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FUJIFILM receives ONC-ATCB certification for Synapse MU 3.0 EHR technology

FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A. announced today that Synapse MU 3.0, is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as a Complete EHR on June 28, 2012 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable eligible provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

9 Jul 2012

Consumer Reports investigates hospital safety

The magazine offers its rankings of the safest and most dangerous hospitals based on six criteria.

9 Jul 2012

FDA approves KRAS gene mutation test for colorectal cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first genetic test that can help some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their doctors determine if the drug Erbitux (cetuximab) would be an effective treatment based on the absence of a gene mutation. The therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit can provide information about the KRAS gene mutation in patients whose CRC has spread to other parts of their body (metastasized).

7 Jul 2012

FDA action affects companies that manufacture and distribute unapproved oxycodone drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a Federal Register notice instructing companies to stop manufacturing and distributing certain unapproved drugs that contain oxycodone. The notice is part of the FDA's Unapproved Drugs Initiative to remove unapproved new drugs from the market.

6 Jul 2012

Roche receives FDA approval for CMV viral load test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first DNA test to help health care professionals gauge the progress of anti-viral treatment in solid organ transplant patients undergoing cytomegalovirus (CMV) antiviral therapy.

6 Jul 2012

Longer looks: The man behind the 'Personhood' crusade; Atul Gawande on SCOTUS; 'No One Dies Alone' program

In the four years since Mason launched the pro-life group Personhood USA, he has been crisscrossing the country to convince voters that the best way to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that legalized abortion, is to define human embryos as people from the moment of fertilization. ... Mason, the man at the heart of the maelstrom, is part preacher, part hipster.

6 Jul 2012

State roundup: Calif., Oregon grappling with insurance rate increases; Kansas (almost) ready to launch health info network

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones denied Blue Shield of California's plan to close several of its health policies to new customers, saying it violated state rules designed to protect consumers from large rate increases. ... Blue Shield, a nonprofit insurer with 3.3 million members statewide, had proposed closing off new enrollment on 22 health plans with about 152,000 customers.

6 Jul 2012

Study shows cells from different Parkinson’s patients have unique drug responses

Researchers have taken a step toward personalized medicine for Parkinson's disease, by investigating signs of the disease in patient-derived cells and testing how the cells respond to drug treatments.

5 Jul 2012

Medicaid expansion draws mixed reaction from states

In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling making the law's Medicaid expansion optional, some state officials say they will opt out because they cannot afford even 10 percent of the program's costs. Others, though, are moving forward.

4 Jul 2012

FDA proposes UDI regulations for most medical devices

Today, in response to requirements in legislation that passed Congress with broad bipartisan support, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed that most medical devices distributed in the United States carry a unique device identifier, or UDI.

4 Jul 2012

OraSure Technologies receives FDA approval for new in-home HIV test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, the first over-the-counter, self-administered HIV test kit to detect the presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2).

4 Jul 2012

Study confirms a rare susceptibility variant in glioma

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center working with colleagues at three other institutions have validated a link between a rare genetic variant and the risk of glioma, the most common and lethal type of brain tumor.

3 Jul 2012

Study provides evidence for meth abuse's causal effect on foster home admissions

Methamphetamine abuse leads to an increase in child abuse and neglect, which causes an increase in foster care admissions, according to a study from Baylor University.

3 Jul 2012

HHS announces 2012 HPP and PHEP funding

The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $971 million to continue improving preparedness and health outcomes for a wide range of public health threats within every state, eight U.S. territories, and four of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.

3 Jul 2012

Once-daily pill for HIV is a safe and effective alternative to traditional antiretroviral regimens

A new once-daily pill combining three antiretrovirals and a booster molecule is a safe and effective alternative to two widely used drug regimens for newly diagnosed HIV-positive adults who have had no previous treatment. The findings of two large international randomised trials published in this week’s Lancet also indicate that the new “Quad” pill is faster acting, doesn’t have the neuropsychiatric side effects associated with other combinations, and could improve compliance with treatment.

29 Jun 2012

Astellas Pharma receives FDA approval for Myrbetriq to treat overactive bladder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Myrbetriq (mirabegron) to treat adults with overactive bladder, a condition in which the bladder muscle cannot be controlled, squeezes too often or squeezes without warning.

29 Jun 2012

Program linking paramedics in the field to patients' pre-existing health information wins honors

The nation's first and only program linking paramedics in the field to patients' pre-existing health information -- enabling emergency workers to make more informed treatment decisions and to transport patients to the most appropriate facility -- has been recognized by the prestigious Computerworld Honors Program.

28 Jun 2012

New medical countermeasures against nuclear threats

Concerns about terrorist attacks, the prospect of a rogue nation using nuclear weapons and the Fukushima power plant accident in Japan are fostering efforts to develop a new family of drugs that everyone hopes will never be used, according to an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

28 Jun 2012

Nanosphere receives FDA marketing approval for Verigene GP Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today allowed marketing of the first nucleic acid test that can identify 12 different bacterial types known to cause bloodstream infections.

28 Jun 2012

CAPABLE program can help countless older adults avoid nursing home stays

Nursing homes do not have to be inevitable destinations for frail older adults. Many—even those with long-term health problems—can remain at home and be independent. All it takes is a little help to change "disability" to "capability".

28 Jun 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

FUJIFILM receives ONC-ATCB certification for Synapse MU 3.0 EHR technology

Consumer Reports investigates hospital safety

FDA approves KRAS gene mutation test for colorectal cancer

FDA action affects companies that manufacture and distribute unapproved oxycodone drugs

Roche receives FDA approval for CMV viral load test

Longer looks: The man behind the 'Personhood' crusade; Atul Gawande on SCOTUS; 'No One Dies Alone' program

State roundup: Calif., Oregon grappling with insurance rate increases; Kansas (almost) ready to launch health info network

Study shows cells from different Parkinson’s patients have unique drug responses

Medicaid expansion draws mixed reaction from states

FDA proposes UDI regulations for most medical devices

OraSure Technologies receives FDA approval for new in-home HIV test

Study confirms a rare susceptibility variant in glioma

Study provides evidence for meth abuse's causal effect on foster home admissions

HHS announces 2012 HPP and PHEP funding

Once-daily pill for HIV is a safe and effective alternative to traditional antiretroviral regimens

Astellas Pharma receives FDA approval for Myrbetriq to treat overactive bladder

Program linking paramedics in the field to patients' pre-existing health information wins honors

New medical countermeasures against nuclear threats

Nanosphere receives FDA marketing approval for Verigene GP Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test

CAPABLE program can help countless older adults avoid nursing home stays

Event guide: 6th Operationalize Expanded Access Programs Summit East eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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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