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Single test is not enough for making accurate diagnosis of disc herniation

While lower back pain ranks as a common cause of disability in the United States, determining what causes a person's back pain is often challenging. A new Cochrane review on diagnosing back pain finds that no single diagnostic test is good at discriminating between patients who have a herniated disc and patients who do not, according to lead author Danielle van der Windt.

18 Feb 2010

Senior U.N. officials express concern over military provision of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan

The New York Times examines the recent criticisms made by senior U.N. officials in Afghanistan that NATO forces are contributing to "the militarization of humanitarian aid" and the Wednesday announcement that the U.N. will not participate in the military's reconstruction effort in Marja, Afghanistan.

18 Feb 2010

Medication therapy management programs for Aetna Medicare members

Aetna today announced that members who enroll in its 2010 Medicare plans will have access to enhanced services called medication therapy management (MTM) aimed at helping them safely and effectively take medications prescribed by their physician. MTM, which will be delivered by Mirixa Corporation, brings together pharmacists, patients, physicians and other health care professionals to help patients with their medications.

18 Feb 2010

Hill-Rom launches new improved ES bed for healthcare facilities

Hill-Rom today announced the introduction of its enhanced CareAssist® ES bed, now with connectivity features, for use in medical–surgical areas of hospitals and care facilities.

18 Feb 2010

NIA develops CardiacConnections program to drive better patient outcomes

Cardiovascular-related examinations account for more than one in three noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedures in the United States. In response to this growing trend and concerns about clinical appropriateness and affordability, National Imaging Associates, a subsidiary of Magellan Health Services, Inc., developed CardiacConnections™, a cardiac management program designed for the benefit of patients, providers, payers, and the health care industry.

18 Feb 2010

Media examine efforts to eradicate Guinea worm

Agence France-Presse reports on efforts to eradicate Guinea worm, a "painful water-borne parasite that can leave people weakened and sick for months every year" (2/17).

18 Feb 2010

Some heart care costs stay outside insurance coverage, Lowe's does national comparison shopping for employees' heart surgery

MarketWatch reports that though many tout prevention in relation to heart disease, "chances are your insurance won't cover a trip to a dietician, a gym membership or other services that could help you reduce your risk factors."

18 Feb 2010

Congressional Republicans remain skeptical of health summit, but Pawlenty asks for governor inclusion

Although Congressional Republicans continue their dismissal of President Obama's health care summit slated for next week, they are still planning to attend, Roll Call reports. "On Wednesday, the GOP responded contemptuously to Sebelius' declaration" that the already-passed Senate and House bills would be the starting point for the summit negotiations. An aide to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) "referred to a television interview in which his boss made clear the GOP planned to participate in the event" (Drucker, 2/17).

18 Feb 2010

AMGA commends Senator for ensuring EMR incentive payments for medical groups

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) applauds Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for her efforts to assure fairness in payment of electronic medical record (EMR) incentive payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

18 Feb 2010

Report estimates Haiti earthquake damages could reach nearly $14B

The total cost of the destruction in Haiti, resulting from the major earthquake last month, could add up to twice the value of the country's annual economy, three Inter-American Development Bank economists said in a report on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

18 Feb 2010

New database answers question: How healthy is your county?

A new database compares the health of the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S.

18 Feb 2010

Dental insurance fraud: Solutions for benefit cost containment

When Dianne Rose, D.D.S., and her partner, Anthony Paciello, D.M.D., inaugurated P&R Dental Strategies, Inc. over 20 years ago to provide third-party claim review services for national insurance companies, trade unions, self-administered corporations and other dental claims payers, they could not have imagined how far they would eventually be able to take the art of insurance claim review.

18 Feb 2010

Additional 4M people in Asia could fall to 'extreme poverty' level this year, report says

While approximately 17 million Asians fell into "extreme poverty" due to the global economic situation in 2009, another four million in the region "could this year slip into the same situation due to the effects of the slump," according to a report released by representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) in Manlia on Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reports.

18 Feb 2010

Nationwide Better Health awarded full Comprehensive Wellness accreditation from URAC

Nationwide Better HealthSM, a leading provider of health and productivity management solutions, has been awarded full Comprehensive Wellness accreditation from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry.

18 Feb 2010

Review: Giving employees more flexibility over their work schedules likely to boost their health

A new evidence review suggests that giving employees more flexibility over their work schedules is likely to boost their health as judged by measures like blood pressure and stress. But interventions that are motivated or dictated by the needs of the employer, such as cutting hours, either have no effect on employee health or make it worse.

18 Feb 2010

AGHE to hold conference to discuss on gerontological and geriatric education and training

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education - the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America - will hold its 36th Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference from March 4 to 7, 2010, at The Peppermill in Reno, NV. This conference provides a forum for professionals in the field of aging to present their work and share ideas about gerontological and geriatric education and training.

18 Feb 2010

Media examine fight against counterfeit drugs

The Wall Street Journal reports on the recent shutdown of a counterfeit drug ring in Syria, while highlighting a broader problem with counterfeit medicines in the Middle East. Authorities intercepted "millions of dollars worth of breast cancer, leukemia and other medicines … At least 65 people were detained; it couldn't be learned if they were charged. A trial date hasn't yet been set," according to the newspaper, which notes that the drug ring distributor's activities had also penetrated into some public health systems, "particularly in Iraq."

18 Feb 2010

Health Care News and Research

Single test is not enough for making accurate diagnosis of disc herniation

Senior U.N. officials express concern over military provision of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan

Medication therapy management programs for Aetna Medicare members

Hill-Rom launches new improved ES bed for healthcare facilities

NIA develops CardiacConnections program to drive better patient outcomes

Media examine efforts to eradicate Guinea worm

Some heart care costs stay outside insurance coverage, Lowe's does national comparison shopping for employees' heart surgery

Congressional Republicans remain skeptical of health summit, but Pawlenty asks for governor inclusion

AMGA commends Senator for ensuring EMR incentive payments for medical groups

Report estimates Haiti earthquake damages could reach nearly $14B

New database answers question: How healthy is your county?

Dental insurance fraud: Solutions for benefit cost containment

Additional 4M people in Asia could fall to 'extreme poverty' level this year, report says

Nationwide Better Health awarded full Comprehensive Wellness accreditation from URAC

Review: Giving employees more flexibility over their work schedules likely to boost their health

AGHE to hold conference to discuss on gerontological and geriatric education and training

Media examine fight against counterfeit drugs

Hot button health reform issues: The individual mandate and selling insurance across state lines

Insurance rates soar in various states

Feeding preterm infants in response to hunger and satiation cues may allow earlier hospital discharge

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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