Saturday, June 28, 2008
New Patient Safety Solution Supported By Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Supports Florida's New Patient Safety Solution
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, supports and congratulates the Florida House of Representatives and Governor Charlie Crist for passing legislation requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. The legislation will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration.
Washington, D.C. - June 27, 2008 -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (http://www.ptcb.org/), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, is pleased to support and congratulate the Florida Legislature for passing SB 1360 and Governor Charlie Crist for signing it into law, requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. Tireless advocacy efforts for the passage of this critical patient safety legislation and its final approval by Governor Crist were spearheaded by the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP) and the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA).
The new Florida legislation takes a progressive step toward increasing patient safety for consumers. By passing this legislation without amendment, and signing it into law, the Florida state legislature and governor will ensure pharmacy technicians meet key requirements for training, certification and registration. PTCB is proud to have certified 15,000 pharmacy technicians in Florida to date and looks forward to working with more pharmacy technicians and their employers.
"Florida's new pharmacy technician standards are an important patient safety solution for consumers in the Sunshine State and Governor Crist and the state's legislators should be applauded," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Melissa Murer Corrigan. "To meet these new state standards, PTCB is looking forward to continued work with pharmacy technicians and significant employers of Florida's pharmacy technicians such as Walgreen's, CVS, Publix, Target, the U.S. military, multiple health-systems and independent pharmacists in communities across the state. Several of these employers presently support and endorse PTCB across the United States."
The landmark piece of Florida legislation (SB 1360) contributes to raising the bar for states across the country by providing an example of the high standards needed for pharmacy technicians. The more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians currently working in Florida will be required to register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy by 2010. In 2011, they will need to either complete a board-approved training program with 1,500 hours of work as a technician under a Florida licensed pharmacist, or be certified (https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Guidebook_to_Certification&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2952) by a program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). PTCB is the pioneer in certifying pharmacy technicians (https://www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Learn&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1384) and is accredited by the NCCA. PTCB's certification program has been included in regulations by more than 30 state boards of pharmacy. Through its strategic partnership with Pearson VUE, PTCB is able to offer highly scalable computer-based testing through the world's largest network of testing centers.
Studies show without a doubt that Americans support a standard of excellence for pharmacy technicians. A recent poll commissioned by PTCB confirms that 91% of American consumers support strong regulations across the country to protect patient safety by requiring that pharmacy technicians are trained and certified. While states like Florida reflect this growing need for action, almost twenty other states still have no requirement for certification. Clearly, consumers are relying on state boards of pharmacy to protect them and enact strong requirements such as Florida's for pharmacy technicians.
About the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) (http://www.ptcb.org/)
PTCB was established in January 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations - the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Since PTCB's inception, PTCB has certified over 300,000 pharmacy technicians through the examination and transfer process. PTCB's certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The goal of the PTCB national certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB contracts with Pearson VUE, the industry's technology leader, as its computer-based testing vendor. PTCB draws upon the experience and expertise of its 13-year partner, Professional Examination Service (PES) for test development.
Contact Information
Mark Franco
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
http://www.ptcb.org
202-429-7508
202-828-9767
Friday, June 27, 2008
Suboxone Treatment Program Launched
InterventionTreatment.com Launches Suboxone Treatment Program
LOS ANGELES-- June 27, 2008 --Intervention Treatment announced today that it has launched a suboxone treatment program. The program will be used to increase Intervention Treatment's Global mission of providing Intervention and Treatment resources to those affected by alcohol and drug addiction. According to Dr. Jason Schiffman, Chief Medical Officer for Intervention Treatment, "There is a large, poorly met demand for outpatient, office-based treatment of opiate dependence and the addition of the suboxone treatment program to Intervention Treatment's array of alcohol and drug addiction related services will be a great tool for patients and their families."
Intervention Treatment is currently one of the fastest growing online resources for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The new Suboxone Treatment program is designed to help those affected by opiate addiction.
About Suboxone:
Suboxone is the first drug approved by the FDA for opiate dependence treatment in office based settings. This means that patients addicted to opiates may now choose to receive opiate-based treatment as an outpatient instead of in a hospital setting. Patients are evaluated and treated during office visits and receive a prescription for suboxone which they may fill at any pharmacy. Suboxone is comprised of two separate medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist, meaning its opiate effects are significantly reduced compared to that of full opiate agonists, such as vicodin or heroin. The naloxone in suboxone is not appreciably absorbed from the digestive track when suboxone is taken orally and is in place to prevent the misuse of suboxone by injection drug users. The combination of these two medications leads to suboxone's effectiveness in treating opiate dependence.
About Suboxone Treatment:
Suboxone treatment differs significantly from standard opiate dependence treatment programs. Traditionally, opiate addicts undergoing medical detoxification have been administered either methadone or a combination of drugs, each targeting a symptom of withdrawal. The latter approach usually must take place in an inpatient setting in order to be done safely, while methadone treatment requires a patient to visit a clinic on a daily basis to receive a prescribed dose. Suboxone treatment differs from these treatments in several important ways. Firstly, a prescription for suboxone can be obtained at a specially licensed physician's office and filled at any pharmacy. This means the patient does not need to be admitted to a hospital or make daily visits to a methadone clinic in order to receive their medication. Secondly, because suboxone is a mixture of naloxone and buprenorphine, a partial opiate agonist with a long duration of action, the potential for abuse and overdose are much less than with methadone. Thirdly, because buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist, suboxone may be easier to taper off of than full opiate agonists like methadone.
About Intervention Treatment
Intervention Treatment, formed in 2007, is an internet resource offering help to those affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Intervention Treatment provides referrals to drug and alcohol rehabs, intervention services, suboxone treatment referrals, and general information regarding addiction and treatment.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, and members of their management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
Contacts
Intervention Treatment
William Donovan, Co-Founder, 949-267-4113
bj@interventiontreatment.com
www.interventiontreatment.com
