Published: October 15, 2009 08:07 pm      

In Brief - October 18, 2009

Martin’s offers Tamiflu medication in liquid form

CARLISLE, Pa. — In light of a nationwide shortage of liquid Tamiflu, used primarily for children, pharmacists at Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets announced they will compound Tamiflu capsules into a liquid form at no additional charge to customers.

Tamiflu is a prescription medication used to treat the flu and shorten its duration. There is currently a strong supply of the capsule form of Tamiflu needed for compounding but a shortage of the liquid form.

“With heightened awareness of the flu this year, there is a shortage of the liquid form of Tamiflu. In an effort to help parents find this medication for their children, our pharmacists are able to prepare a liquid formulation from the corresponding solid dosage form,” said Andy Markievich, manager of pharmacy merchandising. “We encourage you to contact your physician if flu symptoms arise and also talk with your Giant or Martin’s pharmacist about preventative measures you can take now before you become sick.”



Garrett College offers customer service course

MCHENRY — Garrett College’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development will be offering a course titled Customer Service with a Smile at the McHenry campus. The course will run on two consecutive Wednesdays, Nov. 4 and 11 from 1 to 4:15 p.m.

The course provides participants with the ability to identify whether their business offers good customer service, as well as how to improve those skills.

A variety of topics will be covered in the course, including customer service and how it impacts customer satisfaction and loyalty; skills for dealing with difficult people; how to get to the heart of a problem; the eight-step process for handling angry customers; how to build customer rapport; and the elements of effective phone skills.

For additional information or to register, call (301) 387-3069.



TriState Home Medical receives accreditation

CUMBERLAND — TriState Home Medical LLC, a durable home medical equipment company, has achieved the Award of Accreditation from the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, based in Waterloo, Iowa.

The award is achieved only when home medical equipment companies demonstrate a high level of quality practices in their business operations and patient care techniques.

TriState Home Medical earned the three-year accreditation after completing a comprehensive application that focuses on patient care, financial stability and a commitment to quality operational practices and procedures. Accreditation by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation assures Medicare and other payers that the highest levels of quality are practiced within all areas of the company.

“We sought accreditation by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation to demonstrate that our company is committed to providing excellent patient care and safety in a financially solvent environment,” said Alex Twigg, owner. “This award also reinforces that our commitment to quality is ongoing.”



Two physicians join WMHS medical staff

CUMBERLAND — Dr. Ardalan Enkeshafi and Dr. Bashar I. Farjo recently joined the medical staff at the Western Maryland Health System as physicians with the Hospital Medicine program.

Physicians specializing in hospital medicine are medical doctors who care for inpatients from the time of their hospital admission until their discharge. The WMHS Hospital Medicine team admits patients who come to the Emergency Department and do not have a primary care physician.

Enkeshafi recently completed his residency in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland and Maryland General Hospital, both in Baltimore.

He also did training at Harbor Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center through the Maryland General Hospital Residency Program, in affiliation with the University of Maryland Medical System. Enkeshafi received his medical degree at Beheshti University School of Medicine in Tehran, Iran.

Before coming to the United States, he worked as a hospitalist and general practice physician at several hospitals in the United Arab Emirates and his native Iran. Enkeshafi is a member of the American College of Physicians.

Farjo recently completed his residency in internal medicine at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. He did his internship and training in general surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center through the University of Miami. A native of Iraq, Farjo received his medical degree from the University Of Baghdad College Of Medicine.



Columbia Gas of Md. launches new Web site

CANONSBURG, Pa. — Columbia Gas of Maryland announced that it has launched a new Web site, separate from sister company Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, that features customer-education videos on how to use energy wisely in the home, energy saving tips, as well as how to enroll in new customer convenience tools such as E-Bill, Columbia’s paperless billing process.

The new Web site is available at www. ColumbiaGasMD.com.

In addition to providing users with information about company programs and the basics of natural gas, the site contains an interactive page demonstrating the various uses of natural gas in the home.

The Natural Gas Uses page allows users to scroll a magnifying glass over different parts of a home and view a description of the different uses. Users may choose to learn more, including energy efficiency information and commonly available features.

Users should note the new Web address — www.ColumbiaGasMD. com. Users who visit the previous Web address will be directed to a newly enhanced Web site for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and may access the new Maryland site by scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on the Columbia Gas of Maryland logo.