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HQA applauds public availability of hospital quality information at Hospital Compare website

The Hospital Quality Alliance today applauded the public availability of new information on hospital quality of care at the Hospital Compare website. The HQA is a broad working group of hospitals, consumer representatives, physician and nursing organizations, employers and payers, oversight organizations and government agencies dedicated to improving health care quality and making useful and understandable information about hospital quality available to the public.

8 Jul 2010

Report investigates clear cell ICC

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile duct in the liver. The clear cell subtype of ICC is a rare cancer; until now, only 8 cases have been reported. The number of reports is so small that a detail description of clear cell ICC is valuable.

8 Jul 2010

Patients willing to travel for cheaper, better care; Especially when the boss pays

Employers, in search of better deals on surgeries, are in some cases sending employees they insure hundreds of miles for medical care, Kaiser Health News/USA Today reports. "Forget about traveling to Thailand or India for low-cost surgery. … By steering workers to facilities with high-quality care and lower prices, employers say they can reduce their costs 20% to 40% — more than enough to cover the travel expenses."

8 Jul 2010

Meridian Bioscience, DiaSorin sign world-wide product development and distribution agreement

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that it has entered into an exclusive, world-wide product development and distribution agreement with DiaSorin S.p.A. Under terms of the agreement, DiaSorin will utilize key Meridian technology to develop several infectious disease products for use on their LIAISON systems.

8 Jul 2010

States, federal government move forward with high-risk pools

The federal government began accepting applications for the high risk pools it will run in 29 states and the District of Columbia last Thursday, PBS Newshour reports. The other 21 states chose to run their own pools and may be on different schedules.

8 Jul 2010

Cardiac Concepts initiates enrollment in European trial of RespiCardia System for CSA

Cardiac Concepts, Inc., a developer of medical devices to treat Heart Failure patients who experience breathing disturbances during sleep, announced today enrollment of the first European patients in a Pilot Clinical Trial. The purpose of the Pilot Study is to understand the respiratory and cardiac benefits of the RespiCardia™ System when treating a breathing disorder known as Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) in Heart Failure patients.

8 Jul 2010

Patients cope with navigating the health care system

Americans who lose employer coverage between now and 2014, when much of the health overhaul kicks in, "may find buying insurance on their own unaffordable." But for those without coverage and who can't afford to buy it "there are ways to cope."

8 Jul 2010

Community Health Systems subsidiary acquires Marion Regional Healthcare System

Community Health Systems, Inc. announced today that a subsidiary has acquired substantially all of the assets of Marion Regional Healthcare System located in Marion, South Carolina. The system includes Marion Regional Hospital, a 124-bed, full service acute care hospital, Mullins Nursing Center, a 92-bed skilled nursing facility, and other ancillary services.

8 Jul 2010

Australian health makeover over the next few years planned

Australian health is about to get a massive make over according to the four year time schedule and plans announced by the Federal Government. The plans include major reforms that will be undertaken over the next two years.

7 Jul 2010

In depth look at Victorian ambulance services before November

After quite a few cases of delayed ambulance services the Victorian Auditor-General has now agreed to have an in-depth look at Victoria's ambulance services before the November state election. This is in response to a communication made by the State Opposition earlier this year.

7 Jul 2010

Brain fever mistaken as migraine kills a 30 year old woman

Jane Harrop, a 30 year old British woman was complaining of headaches for several days that made her feel “drunk”. She was diagnosed to be suffering from migraine but died two days later from a viral infection of the brain.

7 Jul 2010

San Diego's Sharp Memorial Hospital named America's Most Beautiful Hospital

Soliant Health, a leading specialty healthcare staffing provider and part of Adecco Group, is proud to announce that San Diego's Sharp Memorial Hospital was named America's Most Beautiful Hospital by Soliant.com visitors.

7 Jul 2010

Changes in Medicare Part B therapy rates likely to reduce Kindred Healthcare's revenues by $11M per year

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today provided its estimate of the revenue effect of proposed rate changes to Medicare Part B therapy services included in the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. The proposed rule was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") on June 25. The proposed rule is subject to a 60-day public comment period and is scheduled to become effective January 1, 2011.

7 Jul 2010

Bilinguals more effective in certain executive functions: Study

The research group of Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, led by Professor of Basic Psychology, César ávila Rivera, has reported that bilinguals are faster and more efficient in certain tasks in which executive functions are used due to a different form of cerebral control.

7 Jul 2010

Use of NSAIDs do not increase risk of heart attack in elderly patients: Study

Commonly used painkillers like ibuprofen do not increase the risk of heart attack in the elderly population, according to a new study. Researchers found that the use of these drugs - also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - was also associated with a lower risk of death although they are not sure why.

7 Jul 2010

Scientists identify potential disease genes in humans and mice

An international consortium of scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University of Toronto has identified previously unknown potential disease genes in humans and mice. Genes on the X chromosome, which regulate embryonic development, are the focus of the current publication in the renowned journal Genome Research. Men have only one X chromosome, and therefore mutations on this chromosome disproportionately affect males, frequently leading to serious diseases such as hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and mental retardation.

7 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 7, 2010

Today's biggest health policy news surrounds an announcement by the White House that President Obama will install a new Medicare and Medicaid chief with a recess appointment the bypasses the confirmation process.

7 Jul 2010

Concord Medical files annual report for fiscal 2009 on Form 20-F

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced that it has filed its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 on Form 20-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2010.

7 Jul 2010

Insights into complex interrelationships between heart and kidneys

Research is yielding new understanding of the interactions between the heart and the kidneys—particularly the cardiorenal syndrome, in which failure of either organ can lead to failure of the other. Recent insights into the complex interrelationships between the heart and kidneys are presented in a special symposium section of the July issue of The American Journal of Medical Sciences (AJMS), official journal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

7 Jul 2010

Study: Delay in school start time significantly improves adolescent sleep, mood and behavior

A pilot study conducted in a small private high school confirms what many have been touting for years: the benefits of a delayed school start time. Judy Owens, MD, a sleep expert with Hasbro Children's Hospital, reports that a modest delay in school start time of only 30 minutes was associated with significant improvements in adolescent alertness, mood and health. Her findings are published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

7 Jul 2010