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Press Ganey releases 'Patient Perspectives on American Health Care' report

Press Ganey Associates, Inc. released today the 2009 Hospital Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Health Care. The report examines patient satisfaction across the country; trends in overall patient perceptions; and variations based on metropolitan areas, services provided within the hospital, hospital size, and patient age.

24 Nov 2009

'60 Minutes' on end-of-life health spending: 'Is there a better way?'

While all Americans will eventually die, CBS's 60 Minutes reports, it may turn some heads to find out how much the government will spend when it happens -- in 2008, about $50 billion in the last two months of life. "You might think this would be an obvious thing for Congress and the president to address as they try to reform health care. But what used to be a bipartisan issue has become a politically explosive one - a perfect example of the costs that threaten to bankrupt the country and how hard it's going to be to rein them in."

23 Nov 2009

Additional pre-programmed scenarios for use with Laerdal's SimNewB neonatal patient simulator developed

Laerdal Medical, in alliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has developed a second volume of pre-programmed scenarios for use with Laerdal's SimNewB (TM) neonatal patient simulator. SimNewB is designed to integrate simulation into the AAP's Neonatal Resuscitation Program and to facilitate training for treatment of other critical medical conditions in the neonatal period.

From Laerdal 23 Nov 2009

System to help identify patients at high risk of developing delirium

A specialist in caring for elderly patients, Turner-Hubbard is a geriatric nurse practitioner trained to quickly spot the sudden changes in mental status that signal the onset of the sudden, severe confusion known as delirium. She knows the hospital “triggers” that can bring on fluctuations in behavior: blood loss during surgery, anesthesia, pain medications and anti-anxiety drugs, infections, dehydration, IV lines and catheters, as well as being immobilized for an extended period of time.

19 Nov 2009

Publicly released report cards do not appear to improve hospitals' performance, says new study

An analysis of quality of cardiac care following the public release of data on measures of care at hospitals in Ontario, Canada, did not result in significant systemwide improvement in hospitals' performance on most quality of care indicators, according to a study to be published in the December 2 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because of its presentation at an American Heart Association scientific conference.

19 Nov 2009

Real time location system can make hospitals more efficient and improve patient care

Results from the first multidisciplinary university study examining the impact of a Real Time Location System (RTLS) deployed throughout a hospital show that the technology for tracking mobile medical equipment is driving increased operational efficiency and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, while also enabling nurses to spend more time with patients and improve staff morale.

18 Nov 2009

VCU and RAA have improved resuscitation and survival rates for cardiac arrest patients

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and the Richmond Ambulance Authority have improved resuscitation and survival rates dramatically for cardiac arrest patients by training and equipping paramedics to begin lowering a patient's body temperature in the field during resuscitation and following up at the hospital with a host of high-tech strategies to improve the odds of survival.

17 Nov 2009

Vanderbilt University researchers study role of statins in reducing flu-related deaths

Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers are studying statins, the class of drugs long associated with lowering cholesterol, as a way to reduce H1N1-related deaths.

13 Nov 2009

Mechanical ventilation damages lungs, says scientist

As more Canadians are diagnosed with H1N1 influenza infection, some will be admitted to hospital. The most severely affected may be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe while they recover from the infection.

13 Nov 2009

SPIN program highlights the importance of human milk for preterm babies

UC San Diego Medical Center recently launched a website dedicated to offering families and the medical community valuable information about the best way to provide human milk to premature and underweight infants. The website was developed with a $10,000 grant from The March of DimesSan Diego chapter.

12 Nov 2009

Canadian researchers organize clinical trials to find new treatments for H1N1 infection

An important, ground-breaking initiative is unfolding in the global critical care community in response to the H1N1 pandemic.

