Editorial: Spring Forward!

Well, it's that time again; this Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins in the U.S.

In the spring, we move our clocks one hour ahead and "lose" an hour during the night. In the fall, we move our clocks back one hour and "gain" an extra hour. Why, because of Daylight Saving Time (not Daylight Savings Time with an "s").

Using the catchy phrase "Spring forward, Fall back" helps us remember how DST affects our clocks, which we usually change just before going to bed that night.

The reason for the change to DST is to use less energy in lighting our homes because of the longer and later daylight hours. During this eight-month period, the names of time in each of the time zones in the U.S. (map) change as well. Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), Mountain Standard Time (MST) becomes Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), and Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

DST was instituted in the U.S. during WWI to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight between April and October; this was also the case during WWII where the federal government again required the states to observe the time change. Between the wars and after WWII, states and communities chose whether or not to observe DST. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966 which standardized the length of DST. The passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005 extended DST an additional four weeks, now lasting from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. This Act was passed with the hope that it would save 10,000 barrels of oil each day through reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours.

Not all states observe DST. For example, Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have chosen not to observe DST. Actually, since these locations are closer to the equator, their days are more consistent in length throughout the year. However, this does not address why the remainder of the U.S. southern-tier states participate.


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

New Brand Name: Dexlansoprazole
The FDA and Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced that dexlansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, will soon be marketed under the brand name Dexilant to prevent more dispensing errors. The original name for dexlansoprazole was Kapidex, which purportedly sounds or looks like Casodex and Kadian. The company stated that it has received reports of dispensing errors involving those products. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has alerted pharmacists to dispensing errors involving Kapidex and Casodex. The dexlansoprazole delayed-release (Kapidex) capsules will look the same but the National Drug Code will change.
http://www.ashp.org/import/news/HealthSystemPharmacyNews/newsarticle.aspx?id=3289

Meds by Mail is the Default Option for Blue Cross Patients
Blue Cross of north-eastern Pennsylvania patients will face a choice of whether to fill prescriptions at a pharmacy or through the mail. Starting May 1, Blue Cross has decided that mail orders are the preferred choice for customers in group plans. The insurer will allow customers to buy maintenance drugs from pharmacies for two months. Then, in the third month, Blue Cross will block sales unless customers indicate that they choose to keep using a local pharmacy rather than mail order.

Nationwide, patients are receiving incentives to choose mail rather than local pharmacies. Typically, patients are allowed to buy three months' worth of medicine through the mail for the price they would pay for two months' at a store. For its pharmacy benefit manager, Blue Cross uses Express Scripts, based in St. Louis, Missouri.

A statement sent out from the director of public affairs at Express Scripts, said the program is completely voluntary and people can select a retail pharmacy with no financial penalty (Editors note: How about the 3 months for the price of 2 through mail order?). They also stated that studies have shown that many members intend to switch from retail to a home delivery pharmacy but often do not follow through due to procrastination or forgetfulness.
http://www.pharmacistelink.com/index.php/Drugstores/Blue-Cross-to-make-meds-by-mail-the-default-option-for-customers.html

Quest Diagnostics, Surescripts Create Lab/Prescription Exchange
A New Jersey provider of clinical laboratory services, Quest Diagnostics, and Surescripts, which operates the country's largest electronic prescribing network, will collaborate on an integrated service designed to make lab and pharmacy data more easily accessible to doctors and clinicians.

Quest Diagnostics tests approximately 150 million patients annually, and connects 150,000 physicians via its Care360 platform. Surescripts, which processed almost 600 million e-prescription messages in 2009, supports 170,000 or so active prescribers.

The two companies are working together to support the nationwide goal to achieve a National Health Information Network (NHIN), to make it possible and realistic for physicians to use technology meaningfully toward optimal and efficient patient care.
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/quest-diagnostics-surescripts-create-labprescription-exchange

Nuclear Pharmacy
Smith B
London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press; March 2010
Paperback; 272 pages; $49.99

A great new book to introduce the reader to nuclear pharmacy! This book begins with an introduction to basic nuclear physics, including radioactive drugs, decay, radiopharmaceuticals, definitions, etc. Next a chapter on the physiological basis of radiopharmaceuticals leads into the next two chapters on nuclear pharmacy operations and practice. The next chapter discusses the various radiopharmaceuticals that are used in nuclear medicine followed by chapters on positron emission tomography and investigational agents. The last chapter discusses clinical applications of radiopharmaceuticals in the nuclear medicine department.

If you have ever thought about making a career change into nuclear pharmacy, this would be an excellent book to read. Also, for students in nuclear pharmacy, this book is easy to read and understand. It also has self-assessment questions scattered throughout the book. Others for whom this can be a great resource would be: pharmacists, physicians, nuclear pharmacy technicians, radiology residents, or anyone interested in nuclear pharmacy.

I was informed this week that the source of the "life" quote used in last week's newsletter should be attributed to John Lennon. I really appreciate receiving the information!

�the American Pharmacists Association meeting begins today in Washington, DC and lasts through Monday. Consider attending and getting updated on the many events that are going on in our profession.

Stop By for a Visit

If you are attending the American Pharmacists Association meeting in Washington, DC, please stop by IJPC's booth for a visit!