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Date of Report:
05/2006
Source:
Florida/Caribbean AETC
In November 2005, Walgreens Pharmacy expressed interest in the "Antiretroviral Therapy in Adults and Adolescents Pocket Card", a reference guide produced by the Florida/Caribbean AETC (F/C AETC). Developed by F/C AETC Clinical Director, Jeffrey Beal, MD and Joanne Orrick, PharmD, and reviewed by NCCC faculty, the cards match current US Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control guidelines. When printed, they can be folded and carried in a labcoat pocket for easy reference.
"Walgreens approached us for an efficient solution to providing these cards to all of their pharmacists, and we promptly created a special link to an online version, which is updated regularly, and can be printed as needed, said Michael Knox, Distinguished Professor at University of South Florida, and F/C AETC Director." Walgreens announced the drug reference card to 5000 stores and to all management by email. Additionally, their "What's New" newsletter included information about the link."
This link is posted on every Walgreens Pharmacy computer (25,000 computer terminals) next to all other HIV information resources. That means 20,000 pharmacists and 80,000 technicians can view and print this information at will. Walgreens is the largest drug store chain by sales, and second by store count. In 2005 alone, they filled 490 million prescriptions.
Almost 6,000 pocket guide downloads were recorded by the F/C AETC in the first 100 days. Feedback has shown that pharmacists are pleased to have this information at their fingertips, and have found the card to be a valuable resource. In late February, the "Antiretroviral Agents - Pediatric Edition Pocket Card was added and announced by Walgreens.
Samples and order forms for these two pocket cards, as well as a "Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Healthcare Workers Pocket Card" will be mailed to each AETC. The cards are also available in PDF on both the AETC National Resource Center website at www.aidsetc.org, and the F/C AETC website at
www.FAETC.org/Guidelines
.
For additional information about the cards, to comment, or to request a direct website link, please e-mail the F/C AETC at
Contact@FAETC.org
.
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