Health Care News and Research

RSS

San Diego's PACE program lowering cost for seniors who want to retain independence

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that an elderly care program is allowing senior citizens to retain their independence by providing medical care and home assistance through a nonprofit program.

5 Jan 2010

Health reform opponents mobilize against individual mandate

Some opponents of the congressional health bills "think their last, best hope to halt the legislation lies not in the U.S. Capitol but in the court across the street," The Washington Post reports.

5 Jan 2010

Health debate puts Nelson under scrutiny, brings attention to Dean

Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson's crucial 60th vote allowed his Senate colleagues to block a likely Republican filibuster and pass their version of the health overhaul legislation last month, but it also brought him unwelcome attention at home, The Wall Street Journal reports.

4 Jan 2010

Shah confirmed by Senate to head USAID

The Senate has "confirmed Rajiv Shah as head of USAID, putting the 36-year-old doctor in charge of the sprawling $20 billion aid agency which stands poised for a major funding boost," Reuters reports.

4 Jan 2010

SPIN launches Spine Pain Treatment Centers in U.S. metropolitan areas

Spine Pain Management, Inc. (OTCBB: SPIN) is pleased to provide a corporate overview, as well as its strategic vision, through 2011. Based in Houston, Texas, the company delivers solutions to Spinal Health Care Providers for necessary and appropriate treatment for musculo-skeletal / spinal injury (SI) injuries resulting from traumatic accidents, in an order to maximize patient recovery.

4 Jan 2010

Health care and nursing jobs continue to be in demand

The new year promises new health care industry jobs around the country, but in some places, such as Indiana, a shortage of nursing instructors could lead to fewer trained nurses to fill those jobs.

4 Jan 2010

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other factors that helped the situation. "The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic," the newspaper writes.

4 Jan 2010

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Democratic lawmakers will begin this week to try to hammer out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a health care reform bill as they keep an eye on votes for the measures.

4 Jan 2010

Delays and denials of disability claims at VA frustrate veterans

CBS News' 60 Minutes reports on delays and wrongful denials of disability claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs. "There is a sacred tradition in the military: leave no one behind on the battlefield. But many veterans are beginning to believe their country has left them behind at home, once they're out of uniform and in need of help."

4 Jan 2010

Despite huge expansion of coverage, millions of people would remain uninsured under Senate bill

The Senate health care reform bill would leave as many as 23 million people without insurance by 2018, providing a problem for Democrats who ultimately want universal health care, The Washington Post reports.

4 Jan 2010

Physicians raise concerns about proposed Medicare changes

The health care legislation being considered by Congress seeks to reform Medicare and look for alternatives to the fee-for-service payment system, which critics say discourages care coordination and quality. American Medical News reports on one alternative called bundling, in which "doctors and hospitals are paid for all services to a patient in an episode of care for a particular condition.

4 Jan 2010

CDC aims for improved efficiency, increased support of science

Changes "aimed at increasing the agency's efficiency and making it more user-friendly" include combining "the work of the malaria branch, the epidemiology program and HIV/AIDS efforts" under the newly formed Center for Global Health, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Poole, 1/1).

4 Jan 2010

Obama administration focuses on data-driven results in health care

NPR reports the budget office's use of pedometers to encourage employees to do more physical activity exemplifies "the Obama administration [reliance] on intensive data-gathering to help mold behavior." Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, says "'[w]hen you measure something and have a competition surrounding it, it creates a strong incentive to do more of it.' … Whether it's health care, education or even the war in Afghanistan, the president and his team are big believers in the power of information."

4 Jan 2010

Judy Gelinas recommends parents to follow three health care practices for children in 2010

To kick-off the New Year in a healthy way, Judy Gelinas, director of the St. Christopher's Foundation for Children's Community Oral Health Initiative, recommends that local parents have their children adopt the following three practices in 2010 as part of their New Year's Resolution

4 Jan 2010

Rally for passage of the Alcohol-Related Services Act

To advocate for the passage of AB 1019, the Alcohol-Related Services Act - Authored by Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose), the bill creates the Alcohol-Related Services Program within the California Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs.

4 Jan 2010

Virtual Education and Simulation Training Center serves as virtual hospital

At Christiana Care Health System's VEST Center, babies are born every day, just as they are in a real hospital. Adults and children are rushed to the emergency department with injuries suffered in accidents. Patients are intubated, have their blood drawn and get IV drips.

4 Jan 2010

Rising prevalence of dementia will cripple Canadian families, the health care system and economy

A report released by the Alzheimer Society today to mark Alzheimer Awareness Month reveals alarming new statistics about the projected economic and social costs of dementia in Canada. Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society, says that, if nothing changes the prevalence of dementia will more than double in 30 years, with the costs increasing ten-fold.

4 Jan 2010

Attorney General implores Congress to remove Nebraska provision from federal health care legislation

Attorney General Tom Corbett has joined 11 of his fellow attorneys general urging the leaders of Congress to delete the Nebraska provision from the pending federal health care legislation.

4 Jan 2010

WDI utilizes DXA analysis for fitness and weight management programs

Women's Digital Imaging of Ridgewood (WDI), has begun using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), a technology developed to screen for osteoporosis (bone loss), to measure body fat in patients who want a more accurate method of establishing goals and measuring results for weight management and fitness programs.

4 Jan 2010

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals announces projected financial results for 2009

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Chinese traditional medicines, pharmaceutical products, natural health products, health food, cosmetics, and medical equipment in Northeastern China, today announced its projected financial results for the year ending December 31, 2009.

4 Jan 2010