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UHC report outlines ways to combat high cost of care through supply chain purchasing process

While health care reform looks at ways to combat the high cost of care, many of the nation's top hospitals have already found ways to eliminate unnecessary costs through the supply chain purchasing process.

20 Aug 2011

Automated navigation support reduces effort and injuries for surgeons

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society congratulates Dietrich Manzey, Maria Luz, Stefan Mueller, Andreas Dietz, Juergen Meixensberger, and Gero Strauss on receiving the 2011 Human Factors Prize for their article, "Automation in Surgery: The Impact of Navigated-Control Assistance on Performance, Waorkload, Situation Awareness, and Acquisition of Surgical Skills."

20 Aug 2011

AHF: Gilead's campaign for FDA approval of Truvada leads to black marketing in Florida

Today AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) decried the fact that the recent campaign by Gilead Sciences Inc. to obtain approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for Truvada as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has led to a "black market" for the drug in Florida.

20 Aug 2011

Deficit panel has 'extraordinary power' but will face 'bumpy' start

The LA Times reports on some of the challenges ahead for the "super committee" and explores the panel's chances for success. Meanwhile, one GOP member of this select group vows that there will be no cuts to entitlement benefits.

20 Aug 2011

Trend of hospitals hiring doctors could drive up health care costs

According to a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the pattern isn't new but is picking up speed in the quest to increase market share and revenue.

20 Aug 2011

U.S. offers North Korea flood assistance, considering food aid separately

"The United States has offered North Korea up to $900,000 in emergency flood assistance but has made no decision yet on a broader request for humanitarian food aid for the isolated country, the State Department said on Thursday," Reuters reports.

20 Aug 2011

SVEFCU approves a merger with McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union

Following a vote of its membership on August 18, St. Vincent's Employees Federal Credit Union (SVEFCU) has approved a merger with McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union.

20 Aug 2011

South Africa should heed recommendations of HRW report on maternal abuses

"If the moral test for a society is the way in which it treats its most vulnerable citizens, then the release of a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) marks a sad day for South Africa," a Lancet editorial states.

20 Aug 2011

Annual oral rabies vaccination program in eight western Pennsylvania counties

The annual oral rabies vaccination program, which helps control the spread of rabies in wild animals, is underway in eight western Pennsylvania counties.

20 Aug 2011

Violence and displacement in Yemen exacerbate child malnutrition

UNICEF has warned that "continuing fighting in various parts of Yemen, which has recently displaced thousands of people especially in Abyan Governorate and the Arhab District of Sana'a, could compromise the nutritional status of those affected … potentially increaseing morbidity and mortality rates, especially among children under five," IRIN reports.

20 Aug 2011

Disease mapping could help control and eliminate loiasis, other NTDs, study says

In this End the Neglect blog post, Linda Diep, communications and grassroots assistant with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, discusses how "mapping of Loa Loa Filariasis could help in the innovation of new strategies to eliminate and control onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF), according to a recently released article from the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases."

20 Aug 2011

Planned Parenthood to cut back abortion services in Ariz.

Planned Parenthood, the state's largest abortion provider, announced a sweeping cutback of abortion services in Arizona on Thursday, saying it will no longer offer the procedure in communities outside metro Phoenix and Tucson. The organization had been offering abortions at 10 of its 13 Arizona locations. Starting today, that will drop to three.

20 Aug 2011

St. Joseph's Women's Hospital inaugurates new 64-suite neonatal intensive care unit

Most expectant mothers enjoy optimistic dreams of delivering a healthy baby and soon leaving the hospital with their new bundle of joy.

20 Aug 2011

WHO spokesperson addresses health, medical needs for Libya on PBS NewsHour

The WHO "is rushing to secure medical supplies for Libya" after the Dutch government on Monday released nearly $145 million in frozen assets from Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi's regime in response to a direct WHO appeal, PBS NewsHour reports.

20 Aug 2011

KeyBridge Medical Revenue Management releases iPortal interface

KeyBridge Medical Revenue Management announced today that it has released the latest version of its proprietary online client services interface, iPortal.

20 Aug 2011

Guardian Focus podcast examines unfolding crisis in Somalia

In this month's Guardian Focus global development podcast, the newspaper looks at the unfolding crisis in the Horn and focuses in on Somalia, where conflict and political instability pose steep challenges for short-term relief and long-term development.

20 Aug 2011

Second-annual UnitedHealthcare's Hair Fitness competition to be held in Atlanta

UnitedHealthcare and the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show are hosting the second-annual "Hair Fitness" competition for exercise-friendly hairstyles at the International Hair Show Aug. 21 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

20 Aug 2011

White House holds call to discuss famine in the Horn of Africa

A post in the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog highlights a White House call "with faith-based organizations Wednesday afternoon to discuss efforts in the Horn of Africa to combat the extensive famine brought on by a severe drought in the region, the worst seen in decades."

20 Aug 2011

Employers predict big increases in health care costs

Based on responses to a survey conducted by the National Business Group on Health, large employers are bracing for cost increases and will likely pass the added burden on to their employees.

20 Aug 2011

States grow anxious for federal exchange guidance

State policymakers are growing increasingly anxious in the face of administration signals that key guidance on federal exchanges may not be coming until late 2011 or early 2012 — if they're coming at all. The administration appears to have decided that it does not need to issue a rule outlining the operation of a federal fallback exchange, according to sources familiar with the administration's thinking.

20 Aug 2011