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States decide on risk pools as first major health law decision

Politico reports that establishing high-risk insurance pools, the first major decision after the enactment of health care reform, "has come and gone with the decisions so far made mostly along party lines." Many Democratic governors "decided to help the Department of Health and Human Services by creating the pools themselves with federal funding.

3 May 2010

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

With summer right around the corner, more people will be spending time outdoors and UV protection will be top of mind. Unfortunately, most people think about the protection of their skin, when they should also be considering the safety of their eyes. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) American Eye-Q® survey, only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

3 May 2010

As doctors frustration with Medicare payments grows, a few opt to leave the system

American Medical News reports on doctors' frustrations with the Medicare program and looks at the practice of Juliette Madrigal-Dersch, an internist in Marble Falls, Texas, who "decided to see Medicare patients only on a private-contracting basis. That means neither she nor her patients can claim any payment from Medicare. It also means she can charge what her services actually cost, not just what the government says it will pay. She also can choose not to charge anything, as is her policy for patients age 90 and older."

3 May 2010

Anesthesiologist group to-decertify physicians who help with lethal injections

The American Board of Anesthesiologists "has quietly decided to revoke the certification of any member who participates in executing a prisoner by lethal injection," according to The Washington Post. The decision "reflects its leaders' belief that 'we are healers, not executioners,' board secretary Mark A. Rockoff said. Although the American Medical Association has long opposed doctor involvement, the anesthesiologists' group is the first to say it will harshly penalize a health-care worker for abetting lethal injections.

3 May 2010

SonoSite, Physio-Control announce development collaboration for point-of-care ultrasound in EMS market

SonoSite, Inc., the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound for the point-of-care, and Physio-Control, Inc., the global leader in the development and delivery of emergency medical response solutions, today announced a market development collaboration for point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency medical services (EMS) market. This alliance will enable SonoSite to expand its presence in the pre-hospital settings with the support of Physio-Control resources and extensive sales force.

3 May 2010

Stealth interventions may help people eat better, exercise more: Study

How do you get college students to eat better? A new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine suggests that a "stealth" strategy of raising the students' awareness of environmental and social issues related to food can persuade them to eat more veggies and less ice cream.

3 May 2010

LifePoint Hospitals to acquire Sumner Regional Health Systems

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., a leading hospital company focused on providing quality healthcare close to home in non-urban markets, today announced that the Company has agreed to purchase Sumner Regional Health Systems (SRHS), a comprehensive three-market hospital system serving 11 counties in the northern middle Tennessee region.

3 May 2010

Intouch Health completes $10M private placement through Beringea-led financing round

InTouch Technologies®, Inc. (d.b.a. InTouch Health®), the world leader in Remote Presence Total Telemedicine solutions, announced today the completion of a private placement of $10 million. The financing round was led by Michigan-based Beringea through its InvestMichigan! Growth Capital Fund, which provides venture and expansion-stage capital to businesses with operations in Michigan.

3 May 2010

First Edition: May 3, 2010

Today's headlines include analysis of how this year's health reform debate is shaping other national policy initiatives and the upcoming mid-term elections.

3 May 2010

Ensign Group solidifies presence in Texas with acquisition of two skilled nursing facilities

The Ensign Group, Inc., announced today that it has acquired Heritage Gardens Healthcare Center, a 140-bed skilled nursing facility in Carrollton, Texas, and Silver Springs Healthcare Center, a 144-bed skilled nursing facility in Houston, Texas. The acquisitions were effective May 1, 2010.

3 May 2010

Decrease in hospital-wide mortality rates associated with CPOE system: Researchers

Researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford University School of Medicine have shown for the first time that a significant decrease in hospital-wide mortality rates can be associated with implementation of a computerized physician order entry system.

3 May 2010

Ensign subsidiary acquires Horizon Home Health and Hospice

The Ensign Group, Inc., announced today that an Ensign subsidiary acquired the operating assets of Horizon Home Health and Hospice, a well-regarded home health and hospice agency based in Meridian, Idaho. The Horizon purchase was effective May 1, 2010.

