Doctor News and Research

RSS

Pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria cause death of 6 million of world's poorest children

A Johns Hopkins University scientist, whose team of researchers recently identified pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria as the primary causes of death of 6 million of the world's poorest children, today called on leaders in donor and developing nations to take action to address the terrible death toll.

23 Jul 2010

Waiting times for abortions in New Zealand need to be reduced

Women in New Zealand wait an average of 25 days to get a termination of pregnancy, from the date of their first visit to the doctor. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Reproductive Health studied the timeliness of services provided at nine New Zealand clinics, finding that efforts need to be made by clinics and referring doctors to reduce the waiting times.

23 Jul 2010

Med school students make different decisions when they consider health costs

The public radio program Marketplace has a piece today about how "medical students learn the cost of care, outside the classroom" of Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The students run a free clinic for homeless patients, and they "decide which drugs to stock and what lab tests they'll pay for."

23 Jul 2010

2010 Life Beyond Cancer Retreat invites applications

The Life Beyond Cancer Foundation is calling for applications from cancer survivors, oncology nurses, social workers, oncologists, and primary care physicians who help diagnose cancer to attend the 2010 Life Beyond Cancer Retreat. The 11th annual retreat, held Nov. 18 – 21 at Lakeway Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, helps women rekindle their spirits, relax their minds and bodies, and rejuvenate their souls.

23 Jul 2010

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield launches initiative to educate consumers on how to best access ER alternatives

At a time when health care costs continue to rise and hospitals are advertising emergency room availability, it is becoming more important to educate consumers on how to best access ER alternatives and receive the same care with less out-of-pocket cost. If a primary care physician isn't available, retail health clinics, walk-in doctor offices and urgent care centers can take less time and cost about the same as a regular doctor visit.

22 Jul 2010

Calif.'s Anthem Blue Cross president resigns following sharp criticism of rate increases

The Los Angeles Times: Leslie Margolin, the president of California's Anthem Blue Cross, is resigning. "During her 2 1/2-year tenure at the helm of California's largest for-profit insurer, Margolin tried to cast Anthem as a responsible corporate leader that cared for customers and sought to contain costs by forging collaborative relationships with hospitals, doctors and other medical providers.

22 Jul 2010

Accommodating patients may help reduce racial health disparities, improve patient satisfaction: Study

What if an emergency room patient wants a different doctor than the one who reports to their examination room? If the patient is a woman or a racial minority, emergency physicians are more likely to honor their request to see a doctor of their same gender, race or religious background.

22 Jul 2010

Hospital updates: ERs try to shorten waits, Florida Children's Hospital to join with Johns Hopkins

To attract patients, hospitals are increasingly posting wait times for their emergency rooms "on billboards, websites, social media outlets like Twitter and in text messages," The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "It's a competitive strategy, but also a tool for bending the wait-time curve and, hopefully, improving patient care, said Mary Joe Jones, chief clinical nursing officer at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City."

22 Jul 2010

New campaign empowers, inspires women and families affected by epilepsy

A new campaign explores the roles and responsibilities women uniquely encounter when living, or caring for a loved one, with epilepsy. "Women Succeeding with Epilepsy" is a collaboration between Epilepsy Advocate and HealthyWomen to educate, empower and inspire women and families whose lives are affected by epilepsy.

22 Jul 2010

Researchers speculate about risks, rewards of making clinicians' notes transparent to patients

Technology has placed vast amounts of medical information literally a mouse click away. Yet what often may be central - a doctor's notes about a patient visit - has traditionally not been part of the discussion. In effect, such records have long been out of bounds.

22 Jul 2010

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer among UK women: Research

Womb cancer cases are highest ever for over three decades.The number of women diagnosed with womb cancer is at its highest for over 30 years according to new figures published today by Cancer Research UK which show more than 7,530 people now develop the disease each year in the UK.

22 Jul 2010

Vaginal birth after previous C-section may be a safe option say doctors

According to new practice guidelines revealed for obstetricians by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists this Wednesday, a vaginal birth after a Caesarean section (VBAC) or maybe even after two C-sections can be a safe and appropriate choice.

