Healthcare News

RSS

Yale researchers survey door-to-balloon times in 831 hospitals

Healthcare professionals using new time-saving strategies to coordinate care for patients having a heart attack saw dramatic improvement in "door-to-balloon" (D2B) times-the time from when a patient enters the hospital to the time blood flow is restored to the heart by opening a blockage with angioplasty. The faster patients are treated, the more likely they are to survive. The results are published by Yale researchers and their colleagues in the December 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

3 Dec 2009

Senate debate moving slowly, Reid could extend session

As debate over health care reform legislation continues in the Senate, Democrats are accusing Republicans of delaying votes and strategizing over how the schedule could unfold in the coming weeks.

2 Dec 2009

Leaders respond to World AIDS Day; South Africa to expand HIV treatment program

Marking World AIDS Day on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon "warned ... that new infections are outpacing the gains from treating people with the HIV virus" and that discrimination against HIV-positive people remains "widespread," the Associated Press reports.

2 Dec 2009

Orszag: Current health bills only a first step to controlling health costs

Reuters: "Congressional efforts to revamp the U.S. healthcare system are not enough to stem soaring health costs or close the nation's budget gap, a top Obama administration official said on Wednesday." White House budget director Peter Orszag did not offer specific ideas or changes President Obama might include in his next budget proposal

2 Dec 2009

MSC's Quality Initiative Programs to be highlighted at the 2009 IHI National Forum

Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC) will highlight its full menu of Quality Initiative Programs at the 2009 IHI National Forum, December 7-9, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. MSC is the first simulation company to introduce simulation-based education programs that help healthcare providers bridge the gap between measurement and achievement of publicly reported patient safety and quality initiatives.

2 Dec 2009

New CareTracker Clinical Intelligence technology to be introduced in 187 health centers

Resource Systems, developer of long-term care electronic documentation system CareTracker, and Extendicare Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of senior care with over 260 health centers across U.S. and Canada, announce Extendicare's commitment to introduce the new CareTracker Clinical Intelligence technology to 187 health centers. The Clinical Intelligence tool assists health centers in predicting and notifying caregivers of potential resident care issues before they become a problem.

2 Dec 2009

Senators consider women's insurance amendment, Medicare funding issues, with votes likely today

The New York Times: "In a day of desultory debate on sweeping health care legislation, senators appealed to two potent political constituencies ... with Democrats seeking additional medical benefits for women and Republicans vowing to preserve and protect Medicare for older Americans. The Democrats' first amendment, offered by Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, would require insurers to cover more screenings and preventive care for women, with no co-payments."

2 Dec 2009

Partisan sniping dominates Senate health debate

The Christian Science Monitor: In the coming days, "senators will have to grind through lots of [amendments], as members of both parties line up to try and shape the final product. ... Senate debate on Tuesday began at around 2:15 pm, and quickly formed along expected lines. Sen. Charles Grassley (R) of Iowa, ranking minority member on the Finance Committee, led off by complaining about the size and possible expense of the effort, layered on top of federal bailouts of banks and auto firms.

2 Dec 2009

Officials to review U.S. health-threat response systems

The Washington Post: "Citing the balky swine flu vaccination campaign and other shortcomings in the nation's medical defenses, a top Obama administration official has announced a major review of the government's efforts to develop new protections against pandemics, bioterrorism and other health threats."

2 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Once upon a time, grass-roots women challenged the establishment by figuratively burning their bras. Now, in some masochistic perversion of feminism, they are raising their voices to yell, "Squeeze our breasts!" (Barbara Ehrenreich, 12/2).

2 Dec 2009

Legal immigrants still lack care in Massachusetts; Ohio hospitals brace for new fees

News outlets report on legal immigrants and the cost of health reform in Massachusetts, new hospital fees in Ohio, coverage shortfalls in Tennessee and registered nurse practitioners in Florida.

2 Dec 2009

Democrats push for extension as dwindling COBRA subsidies are bad news for jobless

Subsidies to help people pay for COBRA benefits - the program that lets laid off or departing employees temporarily hang on to their health coverage - are drying up, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The subsidies, which pay for 65 percent of the often-costly premiums, became available in March as part of the economic stimulus legislation.

2 Dec 2009

Medpac examines regional differences in use of medical care

The New York Times Prescriptions blog: "A federal advisory panel said Tuesday that regional differences in the use of health care services were substantial but smaller than many experts had suggested. The panel, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, found that the use of services by Medicare beneficiaries in the Miami area was almost 40 percent higher than the national average.

2 Dec 2009

World AIDS Day observed, activists decry budget cuts

A new study on HIV anti-retroviral regimens was released Dec. 1 and events were held to mark World AIDS Day. Meanwhile, advocates in New York and California expressed concern about budget cuts and tight funding for AIDS programs.

2 Dec 2009

Butler Health System implements PatientKeeper’s Platform and Physician Portal

PatientKeeper®, Inc., the leading provider of Physician Information Technology, announced today that Butler Health System of Butler, Pennsylvania selected PatientKeeper to help its organization meet the meaningful use criteria requirements established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The implementation of PatientKeeper’s Platform and Physician Portal, which is scheduled to roll-out in the first quarter of 2010, will extend physician accessibility and connectivity to over 200 physicians and significantly impact patient quality and care.

2 Dec 2009

URMC implements Allocade's artificial intelligence based solution to manage patient flow and logistics

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and Allocade, Inc., today announced the first installation and implementation of the On-Cue™ system in New York. URMC is utilizing the On-Cue software solution from Allocade to automate patient flow throughout the hospital and improve operational efficiencies by creating dynamic patient itineraries. The On-Cue system utilizes artificial intelligence, offering healthcare an efficient operating system that helps caregivers to effectively manage patient flow and logistics.

2 Dec 2009

Reactions to CBO report on Senate health bill are mixed

News organizations continue to report on reactions to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the Senate health bill.

2 Dec 2009

Behind-the-scenes players Daschle, Carper, Orszag help guide health debate

Though he has no official government position, Tom Daschle, a former Senate leader and one-time nominee for health secretary, is still attending key health-reform meetings, the Associated Press reports.

2 Dec 2009

Efforts to expand adult day care programs threatened by recession-driven cuts

Kaiser Health News, in a story produced in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports on adult day care.

2 Dec 2009

Minnesota's first e-Patient

Minnesota's first virtual doctor's visit was conducted Monday evening, the Pioneer Press reports. The patient, Beth Piper or Hampton, Minn., learned that sleeping pills would interact badly with another medication she uses during the seven minute Webcam-enabled discussion. Her doctor, Eric Christianson, suggested using Benadryl instead.

2 Dec 2009