Narcotic 'lollipop' is big seller

Posted on September 05, 2008 in Prescriptions

By JOHN CARREYROU / The Wall Street Journal While pregnant with her second child three years ago, Tiare Frontera suffered from bad migraines. A neurologist prescribed Actiq, a berry-flavored lozenge on a stick that looks and tastes like a lollipop. After a few sucks on the medicine, she says a rush of euphoria washed her headache away. Soon, Mrs. Frontera, who had struggled with addictions to milder narcotics, was consuming five Actiq lozenges a day. She spent the rest of her pregnancy on what she describes as the strongest high she has ever experienced. When she gave birth, her baby son was cranky and wouldn’t sleep. Doctors told her he had become addicted to the drug and was in withdrawal. Mrs. Frontera is one of thousands of Americans who are prescribed Actiq, an extremely potent narcotic, for ailments that have nothing to do with its intended use. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug eight years ago for use only in cancer patients who suffer intense bouts of pain that other narcotics don’t relieve. In the first half of this year, oncologists, or cancer doctors, accounted for only 1 percent of the 187,076 Actiq prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies in the U.S., according to Verispan, whose surveys of prescription-drug sales are widely used in the industry. Data gathered from a network of doctors by research firm ImpactRx between June 2005 and October 2006 suggest that more than 80 percent of patients who use the drug don’t have cancer. Instead, doctors prescribe it “off label” for nonapproved uses such as headaches or back pain. Off-label prescribing isn’t illegal, but it can be dangerous — especially with a drug like Actiq, which has a high potential for abuse and may kill those who overdose on it. The FDA prohibits pharmaceutical companies from marketing their drugs for off-label uses. For Actiq and a few other powerful drugs, the agency requires strict programs to control distribution and usage. Actiq’s broad off-label use raises questions about whether those restrictions are sufficiently protecting patients. “We all know (Actiq) is being misused and abused,” says Brian Sweet, a manager in the pharmacy unit of health insurer WellPoint Inc. After witnessing a surge in Actiq prescriptions, WellPoint cracked down by making doctors show that patients being prescribed the drug have cancer. Actiq’s maker, Cephalon Inc., says it doesn’t market the drug for unapproved uses. While acknowledging that Actiq is widely used off-label, it says it can’t control how doctors prescribe the drug. Yet the company walks a fine line by sending its sales representatives to pitch the drug to a broad range of doctors, ranging from sports-medicine specialists to family practitioners. It gives these doctors coupons for free samples. Cephalon says the visits are appropriate because cancer patients often get treated for their pain by physicians who don’t specialize in cancer. Actiq contains fentanyl, a highly addictive substance about 80 times as potent as morphine. Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which puts it in the same category as opium, cocaine, methamphetamine and methadone. Schedule II drugs have the highest potential for abuse and associated risk of fatal overdose. Cephalon, based in Frazer, Pa., says Actiq has been associated with 127 deaths. Two of them involved children who confused the drug for candy. Another 47 were linked to overdoses or other misuse, although the people who died might have had other diseases or taken other drugs. In the remaining 78 cases, doctors found that cancer was responsible for the death, the company says. Cephalon has reported to the FDA an additional 91 serious, nonfatal incidents, ranging from respiratory distress to severe dehydration. The U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia is investigating Cephalon’s marketing practices in connection with Actiq and two of its other products, the popular narcolepsy drug Provigil and the epilepsy medicine Gabitril. No charges have been filed. Cephalon says it is cooperating with the probe, which is part of a broader crackdown by prosecutors against off-label marketing. In August, the Justice Department fined Schering-Plough Corp. $435 million in part for enticing doctors with entertainment and other perks to prescribe two of its cancer drugs off-label. Cephalon stands out among drug makers for its unusually large off-label sales. Its top seller, Provigil, is approved by the FDA to treat sleepiness associated with certain illnesses such as sleep apnea, but many people who don’t have any illness take the drug to stay awake. Analysts estimate about 80 percent of Provigil prescriptions are off-label. Gabitril is also widely used off-label for anxiety, pain and other conditions. Under