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UCSF researchers develop assessment tool to predict patient's risk of delirium

UC San Francisco researchers have developed a two-minute assessment tool to help hospital staff predict a patient-s risk of delirium, a change in mental cognition characterized by severe confusion and disorientation that can prolong hospital stays.

7 Aug 2013

Survey: Consumers Reluctant To Enter Health Care's Digital Age

Most hospitals have implemented electronic medical records, but only 24% of consumers are making use of them, a new study shows. Hospital CIOs are working on ways to boost adoption of EMRs, which have been tied to improvements in health care, as well as billions of dollars in federal incentive payments.

7 Aug 2013

Study finds cancer survivors do not always have best access to primary care

While cancer survivors require follow-up care to prevent a recurrence of their cancer and to watch for after effects of treatment, they also need the same preventive check-ups suggested for all people.

7 Aug 2013

Employers' coalition seeks mandate delay 'clarity'

In addition, the Obama administration's decision to delay the health law's employer mandate is having a ripple effect regarding other initiatives.

7 Aug 2013

In Maine, a first look at rates for health plans available on the exchange

News outlets also report on state efforts to implement the health law's online insurance marketplaces in Connecticut and Hawaii.

7 Aug 2013

Hospitals to face more severe penalties for patients' readmissions

News coverage continues regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' hospital readmissions reduction program with details of a final rule released Friday and a local look at how hospitals are faring in Georgia and Missouri.

7 Aug 2013

Community-based pharmacies can be effective locations for offering rapid HIV testing, find researchers

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that community-based pharmacies can be effective locations for offering rapid HIV testing, diagnosing HIV, and connecting those who test positive with medical care quickly. The study is in the August issue of the journal AIDS Patient Care and STDs.

7 Aug 2013

UCSF study finds smoke-free casinos result in fewer emergency calls for ambulances

Commercial casinos throughout the country are often exempt from smoke-free workplace laws. Now a new study led by UC San Francisco has found that when smoking is banned in casinos, it results in considerably fewer emergency calls for ambulances.

7 Aug 2013

Updated United States Public Health Service guidelines for management of occupational exposure to HIV

New guidelines from the United States Public Health Service update the recommendations for the management of healthcare personnel with occupational exposure to HIV and use of postexposure prophylaxis.

7 Aug 2013

Doc-owned hospitals thriving in Texas despite ban from Medicare, Medicaid

George Ten Eyck is prepped for surgery by Christine Varela, a registered nurse, at Victory Healthcare in Hurst. The facility is part of a physician-owned chain that is growing despite not taking Medicare or Medicaid patients. Physician-owned hospitals in North Texas are finding ways to expand despite being banned from accepting Medicare and Medicaid patients (8/5).

7 Aug 2013

Portage Health inks definitive agreement to form joint venture with LifePoint Hospitals

The Portage Health Board of Directors has signed a definitive agreement to form a joint venture with LifePoint Hospitals. The agreement, which includes $60 million in capital investments over the next 10 years by the new joint venture, would allow Portage Health to expand and enhance its services to better meet the healthcare needs of its communities.

6 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 6, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the readiness of the health law's insurance online marketplaces for the Oct. 1 enrollment kick-off date.

6 Aug 2013

NSM Insurance Group establishes specialty Behavioral Health, Social Services Unit

NSM Insurance Group announced the establishment of a specialty Behavioral Health, Social Services Unit due to NSM's remarkable growth in this niche over the last 5 years. Bill McKernan, NSM President commented, "It made perfect sense that our Retail clients benefit from the vast expertise NSM has in this space so we created a team comprised of NSM's most experienced Behavioral Health and Social Service Insurance Professionals."

6 Aug 2013

PeaceHealth inks contract to serve Sterling Medicare SELECT policyholders

In an effort to better serve the Medicare population in our community, PeaceHealth Medical Group in Oregon has contracted with Sterling Insurance to become a network hospital serving Sterling Medicare SELECT policyholders. Sterling Medicare SELECT, underwritten by Sterling Life Insurance Company, is a Medicare Supplement insurance plan offering lower premiums to policyholders in exchange for using a network hospital when hospital care is needed.

6 Aug 2013

Academics, healthcare experts to roll out cervical cancer screening to all women in Uganda by 2020

Academics and healthcare professionals from Manchester and London will travel to Uganda this week (6 August) to push on with ambitious plans to try to help the country's Ministry of Health roll out cervical cancer screening to all women by 2020.

6 Aug 2013

Studies show that hTEE technology changes patient management in critical care

ImaCor Inc., the developer of the world's only hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography technology, announced that multiple recent studies have shown that hTEE significantly changes patient management in critical care.

6 Aug 2013

Meridian Health earns Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Meridian Health, a leading New Jersey health care system, has recently earned the highest designated Chest Pain Center Accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, a global not-for-profit organization committed to leading the fight to eliminate heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide.

6 Aug 2013

Personalized models for preventive health care services

With physicians facing increasing demands on their time, it can be extremely difficult to prioritize which preventive care methods should be used for their patients. Now, two researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have developed a mathematical model that will save time, lead to enhanced care, and potentially save lives.

6 Aug 2013

Electronic communication unlikely to be widely adopted by physician practices

Patients like it and so do health organizations, but electronic communications in clinical care will likely not be widely adopted by primary care physicians unless patient workloads are reduced or they are paid for the time they spend phoning and emailing patients, both during and after office hours.

6 Aug 2013

PinnacleHealth installs RADREX-i Wireless DR X-ray system from Toshiba

Offering its clinicians more flexibility while improving patient safety and workflow, PinnacleHealth installed a RADREXTM-i Wireless digital radiographic X-ray system from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. PinnacleHealth utilizes the system for a variety of general exams, including orthopedic, pediatric and bariatric imaging.

6 Aug 2013