21 Jul 2010

Researchers develop new way to reduce radiation dose in CT perfusion procedure

Perfusion CT scanning, an emerging imaging technology, got a bad rap last year when a machine set to incorrect radiation levels overdosed hundreds of people in Los Angeles. In the wake of this incident, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, excited by the technology's promise for diagnosing stroke, cancer, and possibly heart disease, have developed a way to reduce the amount of radiation involved in the procedure -- which, when done properly, already involves very little risk.

21 Jul 2010

Study: Americans with stand-alone vision insurance plans more likely to receive annual eye examination

According to a new study conducted for the National Association of Vision Care Plans by an independent research firm, health care consumers who participate in full service, stand-alone vision insurance plans are two times (33.3 percent) more likely to receive an annual comprehensive eye examination than those consumers that have vision care coverage "bundled" with their major medical plan (16.3 percent).

21 Jul 2010

Next generation robot could eliminate 'the doctor'

As physician-guided robots routinely operate on patients at most major hospitals, the next generation robot could eliminate a surprising element from that scenario -- the doctor.

21 Jul 2010

Company creates cottages for aging, disabled relatives; Report examines rising costs for elderly health care

"On Monday, N2Care, a company formed by a Methodist minister in Salem, Va., showed off its first MedCottage, a 12-by-24-foot prototype filled with biometric technology that would allow a family and health-care providers to monitor the condition of an aging or disabled relative. … [T]he Virginia General Assembly this year passed legislation, HB1307, that supersedes local zoning laws and allows families to install such a dwelling on their property with a doctor's order."

21 Jul 2010

Harvard Apparatus/ Hugo Sachs Elektronik business collaborates to develop lung regeneration bioreactor

Harvard Bioscience, Inc., a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialized products used to advance life science research and regenerative medicine, announces that its Harvard Apparatus / Hugo Sachs Elektronik business collaborated with Dr. Harald Ott and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to design and manufacture a novel bioreactor that was used to grow a functional lung. The lung was subsequently transplanted into a rat.

21 Jul 2010

Insuring your health: Out of network ER visits won't cost more under new health law

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "In the middle of a medical emergency, you don't have time to wonder whether the doctor who is reading your X-rays is in your insurance network.

21 Jul 2010

Lifestyle changes can prevent arthritis, knee replacement

Taking a few small steps toward protecting your knees when you are younger might help you avoid debilitating problems when you get older.

21 Jul 2010

Doctor, nurse roles considered as shortages take hold

"The private doctor's practice — long considered a mainstay of American medicine — could be going the way of the independent bookstore and locally owned pharmacy," The Detroit News reports. "Crushed by mounting economic pressures, more midcareer physicians in Michigan and across the country are giving up their solo practices and joining large and better-financed hospital systems as salaried employees.

21 Jul 2010

Doctor News and Research

Pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria cause death of 6 million of world's poorest children

Waiting times for abortions in New Zealand need to be reduced

Med school students make different decisions when they consider health costs

2010 Life Beyond Cancer Retreat invites applications

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield launches initiative to educate consumers on how to best access ER alternatives

Calif.'s Anthem Blue Cross president resigns following sharp criticism of rate increases

Accommodating patients may help reduce racial health disparities, improve patient satisfaction: Study

Hospital updates: ERs try to shorten waits, Florida Children's Hospital to join with Johns Hopkins

New campaign empowers, inspires women and families affected by epilepsy

Researchers speculate about risks, rewards of making clinicians' notes transparent to patients

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer among UK women: Research

Vaginal birth after previous C-section may be a safe option say doctors

Researchers develop new way to reduce radiation dose in CT perfusion procedure

Study: Americans with stand-alone vision insurance plans more likely to receive annual eye examination

Next generation robot could eliminate 'the doctor'

Company creates cottages for aging, disabled relatives; Report examines rising costs for elderly health care

Harvard Apparatus/ Hugo Sachs Elektronik business collaborates to develop lung regeneration bioreactor

Insuring your health: Out of network ER visits won't cost more under new health law

Lifestyle changes can prevent arthritis, knee replacement

Doctor, nurse roles considered as shortages take hold

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest News