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VitaPath Genetics launches VitaTrack Folate Tracker

VitaPath Genetics, the Spina Bifida Association and the National Council on Folic Acid today announced the launch of the free iPhone application—the VitaTrack Folate Tracker— which allows women to track their daily intake of folate and folic acid. Maintaining an adequate level of folic acid prior to and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of serious birth defects like Spina Bifida by up to 70%. Studies show that folic acid may also help prevent congenital heart disease, pre-term labor, and cleft lip and palate.

30 Jul 2010

AIDS 2010 follow-up coverage: Global HIV/AIDS funding; HIV/AIDS studies, releases

Media outlets continued to reflect on news from the International AIDS Conference-AIDS 2010, which attracted over 19,000 participants from 197 countries to Vienna last week, according to the conference blog.

30 Jul 2010

Insured Americans are using fewer medical services while employers consider wellness incentives

Insured Americans are using fewer medical services, raising questions about whether patients are consuming less health care as they pick up a greater share of the costs. The drop in usage is showing up as health-care companies report financial results. Insurers, lab-testing companies, hospitals and doctor-billing concerns say that patient visits, drug prescriptions and procedures were down in the second quarter from year-ago levels. Others say that consumers are beginning to forgo elective procedures like knee replacements.

30 Jul 2010

CVS-Aetna deal boosts the drug store chain

Forbes: CVS Caremark, the drug retailer and pharmacy benefit management firm, announced a new agreement with Aetna to help constrain drug costs. "The deal encompasses approximately $9.5 billion in annual drug spending relating to approximately 9.7 million lives. CVS expects significant long-term financial benefits from this strategic relationship" (7/28).

30 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 29, 2010

In today's headlines, a new poll shows opposition to health reform declining, and Peter Orszag makes his exit as budget chief -- still pressing lawmakers to make tough budget choices while implementing the new law.

29 Jul 2010

Adults need help for mental, emotional health problem: Study

In a comprehensive new study of mental health status and the use of mental health services by Californians, the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that nearly one in five adults in the state - about 4.9 million people - said they needed help for a mental or emotional health problem.

29 Jul 2010

NMF raises $30,000 in 30 days to help women have gynecologic surgery

Natividad Medical Foundation President & CEO Linda Ford announced NMF has raised $30,000 in 30 days – enough for about 12 women to have the gynecologic surgery they so desperately need. The announcement is part of the launch of The Onyx Fund for Women – named in honor of a Natividad Medical Center patient named Onix who inspired a hospital's doctors and a philanthropic fund.

29 Jul 2010

IBM, UPMC partner to provide redesigned SmartRoom solution with service-oriented architecture

IBM and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) are teaming up to bring "smarter" hospital rooms to patients nationwide. Created by UPMC three years ago to bring the right patient information to the bedside when it's needed, the high-tech "smart room" now features new capabilities, namely a system for automatically organizing and prioritizing the work of nurses and other caregivers. Under a new agreement, IBM will be the exclusive sales channel for the SmartRoom solution and will help to implement the technology for customers.

29 Jul 2010

Hospitals focus on forming ACOs, resolving insurer disputes

News outlets report on hospital issues, including forming accountable care organizations and disputes with insurers.

29 Jul 2010

Regence announces milestone 50,000 reviews of health care providers

When Regence members look for a doctor, they turn to a trusted source – fellow members. In fact, Regence provides a member-focused Web site, myRegence.com, where members have just reached a huge milestone: 50,000 reviews of health care providers.

28 Jul 2010

Researchers introduce Web-based program to help women experiencing abuse develop safety plans

Intimate partner violence results in 2 million injuries among women in the U.S. each year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. University of Missouri researchers are reducing these numbers with a new Web-based program that helps women experiencing abuse develop individualized safety plans and better assess the severity of their situations.

28 Jul 2010

35 cases of hepatitis C among Melbourne abortion clinic patients

Over the last few months there has been a rise in hepatitis C cases at an abortion clinic in Melbourne. In a new development 13 new cases have been diagnosed. This brings the total count to 35. The Victorian police are investigating the source of the infections. The link between the Croydon Day Surgery and the cluster was first revealed in April, when there were only 12 cases.

