TAMPA, Florida, November 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold Standard/Elsevier, developer of drug information and medication management solutions, announced today that Thrifty White Drug Stores, an employee-owned pharmacy with 88 stores in six states, has licensed Alchemy (http://www.goldstandard.com/pages/alchemy.html?epm=1_1) as the new drug database and decision support solution for all of its pharmacy and telepharmacy dispensing systems.

Thrifty White is committed to providing healthcare to populations where access to pharmacy services is limited. We believe that the pharmacist is a great resource, especially to patients in rural communities, said Gary Boehler, Executive Vice President of Pharmacy for Thrifty White. We selected Gold Standard's Alchemy due to its timely, reliable content, advanced technology and excellent customer service. Alchemy offers the most complete package to support us in giving our customers the quality care they need and deserve.

Thrifty White emphasizes the use of technology to streamline the prescription filling process so the pharmacist is available to counsel and answer patients' questions. The company will use Alchemy's drug product database, drug decision support and patient education to enhance their drug dispensing system and provide drug information to pharmacists instantly.

Alchemy's Drug Product database delivers drug data compliant with NCPDP telecommunication and electronic prescribing standards for brand and generic prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, herbals, vitamins, nutritional products, medical devices and diagnostic kits. Alchemy Drug Decision Support evaluates the patient's complete drug regimen for potential problems and presents concise, relevant notifications to help the healthcare provider make informed drug therapy decisions. Alchemy also meets FDA requirements for consumer medication information, with patient education sheets that serve as counseling aids at the point of care and reassuring take-home references.

Alchemy's agile technology will be able to keep pace with Thrifty White's rapidly growing business, and its robust content will empower rural communities with the most up-to-date drug information, said Marianne Messer, president of Gold Standard. By imparting medication knowledge to pharmacy professionals and patients, Alchemy helps to produce fewer adverse drug events, better health results, and an overall cost savings.

Alchemy is an integrated drug database and drug decision support engine that improves clinical and financial outcomes. Better data modeling ensures the most current and accurate drug content and decision support, while superior customer service and advanced technology enable the simplest and most cost-effective installation and maintenance. Alchemy delivers actionable answers for users in all healthcare settings, leading the industry in reducing alert fatigue for improved patient safety.

For more information on Alchemy, contact Gold Standard/Elsevier at info@goldstandard.com or +1-800-375-0943.

About Gold Standard/Elsevier

Based in Tampa, FL, Gold Standard/Elsevier uses innovative technologies to provide a complete suite of drug information and decision support solutions. With a tenacious commitment to product quality, Gold Standard/Elsevier solutions empower healthcare organizations, professionals and consumers to meet the most pressing healthcare challenges, improve patient safety and ensure optimal outcomes. To learn more about Gold Standard/Elsevier, visit http://www.goldstandard.com.

About Elsevier Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com/) and Cell ( http://www.cell.com/), and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include SciVerse ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), SciVerse Scopus (http://www.scopus.com/home.url), Reaxys ( https://www.reaxys.com/reaxys/session.do), MD Consult ( http://www.mdconsult.com/php/225147780-2/homepage) and Nursing Consult (http://www.nursingconsult.com/php/225147798-2/home.html), which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite (http://www.scival.com/) and MEDai's Pinpoint Review (http://www.medai.com/), which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier ( http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/homepage.cws_home) employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC ( http://www.reedelsevier.com/Pages/Home.aspx), a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

About Thrifty White

Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, Thrifty White is a regional chain of 88 pharmacies and 65 associated Independent Retailers operating in the rural upper mid-west, with locations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Wisconsin. Thrifty White is one of the nation's one hundred largest Employee Stock Ownership companies, owned at least 51% by its employees. In fact, the company is 100% owned by its employees. This unique ownership structure allows Thrifty White to focus on the long term strength and growth of the company.

Media Contact: Tom Reller Vice President of Global Relations Elsevier +1-215-239-3508 T.Reller@Elsevier.com

SOURCE: Elsevier and Gold Standard/Elsevier

CONTACT: Media Contact: Tom Reller, Vice President of Global Relations,Elsevier, +1-215-239-3508, T.Reller@Elsevier.com