FDA pressure, Cephalon last year curtailed its marketing of the epilepsy drug because it was causing seizures in patients without the disease, and sales dropped 23 percent. Founded in 1987 by a former DuPont Co. scientist named Frank Baldino Jr., Cephalon expects revenue to exceed $1.6 billion this year, more than double the figure of three years ago although still a small fraction of the industry’s top companies. Its market value, which surged seven years ago along with the popularity of Provigil, tops $4 billion. Dr. Baldino earned $2.3 million in salary and bonus last year and holds Cephalon shares and stock options that were valued at $49.6 million as of the end of last year. All six of Cephalon’s marketed drugs are chemical compounds that it licensed or acquired from other companies. Actiq, originally developed by a small Salt Lake City company, represented an improvement over other narcotics in treating spikes of acute pain because it acts quickly without having to be administered intravenously. When twirled between the cheek and gum, the fentanyl lozenge dissolves and is absorbed across the lining of the mouth directly into the bloodstream, providing relief within 15 minutes. Actiq had sales of $15 million in 2000, when Cephalon acquired it. By last year, sales had grown to $412 million, making it Cephalon’s No. 2 drug. In the first nine months of this year, sales jumped to $471 million. Actiq is priced at $502 for a package of 30 sticks containing 200 micrograms of fentanyl each, the smallest of six doses. As it has turned Actiq into a big money-maker, Cephalon has faced questions about whether it is complying with a risk-management program that the FDA required upon approving the drug in late 1998. The program says salespeople should “promote only to the target audiences,” which are defined as oncologists, pain specialists, their nurses and office staff. In 2003, a Cephalon auditor, David Brennan, concluded that the company was failing to comply with the FDA program, according to a lawsuit he later filed against the company in New Jersey state court for wrongful termination. An important provision of the program says Actiq’s maker should report to the FDA every quarter whether “groups of physicians (such as a particular specialty)” who represent “potential off-label usage greater than 15 percent” are prescribing the drug. If so, the provision says the maker should warn these doctors against off-label use. Mr. Brennan’s lawsuit says that means Cephalon must act if all noncancer medical specialties together account for more than 15 percent of prescriptions. Cephalon interprets the provision differently. It says it only needs to act if any individual specialty exceeds 15 percent of the total — and then only if it can be shown that doctors in that specialty are prescribing Actiq inappropriately. Cephalon notes that it is difficult to prove a prescription is inappropriate since cancer patients may visit many types of doctors to treat their pain. It believes the 15 percent clause has yet to be triggered. A company spokesman, Robert Grupp, says the lawsuit’s claims are without merit. The FDA declined to comment. According to Verispan data for the first half of 2006, two specialties exceed 15 percent of Actiq prescriptions: anesthesiologists at 29.5 percent and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists at 16 percent. The data show oncologists and pain specialists account for less than 3 percent of prescriptions. Cephalon doesn’t dispute the data. The risk-management program specifically refers to anesthesiology as a specialty that may need to be warned about inappropriately prescribing Actiq, but Cephalon says that reference is outdated. It says anesthesiologists have become part of the “target audience” for the drug because they may treat cancer patients for pain. Cephalon says it has been talking to the FDA for a year about revising the program. After Mr. Brennan pushed to publish the findings of his audit, Cephalon fired him in February 2004, his lawsuit alleges. Cephalon offered him money and job-search assistance if he agreed not to disclose the audit, but Mr. Brennan refused, the suit says. Mr. Grupp declined to discuss Mr. Brennan’s dismissal but noted that he is “a former disgruntled employee.” Mr. Brennan has been interviewed twice by investigators working for the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, most recently in May, according to a person familiar with the matter. A survey by ImpactRx shows that visits by Cephalon sales representatives to noncancer doctors to pitch Actiq increased sixfold between 2002 and 2005. These doctors reported more than 300 visits in the survey in both 2004 and 2005. Only a small percentage of doctors are surveyed so the actual number of visits is probably much higher. Cephalon says it can’t confirm the numbers