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Newspaper editors join in call for greater transparency in health talks

The Washington Times: The American Society of News Editors on Tuesday joined C-SPAN in calling for "more openness and transparency" on health care reform.

21 Jan 2010

BARDA awards Duke University $3.7M to develop diagnostic test for detecting radiation exposure

Duke University has received a $3.7 million contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop a rapid and accurate genomic-based diagnostic test that can determine if a person has been exposed to radiation from a dirty bomb or nuclear attack. In the event that all option years are exercised by the government, Duke University could receive up to $43.6 million from the contract.

21 Jan 2010

Obesity in pregnant women is associated with increased risk of birth defects

In recent years, there has been a large increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese women of childbearing age, with approximately 51% of non-pregnant women ages 20 to 39 being classified as overweight or obese.

21 Jan 2010

OA urges patients to stop smoking before surgery to protect their own health

During National Non-Smoking Week, Ontario's Anesthesiologists (OA) are once again urging patients to stop smoking before surgery in order to protect their own health. In addition, Ontario's Anesthesiologists estimate that if every smoker scheduled for surgery stopped 6-8 weeks prior to their procedure, approximately $122 million could be saved by the health care system.

21 Jan 2010

Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center to open to patients in February

Ushering in a new era in comprehensive cardiac care, the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center celebrated its opening today at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

21 Jan 2010

NHC urges congress to continue work on meaningful healthcare reform

The National Health Council (NHC), an organization providing a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers, today sent a letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to "continue working to accomplish the long-sought goal of health care reform."

21 Jan 2010

Second earthquake hits Haiti as international relief efforts continue

"A strong earthquake struck Haiti on Wednesday morning, shaking buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets only eight days after the country's capital was devastated by a previous quake," the Canadian Press reports. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 6.1 magnitude quake was approximately 35 miles northwest of the capital of Port-au-Prince. "It was not immediately possible to ascertain what additional damage the new quake may have caused," the news service writes (Faul, 1/20).

21 Jan 2010

THCA concerned over pressure on state and federal funding for Texas' nursing home residents

The President of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA), Tim Graves, today expressed concern about the growing cumulative pressure on the critical state and federal funding needed to preserve and protect Texas' most vulnerable nursing home residents. Specifically, Graves warned that sharp federal Medicare cuts already put in place by the Obama Administration in late 2009 – as well as those contained within the pending federal health care reform bill – must be a key consideration as state lawmakers begin assessing budgetary priorities in the face of looming state budget deficits.

21 Jan 2010

InterLingua Medical Publishing introduces Medical Point2's to solve language barriers in health care

According to US Census, some 37 million Americans five years of age and older —nearly one in eight residents of this country—speak a language other than English at home.

21 Jan 2010

New York Times examines innovative approaches to tackling infrastructure needs in developing countries

The New York Times explores efforts across the U.S. to craft and implement affordable solutions to infrastructure problems around the world. It also looks at programs geared toward supporting the work of local entrepreneurs to build solutions to the problems on the ground.

21 Jan 2010

FORBA Holdings to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid fraud allegations

The United States today announced that it has settled False Claims Act allegations against FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental management company that provides business management and administrative services to 69 clinics nationwide known as "Small Smiles Centers." Under the agreement, FORBA will pay the United States and participating states $24 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it caused bills to be submitted to state Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary dental services performed on children insured by Medicaid, which is funded jointly by the federal and state governments.

21 Jan 2010

Health reform: Divided Democrats consider next steps

The Washington Post: "Unless Democrats can thread a very narrow legislative needle, Republican Scott Brown's upset victory over Martha Coakley in Massachusetts on Tuesday could lead to the collapse of a health-care bill that, only weeks ago, appeared close to becoming law." Though Democratic leaders have tried, in public, to be positive that the health bill "could remain on course," there are increasing concerns that moderates will now "begin to back away from the legislation, fearing its political effects."

21 Jan 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Childhood obesity in America is a major public health issue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, is partnering with schools across the state to get kids moving and eating healthier.

21 Jan 2010

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Walgreens announced today that they have joined forces to educate people about the need to take in adequate levels of Vitamin D. The two organizations are working with United Way of the Midlands on a Vitamin D giveaway program being piloted in Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina.

21 Jan 2010

KHN column: Give nurses a bigger role in improving health care

In a column for Kaiser Health News, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, writes the following: "Skilled health provider. Sympathetic caregiver. Trusted dispenser of medicines. Capable interpreter of complicated medical instructions.

21 Jan 2010

SCA begins new initiative to make 'error-free' cardiac surgery a reality

Is it possible for cardiac surgery teams to completely eliminate medical errors? That's the goal of an ambitious project—called the "Flawless Operative Cardiovascular Unified Systems" (FOCUS) initiative—being undertaken by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA).

21 Jan 2010

New survey: Nurses should have more influence on health care services, say opinion leaders

From reducing medical errors, to increasing the quality of care, to promoting wellness, to improving efficiency and reducing costs, a new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders say nurses should have more influence.

21 Jan 2010

GSK to offer scientists access to compounds, lab space to fight malaria

Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)'s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty on Tuesday unveiled the company's plans to allow "free access to its library of 13,500 potential malaria treatments and devote the profits from its experimental [RTS,S] vaccine to battling tropical illnesses that beset poor countries," Bloomberg reports (Randall, 1/20).

21 Jan 2010

Lawmakers discuss health reform bill's future; Reid says Senate won't take further action until Brown is seated

After "long-shot" Republican candidate Scott Brown won Massachusetts' Tuesday Senate election "no clear strategy emerged to keep President Barack Obama's top domestic priority moving through the halls of Congress. With the loss of the crucial 60th vote, two alternatives moved into consideration," Politico reports.

21 Jan 2010

Afro-American fathers with depressive symptoms are less likely to spend time with their children

African-American fathers who do not live with their sons and who suffer from depression are less likely to spend time with them, according to a University of Michigan study.

21 Jan 2010

Health Care News and Research

Newspaper editors join in call for greater transparency in health talks

BARDA awards Duke University $3.7M to develop diagnostic test for detecting radiation exposure

Obesity in pregnant women is associated with increased risk of birth defects

OA urges patients to stop smoking before surgery to protect their own health

Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center to open to patients in February

NHC urges congress to continue work on meaningful healthcare reform

Second earthquake hits Haiti as international relief efforts continue

THCA concerned over pressure on state and federal funding for Texas' nursing home residents

InterLingua Medical Publishing introduces Medical Point2's to solve language barriers in health care

New York Times examines innovative approaches to tackling infrastructure needs in developing countries

FORBA Holdings to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid fraud allegations

Health reform: Divided Democrats consider next steps

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

KHN column: Give nurses a bigger role in improving health care

SCA begins new initiative to make 'error-free' cardiac surgery a reality

New survey: Nurses should have more influence on health care services, say opinion leaders

GSK to offer scientists access to compounds, lab space to fight malaria

Lawmakers discuss health reform bill's future; Reid says Senate won't take further action until Brown is seated

Afro-American fathers with depressive symptoms are less likely to spend time with their children

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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