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Future geriatric care should focus on systems, not technology, say nurses

The most important advances in geriatric care, say gerontological nurse researchers and practitioners, are not new technologies and procedures but changes in thinking about older patients.

26 Oct 2010

In India, major reduction seen in polio since 2009, WHO says on World Polio Day

There has been a significant reduction in the number of polio cases diagnosed in India this year compared with the same time last year, the WHO said on World Polio Day Sunday, IANS/Sify News reports.

26 Oct 2010

Michigan hospitals focus on ERs for seniors; GA. voters consider funding new trauma centers

Some hospitals in Michigan seek to address the unique needs of senior patients, including the use of specially designed emergency rooms, while voters in Georgia consider new fees to help improve trauma units.

26 Oct 2010

Take McAlester Back campaign for drug-free life

The word to describe yesterday's Take McAlester Back events is inspiring. The group kicked of their official campaign Saturday morning on Choctaw Avenue. Take McAlester Back is a grassroots movement to get drugs out and arts in, all throughout Southeastern Oklahoma.

26 Oct 2010

Doctors, nurses and urgent care centers address increasing demand

The (Lynchburg, Va.) News and Advance reports on doctor shortages in Virginia: "Attracting more physicians to the area, and keeping them, is a challenge that has become more urgent. So much so that Centra is in the midst of creating a formal Physician Recruiting Office, where staff will work to convince physicians to consider coming to Lynchburg for their residency or to practice.

26 Oct 2010

Calif. budget comes in the nick of time for health centers; LA. Gov. announces cuts in health care funding

With some California community health centers just weeks or days away from laying off staff or reducing their hours, the state adopted its latest-ever annual budget on Oct. 8.

26 Oct 2010

Fluoride consumption can cause mild enamel fluorosis

Young children who consume substantial amounts of fluoride through infant formula and other beverages mixed with fluoridated water or by swallowing fluoride toothpaste have an increased chance of developing mild enamel fluorosis, according to research published in the October issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association and supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

26 Oct 2010

Confusion over reform may fuel health fraud

CNNMoney: People running health care scams may find new opportunities in consumers' confusion over the health overhaul law. "Most of the schemes are poorly constructed, using the pretext of reform. 'So far there's no major criminal organization behind them,' said James Quiggle, spokesman for non-profit group Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

26 Oct 2010

Paramedics at risk of stress, anxiety and depression: Study

According to the latest research paramedics are at a high risk of stress and depression. The Victorian study showed that around ten per cent of paramedics were found to have severe or extremely severe depression, while 40 per cent reported feeling the effects of stress. Nearly 25% were also found to suffer an “above normal degree of anxiety”.

25 Oct 2010

Entrust Healthcare acquires PRISMA Systems Medical Billing

Entrust Healthcare today announced it has expanded its physician billing and revenue cycle consulting services with the acquisition of PRISMA Systems Medical Billing. Entrust made today's announcement at The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) 2010 Annual Conference in New Orleans. No financial details on the transaction were provided.

25 Oct 2010

Mergers between hospitals and insurers expected to increase

"Health system reform, in combination with economic factors and trends in play, is expected to speed consolidation of health insurers and hospitals, leaving physicians to figure out how they should adapt," American Medical News reports. "The prospect for mergers and acquisitions throughout the industry is high thanks not only to health system reform, but also more access to financing to buy up other companies.

25 Oct 2010

Catalyst Rx awarded new service contract with Wellmark

Catalyst Rx, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., announced the award of a new service contract with Wellmark following a competitive bid process. Wellmark does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and its subsidiaries include Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

25 Oct 2010

Online health records gain (a little) popularity

The Wall Street Journal: A crop of websites to help patients store medical information and monitor their health are gaining attention. "With people over 50 increasingly focused on ways to monitor and measure their health, [online personal health records, or PHRs] are drawing more attention. In addition to Microsoft Corp.'s [HealthVault], other well-known PHRs include Google Inc.'s Google Health and WebMD Health Manager from WebMD Health Corp.

25 Oct 2010

VitalHealth and Mayo Medical Laboratories collaborate to offer EHR

VitalHealth (MGMA Booth #1560) and Mayo Medical Laboratories have entered into a collaboration to offer VitalHealth's Electronic Health Record (EHR) product, including a solution for physician office connectivity, as part of Mayo Medical Laboratories' outreach offering.

25 Oct 2010

Tips for unemployed buying health insurance

The Wall Street Journal, in a personal finance column: "With no job prospects long before they can afford to retire -- and Social Security benefits still years away -- many unemployed workers in their 50s and early 60s are struggling to pay the bills. ... Of the 14.9 million unemployed, more than 2.2 million are 55 or older, according to the U.S. Labor Department."

25 Oct 2010

Dueling letters on Medicare Part D changes

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jessica Marcy reports on reactions to changes in Medicare's Part D program as open enrollment season approaches, and offers - as examples - letters from Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups (Marcy, 10/25).

25 Oct 2010

Today's Op-Eds: Confusion, compromises on health reform law

Here are a few basic facts that Americans need to keep in mind before they go to the polls, and afterward. First, most aspects of the reform do not go into effect until 2014. Second, things are indeed bad out there: The costs of medical care and insurance premiums are (still) rising, and some employers are (still) dropping coverage. But for that, you should blame the long-standing health care crisis and the current bad economy. Health reform is supposed to help with these problems (10/23).

25 Oct 2010

MSSNY names athenahealth as preferred EHR vendor

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of web-based practice management, electronic health record (EHR), and patient communication services to medical groups, today announced that it has been named a preferred EHR vendor by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY).

25 Oct 2010

Vital Images Vitrea Enterprise Suite receives VMware Ready designation

Vital Images, Inc., a leading provider of advanced visualization and analysis software for healthcare providers, today announced Vitrea® Enterprise Suite (VES) has achieved VMware Ready™ status. This designation indicates that VES has passed a detailed evaluation and testing process managed by VMware and is now listed on the VMware Partner Product Catalog.

25 Oct 2010

Health law implementation hitting snags

Despite pledges to leave employer-based health plans intact, benefits consultants say some firms are considering ending or reducing coverage for their workers, The Associated Press reports, adding: "That's just not going to happen, White House officials say." But an executive for the consulting firm Deloitte said, "What we are hearing in our meetings is, 'We don't want to be the first one to drop benefits, but we would be the fast second.' We are hearing that a lot."

25 Oct 2010