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Kerr Drug Launches “Just Ask” Campaign

mGuziejka — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:20:22 +0000

Raleigh, NC – February 13, 2012- Surveys show three out of four people don’t always take their medicines as directed, leading to serious consequences, avoidable costs, and longer recovery times. Those surveys also reveal patients are reluctant to ask questions about their medication. That’s why Kerr Drug, a pioneer of community pharmacy based clinical services, is launching a new campaign in stores and across multiple marketing channels called “Just Ask.” The program is designed to encourage Kerr Drug’s pharmacists and patients to talk with each other about the patient’s prescriptions, condition, health practices and overall health.

“I know from working as a pharmacist there are many reasons people don’t ask about their medicines, including confusion, embarrassment, or the patient just not wanting to bother the pharmacist,” says Anthony “Tony” Civello, president and CEO of Kerr Drug. “The “Just Ask” campaign will encourage conversations and a sharing of information because it’s the best way to avoid poor health outcomes.”

Pharmacists will “Just Ask” to be a partner in a patient’s health care, asking questions related to a specific condition or medication.

In return, patients will be encouraged to ask Kerr Drug’s pharmacists questions about how best to take their medicines, possible side-effects and reactions with other medications and supplements.

The campaign will focus on 11 conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes and the specific questions patients might ask including:

The medications name and what it is supposed to do
When and how to take the medicine
Ways patients can save money on medicines by taking generic brands or by making other changes
Potential side effects
What other medicines/supplements to take or avoid that would increase or decrease a medicine’s effectiveness
Whether or not any foods/alcohol will change the medicine’s effectiveness
What happens if a dose is missed
How long does the patient take the medicine

“Medicines don’t help us if we don’t understand why we need them as well as how and why to take them,” adds Civello. “There is no bad question, so please, just ask!”

Take a Deep Breath

jMassey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:04:17 +0000

Stress is no stranger to any of us. Every time we get stressed about something our bodies produce hormones that make our heart beat faster and cause an increase in blood flow in our system. These are natural responses to stress. However, long term stress is not healthy. Here’s a tip to calm down:

Take a deep breath. There is a trick to help this work for you because deep breathing involves not just the lungs but also the abdomen.

Sit back in a chair and place one hand on your chest and the other hand on your abdomen. Breathe in slowly and gently through your nose. You should feel the hand on your stomach start to rise but the hand on your chest should hardly move. Hold the breath for a few seconds and then exhale through your nose and mouth. Remember, the hand on your stomach should move a bit while the hand on your chest should barely move. Repeat this a few times and you should feel calmer.

Why does this work? By taking long, slow, deep breaths you maximize your oxygen intake which actually calms your body down. At the same time, you are focusing on breathing properly and deeply which clears your mind of stress.

Which Salt is Better?

jMassey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:24 +0000

You may notice many products are now prominently listing “Made with Sea Salt” on the packaging, which leads to the question, is sea salt better for you? The answer: it’s the amount of sodium in the salt that is the health problem, not the type of salt. And no matter what type of salt we’re talking about — sea salt, kosher salt, table salt — all salt has sodium and it’s the sodium that drives up blood pressure.

The important thing to remember when buying a food product is to look at the amount of sodium it contains. Remember, the less sodium the better. It’s a good rule of thumb to aim for 180 mg or less.

Healthy Living Tips

jMassey — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:37:37 +0000

We are in the middle of flu season and whether or not you received a flu shot this year (there is still time for a shot to be effective by the way) it’s important to remember there are additional things you can do to prevent getting the flu. We’ve all heard about coughing in your sleeve, washing your hands, and getting enough rest. Here are a few other tips to remember this flu season.

Watch the handshakes and hugs. No need to be rude to people, but close contact with infected folks is the easiest way to catch a virus. If you are in a situation where handshakes and hugs are a must-do, don’t touch your eyes or mouth until you can wash your hands.
Exercising is good; however, over exercising, especially if you haven’t been to the gym for a while, can leave your body struggling to cope with physical stress and not able to fight off an infection. An exercise program can help you fight off infections if it’s done correctly. Remember to hydrate, get enough rest, and eat well if you’re starting an exercise program.
Watch the hand sanitizer. For a hand sanitizer to be effective, it should contain 60%-95% alcohol, ethanol or isopropanol. However hand sanitizers should be used when soap and water aren’t available. Hand sanitizers shouldn’t replace washing hands with soap and water.
Speaking of hand washing, to really kill germs, hands need to be washed for 20 seconds to really kill germs. Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice while washing and you’ll know you’ve done it correctly.

For more tips to help you get through the flu season, talk to your Kerr Drug pharmacist or visit www.kerrdrug.com

Kerr Drug Celebrates Family Fitness Lifestyle Month

mGuziejka — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:13:07 +0000

Raleigh, NC, January, 2012- It’s the time for New Year’s resolutions. In fact, 44% of adults resolve to lose weight almost every New Year but almost half of those give up by summer. That’s why the pharmacists at Kerr Drug are observing Family Fitness Lifestyle Month this January, and urging families to get fit together.

