"As pharmacists, we consider one's health to be worth much more than a $4 dollar prescription product," says Vince Colucci, President of the Montana Pharmacy Association. "We would advise patients to not act out of haste but, rather, to consider the value they receive from their pharmacist, values that go beyond the cost of the drug product such as medication counseling, a resource for both prescription and OTC drugs, medication management, and health advice. We do acknowledge the high cost of some medications and empathize, nevertheless, if patients have developed a trusting and resourceful relationship with their pharmacist and value them as a health care provider, we would encourage that continued relationship and discourage price shopping simply for the product."

According to Jim Smith, the Association's Executive Director in Helena, "for some people Wal-Mart's program is appropriate. For others it may not be. Wal-Mart's buying power is legendary, but the buyer should still beware; and the buyer should still weigh a $4 prescription along with the other health considerations that go into making a wise decision."

"Physician and pharmacy hopping and shopping are not smart health care for most people," according to Smith. He and Colucci point to thousands of older Montanans, for example, who may be taking multiple prescriptions for concurrent diseases. "On average, elderly patients take seven (7) different prescription medications daily. They need the consistency and continuity a trusted pharmacist brings to their healthcare treatment," says Colucci.

One study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reviewed the impacts of adverse drug events (ADEs).

According to the JAMA study, "the main outcome measure in this study was emergency department visits due to adverse drug events. Need for hospitalization was a secondary outcome measure. Adverse events included allergic reactions, secondary effects (e.g. falls), unintentional overdose due to high dose or slow elimination, and adverse effects at normal doses." They did not look at cases of worsening disease because of less-than-optimal dosing or study the specific effects of medication errors because of non-compliance or confusion.

"Based on data from the sample hospitals, 701,547 patients presented to U.S. emergency departments due to adverse drug events annually. One quarter of these visits were by elderly patients (i.e., 65 and older). Almost 3,500 patients were admitted. About half of the hospitalizations due to adverse drug events were in the elderly."

Over 700,000 patients are treated in emergency departments each year for adverse drug events, or 2.4 out of every 1000. And one in six of these are hospitalized.

"This study underscores the importance of good medication management, patient counseling, and drug regimen reviews, all important components of a good pharmacist-patient relationship," says Colucci.

Gardeners poring over seed catalogs can get help on proven performers By Cheryl Moore-Gough, Montana State University Extension Horticulturist

For gardeners who are poring over the many choices in seed catalogs this winter, help has arrived. All America Selections, an international testing organization that promotes the development, production and distribution of better plant varieties, is one source of guidance on outstanding cultivars.

As a result of a marketing idea proposed by W. Ray Hastings in 1932, seed companies cooperate to test new varieties in many locations. They recognize flowers or vegetables proven to be superior to others on the market as All-America Selections. Winners have been introduced each year since 1933, including such classics as 'Straight 8' cucumber (1935), 'Pink Sensation' petunia (1934), 'Early Extra Sweet' corn (1971), 'Sugar snap' pea (1979), and last year's 'Mariachi' pepper and 'Zowie, Yellow Flame' zinnia. The organization reserves a special Gold Medal award for breeding breakthroughs, which may come about only once or twice a decade.

The AAS chose four winning cultivars for 2007: a petunia, a vinca, a pepper and a celosia.

'Opera Supreme Pink Morn' received an AAS Bedding Plant award in the Petunia F1 class. This shimmering beauty is not just any petunia. Its unique flowers have a silvery iridescence. The 2.5 inch flowers are pink fading to creamy white in the center and the throats of the flowers are yellow. These three colors on a single flower give it the distinction of being a "morn" type. This plant is capable of spreading three feet in sunny locations, which means the plants can effectively choke out weeds. Pruning and deadheading are unnecessary, which gives you more time to enjoy your garden.

Another bedding plant award winner, in the Vinca class, is 'Pacifica Burgundy Halo.' This is not the ground cover with bluish flowers that goes by the botanical name "Vinca minor" and is commonly called periwinkle. Confusingly enough, 'Pacifica Burgundy Halo' is a cultivar of "Catharanthus roseus," but is also commonly called periwinkle or Vinca. But 'Pacifica Burgundy Halo' is quite different. Its burgundy halo surrounds a white center, making it very visible in the annual garden. Drought and heat tolerant, this annual does well in many Montana areas, though not areas with the coldest nighttime temperatures.

