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NFID to host 15th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research from May 7–9

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases will host the 15th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research, May 7–9, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.

5 May 2012

AHA recognizes HHS’ Charla de Lupus program with HAVE

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has recognized Hospital for Special Surgery's Charla de Lupus (Lupus Chat) program with its Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence.

5 May 2012

For U.S., preventable health conditions a gathering storm

The current generation of American children may be the first not to live as long as their parents. Much of this projection is linked to the increase in obesity and health conditions. These and other medical deficits in the U.S. health system were highlighted Thursday at an Atlanta conference and in national media reports.

5 May 2012

Early well-child check-ups can help identify children at risk of emotional, behavioral problems

A new study suggests clinicians might be able to identify children at risk of later emotional or behavioral problems by paying attention to a few key signs during early well-child check-ups. Researchers found that boys with early sleep problems and girls with language and speech delays tended to have more emotional problems in adolescence.

5 May 2012

HCA's profits up, Cigna's down, as patients use more services

Earnings were slightly below the level analysts expected in the quarter, despite a boost from claims reserves that weren't needed in prior periods, although Cigna said it topped its own forecast. ... Like other insurers, Cigna has been projecting patients will start using health care services more after a long slump. The company in its release noted its latest guidance reflects, in part, an "expected increase in medical services utilization during 2012."

5 May 2012

Dengue fever costs Puerto Rico nearly $38M a year, study shows

"The costs of treating and coping with dengue fever in Puerto Rico total nearly $38 million a year, a new study," published Wednesday in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, finds, according to U.S. News & World Report.

5 May 2012

American voters say U.S. support for WHO important, poll shows

"Nine in 10 U.S. voters say it's important for the United States to support the global health efforts of the U.N.'s World Health Organization, according to a United Nations Foundation/Better World Campaign poll released Thursday," The Hill's "Global Affairs" blog reports.

5 May 2012

Survey: First-year medical school enrollment expected to increase

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the number of students entering medical school will show an increase of nearly 30 percent from its starting point in 2002 to projections for 2016.

5 May 2012

Reining in Medicare costs: Lots of talk but little action

News outlets report on how efforts to control Medicare spending often get lost in political messages and campaign posturing.

5 May 2012

Parents can have significant impact in reducing children's sedentary behaviors

Parents can have a significant impact in steering young children away from too much time spent in sedentary pursuits. This new study, in the American Journal of Health Promotion, found this effect in Hispanic families, whose children are more likely to be sedentary than non-Hispanic white children and who are also especially vulnerable to becoming overweight or obese.

5 May 2012

U.N. adopts resolution on young people's sexual and reproductive rights

This RH Reality Check post by the International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region (IPPFWHR) examines a "resolution in support of young people's sexual and reproductive health and human rights" adopted recently by member states at the 45th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

5 May 2012

State legislative news: Mass. legislature poised to consider cost control plan

Meanwhile, in Connecticut, the legislature approves a bill giving collective bargaining rights to home health care workers and goes against leadership to gut a bill that would loosen requirements for suing a health care provider.

5 May 2012

Cigna presents three scholarships at NFBPA annual conference

Cigna presented three scholarships - two for $5,000 and one for $10,000 - to full-time students at the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Annual Conference at the Virginia Beach Conference Center. The scholarship recipients excel in leadership and communications and all are pursuing degrees in public administration.

5 May 2012

Guardian examines launch of GAVI-sponsored immunization campaign in Ghana

Ghana's recent "rollout of the rotavirus vaccine and, to much acclaim, a new vaccine against pneumococcal infections, makes it the first country in sub-Saharan African to introduce two new vaccines at the same time," the Guardian reports.

5 May 2012

Poll shows Obama leading in Virginia despite mixed feelings about the health law

Virginia is viewed as one of the hot states in the presidential campaign. Also, because female voters continue to be considered an important force in the upcoming election, women's health issues are getting a lot of air time.

5 May 2012

President Obama invites four African leaders to G8 summit to discuss food security

President Barack Obama has invited the leaders of four African nations "to join the G8 leaders' summit at Camp David later this month for a session on food security, the White House said on Thursday," Reuters reports.

5 May 2012

Devex examines closing of Global Health Council

Devex examines the April 20 announcement by the Global Health Council (GHC) that it will cease operations in the year of its 40th anniversary, discussing possible reasons why the organization is closing and what lies ahead for its members. According to Devex, a lack of funding, operating challenges, and "a lack of focus" all potentially contributed to the organization's impending closure.

5 May 2012

Group says it has Kansas clinic abortion records; Iowa preps for abortion battle in budget

An anti-abortion group says it has patient records of dozens of women and girls who sought treatment at a Kansas abortion clinic last month. In the meantime, Iowa lawmakers prepare to tackle the state's health spending, including whether victims of rape or incest may get abortions through its Medicaid program.

5 May 2012

PNNL receives 2012 FLC Interagency Partnership Award

Creators of a nanotech-based system that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere within a submarine, while providing a more environmentally friendly removal process, have won the Federal Laboratory Consortium Interagency Partnership Award for 2012. The technology - Self Assembled Monolayers on Mesoporous Supports, or SAMMS - is destined for incorporation into future submarines to improve air quality for sailors who serve on them.

5 May 2012

Romney plan could hurt Mass. Medicaid; States scramble to consider place in health law

Mitt Romney hasn't released details of his health plan, but his views on Medicaid seem clear. Meanwhile, residents in Maine consider what the federal health law means for them and 90 Washington state women are suing their Republican attorney general.

5 May 2012