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Authorities in India's only Muslim-majority state battling increase in female foeticide, AFP reports

Agence France-Presse examines how officials in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir are battling a "shocking rise in female foeticide" by seizing unlicensed ultrasound machines and enlisting the assistance of religious leaders in the country's only Muslim-majority state.

24 May 2011

RACGP urges government to engage with profession regarding GP mental health funding cuts

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) continues to receive feedback from amongst its over 20,000 members regarding the implications of the government’s budget cuts for critical mental health support delivered by GPs. The College urges the government to engage with the profession regarding the cuts to GP mental health assessments, planning and referrals.

24 May 2011

Swedish Medical Center implements Aegis' physician relationship management program

Swedish Medical Center, the largest nonprofit healthcare provider in the Greater Seattle area, has selected tools provided by Aegis Health Group to enhance its physician relationship management program. Aegis' custom-designed solution includes its proprietary contact management software PRISM as well as sales training and program development support.

24 May 2011

Skagit Valley Hospital joins Premier healthcare alliance and saves more than $1M annually

Skagit Valley Hospital of Mount Vernon, Wash., saved more than $1 million by joining the Premier healthcare alliance.

24 May 2011

'Smoothing' occupancy could help children's hospitals reduce crowding

Too many admissions at a hospital at one time can put patients at risk. A new study published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine suggests that "smoothing" occupancy over the course of a week could help hospitals reduce crowding and protect patients from crowded conditions.

24 May 2011

IPS examines subsidized malaria drugs in Kenya

Inter Press Service looks at the roll out of the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria in Kenya. The program, which is managed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, makes subsidized malaria medications available through private pharmacies in seven other pilot countries - Cambodia, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

24 May 2011

Pakistani province cancels six U.S. aid agreements

The Pakistani province of Punjab will stop accepting U.S. aid and has canceled six agreements with the U.S. pertaining to health, education and solid waste management, according to Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the province, Inter Press Service reports. "Sharif has vowed to 'break the begging bowl' which he said undermines Pakistan's sovereignty," the news service writes.

24 May 2011

HIV prevention study results raise public health questions about forcing patients into treatment

A New York Times "Week In Review" article examines how the results of a recent study showing combination antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 96 percent "reopens old questions" about the rightsof patients to refuse therapy and whether doctors, in the interest of public health, should force patients to start treatment.

24 May 2011

Opinion: Recognizing the success of foreign aid

In the Wall Street Journal, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, applauds economist Charles Kenny's book, "Getting Better: Why Global Development Is Succeeding - and How We Can Improve the World Even More."

24 May 2011

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

According to two new surveys, increased hospital admissions in the last three months of life could be of little benefit to dying people and are in contrast to the wishes of many.

23 May 2011

Is ACO the healthcare Holy Grail?

Providing a seamless, integrated system of care across a range of healthcare settings, accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly being touted as the cure for a failing health system. But challenges remain.

23 May 2011

In N.Y. special election, Medicare politics playing major role

A GOP candidate's once comfortable lead has narrowed amid voter backlash to the Republican Medicare plan.

23 May 2011

G20 meets to discuss food price spikes

Inter Press Service reports on the G20's recent working meeting on commodities in Buenos Aires. "The meeting was organised to address the causes of the new upward trend in food prices, including the growing demand in China and India, financial speculation and growing production of biofuels," IPS writes.

23 May 2011

The Boston Business Journal names athenahealth as 'Best Place to Work'

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health record, and patient communication services to medical groups, was named a '2011 Best Place to Work in Massachusetts' by The Boston Business Journal.

23 May 2011

Viewpoints: IPAB debate; Medicare flap continues; WSJ on VT single payer

While I applaud Ryan for getting the conversation started, I cannot support his specific plan — and therefore will vote "no" on his budget. Why can't I go along with the Ryan Medicare plan?

23 May 2011

Without medical liability reform, health care costs will continue to rise

Nearly half (44 percent) of almost 1,800 emergency physicians responding to a poll report that the biggest challenge to cutting costs in the emergency department is the fear of lawsuits. Even more respondents (53 percent) said the main reason they conduct the number of tests they do is the fear of being sued.

23 May 2011

Vermont Gov. to sign single-payer bill Thursday

Vermont is about to accomplish something the federal government couldn't. Once Gov. Peter Shumlin signs a bill on May 26, the state will be on track to having a single-payer health care system.

23 May 2011

Study links early complementary feeding with infant malnutrition in Kenya

A study of infants under 36 months old in a low-income area of Nairobi, Kenya, found that a "lack of information on exclusive breast feeding and low level of education for the mothers is the main cause of the frequent illness and malnutrition among infants," the East African reports.

23 May 2011

Kansas, Iowa pursue health law waivers

Meanwhile, The Hill reports that most of the denials resuting from early waiver requests went to unions. And, in other health reform implementation news, Politico Pro reports on what it describes as an "ACO dilemma."

23 May 2011

Lifestyle modifications help control blood pressure levels: More evidence

Evidence continues to build that lifestyle modifications help control blood pressure (BP) levels. Data evaluating the consumption of coffee and alcohol and the impact of low fitness levels will be presented at the American Society of Hypertension, Inc.'s 26th Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2011) and will be featured in the May 22 ASH press briefing.

23 May 2011