Healthcare News

RSS

Insuring your health: OTC medicines cut from 2011 flexible spending accounts

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "The health-care overhaul has taken some of the flex out of flexible spending accounts, which let workers pay medical expenses with pretax dollars. Starting in January, you'll no longer be able to use your FSA for over-the-counter drugs and medicines unless you have a doctor's prescription" (11/9).

9 Nov 2010

Poll: Economy -- not health law -- topped voters' concerns

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports: "Health care ranked fourth among factors that influenced how people voted last week, according to the monthly Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll that was released Tuesday" (Kaiser Health News).

9 Nov 2010

Health advice on NHS website saves £44 million per year

The latest study has shown that as more people self diagnose using the NHS Choices website, Britain’s national healthcare service saves millions of pounds every year. The website was launched three years ago. Last year more than 100 million visits were recorded at the site which offers patients a quick reference guide to illnesses, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Overall, there was a 10% increase in the number of visits to the website in 2010 compared to 2009. Some 19 million people logged on to NHS Choices for information on swine flu.

9 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 9, 2010

Today's news includes reports about the Supreme Court's decision regarding an early challenge to the health law.

9 Nov 2010

Changes in Medicare policies may hamper supply of power wheelchairs

Will power wheelchairs continue to be available to Nevada's Medicare patients following a series of federal regulatory and policy changes?

9 Nov 2010

Study says looking older does not necessarily point to poor health

Even though most adults want to avoid looking older than their actual age, research led by St. Michael's Hospital shows that looking older does not necessarily point to poor health. The study found that a person needed to look at least 10 years older than their actual age before assumptions about their health could be made.

9 Nov 2010

Excessive texting and networking raise new health concerns for teens

Texting while driving can be a deadly combination for teenagers. Yet, new data released today reveal that the dangers of excessive texting among teens are not limited to the road. Hyper-texting and hyper-networking are now giving rise to a new health risk category for this age group.

9 Nov 2010

Late retirement or cancellation of compulsory retirement needs to be encouraged

Workers who agreed to take early retirement were likely to not have considered that option if it hadn't been for pressure at the workplace to do so. This has been revealed in a new study carried out at the University of Haifa that examined the significance of early retirement. "A policy of late retirement or canceling compulsory retirement ought to be encouraged.

9 Nov 2010

Data breaches of patient information cost healthcare organizations $6 billion annually

The latest benchmark study by Ponemon Institute, sponsored by ID Experts®, finds that data breaches of patient information cost healthcare organizations nearly $6 billion annually, and that many breaches go undetected. The research indicates that protecting patient data is a low priority for hospitals and that organizations have little confidence in their ability to secure patient records, putting individuals at great risk for medical identity theft, financial theft and embarrassment of exposure of private information.

9 Nov 2010

New study highlights benefits of 100% juice

With so few Americans consuming the recommended amounts of fruit each day, finding quick and simple ways to add additional fruit servings - and the important nutrients they provide - is more critical than ever. Although USDA recognizes that 4-oz of 100 percent juice supplies one serving (1/2 cup) of fruit, there is still confusion regarding the healthfulness of juice.

9 Nov 2010

Psychologists discover that social interaction influences individual's sensitivity to physical pain

Psychologists at the University of Toronto have shown that the nature of a social interaction has the ability to influence an individual's sensitivity to physical pain. The discovery could have significant clinical implications for doctor-patient relationships and the general well-being of an individual on a daily basis.

9 Nov 2010

American Specialty Health wins Silver California Fit Business Award for fourth time

Health and wellness company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) announced that it had received a Silver California Fit Business Award for the fourth time from the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness.

9 Nov 2010

'Why to quit' strategy effective in smoking cessation ads

Tobacco control programs that use television advertisements to promote smoking cessation should use ads that adopt a 'why to quit' strategy with either graphic images or personal testimonials, according to a new study by RTI International scientists.

9 Nov 2010

Endeca, eHealth Ontario partner to implement chronic disease management system

Endeca Technologies, Inc., a search and business intelligence (BI) company, today announced that eHealth Ontario, an agency of the Government of Ontario, has selected Endeca and commenced work on the chronic disease management system (CDMS) and portal project previously announced in August 2010. Endeca, working with its partners, will assist with the design, build, and implementation of the system that will be used initially to better manage diabetes care throughout the province.

9 Nov 2010

Chemicals lining food wrappers migrating to humans

University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood.

9 Nov 2010

Only 50% of lung cancer patients in England are getting lifesaving surgery

Only half as many lung cancer patients in England are getting potentially lifesaving surgery compared to the best countries in the world, according to a new report by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).

9 Nov 2010

New research shows psychoprophylaxis can help tocophobic men

New research, presented in a doctoral thesis from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet, shows that psychoprophylaxis can help men with tocophobia (fear of childbirth).

9 Nov 2010

Dorland Health launches Professional Patient Advocate Institute

Dorland Health today announced the launch of The Professional Patient Advocate Institute (PPAI), a membership organization and community aligned around the common cause of providing advocacy for consumers as they strive to secure their healthcare needs and cover complex insurance and financial matters.

9 Nov 2010

Mobile technology improves diagnosis and treatment for mothers, newborns and children

Simple mobile technology, like basic cell phones, can be used to save the lives of mothers in childbirth, and improve the care of newborns and children, reaching underserved populations in remote areas.

9 Nov 2010

Consumption of in-shell pistachios can reduce overall calorie intake

California pistachios took center stage at this year's American Dietetic Association's annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), the industry's premier conference where thousands of registered dietitians gather to learn about innovative nutrition research and emerging health trends.

9 Nov 2010