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Need for trained medical professionals to treat medical emergencies in high school athletes

As summer football practice gets into full swing, it's essential to be aware of the risk of exertional heat stroke (EHS) in high school athletes, according to a Safety Alert in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

6 Aug 2010

GAO: Medicaid managed care contracts need better CMS oversight

The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday that says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs better oversight of Medicaid managed care contracts.

6 Aug 2010

CDS introduces new course on brain injury into its curriculum

The College of Direct Support, an internet-based college for Direct Support Professionals and managed in partnership by Elsevier/MC Strategies and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center, has introduced its fourth Disability Intensive Course into the CDS Curriculum - "Brain Injury."

6 Aug 2010

Electronic health records improve patient outcomes: FSMB

The Federation of State Medical Boards announced today that it recognizes widespread adoption of electronic health records could be used by doctors to both improve patient outcomes and assess ongoing clinical competence for purposes of medical licensure. The FSMB made the announcement at the "Advancing Electronic Health Records Adoption and Meaningful Use" forum hosted by the Health Industry Forum of Brandeis University and Health Affairs.

6 Aug 2010

HHS Secretary announces $159.1M in grants to health care workforce training programs

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today will announce $159.1 million in grants to health care workforce training programs. These grants build on the multimillion dollar investments made under the Affordable Care Act and Recovery Act to strengthen and grow our primary care workforce. The grants will target three types of programs: Nursing Workforce Development programs; interdisciplinary geriatric education and training programs; and Centers of Excellence programs for underrepresented minority students.

6 Aug 2010

New York Attorney General investigating health care credit cards

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating health care credit cards peddled by doctors and dentists.

6 Aug 2010

States consider how likely Medicaid funding could affect budgets

States are considering how likely-to-be-extended federal money for their Medicaid programs will affect their state budgets.

6 Aug 2010

Senate passes Medicaid assistance bill; House to return for vote

The Senate approved the $26 billion state-aid package on Thursday afternoon that will provide funding for Medicaid and teachers pay and other public services, The Wall Street Journal reports.

6 Aug 2010

Penn. enrolls more than 1,000 in new state high-risk pool; Wisc. cuts $625M from Medicaid while increasing coverage

Pennsylvania begins enrolling residents in its new high-risk insurance program. Elsewhere, Wisconsin trims its Medicaid program and states regulate the use of medical marijuana.

6 Aug 2010

House to return after Senate approves extension of enhanced Medicaid funds

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will bring the House back from its recess next week to vote on an extension of enhanced state Medicaid funds the Senate is poised to approve as soon as Thursday afternoon, Politico reports.

6 Aug 2010

EMRs bring new risks as national push ramps up

Two electronic medical record snafus in two weeks at a Midwestern hospital chain are raising questions about the safety of such health IT systems, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund reports.

6 Aug 2010

NAEDI aims to correct survival gap in cancer diagnosis

Cancer Research UK today reveals that as many as 11,000 deaths from cancer could be prevented annually if Great Britain raised its survival figures to match those of the best performing countries in Europe.Cancer Research UK and national cancer director, Professor Mike Richards, believe that the most important reasons for the survival gap include poor awareness of the symptoms of cancer, late presentation to a GP and, late onward referral to hospital.

6 Aug 2010

Free clinic in D.C. draws more than 1,000 patients

With a wounded economy and high unemployment, more than 1,000 people came to a one-day free health clinic in the nation's capital Wednesday to get the basic care they can't afford or are otherwise denied because they have no insurance. More than three-quarters of those attending don't have insurance because they are recently unemployed, work for small businesses, earn hourly wages, or must work multiple part-time jobs with no insurance, said the event's medical director Dr. Bobby Kapur.

6 Aug 2010

Medicare solvency still troubled, despite new health law

The annual trustees report on Medicare and Social Security found that the programs are "facing strains from an aging population and an economy that can't seem to get out of low gear," The Associated Press reports.

6 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 5, 2010

Today's health policy headlines examine the solvency of Medicare and Social Security; the momentum of legislation in Congress to provide states with Medicaid assistance; and the impact of Missouri's ballot challenge to health reform.

5 Aug 2010

FDA issues comprehensive evaluations that address key objectives of agency's public health mission

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued two comprehensive evaluations containing recommendations that address three key objectives of the agency's public health mission as it relates to medical devices – foster device innovation, create a more predictable regulatory environment, and enhance device safety.

5 Aug 2010

New article highlights importance of patient safety features in design of IV needleless connectors

A new article by infection control expert William Jarvis, M.D., President, Jason and Jarvis Associates, LLC, highlights the importance of patient safety features in the design of IV needleless connectors.

5 Aug 2010

New study reinforces need for national catastrophic drug plan in Canada for cancer patients

In a newly released report comparing international usage of prescription drugs, Canada ranks thirteenth among 14 countries for cancer drugs launched within the last five years. The study, conducted for the UK Secretary of State for Health, compared 14 countries for their usage of 14 categories of prescription drugs to determine whether the UK is adequately providing for the health needs of its citizens.

5 Aug 2010

Stand Up To Cancer movement unveils display window in Rockefeller Plaza

Stand Up To Cancer, a groundbreaking movement that has raised more than $100 million for accelerated cancer research, today unveiled a 115-square foot display window in 10 Rockefeller Plaza, created to generate tune-in for the upcoming Stand Up To Cancer television event, set to air live for one hour, commercial-free in primetime on September 10, 2010, at 8p.m. EDT & PDT / 7 p.m. CDT.

5 Aug 2010

Widespread sexual violence, human rights abuses in DRC linked with physical, mental health outcomes

A recent survey of men and women in specific territories of Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo found sexual violence and human rights violations were prevalent and were associated with physical and mental health outcomes, according to an article in the August 4 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.

5 Aug 2010