Doctor News and Research

RSS

Heart transplant patient skis to the North Pole

They made it! In what is believed to be a world-first, a heart transplant patient along with his transplant doctor skied over 100 miles, over ice, snow drifts, across open water, through gale-force winds and freezing temperatures to make it to the North Pole early Thursday morning.

17 Apr 2010

Funding cuts to Ontario pharmacists would have devastating effect on patients

Funding cuts to Ontario pharmacists would have a devastating effect on patients, particularly those cared for by independent pharmacists, Janet McCutchon, vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association, told the Economic Club of Canada yesterday.

17 Apr 2010

Researchers receive honorary Doctor of Medicine degrees

Two genetics researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have been awarded prestigious honorary Doctor of Medicine degrees by European scientific institutions.

17 Apr 2010

Premature ejaculation causes intense distress on men and partners

Today, the first key findings from 'PE Confidential', a unique Europe-wide public survey on premature ejaculation (PE), reveal the intense - and in many cases - long years of silent suffering that PE poses on men and their partners. 'PE Confidential' also highlights the significant burden that PE places on couples' relationships and why men are reluctant to seek help, advice and solutions for the condition.

16 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 16, 2010

Today's headlines highlight the passage of a temporary extension of jobless benefits -- including a COBRA subsidy -- and a directive issued by President Obama to extend medical rights for same-sex partners.

16 Apr 2010

Follow-up care for health fair participants improves blood-pressure control

UCLA researchers sought to compare how two different approaches to providing follow-up care to health fair participants impacted blood-pressure control.

16 Apr 2010

Senate Democrats move closer to passing bill that will delay Medicare pay cut slated for doctors

MedPage Today: Senate Democrats on Wednesday won a "key vote" toward delaying a 21 percent cut in physicians reimbursements from Medicare. Those cuts officially went into effect on April 1. On a 60-40 vote, the Senate agreed to exempt a provision to delay the cuts by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., "from a Senate rule that says all spending legislation must be paid for."

16 Apr 2010

Private insurers seek to help states manage Medicaid expansion

The Wall Street Journal reports on plans by the health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. to issue a report Thursday on managed care strategies that "it says will help cash-strapped states solve budget problems and doctor shortages that hobble the government health-care programs for the poor."

16 Apr 2010

Trans-urethral prostate hyperthermia treatment offers 100% response rate

According the Dr. Friedrich Douwes, Medical Director of St. George Hospital in Bad Aibling, Germany, president of the German Oncological Society and the author of several hundred scientific articles and books, trans-urethral prostate hyperthermia has a 100% initial response rate.

16 Apr 2010

New scale more suitable for predicting depressive symptoms

A research team has tested the utility of the short version of WHO-DAS II, a tool to assess within five minutes disability in patients with depression, "which in the case of primary care is even more practicable than the long version of the instrument." In Spain, more than 10% of the population suffer from severe depression.

16 Apr 2010

CycleBeads Conception Kit for women contemplating pregnancy

A scientifically-based tool developed by researchers from Georgetown University's Institute for Reproductive Health to help women prevent pregnancy naturally, is now being used by a growing number of women to help plan pregnancy.

16 Apr 2010

Health reform affects high-risk patients, abortion and doctor practices

NPR: "Recent fights between anti-abortion groups could leave people with the impression that the new health overhaul law expands women's access to abortion. But abortion-rights groups vehemently disagree."

16 Apr 2010

Spring is busting out all over - and so are eye allergies

Ah, spring. The time of year when trees and flowers bloom sending pollen into the air and causing sneezing, runny noses and watery eyes. The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America estimates that 1 in 5 individuals are affected by eye allergies.

15 Apr 2010

Pennsylvania Medical Society comments on court ruling against state

The following is a statement from James A. Goodyear, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, regarding a Commonwealth Court 4-1 ruling indicating the state should not have diverted money from the Mcare Fund and Health Care Provider Retention Account to help with state budget problems.

15 Apr 2010

Despite national guidelines, teen boys still get inadequate HIV/STI counseling

Despite national guidelines aimed at improving sexual health services for teenagers, most sexually active boys - even those who report high-risk sexual behaviors - still get too little counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during their visits to the doctor, according to a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

15 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 15, 2010

In today's headlines: The jobless benefits package, including a COBRA subsidy extension and Medicare-doctor pay fix, advances in the Senate. In the House, a committee chairman cancels a hearing on business health care complaints.

15 Apr 2010

Research reveals demand for over-the-counter oral contraceptives in the US

American women who live along the U.S.-Mexico border frequently buy over-the-counter oral contraceptives from Mexican pharmacies because they don't need a prescription and can send a friend to pick up the pills, according to a study by researchers from two University of Texas campuses and Ibis Reproductive Health.

15 Apr 2010

Campaign for Better Care focuses on older adults with multiple health problems

"Will you help her?" That's the question the Campaign for Better Care, led by the National Partnership for Women & Families, Community Catalyst and the National Health Law Program, is asking policymakers today in new print and banner ads running in The Hill, Politico and Roll Call.

15 Apr 2010

Loyola University internist advises patients to complete their living wills

On April 16, Americans are being urged to complete living wills and other types of "advance directives" in observance of National Health-care Decisions Day.

15 Apr 2010

Lawyer suggests tips on insurance and well being

"You've just found out that your insurance co-pays or coinsurance to see your physician are going to be higher this year. You may think, 'I'll just not see my doctor unless I get really sick.' This way of thinking may reduce a few co-pays to save money but a recent study found that deferring regular care is actually increasing the amount of money and time patients are spending for inpatient care," says Frank N. Darras, the nation's top insurance lawyer.

15 Apr 2010