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Educating individuals about healthcare costs could lead to efficient use of healthcare system

Educating individuals about the costs of healthcare could save money and lead to a more efficient use of the healthcare system, report policy researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health. The study is the first to assess the effect of knowledge and perceptions of cost-sharing levels (the percentage of cost borne by individuals out of total healthcare costs) on self-reported and actual behavior.

8 Apr 2010

Dubai conference calls for more coordinated approach to global health

Marking the conclusion of the three-day Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) conference Tuesday, conference attendees called for humanitarians to adopt a more coordinated approach to tackling global health needs, the National reports. "Speakers, including health professionals and officials from international organisations, stressed the need to share medical knowledge and innovations during a crisis, citing the recent Haiti earthquake," the newspaper writes.

8 Apr 2010

L.A. Care Health Plan receives $15.6M federal grant to establish HITEC-LA

L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan, announced today that the organization has received a $15.6 million federal grant to establish the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center, called HITEC-LA, that will help doctors in L.A. County adopt and use Electronic Health Records in a meaningful way.

8 Apr 2010

Further delay in the trial of Dr. Jayant Patel

There is yet another delay in the Dr. Jayant Patel manslaughter trial. Justice John Byrne gave the jury a day off on Thursday agreeing to meet on Friday. He parted with encouraging words to the jury saying, "During the Second World War, so I'm told, at times when things were quiet for the soldiers, they were often encouraged with the words of (17th century poet John) Milton from three centuries earlier: `They also serve who only sit and wait'…I mention this because your involvement today now ceases and it will be not necessary for you to be involved in the trial for the rest of the day."

8 Apr 2010

New funding for hard-to-insure people could ease burden on states' high-risk pools

The health law will allocated $5 billion to help establish a federal high-risk insurance pool to help tide over people with preexisting conditions until 2014 when broader parts of the law kick in, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

8 Apr 2010

First proton therapy center for New Jersey

Cancer survivors joined representatives from ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc., Princeton Radiation Oncology, and CentraState Healthcare System to break ground on the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset - the first proton therapy center to be built in the state, located 40 miles from downtown Manhattan.

8 Apr 2010

Complex back surgeries skyrocket, raising concerns about cost, complications

NPR: "Too many complex back surgeries are being done and people are suffering as a result, according to a study in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The general tendency noted in the study — that many patients and doctors think more medical care is always better — has implications for the new health overhaul law.

8 Apr 2010

AMA Victoria supports Brumby opposing Rudd’s health plans

The Commonwealth had proposed health changes by taking control of health funding by withholding some GST revenue. The Victorian Government has released an alternative approach for this. This plan called ‘The Putting Patients First’ intends for increases in Commonwealth health funding to be distributed by the States.

8 Apr 2010

Healthcare reform scams: Tips to avoid being victimized

With the healthcare reform law only days old, Medical Mutual of Ohio is urging its customers and the public to beware of scammers who may try to sell phony health insurance policies.

8 Apr 2010

Sebelius promises help to confused Americans on health law, says to beware of scammers

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that Americans can expect help from her department as health reform is implemented. She also cautioned consumers to watch out for scammers using the new health bill to try to defraud people.

8 Apr 2010

UAW suing GM over $450 million for retiree health benefits

"The United Auto Workers union has sued General Motors Corp., saying the automaker owes it $450 million for retiree health care" (4/7).

8 Apr 2010

WhiteGlove House Call Health to provide routine medical care for employees of The Beryl Companies

WhiteGlove House Call Health, Inc., a new provider choice in medical care that offers affordable, high-quality routine care at the home or work, announced today that The Beryl Companies selected WhiteGlove to provide routine medical care to its employees and dependents.

8 Apr 2010

UTHealth receives $15M stimulus grant to conduct research on advanced information technology

An elderly woman suspected of having a stroke arrives confused at the emergency room. The physician uses the basic information she is able to provide to access the critical medical history that will help him treat her. In simplest terms, that's the promise of health information technology.

8 Apr 2010

Prague hosts 12th European Congress of Endocrinology

The 12th European Congress of Endocrinology is taking place in Prague from 24-28 April 2010.

8 Apr 2010

ANA recognizes WOC nursing as specialty

Wound, Ostomy and Continence nursing is one of the newest specialties recognized by the American Nurses Association. The Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society was recently notified of the ANA's decision.

8 Apr 2010

The $560 million for cancer centers not enough says Cancer Council

The Federal Government has announced a $560 million for new or upgraded cancer centres across Australia this week. The Cancer Council of Australia while welcoming this gesture has said that this is not the complete solution when it comes to helping regional and rural patients of Australia. This statement was made by the CEO Ian Olver who said that this “unprecedented” amount of money can go a long way to help but more support is needed. One of the regional cancer support networks has gone further to criticize the fact that so much is doled out in patient accommodation instead of advanced cancer treatment and care services.

8 Apr 2010

Cities, leaders worldwide mark World Health Day

Cities throughout the world are marking World Health Day today by promoting urban health, as part of the WHO's "1,000 cities, 1,000 lives" campaign, CNN reports (Shaikh, 4/7).

8 Apr 2010

Intelligent Hospital Systems validates usage of ICU Medical's ChemoCLAVE Bag Spike with RIVA

IV Automation is becoming an increasingly comprehensive technology after medical device company Intelligent Hospital Systems validated ICU Medical Inc.'s ChemoCLAVE Bag Spike for use with RIVA (Robotic IV Automation System) - a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags.

8 Apr 2010

Entry to aged-care facilities largely preventable

Lifestyle, social and health factors, such as being underweight, having inadequate nutrition or having low social activity, have been shown to be significant contributing factors to the entry of older people into residential aged care.

8 Apr 2010

Researchers: VA electronic health records system worth the cost

A new study in the journal Health Affairs finds that while the system, "collectively called Vista, for Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture" was expensive, it has paid off, The Wall Street Journal reports.

8 Apr 2010