The award-winning dark chocolate colored F1 pepper called 'Holy Mol�' is aptly named. It's the first hybrid pasilla-type pepper, the kind used to make Mexican mol� sauce. Vigorous and early, this variety has a higher yield than comparable peppers due to its virus resistance. This is not a short season pepper like last year's award winning pepper, the 66-day 'Mariachi'. Immature green 'Holy Mol�' peppers can be harvested 85 days from transplanting. They turn a chocolate brown when mature. 'Holy Mol�' thrives in summer heat, and must be grown in a sunny location.

The 2007 AAS Flower Award winner, with brilliant gold plumes, is Celosia 'Fresh Look Gold'. Its central plume is 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide, remaining bright golden all season. Plants grow to a height of one foot. There is no need to deadhead this beautiful annual. The plants were heat and rain tolerant in trials all across North America, and are arguably one of the best annuals for season-long color.

If you are looking at seed catalogs, the AAS selections should be labeled as such. If you don't have a catalog handy, All-America Selections provides seed sources at www.all-americaselections.org. Remember to start your seeds early indoors and transplant for best performance in the garden, or look for these award-winning cultivars in your neighborhood garden center in the spring.

For more information on gardening and landscaping, visit your county or reservation MSU Extension office, or click Yard and Garden at www.msuextension.org.

Engagement - Plattes-Keck

Mike and Barb Plattes of Missoula, formerly of Stevensville, announce the engagement of their daughter, Mikaela Plattes, to Aaron Keck, son of Steve and Becky Keck of Spokane, Washington. Mikaela is a 1999 graduate of Stevensville High School. She went on to obtain a Masters of Business Administration from Gonzaga University, and currently works at BDO Seidman, LLP as a Senior Audit Associate in Seattle. Aaron graduated from Central Valley High School in Spokane and is currently working toward a degree in Biology at the University of Washington. He is also employed part-time at UPS. A September 15, 2007 wedding is planned to take place at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Spokane, Washington.

Rural women needed for chronic illness study

The Women to Women Project, a support network for rural women with chronic illness, is seeking women to participate in a study group forming in the fall of 2007.

The College of Nursing at Montana State University is in its eleventh year of this program, which enhances rural women's ability to manage their chronic condition and assesses its effect on their quality of life. Principle investigator is Clarann Weinert, an MSU professor and nurse.

To qualify for participation, women must be physically able to use a computer and have a basic knowledge of how to use a computer, but owning a computer is not necessary. Women interested in participating in the next study group need to be between the ages of 35 and 65 and living with a chronic disease such as arthritic conditions, multiple sclerosis or heart disease. Participants must reside at least 25 miles outside of a town with 12,500 or more people in the states of Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and eastern Oregon or eastern Washington.

Women in the project are assigned to one of two groups. One group is provided with Internet access that allows them to participate in a self-help support group and gain information from health teaching units and group discussions with periodic input by experts. The second group does not use computers but provides important health-related data.

All groups participate in a telephone interview and complete three written mail questionnaires.

Women who are interested in the project are encouraged to call the program's toll-free number, 1-888-375-1317, at the MSU College of Nursing, Bozeman, to contact the program via e-mail at scudney@montana.edu, or look at more information about the project at: www.montana.edu/cweinert.

First Lady highlights opportunities for students and teachers of Math and Science

First Lady Nancy Schweitzer is urging qualified Montana students to participate in the Montana Science Fair, making them eligible to compete for the opportunity to attend the 2007 all-expenses-paid National Youth Science Camp held in West Virginia.

Two outstanding Montana students will join others from across the country with demonstrated academic achievement, leadership potential, and excellence in science and math. Interested students can find additional information about the camp on the web at www.nysc.org. To register for the Montana Science Fair, students must submit an application between January 29 and March 9, 2007 which can be downloaded from the official website www.mtsciencefair.org/.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Montana students to receive national recognition for their accomplishments in the fields of math and science and pursue their academic passion with the best minds in the country," said First Lady Schweitzer. "I urge all students with a serious interest in math and science to check out the resources available to them."

The First Lady also encouraged all Montanans to submit nominations for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Award recipients receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, along with an expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to attend professional development seminars and meet with other recognized teachers. Nomination forms can be found at www.paemst.org/uploads/FORM_2007_PAEMST_Nomination.pdf, and should be mailed to: Erik Burke, Montana Professional Teaching Foundation, 1232 E. 6th Avenue, Helena MT 59601.

Obituaries

Jerome F. 'Bud' Dorgan
1922-2006

Jerome F. "Bud" Dorgan, 84, longtime resident of Stevensville, died at his home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, January 16, 2007.

