Healthcare News

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First Edition: April 8, 2010

Today's health policy news coverage explores the political and policy implications of the new health reform law.

8 Apr 2010

Obese patients may receive higher rate of recommended care than normal-weight patients, but not lower

Despite a concern that obese or overweight patients may receive lower quality of health care, an analysis of eight common outpatient quality measures from a sample of nearly 70,000 patients finds no evidence that obese or overweight patients receive inferior care when compared with normal-weight patients, and in fact may receive a higher rate of recommended care on several measures, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

8 Apr 2010

Tangent introduces Medix T22 point-of-care terminal for patients and practitioners

Tangent Inc., today announced the Medix T22, a medical grade, point-of-care terminal with a sharp and clear 22-inch wide-screen TFD display.

8 Apr 2010

CPhA expresses concern about Ontario drug system reform

The Canadian Pharmacists Association is concerned about the impact the cuts to local pharmacies, announced by the McGuinty Liberals, will have on the overall health of Ontarians.

8 Apr 2010

Pittsburgh managing diabetes more cost effectively than other states

Pittsburgh is treating diabetes more cost effectively than the rest of the state and nation, and its efforts to help people better manage their disease are paying dividends. Still, a gap exists between the region and the nation's top performers, according to the third annual Pittsburgh Business Group on Health Type 2 Diabetes Report.

8 Apr 2010

World Health Day: Addressing health and quality of life for city dwellers

This year's World Health Day theme, "Urbanization and Health: Urban Health Matters," reminds us that many of those people most at risk of poor health around the world live in cities.

8 Apr 2010

Health Affairs report shows value of patient-centered IT at Group Health

Hopes are high that health information technology will support care between office visits, boost efficiency and convenience, and help patients lead healthier lives. An evaluation in the April Health Affairs suggests how to make the most of this new approach: Routinely ask patients how they like it and what they want.

8 Apr 2010

USAID: World Health Day 2010 focuses on world's growing urban population

This year the focus of World Health Day is on the world's growing urban population. The theme, "1000 cities, 1000 lives" provides an opportunity to highlight the work that is being done to improve health in urban settings. The unprecedented rate of urban growth has far outstripped the ability of these cities to provide infrastructure for new residents.

8 Apr 2010

NCKU signs Letter of Intent with Kinmen County for establishing branch hospital

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has signed Letter of Intent with Kinmen County Government on April 7th to help elevate the medical standard of the off-shore island. With the establishment of NCKU Hospital Kinmen branch, Kinmen medical treatment will improve and the local citizens will enjoy a complete set of medical service.

8 Apr 2010

Reactions -- even threats -- continue to emerge over lawmakers' reform votes

Lawmakers are considering how health care reform will change their prospects for office as some tout the law amid threats from the public.

8 Apr 2010

U.S. Well-Being Report for March 2010

Please be advised that Gallup and Healthways, Inc. today released the Gallup-Healthways Monthly U.S. Well-Being Report for March 2010.

8 Apr 2010

Negative consequences of inadequate nursing handoffs: Best practices need to be identified

A systematic review of nursing handoff literature found that minimal research has been done to identify best practices, despite well-known negative consequences of inadequate nursing handoffs. The article was published in the April issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN).

8 Apr 2010

Hospital TV remotes are potential reservoir of bacteria

According to RID (Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths) over thirty billion dollars is spent each year in the US on hospital-acquired infections. (Infections caught while hospitalized). These very preventable infections cost an additional $15,000.00 on average per patient infected and kill more people in this country than AIDS, breast cancer and car accidents combined.

8 Apr 2010

Altarum Institute forms new center to focus on macro-economics of health spending

Altarum Institute President and CEO Lincoln Smith today announced the formation of the Altarum Institute Center for Studying Health Spending. The center will be a part of Altarum's internal Systems Research and Initiatives group and will focus on the macro-economics of health spending, health workforce, government outlays, and long-term fiscal sustainability.

8 Apr 2010

Survey reveals retiree confidence in Medicare eroding

A March 2010 independent survey of 1,472 retirees covered by Medicare revealed that while 59% are "very" or "somewhat" confident Medicare will be available the rest of their lives, just 20% have the same confidence it will be here for the succeeding generation. In fact, 62% of respondents are not confident that Medicare will be here for their children.

8 Apr 2010

Individuals should act now to prepare for major tax hikes: Kahler Financial Group

The ink is barely dry on the health care bill but individuals should act now to prepare for major tax hikes and possibly higher interest rates, which could increase borrowing costs and require the need to reallocate some investment assets. That's the call from fee-only financial planner Rick Kahler, president of the largest financial planning firm in the seven-state Midwest region, Kahler Financial Group.

8 Apr 2010

Common myths about teens dispelled

The new book, The Teen Years Explained: A Guide to Healthy Adolescent Development, dispels many common myths about adolescence with the latest scientific findings on the physical, emotional, cognitive, sexual and spiritual development of teens. Authors Clea McNeely and Jayne Blanchard from the Center for Adolescent Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, provide useful tips and strategies for real-life situations and experiences from bullying, to nutrition and sexuality.

8 Apr 2010

UTHealth awarded $15.3M for establishing HIT REC

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) has been awarded $15.3 million to establish a Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC).

8 Apr 2010

ICRC will nearly triple aid to combat food shortages, drought in Niger and Mali

The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Tuesday that it plans to increase aid to Niger and Mali, "where several million people are suffering from serious food shortages triggered by drought," SAPA/News24 reports.

8 Apr 2010

HHS Secretary to discuss benefits of health reform for America's seniors in a webchat

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Aging Kathy Greenlee will host a webchat tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, to discuss the benefits of the new health reform law as it relates to America's seniors.

8 Apr 2010