“Everyone knows the consequences of inactivity and unhealthy foods but it’s difficult to break bad habits,” says Abby Reynolds, Manager of Clinical Programs at Kerr Drug. “It’s much easier and much more fun to get fit together and have family members support each other in becoming more fit and developing healthy habits.

Kerr Drug’s pharmacists suggest these tips for a healthier family in 2012.
1.    Schedule regular time throughout the week for physical activity
2.    Take turns selecting an activity for the family to do as a group each week
3.    Emphasize the importance of having fun and learning in activities; avoid a push to win
4.    Encourage nutritious snacks around the house, avoid the cookies and candy.
5.    Discover what free and low cost physical activities are near your home (park, bike trail, hiking trail, tennis court, swimming pool, etc.)
6.    Start everyone taking a multi-vitamin each day.
7.    Schedule a physical for every family member.
8.    Talk with your pharmacist about medicines and vitamins.

“Family fitness is about a lot more than exercise,” adds Reynolds. “It is just as important for families to develop healthy lifestyle habits, which include healthy eating and health care. Once those habits are established they become a part of the family routine and benefit everyone.”

About Kerr Drug
Kerr Drug is one of the most recognized and respected names in the chain drug industry. With its roots in the Carolinas and headquarters in Raleigh, NC, Kerr Drug's strategic direction is founded in its unique ability to provide patients, the medical community, and health plans access to the most comprehensive and convenient health and wellness offering in the industry. With a mission to be the most comprehensive provider of pharmacy and related healthcare services, while continuing to be the most reliable provider of health-related and convenience items, Kerr is currently providing services that far exceed the traditional drug store mix.

Kerr Drug Launches Holiday Food and Toy Drive

mGuziejka — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:56:12 +0000

What: The tough economy has made it a difficult year for many families across North Carolina. But whatever their situation, Kerr Drug believes every family deserves to celebrate the holidays. That’s why Kerr Drug, the pioneer in community pharmacy, is launching a new community based effort to help North Carolina families have a happy holiday season. Collection bins will be located at the front of every Kerr Drug store. Customers are asked to purchase toys and food items and place them in the collection bins.

Where: Every Kerr Drug store is collecting toys and food items to help families in their community.

Who: The Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation has identified organizations in the community around every Kerr Drug store that can distribute toys and food items to families in need. The Kerr Drug staff will deliver the food to the organizations in time for the holidays.

When: Collection bins will be set up from Sunday, November 20 through Wednesday, December, 21. Customers are asked to purchase items toys and food items and drop them in the collection bins found in each store.

Why: Because Kerr Drug employees are hearing how challenging it is for families to get through these difficult times, Kerr Drug and its Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation is trying to help. Kerr Drug and its Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation launched a school supply collection in August and a Thanksgiving Food Collection in November that helped 90 organizations across the state, including Boys and Girls clubs, mission houses, women’s shelters, Catholic Charities and many churches.

General Information
KCFK is a private foundation founded in 2000. KCFK directly supports and benefits children and adolescents who are underprivileged, who are challenged, or who need assistance to overcome debilitating or left-threatening health conditions. KCFK’s mission is to provide a solid base of resources to support various child and adolescent centered charities and health alliances principally focused throughout the Carolina’s region

As a 501(c) 3, the proceeds raised from the KCFK golf tournament has supported such worthwhile programs and organizations such as the NC Special Olympics, Duke Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald Houses of Chapel Hill and Durham and the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

“Kerr Drug and its Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation launched our community collections this year as a way to extend the pioneering community pharmacy work we began with our founding 60 years ago,” says Anthony “Tony” Civello, CEO of Kerr Drug. “We are thankful for the community support we have received for our back to school and Thanksgiving collections and believe there’s no better way to show our thanks than to help families in our communities have a happy holiday season!”

Kerr Drug Donates Vehicles to Wheels4Hope

mGuziejka — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:55:32 +0000

Raleigh, NC-November, 2011 – Kerr Cares for Kids, the charitable foundation of Kerr Drug, is reaching out to the community in a new way by donating used company vehicles that are in good condition to Wheels4Hope. The non-profit agency recycles the cars and places the vehicles with low-wage earning families in the community to provide affordable transportation.

On November 10, Kerr Cares for Kids, at the Kerr Drug on Buck Jones Road in Raleigh, donated a car to Wheels4Hope. It is the third vehicle donated by Kerr Drug to Wheels4Hope this year. In the spring, two Dodge Caravans were also donated to the organization. The vans were high mileage (200,000+ miles) but were well maintained and in good condition. All four vehicles received minor repairs through a $7500 grant from Kerr Drug and have been given to families.

“Without reliable, affordable transportation, families will struggle to find work, stay employed, go to school and care for their children,” says Anthony “Tony” Civello, CEO of Kerr Drug. “All of those factors affect a family’s health and as a community pharmacy, Kerr Drug wants to do whatever it can to improve the health of the people in our community.”

Wheels4Hope finds the families to use the donated cars by referrals through partnerships with 15 organizations including Habitat for Humanity, StepUp Ministry, Raleigh Rescue Mission and the Red Cross. Volunteer mechanics repair the vehicles. Donors receive a tax deduction for the vehicle. Wheels4Hope requires recipients to pay $500 for their car and be responsible for title and transfer fees. Wheels4Hope also stands behind each vehicle with a six month warranty.

