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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 09-29-2008
Quote of the day: Seek not, my soul, the life of the immortals; but enjoy to the full the resources that are within thy reach. Pindar (522 BC - 443 BC), 518-438 B.C.
Good morning ! Bridge Over Troubled Waters The 35W bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed August 1, 2007 during rush hour. The new, replacement bridge opened Thursday, September 18th. The contractor earned a $20 million bonus by finishing ahead of schedule. Incorporated into the bridge are two large statues marking the water’s edge on either bank. They are depictions of waves of water. While the infra structure has been replaced and operating well we must remember those whose lives were ended that day. THE 35W BRIDGE COLLAPSE VICTIMS Julia Blackhawk Patrick Holmes Artemio Trinidad-Mena Sherry Engebretsen Paul Eickstadt Peter Hausmann Sadiya Sahal Hana Sahal Richard Chit Vera Peck Christina Sacorafas Scott Sathers Greg Jolstad
Each had a story; the books of their lives, closed prematurely. Please see http://www.startribune.com/local/12166286.html for a video record of survivors as well as victims. You can click on an aerial photo or the individual names. It has been awhile but the stories are every bit as vivid and heart-wrenching. Enter at your own risk but continue to remember and pray for everyone involved. Chances are that all of you from the Twin Cities have a connection to someone on the bridge. We will miss those we knew and support all of the survivors. I am grateful to have changed jobs prior to September 1, 2007 or I could have been on the bridge when it went down. I, for one, will use the statues on the bridge as a reminder to pray for the victims at each passing and give thanks for additional time with friends and family. =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Monsterously well" pps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that you should capture or print anything that you may wish to keep. ------------
1) HPV for all immigrants (vaccination that is) Homeland security is recommending that 1 HPV vaccination be required of females in a certain age range before they are allowed to enter the country. The CDC is not in favor of this move because protection is only provided after a series of 3 vaccinations over 6 months. While I believe that the vaccines work and are a good idea on a volunteer basis I don’t think that these requirements will stand up to ACLU or any other scrutiny. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10438114/1/us-requiring-controversial-vaccine.html
2) Doctors are not prescribing exercise Exercise is thought to decrease the blood pressure of most patients with hypertension. 71% heed medical advice to increase exercise and do better than their stubborn counterparts. MDs, however, are falling down on giving the advice. http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/09/26/eline/links/20080926elin002.html
3) Generics are only good enough for out of pocket payment Seniors in Medicare Part d pick brand name drugs as long as the plan picks up the tab. When they hit the donut hole they switch to generics. Interesting but predictable. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092500644.html
4) BVD Medicare Part B premiums to stay the same for 2009 while Part D to rise 8% to 64%. You can have both for $123 to $136 per month. Sounds like a bargain to me. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/19/AR2008091902617.html http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=ajd1b7UPvwNQ&refer=healthcare
5) Transparency thy name is Lilly Eli Lilly will be posting all of the payments it makes to physicians for speaking, research, or consulting on its website. They have said that they will also post the names of the physicians and the amounts and reasons. I can only imagine the uses activists will make of the lists. Sounds like Merck and others will follow suit. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/health/policy/25drug.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
6) Trends in employer funded health insurance Stats show the average work place health insurance premium hikes in light of wage increases. Many interesting factoids in the Hewitt report (I’m sure that Mercer has a similar one). The trend is toward skinnier plans with higher deductibles. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122221225991369069.html
7) The chicken must die! Below is a link to a drug company sponsored video game. Don’t bother playing on a laptop because you will need a real mouse to whack the rooster. Viagra has a driving game and NovoNordisk has an insulin game. The FDA will be monitoring all of these sites or at least that is what employees can tell their bosses when caught playing videogames at work. http://www.silenceyourrooster.com/
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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