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Use of minimally invasive surgery varies widely across US hospitals

Hospitals across the country vary substantially in their use of minimally invasive surgery, even when evidence shows that for most patients, minimally invasive surgery is superior to open surgery, a new study shows. The finding represents a major disparity in the surgical care delivered at various hospitals, the study's authors say, and identifies an area of medicine ripe for improvement.

9 Jul 2014

Study gives parents, doctors new options to treat children with eczema

The number of children with atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, is on the rise. Some estimate that one in five children in the U.S. now suffers from the painful, itchy skin condition. In an effort to control their symptoms, many children are prescribed powerful medications like immunosuppressants or topical steroids.

9 Jul 2014

Health law backers brace for new battles over 2015 insurance rates

Politico reports that this round of messaging will be critical because rates are expected to increase and could add to Democrats' midterm election challenges.

8 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 7, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of stories related to the implementation of the health law, and the politics surrounding it.

7 Jul 2014

Brain uses varying strategies to filter out distractions

You know the feeling? You are trying to dial a phone number from memory… you have to concentrate…. then someone starts shouting out other numbers nearby.

4 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Court complicates women's health care; decouple work and coverage; Cuomo's fight against AIDS

The 5-4 decision, which runs 89 pages (including a 35-page dissent), is a messy, sprawling affair. The majority insists that its reach is narrow, while the dissent holds otherwise. What's clear is that the ruling will needlessly complicate not only constitutional and corporate law but also -- at least as significant -- health care for women who work at such companies (6/30).

3 Jul 2014

Justices rule home health care aides can't be forced to pay union dues

The high court's ruling will make it more difficult for unions in some states to continue organizing the aides, a rapidly growing segment of the workforce.

1 Jul 2014

State highlights: Caring for Texans injured on-the-job; heroin deaths in Md.; pertussis in Calif.

In formerly depressed South Texas, gas flares from the fracking boom can be seen from outer space. While Texas has a Division of Workers' Compensation, it is the only state that doesn't require any private employer to carry workers' compensation insurance or a private equivalent, so more than 500,000 people have no occupational benefits when they get injured at work. That means they often rely on charities or taxpayers to pay for their care (Root, 6/29)

1 Jul 2014

Wyatt Technology highlights protein-protein interactions study investigated by dynamic light scattering

Wyatt Technology Corporation, the world leader in absolute macromolecular characterization instrumentation, is pleased to highlight a study recently authored by Martin Skov Neergaard from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, “Protein-Protein Interactions Investigated by DLS: Determination at High and Low Protein Concentration.”

From Waters | Wyatt Technology 1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

LifeBridge Health's Neil Meltzer wins AHA Gold Heart Award

The Gold Heart Award, the American Heart Association's highest national recognition for volunteerism, was presented to Neil Meltzer, M.P.H., president and CEO of LifeBridge Health, for his two decades of exceptional leadership and advocacy at the annual Gold Heart Banquet in Dallas, Texas.

1 Jul 2014

Hospitals taking new steps to figure per patient cost

The new tools rely heavily on data to figure out just what it will cost to treat a patient -- and they're sometimes buying information from "data brokers" to do it.

1 Jul 2014

Covenant and Sartori medical centers deploy TRU-D SmartUVC superbug-slaying robot

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa is the latest to deploy TRU-D SmartUVC, a 5-foot-5 germ-killing ultraviolet robot equipped with the only infection prevention data collection and reporting software on the market. TRU-D is now in use at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo and Sartori Medical Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

30 Jun 2014

Advocates and critics brace for High Court decision on contraceptive mandate

The Supreme Court is expected to release its ruling today on a case brought by the owners of Hobby Lobby craft store and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., who object to being forced to offer some types of birth control.

30 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 30, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including an announcement coming today for a new VA secretary and expectations for a Supreme Court decision on the challenge to the health law's contraceptive mandate by two for-profit companies.

30 Jun 2014

Men advised to take proactive approach to prevent hernia

As the preeminent hernia specialist in the Western United States, Dr. Shirin Towfigh has diagnosed and treated a number of patients through incisional hernia surgery and other cutting-edge techniques.

28 Jun 2014

New Brightree Document Management simplifies storing and access to reimbursement documents

Brightree, the leading provider of cloud-based clinical, billing and business management software solutions for the post-acute care industry, announced today the release of new Brightree Document Management capabilities that strengthen a home medical equipment (HME) provider's ability to protect reimbursements and respond more efficiently to additional documentation requests (ADRs).

28 Jun 2014

Sociologists to discuss economic inequality at ASA's Annual Meeting in San Francisco

More than 5,000 sociologists will convene in San Francisco this August to explore ideas and scientific research relating to economic inequality and many other topics, as part of the American Sociological Association's 109th Annual Meeting. This year's theme, "Hard Times: The Impact of Economic Inequality on Families and Individuals," draws attention to the many ways in which inequality reverberates throughout American society and the world.

27 Jun 2014

Skilled midwives in world's poorest nations save lives of women and babies

A modest increase in the number of skilled midwives in the world's poorest nations could save the lives of a substantial number of women and their babies, according to new analyses by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

26 Jun 2014

State highlights: L.A. County to trim new hire retiree benefits; lapses in state education for those with disabilities

Los Angeles County supervisors finalized reforms to health benefits for future employees Tuesday, in a move that is projected to save the county as much as $840 million over the next 30 years. Retiree health benefits became a sticking point in contentious labor negotiations last year. Although not technically part of the contract talks, unions objected to the proposal to reduce retiree benefits (Sewell, 6/24).

26 Jun 2014