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Family health insurance costs up 62 percent since 2003

The total cost of family health insurance, for both employers and employees, hit $15,000 last year, up 62 percent since 2003 -- and worker wages rose only 11 percent in that time, a new Commonwealth Fund report says.

13 Dec 2012

Survey finds serious shortfalls in quality of mental health care for older adults

Large majorities of older Americans with depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders are receiving treatment that does not meet evidence-based standards, and many do not know that depression can put their health at increased risk, according to a national survey, "Silver and Blue: The Unfinished Business of Mental Health Care for Older Adults," released today by the John A. Hartford Foundation.

13 Dec 2012

ACOEM initiative provides tools and resources to help employers address obesity

As part of its year-long campaign addressing chronic disease in the workplace, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) is providing tools and resources to help employers identify and respond to the impact of obesity on worker health and productivity. Such resources and tools are of special relevance at this time of the year.

13 Dec 2012

Contact precautions reduce number of visits by healthcare workers and outside visitors

The prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can help reduce patient morbidity and mortality, but a common prevention effort for patients with hard to treat infections known as contact precautions, can have positive and negative impacts on patient care.

12 Dec 2012

Roundup: NH hospital at center of hepatitis outbreak details fixes; Report finds racial gap in Colo. dental coverage; Health cuts part of Conn. budget plan

Though Exeter Hospital has fixed problems discovered after a hepatitis C outbreak last spring, federal officials say the hospital initially failed to conduct an adequate investigation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said last week it no longer plans to terminate the hospital's Medicare funding now that multiple issues raised by inspectors have been addressed.

11 Dec 2012

New approach can reduce occupational health hazard risks in construction workers

"Some of the most pressing occupational health hazard risks in construction" are associated with masonry operations, asphalt roofing, and welding, wrote Deborah Young-Corbett in an article recently accepted by the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management.

11 Dec 2012

Restaurant chain owner backs down, won't cut employee hours over health law

The owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants backed off threats to cut employee hours to part time, which would have allowed the company to avoid offering health insurance to workers.

7 Dec 2012

Blog series examines challenges, solutions in global AIDS response

The Skoll World Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog have co-produced a blog series highlighting key challenges in the global response moving forward and examining how the international community can overcome these challenges.

7 Dec 2012

Benefits under health law will vary by state; Restaurant chain backs off plan to move to part-time workers to avoid insurance costs

The New York Times looks at the wide variations in essential health benefits defined by states, while The Associated Press reports that Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster, has decided not to try to avoid health law requirements and will not switch full-time employees to part-time status.

7 Dec 2012

First Edition: December 6, 2012

Today's headlines include a report that some in the GOP are urging lawmakers to support the idea of trading tax breaks for changes in safety-net programs.

6 Dec 2012

Viewpoints: David Brooks' formula to avoid Cliff; Krugman says control costs, don't cut coverage

Republicans should go to the White House and say they are willing to see top tax rates go up to 36 percent or 37 percent and they are willing to forgo a debt-ceiling fight for this year.

5 Dec 2012

Hospital news: Mergers, acquisitions and delivery of care make news around nation

Hospitals in California, New York and across the nation deal with mergers, acquisitions, delivery of care and fines in the marketplace. In the meantime, doctors whose practices were purchased by hospital chains feel increasing pressure to meet financial goals.

4 Dec 2012

Viewpoints: Disputing Obama's and GOP's commitment to cutting spending and avoiding fiscal cliff

President Obama has said he wants to reform entitlements eventually, someday, after Republicans raise taxes. Republicans want the President to sign on to serious reform now as part of any deal, since AARP and the left will kill anything that isn't passed immediately. Given the political difficulty of reforming entitlements, Republicans are right to try to get Mr. Obama's fingerprints on such a deal this year.

4 Dec 2012

First Edition: December 3, 2012

For years, King/Drew provided emergency, trauma and inpatient care to residents from throughout South Los Angeles. After a series of medical errors resulted in patient deaths, Los Angeles County closed it in 2007. County officials promised the community a better, safer new medical center in a few years.

3 Dec 2012

Worker News and Research

Family health insurance costs up 62 percent since 2003

Survey finds serious shortfalls in quality of mental health care for older adults

ACOEM initiative provides tools and resources to help employers address obesity

Contact precautions reduce number of visits by healthcare workers and outside visitors

Roundup: NH hospital at center of hepatitis outbreak details fixes; Report finds racial gap in Colo. dental coverage; Health cuts part of Conn. budget plan

New approach can reduce occupational health hazard risks in construction workers

Restaurant chain owner backs down, won't cut employee hours over health law

Blog series examines challenges, solutions in global AIDS response

Benefits under health law will vary by state; Restaurant chain backs off plan to move to part-time workers to avoid insurance costs

First Edition: December 6, 2012

Viewpoints: David Brooks' formula to avoid Cliff; Krugman says control costs, don't cut coverage

Hospital news: Mergers, acquisitions and delivery of care make news around nation

Viewpoints: Disputing Obama's and GOP's commitment to cutting spending and avoiding fiscal cliff

First Edition: December 3, 2012

US women lose their health insurance after divorce: Study

States, courts, employers contend with health law's requirements

Exposure to essential oil for 1 hour would be effective in reducing heart rate and blood pressure

Pilot program in India using traditional practitioners to fill health care worker gap

Report finds decline in overall number and rate of healthcare-associated infections in Pennsylvania

Guardian published winning article from International Development Journalism Competition

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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