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Unique electronic strategy alerts physicians to latest clinical information on H1N1 flu

History was made at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, April 29, when more than 3,000 physicians in Indianapolis were sent a broadcast alert on swine flu (H1N1 virus) from the Marion County Health Department. The message was of critical importance to patient care; history was made in the way it was transmitted and received.

5 May 2009

Arizona agreement aims to extend PTSD treatment to Navajo nation

The Navajo Area Indian Health Service and the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System recently signed an agreement that aims to improve access to post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for war veterans, the Farmington Daily Times reports.

5 May 2009

Black women in Virginia more likely than others to experience infant mortality

Black women in Virginia are two-and-a-half times more likely than women of other races to experience infant mortality, according to the state Department of Health, the Newport News Daily Press reports.

5 May 2009

Chrysler deal could jeopardize retiree health benefits if restructured company does not return to profitability

United Auto Workers "appears to be enjoying relative safety in helping steer the course of the [Chrysler Group] bankruptcy," but if the company does not survive post-bankruptcy, UAW's stake in the restructured company "could be worthless," the New York Times reports.

5 May 2009

Competition among pharmacies could spur change in industry

The competition among pharmacy retailers such as Walgreen and Wal-Mart "to create more efficient business plans for pricing and selling prescription drugs has the potential to spur change across the pharmacy industry," the Wall Street Journal reports.

5 May 2009

Few hospitals have adopted a no-cost electronic health records system offered by VA

Few U.S. hospitals have taken advantage of a no-cost, open-source electronic health records system developed by the Veterans Health Administration, the Boston Globe reports (Wangsness, Boston Globe, 5/4).

5 May 2009

Disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue to exist for African-American women

New research published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that dramatic disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue to exist for African-American women, regardless of the age at which they are diagnosed, extent of the cancer, type of treatment or socioeconomic status.

4 May 2009

e-prescribing boosts efficiency, may lead to improved quality of care

New research published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons indicates that the adoption of electronic prescribing systems may allow for greater efficiency at hospitals, which could result in long-term cost savings and improved quality of care.

4 May 2009

Private Medicare Advantage to receive $11.4 billion more in 2009

Private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will be paid $11.4 billion more in 2009 than what the same beneficiaries would have cost in the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program, according to a new report released today by The Commonwealth Fund.

4 May 2009

Research uncovers possible basis of memories for different smells

Ben W. Strowbridge, Ph.D, associate professor of Neuroscience and Physiology/Biophysics, and Yuan Gao, a Ph.D. student in the neurosciences program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, are the first to discover a form of synaptic memory in the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that processes the sense of smell.

3 May 2009

Warning on fraudulent 2009 H1N1 influenza products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

3 May 2009

Extremely shy? - help is at hand

Help is at hand for those who suffer from extreme shyness. Shyness in its extreme form can have a huge impact on peoples' lives because it results in an avoidance of the usual common social situations, such as meeting new people or going on a date, and can also have an impact on work situations.

30 Apr 2009

Obama discusses progress, prospects on major initiatives at events marking 100 days in office

President Obama on Wednesday held a town hall meeting in Missouri and a news conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss progress on issues such as health care during the first 100 days of his presidency, the Washington Post reports.

30 Apr 2009

USA Today examines Specter's voting history, impact of moving to Democratic party

Health reform advocates believe Sen. Arlen Specter's (Pa.) recent switch to the Democratic Party improves the chances of passing a health care overhaul this year, USA Today reports.

30 Apr 2009

Sen. Baucus proposes Medicare changes he says could drive 'transformation of the health care delivery system'

The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday during a six-hour meeting discussed proposed changes to the Medicare system from committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 4/30).

30 Apr 2009

Congress approves $3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes reconciliation language

Congress on Wednesday -- President Obama's 100th day in office -- passed a $3.5 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget resolution (S Con Res 13) that includes budget reconciliation as an option for passing health reform legislation, the Wall Street Journal reports.

30 Apr 2009

Canadian Court to determine constitutionality of law preventing supervised drug-injection sites

The British Columbia Court of Appeals this week is hearing a case to decide whether certain sections of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that prevent injection drug users from accessing services at the supervised drug-injection facility Insite in Vancouver, British Columbia, are constitutional, Toronto's Globe and Mail reports (Stueck, Globe and Mail, 4/28).

30 Apr 2009

Health Care News and Research

Unique electronic strategy alerts physicians to latest clinical information on H1N1 flu

Arizona agreement aims to extend PTSD treatment to Navajo nation

Black women in Virginia more likely than others to experience infant mortality

Chrysler deal could jeopardize retiree health benefits if restructured company does not return to profitability

Competition among pharmacies could spur change in industry

Few hospitals have adopted a no-cost electronic health records system offered by VA

Disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue to exist for African-American women

e-prescribing boosts efficiency, may lead to improved quality of care

Private Medicare Advantage to receive $11.4 billion more in 2009

Research uncovers possible basis of memories for different smells

Warning on fraudulent 2009 H1N1 influenza products

Extremely shy? - help is at hand

Obama discusses progress, prospects on major initiatives at events marking 100 days in office

USA Today examines Specter's voting history, impact of moving to Democratic party

Sen. Baucus proposes Medicare changes he says could drive 'transformation of the health care delivery system'

Congress approves $3.5 trillion budget resolution that includes reconciliation language

Canadian Court to determine constitutionality of law preventing supervised drug-injection sites

Simple blood test proves powerful ally in the fight against malaria

New initiative to ensure the safe use of methadone

Gains in access to antiretroviral treatment come with some costs

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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