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Picwell to analyze potential impact of latest decision support systems on consumer health plan selection

Picwell, the most advanced predictive recommendation engine for health plan selection, today announced finalized agreements to conduct studies focused on the potential impact of latest generation decision support systems on consumer health plan selection.

8 Oct 2014

New study finds that not having close access to healthy foods can deter even motivated dieters

You're obese, at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and so motivated to improve your diet that you've enrolled in an intensive behavioral program. But if you need to travel more than a short distance to a store that offers a good selection of healthy food, your success may be limited.

8 Oct 2014

Low sexual desire among women can be treatable

Low sexual desire is common among both pre- and post-menopausal women. It can cause personal distress, harm relationships, and have a negative impact on body image and self confidence. Yet few women seek medical care for this condition, and the reasons are explored in a timely article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

8 Oct 2014

Case Western Reserve researcher lands Director's New Innovator Awards from NIH

For the second consecutive year, a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researcher has landed one of the year's much-coveted Director's New Innovator Awards from the National Institutes of Health. Principal investigator Rong Xu, PhD, assistant professor of medical informatics, will receive $2,377,000 for five years, starting immediately, to initiate computational analysis of thousands of drugs and their effects.

8 Oct 2014

Survey finds prevalence of antimicrobial-drug use in U.S. hospitals

A one-day prevalence survey of 183 hospitals found that approximately 50 percent of hospitalized patients included in the survey were receiving antimicrobial drugs, and that about half of these patients were receiving 2 or more antimicrobial drugs, according to a study in the October 8 JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease. Most antimicrobial use was for infection treatment.

8 Oct 2014

Cyclophosphamide drug can eliminate life-threatening immune response after bone marrow transplants

Johns Hopkins and other cancer researchers report that a very short course of a chemotherapy drug, called cyclophosphamide, not only can prevent a life-threatening immune response in some bone marrow transplant recipients, but also can eliminate such patients' need for the usual six months of immune suppression medicines commonly prescribed to prevent severe forms of this immune response.

8 Oct 2014

G-tube placement not needed for patients with advanced dementia or other near end-of-life conditions

Based on current scientific literature, gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement or other long-term enteral access devices should be withheld or withdrawn in patients with advanced dementia or other near end-of-life conditions, according to a special report published today in the OnlineFirst version of Nutrition in Clinical Practice, the official journal of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

8 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Relatively few face insurance cancellations; new doctor payment site is 'impenetrable'

People are starting to get letters telling them their health insurance plans have been canceled because of the Affordable Care Act. Because the letters will go out just before the midterm congressional elections, they are likely to get a lot of attention. There have been several stories this past week. But the people affected will represent only a small fraction of the population with health insurance (Margot Sanger-Katz, (10/6).

8 Oct 2014

Pitt researchers awarded $1.25 million DOD grant to establish whole-eye transplantation program

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers have been awarded $1.25 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to fund two projects that aim to establish the groundwork for the nation's first whole-eye transplantation program.

8 Oct 2014

State highlights: States and drug prices; Ariz. limiting Sovaldi for patients; L.A. boosts uninsured care by $61 million

Because of its high cost, some state Medicaid programs and prison systems are refusing to provide Sovaldi to any but the sickest patients. Most recently, Oregon last month threatened to limit access to the drug unless it can get Sovaldi at a deeply discounted price. But Sovaldi is only the beginning. Expensive new treatments for certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions also have rattled Medicaid officials, patients and health care providers. What can states do to hold down drug costs? Drug pricing is a complicated and opaque process.

8 Oct 2014

Obama administration announces plans to step up airport screening for Ebola virus

Though President Barack Obama did not say exactly how screening procedures would change, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said officials would consider a variety of options.

8 Oct 2014

Study finds that hospitalized patients wash their hands infrequently

Hospital visitors and staff are greeted with hand sanitizer dispensers in the lobby, by the elevators and outside rooms as reminders to wash their hands to stop infections, but just how clean are patients' hands?

8 Oct 2014

Nursing home rating system gets a makeover

The Obama administration announced Monday that it will revise substantially the five-star rating program for nursing homes.

8 Oct 2014

RAND study: Specific state guidance can influence patient access to effective heroin treatment

State policies can influence the number of physicians licensed to prescribe buprenorphine, a drug that can treat addiction to heroin and other opioids in outpatient settings, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

8 Oct 2014

N.Y. hospital's unusual outreach to patients saves money

Montefiore saved $24 million last year and are part of the accountable care organization pilot projects set up by the health law. Also, in Texas, federal officials are withholding funds while they probe a Medicaid financing plan.

8 Oct 2014

Two randomized trials examine new vaccination strategies for avian influenza

Two randomized trials in the October 8 issue of JAMA examine new vaccination strategies for the prevention and control of avian influenza, often referred to as "bird flu." This is a theme issue on infectious disease.

8 Oct 2014

Medicare attack ads emerge in key Senate races

In recent weeks, Medicare has been an advertising topic in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Louisiana. Meanwhile, New Hampshire's Senate candidates discussed a range of health care topics during their first debate.

8 Oct 2014

FDA probes malfunctions of medical devices made by man who has championed patient safety

A Food and Drug Administration investigation last year found that Masimo Corp. did not adequately look into reports of problems with its devices, ProPublica reports, even though the company owner, Joe Kiani, has created a foundation dedicated to eliminating medical mistakes. In addition, the Boston Globe examines how medical technology companies are looking for new strategies to boost sales.

8 Oct 2014

As next enrollment period approaches, states wrestle with exchange issues from last year

In Washington state, officials are still trying to resolve billing and computer issues related to 1,300 accounts. In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick says the problem-plagued website is now fixed and ready to go when enrollment opens Nov. 15, but at an additional cost of $26 million. And in Minnesota, a new plan enters the MNSure marketplace.

8 Oct 2014

GeneSolve to license its health optimization system to highly qualified doctors

GeneSolve announced today that it will begin licensing its proprietary health optimization system to a network of highly qualified doctors nationwide.

7 Oct 2014

Health Care News and Research

Picwell to analyze potential impact of latest decision support systems on consumer health plan selection

New study finds that not having close access to healthy foods can deter even motivated dieters

Low sexual desire among women can be treatable

Case Western Reserve researcher lands Director's New Innovator Awards from NIH

Survey finds prevalence of antimicrobial-drug use in U.S. hospitals

Cyclophosphamide drug can eliminate life-threatening immune response after bone marrow transplants

G-tube placement not needed for patients with advanced dementia or other near end-of-life conditions

Viewpoints: Relatively few face insurance cancellations; new doctor payment site is 'impenetrable'

Pitt researchers awarded $1.25 million DOD grant to establish whole-eye transplantation program

State highlights: States and drug prices; Ariz. limiting Sovaldi for patients; L.A. boosts uninsured care by $61 million

Obama administration announces plans to step up airport screening for Ebola virus

Study finds that hospitalized patients wash their hands infrequently

Nursing home rating system gets a makeover

RAND study: Specific state guidance can influence patient access to effective heroin treatment

N.Y. hospital's unusual outreach to patients saves money

Two randomized trials examine new vaccination strategies for avian influenza

Medicare attack ads emerge in key Senate races

FDA probes malfunctions of medical devices made by man who has championed patient safety

As next enrollment period approaches, states wrestle with exchange issues from last year

GeneSolve to license its health optimization system to highly qualified doctors

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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