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National, state efforts seek to reduce medical errors

The Wall Street Journal: "Errors made by doctors, nurses and other medical caregivers cause 44,000 to 98,000 deaths a year. Hospital infections, many considered preventable, take another 100,000 lives. ... Hospitals are taking what might seem like a surprising approach to confronting the problem: Not only are they trying to improve safety and reduce malpractice claims, they're also coming up with procedures for handling—and even consoling—staffers who make inadvertent mistakes."

16 Mar 2010

Sharp Health Plan selects PureWellness for supporting NCQA accreditation goals

PureWellness, Inc., the leading provider of online wellness solutions, announced today that San Diego-based Sharp Health Plan selected the company to deliver a comprehensive online wellness platform for their employer groups and members.

16 Mar 2010

Correction to daily report, Mar. 15

In the March 15 Morning Edition, "Economists, Dems Differ On Who's To Blame For Insurers' Rate Hikes," KHN omitted a word in a summary of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

16 Mar 2010

Varian Medical Systems chooses EasyLink as provider for hosted fax services

EasyLink Services International Corporation, a premier global provider of comprehensive messaging services and e-commerce solutions, announced today that Varian Medical Systems has selected EasyLink as its provider for hosted fax services for an initial three-year term.

16 Mar 2010

EMSI selects SmartDog Services for Oracle eBusiness Suite support through ZDA

SmartDog Services, LLC, a leading provider of services for the Oracle community is pleased to introduce its new client, Examination Management Services, Inc. (EMSI).

16 Mar 2010

CareTech Solutions signs five-year infrastructure outsourcing contract with Sibley Memorial Hospital

CareTech Solutions, Inc., (www.caretech.com) an information technology (IT) and Web products and services company servicing U.S. hospitals and health systems, announced today that it has signed a five-year, comprehensive infrastructure outsourcing contract with Sibley Memorial Hospital, a full-service, 328 bed nonprofit acute care community hospital serving the Washington, D.C. area.

16 Mar 2010

The Beryl Institute joins with Sodexo to release white paper focusing patient-centered environment

The Beryl Institute, an organization dedicated to improving customer service in healthcare, has combined efforts with Sodexo, Inc., a leading integrated food and facilities management services company in North America, to release its latest white paper, “Perspectives on a Patient-Centered Environment.”

16 Mar 2010

MD Pathways, TIPAAA announce five-year partnership

MD Pathways, LLC announced today a five-year partnership with The IPA Association of America (TIPAAA), the nation’s largest independent physicians association with over 700 IPA members representing more than 300,000 MDs nationwide.

16 Mar 2010

HCSC offers CareProfile tool to assist physicians, healthcare facilities identify health risks

Health Care Service Corporation is offering physicians and healthcare facilities access to a new tool that will assist them in identifying health risks for 9 million patients across the country. The CareProfile® is an electronic health record (EHR) created with the collaborative input of MEDecision, Availity and HCSC’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

16 Mar 2010

Dole Food inaugurates mobile medical unit to offer access to specialized health attention

Dole Food Company, Inc. announced today that it inaugurated this week a mobile medical unit, which now offers some rural communities of the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica access to preventive medicine and specialized health attention.

16 Mar 2010

HealthyKidsMN.org Web site launched

The Minnesota Coalition for Kids Health Coverage today announced the launch of HealthyKidsMN.org, a statewide resource that aims to connect families with uninsured children to non-profit agencies that can assist them with eligibility requirements and enrollment into state-sponsored health care coverage options.

16 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 16, 2010

In today's headlines, ongoing efforts by President Obama and Democratic leaders to press and persuade wavering votes in support of health reform take center stage.

16 Mar 2010

TeamHealth acquires emergency physician group RIEP

TeamHealth announced today the acquisition of Rhode Island Emergency Physicians (RIEP), the emergency physician group that staffs the emergency department at South County Hospital in Wakefield, Rhode Island. South County Hospital chose TeamHealth, who will work with the existing group of physicians to provide management and staffing services for the hospital's 30,000 annual patient volume emergency department.

16 Mar 2010

"Don't Get Boxed In" campaign launched to raise awareness of risks associated with teen homelessness

Each year, nearly three million youths run away from home, putting themselves at a high risk for drug addiction, prostitution, disease and mental illness. National Safe Place is launching a week-long "Don't Get Boxed In" campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with teen homelessness and the services available to youth in crisis.

16 Mar 2010

COSE statement on health care reform

While a popular target, beating up on health insurance companies will do little to provide changes in insurance costs. Insurance profits and overhead are just a small part of the insurance bill. It's the underlying medical services, technology, tests and drugs that drive cost.

16 Mar 2010

CMAJ: As there is job retirement plan, there should be driving retirement plan

Public safety should win against personal choice especially when it comes to elderly seniors who shouldn't drive, states an editorial in CMAJ

16 Mar 2010

EHR Association submits responses on two regulations that implement healthcare IT incentive provisions of ARRA

The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association has submitted its detailed responses on two major regulations that implement healthcare IT incentive provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

16 Mar 2010

Large amounts of frozen plasma are being used inappropriately

Large amounts of frozen plasma are being used inappropriately, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only).

16 Mar 2010

AAH Pharmaceuticals deploys Ingres Database

Ingres Corporation, the leading open source database management company and pioneer of the New Economics of IT, today announced that AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd., the UK’s leading distributor of pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services to pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors, has significantly reduced operating costs with Ingres Database.

16 Mar 2010

Studies demonstrate over-utilization of re-hospital emergency care

When people call for an ambulance, the personnel are expected to make a reasonable assessment of need within a few seconds. These assessments sometimes overestimate and sometimes underestimate the acute medical needs. Lena Marie Beillon in her thesis "To assess medical needs - a clinical dilemma" at the Nordic School of Public Health clearly demonstrates over-utilization of re-hospital emergency care.

16 Mar 2010