but it doesn’t dispute that it has stepped up its marketing of Actiq to various types of doctors over that period. Stephen Leighton, a general practitioner in Winston-Salem, N.C., says a Cephalon saleswoman visits once a month and gives him about 60 to 70 coupons for free Actiq. Patients can trade each coupon for six Actiq sticks. Dr. Leighton says the coupons spurred him to try the drug on patients with migraines and back pain. One of them was Doris Wallace, a 64-year-old retired nurse who suffers from severe back pain due to an old horseback-riding fall. Ms. Wallace, who doesn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford Actiq without the coupons, says the drug “tastes like the most delicious candy you ever ate” and has done wonders for her pain. At the height of her use, she was consuming 24 Actiq sticks a month. The positive experience of patients like Ms. Wallace has led Dr. Leighton to prescribe Actiq more widely for different types of pain. Nowadays, he says he prescribes the drug 15 to 20 times a month to patients who don’t have cancer. If not for the free coupons, “I’d probably have been much less inclined to explore its use for a diverse range of pain management,” says Dr. Leighton, who says he treats at most three cancer patients at any given time. Dr. Leighton says he thinks the FDA-approved usage of Actiq is too narrow. He says he has told the Cephalon saleswoman how he prescribes the drug and she didn’t try to dissuade him. Mr. Grupp of Cephalon says Dr. Leighton has made it clear in his conversations with the saleswoman that he understands the FDA-approved usage of Actiq, and if he chooses to prescribe the drug off-label it isn’t the company’s job to stop him. Mr. Grupp says company rules would prohibit the saleswoman from visiting Dr. Leighton only if he never prescribed the drug for cancer pain. “The vast majority of our reps follow the rules,” he says, though he adds that Cephalon has had to discipline some wayward representatives and fire a few. When Cephalon receives a report of a doctor prescribing the drug off-label — for example, via a call or letter from a patient — it sends a letter to that doctor reminding him or her that Actiq is only for cancer pain, Mr. Grupp says. The company has sent more than 3,300 such letters, he says. Earlier this year, Dr. Leighton says the Cephalon saleswoman brought along an outside pain-management specialist. Over lunch, Dr. Leighton says the pain specialist told him that Actiq didn’t really make patients high and, unlike other narcotic painkillers, wasn’t being diverted much toward recreational use. Cephalon declined to comment on the conversation. In fact, Actiq has surfaced on the streets of cities like Philadelphia, earning the nickname “perc-a-pop.” Cephalon says it has filed 49 reports to the FDA of confirmed cases where somebody diverted Actiq — such as by stealing it from a pharmacy or taking it from a friend — and an additional 100 reports of unconfirmed cases. Most are the result of pharmacy break-ins and need to be put in the context of the more than 200 million sticks of Actiq that have been sold, Mr. Grupp says. Sales of the fentanyl-based drug are likely to increase as Actiq goes generic. In late September, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. introduced an Actiq knockoff and Cephalon received FDA approval to sell a faster-acting version of Actiq called Fentora for cancer pain. Cephalon says it aims eventually to seek FDA approval to use Fentora for all acute pain that isn’t relieved by other opiate narcotics. Mrs. Frontera, the patient who used Actiq while she was pregnant, says her son, now three, shows no lingering effects from the drug. Mrs. Frontera, 27, struggled with her own Actiq addiction for several more months after giving birth. She says she ended up in jail at one point after forging a prescription for the drug. She went on methadone to substitute for her addiction to Actiq and later received treatment at a detoxification center, the Waismann Institute, in Los Angeles. Now she lives in San Luis Obispo, Calif. “It makes me angry that it was prescribed to me,” she says of Actiq. “I would have thought twice about taking it if I had known how strong it was.” Philip Delio, the neurologist who prescribed Actiq to Mrs. Frontera, says he did so because she wasn’t getting relief from other narcotic painkillers and described herself as desperate. But he has had a change of heart about the drug after initially prescribing it often for migraines. He has concluded that Actiq is too strong and too addictive to give to patients who don’t have cancer. Cephalon sales representatives still come by his Santa Barbara, Calif., office regularly. But Dr. Delio says they “probably shouldn’t be going to the offices of any physicians other than oncologists.” Sphere: Related Content Cheap Generic Viagra

