In contrast, we have verified with the DEA and the State of New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy that this information is NOT required by pharmacies to dispense any medications. These new requirements, therefore, appear to be simply Walgreens’ reaction (overreaction) to their dispensing restrictions elsewhere.  It does appear this reactionary response may spread to other pharmacy chains as well as noted above.  Also, pharmacies may elect to limit the dispensing of narcotic to a daily quota, forcing you to use a different pharmacy that day.

The standard is to provide the pharmacy with your treatment agreement and write an indication on your script such as “for chronic pain.”  This is more than sufficient to assure the pharmacy that your prescription is being prescribed for legitimate purposes. But, with Walgreens’ new policy, the pharmacies may no longer honor such scripts if other more detailed diagnostic and treatment plan information is not included.

In order to address this problem, and to minimize impact on us and you, at each visit during which you receive a script for a Schedule 2 narcotic, we will also provide you with a copy of your own clinical summary (of our treatment and diagnoses for you).  It will then be up to you whether you wish to continue using the pharmacy which might require that detailed medical information. From our perspective, we feel you should consider using a different pharmacy.  This would send a message that the pharmacy has asked for additional information which is not required.  The treating entity is PainCare, not the pharmacy.  Pharmacies are not in the business of practicing medicine, which raises the question of what would they do with more detailed information.

The National Youth Leadership Forum is dedicated to preparing the nation’s future physicians for the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead.  Emily and her fellow students will have the opportunity to participate in intensive concentrations at Boston’s technologically advanced medical institutions, where they can study diagnostic tools and specific medical specialties in detail.  Very few high school students get the chance to experience something like this. As an added bonus, Emily will receive college credit through forum partner, GeorgeMasonUniversity. “I am so excited that I get the chance to go study medicine for 10 days as a high school sophomore. This is a great opportunity for me to take part in. I am hoping to learn different techniques and anything that could help with my future career in the medical field. I want to thank PainCare for making this very generous opportunity possible.”

PainCare, the leading medical facility in New England dedicated exclusively to pain management, sees  the urgency of investing in future medical professionals . “ It is with pride and purpose that we support Emily in this unique educational opportunity.  With the supreme challenges facing the medical field, we must generate healthcare professionals who understand how to most efficiently and effectively treat patients and also emphasize prevention as the optimal means of reducing the healthcare costs for our nation, “  states Dr. Michael O’Connell, CEO of PainCare.

To learn more about the National Youth Leadership of Medicine, visit www.nylf.org/MED.

Cornerstone Christian Academy was established in 1985 and offers an outstanding education to students from pre-school to 8^th grade. The student body consists of 85 students, so class sizes are small and the teacher to student ratio is 1:5.

An annual auction benefit is held to raise money to support the school.  This year’s benefit is called “Lights! Camera! Auction!  CCA Goes to the Movies,” and it will include dinner and a live and silent auction. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at Blacks Paper Store in Wolfeboro or reserved by calling CCA at 603-539-8636. To learn more about Cornerstone Christian Academy and this event, visit www.cornerstoneabc.org.

From left to right: Maggie, CVHS Development Director, Nicole Pelletier, Executive Director, Leslie Heindl, Dr. Michael O’Connell, CEO of PainCare, and Jasper

Each year during the holiday, Dr. O’Connell donates to a matching program at Cocheco Valley Humane Society. This past season, he went above and beyond by matching up to $25,000 in donations! The CVHS and Dr. O’Connell are proud to announce that they raised a total of $100,376!

All donations go toward the medical care, food and shelter needed by the 2,300 animals that come to CVHS each year. Dr. O’Connell and the CVHS want to extend their deepest thanks to all who generously supported the animals this season. Nicole Pelletier, CVHS Development Manager states, “This holiday appeal is a true example of community.  Together, we can make a difference and find loving homes for these deserving pets. On behalf of the animals, we thank Dr. O’Connell of PainCare and our donors for their support.”

To find out how you can donate to or volunteer at the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, visit CVHSonline.org.

Your donations will contribute toward the animals’ food, medical care and shelter, and will allow the staff of CVHS to continue to care for these wonderful animals.

To donate, please send checks made out to Cocheco Valley Humane Society to 262 County Farm Rd., Dover, NH 03820, or visit cvhsonline.org.  Be sure to postmark by Dec. 31^st for your contribution to count toward the $25,000 match!

PainCare is proud to team up with 98.7 The Bay and WTSN AM 1270 to sponsor their 13th Annual Caring and Sharing canned food drive, to be held November 1st-4th at Hannaford at 833 Central Ave. in Dover.

Visit Hannaford Thursday and Friday between 5:30 am and 7:00 pm, Saturday between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm, or Sunday between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm to help us stock up on donations for seacoast-based charities in time for the holiday season. Donation boxes are also available at the Hannaford on Grapevine Drive in Dover and Hannaford locations in Rochester, Portsmouth and York.