28 Jul 2010

Industry still making sense of federal e-health regs

Health care industry players are still sorting out the latest regulations on an up-to-$36 billion federal program to encourage doctors and hospitals to use electronic medical records.

28 Jul 2010

Millennium Laboratories urges for increase in physician reimbursement for POC urine drug screening

Millennium Laboratories, Inc., a national, research-based medication monitoring company specifically focused on clinicians who treat chronic pain, strongly advocated for an increase in physician reimbursement for point-of-care urine drug screening at the Annual Clinical Laboratory Public Meeting of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on July 22, 2010.

27 Jul 2010

ProTron Technologies creates Stethotron Intra-vascular Atherosclerotic Detector

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are the major causes of death in the world. Atherosclerotic plaque, the narrowing of blood vessels, causes audible turbulence in the bloodstream. Standard and electronic stethoscopes are designed to listen to heart and lung signals between 10-300 Hz. But as these waves do not travel in straight paths, and this frequency is a physiological sound, this uncertainty of origin may cause diagnosis errors.

27 Jul 2010

Studies that compare treatment options for carotid artery disease provide no clear answer, physician reports

A review of scientific studies that compares two treatments for preventing strokes due carotid artery disease provides no clear answer on which treatment is better, a UT Southwestern Medical Center physician reports in an editorial in today's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

27 Jul 2010

SeeChange Health Insurance to offer value-based HSA products to California employers

SeeChange Health Insurance Company, a provider of value-based health insurance plans to employers, will offer a variety of Health Savings Account products in parts of California beginning August 1, 2010. The product launch will make SeeChange Health the first insurance company to offer value-based HSA products to California employers.

27 Jul 2010

Navigating Cancer creates new application to help patients manage, update medical history

Navigating Cancer is putting the power of cancer treatment advocacy and management into the hands of cancer patients. The free website, which empowers cancer patients to take an active role in their care and partner more closely with their physicians during treatment, has created a unique medical history form that enables patients to manage and update their medical history on demand.

27 Jul 2010

Primary care shortages affect even doctor-heavy Massachusetts

The Boston Globe: Despite being home to the largest number of doctors per person, finding a primary care physician has been getting more difficult for Massachusetts residents since 2006, according a report released by the state. "Last year 60 percent of family-medicine doctors' offices were accepting new patients, down from 70 percent in 2007, the first full year after the state mandated near-universal health insurance coverage. Last year only 44 percent of internal medicine practices were accepting new patients, down from 66 percent in 2005.

27 Jul 2010

AACP, FDA and HRSA partner to introduce study that positively impacts patient health

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Office of Pharmacy Affairs in the Health Resources and Services Administration, has completed a baseline evaluation of the integration of the "Science of Safety" into the curriculum of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy.

27 Jul 2010

Doctor News and Research

VitaPath Genetics launches VitaTrack Folate Tracker

AIDS 2010 follow-up coverage: Global HIV/AIDS funding; HIV/AIDS studies, releases

Insured Americans are using fewer medical services while employers consider wellness incentives

CVS-Aetna deal boosts the drug store chain

First Edition: July 29, 2010

Adults need help for mental, emotional health problem: Study

NMF raises $30,000 in 30 days to help women have gynecologic surgery

IBM, UPMC partner to provide redesigned SmartRoom solution with service-oriented architecture

Hospitals focus on forming ACOs, resolving insurer disputes

Regence announces milestone 50,000 reviews of health care providers

Researchers introduce Web-based program to help women experiencing abuse develop safety plans

35 cases of hepatitis C among Melbourne abortion clinic patients

Industry still making sense of federal e-health regs

Millennium Laboratories urges for increase in physician reimbursement for POC urine drug screening

ProTron Technologies creates Stethotron Intra-vascular Atherosclerotic Detector

Studies that compare treatment options for carotid artery disease provide no clear answer, physician reports

SeeChange Health Insurance to offer value-based HSA products to California employers

Navigating Cancer creates new application to help patients manage, update medical history

Primary care shortages affect even doctor-heavy Massachusetts

AACP, FDA and HRSA partner to introduce study that positively impacts patient health

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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