News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level including stricter rules for drug abusers in the health industry in California, an examination of the nation's first city-run universal health care plan in San Francisco, a cigarette tax in Florida, sex offenders and ex-convicts in nursing homes in Illinois and efforts to battle medical errors in New Jersey. [More]

A major new study by researchers at Harvard and McGill Universities - the largest ever to look at working conditions worldwide - finds the United States far behind other economically successful nations in terms of adopting policies that support workers and families. [More]

On November 19, 2009, the kick-off meeting for the Euregio-project "EurSafety Health-net" has taken place. EurSafety Health-net is the follow-up of EUREGIO MRSA-net, that, according to the Robert Koch Institute, gained some sort of model character all over the nation when talking about prevention of hospital acquired MRSA infection. Besides the protection against infection, the main goal of this new project is to strengthen the patients' safety on both sides of the border. [More]

National Health Investors, Inc. announced today it has closed a $28.25 million purchase/leaseback transaction with Bickford Senior Living and its affiliates involving four assisted living facilities in Michigan and one in Illinois. The assisted living communities are two to three years old totaling 216 units and attract 100% private payment for services. [More]

Last week during the 'Vaccines for Biothreats and Emerging and Neglected Diseases Symposium' in Galveston TX, USA, the Elsevier journal Vaccine released a supplement dedicated to vaccines for biodefense (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X). [More]

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 1,600 registered nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center, is holding a press conference today to highlight serious concerns about the safety of nurses and patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center during this H1N1 pandemic. [More]

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition. [More]

By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Eating Recovery Center (http://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com), a behavioral hospital providing comprehensive treatment and sustainable recovery for eating disorders, has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval. [More]

The Community Hospice, one of the largest and most established hospice organizations in the nation, will premiere its online "Quality of Life, Not End of Life" program on December 10 at Noon ET. The goal is to raise awareness of the many benefits of hospice care for both patients and their family members. [More]

The top-rated hospitals for organ transplantation are being identified for the first time today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. Based on patient outcomes, quality data for each of the 266 hospitals that perform transplants have been made public at www.healthgrades.com to help patients in need of kidney, lung, heart and liver transplants research and choose a transplant center. [More]

A specialist in caring for elderly patients, Turner-Hubbard is a geriatric nurse practitioner trained to quickly spot the sudden changes in mental status that signal the onset of the sudden, severe confusion known as delirium. She knows the hospital “triggers” that can bring on fluctuations in behavior: blood loss during surgery, anesthesia, pain medications and anti-anxiety drugs, infections, dehydration, IV lines and catheters, as well as being immobilized for an extended period of time. [More]

Although much work remains to be done, a United Nations global reporting system on HIV/AIDS has already yielded an "unequaled wealth of data" on progress toward meeting UN targets for responding to the global HIV epidemic. An update on the development of the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) global reporting system appears in a special supplement to JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. [More]

High-Tech Institute in Minneapolis will begin offering six new degree programs, with a class start set for January 11, 2010 for all programs. The school is located at 5100 Gamble Drive, Suite 200 in St. Louis Park, Minn. [More]

The pedal-to-the-metal signals driving the growth of several types of cancer cells lead to a common switch governing the use of glucose, researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered. [More]

Medspira, and Mayo Clinic have entered into an agreement to commercialize, manufacture and market several Mayo Clinic developed products and technologies invented by Mayo physicians and scientists. [More]