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First Edition: September 2, 2010

Today's headlines include reports about a new study examining the impact of the health overhaul on the small business workforce.

2 Sep 2010

Agent Orange cases expanded; Added costs raise fiscal concerns

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War veterans are receiving disability compensation for diseases normally associated with aging - not combat - because of the possibility of a link Agent Orange exposure. The diseases in question range from diabetes, for which 270,000 veterans receive Agent Orange-related checks, to erectile dysfunction.

2 Sep 2010

Walgreen enters agreement with Graymark Healthcare to acquire 18 ApothecaryRx pharmacies

Walgreen Co. today announced a definitive agreement with Graymark Healthcare Inc. in which the company will acquire the assets of 18 ApothecaryRx pharmacies located in Colorado, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois.

2 Sep 2010

Centric Health Corporation acquires CAR Home Care company

Centric Health Corporation, Canada's leading diversified healthcare company, today announced that it has acquired the business of Community Advantage Rehabilitation Inc. ("CAR").

2 Sep 2010

Study links community violence with asthma hospitalizations, emergency department visits

Patients with asthma who are exposed to violence in their community are at an increased risk for an asthma-related hospitalization and emergency room visits for asthma or any cause, according to new research from the University Of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Exposure to community violence has been linked to more symptoms in pediatric asthma patients; however the new research adds to this finding with a longitudinal study showing a connection in an adult population and more than symptoms - actual emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

2 Sep 2010

U.S. Renal Care announces construction of new dialysis center in Oklahoma

U.S. Renal Care, Inc. (USRC), a leading privately-held provider of outpatient dialysis services, today announced it has started construction of a dialysis center in Grove, Oklahoma, the company's first in the state. The center, expected to open in December 2010, will bring the company's patient total to more than 5,500 served across 85 dialysis centers, home and specialty hospital dialysis programs and facilities. The expansion into northeast Oklahoma is part of USRC's commitment to serving rural communities without dialysis or nephrology services.

2 Sep 2010

More patients research their own diseases, seek to manage chronic conditions

News outlets report on how the delivery of health care is being changed by empowered patients.

2 Sep 2010

Skills for Health publishes English regional briefings on skills and labour market environment

New resources to help health sector employers understand and respond to the fast-changing regional skills and labour market environment have been published by Skills for Health, the UK's Skills Council for healthcare.

2 Sep 2010

Anvil Group receives contract to safeguard health care in Sierra Leone

UK based security company, The Anvil Group, has been awarded a contract by a long-standing client to safeguard the health and security of its international workforce during a construction project in Sierra Leone.

2 Sep 2010

WHO proposes creation of African Public Health Emergency Fund, strategy to reduce alcohol use in Africa

During the 60th session of the Africa Committee of the WHO on Monday, Luis Sambo, regional director of the WHO for Africa, proposed the creation of a public health emergency fund to provide financial support to African countries in emergency situations, Agencia AngolaPress reports (8/30).

2 Sep 2010

Beaumont Hospital expands new multi-organ transplant program

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak became Michigan's third liver transplant center on Aug. 31. A 59-year-old man from Royal Oak was the first patient to receive a liver transplant through Beaumont's new multi-organ transplant program.

2 Sep 2010

Consulting community pharmacists by patients helps national healthcare systems save millions of euros

Hundreds of millions of euros are being saved each year for national healthcare systems by patients consulting community pharmacists rather than going straight to their doctors, says a survey to be presented today (Wednesday 1 September) at the annual conference of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).

2 Sep 2010

NAMI provides new dimension to Hearts & Minds initiative

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is providing a new dimension to its Hearts & Minds initiative, an educational program that promotes "mind and body" health practices for individuals who live with mental illness.

2 Sep 2010

URAC invites public comment on second set of toolkits for Patient Centered Health Care Home Program

URAC today announced a call for public comment on the second set of toolkits for its new Patient Centered Health Care Home (PCHCH) Program. The program, comprised of an integrated series of three educational toolkits, will help health care practices follow a step-wise process in their journey to becoming a PCHCH.

2 Sep 2010

UnitedHealth Group, CSRHA team up to support Critical Access Hospitals

UnitedHealth Group has announced it will invest $10 million to help California's Critical Access Hospitals improve their health information technology (IT) systems and adopt electronic health records.

2 Sep 2010

Pawlenty instructs Minnesota agencies to snub health law's discretionary funds

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, issued an executive order Tuesday instructing state agencies to reject discretionary federal funds that stem from the health overhaul, The Wall Street Journal reports.

2 Sep 2010

March of Dimes supports Congressional Briefing on infant mortality

Very low birthweight and very preterm infants are more likely to die if they are not born at hospitals with neonatal intensive care units specially equipped to care for seriously ill newborns, in contrast to similar babies born at those specialized facilities.

2 Sep 2010

Involving pharmacists in direct patient care activities has favorable effects: Study

Incorporating pharmacists as members of the health care team in direct patient care roles is a viable solution to help improve U.S. health care, according to the results of a comprehensive, systematic review of the health care literature set to be published in the October 2010 edition of Medical Care.

2 Sep 2010

AACN publishes revised 'Procedure Manual for Critical Care Nursing'

The latest edition of the "AACN Procedure Manual for Critical Care Nursing" increases the focus on patient safety and infection prevention, while continuing to emphasize evidence-based practice.

2 Sep 2010

Central Logic Core Web-based software application for bed management launched

Central Logic, the healthcare industry's leading provider of innovative patient flow software, today announced the development and introduction of Central Logic Core™, an innovative and intelligent Web-based software application for bed management. Core, which represents Central Logic's aggressive entrée into the bed management segment of the healthcare sector, can be used by healthcare facilities of all sizes, from small hospitals to the largest and most sophisticated systems.

2 Sep 2010