3 May 2010

While global adult mortality rates drop, gaps between countries grow, Lancet study finds

"The global mortality rate for adults [ages 15-59] has fallen by about 1 percent a year for the past 40 years, with women making greater gains than men and huge differences opening up between countries and regions over that period, according to a new study" published online Friday in the journal Lancet, the Washington Post reports, noting the study offers "the most detailed nation-by-nation trends in adult mortality" to date.

3 May 2010

Medical education becomes reality at new Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center in Arizona

How medical education will be delivered in the 21st Century is now a reality at the new Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center in Arizona. The 3,000 square-foot facility, embedded within Mayo Clinic Hospital in northeast Phoenix, simulates real-life patient care situations, allowing learners to practice on sophisticated mannequins in a no-risk environment.

3 May 2010

Report highlights lack of humanitarian access to Cyclone Nargis survivors in Myanmar

"Almost two years after Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 140,000 people in Myanmar, the repression of rights in areas hit by the cyclone continues and the humanitarian space in the country is shrinking instead of growing as originally hoped, a [Human Rights Watch] report released on Thursday said," Reuters AlertNet reports.

3 May 2010

Pay-for-performance policies may create financial disincentives for doctors to treat obese patients

Pay-for-performance reimbursement of surgeons, intended to reward doctors and hospitals for good patient outcomes, may instead be creating financial incentives for discriminating against obese patients, who are much more likely to suffer expensive complications after even the most routine surgeries, according to new Johns Hopkins research.

3 May 2010

Officials' plan to enforce rescission ban still unclear

WellPoint, UnitedHealth and other major insurers have said they will end the practice of terminating policies when policyholder become sick except in cases of fraud, earlier than the September deadline the health overhaul set, Reuters reports. But, it may be difficult for government officials to enforce the new prohibition on rescission, as the practice is called.

3 May 2010

Choice of transplant center can make noteworthy difference in patients' outcomes: Study

For patients in need of a liver transplant, their choice of a transplant center can make a noteworthy difference in their outcomes, according to a Mayo Clinic study presented at the American Transplant Congress under way May 1-5 in San Diego.

3 May 2010

Researchers develop asthma medical home to care children with asthma

A comprehensive, patient-centered approach to asthma care that includes education, referrals to specialists and home visits not only improves patients' health but also has tremendous potential to decrease health care costs, according to research to be presented Saturday, May 1 at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

3 May 2010

Green exercise decreases risk of mental illness, improves sense of well-being

How much "green exercise" produces the greatest improvement in mood and sense of personal well-being? A new study in the American Chemical Society's semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology has a surprising answer.

3 May 2010

Healthcare News

States decide on risk pools as first major health law decision

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

As doctors frustration with Medicare payments grows, a few opt to leave the system

Anesthesiologist group to-decertify physicians who help with lethal injections

SonoSite, Physio-Control announce development collaboration for point-of-care ultrasound in EMS market

Stealth interventions may help people eat better, exercise more: Study

LifePoint Hospitals to acquire Sumner Regional Health Systems

Intouch Health completes $10M private placement through Beringea-led financing round

First Edition: May 3, 2010

Ensign Group solidifies presence in Texas with acquisition of two skilled nursing facilities

Decrease in hospital-wide mortality rates associated with CPOE system: Researchers

Ensign subsidiary acquires Horizon Home Health and Hospice

While global adult mortality rates drop, gaps between countries grow, Lancet study finds

Medical education becomes reality at new Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center in Arizona

Report highlights lack of humanitarian access to Cyclone Nargis survivors in Myanmar

Pay-for-performance policies may create financial disincentives for doctors to treat obese patients

Officials' plan to enforce rescission ban still unclear

Choice of transplant center can make noteworthy difference in patients' outcomes: Study

Researchers develop asthma medical home to care children with asthma

Green exercise decreases risk of mental illness, improves sense of well-being

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