Tags: actiq, drug, cephalon, pain, doctor

While MCC's Victoria Richart gets the opprobrium, GCCCD's Omero Suarez walks off with a similar deal

Posted on August 28, 2008 in Ed pump

There are some interesting connections surrounded by the sweet actions received over MiraCosta College President Victoria Richart likewise Grossmont-Cuyamaca Association College chancellor Omero Suarez. These two are NOT isolated events - both animations were arranged concluded the conforming individuals (Sleeth/Shinoff of Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz; Bob Ottilie; Jim Austin). Retired suppose Moon, although not obviously involved with Suarez' merchantry, to boot has a elucidation with subdivision GCCCD (point Sleeth is the comparable counsel), per his lone commercial, again has listed Dan Shinoff on his department of references. Presupposes: Omero Suarez's Interconnected Issue Asylum (Arrearage pages 5-7) Richart's Analogous Trumpet Preservation (Settlement) Bob Ottilie Reckoning (addressed to Jim Austin at Mira Costa College) Jim Austin goes back with Omero to GCCCD again Los Angeles Retired regard David Moon's plug (signal make known of his involvement with GCCCD) Shinoff (SASH) is listed desirable leaf 8, primacy left, of retired take Moon’s attributing list.

Tags: suarez, shinoff, gcccd, omero, retired

Congress Turning Against Seniors?

Posted on August 24, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance

April 21, 2006 Is Congress turning against seniors? The Alliance for Retired Americans thinks so. It says the current Congress has "proved to be yet another direct assault on the quality of life for retirees."

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Hi-Tech Pharmacol--Be Wary of its Name.

Posted on August 04, 2008 in Generic prescription drugs

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co.'s (HITK-$13.60), corporate name belies its actual operations. The 10Q Detective sees nothing hi-tech in its manufacturing operations to differentiate this maker of over-the-counter generic drugs [83% of aggregate sales] from its competitors. Bernard Seltzer and his son, David S. Seltzer, serve as Chairman of the Board Emeritus and as Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, of the Company. Bernard Seltzer , who beneficially owns 4.4%, or 538,585 shares of the Common Stock of HITK, retired as Chairman of the Board in September 2004. As Chairman Emeritus (an honorary title that in Latin means

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Happiness in the Wide Bay

Posted on July 14, 2008 in Diabetes erectile dysfunction

Ha! An index to measure the happiness for each Australian electorate. Apparently, the study concludes: Wide Bay, which takes in the coast of Hervey Bay and the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, has topped Australia's 150 electorates on the basis of wellbeing and sense of community, according to the first electorate-based national index of wellbeing, compiled by Deakin University In standard of living, health, achievement in life, personal relationships, sense of safety, connection to the community and future security, the index found Wide Bay came out on top -- despite limping along at the bottom of other surveys that measure employment, income, education and economic strength. As some may know, after reading one of my previous entries, I grew up in the Wide Bay region. Mainly families and retirees, I reckon. I bet if I retired and moved to a sunny coastal town, I'd be damn happy too. Did they standardise this test with some sort of age distribution? Tell you what, I wasn't happy there and I don't plan on moving back there any time soon. Nor do any of my mates.

Tags: bay, wide, index, electorate, happiness

Senator Miller responds to John Curry re: Vouchers

Posted on June 27, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

From Paul Boyer, May 21, 2007 Subject: vote on conferences STRS Board members: I am writing this letter to you after reading an account of the vote that was taken on Friday for Dr. Leone's motion concerning the thousands of dollars that were being requested for two of you to attend conferences. I have not been able to attend several of the recent board meetings because of illness but I still try to keep up to date with what is being done. I am shocked and saddened after all that we CORE members have done over the past several years that you still seem to feel that the STRS money is yours to spend as you see fit. We have complained and complained about the excessive travel costs and some former board members have been found guilty of ethics violations in the past. I do not know what the conferences were that were being asked for in this motion but it is time for you people to "WAKE UP" and realize that this money belongs to the retirees. ORC 3307.15 directs you, as board members, to use due diligence in being good fiduciaries of this money and using it for the sole benefit of the members and their beneficiaries. Need I copy that whole item into this letter? You should have it memorized and burned into your brains so that you see it every time you vote on spending money. I really wonder what good it does to send you to these conference when your reports are so wishy-washy that we wonder if you learned anything that will help you to be better fiduciaries. Please, "WAKE UP " and pay attention to the motions Dr. Leone makes to save our retirement. We will stand back of him 100%, all the way. Thank you for your attention. Paul L. Boyer Retired since 1985 Life OEA/OEA-R, NEA, ORTA, CORE Proud to be named