12 Nov 2009

First pediatric hospital to discharge child with mechanical heart assist device

Texas Children's Hospital is the nation's first pediatric hospital to discharge a child while on an intracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD), a feat previously accomplished only at adult institutions. The patient, 16-year-old Francisco "Frank" De Santiago, who was implanted with a mechanical heart pump called the HeartMate II on May 19, 2009, was discharged on Oct. 29, 2009.

12 Nov 2009

UMass Memorial Health Care renews its supply chain relationship with Broadlane

Broadlane, the leading cost-management company for healthcare providers, announced today that UMass Memorial Health Care, the largest healthcare system in Central and Western Massachusetts, has renewed its supply chain relationship with Broadlane for another three years.

12 Nov 2009

Hualapai Mountain Medical Center receives licensure by the Arizona Department of Health Services

MedCath Corporation, a healthcare provider focused on high acuity healthcare services, today announced it has received licensure by the Arizona Department of Health Services and accreditation by The Joint Commission for its new 70-bed Hualapai Mountain Medical Center in Kingman, Ariz, which opened October 15th.

12 Nov 2009

Physicians and researchers to develop kidney replacement device for children

When children need kidney dialysis because of disease or congenital defects, doctors are forced to adapt adult-size dialysis equipment. No FDA-approved kidney replacement devices exist that are specifically designed for children.

12 Nov 2009

UK research funders announce support for a series of H1N1 2009 research projects

Leading UK research funders today announce -7.5 million of funding for a series of projects aimed at understanding the development and spread of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 - or 'swine flu'. The research will look at every aspect of the virus, on pig farms, in pig and human populations, and in hospital intensive care units.

11 Nov 2009

FDA-approved DuraSeal spine sealant from Covidien

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of DuraSeal™ spine sealant, the first product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intra-operative sealing of the dural membrane during spine procedures.

11 Nov 2009

Prone ventilation for ARDS patients does not lower mortality rate, says new study

Despite a current suggestion that patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome be positioned lying face down while receiving mechanical ventilation, study results indicate that this positioning does not significantly lower the risk of death compared to similar patients positioned lying face up during ventilation, according to a study in the November 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Nov 2009

Two VA employees lose their lives in Ft. Hood shooting

In the midst of providing mental health services and other support to the Ft. Hood community following the recent shooting, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) learned about its own losses from the violence. Two VA employees, both serving on active duty with their Army Reserve units, were among the slain. A third VA health care worker on reserve duty was seriously wounded.

11 Nov 2009

Medizone International announces new results on Asepticsure sterilization system

Medizone International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MZEI) announces that following several months of research, AsepticSure(TM) can now achieve a level of bacterial decontamination heretofore unseen in open space settings using conventional means.

11 Nov 2009

Intensive Care News and Research

Press Ganey releases 'Patient Perspectives on American Health Care' report

'60 Minutes' on end-of-life health spending: 'Is there a better way?'

Additional pre-programmed scenarios for use with Laerdal's SimNewB neonatal patient simulator developed

System to help identify patients at high risk of developing delirium

Publicly released report cards do not appear to improve hospitals' performance, says new study

Real time location system can make hospitals more efficient and improve patient care

VCU and RAA have improved resuscitation and survival rates for cardiac arrest patients

Vanderbilt University researchers study role of statins in reducing flu-related deaths

Mechanical ventilation damages lungs, says scientist

SPIN program highlights the importance of human milk for preterm babies

Canadian researchers organize clinical trials to find new treatments for H1N1 infection

First pediatric hospital to discharge child with mechanical heart assist device

UMass Memorial Health Care renews its supply chain relationship with Broadlane

Hualapai Mountain Medical Center receives licensure by the Arizona Department of Health Services

Physicians and researchers to develop kidney replacement device for children

UK research funders announce support for a series of H1N1 2009 research projects

FDA-approved DuraSeal spine sealant from Covidien

Prone ventilation for ARDS patients does not lower mortality rate, says new study

Two VA employees lose their lives in Ft. Hood shooting

Medizone International announces new results on Asepticsure sterilization system

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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