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Remote video auditing leads to better hospital hand hygiene compliance

Nearly one out of every 20 hospitalized patients each year will develop a hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Of those infected, it is estimated that 100,000 will die. The cost to the healthcare system is approximately $45 billion and rising.

29 Nov 2011

Resettlement programs in Oakland not yet successful

Refugees who have fled Burma to live in Oakland, Calif., are at risk of becoming a permanent, poverty-stricken underclass warns a new report released today by researchers at San Francisco State University and the Burma Refugee Family Network (BRFN). The report found that almost 60 percent of Oakland's refugees from Burma are living in extreme poverty.

29 Nov 2011

CINJ experts available to discuss cancer-related fatigue

Between 70 and 100 percent of cancer patients receiving treatment suffer from fatigue related to their condition, according to the American Cancer Society, and up to one-half of all survivors have reported fatigue lasting months or even years after treatment. Fatigue can be one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment and can sometimes be overlooked by patients, caregivers and doctors.

28 Nov 2011

States shifting funds away from tobacco control programs may be losing significant savings

States that have shifted funds away from tobacco control programs may be missing out on significant savings, according to a new study co-authored by San Francisco State University economist Sudip Chattopadhyay.

28 Nov 2011

Some states take slower implementation pace as they wait for Supreme Court decision

Many of this slow down is related to the creation of health exchanges, as some states wondering if they should hold tight until the high court's decision is made. In other news, media outlets detail some of the specifics of the measure's preventive benefits as well as rate review processes.

28 Nov 2011

Federal funding, Medicare plan specifics draw campaign-trail reports

News outlets examine the federal funds received by Texas while Rick Perry has been the state's governor as well as some of the positions taken by Mitt Romney.

28 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: What now for deficit cutters; Berwick's replacement

There's already a bipartisan group of senators, the maverick "Gang of Six," that is volunteering to produce a new compromise package. ... The Gang of Six plan won't make anybody happy.

28 Nov 2011

Three-way contest: Prize is $30 billion veterans drug contract

McKesson Corp. (MCK) is in a contest with Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH) and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC) for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs drug distributor contract worth as much as $32 billion.

28 Nov 2011

URMC selects Acuo UCP3 as new vendor neutral archive solution

Acuo Technologies, the leader in high-performance software and services for intelligent medical image lifecycle management and data migration, announced today that University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has selected the Universal Clinical Platform (UCP3) as the company's new vendor neutral archive solution.

28 Nov 2011

Circadence to demonstrate MVO 4.8.1 WAN Optimization Suite at RSNA 2011

Circadence, a leading provider of WAN and network optimization solutions for healthcare, commercial and government customers, today announced general availability of Circadence MVO 4.8.1 WAN Optimization Suite.

28 Nov 2011

Office Ally selected as approved EHR vendor for Arizona REC

Office Ally announced today that it has been selected as an approved electronic health record (EHR) vendor for the Arizona Regional Extension Center (REC).

28 Nov 2011

State roundup: Calif. hospital allegedly overbilling Medicare; Wash. hospitals ER 'boom'; Rehab scams in Florida?

Health policy news from California, Florida, Washington state, Oregon, Vermont and Texas.

28 Nov 2011

Medicare's doughnut hole shrinks

Medicare's prescription coverage gap is getting noticeably smaller and easier to manage this year for millions of older and disabled people with high drug costs.

28 Nov 2011

Hospitals spend billions on new defibrillators

Hospitals around the country have been spending millions of dollars to buy automated defibrillators to save the lives of more patients who go into sudden cardiac arrest.

28 Nov 2011

An unfolding success story: Electronic medical records transition moves ahead

It's hard to think of any major portion of President Obama's health policy that hasn't engendered intense argument. But one at least comes close: the provision of the 2009 federal stimulus law that pushes medical practices to update their record-keeping for the 21st century.

28 Nov 2011

Political cartoon: 'Drumming Up Support'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Drumming Up Support" by Jim Day.

28 Nov 2011

A dramatic shift in US healthcare policy

Dr. Wayne Iverson, San Diego physician and candidate for the US House of Representatives in the California 52nd Congressional District, today commented on the surprise announcement from Washington, D.C. "The abrupt resignation of Don Berwick as the head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) signals a dramatic shift in this nation's healthcare policy."

28 Nov 2011

First Edition: November 28, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about President Barack Obama's pick to succeed Donald Berwick as chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as news about the Supreme Court's consideration of the health law and more on the nation's budget.

28 Nov 2011

A very low calorie diet can effectively cure type 2 diabetes mellitus

A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

28 Nov 2011

Candelis' ASTRA cloud-hosted services to augment Microsoft HealthVault's patient-centric services

Candelis announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Microsoft whereby Candelis' ASTRA cloud-hosted suite of services will provide for the secure transferring of patient digital medical images and studies to patients' Microsoft HealthVault accounts upon their request.

28 Nov 2011