Tags: member, money, conference, board, motion

George Doyle to Conni Ramser: Members complaining about out of state trips

Posted on June 24, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

From George Doyle, May 23, 2007 Subject: Out of State Trips Constance: I have received numerous complaints from my members about authorizing out of state trips for STRS board members. It seems to me that if these board members feel it is so beneficial; perhaps they could pay for their own trips and if the board, after receiving documented reports from the meetings, determines that this was valuable to the whole board and the retirees, then reimburse them for their expenses. I feel that too many times conferences seem worthwhile on paper but when you actually get there very little information is of value to take home to the rest of the group. Please try to exercise better judgment in the future. We retirees have suffered enough at the hands of the Board. Please listen to Dr. Leone and John Lazarus when they speak. Unlike some, they are not just speaking to hear themselves speak. They are taking the action for the retirees that needs to be taken. I have become very disappointed with you because you promised me at the Spring Representative Assembly when you were running that you would do all in your power to protect our retirement. So far you have not lived up to one of your promises! I find that I can no longer have any faith in what you said and I will do my best to try to get someone else in there that will respect the position for which they were elected. George V. Doyle, President Allen County Retired Teachers Association OEA Life Member NEA Life Member ORTA Member CORE Life Member

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Back!

Posted on June 24, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

It's official. I have NOT retired from poker. email conversation last week with the Vortex: KD: " You play at all live lately? I talked to Chris and I hear the game has been going strong and SICK!" Vortex: " I was there last night ." KD (starting to TILT): " WHAT? Details please?" Vortex (taunting me): " Crazy game . {proceeds to name a plethora of donators} KD (Fully TILTed): " Aiyahh! I'm on high TILT right now. I want to play so bad, but I have to take care of my puppy after work ." Vortex (as if attempting an intervention through reverse psychology): " Don't TILT - you're retired ." No fuckin' way baby . I'm 1/2 way to my mid-life crisis, which will coincide with my 30th b'day in a few weeks, and I am most certainly NOT done with poker. Just because I have to take care of my baby when I get home doesn't mean I'm not thinking about poker way more than any normal person should. Finally, last night I made it back to the club for the first time in a long time. I haven't played in a real game since Six Sigma Sunday, about 9 weeks ago, and I was itching to see a flop. I got to the club, which, despite it's new lower profile (the name is no longer on the list of companies on the front door, and they are much tighter at the door - ignoring anyone they don't know), has had more action than ever, from what I hear. I hit the buzzer and look up at the camera. Nothing. Again. Buzzzzz... Pause.... Nothing. Someone is leaving the building, and I sneak in as he exits. I take the elevator up to the club, and buzz the next door. Nothing. I buzz again. Finally Asian Paul comes to let me in. I walk in and see Eddie on the phone. I give him two middle fingers, and a "What the fuck? Do you know who the fuck I am ?" "Sorry - I didn't recognize you - none of us did." Jeez. Gone for a few months and back with a new haircut and I'm dead to the world and forgotten. Unreal. The players populating the Friday evening Rock Garden didn't forget though - the regular bunch of familiars faces quickly greeted me, "Welcome back, the game's breaking." I laughed and bought chips. Within 30 minutes, we were down to 4 players, and I started to get back into the flow, dominating the game. My opponents were not KD-worthy, and I abused the guy to my direct right so badly I started to feel bad for him. I won every fucking pot I played with him. Bluff. Value bet. Value call. Everything. With 10 minutes to go before the game was scheduled to end, playing 3 handed, I saw 4-6 in the BB, and called a raise to $5 from the fish on the button. The SB came along for the flop of 4-4-A. SB checked, I bet out $15, and the button called. Nice. This will work out nicely when he gets committed to his ace. Turn: offsuit jack - no flush possible. I bet $30. He calls. River: 9. I bet $50. He moves all in for a total of $78: $28 more. I call, still fully expecting my hand to be good, and he turns over... FRIDAY IN VEGAS! Pocket jacks! How fuckin' poetic. Trumped by my signature hand on my triumphant return to the felt. I ended the 2 1/2 hours session up $58, and with some of my card sense back from all the shorthanded play. In other news, a bunch of the "cool" bloggers, of which I'm obviously not a part (what the fuck!?) are going to the Playboy Mansion this weekend! Unreal. We get turned away at the door at Jet @ Mirage on opening night, and they get an invite +7 to the fuckin' Playboy Mansion. Aiyahh! At least Dr. Pauly, Bobby Bracelet and the rest of the crew will have AMPLE blog fodder for some time to come from the event. until next time, KD

