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Biomedical subjects

M A Riddiough

Publications and source records attributed to M A Riddiough.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Major issues facing the pharmaceutical industry and their relationship to clinical pharmacy.

There are two major issues that have potential for positive interactions between the industry and clinical pharmacy. These are drug selection and reimbursement, and clinical research. The first issue embodies the drug prescribing process, which has been, until recently, almost the sole purview of physicians. For this reason, pharmaceutical manufacturers have marketed their products primarily to this group. Changes are occurring; other licensed practitioners, including clinical pharmacists, are gaining prescribing authority. Schools of pharmacy have trained several thousand clinical pharmacists over the past decade, while the pharmacology component of medical education and the time devoted to clinical therapeutics either has stagnated or declined during the same period. Meanwhile, drug information has increased and the need to monitor drug selection to curtail costs has widened the opportunities for clinical pharmacists to exert an influence. The pharmaceutical industry needs to recognize the role clinical pharmacists play in drug selection. Drug selection decisions obviously influence drug reimbursement decisions, which influence drug sales, which influence profits. Clinical research is the backbone of a company's financial success and is becoming technologically sophisticated. Companies are becoming aware that many clinical pharmacists are able to collect and analyze clinical drug data as well as, or possibly better than, physicians. Clinical pharmacists can play a significant role in monitoring the safety and efficacy of marketed drugs. Good postmarketing surveillance data collection systems need to be developed.

Advertising↗
PubMed1983

Influenza vaccination.

Cost-effectiveness analysis was used to evaluate influenza vaccination. From 1971-1972 through 1977-1978, vaccination of an elderly person 65 years of age or older saved net medical care costs while improving health. Vaccination of younger high-risk adults aged 15 through 64 years also improved health for a low net cost per year of healthy life gained. By covering influenza vaccination during those years, the Medicare program would have incurred a net cost for each vaccination of $13 per year of healthy life gained for medical costs connected with influenza and $791 per year gained including costs of treating other illnesses in later life. The analysis indicates the need for epidemiologic research on the extent of influenza and the mechanism of its spread. The results also raise the issue of public policy to promote influenza vaccination among high-risk persons as a low-cost, preventive technology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Cost effectiveness of vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia.

We used cost-effectiveness analysis to examine the medical-care costs of vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia in relation to its effects on health. Vaccination could add a year of healthy life among all age groups for about $4,800 in net medical-care costs. Cost-effectiveness ratios vary according to the age of the person vaccinated--from $1,000 per year of healthy life for an adult 65 years old or older to $77,000 per year of healthy life for a child between the ages of two and four. These ratios may change substantially with variations in such factors as the cost of vaccination, the duration of immunity, the efficacy and composition of the vaccine, and the percentage of pneumonia that is pneumococcal. This analysis has particular relevance for the Medicare program, since present legislation excludes coverage of most immunizations and other preventive services. Provision of pneumococcal vaccine to the elderly and inclusion of the vaccine as a Medicare benefit merit serious consideration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Federal polices affecting vaccine research and production.

The federal government is the single most important determinant of the extent of vaccine research, development, and use in the United States. Federal actions having a positive effect include the finacing of vaccine research and development and of major public immunization programs. Federal policies that may be contributing to a decline in the private sector's commitment to vaccine development include an unwillingness to resolve certain liability issues. The nation depends heavily on vaccines to prevent several childhood diseases. For that and other reasons, decisive government efforts are needed to help stimulate the creation of new vaccines and to ensure the continued supply and use of existing safe and efficacious vaccines.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Exploitation of the medical care dollar.

Review of and commentary on health care expenditures in the United States are presented. The growth of medical expenditures over recent years is chronicled, and reasons for the upsurge are given. Aspects of good health are enumerated, and the economics of the medical care industry are explained. Health insurance in general, and national health insurance in particular, are reviewed. Methods of curtailing unnecessary use of expensive medical care need to be aimed at two targets: (1) the extensive supply of goods and services that continues to grow independently of consumer demand, and (2) the uninformed status of consumers who somewhat blindly use the questionably effective services offered by physicians and hospitals.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1977

Preventing, detecting and managing adverse reactions of antihypertensive agents in the ambulant patient with essential hypertension.

The adverse reactions of antihypertensive agents are reviewed, including their clinical implications and suggested methods of preventing, detecting and managing them. The drugs discussed are: (1) diuretics--thiazides, furosemide, ethacrynic acid and spironolactone; (2) sympatholytics--reserpine, methyldopa, guanethidine, propranolol and clonidine; (3) vasodilators--hydralazine, prazosin and minoxidil. It is suggested that cooperative multi-disciplinary efforts should be undertaken to counteract the factors which contribute to improper use of antihypertensive agents.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Federal policy for pneumococcal immunization and its implementation in the Medicare program.

The Congress has authorized the Medicare program to pay for the cost of pneumococcal vaccine and its administration. The history of this legislation demonstrates that chance and political considerations quite separate from the scientific issues on vaccination played an important role in the development of this policy. It demonstrates both the need for and the difficulty of achieving more effective coordination of the activities related to national policies on vaccines and immunization.

Bacterial Vaccines↗