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Health information technology improves quality of care, study shows

Secure patient-physician e-mail messaging improves the effectiveness of care for patients with diabetes and hypertension, according to new research by Kaiser Permanente. The study, published in the July issue of Health Affairs, shows that health information technology improves quality of care scores.

8 Jul 2010

HHS awards $390.5M to strengthen medical surge capability in hospitals and health care organizations

States, territories, and large metropolitan areas will receive grants totaling $390.5 million this month to help hospitals and other health care organizations strengthen the medical surge capability across the nation.

8 Jul 2010

Patented computer invention to improve patient security and privacy

A computer security invention patented a decade ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is now poised to help safeguard patient privacy in hospitals.

8 Jul 2010

HHS awards $10M to support public health efforts for reducing tobacco use and obesity

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced awards of $10 million to 10 national non-profit organizations to support public health efforts to reduce tobacco use and reduce obesity through increased physical activity and improved nutrition.

8 Jul 2010

Omni Health Media announces launch of CancerConnect.com

Omni Health Media, one of the world's leading specialty publishers of health-related information, websites, applications, and educational programs for individuals with cancer and their caregivers announces the successful launch of CancerConnect.com during the Allen Media Conference in Sun Valley, ID. Cancer Connect is a new social network that will allow people with cancer and those who care for them to share information, inspiration, hope, and support.

8 Jul 2010

Mercy Health Services deploys Wolters Kluwer Health's ProVation MD software

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Mercy Health Services has selected its ProVation MD software for gastroenterology procedure documentation and coding. The software will be deployed in the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy.

8 Jul 2010

New information about quality of care available in America's hospitals added to new HHS website

Important new information about the quality of care available in America's outpatient and emergency departments, including how well hospitals care for patients with heart attacks and protect outpatients from surgical infections was added to the new HHS website HealthCare.gov.

8 Jul 2010

Health Net of California provides health plans that help employers adapt to challenging economy

Health Net of California, Inc. is expanding its efforts to provide health plans that help employers adapt to the still-challenging economy.

8 Jul 2010

FDA invites public comments, suggestions on menu labeling

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it is inviting the public to submit comments and information to help the agency implement a new federal law that requires the posting of calorie content and other nutrition information on menu items at certain chain restaurants and similar retail food operations and vending machines.

8 Jul 2010

Marijuana legalization in California will lower drug price and increase consumption

Legalizing the production and distribution of marijuana in California could cut the price of the drug by as much as 80 percent and increase consumption, according to a new study by the nonprofit RAND Corporation that examines many issues raised by proposals to legalize marijuana in the state.

8 Jul 2010

Aultman Health Foundation selects Courion's Access Assurance Suite

Courion Corporation, leaders in access governance, provisioning and compliance, today announced that Aultman Health Foundation has selected Courion's Access Assurance Suite to improve compliance, enhance customer service and reduce costs by automating user provisioning and password management capabilities.

8 Jul 2010

ASA provides tips to help parents protect children from over-the-counter drug abuse

In recent years, a growing and potentially life-threatening trend known as Robo tripping, the abuse of over-the-counter cough and cold medications, has emerged among America's youth. As the Society representing the front-line physicians responsible for treating patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who have overdosed on over-the-counter medications, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has developed information to help parents recognize the signs of Robo tripping and to prevent overdose and longer-term health complications.

8 Jul 2010

Ingen to debut new Smart Nasal Cannula at 13th Annual Force Health Protection Conference

Ingen Technologies, Inc., a medical device manufacturer with an emerging new medical product line targeting the $8B respiratory market, announced today that the company's strategic government contract consultant, KGMA Business Solutions, has scheduled two major tradeshows for August and September, 2010.

8 Jul 2010

Heart attack death rates drop in hospitals; CDC reports increase in colon cancer screening rate

USA Today: Hospital heart attack death rates fell, according to new Medicare data. "Death rates at 4,569 hospitals that treat Medicare patients who suffer heart attacks fell by almost half a percentage point, from a national average of 16.6% last year to 16.2%. Death rates for most hospitals ranged from about 14.5% to 17.9%. ...

8 Jul 2010

HQA applauds public availability of hospital quality information at Hospital Compare website

The Hospital Quality Alliance today applauded the public availability of new information on hospital quality of care at the Hospital Compare website. The HQA is a broad working group of hospitals, consumer representatives, physician and nursing organizations, employers and payers, oversight organizations and government agencies dedicated to improving health care quality and making useful and understandable information about hospital quality available to the public.

8 Jul 2010

Decline in international medical graduates threatens patient access to quality surgical care

A decline in the number of international medical graduates (IMGs) is threatening patient access to quality surgical care, according to a new study in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

8 Jul 2010

Obama uses recess appointment to install Berwick as head of Medicare, Medicaid

President Barack Obama Wednesday will use a recess appointment to install Harvard Professor Donald Berwick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the White House announced Tuesday.

8 Jul 2010

Patients willing to travel for cheaper, better care; Especially when the boss pays

Employers, in search of better deals on surgeries, are in some cases sending employees they insure hundreds of miles for medical care, Kaiser Health News/USA Today reports. "Forget about traveling to Thailand or India for low-cost surgery. … By steering workers to facilities with high-quality care and lower prices, employers say they can reduce their costs 20% to 40% — more than enough to cover the travel expenses."

8 Jul 2010

Pelosi urges Democrats to talk up health care; Businesses feel early impact of law

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doubling down on healthcare reform, betting that it will do Democrats more good than harm in November's elections," The Hill reports.

8 Jul 2010

Advocates continue to push for Michigan to opt out of federal health law despite setback

The Detroit News: "A Michigan Healthcare Freedom Act allowing Michiganians to opt out of the federal healthcare bill will be introduced when the Legislature resumes session July 21." The proposal was announced Tuesday, after a petition drive against the federal healthcare plan fell short. The grassroots organizers of that effort "hoped to get a question on the November election ballot asking Michigan voters to decide if they want to opt out of the federal health care overhaul, but they failed to collect enough petition signatures by Monday's deadline".

8 Jul 2010

Healthcare News

Health information technology improves quality of care, study shows

HHS awards $390.5M to strengthen medical surge capability in hospitals and health care organizations

Patented computer invention to improve patient security and privacy

HHS awards $10M to support public health efforts for reducing tobacco use and obesity

Omni Health Media announces launch of CancerConnect.com

Mercy Health Services deploys Wolters Kluwer Health's ProVation MD software

New information about quality of care available in America's hospitals added to new HHS website

Health Net of California provides health plans that help employers adapt to challenging economy

FDA invites public comments, suggestions on menu labeling

Marijuana legalization in California will lower drug price and increase consumption

Aultman Health Foundation selects Courion's Access Assurance Suite

ASA provides tips to help parents protect children from over-the-counter drug abuse

Ingen to debut new Smart Nasal Cannula at 13th Annual Force Health Protection Conference

Heart attack death rates drop in hospitals; CDC reports increase in colon cancer screening rate

HQA applauds public availability of hospital quality information at Hospital Compare website

Decline in international medical graduates threatens patient access to quality surgical care

Obama uses recess appointment to install Berwick as head of Medicare, Medicaid

Patients willing to travel for cheaper, better care; Especially when the boss pays

Pelosi urges Democrats to talk up health care; Businesses feel early impact of law

Advocates continue to push for Michigan to opt out of federal health law despite setback

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

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