The Food and Drug Administration today announced the publication of the new FDA Food Code, a model code and reference document that provides a scientifically sound technical and legal basis for regulating the retail and food service segment of the food industry. The 2009 FDA Food Code is a key component of the President's overall public-health-focused food safety framework for maintaining a safe food supply. [More]

Parents who dress their children in inappropriate clothing could be inadvertently hampering their child's physical activity in childcare settings. The study, reported in BioMed Central's open access journal, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, suggests that inadequate or inappropriate clothing could restrict children's outdoor play. [More]

With Swine Flu (H1N1 influenza) outbreaks already resulting in more than 600 school closings this fall and daycares quickly reaching maximum capacity, an increasing number of parents are finding themselves without child care options; but not Sittercity.com parents. On Sittercity.com, the nation's largest and most trusted online source for qualified babysitters and nannies, the number of parents finding sitters to cover last-minute care needs before the need arises has increased by 37% over the same period last year. [More]

Sittercity Inc, America's first and largest online source for connecting parents and sitters has partnered with Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the world's leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, back-up care, education, and work/life solutions to create a program that allows employers to offer their employees access to Sittercity as part of their work/life benefits package. [More]

Saying that employers can no longer afford to ignore the epidemic of childhood obesity, the National Business Group on Health today announced the launch of "Childhood Obesity: It's Everyone's Business," a toolkit designed to help U.S. employers address the growing problem of overweight and obese children. [More]

The proportion of health care personnel reporting that they always or often queried their patients regarding alcohol use has increased significantly. This is particularly notable with nurses, where the proportion has doubled to 60 per cent, and midwives, where 92 per cent estimate their capacity to identify risk consumption as good or very good. [More]

North Bend Medical Centers of Coos Bay, Oregon, a 55-physician, 300+ employee, multi-specialty clinic and provider to over 60,000 patients, is an innovative user of healthcare information technology. The clinic is comprised of five locations across southern Oregon and represents 15 medical specialties and has partnered closely with PracticeOne and Oracle as key technology providers to support its doctors and clinics. [More]

Despite high rates of health insurance coverage among children in the District of Columbia, children's access to health care is inadequate and poses a significant health problem for the city's young residents, particularly those who are publicly insured, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today. [More]

Since its launch in 2007, the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) has helped to accelerate the pace of autism research by gathering valuable information online from individuals on the autism spectrum and their parents. Today, the IAN Project launches the Grandparents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Survey, giving grandparents a well-deserved voice in the autism research community. [More]

Amerinet, Inc., a leading national healthcare group purchasing organization, today announced a new five-year purchasing agreement with the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (OKAAP). [More]

Pfizer Inc has been named among the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for its steadfast commitment to family-friendly benefits. Pfizer and the other winning companies are pioneering programs that support families, with 100 percent offering flextime, on-site lactation and telecommuting; and 98 percent offering job-sharing and wellness programs—numbers that dwarf those seen nationwide. In addition, financial programs available to the 100 Best employees are on the rise, a much needed boost for families in today’s economy. [More]

Bayer Corporation has again been recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the nation's 100 best companies for working mothers. This is the seventh time Bayer has appeared on the annual list. [More]

Women have made gains in the job market, now holding half of our nation’s 132 million jobs, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, a gap remains in their understanding and use of benefits that protect their income, according to research by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG). [More]

HealthConnect Systems, the leading online network for buyers and sellers of health insurance and employee benefits, announced today that its technology powers the NYC Health Insurance Link (www.nyc.gov/HILink), which went live today at a ceremony hosted by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. New York City’s Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (OCHIA) and Management Information Systems (MIS), divisions of NYC’s Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS), developed this innovative website to bring high quality health insurance access to New York City residents and small businesses. [More]

A new critical illness plan from Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company can help many working Americans who may be one serious medical issue away from financial problems. Even with good health insurance, a serious illness, such as a heart attack or stroke, could leave employees on the hook for huge expenses. [More]