Speech News and Research

RSS

GOP to stall confirmation of HHS nominees, due to flap over insurers' letters to seniors

Debate continues about the administration's reaction to letters sent by insurers to seniors about health overhaul.

25 Sep 2009

Vermont Information Technology Leaders to collaborate with Allscripts

Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc., the non-profit organization facilitating the expanded use of health information technology in Vermont, and Allscripts, the leading U.S. health information technology provider with a major facility located in South Burlington, Vermont, today announced their intention to enter into a strategic alliance.

25 Sep 2009

Dems court Snowe for key 60th vote

Democrats are courting Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Me., the Republican most likely to provide the key 60th vote that Democrats need to pass a health care overhaul package without the use of budget reconciliation.

25 Sep 2009

HSA: Cutting autism support by $3 million is not good for kids

"Government spin won't help autistic children and their families," HSA President Reid Johnson said today in response to a massive government cut in support for autistic children across British Columbia.

24 Sep 2009

McGill University receives $17,600,000 from Canada Research Chairs program

Nineteen McGill University researchers exploring issues from biomaterials to global climate change to advanced mathematics are among the 181 newly appointed or renewed Canada Research Chairs announced September 23 by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology.)

24 Sep 2009

Obama addresses U.N. General Assembly, calls for 'new era of engagement'

In his first U.N. General Assembly address, President Obama on Wednesday "called for 'a new era of engagement' ... with the world, pledging to work together with other countries while defending the interests of the United States," Reuters reports (9/23).

24 Sep 2009

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Insurers and Republicans react to the Obama administration's criticism of letters about health care reform from insurance companies, including Humana, to seniors. The Associated Press reports: "Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers about proposed health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order."

23 Sep 2009

New palate reconstruction technique for post tonsil cancer surgery

A new technique for reconstructing the palate after surgery for tonsil cancer maintained patients' ability to speak clearly and eat most foods, a new study shows.

23 Sep 2009

Travel Force Staffing's rehabilitation jobs search tool for healthcare professionals

Leading travel therapy recruitment firm, Travel Force Staffing, provides specialized allied healthcare staffing services to hospitals, clinics, managed care and skilled nursing facilities nationwide.

22 Sep 2009

IRSF announces funding of new clinical study with disease-modifying therapy treatment for Rett syndrome

Today, the International Rett Syndrome Foundation announced that it will provide $200,000 in 2009 to support a newly proposed clinical trial with a growth-factor based treatment for Rett Syndrome. The study will be carried out by a team of clinical trials specialists at the Boston Children's Hospital, led by Dr. Omar Khwaja MD, PhD and will be the first potentially disease modifying therapy ever to be tested in Rett syndrome patients.

22 Sep 2009

S2S translation systems for comunication between patients and doctors

Now, USC computer scientists, communication specialists and health professionals hope to create a cheap, robust and effective speech-to-speech (S2S) translation system for clinics, emergency rooms and even ambulances.

22 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: HIV/aids in Zambia; Ugandan medical workers; Obama administration officials' Q&A, speech; South African health care reform efforts; texting to combat drug shortages in Africa

The Post of Zambia examines the findings of a recent report revealing "the devastating effects" the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia is having on the country's ability to meet the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The article also looks at the relationship between HIV/AIDS and nutrition, maternal health and education (Chackwe, 9/21).

21 Sep 2009

Malpractice reform in spotlight, earns mixed reviews

"Republican lawmakers have long touted federal tort reform as way to bring down health-care costs. Democrats are coming around to the same position in response to what they've heard from constituents. ... President Barack Obama recently raised the issue as an olive branch to Republicans, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to spend $25 million to help states and health-care systems try alternative methods of resolving malpractice allegations."

21 Sep 2009

Ontarians support research involving biotechnology

Ontarians overwhelmingly value biotechnology’s contribution to their lives and the economy, BIOTECanada told Minister Milloy and an audience of over 150 business leaders at the launch of the sixth annual National Biotechnology Week.

21 Sep 2009

UltraPulse SurgiTouch CO2 laser for the treatment of airway stenosis

Lumenis Ltd., the world's largest medical laser company, announced today that it supplied an UltraPulse SurgiTouch CO2 laser with Digital AcuBlade microsurgery system to the Landspitalinn University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. Lumenis' state of the art laser system, was used by Dr. Paul Castellanos to perform Trans-oral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) for the treatment of airway stenosis with obstructing neurofibromatosis of the laryngopharynx on a 9-year-old girl and four other patients.

From Lumenis Inc. 21 Sep 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

There's enough wrong with the Baucus proposal as it stands to make it unworkable and unacceptable. But that said, Senator Baucus's mark is better than many of us expected. If it serves as a basis for negotiation, and the result of those negotiations is a plan that's stronger, not weaker, reformers are going to have to make some hard choices about the degree of disappointment they're willing to live with (Paul Krugman, 9/17).

21 Sep 2009

White house offers $25 million for medical malpractice projects

The Obama administration announced $25 million in new grants for pilot programs to explore alternatives to the medical malpractice system.

21 Sep 2009

Simple eye movement exam can differentiate between a stroke and less serious conditions

...

21 Sep 2009

Speech on health care opportunities

The Unrealized Opportunity in Health Care,” a speech by Harvard Professor David Cutler. He was senior health care advisor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and a member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers.

19 Sep 2009

Campaign for Disability Employment launched

Last evening at the U.S. Business Leadership Network's (USBLN) Annual Conference and National Career Fair, several leading disability organizations launched the Campaign for Disability Employment, a new collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

19 Sep 2009