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Meaningful use of EHR systems is an IT and organizational initiative

Meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is more than an IT or clinical initiative, according to Reonel "Joon" Saddul, Vice President, Clinical Informatics, at St. Joseph Health System. It is an organizational initiative. Implementation could cost the organization three times more than it should, if not done right from the start, therefore, Saddul advises that all parties are included in the decision-making and planning processes, and the projects aligned to known and likely future requirements.

24 Dec 2010

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

The Candie's Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization, announced today that it welcomes the news that in 2009, the teen birth rate dropped to an all time low. The Candie's Foundation aims to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of teen pregnancy through public service announcement (PSA) campaigns.

24 Dec 2010

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Twenty-two percent of all admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2008 were for patients born the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt was first inaugurated President of the United States or earlier, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

24 Dec 2010

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

A new study that reviews more than four decades of medical journal articles about the impact of health information technology (HIT) and electronic communications on medication adherence concludes that while there is evidence to suggest that simple electronic reminders are an effective and low-cost means to improve adherence, there are few studies that show how HIT can be leveraged to more thoughtfully engage or motivate patients to take medications as prescribed.

24 Dec 2010

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

The only way to learn if your water source has hexavalent chromium is to check with your public water supplier and request a water quality report, said NJIT Professor Taha Marhaba, a civil/environmental engineer. Most municipal or city engineers should be able to provide such a report upon request. Additional information specifically about hexavalent chromium levels may also be available.

24 Dec 2010

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Archives of Surgery: Profile Of Inpatient Operating Room Procedures In U.S. Hospitals In 2007 - Understanding operating room (OR) procedures in the hospital "is critical in debates about how to improve the population's health while attempting to constrain growth in health care costs," write the authors of this study that provides an overview of inpatient operating room procedures in the U.S. from 1997 to 2007.

24 Dec 2010

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

"Dilma Rousseff had barely been confirmed as Brazil's new president in November when she made her first foreign visit, to Mozambique," which "included a symbolic stop-off at a pharmaceutical factory that is under construction in preparation for opening in 2014. … The plant will produce a range of medicines for one of its leading lusophone - Portuguese-speaking - African partners, marking the resurgent power and growing reach of its sponsor, Brazil's own state-led drug sector," the Financial Times writes in an article that examines the partnerships Brazil is establishing at home and abroad.

24 Dec 2010

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

Scientific American examines how, in an attempt to improve early recognition of viruses that could give rise to pandemics in people, such as last year's H1N1 swine flu, scientists are looking to better understand "the viruses that infect the estimated 941 million domesticated pigs around the world." However, as the article notes, "[i]ntensive monitoring of pig viruses is unlikely to come any time soon … Most pork-producing countries do not test their pigs at all, and in some that do - such as the U.S. - the testing is done on behalf of the pork producers.

24 Dec 2010

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

American Regent is conducting a nationwide voluntary recall to the consumer and user level of ALL unexpired lots of the following products: Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 7.5%, 44.6 mEq/50 mL, Single Dose Vial

24 Dec 2010

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

A report (.pdf), released Wednesday, on breastfeeding practices in 33 countries found that out of 78 million infants born each year, about 42 million do not receive an optimal amount of breastfeeding, IANS/Sify News reports (12/22).

24 Dec 2010

9/11 responders health bill gains congressional nod

In one of the last acts of this not-so-lame lame-duck Congress, lawmakers overcame wrangling and cleared legislation that would cover the costs of medical care for 9/11 rescue workers.

24 Dec 2010

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Texas officials have filed criminal charges against a West Texas physician over accusations that they say he orchestrated against two nurses who had filed a complaint against him with the state medical board (Sack, 12/23).

24 Dec 2010

Health spending and mandates: What is central to the overhaul's implementation and what is not

CQ looks forward and offer analyses regarding how determinations about mandatory and discretionary spending will impact the health law's implementation. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on a new study exploring how central the individual insurance mandate is to expanding coverage.

24 Dec 2010

Guardian Home Care Holdings sold to AccentCare

Friedman Fleischer & Lowe today announced that it has sold Guardian Home Care Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of home care and hospice services, to AccentCare Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing home healthcare companies.

24 Dec 2010

Electronic health records have only limited effect on improving quality of medical care: RAND study

Use of electronic health records by hospitals across the United States has had only a limited effect on improving the quality of medical care, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

24 Dec 2010

Calif. insurers opt to resume kids' policies; Meanwhile, other plans cut mental health benefits in response to health law

Some California insurers have decided to resume offering children's individual health insurance policies — a step that reverses decisions made last fall to exit this market. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that, as a result of requirements in the new health law, some health plans are opting to cut mental health benefits.

24 Dec 2010

Today's opinions: Ariz. hospital and abortion; Wall Street Journal's issues with PolitiFact; Calif.'s anti-smoking success

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix announced on Tuesday that it will continue to provide life-saving abortion care to patients even though it means losing its affiliation with the local Roman Catholic Diocese (12/23).

24 Dec 2010

BROMG doctor calls for votes to win $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to pay for more flu vaccine

Dr. M. George of the Birmingham Royal Oak Medical Group (BROMG) is well known for providing free flu shots for the past thirteen years to more than 28,000 people in his community at a cost of $300,000 to his clinic. He also provides free Doctor visits for the unemployed and the uninsured. Now, Doc George, as he is known, is asking for help to win a Pepsi Refresh Grant of $25,000 to pay for more flu vaccine.

23 Dec 2010

AVMA offers DEA guidance on new controls for propofol

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has offered input to help smooth implementation of proposed new federal guidelines on a useful and effective induction agent, propofol.

23 Dec 2010

TPRF supports AmeriCares with $40,000 grant in battle against Haiti cholera epidemic

The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) recently became an active partner in the battle against a cholera epidemic in Haiti that has reportedly infected an estimated 600,000 people and left more than 2,400 dead.

23 Dec 2010

Healthcare News

Meaningful use of EHR systems is an IT and organizational initiative

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

9/11 responders health bill gains congressional nod

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Health spending and mandates: What is central to the overhaul's implementation and what is not

Guardian Home Care Holdings sold to AccentCare

Electronic health records have only limited effect on improving quality of medical care: RAND study

Calif. insurers opt to resume kids' policies; Meanwhile, other plans cut mental health benefits in response to health law

Today's opinions: Ariz. hospital and abortion; Wall Street Journal's issues with PolitiFact; Calif.'s anti-smoking success

BROMG doctor calls for votes to win $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to pay for more flu vaccine

AVMA offers DEA guidance on new controls for propofol

TPRF supports AmeriCares with $40,000 grant in battle against Haiti cholera epidemic

How agentic AI is reshaping laboratory workflows

Fourier 80: bringing benchtop NMR systems to the laboratory

How industrial hygiene flow calibration supports defensible exposure data

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