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Modern malaria control efforts counteract effects of rising temperatures: Scientists

Contrary to a widespread assumption, global warming is unlikely to expand the range of malaria because of malaria control, development and other factors that are at work to corral the disease.

20 May 2010

Child's autism does not affect family structure

Having a child with autism can put stress on the parents' marriage, and a frequently cited statistic leads to a common perception that the divorce rate among these families is as high as 80 percent. But a study to be released at a news conference today by researchers from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore found that a child's autism has no effect on the family structure.

20 May 2010

Non-adherence to medication increases risk of falling in older adults

Older adults increase their chances of falling by not taking their medications as directed, according to an article in the latest edition of the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences (Volume 65A, Number 5). This new information comes from a recent study of Boston-area residents over age 70, which found that those who sometimes neglected their medications experienced a 50 percent increased rate of falls compared with those who did not.

20 May 2010

Research shows improved treatment of severe epilepsy reduces overall cost of the condition

Improved treatment of severe epilepsy could reduce the overall cost of the condition, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomic Outcomes Research at the Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.

20 May 2010

Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for children and adults at risk

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends immunization of children and adults at the highest risk for hepatitis during "Hepatitis Awareness Month" and "World Hepatitis Day" on May 19.

20 May 2010

Global Fund launches campaign to generate public support for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Thursday launched a campaign to generate public support for efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015, the BBC reports. "The Born HIV Free campaign comes at a critical time, with the fund seeking donations of up to $20bn over the next three years," the BBC continues.

20 May 2010

World Health Assembly news

Media outlets continue to track news emerging from the 63rd annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

20 May 2010

New study shows preoperative statin therapy protects patients undergoing elective AAA repair

Preoperative statin therapy has a protective effect on patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair that reduces risk and subsequent total hospital costs according to a new study from researchers at the East Carolina Heart Institute in Greenville, North Carolina.

20 May 2010

African American, Latino children with special health care needs less likely to receive family-centered care: Study

The concept of family-centered care for children with special health care needs is based on the understanding that a partnership among patients, families and health care professionals is essential to providing quality care.

20 May 2010

New U.N. efforts aim to help Haitians obtain 'secure housing'

"The head of the U.N. mission in Haiti Edmond Mulet unveiled new efforts Tuesday to provide secure housing to thousands of people made homeless by January's devastating earthquake," Agence France-Presse reports.

20 May 2010

Texas prison health care system to lay off nearly 12 percent of workforce

The state institution that provides health services to Texas state prisoners will lay off 363 workers because of budget cuts. "The announcement is expected to ramp up concerns over a growing state budget crisis — and how Texas can continue to pay for a massive prison health care system that gobbles tens of millions of additional taxpayer dollars each year.

20 May 2010

CMS to spend $73 million over 5 years to improve public websites

Washington Business Journal: "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded Fairfax-based CGI Federal Inc. a five-year contract worth $73.2 million to continue its modernization, application management and maintenance efforts on three external websites that provide information to 44 million beneficiaries and millions more health care providers."

20 May 2010

Lancet special series examines TB worldwide

The Lancet released on Wednesday a special series on tuberculosis, which includes a series of papers and comments highlighting the need for new tools, the threat posed by drug-resistant strains, results of current control efforts and other issues about TB worldwide, Agence France-Presse reports.

20 May 2010

Wellpoint CEO Braly faces sharp criticism at shareholders meeting

"Pressure is mounting on WellPoint Inc. Chief Executive Angela Braly, who faced tough questions about the health insurer's practices at its annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, before the gathering ended abruptly after a director collapsed," The Wall Street Journal reports.

20 May 2010

St. Jude Medical to acquire LightLab for $90M in cash

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, and LightLab Imaging, Inc. today announced a definitive agreement under which St. Jude Medical will acquire LightLab, a subsidiary of Goodman Co., Ltd. for approximately $90 million in cash.

20 May 2010

Hospitals under pressure from flagging budgets, regulators

The Washington Post reports on one suburban Maryland health system: "A special panel in charge of finding a company to take over Prince George's County's ailing health-care system has been unable to complete a sale of the system after a two-year search ... Bidders have been interested in separate parts of the system. But the panel's mandate is to ensure the facilities are sold at the same time to prevent buyers from cherry-picking ...

20 May 2010

KHN and WSJ reporters discuss health overhaul

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey and The Wall Street Journal's Janet Adamy discussed the many ways the health overhaul law will affect health care consumers young and old, and especially people with Medicare coverage on NPR's Talk of the Nation yesterday.

20 May 2010

Mass. Senate approves health costs bill to help small biz pay health costs and other state news

The Massachusetts Senate Tuesday approved a bill that would make wealthy hospitals pay $100 million in a one-time contribution to help small businesses ease insurance premiums. "The bill would let businesses with 50 or fewer workers form cooperatives to purchase insurance at a lower cost. Another provision presses insurers to spend at least 90 percent of premium dollars on care and 10 percent or less on administrative costs.

20 May 2010

Health care high school to open in Chicago

Crain's Chicago Business reports that, in the fall, the city will open its "first charter high school specializing in health care, a move local hospitals hope will help relieve chronic workforce shortages. ... Juniors and seniors will be able to earn credits by shadowing hospital workers and interning as assistant nurses and in other professions."

20 May 2010

Loyola University Chicago introduces new online doctorate degree program in bioethics

Classes have begun for Loyola University Chicago's new online doctorate degree program in bioethics, designed to provide advanced training in the ethical issues surrounding the complexities of modern medical research and clinical care.

20 May 2010

Health Care News and Research

Modern malaria control efforts counteract effects of rising temperatures: Scientists

Child's autism does not affect family structure

Non-adherence to medication increases risk of falling in older adults

Research shows improved treatment of severe epilepsy reduces overall cost of the condition

Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for children and adults at risk

Global Fund launches campaign to generate public support for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV

World Health Assembly news

New study shows preoperative statin therapy protects patients undergoing elective AAA repair

African American, Latino children with special health care needs less likely to receive family-centered care: Study

New U.N. efforts aim to help Haitians obtain 'secure housing'

Texas prison health care system to lay off nearly 12 percent of workforce

CMS to spend $73 million over 5 years to improve public websites

Lancet special series examines TB worldwide

Wellpoint CEO Braly faces sharp criticism at shareholders meeting

St. Jude Medical to acquire LightLab for $90M in cash

Hospitals under pressure from flagging budgets, regulators

KHN and WSJ reporters discuss health overhaul

Mass. Senate approves health costs bill to help small biz pay health costs and other state news

Health care high school to open in Chicago

Loyola University Chicago introduces new online doctorate degree program in bioethics

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

How microplastics and bacteria interact to drive antibiotic resistance

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