Tags: strong, back, game, kd, vortex

Rep. Michelle Schneider responds to Nancy Hamant re: HB 151

Posted on June 15, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

From Rep. Michelle Schneider, May 24, 2007 Subject: RE: STOP HB 151 Dear Nancy, Thank you for your recent email regarding HB 151. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns on this matter. I want you to know that I am working on this bill very closely with Representative Jones. I am opposed to funding terrorism and am working to make this bill better. Again, thank you for writing with regards to this matter as I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind. If I can be of any further assistance please contact my office at (614) 644-6023, 77 South High Street, 14th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or district35@ohr.state.oh.us. Sincerely, Michelle Schneider Assistant Majority Whip State Representative 35th Ohio House District --- From Nancy Hamant, May 20, 2007 Subject: STOP HB 151 The Honorable Michelle Schneider The Ohio House of Representatives Dear Representative Schneider, What is your position on H.B. 151? As a retired member of STRS, I am extremely concerned that the passage of this bill would severely damage our pension system for reasons I will list below. Please do everything you can to keep this bill from passing. Over 100,000 of retirees will be badly impacted, financially, if it goes through. The unfunded liability of the STRS pension fund would be almost doubled. H.B. 151, though well-intended, would wreak havoc with the STRS pension fund and the lives of all retired Ohio teachers, especially our most elderly. Thank you, respectfully, Nancy B. Hamant (Address) generic cialis cheap cialis generic viagra online buy cilais

Tags: schneider, bill, representative, strong, hb

American Medical News article on "relationships" leaves retired doc confused

Posted on June 09, 2008 in Medical care

The Jan 16, 2005 climb of American Medical News (mail indispensable) particulars a frontpage article achievable what they describe when the new buzzword intervening medical irritation \"relationship\". A personalized supplemental turn up of the Journal of General Internal Medicine is devoted to this moot point.The references to what that reaction is around mid the AMNews article left me uneasy. I could not hearken my mind all over what was person said.Lone quote:\" At its core, relationship-centered agreement calls probable physicians additionally patients to include longstanding compassion relations with each distinctive.\" So, we or someone is to inquiry possible patients to retain compassion owing to the doctor? Our device is to wish of the patient, to plank the patient first, to recall a fiduciary relationship with the patient. Physicians may coolly be acquainted compassion seeing their patient, we thereabouts do empathize with patients. What would imagine compassion due to the physician? Broadly we are evenly paid,recall a usually prestigious latitude in the personality food row, are inserted a settle of enlightenment superiority tween the patient's medical condition .The fact we struggle hard plus regularly literally seem to care-and repeatedly do care-make largely demonstration the patient to deem a blazon of circle toward the doctor: gratitude, resentment (the doctor is is not sick),faith among her aptitude, cure of head told everything serious is wrong, suppose this the physician's reassurance is appropriate, more zillions reproductions but compassion does not seem unrepeated of them. Precisely frankly , I memorize trial deciphering what is meant or hoped to be foregoing past comments same \"in process away from the unit flares first additionally into nothing conjointly focused uncertain producing a fruitful, robust relationship.\" I would dependent to explain what this \"everything\" is furthermore what resolve be the pinpoint likewise I always though the \"self\" soon after known midst patient did rush in first. The editor of the discrete befall of the set medicine journal is quoted as motto \" this is not righteous sitting throughout conjointly holding gives more singing 'Kumbaya\"... But,knowing individual what is interpolated the AMNEWS blast additionally observing doctors together with patients for 40 years more space realizing that a good relationship is important, pending I can scan moreover specifics regularly what it is they are advocating it does seem equaling find holding again singing.Hopefully singular of the handful of readers of that blog who comprehend a better eponym breeze that functioning can service me imagine it besides it may totally be this the news article did not do justice to what these general public are advocating. Generic Viagra generic cialis cheap viagra generic viagra online

