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Hospital tries 'speed dating' to attract doctors, patients

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jenny Gold, working in collaboration with NPR, reports on a new way for patients to find physicians: "It's Tuesday afternoon, and time for speed dating to begin - at a local hospital near Dallas.

19 May 2010

PCMA releases statement on AARP's report on price increase in brand name prescriptions

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association released the following statement on a new report from AARP that found that the price of brand name prescriptions most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries increased by 9.7 percent in the 12 months ending with March 2010 and was much higher than the rate of increase observed during any of the prior eight years

19 May 2010

Health law already affecting consumers, insurers, brokers

The New York Times profiles one man's current insurance dilemma, one which is not likely to happen in the future under the new health law: "Ever since Thomas DeLorenzo was accepted to three law schools outside his home state of California, he has spent entire days on the phone with health insurers in other states, compiling information that he enters on a giant spreadsheet." DeLorenzo, "who has AIDS, will lose his health coverage in California if he moves out of state.

19 May 2010

States combat health costs, workforce and safety issues

"The Massachusetts Senate is weighing a bill aimed at curbing soaring health care costs for individuals and small businesses. Senate President Therese Murray says the bill will ease market instability, smooth out annual fluctuations in premiums and require insurers [to] offer affordable small business plans" (5/18).

19 May 2010

AARP: Cost of brand name drugs rose 9.7% last year

"The AARP says that manufacturer prices for brand-name prescription drugs commonly used by people on Medicare rose 9.7% for the year ending in March — the biggest annual jump since the group started tracking prices in 2002," The Wall Street Journal Health Blog reports.

19 May 2010

To sell plan, White House officials focus on four key aspects of health reform

White House officials eager to sell the most popular aspects of the health reform law are focusing on four areas to gain votes and popularity for key lawmakers ahead of November's midterm elections.

19 May 2010

Federal health IT investments get cautious reception

The federal government is investing tens of billions of dollars in health information technology, but the medical groups that stand to benefit from the money are less enthusiastic than their government benefactors, arguing that the push is "too much, too soon," Politico reports.

19 May 2010

Four deaths while waiting in the emergency spur new hospital construction

After the four recent deaths of patients in the emergency department there is a mass attempt to speed up the construction of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in south-east Queensland.

18 May 2010

Higher risk of deaths at public hospitals compared to private: Report

In a new and most extensive national survey conducted in Australia, it has been found that patients in public hospitals are more likely to die there than their counterparts in private hospitals.

18 May 2010

Taking the final step from the bench to the hospital or clinic bedside

A new Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University Center for Aging Research (IUCAR) study provides effective strategies to help hospital systems, physicians and other care providers to overcome end zone hurdles and actually take evidence-based research to the patient’s hospital or clinic bedside.

18 May 2010

Taking the final step from the bench to the hospital or clinic bedside

18 May 2010

Baptist Health System implements eGuardian eICU Program from Philips VISICU

Baptist Health System completes final steps to become the first in South Central Texas to implement an eICU® program designed to improve critical care delivery and save lives. "eGuardian" utilizes the eICU® Program from Philips VISICU, that combines early warning software and remote monitoring to connect off-site critical care physicians and nurses to ICU patients around the clock.

18 May 2010

Varian Medical Systems launches fully-integrated ProBeam proton therapy system at 2010 PT-COG

Varian Medical Systems is introducing the fully-integrated ProBeam™ proton therapy system at the 2010 Particle Therapy Co-operative Group (PT-COG) meeting here this week. The ProBeam system incorporates imaging, gating, robotic patient positioning, treatment planning and oncology information software to enhance treatment quality for patients and workflow efficiency for clinicians.

18 May 2010

Study looks at the experiences of nurses with euthanasia, other end-of-life decisions

Nurses in Belgium who administer life-ending drugs in euthanasia and in cases without explicit patient request often act outside of the law, according to a study in CMAJ.

18 May 2010

First Edition: May 18, 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports on Provo, Utah: "If there is any place that should have medical spending under control, this is it" (Kaiser Health News).

18 May 2010

President's Cancer Panel recommends home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents

In its official annual report, the President's Cancer Panel is recommending that people use home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents.

18 May 2010

CMS selects Northrop Grumman to develop National Level Repository task order

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop a National Level Repository for accurate electronic health record incentive payment processing transactions to healthcare professionals, agencies and institutions.

18 May 2010

Nihon Kohden America receives 2010 Outstanding Service Achievement award from MSP

Nihon Kohden America, the fastest-growing patient monitoring company in the U.S., has just received the 2010 Outstanding Service Achievement award from Medical Strategic Planning (MSP), an independent market intelligence company that conducts an annual survey among hospitals to measure customer satisfaction of patient monitoring manufacturers.

18 May 2010

Benefits of aerobic training outclass those of lower-intensity walking programs

What to do: walk around the block or work up a sweat in an aerobic workout at the gym? If you're looking for the best health benefits from an exercise program, a traditional aerobic fitness program that gets your heart pumping beats a walking program hands down. But if you want to get moving, a walking program is easier to do, it's good for you, and you're more likely to stick with it.

18 May 2010

Maternal stretching and meditation keep expecting mothers healthy during pregnancy: AAOS

Perfect for mind and body rejuvenation, yoga uses meditation and aligning movements to encourage fitness and relaxation. This low-impact fitness alternative allows pregnant women to continue an exercise regimen without putting strain on their heart or harming the baby.

18 May 2010