He was born on April 23, 1922 at Emerado, North Dakota to Francis "Frank" and Elizabeth (Carrol) Dorgan.

Bud graduated from high school at East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942 and received an honorable discharge in 1946 with a rank of Sergeant. He was trained as an auto mechanic.

On May 20, 1950, he and Lucile (Skow) Swecker were married in Spokane, WA. Bud worked in the apple orchards at Quincy, WA. He retired from the US Forest Service after 27 years. He enjoyed camping and traveling with his family. He was a volunteer for the Stevensville Fire Dept., an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of American Legion Post 94 and a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stevensville.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1960, his mother in 1988, a grandson, Jason Teafoe, 1999, and a sister, Patricia Zimmerman, in 2006.

Bud is survived by his wife Lucy of 56 years, Stevensville; five children: Kathryn (Don) Edgar, Missoula, Rae Ann Valdez, Pinetop, AZ, Mary Lea (Ron) Nelson, Hamilton, Linda Theilman, Stevensville and Michael Dorgan of Hamilton; two stepchildren, Diania Biehl, Wickenburg, AZ and Richard "Dick" (Shirley) Swecker of Bozeman; 13 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters, Margaret Gregoire of Tacoma, Donna Humphrey of Spokane and Betty Rose, Los Angeles.

Mass of Christian Burial was on Monday, January 22, at St. Mary's Church with Father Michael Smith, Celebrant. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery with American Legion Post 94 Military Honors. A reception followed at the Family Center.

Should friends desire, memorials are asked to St. Mary's Mission or to Aspen Hospice.

James Daniel Riekena
1984-2006

Sergeant James Daniel Riekena, 22, died Sunday, January 14, 2007 while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near the vehicle he was driving.

James, known to his family as J.D., was born in Missoula in 1984. He grew up there attending Paxson and Russell Elementary Schools, playing t-ball, participating in Cub Scouts and spending time with his grandparents, relatives and friends.

James moved with his family to Redmond, Washington in 1993 where he attended Audubon Elementary School, Redmond Junior High and Redmond High, graduating in 2002. During that time James was very active in scouting, attending the 1998 and 2000 National Order of the Arrow conferences and the 2001 National Jamboree. He staffed at Camp Brinkley, became a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow in T'Kope Kwiskwis Lodge and attained the rank of Eagle Scout with Redmond Boy Scout Troop 591.

After graduating from high school James moved to Post Falls, Idaho, where he joined the National Guard and became a combat engineer specializing in finding and disarming land mines and bombs. James served his first tour in Iraq with the 145th Brigade Support Battalion of Post Falls. Upon returning, James moved back to Redmond to be closer to his family and friends.

James volunteered for a second assignment in Iraq with the Puerto Rico National Guard which was short-staffed and could use his Spanish language skills, developed while working at Acapulco Fresh in Redmond with his three brothers.

James cared deeply about his family and friends and could always be counted on for help. He loved the outdoors, his dogs Bailey and Lucky, literature and writing, and he hoped to go to college and become an English teacher.

James would have turned 23 on February 27.

He is survived by his mother Pat McCune; father John K. Riekena; brothers John W., Joe and Joshua Riekena, all of Redmond; and his sister Jaime Riekena of Missoula. Also surviving is his grandparents, Sharon and Jim Riekena of Missoula.

Funeral services were held at the Missoula Alliance Church on Tuesday, January 23. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula, with Military Honors.

The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Leroy Emerson
1922-2006

Donald Leroy Emerson, 84, of Stevensville, died at Community Medical Hospital in Missoula on Saturday, January 20, 2007.

He was born on March 22, 1922 in Seattle, Washington to Harry N. and Claire I. (Benn) Emerson.

Don graduated from Seattle High School in 1940 and entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1945. He married Pearl Nelson of Florence on November 21, 1946.

He attended watchmaker's school and worked at the profession beginning in 1950 and working for the next 15 years. In 1962 he began work as a quality assurance planner for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, retiring in 1982.

Pearl preceded Don in death on August 6, 1989. In 1997 he moved to Stevensville. Donald loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting and was also a coin collector.

Survivors include his children: Bill Emerson of Missoula, Vickie Peden of Normandy Park, WA, John Emerson of Renton, WA and Steven Emerson of Puyallup, WA; seven grandchildren and one great grandson also survive.

At Donald's request, no formal services will be held. The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.

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