Atkinson's Pharmacy | How to Get the Durable Medical Equipment You Need

How to Get the Durable Medical Equipment You Need

When most of us think of pharmacies, we think of the smiling faces and helpful staff who fill our prescriptions, help us choose which vitamins to purchase or guide us to the right aisle to make a last-minute purchase during cold and flu season. We don’t typically think of the heavy-duty products that are required when disaster strikes, or we are left in need crutches, braces, mobility assistance and other devices. However, these things are available through many of today’s pharmacies, as they have begun doubling as durable medical equipment providers. Take a look at what qualifies as durable medical equipment, and how much easier it is to get nowadays when the need arises!

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Atkinson's Pharmacy | Diabetes in Long-Term Care

Diabetes in Long-Term Care

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s estimated that nearly 30 million Americans live with diabetes, while an additional 86 million people have prediabetes, a condition that often leads to diabetes without significant lifestyle changes. Furthermore, it’s estimated that about a quarter of the total citizens 65 years and older in the U.S. have diabetes, which makes managing the condition in long-term care settings like skilled nursing homes and assisted living centers all the more important. Diabetes in older adults is directly linked to higher mortality rates and reduced function – both cognitively and physically.

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New Requirements on Psychoactive Drugs in Skilled Nursing Homes

Because of general “aging” of America’s population, the proportion of individuals who need long-term care is expected to increase, meaning that more and more people will be seeking care in senior living settings such as skilled nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In order to provide a specific standard of care for each person’s unique requirements, facilities have requirements for how to fulfill that care, especially as it relates to dispensing medications. Long-term care pharmacies also have regulations they must follow, but there are some new regulations in the pharmacy services section pertaining to the oversight of psychoactive drugs.

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Is Your Medication No Longer Available? Compounding May Be The Solution

Nobody likes to think that the medication they rely on to manage a condition – or even survive – may not be available one day. However, in the event of a shortage, this could happen temporarily, and if discontinued permanently. There are other times in which it may take months of medication trial and error in order to find the right drug and dosage for your unique needs. This means that it is possible that at some time a medication you depend on may be unavailable.

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The Case for Compounding Pharmacies

Modern medicine has come a very long way in the last few decades. It seems that there is now a drug or pharmaceutical preparation to meet nearly every need, yet the needs of some patients still fall outside of these extensive lists of available prescriptions. When this happens, it is up to a compounding pharmacy to create the medication that the patient can use.

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Atkinson's Pharmacy - Technology in the Pharmacy Industry Blog Image

Technology in the Pharmacy Industry

Over the past several decades, information technology (IT) has had a huge impact on the lives of millions of people. Many industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, have embraced new technologies; forward-thinking pharmacies now rely on automated information processing, automated prescription refills, and apps that provide drug information. While some people may fear that technology may replace pharmacist functions and be impersonal, they actually are helping to bolster efficiency and raise the standard for pharmaceutical care. These technologies enable routine and repetitive tasks to be performed with consistent accuracy that can still be tailored to individual needs.

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