie. In 2001, North Dakota legislators passed legislation to begin a telepharmacy project after dozens of rural pharmacies went out of business. The new telepharmacies may be catching on in other places as the states of Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia have changed their laws to allow for remote pharmacies. The majority of telepharmacies are staffed with registered pharmacy technicians. Some registered nurses also have been trained for the job. These telepharmacies use remote cameras to show pharmacists the original signed prescription, the computer-generated label, the stock bottle where the medications are stored, and the container the patient will take home. Once the prescription is approved, patients have a mandatory private consultation with pharmacists through real-time video and audio.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5987278.html

Study: Prescribers May Influence Patient Adherence by Authorizing More Refills
A new study suggests that prescribers may be able to influence patient adherence with something as simple as authorizing more refills when they write prescriptions. The study showed that prescribers who consistently wrote prescriptions with four or more authorized refills per prescription had patient populations that filled more scripts, on average, than those who authorized fewer refills or whose patients required a new prescription in order to obtain their medication.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=569581&categoryid=9&newsletter=1

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Compounding is Ruled Manufacturing in Iowa
The distinction between compounding and manufacturing has been a controversial regulatory issue in pharmacy for several decades. The distinction is significant because pharmacists clearly have authority to extemporaneously compound drug products for patients but they do not have authority to operate as manufacturers. The Supreme Court of Iowa recently added some clarity to the situation, ruling that, in Iowa, a pharmacist who mixes OTC ingredients to make a new product has engaged in manufacturing if the pharmacist sells that product without a prescription.
http://apha.imirus.com/Mpowered/imirusApp.jsp?volume=pt14&issue=8&page=32

Judge to Unseal Documents on the Eli Lilly Drug Zyprexa
A federal judge in Brooklyn decided to unseal confidential materials about Eli Lilly's top-selling antipsychotic drug Zyprexa, stating that the health of hundreds of thousands of people and the fundamental questions about the way drugs are approved for new uses.
http://www.pharmaweek.com/Business_and_Markets/Judge_Unseal_Documents.asp

Drug Reps, Blondes and a Junior Doctor's 'Best Friend'
Drug Reps, Blondes and a Junior Doctor's 'Best Friend' is an article by Dr Steve Curtis about drug reps and the medical profession. The article was written for a British medical journal. It was rejected by the editors on the grounds that publication might offend the pharmaceutical industry http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contentValue=1834892&contentType=sentryarticle

Health-Care Problem Identified
The central health-care problem is not improving coverage...it's controlling costs. In 1960, health care accounted for $1 of every $20 spent in the U.S. economy; now that's $1 of every $6, and the Congressional Budget Office projects that it could be $1 of every $4 by 2025. Just think that a quarter of the U.S. economy may be devoted to health care. Would we be better off? Probably not. For government, higher health costs threaten other programs-schools, roads, defense, scientific research-and put upward pressure on taxes. For workers, increasingly expensive insurance depresses take-home pay as employers funnel more compensation dollars into coverage. There's also a massive and undesirable income transfer from the young to the old, accomplished through taxes and the cross-subsidies of private insurance, because the old are the biggest users of medical care.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090902520.html

Important Correction Notice to "Pediatric Injectable Drugs, 8th Edition"

On page 92 of ASHP's Pediatric Injectable Drug, Eighth Edition, (The Teddy Bear Book) has incorrect dosage information in the monograph for ceftriaxone sodium. The Dosage section for infants and children should read as follows: "Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg (up to 2 g/d) given once daily or divided q12h. Severe infections (including meningitis): 80 to 100 mg/kg (up to 4 g/d) given once daily or divided q12h." http://www.ashp.org//Import/NEWS/Corrections/CorrectionNotice.aspx

That registration discounts for the NCPA Annual Convention have been extended? Due to the high volume of calls and e-mails, NCPA is extending the early bird deadline for steep registration fee discounts to September 18 for the NCPA 110th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition to be held on October 11-15 in Tampa, Florida. Register and book your hotel today because rooms are filling up quickly. Register online or call 866-575-4134. Go online to view an updated Schedule-At-A-Glance. This years NCPA convention is going to be filled with compounding sessions and exhibits. Also, don't forget to attend the "Compounding Around the World" session all day Saturday at the convention. It's FREE but registration is required.

Smile!
It's interesting how a simple smile can change the attitude of yourself and others. It makes both people feel good, and it doesn't cost anything.