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RFID applications in health care may affect medical equipment

The use of radio frequency identification devices appears to have the potential to cause critical care medical equipment to malfunction, according to a study in the June 25 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

24 Jun 2008

Health Minister accuses the AMA of being protectionist

Relations between the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) do not appear to be improving.

24 Jun 2008

Superbugs spreading because hospitals are overcrowded and staff overworked

Australian researchers say overcrowded hospitals and the pressures of high work loads may be contributing to the spread of drug resistant superbugs.

24 Jun 2008

Pharmacist intervention can improve asthma outcomes

New research has shown that up to 90 per cent of people on asthma medications are using their inhalers incorrectly leading to poor asthma control, increased hospital visits and increased cost of treatment.

24 Jun 2008

Overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals are two key factors in the transmission of MRSA

A review article authored by a University of Queensland, Australia, academic has found overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals are two key factors in the transmission of MRSA (Meticillin - Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infections worldwide.

24 Jun 2008

Canada's mental health crisis

No one is safe from mental illness; it strikes without regard for age, gender, or social status. And even though one in four Canadians suffer from a mental illness, it remains a stigma, shrouded in misconceptions.

24 Jun 2008

Guidelines for reporting health research have little funding

Although reporting guidelines can improve the accuracy and reliability of research reports, there is little funding available for developing such guidelines, according to a new survey published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine this week.

24 Jun 2008

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening rates

Blacks and Hispanics appear less likely to undergo colorectal cancer screening than whites because of socioeconomic, health care access and language barriers, according to a report in the June 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. However, other factors may contribute to screening disparities experienced by Asians.

24 Jun 2008

More government in health care is not a prescription for reform

The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI) today launched BigGovHealth.org, a new initiative to expose the consequences of greater government control in health care.

24 Jun 2008

The impact of socioeconomic status on survival after cancer in the United States

Cancer patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) have more advanced cancers at diagnosis, receive less aggressive treatment, and have a higher risk of dying in the five years following cancer diagnosis, according to a new study.

23 Jun 2008

Clostridium difficile closes hospital ward

An outbreak of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in a Scottish hospital is causing concern despite claims from health authorities that the outbreak is under control.

23 Jun 2008

Experts say spend more on dementia or expect a crisis

Scientists in both Australia and Britain are calling for more funding for dementia in order to avert a health care crisis in the future.

18 Jun 2008

New AMA public health policies on vitamin D, processed foods, flavored cigarettes, tobacco sales, disaster medicine and seniors

The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest physician organization, voted today at its Annual Meeting to adopt the following new public health policies.

17 Jun 2008

Wall Street Journal examines efforts to encourage adoption of electronic prescribing technology

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined several factors that are pushing physicians to adopt electronic prescribing technology, reporting that while the "possible benefits to doctors and patients are clear," there are obstacles that "hinder widespread adoption." Fewer than 10%, or about 35,000, of U.S. physicians currently use e-prescribing technology.

17 Jun 2008

Employer health care costs projected to rise by nearly 10% in 2008 and 2009

Employer health care costs are expected to increase by 9.9% in 2008 -- more than double annual inflation rates -- and 9.6% in 2009, according to a study released Tuesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

17 Jun 2008

Kaiser Daily Health Policy report feature highlights recent blog posts

While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics.

17 Jun 2008

Few community health centers receive reimbursement for providing language services, report indicates

While 84% of community health centers treat patients with limited English proficiency on a daily basis, only 5% receive direct reimbursement for language services from Medicare, Medicaid or private insurers, according to a report released Monday by the National Association of Community Health Centers, CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jun 2008

Pharmaceutical companies lobbying States to restrict use of lower-cost generic alternatives

Pharmaceutical companies, which "have been waging war against inexpensive generic drugs for years at the national level," are now "taking their fights to the states, promoting proposals that would" bar pharmacists from automatically replacing prescriptions for brand-name drugs with generics, the Baltimore Sun reports.

17 Jun 2008

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report rounds up health news from the campaign trail

Fifty-three percent of U.S. adults trust presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) more than presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) to address the issue of health care, compared with 33% who trust McCain more than Obama to address the issue, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, the Post reports.

17 Jun 2008

Insurers often improperly reimburse physicians, adding $200 billion annually to U.S. health care costs, AMA report finds

Insurers' failure to properly process and reimburse physicians costs the U.S. $200 billion annually, according to a report released on Monday by the American Medical Association, the Los Angeles Times reports.

17 Jun 2008

Health Care News and Research

RFID applications in health care may affect medical equipment

Health Minister accuses the AMA of being protectionist

Superbugs spreading because hospitals are overcrowded and staff overworked

Pharmacist intervention can improve asthma outcomes

Overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals are two key factors in the transmission of MRSA

Canada's mental health crisis

Guidelines for reporting health research have little funding

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening rates

More government in health care is not a prescription for reform

The impact of socioeconomic status on survival after cancer in the United States

Clostridium difficile closes hospital ward

Experts say spend more on dementia or expect a crisis

New AMA public health policies on vitamin D, processed foods, flavored cigarettes, tobacco sales, disaster medicine and seniors

Wall Street Journal examines efforts to encourage adoption of electronic prescribing technology

Employer health care costs projected to rise by nearly 10% in 2008 and 2009

Kaiser Daily Health Policy report feature highlights recent blog posts

Few community health centers receive reimbursement for providing language services, report indicates

Pharmaceutical companies lobbying States to restrict use of lower-cost generic alternatives

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report rounds up health news from the campaign trail

Insurers often improperly reimburse physicians, adding $200 billion annually to U.S. health care costs, AMA report finds

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