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HQC report presents different aspects of health care delivered in Saskatchewan hospitals

There's been little change over the last three years in how patients rate the care they receive in Saskatchewan hospitals, according to a report released today by the province's Health Quality Council. The report, entitled Quality Insight 2010, presents an overview of aspects of quality of care delivered in hospitals, in the community for people living with certain chronic diseases, and for seniors taking prescription drugs.

25 Jun 2010

SAMHSA study: Only 6% of substance abuse treatment facilities offer special programs for gays, lesbians

A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reveals that only 777 of 13,688 (6 percent) substance abuse treatment facilities surveyed across the nation offer special programs for gay and lesbian clients.

25 Jun 2010

Neurosurgeons applaud newly-released draft standards for supervision, duty hours of medical residents

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Board of Neurological Surgery, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and Society of Neurological Surgeons applaud the newly-released draft standards to revise the national requirements for the supervision and duty hours of medical residents.

25 Jun 2010

Thomson Reuters names Mayo Clinic as one of top 10 hospital systems in the country

Mayo Clinic, for the second year in a row, has been a named a top U.S. health system, according to a Thomson Reuters survey that analyzed the quality and efficiency of 255 health systems across the country. Mayo Clinic, as an enterprise organization operating in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, was ranked among the 10 top performers.

25 Jun 2010

June 2010 independent survey of retirees covered by Medicare

A June 2010 independent survey of 408 retirees covered by Medicare revealed that 90 days after the passage of health care reform legislation 64% are "very" or "somewhat" confident Medicare will be available the rest of their lives, but just 23% have the same confidence it will be here for their children. The survey further revealed that 61% of respondents are "not" confident that Medicare will be here for their children and another 14% are "unsure."

25 Jun 2010

Unum produces guide on the effects of health care reform

As part of an ongoing effort to help employers, individuals and benefits brokers understand how sweeping health care reform will affect employee benefits, Unum has produced a guide that details important changes and their impacts.

25 Jun 2010

Surgical care improvement measures associated with lower probability of postoperative infection: JAMA

An analysis of data on adherence to surgical care improvement measures finds that when analyzed as a composite infection-prevention score, the improvement measures were associated with a lower probability of postoperative infection. However, adherence to individual measures - the format of publicly reported performance data - was not associated with a significantly lower risk of infection, according to a study in the June 23/30 issue of JAMA.

25 Jun 2010

Opinions: Harper and global health; Health workers in developing countries; Funding commitments; DDT, GMO use

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper "can use the relatively intimate setting of the G8's Muskoka meeting to press for a renewal of the G8's commitment to better health for Africans, and help the developed world be truly accountable for its promises," the Globe and Mail writes in an editorial. "The G8's failure to fully fund the historic aid commitments to Africa it made at the 2005 Gleneagles summit" puts the future success of the developing world at risk, the editorial states.

25 Jun 2010

News roundup: Judge approves $712 million settlement for 9/11 emergency workers' health problems; Missouri ballot measure on health overhaul challenged

A judge approved a $712 million health settlement for thousands of emergency workers who responded after the Sept. 11 attack, in spite of objections from some who complained that the deal was unfair. Some workers who say they got sick working at the Ground Zero site argued Wednesday that the settlement shortchanged those suffering from certain types of diseases. One of the key factors in how much workers get paid under the settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, depends on the type of disease the person contracted.

25 Jun 2010

Saint Francis Hospital achieves Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services

Saint Francis Hospital has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credential Center's Magnet Recognition Program. The unanimous decision was based on Saint Francis Hospital's adherence to strict guidelines and criteria for nursing professionalism, quality patient care and teamwork. Only 6 percent of hospitals across the United States currently have the Magnet designation.

25 Jun 2010

House will take up stand-alone 'doc fix' as senate tries once again to advance broader jobs bill

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House may pass a bill as early as Thursday evening that would spare doctors from cuts in Medicare payments." This legislation also is part of a larger piece measure that provides assistance to states and extends some unemployment benefits. "Pelosi said it is "clear" the Senate will be unable to pass the larger bill, so the House is considering passing a much smaller bill that deals only with Medicare payment for doctors."

