A study in the June 2002 Annals of Emergency Medicine found that of 
elderly patients presenting to an urban teaching hospital emergency room, 
the average number of prescription medications they were taking was six. 
However, only 42% of these patients were able to correctly identify all of
their medicines.

Use of so-called "COX-2 inhibitor" medicines, approved to treat arthritis, 
acute pain and other disorders, has led one pharmacy benefits manager 
to recommend that physicians start patients who are not at risk for gastro- 
intestinal events on a generic "NSAID" such as naproxen or ibuprofen. 
According to an internal study conducted by Express Scripts, 74% of new
COX-2 users had no evidence of being at risk for gastrointestinal adverse 
events, "calling into question the overall cost-effectiveness of their use
in "real world" practice." The data were released today at their 2002
Outcomes Conference. 

At a New York City press conference today, NCPIE launched Phase II of 
its "Be MedWise" campaign, to coincide with the implementation date 
(May 16) of the new "Drug Facts" label required on most non-prescription 
medicines. NCPIE's Ray Bullman (far right in photo below) was joined by 
the FDA's Drs. Jonca Bull and Linda Katz; Ellen Shapiro (FDA), and NCPIE 
pharmacist advisor Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D., in lauding the revamped, 
simplified Drug Facts label. The "Be MedWise" campaign, originally launched
in January, now features an expanded, consumer-friendly website, an 
advertisement in TIME magazine, and expanded media outreach.

NCPIE, in conjunction with the Peter Lamy Center for Drug Therapy and Aging, 
Univ. of Maryland, will host a one-day conference on October 17, 2002: "High 
Tech-High Touch: Making the Connections to Improve Medicine Use for Older 
Adults." Confirmed speakers include Bill Novelli, AARP's Chief Executive Officer,
and Carolyn Clancy M.D., Acting Director, AHRQ. The program will be held at 
the Bethesda (MD) Hyatt Regency. 

Download PDF Keynote Speakers and Objectives

Download Agenda

Download Registration 
Form

AARP, a founding and current member of NCPIE's Board of Directors,
launched a campaign to improve appropriate, cost-effective use of 
medicines. Their "Check Up on Your Prescriptions" campaign includes a
"Wise Use" section on their website. Visitors are directed to NCPIE's own
website; to our "Prescription Medicines and You" brochure (published with 
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality); and to the NCPIE/FDA
brochure about safe on-line purchasing of medicines.