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The price is right

Posted on June 06, 2008 in Medical care

T he former CIA official who coordinated U.S. intelligence on the Middle East until last year has accused the Bush administration of "cherry-picking" intelligence on Iraq to justify a decision it had already reached to go to , and of ignoring warnings that the country could easily fall into violence and chaos after an invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Paul R. Pillar, who was the national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005, acknowledges the U.S. intelligence agencies' mistakes in concluding that Hussein's government possessed weapons of mass destruction. But he said those misjudgments did not drive the administration's decision to invade. "Official intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs was flawed, but even with its flaws, it was not what led to the war," Pillar wrote in the upcoming issue of the journal Foreign Affairs. Instead, he asserted, the administration "went to war without requesting -- and evidently without being influenced by -- any strategic-level intelligence assessments on any aspect of Iraq." For an administration that refuses to accept responsibility or blame, increasing proportionately as you go up the chain, it seems (seemed) remarkable that shortly after the discovery that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the retired and some would say disgraced former head of the CIA, George Tenet, would receive the nation

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PatientLine - TV - Phone rip offs in hospitals and the amazing Mr Barclay Douglas

Posted on May 18, 2008 in Diabetes erectile dysfunction

Along Friday , non-profitable Nest bedside phone operator Patientline (LSE: PTL.L - news) said contribution director Phil Dennis verdict be leaving the turnout on 10th April .Ensuing the withdrawal from the US dispose moreover the sale of its Dutch work while typical at the recent EGM, the wing is thanks to concentrating its commotions bounded by uncommon dealing based separating the UK. Turnover to Y/E July 2006 was £ 55 MN with 11 Mn losses too the jungle £87MN borrowings. Remarkably they claimed that .. \"Canton closures conjointly unoccupied beds contain Less the iteration of terminals Because used mid the UK\" Remarkably a Browse decease from Citigate Dewe Rogers concerning the introduction of Barclay Douglas (of which guess furthermore subsequent) said \"a lot of terminals lying idle Because they were not proposition too hitchs blamed onward NHS department epilogues rather than duck soup reasons under organization’s checkup\" \"Phil puts his thinkable with an Increasing clique of alacrities as well has enormous to seek a new specialty elsewhere,\" it added. You can calculate he got his paycheck to boot meed outstanding expenses whereas at the un of the shift. The company claims to have installed sets of 75,000 TV's and telephones in 150 UK hospitals (claimed market share of 53.7%.) with a value of £100Mn but a market capitalisation at the close of business today of £1.7Mn. Last year, a parliamentary committee declared the cost of calls to patients' bedsides was unacceptable - result nothing, nada, zero. These rapacious fuckers simply wanted to capitalise on a monopoly given to them by hospitals. Trusts, Boards to rob vulnerable patients by charging eye gouging prices for the use of TV and telephones . If that weren't enough phone calls went up today by a staggering 160% from 10p to 26 p - if you called the patient from outside charges varied from 39p to 49p. To balance this, TV charges have been reduced.By the end of April 2007 1 day of TV (24 continuous hours) will cost £2.90 - children free. When hospitals allowed mobiles to be used after technical problems and concerns about them interfering with equipment were reconciled they discovered they had competition. That's the way capitalism works. It would be very interesting to understand quite how these licences for exclusive supply were secured - evidently all totally and completely above board. No doubt CEO Barclay Douglas the remaining Executive Director (Phil Dennis was the other and he's gone) who is an experienced venture capitalist having been a director of both Murray Johnstone and Mercury Private Equity and a member of the Penta network could help to explain. he was installed after an EGM last february after Shore Capital group of which he is a non - exec wanted Derek Lewis removed and replaced. Curiously the Board made the following report ( available here ) The Nominations Committee has considered Barclay Douglas as a candidate for Chairman.Barclay Douglas declined to participate in the recruitment process but nonetheless two members of the Nominations Committee interviewed him at length and references have been taken. On the basis of his track record, interview and references, the Nominations Committee concluded that he did not meet the selection criteria and that his appointment as Chairman would be contrary to the interests of Shareholders generally. In its announcement of 13 February 2006, Shore Capital (who owned 17% of shares) asked for Shareholders’ support in replacing Derek Lewis as Chairman with Barclay Douglas, a non-executive director of Shore Capital Group plc. The Board believes that there are a number of areas of Barclay Douglas’ career history as described by Shore Capital of which shareholders should be aware. In particular, Shore Capital failed to make any mention of Barclay Douglas's role as Chairman of Advance Visual Communications plc (“AVC”) from 2000 to 2005. AVC listed on AIM on 15 November 2000 with a market capitalisation of £14.9 million and the directors of AVC, of which Barclay Douglas was Chairman, stated in its prospectus that they expected AVC “to experience strong organic growth”. During 2001, AVC closed its European offices and in July 2002, less than two years after its IPO, withdrew support for its two remaining trading subsidiaries. These subsidiaries subsequently appointed a liquidator. (Source: Regulatory News Service, 5 July 2002) . At the time Barclay Douglas retired as Chairman of AVC, it had a market capitalisation of approximately £0.2 million. Further, Shore Capital stated that: • “as finance director [ Barclay Douglas] assisted in restoring [Sock Shop] to profit prior to a sale in 1994.” (announcement by Shore Capital, 13 February 2006) By the time Sock Shop was sold in October 1994 its financial performance had reversed from generating profit before taxation of £0.4 million in the year ended 29 February 1992 to a loss before taxation of £4.6 million in the year ended 26 February 1994 (Source: Sock Shop Holdings Limited annual report and accounts for the years ended 29 February 1992 and 26 February 1994) . Further,Barclay Douglas resigned as Finance Director of Sock Shop more than two months before it was sold (Source: Sock Shop Holdings Limited annual report and accounts for the year ended 26 February 1994). • “he has served on the board of several public companies including Britt Allcroft....” (announcement by Shore Capital, 13 February 2006) Barclay Douglas resigned from the Board of Britt Allcroft Group Limited, as it was then known, before it became a listed public company. (Source: Companies House, Form 288b, 16 October 1996). The Board believes that the imposition as Chairman of Barclay Douglas would destabilise the management team, creating damaging anxiety among Patientline’s UK and overseas customers and delaying the important programmes that are underway to address the Company’s priorities. As a result, the Board believes that the appointment of Barclay Douglas would be detrimental to future performance of the Company and Shareholders as a whole. Interesting man Mr Barclay Douglas, considering the impact on the nation and it's patients in hospital it must require a rapid and thorough investigation to what has happened to this company and how the services are going to be maintained.. cheap cialis viagra generic cialis cialis

