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ZOLL to display resuscitation technology, temperature management solutions at AHA 2011

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, today announced that 27 scientific presentations related to ZOLL products and technology are scheduled to be presented during the American Heart Association (AHA) 2011 Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS) and Scientific Sessions.

10 Nov 2011

U.N. official urges donors to provide more relief for flooding in Central America

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg on Tuesday "urged donors to give generously to assist Nicaragua and El Salvador cope with the aftermath of the recent floods, saying that the scale of the disaster is beyond what the small Central American nations can handle on their own," the U.N. News Centre reports.

10 Nov 2011

PlusNews examines difficulties in diagnosing, treating MDR-TB in children

PlusNews examines the difficulties in diagnosing and treating multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in children, writing, "With weaker immune systems, children who contract TB -- most often from parents -- progress to active disease in about a year. But just how many children are affected is not known as there is almost no research into children and MDR-TB -- and very little useful guidance on how to treat them."

10 Nov 2011

Super committee: GOP offers tax deal, Democrats dismiss it

Republicans said Tuesday that they might allow $250 billion to $300 billion of additional tax revenue as part of a deal to shave $1.2 trillion from federal deficits over the next 10 years. Democrats, though, did not seem to view the plan as a major concession.

10 Nov 2011

Massachusetts seniors and workers rally against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

From the packed Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Sue Rummel of Danvers exclaimed, "I can't afford any cuts to my benefits!" The 64-year-old AARP member who is self-employed and still working, added her voice to thousands of others saying, "Stop the Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid!"

10 Nov 2011

States cope with health law's MLR, insurance exchange requirements

Georgia was granted some delay in the law's MLR requirements, and in Tennessee and Minnesota, insurance exchange decisions are slowly being made.

10 Nov 2011

Too much at stake to scale back U.S. global engagement

Frank Carlucci, former national security adviser and secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan; Lee Hamilton, a retired Democratic congressman and former vice chair of the 9/11 Commission; and Tom Ridge, former homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush -- all members of the Advisory Council for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition -- write in this Washington Times editorial, "At a time of economic distress and huge deficits that demand tough choices, it is tempting for elected officials to scale back this country's engagement around the globe, in particular by making cuts to programs that support diplomacy and international development. Yet too much is at stake to diminish America's leadership and competitiveness in a world that is growing more interconnected and interdependent -- as well as more turbulent -- virtually every day."

10 Nov 2011

D.C. Court of Appeals upholds health law's individual mandate

One of the nation's most closely watched federal courts ruled Tuesday that the new health care law's requirement that most Americans get health insurance is constitutional, giving a surprise boost to President Obama's signature domestic achievement.

10 Nov 2011

New poverty figures show large increase in number of poor older Americans nationwide

New poverty figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau show a large increase in the number of poor Americans nationwide, specifically older adults.

10 Nov 2011

Tailored anti-platelet therapy optimizes treatment for patients wtih common genetic variant

Tailored anti-platelet therapy, made possible through a novel point-of-care genetic test, optimizes treatment for patients who carry a common genetic variant, researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) have found.

10 Nov 2011

State roundup: Alaska's dental problem; some Minn. health funding blocked

The need for dental care in rural Alaska is huge. According to a recent CDC report, the rate of cavities among rural Alaska Native children is four and a half times greater than the general population of U.S. children of the same age. ... But it's important to note the dental therapist program in Alaska is not without controversy.

10 Nov 2011

WebMD Magazine names UCSD professor as 2011 Health Hero

Ellen Beck, MD, clinical professor of medicine in the UC San Diego School of Medicine's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, has been named a 2011 Health Hero by WebMD Magazine.

10 Nov 2011

LCA calls on VA to screen veterans at high risk for lung cancer

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) salutes the nation's 22 million Veterans for their service to our country and calls on the Department of Veterans Affairs to institute CT screening for those at high risk for lung cancer.

10 Nov 2011

A range of studies highlight health care shortcomings

The New York Times reports that a $20 million government-supported study regarding an operation to prevent strokes was cut short when it found the surgery was not helping patients. Also, a Commonwealth Fund study concluded that the U.S. ranks near the bottom when compared to other countries on how it cares for the sickest patients. Lastly, the Health and Human Services inspector general finds a quarter of hospitalized Medicare patients received improper treatment.

10 Nov 2011

Miss. voters reject abortion measure; Ohio restores pubic employees' rights

Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment to block implementation of the individual mandate, but that measure could easily become moot if the Supreme Court rules on the issue.

10 Nov 2011

Cigna to launch Go the Distance for Veterans program

Cigna today announced the company will honor the men and women who served and defended our nation with a Go the Distance for Veterans program launching Friday.

10 Nov 2011

World-renowned cardiologist receives 2011 TCT Career Achievement Award

Eric J. Topol, MD, a world-renowned cardiologist and physician-scientist, was presented the 2011 TCT Career Achievement Award in a ceremony held today during the 23rd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

10 Nov 2011

Kansas Gov. announces revamping of Medicaid

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced a major overhaul of the state's Medicaid program today, which would put nearly all Medicaid recipients into private, managed-care plans. While low-income families are currently in such plans, elderly and disabled Kansans receive care through a fee-for-service system.

10 Nov 2011

U.N., aid groups appeal for additional funding, supplies for Pakistan flood victims

The U.N. and several other international aid groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Care and ACTED, on Wednesday "warn[ed] they are running short of money and supplies to help millions of people affected by floods in Pakistan," the Associated Press reports.

10 Nov 2011

U of T, UHN launch Techna Institute to develop new healthcare technologies

The Techna Institute, an innovation hub poised to integrate and fast track research, development and commercialization of new healthcare technologies, launches today at University Health Network (UHN) and the University of Toronto.

10 Nov 2011