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Opinions: U.S. funding for global emergencies; Haiti reconstruction

In a Politico opinion piece, Dan Glickman, who recently became the president of Refugees International, discusses the importance of U.S. funding for emergencies worldwide.

6 Apr 2010

Study finds link between BRCA mutations and contralateral breast cancer

Women with breast cancer before age 55 who carry an inherited mutation in the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are four times more likely to develop cancer in the breast opposite, or contralateral, to their initial tumor as compared to breast cancer patients without these genetic defects.

6 Apr 2010

TIAA-CREF collaborates with NFLHE to promote development of Latino healthcare leaders

TIAA-CREF, America's largest private retirement system, today announced a relationship with the National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives, a national nonprofit organization led by senior executive healthcare leaders in the U.S. that works with the healthcare system to meet the needs of diverse communities throughout the nation.

6 Apr 2010

Two pioneering hospital systems to pilot Unity Medical's Medical Video jLog for Apple iPad

Unity Medical, Inc. a premier provider of digital health tools that enhance the patient experience today announced that two pioneering hospital systems will pilot the company's new Medical Video jLog™ for the Apple iPad™, an innovative application that utilizes short form interactive video to explain common medical procedures such as CT scans, cardiac stent placements, and physical rehabilitation treatment.

6 Apr 2010

New health law will ban future physician-owned hospitals; The trauma and cost of patient "dumping"

One of the more obscure components of the landmark health care reform bill passed by Congress includes a provision to ban future physician-owned hospitals and crimp the growth of this rising market niche. Northwest Indiana is home to five hospitals owned wholly or partly by doctors practicing here.

6 Apr 2010

CMS aids Medicare counseling programs

In the latest healthcare reforms there was a mandatory freeze in payments of $130 billion over the next decade. This was criticized by President Obama as a corporate giveaway. Initially Medicare had proposed a preliminary increase of 1.28% in February. Since this was vetoed due to the new health care law that mandates the rates remain unchanged, an announcement under the Medicare Advantage program from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was made yesterday. Under this program it was expected that it would be 14% of the total earning in 2011 at Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth and 42 percent for Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana, Dave Shove.

6 Apr 2010

Comprehensive cardiac health study provides superior results

Kenneth "Buddy" Conant hit some clothing stores for a little shopping spree recently, but it wasn't because he'd suddenly become enthralled with the latest fashions. The truth was, he was starting to resemble a kid wearing a grown man's clothes.

6 Apr 2010

Rush University Medical Center seeks LEED certification for new buildings

Rush University Medical Center is taking the lead in adopting environmentally friendly and sustainable design, construction and operation practices that not only promote the health of the environment, but also the health of patients and staff.

6 Apr 2010

KHN column: Why Americans should support an individual mandate

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, done in collaboration with The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn writes: "Imagine for a moment that you work in a hospital emergency room. And just outside the door, a man has collapsed from a heart attack.

6 Apr 2010

People with depression and anxiety disorders can benefit from exercise program

Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies.

6 Apr 2010

HHS grants $1.84 billion through Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program for HIV/AIDS care and medications

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the release of more than $1.84 billion to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS continue to have access to life-saving health care and medications.

6 Apr 2010

Aethon and Bosch Group announce new partnership deal

Aethon, Inc., the leading developer of mobile robotics for hospital supply chain logistics, is pleased to announce a partnership with the Bosch Group that includes an investment of $5 million through its venture arm, Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH.

6 Apr 2010

TIME examines Haitians' concern about aid, recovery

"[A]s crucial as the donor news [from last week's conference in New York] was, many Haitians made homeless by the temblor ... have simply tuned out," TIME reports in an article examining Haitian attitudes to the international reconstruction effort.

6 Apr 2010

Medical billing errors create significant costs for patients

The Denver Post reports on billing errors and the experience of Mike Dziedzic, who was charged with more than $100,000 in medical claims while caring for his dying wife because of a transposed pair of digits in a medical identification number.

6 Apr 2010

U.S. Marshals seizes unapproved drug products

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals on March 31 seized a range of consumer products, including creams, capsules, tablets, gum, throat spray, and shampoos from a Haywood, Wis., manufacturer.

6 Apr 2010

Qutenza 8% patch now available for pain associated with PHN: NeurogesX

NeurogesX, Inc. announced today that Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch, the first and only product containing prescription-strength capsaicin, is now available. Clinical studies have shown that a single one-hour Qutenza application can provide three months relief from pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia, the nerve pain that can occur after shingles.

6 Apr 2010

Preventive care, illegal immigrants and other health law notes

Reports continue to explore elements of the health reform debate such as the politically contentious issue of illegal immigrants' coverage, health care coverage for young adults, disease prevention and the next tanning-salon tax.

6 Apr 2010

Prescription drug abuse reaches epidemic proportions

Poisoning is now the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S. While several recent high-profile Hollywood celebrity cases have brought the problem to public attention, the rates of unintentional poisoning deaths have been on the rise for more than 15 years.

6 Apr 2010

Officials focus on inequalities in medical research

"After years of individual cancer centers exploring ways to recruit more people from minority populations for cancer studies, $3.8 million in federal stimulus money has been awarded to five institutions — including M.D. Anderson (Cancer Center at the University of Texas) — to work on the issue together for the next two years. The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health, funded the project."

6 Apr 2010

World Health Day to focus on making cities healthier

As part of this year's World Health Day, the WHO on Wednesday will launch a program to encourage cities to become more healthy to help mitigate the health risks associated with rapid urbanization, Agence France Presse/Inquirer.net Global Nation reports.

6 Apr 2010