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Researchers use 3D ultrasound methods to predict pre-term birth

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that measuring the fetal zone of the adrenal gland is a better predictor of pre-term birth than measuring cervical length.

4 Feb 2010

DNA variants in mother and fetus can increase risk of preterm labor

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified DNA variants in mothers and fetuses that appear to increase the risk for preterm labor and delivery.

4 Feb 2010

Inadequate staffing, interrupted rest breaks and retirement benefit changes impact patient care and nurse safety

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 1,500 registered nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center, held an informational picket today to highlight issues critical to patient safety. Contract negotiations have stalled over several key issues including the ability to take uninterrupted rest breaks, inadequate nurse staffing levels, and changes to retirement benefits.

3 Feb 2010

Report: California biomedical industry faces unprecedented challenges

The biomedical industry is one of the most recession-resilient sectors in California's hard-hit economy and a critical driver of innovation, job growth and revenue that will help lead the state to economic recovery, according to a report released today by the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

3 Feb 2010

Banner Health to use Premier's Web-based labor benchmarking solution

Banner Health is expanding its relationship with the Premier healthcare alliance to include Premier’s OperationsAdvisor® (OA) Web-based labor benchmarking solution.

3 Feb 2010

Gene mutation can trigger preterm births, says study

Mutation of a gene that helps protect the body from genetic instability leads to cellular and molecular changes in the pregnant uterus that trigger premature birth, according to a study appearing online Feb. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

2 Feb 2010

New approach may prove useful in labor anesthesia, orthopedics and more

One of the holy grails of local anesthesia is the ability to achieve a long-lasting nerve block that eliminates pain sensation while not affecting motor function. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have discovered an anesthetic approach that seems to do just that.

2 Feb 2010

Democrats work to restart health bill

Health care reform legislation "has a heartbeat," Roll Call reports, adding that Democrats are hoping a "breather" helps cool emotions, but that their focus will continue to be on eventually passing legislation.

1 Feb 2010

NCD releases January 2010 monthly bulletin

NCD released its latest report on housing entitled The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective, which provides recommendations to improve housing opportunities for people with disabilities.

1 Feb 2010

New rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans for treatment of mental disorders issued

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.

30 Jan 2010

WCRI Study: Louisiana workers’ compensation higher-than-typical indemnity benefits per claim

The costs per all paid claims in Louisiana were 35 percent higher than the typical study state, on average, according to the WCRI study CompScope™ Benchmarks for Louisiana, 10th Edition.

30 Jan 2010

Surgeon General's report lays out recommendations to address childhood obesity

"As many as one in three children are overweight or obese, according to a new report" released yesterday by U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.

30 Jan 2010

Healthcare Services Group declares cash dividend

Healthcare Services Group, Inc.: Our Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $ .21 per common share, payable on March 5, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business February 12, 2010. This dividend represents a 5% increase over the dividend declared for the 2009 third quarter and a 24% increase over the 2008 same period payment.

30 Jan 2010

Democrats offer varying views on health overhaul's fate

NPR interviewed House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to get his reactions to the President's Wednesday night speech.

29 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 29, 2010

Today's news highlights the Democrats' continuing struggle to find a way forward on health reform.

29 Jan 2010

State budget news from Kansas, Massachusetts and Idaho

Kansas Health Institute reports that the recession is crippling Kansas' safety-net system. "The Kansas unemployment insurance system is virtually broke at a time when Department of Labor officials say they need about $15 million a week to pay benefits to out-of-work Kansans.

29 Jan 2010

Celgene reports total revenue of $758M for fourth-quarter of 2009

Celgene Corporation announced non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net income of $290.3 million, or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.62 for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $200.9 million or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.43. Based on U.S. GAAP, Celgene reported net income of $254.2 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.54 for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $149.3 million, or diluted loss per share of $0.33.

28 Jan 2010

Pelosi on health reform: 'We will make every effort'

The Washington Post / Reuters: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said today that abandoning health care reform was not a possibility. "'Let's put it this way. The present (healthcare) system is unsustainable. We can no longer afford it ... We will make every effort to have a health care bill. But we will make progress, whatever it is, one way or the other, we will go forward with that'" (Maler, 1/27).

28 Jan 2010

VentriPoint Diagnostics to present abstract on VMS clinical validation study

VentriPoint Diagnostics Ltd. today announced the abstract of a clinical validation study of the second application of the VentriPoint Medical System (VMS) will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 59th Annual Scientific Session, March 14 to 16 in Atlanta, Georgia. The study demonstrates the accuracy of the method used by the VentriPoint Medical System (VMS) to generate critical heart measurements in three dimensions from two-dimensional ultrasound images with significantly greater speed and accuracy and at considerably lesser cost than is otherwise possible.

27 Jan 2010

Kaiser workers join NUHW; new member-led union caps first year with biggest victories yet

Nearly one year to the day after SEIU seized control of California's healthcare union in a hostile takeover, nurses and healthcare professionals at nearly 100 Kaiser hospitals and clinics have voted to take back their union by joining the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).

27 Jan 2010