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AMA selects Quest Diagnostics' Care360 EHR for new online physician platform

Quest Diagnostics' healthcare information (IT) technology subsidiary MedPlus and the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest physician organization, today announced they are partnering to expand the adoption of health information technology by offering Care360™ EHR, a web-based electronic health record, on the AMA's new online platform for physicians.

From Quest Diagnostics 15 Oct 2010

Tips to help keep teeth and gums healthy

Good nutrition and healthy eating habits are essential to maintaining optimal oral and overall health. With Halloween just around the corner, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) encourages parents to be mindful of the amount of candy their children are consuming, and to use this holiday as an opportunity to remind them about the importance of taking care of their teeth and gums.

15 Oct 2010

New analysis examines guiding principles for policymakers to fight health care fraud

In light of the recent historic Medicare fraud bust, a new analysis that examines the "Seven Guiding Principles for Policymakers" to fighting health care fraud invites new questions about legislative efforts to reduce accountability and oversight of independent pharmacies, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) said today.

15 Oct 2010

CDC: Hispanics more likely to have HIV than whites, but live longer

The Associated Press: Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "estimate that 1 in 22 black Americans will be diagnosed with the AIDS virus in their lifetime — more than twice the risk for Hispanics and eight times that of whites. ... the lifetime risk is 1 in 52 for Hispanics, and 1 in 170 for whites. Asian-Americans had the lowest lifetime risk, at about 1 in 222" (10/14).

15 Oct 2010

GE Healthcare successfully links EMR solution with non-GE inpatient systems

GE Healthcare has successfully linked its electronic medical records (EMR) solution with several non-GE inpatient systems, providing a single view of the patient record that will go beyond the requirements of meaningful use. The interoperability solution is set to debut at beta sites Capital Region Healthcare (N.H.) and Decatur Memorial Hospital (Ill.) in early 2011 with general availability expected later that year.

15 Oct 2010

Report: Fewer people than expected chose COBRA subsidy

Fewer people than expected chose to use the COBRA subsidy offered by the federal government, according to an analysis by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, The New York Times Prescriptions blog reports.

15 Oct 2010

UnitedHealth proposes managed-care plan for those who get both Medicare and Medicaid

UnitedHealth Group Inc. is proposing a managed-care plan for dual recipients of Medicare and Medicaid.

15 Oct 2010

MasterCard, Interpol partner to prevent online supply of illegal and counterfeit drugs, medicines

MasterCard Worldwide recently partnered with Interpol to support the global police organization's efforts to prevent websites from supplying illegal and counterfeit prescription drugs and medicines to consumers. Named "Operation Pangea III," the week-long effort covered 45 participating countries and resulted in 76 arrests to date. Additionally, 290 websites have been shut down and nearly 11,000 packages of contraband have been seized or detained.

15 Oct 2010

Abortion, health law heat up campaign debates around the country

Running for re-election, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Thursday charged that Republican Carly Fiorina's stance on abortion is "'a direct threat' to the rights of women in California and the nation ...," the Los Angeles Times reports. "'Overturning Roe vs. Wade would turn women and doctors into criminals,' Boxer said. 'The most extreme anti-choice groups have found their candidate in Carly Fiorina.'

15 Oct 2010

New rates and benefits for 2011 from APWU Health Plan

APWU Health Plan announces new rates and benefits for 2011. APWU Health Plan continues to offer comprehensive health care to America's Workforce at a competitive premium. The average rate increase for the FEHB Program in 2011 is 7.2 percent. For the tenth straight year, the APWU Health Plan's rate increase was below the FEHB average.

15 Oct 2010

ACDI/VOCA observes World Food Day

This World Food Day, Oct. 16, the global community has good news to celebrate. Recent agricultural and economic gains have pushed the number of hungry people below 1 billion. That drop is a 9.6 percent decline since last year according to the U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

15 Oct 2010

Aetna adds The Washington Hospital to provider network

Aetna announced that it has reached agreement with The Washington Hospital on a contract that adds a new hospital and potentially as many as 200 new physicians to Aetna's provider network in western Pennsylvania.

15 Oct 2010

Report examines impact of federal stimulus funding on health spending in Florida

The Collins Center for Public Policy has released a report that examines the impact of the federal government's economic stimulus funding on Florida's health care system.

15 Oct 2010

VBA awards DOMA contract for Pilot Study into Private Medical Records

The Department of Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has awarded DOMA Technologies (DOMA) the contract for a Pilot Study into the Centralized Retrieval, Assembly, and Secure Transmission of Private Medical Records to expedite claims processes.

15 Oct 2010

WSNA sues 4 hospitals for failing to provide nurses with rest and meal breaks

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 16,000 registered nurses in Washington State, has filed lawsuits against four hospitals around the state for failing to provide nurses with rest and meal breaks. Research confirms that nurses working long hours have decreased alertness and vigilance which can lead to an increase in medical errors and compromised patient care. WSNA has been working for several years to ensure that nurses receive full, uninterrupted breaks because that dedicated time to rest is critical in preventing fatigue and fatigue-related errors.

15 Oct 2010

New comprehensive program for medical electronic device designers

Canon Communications today announced the formation of a comprehensive program to assist designers, developers, and engineering managers involved in the design of electronics-based medical devices. The DesignMED conference and exposition is a collaborative project between the company's Medical Device Group-Medical Electronics Design (MED), EDN, and MD+DI-and its Event Division.

15 Oct 2010

AstraZeneca launches new campaign on depression through Facebook and Twitter

AstraZeneca is launching a new campaign called "Take on Depression" through a "Take on Depression" Facebook page and a @FaceDepression Twitter feed to support, educate, and inspire those affected by bipolar depression and major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression.

15 Oct 2010

NIH awards $1.2M for study on discharge decisions at hospitals

A Georgia State University professor and an Emory University surgeon have received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a joint research project to study discharge decisions at hospitals.

15 Oct 2010

Medicare actuary says changes in advantage plans will mean more cost for some seniors

Politico obtained an analysis by Richard Foster, the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, which that the health law will mean increased costs for seniors in Medicare Advantage plans.

15 Oct 2010

$Spinal fractures remain undiagnosed and untreated$

Spinal fractures remain undiagnosed and untreated

A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for World Osteoporosis Day puts the spotlight on the severe impact of spinal fractures and calls on health professionals to recognize the signs of these fractures in their patients.

15 Oct 2010