Zantac

Wes Metheny of PhRMA, Linda Suydam of CHPA, Maureen Bunyan of WJLA/ABC 7 News, NACDS' Craig Fuller and Lebhar-Friedman's J. Roger Friedman.

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NACDS' Craig Fuller was among the speakers at the VIP Reception.

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On May 12, the evening before the expo kicked off, a VIP Reception was held at the Washington Convention Center for event sponsors and policy makers.

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Among the Services Offered at CVS' booth were free blood Pressure Screenings.

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Ross products offered presentations on family nutrition and diabetes.

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Eckerd pharmacists offered blood pressure screenings and offered important hearth information to caregivers.

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Boehringer Ingelheim offered lung capacity testing.

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Pfizer helped educate caregivers on the importance of hand sanitizers and passed out plenty of Zantac samples.

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Wyeth offered consumers free bone density screenings.

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Eisai provided information on the Alzheimer's drug, Aricept.

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AstraZeneca invited attendees to take advantage of free cholesterol screenings.

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Rite Aid staff was on hand to help answer any questions and to promote its Diabetes Health Organizer.

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Target introduced consumers to its new Clear Rx prescription. system.

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GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare presented select samples, coupons and information on various products, including Ecotrin.

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Ortho-McNeil Neurologics (Janssen) featured speakers and information on caring for Alzheimer's patients.

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Among the services at Wal-Mart's booth were screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose.

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Consumers stopped by to get information on the new drug discount benefit from the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

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Novo Nordisk offered information on insulin.

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Schering-Plough Consumer Healthcare invited consumers to stop by for product samples and coupons.

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Among the services Costco offered were osteoporosis and blood pressure screenings, as well as scooter de demonstrations.

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NACDS invited consumers to take the Rx Healthy Pharmacy Care quiz.

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Suppliers on the street

Q: What Is the importance of an event like this?

"People here are very inquisitive. They really need help--there's really no formal education for caregivers, [and] a venue like this serves that educational need."

--David Tucker, MicroLife

"We understand how important the medications are to the patients--increasing compliance [through caregivers] to reduce health costs and improve overall well-being ... is really very beneficial for [all of] us."

--Papatya Tankut, CVS

"The event is good, and it is a good opportunity to speak to consumers directly [because a lot of them don't know what resources are out there]."

--Linda DeSilva, Eisai

"We think it is a great opportunity for caregivers because they do so much, and it is important to support them and help patients to be compliant to maximize the health benefits."

--Maggie Finkbiner, AstraZeneca

"It is simple: In this industry, the consumer needs to be more informed of where to get information, and even though the Web is great, people still want to feel and touch and see what [the product] looks like."

--Wes Hopper, Apex-Carex

Consumers on the street

Q: What was the most valuable piece of information you got from the show?

"Mobility for those who really can't get around. That was my No. 1 issue because my mom is 89 years old, and she's having mobility issues. I came to find the latest [products] they have that would make it [easier] for her to get around. I saw a wheelchair ... that she can push when she gets tired and an [item] that you can put in the bathtub, where she can sit down and be able to bathe herself. It is very important for senior citizens to maintain some type of independence."

--Demetrius Patillo

"What we were looking for was information on in-home care for our mother [and] there were a few booths here that addressed that [issue]--that was the main thing that we walked out of here with."

--John Kvedar

"I am with the Department of Family Services for Prince George's county [a Maryland suburb just north of Washington], and I was here looking for some specific information on Alzheimer's.... [The expo] was absolutely outstanding as far as I was concerned for the information I was looking for.... [I am here] looking for a friend, and I'm hoping that I will be able to answer his questions regarding his mother and what [options] are available to her, in this case."

--Daniel George

"It is excellent. In my case, I didn't have access to all of this stuff, and it is nice to have it all in one place.... It was an excellent program, and it was good for [my mother], too, because it gets her out. You realize you are not the only person."

--Patty Patterson

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group