Healthcare professionals working within the growing field of convenient care convened Tuesday for the sixth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress, a three-day educational and networking forum that is accredited for both nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

A decade ago, the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association published a study that examined the state of collaborative practice. In 2003, 32 states had pharmacist collaborative practice regulations. Of those, 23 states allowed pharmacists to initiate and modify drug therapy.

A movement toward a more team-based, coordinated approach to patient care has helped drive increased demand for advance practice clinicians, as well as an increase in salaries for this group, according to findings of a recently released survey.

Retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid will deliver patients' immunization notifications directly to healthcare providers over the Surescripts Network for Clinical Interoperability.

More than 80 RediClinic employees and their families lost a total of 700 lbs. while participating in a companywide competition modeled after its Weigh Forward weight loss program.

Experience will make these providers better coaches for patients who sign up for the program. Aside from putting Rediclinic in place to battle one of the most chronic conditions in America — obesity — it also is creating important bonds between patients and practitioners.

Titled “Fed Up With Phil,” the video is part of campaign to create greater awareness of how pharmacy benefit managers can undermine the relationship between patients and their pharmacists.