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Mergers among hospitals and doctors spur consumer concerns, The NY Times reports

The New York Times: "[E]ight months into the new law there is a growing frenzy of mergers involving hospitals, clinics and doctor groups eager to share costs and savings, and cash in on the incentives [provided in the overhaul]. They, in turn, have deployed a small army of lawyers and lobbyists trying to persuade the Obama administration to relax or waive a body of older laws intended to thwart health care monopolies, and to protect against shoddy care and fraudulent billing of patients or Medicare.

23 Nov 2010

First African tapped as new head of U.N. population fund

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday that former Nigerian Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin has been appointed to head to head the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.K. Press Association reports.

22 Nov 2010

$7.5 million Queensland diabetes action plan to roll

According to the latest $7.5 million diabetes action plan, nearly 8,000 people across the Ipswich region who are living with the disease and have not been diagnosed will be helped. Diabetes is growing at a shocking rate with more than 50 Queenslanders diagnosed with the condition every day. Diabetes Australia Queensland says more than 8,000 people in the Ipswich and West Moreton region have been diagnosed with diabetes. Another 8,000 people have the condition but remain undiagnosed.

22 Nov 2010

Today's Op-Eds: The Ryan roadmap; Democrats and the doc fix; Health reform's failed promises; 'Don't litigate, innovate'

According to tax records unearthed by Bloomberg News, the health insurance lobby secretly gave $86.2 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2009 to try to prevent the health care bill from becoming law. The huge contribution — 40 percent of the chamber's spending for that year — allowed the group to run ads against the bill without tainting the insurance industry, which was negotiating with Democrats on the bill at the same time (11/22).

22 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 22, 2010

Today's headlines offer a range of health policy stories, including more reports on deficit reduction issues, the continuing politics swirling around the health law repeal effort and employers' soaring health care costs.

22 Nov 2010

VYTORIN reduces major vascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

In a new investigational study of VYTORIN, the cholesterol-lowering medicine from Merck, VYTORIN 10/20 mg reduced the incidence of first major vascular events defined as non-fatal heart attacks or cardiac death, stroke or any revascularization procedure by a highly statistically significant 16.1 percent compared to placebo, Study of Heart and Renal Protection study involved more than 9,000 patients who, on average, had advanced or end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD)

22 Nov 2010

Racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in kidney transplantation

Research shows that people with low incomes are more likely to develop kidney failure and less likely to receive a living donor kidney transplant than people of other socioeconomic classes.

22 Nov 2010

Rush to merge doctors and hospitals is raising consumers' concerns

When Congress passed the health care law, it envisioned doctors and hospitals joining forces, coordinating care and holding down costs, with the prospect of earning government bonuses for controlling costs.

22 Nov 2010

Growing emergency room ‘access block’ problem in Australian hospitals

Shockingly the number of Australians who die waiting for a hospital bed is on par with road deaths said a senior Canberra emergency department doctor. According to Australian National University medical school’s road trauma chairman, Associate Professor Drew Richardson, 30 per cent of emergency wards’ work now involves caring for patients whose initial treatment has ended but still await a bed. He suggested a seven-day-a-week surgical roster to avoid the build-ups of patients that overcrowd wards.

21 Nov 2010

Assessment by nurse practitioner satisfies patients with back problems: Study

Ninety-six per cent of patients with back problems were satisfied with the assessment carried out by a specially trained nurse practitioner, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

20 Nov 2010

Russian-trained microbiologist recommends tips for consumers to achieve effective results from probiotics

With the European Union poised to regulate probiotics, and with probiotic supplement sales increasing dramatically in the United States, Americans need to know what they're buying, and how these products can affect their health.

20 Nov 2010

Tips to maintain an upperhand on bedbugs

Think twice before combing the alleyways and resale stores for a bargain - one man's trash may be more than a treasure, as several Chicagoans recently discovered.

20 Nov 2010

People with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe economic downturn hurts their health: Poll

A new poll from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Knowledge Networks shows that many people with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe the economic downturn is hurting their health and will have further negative impacts in the future. Many Americans with these illnesses face financial problems paying for medical bills in this economy.

20 Nov 2010

Eastern Virginia professor says average doctor may be toting new pocket-sized ultrasound machine

Since the Civil War, the stethoscope has been a standard tool of the trade for physicians. Soon, the average doctor may be toting another valuable diagnostic tool: a pocket-sized ultrasound machine.

20 Nov 2010

Survey examines Canadians' overall view of health care system

Today, the Health Council of Canada released survey results from the 2010 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey. The bulletin called, How Do Canadians Rate the Health Care System? examines Canadians' insights into the performance of the health care system.

20 Nov 2010

Early nephrology care associated with lower mortality and incidence of end stage renal disease

Earlier care from a nephrologist reduces the chance of kidney patients developing end-stage renal disease and lowers their risk of death during the first year of dialysis, according to a study by the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology & Cost Center.

20 Nov 2010

Senate acts on Medicare doctor pay fix

Although the Senate agreed to postpone for one month cuts in Medicare physician payments, the House must still act, too, in order to delay a scheduled fee reduction that will kick in Dec. 1.This very short-term approach is likely to frustrate the physician community.

20 Nov 2010

Study compares effect on HT status in mid, late life on dementia risk

Compared to women never on hormone therapy, those taking hormone therapy only at midlife had a 26 percent decreased risk of dementia; while women taking HT only in late life had a 48 percent increased risk of dementia, according to Kaiser Permanente researchers.

19 Nov 2010

Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment, increase healthcare costs

Failure to have a prescription filled can undermine medical treatment, result in increased health care costs and potentially have devastating results for the patient.

19 Nov 2010

Mass. regulators and nursing homes fight inappropriate medicating; officials deal with Hawaii doctor shortage

State regulators and the Massachusetts nursing home industry are launching a campaign today to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications for residents with dementia.

19 Nov 2010

Doctor News and Research

Mergers among hospitals and doctors spur consumer concerns, The NY Times reports

First African tapped as new head of U.N. population fund

$7.5 million Queensland diabetes action plan to roll

Today's Op-Eds: The Ryan roadmap; Democrats and the doc fix; Health reform's failed promises; 'Don't litigate, innovate'

First Edition: November 22, 2010

VYTORIN reduces major vascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

Racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in kidney transplantation

Rush to merge doctors and hospitals is raising consumers' concerns

Growing emergency room ‘access block’ problem in Australian hospitals

Assessment by nurse practitioner satisfies patients with back problems: Study

Russian-trained microbiologist recommends tips for consumers to achieve effective results from probiotics

Tips to maintain an upperhand on bedbugs

People with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe economic downturn hurts their health: Poll

Eastern Virginia professor says average doctor may be toting new pocket-sized ultrasound machine

Survey examines Canadians' overall view of health care system

Early nephrology care associated with lower mortality and incidence of end stage renal disease

Senate acts on Medicare doctor pay fix

Study compares effect on HT status in mid, late life on dementia risk

Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment, increase healthcare costs

Mass. regulators and nursing homes fight inappropriate medicating; officials deal with Hawaii doctor shortage

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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