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First Edition: September 30, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how new and old health policy positions are playing on the campaign trail.

30 Sep 2011

Sandata releases new version of Santrax Agency Management

Sandata Technologies, LLC, a leading national provider of information technology solutions to the home care industry, announces the release of our newest version of our Santrax Agency Management operational Home Care technology solution.

30 Sep 2011

Longer looks: A surgeon examines his professional development

I've been a surgeon for eight years. For the past couple of them, my performance in the operating room has reached a plateau. I'd like to think it's a good thing - I've arrived at my professional peak. But mainly it seems as if I've just stopped getting better. During the first two or three years in practice, your skills seem to improve almost daily. It's not about hand-eye coördination - you have that down halfway through your residency.

30 Sep 2011

Hospital readmission rates reflect problem in addressing hospital failures

If you're a Medicare patient admitted to the hospital, the odds are about one in six that you'll end up back in the hospital within a month. And there was very little progress made in reducing that rate between 2004-09.

30 Sep 2011

BEN has garnered the White House's support to help fight childhood obesity

Want to double fruit sales in schools? A new Cornell University study shows it is as easy as putting the fruit in a colorful bowl. According to research presented this week at the American Dietetic Association Conference in San Diego, CA by Brian Wansink, Professor at Cornell University, "Moving the fruit increased sales by 104%."

30 Sep 2011

Loma Linda University's Vision Intervention Program receives Spot screener from PediaVision

PediaVision today announced that Loma Linda University's Vision Intervention Program is the first in the State of California to receive the revolutionary new vision screener from PediaVision called "Spot."

30 Sep 2011

Increased communication needed for TB diagnostics development

In this post on the PLoS "Speaking of Medicine" blog, Madhukar Pai, a professor and tuberculosis (TB) researcher based at McGill University, co-chair of the Stop TB Partnership's New Diagnostics Working Group, and a consultant to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, describes a recent conference on TB diagnostics at St. John's Research Institute in Bangalore, India, that aimed "to stimulate industry interest and investments in TB innovations."

30 Sep 2011

Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson celebrates two decades of caring and collaboration to beat cancer

From October forward, the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson (KCC), a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, is celebrating 20 years of service to the community and the groundbreaking cancer research from the scientists and physicians who've provided an invaluable contribution to medical science and healthcare.

30 Sep 2011

Members of MAPRx coalition urge supercommittee to protect Part D program

Writing on behalf of millions of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health conditions who rely on Part D for their essential medications, 26 members of the Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx) coalition sent a joint letter urging members of the joint deficit panel ("supercommittee") to reject proposals to increase Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing, raise coinsurance, and freeze income thresholds as they seek ways to reduce federal spending.

30 Sep 2011

Gala raffle to benefit Joslin Diabetes Center's High Hopes Fund

With the proud support of Herb Chambers, Joslin Diabetes Center presents Driving for a Cure, an exclusive raffle benefitting Joslin's High Hopes Fund.

30 Sep 2011

FDA, other regulatory and international partners complete International Internet Week of Action

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory and international partners have completed the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a cooperative effort to curb online sales and distribution of counterfeit and illegal medical products.

30 Sep 2011

Techniques on how to value, sell, and buy skilled nursing facilities

The SeniorCare Investor will be teaching seniors housing professionals techniques on how to value, sell, and buy skilled nursing facilities by hosting an online conference on Thursday, October 13th. The skilled nursing facility market can be tricky for investors. Some often wonder why certain SNFs sell for more than $100,000 per bed when others struggle to get $30,000 per bed.

30 Sep 2011

Four teams receive commercialization grant awards for development of new health-care products

Four Washington-based teams of investigators will receive up to $150,000 each to support commercial development of new health and health-care products, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund announced today.

30 Sep 2011

Several barriers to providing decent health care to poor people in developing countries

If you want to provide poor people in developing countries with decent health care, you need to overcome several barriers at the same time. That is the conclusion of researcher Bart Jacobs, based on years of research in Cambodia - and on his experience in several other low- and mid-income countries. The local community and existing social networks play an important role, but the authorities also have a role to play.

30 Sep 2011

NGOs, government face challenges in preventing fistula in DRC

Inter Press Service examines the challenges that non-governmental organizations and the government face in trying to prevent fistula among women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an estimated 12,000 cases are recorded annually because of sexual violence, early marriage and complications in childbirth, according to the Ministry of Public Health. Poverty, early pregnancy and marriage, sexual violence, and a lack of education and knowledge about the condition contribute to its prevalence, IPS reports.

30 Sep 2011

Cardinal Health joins Practice Greenhealth

To further bolster its commitment to environmental sustainability, Cardinal Health today announced that it has joined Practice Greenhealth, a membership organization for institutions and businesses in the health care field who are engaged in reducing their environmental footprints.

30 Sep 2011

Unibased integrates EHR, periOperative RMS and anesthesia IMS at Monongalia General Hospital

Unibased Systems Architecture, Inc. recently completed an integration of an anesthesia information management system, with an EHR where the key linkage is the Unibased award-winning ForSite2020 periOperative Resource Management System (ORMS) at Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia.

30 Sep 2011

Patients with chronic hepatitis C less likely to take medications over time

Patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C become less likely to take their medications over time, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

30 Sep 2011

Obama administration asks high court to rule on health law

The Justice Department's formal appeal puts to rest speculation about the administration's legal strategy. In addition, Republican state attorneys general separately asked the Supreme Court for a verdict early next year. Many observers say the new timeline will make the court's ultimate finding a factor in the presidential election.

30 Sep 2011

Analyzing the health law's tax credits and the CLASS Act's future

This round-up of health law implementation news also includes a report that the comment period for state health exchanges has been extended and news that Catholic organizations have stepped-up their opposition to the measure's requirement that contraceptive services be covered.

30 Sep 2011