A new online service, dubbed TreatMyUTI.com, is offering patients what it says is the first online access to physician diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections with no office visit, exam or lab test required.

Last week, I wrote about Medication Therapy Management and a new bill in the House of Representatives to expand the pool of patients who qualify for MTM programs through Medicare. This week, I’m writing about – wait for it – medication therapy management.

Why? Because MTM is important, vitally important, to the future of community pharmacy, and one of the key health and prevention services that will define the profession in the era of health reform and evidence-based health care.

Walgreens will no longer source branded prescription medicines directly from suppliers beginning in September, the Chicago-based retailer announced as part of a significant partnership between Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen that includes Walgreens and Alliance Boots potentially taking a 7% stake in the Pennsylvania wholesaler.

As many as 57% of consumers report using their smart device to make a purchasing decision at the shelf, according to a recent online survey of more than 600 AccentHealth viewers. Of those, 16% use their smart device for pharmacy-related items, including prescriptions and OTCs — making pharmacy products the second-largest category (behind electronics and appliances).

Robinson Pharma introduced its Unique IS-2 Probiotic Softgel in collaboration with B&D Nutritional Ingredients and Unique Biotech USA.

B’iota Botanicals, a European brand in herbal hair and skin care solutions, is now available in the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pocket-sized packet option for a testosterone-replacement therapy made by AbbVie, the drug maker said Friday.

Pharmaceutical vending machine maker Medbox has bought a 50% stake in a Michigan-based company that has developed an automated medicine dispensing machine, Medbox said Friday.

A record number of people were motivated to seek colon cancer screenings for a day last week, according to an organization focused on the disease.

PharmaSmart International’s comprehensive blood pressure program has recently been validated in two new, independent scientific studies, the company announced today. The company also announced a partnership with Rx-30 Pharmacy System that offers an automated clinical integration of validated PharmaSmart biometrics within the patient record.

The OTC industry is well-positioned to seize opportunities across the self-care space, executives at the recent Consumer Healthcare Products Association Annual Executive Conference shared with attendees. Those opportunities will be driven by greater consumer engagement and the growing realization around how much healthcare value can be drawn from expanding OTC access.

That sets the stage for some pretty favorable growth across a $38.3 billion industry. According to an Edelman in Health survey, use of over-the-counter medicines is already prevalent among Americans — almost 85% of Americans reported regular use of an OTC remedy. Convenience, efficacy and value were three of the key factors behind that prevalence, as noted in a special report compiled by DSN.

MinuteClinic president and SVP/associate chief medical officer of CVS Caremark, Andrew Sussman, attended two separate healthcare events in London last week to discuss how MinuteClinic is improving care and access at substantially lower cost.

This is important because, regardless of whether a country has universal healthcare or not, someone has to pay for it and accessibility can still be an issue. Interestingly, a British supermarket began testing the concept of an in-store physician-staffed clinic back in 2008 in an effort to improve access. 
A key reason: Its supermarkets are often situated in a convenient location with public transport links and ample parking.