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Boston Software and Vocollect collaborate to seamlessly integrate AccuNurse with MEDITECH

Vocollect, Inc., the global leader in voice technology and Boston Software Systems, the leader in workflow automation to the healthcare market, today announced a strategic partnership.

14 Sep 2009

Ad audit: Big business group compares Congress to slick hucksters

In this ad audit, Kaiser Health News reports the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce makes a weak case that lawmakers are moving too fast to overhaul the health care system.

14 Sep 2009

Blue Care Network reaches milestone: Enrolls 100,000 members for Healthy Blue Living

Blue Care Network of Michigan's innovative wellness product, Healthy Blue Living, which rewards individuals for committing to healthy lifestyles, reached the 100,000 member benchmark in less than three years.

14 Sep 2009

Virtual Pharma Rep - an electronic "go green" revolutionary pharmaceutical sales product

Virtual Pharma Rep™, a new company built by pharmaceutical industry veterans, today announced their launch to market. Virtual Pharma Rep™ delivers a patent pending, virtual sales process that revolutionizes expensive pharmaceutical sales.

14 Sep 2009

Boston Scientific to market Bladder Health Network's female urodynamic testing solutions in the U.S.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced that it has entered into a co-marketing agreement with Bladder Health Network, a privately held company offering advanced testing solutions for urinary incontinence. Bladder Health Network offers an integrated diagnostic service that combines staffing, equipment, supplies and results analysis, helping to ensure that physicians and their patients have access to testing, interpretation and treatment options for urinary incontinence and other problems related to the urinary system.

14 Sep 2009

ODS Health Plan selects American Imaging Management to provide diagnostic imaging services

American Imaging Management(R) (AIM), an operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP), and one of the leading imaging benefit management and technology companies with health plan clients representing over 35 million consumers, announced that it has been selected by ODS Health Plan, Inc. to provide diagnostic imaging services. Under the agreement, AIM will administer diagnostic imaging management services to ODS members in Oregon and surrounding service areas.

14 Sep 2009

Illegal immigrants: A fact check on their place in health reform

Reuters did a "fact box" on illegal immigrants and President Obama's health care reform push.

14 Sep 2009

Moderates against government-run 'public option'

Moderates from both parties backed away from a government-run public health insurance option Sunday, as they appeared on various Sunday talk shows.

14 Sep 2009

H1N1 vaccine to be available in U.S. earlier than anticipated

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Sunday that the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be available in the U.S. earlier than previously anticipated, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We are on track to have an ample supply rolling out by mid-October, but we may have some early vaccine as early as the first full week in October. And we plan to get the vaccine rolling out the door as fast as it hits the production line," Sebelius said (Davis, 9/13).

14 Sep 2009

On '60 Minutes,' Obama says he is responsible for health legislation: 'I own it'

President Barack Obama Sunday night in an appearance on CBS' 60 Minutes said that some Republicans just want to "kill" health care reform and that he'll "own" the bill when it passes.

14 Sep 2009

Baucus plans last attempt at bipartisan bill, Dems acknowledge moderates' key role

This week is crucial for Sen. Max Baucus, who is trying to win bipartisan support from his Senate Finance Committee negotiators. If not, he is likely to join a Democrat-only effort to reform the health care system.

14 Sep 2009

Report urges world leaders to expand access to free health care in developing countries

A new report from Oxfam and 62 other non-governmental organizations and health groups finds that international goals aiming to reduce child and maternal mortality rates are "desperately off track," with four million babies around the world dying annually within 28 days of birth, Agence France-Press reports (9/13).

14 Sep 2009

Also in global health news: Polio in Afghanistan; Goosby interview; water shortages in Mexico City; clean water device

Agence France-Presse examines the re-emergence of polio in Afghanistan, which is one of four countries where the disease is endemic. According to AFP, "Health care, or the lack of it, is one of many problems facing Afghanistan, eight years after a war to topple the extremist Taliban regime and the arrival of billions of dollars in international aid." Although UNICEF recently launched a three-day immunization campaign in the country, the "ongoing Taliban insurgency, virulent in the south -- Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces in particular -- has meant many children are not being reached," AFP writes (O'Donnell, 9/14).

14 Sep 2009

Much of the focus now turns to the conservative Blue Dog Democrats

In his address to Congress on health care last week, President Obama attempted to reassure Blue Dog Democrats, such as Georgia Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop, that the plan would not be too expensive or intrusive for their conservative constituencies, the Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer reports.

14 Sep 2009

States face growing health costs, dwindling budgets

As states wrestle with shortfalls in health care funding, many are hoping to brace with budget cuts, while others focus on changes that keep costs down over the long term.

14 Sep 2009

A selection of opinions and editorials

Health Care: Now, It's War NPR What emerges from this year's historic debate will now be a distinctly Democratic bill opposed by virtually every Republican in both the House and the Senate. It will pass or fail depending entirely on Democratic leaders' ability to rally their own troops in support (Ron Elving, 9/11).

14 Sep 2009

Poll: Opposition to reform still high but easing

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll found that 48 percent of Americans approve of Obama's handling of health care. "Bottom-line views on health care reform have stabilized but failed to improve since President Obama addressed the nation, leaving him with a continued challenge in selling his plan to a public that remains skeptical about its benefits and costs alike," ABC News reports.

14 Sep 2009

Lobbyists ramp up efforts to shape health care reform

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/New York Times reports: "Top lobbyists for every major sector of the health care industry publicly insist they are squarely behind the health care reform effort of President Barack Obama's administration.

14 Sep 2009

Nonprofits seek financial relief in health legislation

The New York Times reports: "Nonprofit organizations say they are upset that Congress and the Obama administration have not addressed their rising health care costs in the various health care proposals being floated on Capitol Hill. The main bill in the House would award a tax credit to small businesses that provide their employees with health insurance — but nonprofits do not pay income taxes and thus would not benefit."

14 Sep 2009

Comparative effectiveness research may save money, but remains controversial

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: "Democrats' plans for health care reform would try to provide answers with more studies on which drugs, medical devices and procedures work best for different patients. But while the goal of more 'comparative effectiveness' research may sound simple, getting there may be a challenge."

14 Sep 2009

Health Care News and Research

Boston Software and Vocollect collaborate to seamlessly integrate AccuNurse with MEDITECH

Ad audit: Big business group compares Congress to slick hucksters

Blue Care Network reaches milestone: Enrolls 100,000 members for Healthy Blue Living

Virtual Pharma Rep - an electronic "go green" revolutionary pharmaceutical sales product

Boston Scientific to market Bladder Health Network's female urodynamic testing solutions in the U.S.

ODS Health Plan selects American Imaging Management to provide diagnostic imaging services

Illegal immigrants: A fact check on their place in health reform

Moderates against government-run 'public option'

H1N1 vaccine to be available in U.S. earlier than anticipated

On '60 Minutes,' Obama says he is responsible for health legislation: 'I own it'

Baucus plans last attempt at bipartisan bill, Dems acknowledge moderates' key role

Report urges world leaders to expand access to free health care in developing countries

Also in global health news: Polio in Afghanistan; Goosby interview; water shortages in Mexico City; clean water device

Much of the focus now turns to the conservative Blue Dog Democrats

States face growing health costs, dwindling budgets

A selection of opinions and editorials

Poll: Opposition to reform still high but easing

Lobbyists ramp up efforts to shape health care reform

Nonprofits seek financial relief in health legislation

Comparative effectiveness research may save money, but remains controversial

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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