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More people die as a result of medical errors than from other common causes of death

As part of international efforts to improve patient safety, a new website has been created (www.saferhealthcare.org.uk), run by a partnership of the National Patient Safety Agency, the BMJ Publishing Group, and the US-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

4 Aug 2005

Obese people are less likely to receive preventive services such as mammograms, Pap smears and flu shots

The Duke study showed that, for a sample of white middle-aged women, as body mass index (BMI) went up, the odds of receiving mammograms and Pap smears went down.

3 Aug 2005

Limited efficiency with the English language increases the risk of adverse medication reactions

Limited efficiency with the English language is a barrier to medical comprehension and increases the risk of adverse medication reactions, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

2 Aug 2005

Breastfeeding babies past 12 months

Breastfeeding toddlers: it's considered a social no-no, which means very few mothers end up breastfeeding their babies past 12 months of age.

2 Aug 2005

By not implementing a neuroblastoma screening program the United States and Canada saved $574.1 million in health costs

By not implementing a neuroblastoma screening program between 1989 and 2002, the United States and Canada saved $574.1 million in health costs, avoided the unnecessary treatment of more than 9,200 children, and avoided false-positive findings in more than 5,000 children, according to a new study in the August 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

2 Aug 2005

Privacy software to unlock health data goldmine

Australia's CSIRO has developed unique privacy software to allow health data collections to be used to improve the health of Australian people.

2 Aug 2005

American Psychological Association lauds action agendas to transform U.S. mental health system

The American Psychological Association (APA) lauds the release of the Campaign for Mental Health Reform's action agenda, Emergency Response: A Roadmap for Federal Action on America's Mental Health Crisis, designed to help the federal government transform the delivery of mental health services.

2 Aug 2005

Diagnostic imaging gets cardiovascular eye

Imaging has become a heated topic, embroiling cardiologists and more than 20 other medical specialists in a debate about tests selected and who performs and interprets them. In San Francisco on August 11-13, the American College of Cardiology is tackling this tough topic in its first-annual Integrated Cardiovascular Imaging Conference.

2 Aug 2005

Masked hypertension poses hidden hazard

Patients with "masked" hypertension that is not detected by routine office blood pressure measurements appear to have stroke and death rates similar to that of patients with sustained high blood pressure; whereas patients with so-called "white coat" hypertension appear to have no greater risk than people with normal blood pressure, according to a new study in the Aug. 2, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

2 Aug 2005

Signs of atherosclerosis seen in apparently healthy young adults

Young adults who seem to be healthy, but have a clustering of heart disease risks factors known as metabolic syndrome, tend to have signs of thickening of their carotid artery walls, which is an early indication of atherosclerosis, according to a new study in the Aug 2, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

2 Aug 2005

Medicare at 40: Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges

As Americans commemorate Medicare's 40th Anniversary, AARP's Public Policy Institute (PPI) has released the report, "Medicare at 40," which examines the program's successes as well as the challenges that lie ahead. It found that Medicare has largely accomplished its original goals of ensuring access to care and establishing financial protections for medical costs.

2 Aug 2005

Communication from physicians and health care teams needs to improve to meet patient's needs

Researchers report in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings that more than one-half of their study patients were unable to list their medications, diagnoses, treatment plan (names and purposes of medications) and common side effects of prescribed medications.

2 Aug 2005

Two-thirds of American women find out about their pregnancies by using a home pregnancy test

In a recent survey undertaken on behalf of First Response, and released in conjunction with a partnership with the March of Dimes aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes, reveals two-thirds (67 percent) of American women aged 18 to 44 who became pregnant found out about their pregnancies by using a home pregnancy test.

2 Aug 2005

Millions of hospital patients could be spared the humiliation and infection risk that come with a urine-collecting catheter

...a new study finds, if hospitals used a simple reminder system to prompt doctors to remove the devices after two days.

29 Jul 2005

Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the nation's public health

Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the nation's public health. Today, experts addressed key developments to the current and future outlook of infectious diseases, highlighting adolescent immunizations, outbreaks and epidemics of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and new developments in HIV medicine, at a press conference sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

27 Jul 2005

Simple measures could help to improve outcome for patients who have suffered head injuries

Doctors and other carers often overlook some important aspects of outcome amongst patients who have suffered head injuries, according to a new study published in BMC Family Practice.

27 Jul 2005

Quality of care may vary in association with the characteristics of individual physicians and their practices

Certain physician characteristics and practice-setting characteristics are associated with Medicare beneficiaries receiving routine preventive services below the national goals, according to a study in the July 27 issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.

27 Jul 2005

When the media encourage HIV testing, more people get tested

"Changing behavior is a complex process that involves several factors. Mass media can be used to educate and raise awareness about a topic and can enhance appropriate utilization of health care services," according to lead review author Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

26 Jul 2005

Niger needs long term assistance to avoid chronic food insecurity

According to recent nutrition surveys by the United Nations and some non-governmental agencies, acute malnutrition rates have risen to 13.4 percent in southern Niger's Maradi and Zinder Regions. A food shortage is impacting some 3.3 million people - including 800,000 children under age five - in some 3,815 villages.

26 Jul 2005

Doctors not responsible for patient gaps

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said it was mischievous of the Australian Health Industry Association (AHIA) to be running around in the media this morning blaming doctors for private patients being confronted with high gap payments.

26 Jul 2005

Health Care News and Research

More people die as a result of medical errors than from other common causes of death

Obese people are less likely to receive preventive services such as mammograms, Pap smears and flu shots

Limited efficiency with the English language increases the risk of adverse medication reactions

Breastfeeding babies past 12 months

By not implementing a neuroblastoma screening program the United States and Canada saved $574.1 million in health costs

Privacy software to unlock health data goldmine

American Psychological Association lauds action agendas to transform U.S. mental health system

Diagnostic imaging gets cardiovascular eye

Masked hypertension poses hidden hazard

Signs of atherosclerosis seen in apparently healthy young adults

Medicare at 40: Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges

Communication from physicians and health care teams needs to improve to meet patient's needs

Two-thirds of American women find out about their pregnancies by using a home pregnancy test

Millions of hospital patients could be spared the humiliation and infection risk that come with a urine-collecting catheter

Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the nation's public health

Simple measures could help to improve outcome for patients who have suffered head injuries

Quality of care may vary in association with the characteristics of individual physicians and their practices

When the media encourage HIV testing, more people get tested

Niger needs long term assistance to avoid chronic food insecurity

Doctors not responsible for patient gaps

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Applications Engineer

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