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First Edition: April 6, 2010

Among today's headlines is news about a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts insurers who are seeking to reverse the state insurance commissioner's decision and allow them to raise rates.

6 Apr 2010

Health officials monitor cases of pandemic H1N1 flu in the Southeast

The continued spread of H1N1 influenza virus this spring is cause to pay heed to upper-respiratory maladies such as congestion, runny nose and cough, says David Kimberlin, M.D., a preeminent influenza specialist who co-directs the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

6 Apr 2010

Dry-mouth and dry-eye symptoms often misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals

Results from a recent survey of 400 Sjogren's syndrome patients showed that half of those surveyed experienced common symptoms such as dry mouth or dry eyes for three or more years before receiving an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

6 Apr 2010

New health law will ban future physician-owned hospitals; The trauma and cost of patient "dumping"

One of the more obscure components of the landmark health care reform bill passed by Congress includes a provision to ban future physician-owned hospitals and crimp the growth of this rising market niche. Northwest Indiana is home to five hospitals owned wholly or partly by doctors practicing here.

6 Apr 2010

Australian women increasingly unhappy with cosmetic surgery outcomes

Cosmetic surgery has always been fraught with unrealistic demands and sometimes legal action in cases of dissatisfactory results. Tens of thousands of cosmetic surgeries are performed each year and the numbers are climbing fast. A new study shows that Australian women who volunteer for cosmetic surgeries often have such unrealistic expectations for the outcomes of the surgeries.

6 Apr 2010

Comprehensive cardiac health study provides superior results

Kenneth "Buddy" Conant hit some clothing stores for a little shopping spree recently, but it wasn't because he'd suddenly become enthralled with the latest fashions. The truth was, he was starting to resemble a kid wearing a grown man's clothes.

6 Apr 2010

Healthcare groups to rollout two new PHR Quick Reference Guides

Several groups across the healthcare sector will rollout two new "Personal Health Record Quick Reference Guides" in an effort to educate consumers and clinicians about how PHRs can be useful tools for making more informed healthcare decisions and enhancing care coordination.

6 Apr 2010

Preventive care, illegal immigrants and other health law notes

Reports continue to explore elements of the health reform debate such as the politically contentious issue of illegal immigrants' coverage, health care coverage for young adults, disease prevention and the next tanning-salon tax.

6 Apr 2010

Health law may worsen primary care doctor shortage

NPR: "The new health bill signed by President Obama includes an incentive for doctors to serve the poorest patients by increasing their federal Medicaid payments. This could be quite a significant inducement, as an additional 16 million people are expected to join the Medicaid rolls in the next 10 years."

5 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 5, 2010

Both the politics and policies of health reform continue to grab headlines, with reports highlighting how lawmakers are faring in their districts during this congressional recess. News outlets also are exploring how specific provisions of the new law will work.

5 Apr 2010

Western Swedish women with breast cancer at greater risk of ovarian cancer

Previous research has shown that women with breast cancer are more likely than other women to develop ovarian cancer, but now researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have shown that actually only women with a known Western Swedish mutation behind hereditary breast cancer run this increased risk of ovarian cancer.

5 Apr 2010

HCM: Questions to ask

While a jury awarded Tony and Angela Key, $1.6 million following a malpractice trial in the death of their 22-year-old son, Antwoine, a basketball player for Eastern Connecticut State University who collapsed and died during a game in 2005, it is a small measure of solace when a young life is cut short, particularly when the cause - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - could have been treated, had it been properly diagnosed.

3 Apr 2010

Purity profile of Pharmaceutical Grade fish oil

Dr. Dave Woynarowski MD is a nationally renowned fish oil expert who has been studying and using fish oil himself and in his practice for over a decade.

3 Apr 2010

Tips to get optimum healthcare coverage during economic downturn

The economic downturn is impacting the health of many people – not only by exacerbating conditions like hypertension, stress and fatigue, but also by causing some people to put off getting the health care they need.

3 Apr 2010

Debate and skepticism over the healthcare reforms

A few years back a law that was meant to cover millions of elderly extending their prescription drug coverage backfired with many who could not access their medicines or were charged more all because of computer generated errors. Administration, industry and consumer groups are gearing up to prevent the same thing from happening after the healthcare bill became law last week.

2 Apr 2010

Multnomah Court Judge denies I-Flow's request for new trial

Judge Youlee You today denied a request by defendant I-Flow for a new trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The ruling follows the January 22 jury verdict against the pain pump manufacturer. Jurors awarded $5.475 million for the destruction of Portland-area resident Matthew Beale's right shoulder. They found the damage was caused by the On-Q Painbuster infusion pain pump, manufactured and marketed by I-Flow.

2 Apr 2010

2010 Internal Medicine conference at Toronto Convention Center

More than 5,000 internists (adult medicine specialists), subspecialists, medical students, and allied health professionals will meet in Toronto, Canada, for Internal Medicine 2010, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians (ACP), April 22 - 24 (Thursday - Saturday), at the Toronto Convention Center.

2 Apr 2010

ASA classification can help identify impact of hip surgery in high-risk patients

Hip fractures are the second leading cause of hospitalization of elderly patients. In many cases, a hip fracture is the first step in a complete decline in the patient's health, setting off a long list of potential complications.

2 Apr 2010

Passengers on Brisbane train may have been exposed to measles

A NSW man who was diagnosed with measles travelled in a train from the Brisbane International Airport to South Brisbane about 8am on Saturday.

2 Apr 2010

Laughter is the best medicine for ill kids: say Clown Doctors

Jean-Paul Bell aka "Dr B Loony" has given child patients across Australia a reason to smile and laugh this National Smile Day. He believes, "When you're in pain and suffering ... it's not like the last thing you want to do is have a laugh…You'll grab a laugh instantly just to escape where you're at - humour has that effect where it gives you a brief out-of-body experience."

2 Apr 2010