“Kerr Cares for Kids’ donations are a sign of its belief in the concept of community pharmacy because the three vehicles have been so important to the families in the community,” says John Bush, Wheels4Hope Executive Director.” “I hope more companies will follow their lead because Wheels4Hope is truly a win-win program for everyone involved: a vehicle gets recycled back into the community in a new life, a family gets affordable transportation, and the donor gets a tax deduction.”

Kerr Drug’s Director of Customer Relations and Administration Phyllis Patterson, who serves as Executive Director of the foundation, presented the keys to the vehicle to Nilson and Wheels4Hope board chair Mike DeSorbo who then turned the keys over to Bobby Atkinson and his family who are buying the car. Several Wheels4Hope volunteers who served the vehicle were also on hand as were representatives of StepUP ministry, who referred the Atkinson family to the program.

About Kerr Cars for Kids
Kerr Cares for Kids is a charitable foundation managed by Kerr Drug. Its mission is to provide a solid base of support to various child and adolescent centered charities and health alliance principally through the Carolina region. The foundation will focus on organizations and activities which directly benefit children and adolescents who are disadvantaged, disabled, or suffer from disease.

About Kerr Drug
Kerr Drug is one of the most recognized and respected names in the chain drug industry. With its roots in the Carolinas and headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., Kerr Drug's strategic direction is founded in its unique ability to provide patients, the medical community, and health plans access to the most comprehensive and convenient health and wellness offering in the industry. With a mission to be the most comprehensive provider of pharmacy and related healthcare services, while continuing to be the most reliable provider of health-related and convenience items, Kerr is currently providing services that far exceed the traditional drug store mix.

About Wheels4Hope
Wheels4Hope is a faith-based, volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income families and individuals by providing them reliable, affordable vehicles. The primary mission of Wheels4Hope is to sell Program Cars to qualified recipients who are referred by Partner Agencies. Program Cars are vehicles that are in sound mechanical condition and are valued in the $2,000-4,000 range. Believing in the principle of ownership and with a commitment to partnership, Wheels4Hope requires recipients to pay $500 for their car and be responsible for title and transfer fees. In the process of providing affordable cars, Wheels4Hope also stands behind each program car with a 6-month warranty.

Pharmacy Q&A

jMassey — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:03:43 +0000

Every month we'll feature a Pharmacy Q&A for our blog. Check out this month's edition!

Money is tight as we head into the holidays. I shop sales and use coupons. Can Kerr Drug help me save any other way?

Check out our full line of Premier Value products. It’s Kerr Drug’s brand and Premier Value products can save you up to 70% off national brands. We stock over 1500 Premier Value products from cough and cold medicines to beauty aids and we guarantee them or your money back. Sign up for a Premier Value card and you’ll get an additional 10% off every day.

Can Kerr Drug help me save money on prescriptions?

Sign up for the Kerr Drug Prescription Savings Card and you can save money on over 5,000 name brand and generic medications. Club members pay only $12.99 for a 90-day supply of over 300 generic medicines and they receive a 10% discount on Premier Value products every day. Plus you’ll get a $15 gift card just for enrolling. Apply online or stop by any Kerr Drug pharmacy to enroll.

I can’t find time to pick up my description. Does Kerr Drug deliver?

Just ask for free delivery when you call in your prescription and we can deliver the prescription to your home or office.

Have a question? Send an email to

pharmacistsview@kerrdrug.com

My Head Hurts!

jMassey — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:41:50 +0000

If you suffer from headaches, you’re not alone.

An estimated 45 million people suffer from chronic head pain and that doesn’t include those who have occasional headaches. Ironically, despite all that misery, nobody knows what exactly causes a headache.

The bottom line though, anyone who uses any type of headache medicine more than 2 days a week on a regular basis risks converting a frequent headache into a chronic headache. In such a situation, a doctor’s help may be needed.

Meanwhile, here are some headache tips:

Consider decreasing your caffeine intake gradually to avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches.
Try relaxation techniques for a tension headache.
Keep a headache diary to discover your migraine triggers. Include details on exercise, sleep, diet, and weather.
Experiment with riboflavin, magnesium, feverfew, or butterbur for natural ways to help prevent migraines.
Treat a headache as early as possible.
For mild to moderate migraines, try over the counter treatments.

Too Busy to Sleep?

jMassey — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:25:32 +0000

Ever wonder how much sleep you need? Researchers say the magic number is about seven hours. And it turns out missing 90 minutes of sleep for just one night can reduce your daytime alertness by one-third. That’s enough to hurt your memory, your ability to concentrate, even your ability to drive.

Until you can sleep in, here are a few ideas:

Exercise. Even just walking around a bit helps to wake you up because the rise in body temperature appears to boost alertness for a while.
Take a nap. A 10-20 minute nap is all you need to perk up and improve alertness. Much longer than that and your sleeping brain moves into a deeper sleep and could leave you feeling drowsy.