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Practical strategies to make Ontario's health care system better and more sustainable

The importance of bending the cost curve for Ontario's health care sector has long been top of mind for health system leaders. After all, improving the quality and efficiency of patient care can lead to better value-for-money for taxpayers.

26 Mar 2010

New book on using informatics to reduce healthcare costs to be released

A topical new book about using informatics to reduce healthcare costs edited by Stephan Kudyba, an assistant professor in the NJIT School of Management, will be released early this May. Healthcare Informatics: Improving Efficiency and Productivity addresses the incorporation of information technologies and information management by healthcare providers to increase the efficiencies of their operations to help reduce costs.

26 Mar 2010

athenahealth, Sermo release results from Physician Sentiment Index

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, and Sermo, the world’s largest online community for physicians today, released results from a first-of-its-kind “Physician Sentiment Index SM”.

26 Mar 2010

UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program helps members achieve 4.4% turnover rate

The University HealthSystem Consortium, an alliance of 107 academic medical centers and 232 of their affiliated hospitals, announced today that the UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program™ has helped members achieve an astounding 4.4% turnover rate among first-year nurses.

26 Mar 2010

Landrieu comments on President's signing of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today commented on the President's signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Sunday evening, lowers costs and increases choices and stability for small businesses.

26 Mar 2010

New online portal aims to comprehensively track global aid flow

"A new online information portal on aid flows around the world" aims to improve transparency and prevent billions of dollars in international aid from being misused, according to academics and aid officials who launched the tool at a conference, Reuters AlertNet reports. A working version of the portal became available for the public on Tuesday, according to the news service.

26 Mar 2010

Obama requests $2.8B in emergency funds for Haiti

President Barack Obama sent a letter (.pdf) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Wednesday asking the Congress "for $2.8 billion in emergency funds to provide for costs associated with relief and reconstruction for Haiti, after its devastating earthquake on January 12," Reuters reports.

26 Mar 2010

Medical conditions put seniors at high risk of unsubsidized medical prescription expenses

If you're older, a woman, and suffering from either dementia or diabetes, you are the most likely to be exposed to unsubsidized medication costs in the US. This is known as the coverage gap for enrollees of Medicare Part D - the US federal program which subsidizes the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries.

26 Mar 2010

CWA's statement on Senate passage of Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act

With today’s votes by the Senate and House, the decades-long struggle to make health care accessible, affordable and available to all has been achieved. CWA commends House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and all members of Congress who supported this effort for their determination to move forward on real health care reform.

26 Mar 2010

Some will remain uninsured after reform

Kaiser Health News' Maggie Mertens describes who will remain uninsured even after all of the health law's provisions take effect by 2019: undocumented immigrants, people who can't afford it and those who choose to pay the penalty rather than buy coverage (3/24).

26 Mar 2010

PAHO documents increase in dengue fever cases in Latin America

Countries in Latin America "are bracing this year for a particularly virulent outbreak of the mosquito-borne tropical disease" known as dengue fever, after reports show an increase in the number of cases recorded this year, Agence France-Presse reports. "The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) said so far it has logged some 146,000 cases in the first three months of the year, of which 79 have been fatal. This time last year there were some 79,000 cases of dengue reported, with 26 deaths," the news service writes.

26 Mar 2010

Ontario's doctors commend government for taking steps to create comprehensive health care system

In the face of ongoing economic challenges, Ontario's doctors commend the government for taking the necessary steps to increase quality and efficiency in the health care system.

26 Mar 2010

HealthWell applauds lawmakers for passing historic health care reform bill

The HealthWell Foundation, a national nonprofit that helps underinsured Americans afford their medical treatments, applauds lawmakers for passing the historic health care reform bill this week. While the bill extends coverage to millions of uninsured people, it does not adequately address the problem of the underinsured -- people who have health insurance but not enough coverage to afford the care they need. It may even increase the number of people in this underserved group.

26 Mar 2010

SAIC awarded task order by WRAMC to provide information technology services

Science Applications International Corporation today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Directorate of Information Management to provide information technology services.

26 Mar 2010

Threats and vandalism against Democrats who vote for health reform

"The FBI is investigating acts of vandalism and a death threat aimed at Democrats who voted for the health care legislation." One incident involved Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., "who had a prominent role in passing the historic legislation as chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, [and] said a window in a district office was shattered by a brick and a voicemail 'referencing snipers' was left on a campaign office phone."

26 Mar 2010

New study questions effectiveness of national Silver Alert program

A group of Miami University researchers studying the national Silver Alert program for locating missing adults with dementia or other cognitive impairments question the program's effectiveness and safety, given the speed in which it's being implemented throughout the country.

26 Mar 2010

Senate passes health reform reconciliation bill, sends it back to House

The Senate Thursday afternoon passed a health care reform reconciliation bill and sent the bill back to the House for final consideration. The bill passed 56-43.

26 Mar 2010

States challenge health insurance coverage mandate as leaders decide on participation

Attorneys general in 14 states have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a health insurance coverage mandate in the new federal health law, and more may follow.

26 Mar 2010

ONA President’s statement on Ontario provincial budget

Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN says that today's provincial budget means more service and nursing cuts for patients in this province.

26 Mar 2010

Parties vie for political momentum after health vote

The health care debate has already become a proxy for 2010 election fights, with candidates in both parties wielding the issue, according to The Wall Street Journal: "In Kentucky, the two leading Democrats seeking an open Senate seat are battling over who has been most committed to the health-care law." Meanwhile, "[two] potential 2012 presidential candidates, Republicans Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, both issued fund-raising appeals to their supporters, saying they would use the money to fight for the GOP position on the health-care law" (Wallsten, 3/25).

26 Mar 2010