prescription drugs

Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse and the FDA

November 3, 2011 | by Kirstin Hendrickson

In an effort to promote public health awareness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined preparation basics for the zombie apocalypse [1].

Yes, you read that right: zombie apocalypse.

As it turns out, preparing for the zombie apocalypse is similar to preparing for any other disaster: stock up on food, water and medications; have tools and supplies on hand; have items for sanitation and hygiene; etc. The CDC outlines emergency preparedness elsewhere on their website, but apparently no one really wants to read about preparing for a tornado, flood or winter weather. What people do want to read about is the zombie apocalypse. Thus, running with the idea that how you prepare is more important that what you prepare for, CDC went with a tongue-in-cheek, partially no-nonsense discussion of the undead and what happens when they attack.

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Grand Rounds: the Impact of Healthcare Reform

December 7, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

Welcome to Grand Rounds: the Impact of Healthcare Reform.

There’s a revolution occurring on the Web: those “authoritative” articles written on traditional, static websites are being replaced with blogs, wikis and online social networks. In the sphere of health, medicine and information technology, this “real-time Web” consists of many who are professionals in the field; their posts are listed below. In the digital age, these are the characteristics of new media: recent, relevant, reachable and reliable.

For this edition of Grand Rounds, Vol. 7 No. 11, we’re focusing on the impact of healthcare reform: what are the changes to healthcare delivery, utilization, quality, costs (either as a provider or a patient) and outcomes. After all, these changes affect everyone, whether you’re a patient, a healthcare provider or a biomedical researcher.

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How to Properly Dispose of Medication

February 15, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

The water we drink comes from lakes, streams, rivers and underground aquifers. Thus, it’s very important that everyone do their part to reduce the pollution entering waterways that carry our drinking water. This is particularly important with respect to disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Most people throw out of their unused, unneeded or expired medicines by flushing or pouring them down the drain. Since wastewater treatment facilities aren’t designed to remove pharmaceuticals, the disposed compounds end up in our lakes and streams, and ultimately in our drinking water. Indeed, a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey identified a broad rand of chemicals, including antibiotics and non-prescription drugs, at low concentrations downstream from areas of intense urbanization and animal production [1].

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Health Highlights – August 21st, 2007

August 21, 2007 | by Walter Jessen

Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.

Yahoo! Health in Stealth Mode or Just Plain Off-the-Radar? | The Healthcare Information Systems Blog

I’m becomming more and more interested in health-focused social networking. Jeff O’Connor writes about Yahoo! Health and the lack of attention it’s getting from its parent portal. While I’m on the topic of health-focused social networking, earlier this week Mashable reported that PeopleJam Gets Funded for Health Social Network.
Death by polypharmacy | Kevin M.D.

Kevin commented this week that:

… the average Medicare patient sees 3 specialists or more – each prescribing their own set of medications, often without regard to what the patient is already taking.

It reminded me of a recent post by Dr. Rob on communication in American healthcare.
Personalized Medicine, Part 1:Coumadin (warfarin) | Terra Sigillata

Recently, the FDA concluded that patients taking warfarin (Coumadin) should be tested for two genetic markers to determine the minimal starting dose. Abel Pharmboy writes about this personalized medicine effort and, along the way, describes hemostasis, the blood clotting process.
Medicare threatening hospitals | Doctor Anonymous
Dr. Anonymous writes about a significant Medicare policy change directed at hospitals and his fear of the unintended consequences.
Senior US official likens challenges facing America, Roman Republic | The Raw Story

I’ve written about the U.S. comptroller general David Walker and his “Fiscal wake-up tour” previously. Recently in Chicago, he:

… likened the present situation in the United States to the Roman Republic or an organization that fails to adapt and “may not survive.”

Perhaps a reflection of the lack of concern in America, not one of the major U.S. media outlets reported on it. The first report of his speech appeared in London’s Financial Times.
Why Bloggers Will Change the World, and How You Can Help | The Action Blog – Blog Action Day

What would happen if every blog published posts on the same topic, on the same day? One issue. One day. Thousands of voices.

Websites Advertising and Selling Prescription Drugs Increase by 70%

August 5, 2007 | by Walter Jessen

According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, over the last three years the number of websites selling controlled prescription drugs such as opioids, depressants and stimulants has increased. The findings were presented in a new White Paper, “You’ve Got Drugs!” IV: Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet, in May 2007 by CASA and released that same month at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on “Rogue Online Pharmacies: The Growing Problem of Internet Drug Trafficking” [1].