Raleigh, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/22/2009 -- Kerr Drug's efforts to protect patients from dangerous drug interactions as well as maximize medication therapy were featured in a segment on NBC's Today Show. Kerr Drug clinical pharmacist Joe Heidrick explained how pharmacists spot potentially dangerous drug interactions daily and how Kerr Drug uses technology to alert pharmacists to potential problems.

Watch the Today segment:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/83025/nbc-today-show-dangerous-drug-interactions

But the pharmacist's expertise in Medication Therapy Management remains the patient's most important protection. "Before the patient receives the medication, and before the patient takes the medication, we have to know it is safe to take," Heidrick explained. Drug interactions include potential side effects, treatment duplications, drug-drug interactions as well as drug-disease interactions.

NBC News reporter Chris Jansing detailed how one-in-four Americans take more than one prescription drug everyday and the number of deaths from dangerous drug interactions increased 564% between from 1983-2004. Those numbers explain why Medication Therapy Management is at the heart of Kerr Drug's mission and focuses on three key components:

• Enhanced consumer understanding of medications.
• Increasing consumer adherence to medication directions.
• Prevention of drug complications, conflicts and interactions.

"Helping patients on a one to one basis fully understand their range of medications is a critically important service we provide as a community based pharmacy," says Anthony Civello, Chairman and CEO of Raleigh, NC based Kerr Drug. "Medication therapy is more than just filling a prescription. Our pharmacists are available to make sure their patients know everything they need to know about their medicines before they leave the store."

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