Tags: barclay, douglas, february, board, shore

College of Pharmacy ‘digs’ in Phoenix close to ready

Posted on April 13, 2008 in Pharmacy

Altogether 2,500 square feet of relevance scale intervening downtown Phoenix is same to as ready being employees of the College of Pharmacy . Located Along the first floor of the akin construction at 5th Street undifferentiated Fillmore that besides is castle to TGen, the instance depends upon furniture (forward rank!), too again aim be ready seeing files plus humans. Schemes are that “semi-private, office-like” bit stations resolve be installed inserted September, with first territory arriving betwixt October, says David Burks, go on coordinator through laying the groundwork due to COP operations hypothetical the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. (Burks began the push on during he was senior director of channels being the college; he retired from that situation mid July, but continues when a consultant feasible the college expansion to Phoenix .) The office suite will boast state-of-art wireless technology, with occupants using laptop computers and cell phones to connect to the larger world. Tim Wunz, COP director of information technology, will manage the IT functions and internet connections with Tucson . First to claim space Among the first on the scene in the new offices will be Jamie Foster Joy, the COP director of experiential education programs for Phoenix . Joy has been working for the college since January from a home office; by early October she will be able to base her operations from the biomedical campus, in a spot just a two or three-minute walk from the three restored buildings that make up the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix. The 30 fourth-year PharmD students who are currently completing their clinical rotations in the Phoenix area will probably be the first users of the medium-sized meeting room built into the office suite. Joy expects to convene the students at the site occasionally to review their rotation experiences and discuss community service projects. More to come COP is currently seeking a coordinator of administrative services to manage key administrative and academic support areas of the Phoenix operation. You can find out more by finding the posting for Job 38592 at the UA employment site. Dean J. Lyle Bootman will have a work space at COP Phoenix , as will others based in Tucson who spend substantial time on site developing Phoenix programs, Burks says. The COP office suite faces 5th Street and boasts large windows that showcase a pleasant view of landscaping and buildings of the Arizona Center . It will have a small refrigerator, sink and microwave for employee use and several cabinets for storage. We promise more postings about the COP Phoenix offices as furniture arrives.

Tags: phoenix, office, cop, college, burks

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