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Study reports Tennessee collaborative improves quality of surgical care

A new study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds hospitals participating in a regional collaborative of the American College of Surgeon's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP-), achieved substantial improvements in surgical outcomes, such as reducing the rates of acute renal failure and surgical site infections.

24 Jan 2012

Montefiore vision experts encourage public to learn more about glaucoma

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Vision experts at Montefiore Medical Center encourage the public to learn more about this disease, which is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States.

24 Jan 2012

UCSD receives approval to acquire NVCI

UC San Diego Health System has received approval to acquire the Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI), the official cancer institute of the state of Nevada, as an affiliate health care provider. The expansion represents a partnership between California and Nevada in offering lifesaving cancer care to patients through expert diagnosis, novel treatments and clinical trials.

24 Jan 2012

UNL project to reduce Shiga-toxin producing E. coli threat

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $25 million project to reduce throughout the beef production chain the occurrence of E. coli strains that pose a major threat to public health.

24 Jan 2012

Five scientists named recipients of Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award for cancer research

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation announced that five scientists with novel approaches to fighting cancer have been named 2012 recipients of the Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award.

24 Jan 2012

Scientists halt bird flu research for 60 days amid safety concerns

The head of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which funded "two projects that created a highly pathogenic [H5N1] flu virus mutation, has welcomed a two-month moratorium on further research while defending the value and safety of the experiments," the Financial Times reports.

24 Jan 2012

States, health industry moving ahead on implementing health law

New York and New Jersey are both moving forward with plans to comply with the national health care law, which would extend coverage to the uninsured by 2014. ... They are among 17 states making headway.

24 Jan 2012

Researchers analyze tremendous cost of peripheral neuropathy diagnosis

Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed the tremendous cost of diagnosing peripheral neuropathy and found that less expensive, more effective tests are less likely to be used.

24 Jan 2012

A delay in signing up for Medicare can lead to big penalties

Reuters reports on how seniors who wait too long to sign up for Medicare Part B could face costly penalties. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat reports on the political implications of Medicare's monthly premiums.

24 Jan 2012

Loyola hand surgeon restores circulation and function of thumb and index finger

Tom Thompson nearly lost his left thumb and index finger in a power saw injury, but Loyola University Medical Center hand surgeon Dr. Randy Bindra was able to restore circulation and function to the mangled digits in a delicate 5½ hour surgery.

24 Jan 2012

U.S. should assume leadership role in saving Global Fund

A funding shortfall led the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to announce in November that "it won't make any grants to fund programs for at least two years," a Deseret News editorial notes and calls on the U.S. to take a leadership position in saving the fund.

24 Jan 2012

Catholic Healthcare West separates from Catholic Church

With a name change and an end to its governing board's affiliation with the Catholic Church, Catholic Healthcare West will become Dignity Health.

24 Jan 2012

Virtual network of experts to work together to prevent preterm birth

The March of Dimes, along with its partners, are giving experts in the field of preterm birth prevention an opportunity to learn from each other and to work together to bring the nation's preterm birth rate under 10 percent and give more babies a healthy start.

24 Jan 2012

Asking questions about global health spending

Commenting on the latest data on global health spending from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in this post on the Global Health Council's (GHC) "Blog 4 Global Health," Craig Moscetti, a policy manager in the council's policy and government relations department, writes "some of the latest tracking data shed light on some interesting trends, prompting many key questions."

24 Jan 2012

Medicaid: North Carolina's good news, bad news; Georgia considering managed care

There are cost savings associated with a nationally-recognized health care initiative for the state designed to manage better outcomes for Medicaid consumers. The networks help 1.2 million patients with treatments for chronic and special conditions, ensure they aren't overprescribed drugs and encourage them to go to a primary-care doctor

24 Jan 2012

What to look for in the SOTU address

President Obama, who offered to work with Republicans last year to revamp the health care reform law, is expected to adopt a much different tone in Tuesday's State of the Union address. Bruised from the huge GOP electoral gains in 2010, Obama said he wanted to work in a bipartisan fashion on health care in last year's speech. Republicans scoffed at what was called an olive branch, and worked to repeal the entire law. While the GOP-led House passed such a measure, the legislation was defeated in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

24 Jan 2012

AHA urges Americans to wear red to raise awareness about women and heart health

On the first Friday of February, The American Heart Association (AHA) urges Americans to wear red to raise awareness about women and heart health. According to the AHA, nearly half of American women do not know that heart disease is their No. 1 killer, and less than half know the best blood pressure and cholesterol levels for cardiovascular health.

24 Jan 2012

Pakistan's polio eradication program facing challenges after increase in cases last year

IRIN examines several factors that could be contributing to an increase in polio cases in Pakistan, "despite the launch of a National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication" at the beginning of 2011. In 2010, Pakistan recorded 144 cases of polio and 192 cases in 2011, the news service reports.

24 Jan 2012

Medical groups maintain pressure for 'doc fix'

The medical lobby continues to push for a longer-term solution as the current temporary patch to the Medicare physician payment formula is set to expire March 1. Also, what's to become of the IPAB in the upcoming congressional session?

24 Jan 2012

China releases updated statistics on HIV/AIDS

"A total of 28,000 people died of HIV/AIDS in China in 2011, and another 48,000 in the country were found newly infected by the virus, according to an official publication" released on Saturday by China's Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and the WHO, Xinhua/China Daily reports.

24 Jan 2012