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New report on healthcare information technology market released

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of Kalorama Information's new report, "Healthcare Computer System Markets and Trends In HIT Buying (Forecasts for System, Service and Support Revenues, Areas of Interest, Major Competitor Profiles)," to their collection of Healthcare market reports.

27 Oct 2009

Insurer contracting policies can jeopardize health care system, says NNCC study

A study conducted by National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC) has found that nearly half (48%) of all major managed-care organizations in the United States do not credential or contract with nurse practitioners as primary care providers.

27 Oct 2009

CCPM coalition members urge Congress to fix or drop the current biogenerics provision

The Coalition for a Competitive Pharmaceutical Market (CCPM), its allied organizations, representing several hundred million Americans, join experts from the medical and research communities, economists and thought leaders appealing to Congress to fix the excessive 12-year market exclusivity and ever-greening provisions for biologics or drop it altogether.

27 Oct 2009

Study: Minimally invasive procedure reduces cost and complications compared to open surgery

Ethicon Endo-Surgery today announced results from two newly published studies that demonstrate a minimally invasive approach in three common procedures resulted in a reduced rate of complications and lower overall cost of care, including a difference of more than $15,000 on average for minimally invasive colectomies, when compared to open surgery.

27 Oct 2009

Vaccination rates need improvement; racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage

More teenagers are being vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal meningitis and pertussis (whooping cough), though the rates are still too low, according to recently released government data and a panel of experts convened by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

27 Oct 2009

Studies highlight race- and gender-specific disparities in gastrointestinal disease

Three studies presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego underscore the growing disparities in gastrointestinal disease, particularly colon cancer and Barrett's Esophagus, among certain ethnic and gender populations, including African Americans, Latinos and women. These race- and gender-specific disparities underscore the need for education and vigilance among these populations and perhaps more aggressive screening tactics than the population in general.

27 Oct 2009

Bayshore Home Health acquires Nightingale Nursing Group

Bayshore Home Health announced today the purchase of Saskatoon-based home health care company Nightingale Nursing Group Inc. The acquisition expands Bayshore's presence in the province, complements its existing office in Regina, and provides an opportunity to service additional remote northern communities.

27 Oct 2009

HealthCore study shows Metanx tablets reduces health plan costs

Diabetic patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy had lower medical costs and reduced use of anticonvulsant medications when treated with a folate-enriched prescription medical food, according to data presented today at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 12th Annual European Congress.

27 Oct 2009

New poll surveys women's attitude about the health care debate

A new poll conducted by WomanTrend, a division of the polling company inc., surveyed 800 women across the nation to assess both their attitudes about the current health care debate and their priorities for their families and the nation.

27 Oct 2009

FDA orders spinal system manufacturers to conduct postmarket surveillance studies on their products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered manufacturers of certain types of pedicle screw systems, called dynamic stabilization systems, to conduct postmarket surveillance studies to collect clinical data on a number of potential safety issues, including fusion rates and frequency of additional surgeries.

27 Oct 2009

Mobile application launched to help consumers compare health care costs

Medica today became the first health plan to launch a mobile application to help consumers compare cost information for a variety of medical procedures. The app, based on the Web site MainStreetMedica.com, is available at the iPhone App Store.

27 Oct 2009

FDA warns four companies to stop marketing illegal opioid pain relievers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned four companies that they must stop marketing unapproved codeine sulfate tablets. These drugs are opioid analgesics, commonly called narcotics, that are widely used to treat pain.

27 Oct 2009

ACC's initiative for health care reform

As lawmakers debate health care reform, business innovator Lou Weisbach and Clinton White House health care advisor Dr. Richard Boxer are available for interviews to discuss a glaring, missing element of the forthcoming health care legislation: reducing health care costs -- and saving lives -- by preventing and curing disease.

27 Oct 2009

Health & Human Services awards Lockheed Martin new information technology contracts

Lockheed Martin has been awarded $170 million in new Health & Human Services (HHS) information technology contracts, all geared toward improving efficiency in our nation's health systems.

27 Oct 2009

New Pandemic Influenza Stress Vaccine course for health-care workers

Experts know that a pandemic can increase stress-related absenteeism among health-care workers. To help prevent this, a team of Mount Sinai Hospital psychiatrists and nurses have developed The Pandemic Influenza Stress Vaccine, a computerized course for health-care workers worldwide to build their resilience during a pandemic.

27 Oct 2009

Shire reports results of Lialda and 5-ASA persistency analyses

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, presented the results of three 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) persistency analyses at ACG 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting, evaluating persistency of Lialda® (mesalamine), Asacol® (mesalamine), Pentasa® (mesalamine) (250mg and 500mg), balsalazide [combined results from generic balsalazide disodium and Colazal® (balsalazide disodium)], and Dipentum® (olsalazine sodium) (500mg).

27 Oct 2009

Mobile Aspects to supply RFID inventory management systems for health care organizations

Mobile Aspects, a leader in RFID enabled clinical process improvement systems, announced today that Novation, the health care contracting services company for VHA Inc., the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), and Provista, has awarded Mobile Aspects a three-year contract to supply radio frequency identification (RFID) inventory management systems to its member organizations.

27 Oct 2009

Some patients with AMD develop elevated pressure within the eye following anti-VEGF medications: Study

A first-time finding of intraocular pressure increases in patients with no personal or family history of glaucoma following anti-VEGF treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and a report on a simple, low-cost method that could revolutionize vision screening and treatment in developing countries, are highlights of today's Scientific Program of the 2009 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO).

27 Oct 2009

Reid: Public option with 'opt-out' provision is the 'best way to move forward'

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said this afternoon that he supports a public plan with a provision that would allow states to "opt-out." Reid's announcement represents a major reversal from his previous hesitation about this mechanism and ensures that some form of a public option will be included in health-care legislation headed to the Senate floor. Recent debate has focused on the best way to devise the approach and which lawmakers might support it.

27 Oct 2009

Small businesses face higher premiums, push for access to 'exchanges'

"As Congress nears votes on legislation that would overhaul the health care system, many small businesses say they are facing the steepest rise in insurance premiums they have seen in recent years," the New York Times reports.

27 Oct 2009

Health Care News and Research

New report on healthcare information technology market released

Insurer contracting policies can jeopardize health care system, says NNCC study

CCPM coalition members urge Congress to fix or drop the current biogenerics provision

Study: Minimally invasive procedure reduces cost and complications compared to open surgery

Vaccination rates need improvement; racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage

Studies highlight race- and gender-specific disparities in gastrointestinal disease

Bayshore Home Health acquires Nightingale Nursing Group

HealthCore study shows Metanx tablets reduces health plan costs

New poll surveys women's attitude about the health care debate

FDA orders spinal system manufacturers to conduct postmarket surveillance studies on their products

Mobile application launched to help consumers compare health care costs

FDA warns four companies to stop marketing illegal opioid pain relievers

ACC's initiative for health care reform

Health & Human Services awards Lockheed Martin new information technology contracts

New Pandemic Influenza Stress Vaccine course for health-care workers

Shire reports results of Lialda and 5-ASA persistency analyses

Mobile Aspects to supply RFID inventory management systems for health care organizations

Some patients with AMD develop elevated pressure within the eye following anti-VEGF medications: Study

Reid: Public option with 'opt-out' provision is the 'best way to move forward'

Small businesses face higher premiums, push for access to 'exchanges'

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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