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Teaching hospitals make residency funding pitch on Capitol Hill

Congress has capped federal funding for the training of new doctors, and hospital officials are hoping to get that limit lifted.

9 Oct 2014

Pediatric specialist in EGIDs helps lead $6.25 million NIH clinical research project

A pediatric specialist in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado will help lead a five-year, $6.25 million clinical research project recently funded by the National Institutes of Health.

9 Oct 2014

Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness launches special issue on Ebola

The Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health is committed to examining the details of individual disasters and public health crises. With the recent arrival of Ebola in the United States, the journal is launching a special issue on the virus. The journal will serve as an educated and authoritative voice on the virus, risk and threat level, potential of outbreak, preparation and response for the public and media.

9 Oct 2014

Stiff rise in generic drug prices prompts probe by members of Congress

The prices have increased by more than 1,000 percent for some of the drugs. In other news about treatments, a study finds robotic surgery may not improve care for ovarian problems and the National Cancer Institute laments that insurers' concerns about cost are keeping some patients from proton therapy trials.

9 Oct 2014

Obama administration delays home-care worker minimum-wage, overtime protections

In a Tuesday announcement, the administration said it won't enforce this rule, which involves an estimated 2 million home-care workers, for the first six months after its Jan. 1, 2015, effective date.

9 Oct 2014

In Mississippi, Medicaid expansion advocates continue to press their cause

Backers of expanding the low-income health insurance program say elected officials are turning their back on hundreds of thousands of poor Mississippi residents by refusing the federal funds that come with the expansion. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, insurers appear to be adding a wrinkle to Gov. Corbett's expansion plan. Also, election outcomes will play a big role in where such plans proceed.

9 Oct 2014

Overuse of cardiac stress testing with imaging increases healthcare costs

In a new study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center concluded that overuse of cardiac stress testing with imaging has led to rising healthcare costs and unnecessary radiation exposure to patients.

9 Oct 2014

Northwestern University scientist honored for pioneering work in patient-reported outcomes

David Cella, chair of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has received a prestigious international award for his contributions as a pioneer in the field of patient-reported outcome measures and his mission to put the patient's voice in the center of health care.

9 Oct 2014

CMS directs insurers to begin testing healthcare.gov but maintain confidentiality

Testers are required to "acknowledge the confidentiality of the process" in order to gain access to the testing environment, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports on two studies that examine the health law's drug plans as a means to answer questions about how the overhaul is working.

9 Oct 2014

Columbia Nursing researcher suggests ways to prevent nursing home infections

Nursing home infection rates are on the rise, a study from Columbia University School of Nursing found, suggesting that more must be done to protect residents of these facilities from preventable complications. The study, which examined infections in U.S. nursing homes over a five-year period, found increased infection rates for pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), viral hepatitis, septicemia, wound infections, and multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

8 Oct 2014

As U.S. bolsters defenses against Ebola, price tag grows

President Barack Obama vows national defense against the disease but reminds Americans that the human toll in Africa is also worthy of their support. Administration weighs tighter screening for international travelers.

8 Oct 2014

HIMSS, AVIA announce new initiative to co-develop HX360 to improve health care delivery

Today, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and AVIA announced HX360, a new co-developed initiative. HX360 was created to improve the way that health care is delivered by both inspiring and facilitating the adoption and use of next generation (non-EHR Platform) technologies by provider organizations, in areas where health system executives are passionate to combine the right mix of resources, processes and technologies.

8 Oct 2014

University of Michigan to create center for reproductive health training in Africa

With a $25 million grant from an anonymous donor, the University of Michigan will begin training doctors in Africa in reproductive health services not widely available to many women living in remote areas of the continent.

8 Oct 2014

Digital Clinic International acquired by Voice Solutions

As the digital signage industry continues to gain momentum, Voice Solutions announced that it has acquired Digital Clinic International LLC, a digital signage company focused on the needs of dental, cosmetic surgery and health care clinics.

8 Oct 2014

Weight-normative approach could be harmful to patients, shows study

A new review of the way health care professionals emphasise weight to define health and wellbeing suggests the approach could be harmful to patients.

8 Oct 2014

PointRight announces phased strategic partnership with Prime Care Technologies

PointRight, the industry-standard predictive analytics leader and Prime Care Technologies, the post-acute industry's leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions, announce a phased strategic partnership whereby the industry-standard PointRight® Pro 30™ rehospitalization measure will be incorporated into primeVIEW, Prime Care Technology's business intelligence solution.

8 Oct 2014

30,000 Wal-Mart part-time workers to lose health benefits

The world's largest retailer and largest private employer announced Tuesday that it would terminate health insurance coverage for employees who work fewer than an average of 30 hours a week.

8 Oct 2014

U-M researchers propose new ways to fight sepsis

A decade ago, America's health care community took on heart attacks with gusto, harnessing the power of research and data to make sure that every patient got the best possible care.

8 Oct 2014

Contaminated duodenoscopes associated with E coli outbreak at Illinois hospital

Despite no lapses in the disinfection process recommended by the manufacturer being identified, specialized gastrointestinal endoscopes called duodenoscopes had bacterial contamination associated with an outbreak of a highly resistant strain of E coli at a hospital in Illinois, according to a study in the October 8 JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease.

8 Oct 2014

Medical debt crisis worsening in America despite advances in health care policy

NerdWallet Health, a consumer advocacy site committed to helping patients make smarter decisions and save money on their health care, today released a study finding the medical debt crisis in America is worsening despite advances in health care policy.

8 Oct 2014