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New rankings reveal DMC have four top 10 hospitals and 29 High-Performing Specialties

Detroit Medical Center has four top ten hospitals and 29 High-Performing Specialties listed in U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals Metro Area Rankings.

29 Mar 2011

U.N. Secretary-General calls for countries to assess global nuclear safety in light of Japan reactor crisis

In light of the situation in Japan "where an earthquake and tsunami crippled an aging atomic power station," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said international nuclear safety standards should be reassessed, Reuters reports.

29 Mar 2011

College of Notre Dame to host recruitment rally for nationwide breast cancer initiative

College of Notre Dame of Maryland is supporting the Love/Avon Army of Women, a nationwide initiative to recruit 1 million volunteers to enroll in research to help uncover the causes of breast cancer.

29 Mar 2011

Cardinal Health, APhA partner to prevent prescription medication abuse

During the American Pharmacists Association's Annual Meeting and Exposition in Seattle, the Cardinal Health Foundation and APhA announced a partnership to encourage pharmacists and student pharmacists to take an active role in preventing the abuse and misuse of prescription medications.

29 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: 'Lesson' from R.I. on waivers; Wis. infant mortality rate disparities; diabetes and seniors

Medicaid is the major cost driver in state budgets these days, so several Governors have proposed a deal to the White House and Congress: They'll take less money in return for the flexibility to run the program with fewer federal strings. A case study in the potential benefits is coming from liberal Rhode Island.

29 Mar 2011

Atypical antipsychotics is a safe mental health medication for nursing home residents

Conventional antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines often administered to nursing home residents are no safer than atypical antipsychotics and may carry increased risks, according to an article in CMAJ.

29 Mar 2011

People with arthritis can benefit from exercise

An estimated 50 million adults in the United States suffer from arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the best ways to combat the onset of arthritis as well as to control pain and improve function is through exercise.

29 Mar 2011

Roundup: States 'scrambling' on Medicaid budget; health costs for inmates, Ex-Cons; kids' insurance

Strapped states are scrambling to address Medicaid's ballooning costs before the federal government cuts back a critical source of funding this week. Medicaid is one of state's costliest burdens. And the weak economy swelled the rolls to record numbers. Nearly 49 million people -- or almost one in six Americans -- were covered by the safety net at the end of 2009, the latest figures available.

29 Mar 2011

Medicaid realities: More harm than good (Op-ed)

On January 7, 2011, 33 governors and governors- elect sent a letter to the White House and Congressional leaders detailing how new federal Medicaid mandates will drown their states in more debt.

28 Mar 2011

CNN political analyst David Gergen spoke with home care and hospice providers at annual March on Washington event

Nationally known and recognized political analyst David Gergen spoke today at the National Home Care & Hospice Association’s March on Washington event about the uncertain times that we face as a country.

28 Mar 2011

Ozarks Medical Center selects ProVation Order Sets electronic solution

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Ozarks Medical Center has selected ProVation® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate® Decision Support, as the hospital's electronic order set solution.

28 Mar 2011

New USARAD.com Peer Review Program for radiologists

USARAD.com LLC, a Joint Commission-accredited provider of outsourced radiology reading services, today announced the first-ever national quality assurance (QA) service to assist imaging facilities in achieving and maintaining American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation. The new USARAD.com Peer Review Program is open to individual radiologists, hospital radiology departments, imaging centers, IDTFs, mobile imaging providers and multi-specialty physician groups.

28 Mar 2011

As new threat of Govt. shutdown looms, parties still at odds on spending cuts

Although some reports of progress have emerged from closed-door negotiations, Democrats and Republicans appear to still be at odds regarding whether the current year funding bill should move beyond a "narrow slice of discretionary programs" to include some health programs — including Medicare.

28 Mar 2011

Rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out Social Security COLA

Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

28 Mar 2011

Poll finds proposal to cut Planned Parenthood funding deepens gender gap

Meanwhile, in a second story, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the funding fight is far from over.

28 Mar 2011

Nurse staffing levels, safety net status both factors in patient outcomes

A new study finds that higher nurse staffing levels can lead to better patient outcomes. However, the study also found this to not always be the case at safety net hospitals. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Mirror reports on hospitals' efforts to reduce readmissions. And, in other news, new research has found that patients are less likely to fill prescriptions when doctors specify brand names instead of allowing generic substitutions.

28 Mar 2011

House Subcommittee to investigate AARP 'financial conflicts'

House GOP lawmakers are scrutinizing how the AARP's interests may have played into the positions the organization took during the health debate.

28 Mar 2011

Differing reports on how businesses, health law are interacting

Reuters reports that Health and Human Services data show the business community is a big winner as a result of the measure's early retiree program. But The Fiscal Times notes that some "corporate giants" are at odds with the overhaul.

28 Mar 2011

How is the health care safety net faring?

News outlets examine the safety net from varying vantage points to see how it is holding up in advance of the health law's coverage expansions and during difficult economic times.

28 Mar 2011

New pill may protect DNA from radiation damage

The Japanese nuclear crisis has caused a surge in the demand of potassium iodide, causing shortages not only in Japan, but as far away as California, western Canada, and even southeastern Russia. Although potassium iodide does not provide generalized radiation protection because it only shields the thyroid, manufacturers and pharmacies are being bombarded with orders as the radiation hysteria mounts.

28 Mar 2011