Health Care News and Research

RSS

RAND Corporation study reveals shortage of anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists

A recent study from the RAND Corporation, one of the country's most trusted analytic organizations, finds a current shortage of 3,800 anesthesiologists and 1,282 nurse anesthetists. However, if current trends continue, a dramatic shortage of anesthesiologists and a significant surplus of nurse anesthetists are projected by 2020.

26 Aug 2010

Department of Health reports 2010's first human case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania

The Department of Health today reported this year's first human case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania. The individual is a 69-year-old man from Philadelphia County.

26 Aug 2010

Psychiatric Foundation program recognizes PSE as innovator for addressing cognitive, behavioral disabilities

The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health this month recognized Puget Sound Energy as an innovator for the utility's disability case management approach to address the effects of psychiatric and cognitive functioning issues on employee behavior and work performance.

26 Aug 2010

Medical errors cost hospitals $19.5 billion in 2008, says SOA report

A recent report from the Society of Actuaries (SOA) found that medical errors cost hospitals $19.5 billion in 2008. According to the SOA report, the top three most costly medical errors were pressure ulcers, postoperative infections, and mechanical complications of device, implant or graft.

26 Aug 2010

NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

The first detailed and objective consumer's guide on the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has just been released by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), titled "What Does Health Care Reform Mean To You? A Detailed Analysis"

26 Aug 2010

Transparency needed in administration of drug benefits by pharmacy benefit managers

According to a new AARP report, the average retail price of the most popular brand-name drugs increased by 8.3 percent in 2009 and by 41.5 percent over the past five years – rates well in excess of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. At the same time, major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) like CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., hired by employers and other health plan sponsors to negotiate lower prices from drug manufacturers, experienced record profits, in some cases increasing five-fold over the past decade.

26 Aug 2010

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

WRAL: "The [N.C.] state Department of Correction could cut the health costs for inmates by $11.5 million a year by requiring hospitals and other medical service providers to bill Medicaid for eligible expenses, according to a state audit released Tuesday. The amount of potential savings would increase in 2014, when health care reform expands Medicaid eligibility, auditors said.

26 Aug 2010

UNC Hospitals receives NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award

UNC Hospitals has received the American College of Cardiology Foundation's NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2010 - one of only 26 hospitals nationwide to do so.

26 Aug 2010

Baxa ranked 3,494 on Inc. 5000 list of US fastest-growing private businesses

Baxa Corporation today announced its rank of 3,494 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private businesses in the United States. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Baxa, a leading provider of medical devices and systems that automate pharmacy operations, has been listed on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list.

26 Aug 2010

NIH suspends funding new embryonic stem cell research following court order

"The National Institutes of Health announced Tuesday that it has suspended funding new human embryonic stem cell research and that all federally funded experiments already underway will be cut off when they come up for renewal if a new court order is not overturned. The announcement -- which confirmed fears among proponents that the ruling would result in a comprehensive freeze in federal support for stem cell research -- came in response to a court order Monday barring the government from funding the research because it involves the destruction of embryos.

26 Aug 2010

Rep. Gerry Connolly sees strong shift in public view of health reform

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey talks with first term Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who says the health care debate has changed dramatically since the combative town hall meetings of last August when some protesters across the country said passage of sweeping overhaul legislation would amount to a government takeover of the health care system (Carey, 8/25).

26 Aug 2010

IPS explores why some advocates say women-focused MDGs are missing the mark

"A month ahead of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) review summit at the United Nations, some women's groups are voicing concern that member states' commitment to women's issues is insufficient and slowing progress towards gender parity worldwide," Inter Press Service reports in an article that examines progress towards reaching women-centered MDGs.

26 Aug 2010

Washington Times examines how U.S. assesses corruption in aid recipient countries

The Washington Times continues its coverage of the challenges facing the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - "the U.S. government agency that provides large-scale grant to … chosen countries to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. … Although MCC says control of corruption is the single most important indicator by which a nation is deemed qualified for aid money, a review of the State Department's most recent report on human rights reveals that … virtually every country receiving similar grants - has been criticized for government corruption."

26 Aug 2010

TRT receives patent rights for procedure of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone

Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC (TRT), a Woodstock, Georgia medical technology company, recently received the rights to a new patent to bolster its SoftWave technology portfolio. The patent covers a method of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone.

26 Aug 2010

Prescription drug abuse soars despite state monitoring programs

Stateline: Over the past 10 years, "prescription drug abuse has soared to new levels. A recent White House study found a 400 percent increase in abuse from 1998 to 2008.

26 Aug 2010

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Sysmex, a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, today announced a three-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with group purchasing organization Novation. Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing 28,000 sites.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 26 Aug 2010

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

The Associated Press: An effort to streamline the entangled field of Medicare drug plans could mean as many as 3 million seniors "could force 3 million seniors to switch plans next year whether they like it or not, says an independent analysis," by Avalere Health: "beneficiaries will see their prescription plan eliminated as part of a new effort by Medicare to winnow down duplicative coverage and offer consumers more meaningful choices. Seniors would not lose coverage, but they could see changes in their premiums and copayments."

26 Aug 2010

Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT acquires $14.75M inpatient rehabilitation facility in Dallas

Cornerstone Real Estate Funds, and its strategic alliance partner and sub-advisor Servant Healthcare Investments, announced that the Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT has acquired an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) for a purchase price of $14,750,000. The 42-bed, 40,000 square foot property is located in Dallas, Texas and is leased under a long-term lease to GlobalRehab LP.

26 Aug 2010

D.C. in front of the health reform curve, officials say

In this Kaiser Health News short take, staff writer Jessica Marcy reports: "As states across the country scramble to meet the requirements for national health reform, the nation's capital is 'way ahead,' according to Dr. Julie Hudman, director of the Department of Health Care Finance and a member of the city's Health Reform Implementation Committee.

26 Aug 2010

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

The (Portland) Oregonian: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Oregon Tuesday, where state officials -- unlike their counterparts in many capitals around the country -- broadly back the health overhaul plan. "Sebelius is reaching out to governors and state officials, whose cooperation is crucial in implementing the federal health reform law passed in March. The law makes states responsible for accomplishing much of the overhaul work."

26 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

RAND Corporation study reveals shortage of anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists

Department of Health reports 2010's first human case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania

Psychiatric Foundation program recognizes PSE as innovator for addressing cognitive, behavioral disabilities

Medical errors cost hospitals $19.5 billion in 2008, says SOA report

NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

Transparency needed in administration of drug benefits by pharmacy benefit managers

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

UNC Hospitals receives NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award

Baxa ranked 3,494 on Inc. 5000 list of US fastest-growing private businesses

NIH suspends funding new embryonic stem cell research following court order

Rep. Gerry Connolly sees strong shift in public view of health reform

IPS explores why some advocates say women-focused MDGs are missing the mark

Washington Times examines how U.S. assesses corruption in aid recipient countries

TRT receives patent rights for procedure of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone

Prescription drug abuse soars despite state monitoring programs

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT acquires $14.75M inpatient rehabilitation facility in Dallas

D.C. in front of the health reform curve, officials say

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

Latest News