25 Jun 2010

Despite cuts, GOP continues block of Bill to extend Medicaid assistance, 'fix' Medicare payments

A Republican filibuster may kill a bill that would extend jobless benefits and extra Medicaid assistance to states while also leaving in limbo efforts to delay cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.

25 Jun 2010

Obesity keeps out recruits, raising medical costs for military

The Fiscal Times reports that the U.S. military every year discharges more than 1,200 enlistees before their contracts are over because of weight problems. "The cost of recruiting and training all their replacements? A hefty $50,000 per person — or roughly $60 million a year." A nonprofit group of senior military leaders recently released a report that claimed weight problems are the leading medical reason recruits are rejected for service in the military.

25 Jun 2010

Experts to meet in Miami to discuss new ways of avoiding errors in radiation therapy

A meeting in Miami this week will bring together some of the world's leading experts from inside and outside the clinic to discuss safety in radiation therapy -- a critical method for treating cancer.

25 Jun 2010

Medical weight loss programs before bariatric surgery show no clinical benefit

Patients required by their health insurance providers to complete a six-month medical weight loss program before bariatric surgery do no better than patients who have no such requirement, according to a new study presented here at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

25 Jun 2010

Governors, state attorneys general seek to counter lawsuit against health law

"Gov. Chris Gregoire is joining three fellow Democratic governors in asking a federal judge to consider their opposition to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the nation's new health-care law," The Seattle Times reports.

25 Jun 2010

Details emerge on young adults coverage, small business health law provisions

More details are emerging on what aspects of the new health reform law mean for coverage for young adults and how small businesses will be affected by the changes.

25 Jun 2010

Mercy Hospital signs letter of intent to sell its facility to HCA

Today, Hospital Corporation of America, together with Mercy Hospital, announced they had entered into a letter of intent for the sale of the hospital to HCA. Mercy's board of directors voted to sell the facility to HCA, citing the company's presence in South Florida and consistent provision of quality care.

25 Jun 2010

Few insurers control chunk of Medicare Advantage market, report finds

A small number of insurers controls a big chunk of the market for Medicare Advantage health plans, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation report. [KHN is a project of the Kaiser Family Foundation.] The nonprofit foundation said three or fewer companies dominate the market in every state except New York for the plans, which are privately run versions of the government's Medicare program.

25 Jun 2010

FHCRC selects SciQuest to enhance its ERP system and improve on cost-efficiency

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a world-renowned research and treatment institution in Seattle, has selected SciQuest, Inc., a leading provider of on-demand strategic procurement and supplier enablement solutions, to enhance its enterprise resource planning system and improve on cost-efficiency.

25 Jun 2010

Healthcare News

HQC report presents different aspects of health care delivered in Saskatchewan hospitals

SAMHSA study: Only 6% of substance abuse treatment facilities offer special programs for gays, lesbians

Neurosurgeons applaud newly-released draft standards for supervision, duty hours of medical residents

Thomson Reuters names Mayo Clinic as one of top 10 hospital systems in the country

June 2010 independent survey of retirees covered by Medicare

Unum produces guide on the effects of health care reform

Surgical care improvement measures associated with lower probability of postoperative infection: JAMA

Opinions: Harper and global health; Health workers in developing countries; Funding commitments; DDT, GMO use

News roundup: Judge approves $712 million settlement for 9/11 emergency workers' health problems; Missouri ballot measure on health overhaul challenged

Saint Francis Hospital achieves Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services

House will take up stand-alone 'doc fix' as senate tries once again to advance broader jobs bill

Despite cuts, GOP continues block of Bill to extend Medicaid assistance, 'fix' Medicare payments

Obesity keeps out recruits, raising medical costs for military

Experts to meet in Miami to discuss new ways of avoiding errors in radiation therapy

Medical weight loss programs before bariatric surgery show no clinical benefit

Governors, state attorneys general seek to counter lawsuit against health law

Details emerge on young adults coverage, small business health law provisions

Mercy Hospital signs letter of intent to sell its facility to HCA

Few insurers control chunk of Medicare Advantage market, report finds

FHCRC selects SciQuest to enhance its ERP system and improve on cost-efficiency

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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