Retail Clinics

HOUSTON — With the holiday season just around the corner, RediClinic is encouraging consumers to enroll in its medically supervised weight-loss program, Weigh Forward, by offering $100 in free groceries at H-E-B when they enroll. The offer ends Dec. 31.

Weigh Forward, which was developed in partnership with weight-loss expert David L. Katz, M.D., kicked off on May 16 at all 29 RediClinic locations in H-E-B stores in Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has launched a chainwide effort to position its pharmacy staff as diabetes specialists.

The announcement was made by Effie Steele, the chain's clinical services manager.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future will host the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala to raise funds and provide scholarships to help ease the nursing shortage in South Carolina.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Endo Pharmaceuticals for high blood pressure.

Endo announced Wednesday the approval of felodipine extended-release tablets in the 2.5-mg, 5-mg and 10-mg strengths. Endo's generic drugs division, Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, will manufacture and distribute the product.

The drug is a generic version of AstraZeneca's Plendil extended-release tablets. Felodipine had sales of about $84 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — ProPhase Labs on Tuesday launched the Cold-Eeze oral spray, which is formulated with zinc gluconate to help reduce the severity and duration of the common cold.

BOSTON — Employee wellness experts from Babcock & Wilcox, Caesars Entertainment and others spoke to the synergies that such a company as Walgreens' Take Care Health Systems can create across their health management strategies during a panel discussion here last week at the National Conference on Health, Productivity and Human Capital hosted by the National Business Group on Health.

Representing businesses that collectively employ more than 120,000 workers, the panelists discussed a number of emerging themes in employer-sponsored health care, including:

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Hope Paige Medical has introduced a new line of short message, service-enabled medical jewelry that is designed to quickly provide patients' medical information via text message.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday to address the growing problem of drug shortages.