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STS collaborates with DCRI to improve patient safety

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons continues to break new ground in patient safety and quality measurement through a new collaboration with the Duke Clinical Research Institute. DCRI will establish a link with STS clinical data and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services claims data. This link will enable participants and researchers using data from the STS National Database to track long-term patient outcomes.

11 Mar 2014

Study finds link between elevated urinary Gb3 and heart disease

A special newly discovered biomarker, "Gb3," potentially related to the survival of heart disease patients, could change the way the country's No. 1 killer is monitored in the future, according to research published in the Feb. 4 edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Mar 2014

Connecticut Children's OCCH receives $1M grant to address critical public health issues for children

UnitedHealthcare has provided a $1 million grant for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center's Office for Community Child Health to help enhance care delivery and address critical public health issues for children. These issues include child development, wellness, and chronic conditions such as asthma and obesity.

11 Mar 2014

Novel approach to track Montreal consumers' food choices

Poor food choices, such as overconsumption of carbonated soft drinks, are an important factor driving the global obesity epidemic and have been linked directly to diabetes and heart disease. While public health agencies are working to help people to make healthier choices, monitoring the effectiveness of these efforts has been costly and difficult. But now, using the same digital data employed by marketers to promote food products, McGill University's David Buckeridge has developed a way for health agencies to track Montreal consumers' food choices, neighborhood by neighborhood.

11 Mar 2014

Legal concerns raised over making Medicaid recipients work in Missouri

Elsewhere, some business groups enlist help to get their states to expand the program. Also, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urges Georgia's governor to accept the expansion, which also makes news in New Hampshire and Utah.

11 Mar 2014

Damage to brain cells plays role in development of epilepsy after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury is a risk factor for epilepsy, though the relationship is not understood. A new study in mice, published in Cerebral Cortex, identifies increased levels of a specific neurotransmitter as a contributing factor connecting traumatic brain injury (TBI) to post-traumatic epilepsy. The findings suggest that damage to brain cells called interneurons disrupts neurotransmitter levels and plays a role in the development of epilepsy after a traumatic brain injury.

11 Mar 2014

Uninsured rate hits lowest point in five years

According to a Gallup survey released Monday, the health law appears to be reaching its central goal -- reducing the number of Americans without insurance. But NBC News reports that Latinos continue to be more likely to be uninsured than white or black Americans.

11 Mar 2014

Sysmex America, Henry Schein sign three-year distribution agreement

Sysmex America, Inc., a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, and Henry Schein, Inc., the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, today announced the signing of a three-year distribution agreement between the companies effective immediately.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 11 Mar 2014

As enrollment deadline looms, subsidies still confuse some consumers

The Wall Street Journal unveils a calculator to help explain these tax credits, or subsidies, while the CT Mirror looks at last-minute consumer questions.

11 Mar 2014

Health2 Resources becomes Executive Member of Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative

Health2 Resources announced today it has joined the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative as an Executive Member. Executive Members guide the PCPCC's efforts to advance an effective health system built on a strong foundation of primary care and the patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

11 Mar 2014

APAPO recognizes Senator Sherrod Brown with 2014 Outstanding Leadership Award

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was honored last night by the American Psychological Association Practice Organization for his advocacy work and legislative accomplishments on mental health issues. APAPO recognized Sen. Brown with the 2014 Outstanding Leadership Award, given annually to a member of Congress who has done good work on behalf of professional psychology.

11 Mar 2014

Administration reverses course on proposed Medicare drug changes

After advancing a number of changes to the Medicare Part D program earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services withdrew its plan, which had drawn significant opposition from patients, drug companies and lawmakers in both parties.

11 Mar 2014

Aetna, Atlantic ACO announce new accountable care agreement

Aetna and Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, a partner of Atlantic Health System, today announced a new accountable care agreement that will improve the coordination and delivery of patient care. Atlantic ACO will deliver a better patient experience for more than 28,000 Aetna members in Morris, Sussex, Union, Somerset, Warren and Passaic counties.

11 Mar 2014

Hi-Tech Pharmacal's third fiscal quarter net sales decrease 7% to $59.9 million

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc. today reported results for the third fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2014.

11 Mar 2014

Almost Family reports record net service revenues of $96.3 million in Q4 2013

Almost Family, Inc., a leading regional provider of home health nursing and personal care services, announced today its financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2013.

11 Mar 2014

Study examines long-term outcomes of patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals

A new study released today at a meeting of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) shows that patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units had better long-term clinical outcomes than those treated in nursing homes.

11 Mar 2014

MedVantx MedStart Connect program increases patient initiation of new prescriptions

New research presented today at the World Congress Summit to Improve Adherence and Enhance Patient Engagement by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, finds that a unique generic medication sampling program, the MedVantx MedStart™ Connect program, implemented in the primary care physicians' office, led to significantly increased patient initiation of new prescriptions (primary adherence) as well as continued use of the medications (secondary adherence), and could possibly lead to savings for health plans.

11 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 11, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is stepping back from proposed changes to the Medicare drug program.

11 Mar 2014

DaVita to host Google+ Hangout on Air to global kidney disease awareness on World Kidney Day

DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and a leading provider of kidney care services, will host a Google+ Hangout on Air dedicated to global kidney disease awareness on World Kidney Day.

11 Mar 2014

AAOHN, ACOEM collaborate to study workplace health and safety issues linked with use of marijuana

The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) have announced they will collaborate to study workplace health and safety issues associated with worker impairment from the use of marijuana and other drugs.

11 Mar 2014