Be sure to tune into 98.7 The Bay at 9:30 Saturday morning to listen in on an interview with PainCare’s Community Relations Director, Tom Barnes. He will be filling you in on the latest happenings at PainCare and the ways the organization chips in to help the community.

To learn more about PainCare, visit PainMD.com and like us on Facebook.

Morgan Layla Merrill was born a beautiful, seemingly healthy, baby girl in September of 2005.  Her parents, Jamie and Katie Merrill had no idea they were about to go through a long, seemingly endless nightmare.  Morgan had health challenges that led to countless doctor’s appointments, stays in the hospital, and even more unanswered questions.  She has been diagnosed with epilepsy, and also an unknown condition that has left her confined to a wheelchair.

Michael O’Connell, CEO of PainCare, has decided to help the Merrill family raise money for the wheelchair accessible van that they desperately need in order to give Morgan the kind of life that she and every other child deserves.  Along with Morgan’s family and friends, Michael O’Connell would like to encourage all who can help to attend the fundraiser.  Details can be found on the Midway Buick GMC Facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/378647482207370/ .  Those who cannot attend the fundraiser are welcome to donate on the Give Forward fundraising site:  http://www.giveforward.com/morgansnewride.

The expert pain management providers in the new Littleton office will include the fellowship trained Daniel Graubert, MD, Greg Apriliano, CRNA, Frank Valenti, CRNA, Carmen Ackerson, APRN, and Kristen Aremburg, APRN.

PainCare of Littleton is set to open its doors on Thursday, September 6th and join the eleven other PainCare locations scattered across the state.  To become a patient, call Jeniffer at 603-823-5544 prior to Sept. 6th, or 603-444-6090 from Sept. 6th on.

The event took place at sunrise on Sunday, August 5th at Mt. Washington.  Five teams, each including an adaptive athlete and 14 “mules,” ascended 8 miles up the Mt. Washington Auto Road to the summit.  ASPNC’s goal was to raise funds to support its annual budget so it can continue to provide athletic opportunities for people with disabilities.

Danny Sprague, regional office manager of PainCare’s northern NH locations, volunteered as one of the mules on Team Bella.  He was thrilled to contribute to this very meaningful organization.  PainCare believes in the mission of ASPNC, and is happy to have the opportunity to support such a wonderful cause.  If you would like to donate to or learn more about ASPNC, visit www.adaptivesportspartners.org.  To learn more about PainCare, visit www.PainMD.com.

While Danny is excited about the challenge ahead of his first marathon, he decided to take that challenge to a higher level. “Many marathons are now adding fundraising components,” says Sprague, “and when I saw that, I decided I wanted to utilize my time and effort to raise money for a good cause.”

Danny works as a regional manager for PainCare, who opened an office in the Plymouth area in early 2010. PainCare is dedicated to treating all types of pain and strives to ease the suffering of patients so that they may return to a meaningful and productive life. Through his work in the Plymouth area and getting to know some of his employees he learned about all the great things happening in Plymouth. “One of PainCare’s goals is to be a good neighbor and to be supportive within the communities that we belong to,” says Sprague. “I travel a lot in my work, but I like getting involved in our communities on a professional and a personal level, and that is how I learned about Communities for Alcohol- and Drug-free Youth – CADY.” Working in the medical/pain management field Danny sees all the statistics and news surrounding prescription drug abuse, something PainCare is very concerned about. “Once I heard about CADY and the outreach and community education work they are doing, I wanted to learn more. I met Deb Naro and Liz Brochu, and saw firsthand the dedication and care they have for the youth they serve and their community. Prescription drug abuse is something they are working very hard to educate people about – it really is all in the education. Running to support CADY and its mission seemed like the perfect fit for me—both personally and professionally,” says Sprague.

Sprague is set to run the Maine Marathon on September 30th in Portland and hopes to raise dollars and awareness for CADY along the way. Danny says he will have a team of family and friends supporting him along the route. “I asked them all to bring cowbells,” he said, “so I will know where they are!” He will also have a good friend running with him, someone who has been training with him and joining him on his running adventures. Eventually, Danny would like to qualify for the Boston Marathon. “That’s a big goal,” says Danny, “It’s hard to qualify as it gets more competitive each year.” But for now, Danny Sprague is excited to be focusing on the Maine Marathon in September, hoping to complete the course in about three and a half hours. “And even better,” says Danny, “If I can raise some funds and awareness for an amazing community organization like CADY, the victory of finishing the race will be that much sweeter!”

Danny’s fundraising goal for the Maine Marathon is $2,000. He is one fifth of the way there! If you would like to support Danny in his Marathon run and raising funds and awareness for CADY, you can go to his online fundraising page at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/danielsprague/mainemarathon2012. Or visit the CADY website at www.cadyinc.org and you can link to Danny’s Marathon Adventure from our home page.

Thank you Danny for helping to prevent substance abuse and for going the distance for CADY!