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To heal our ailing health care system, we need to stop thinking like Americans

That's the message of two articles by UCLA's Dr. Marc Nuwer, a leading expert on national health care reform, published this week in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

5 Dec 2008

Applied engineering makes for more efficient operating rooms

Work by specialists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has led to significant improvements in turnover times for operating rooms at three California safety net hospitals, allowing "many more hours of daytime surgery per year."

3 Dec 2008

Worrying about your health? more government money will help you stay well

A national poll by the Australian medical research body, Research Australia, has found that many Australians are worried about developing a range of chronic diseases during their lifetime, particularly diseases such as arthritis.

2 Dec 2008

The coming surgeon shortage

In less than two years, there may not be enough surgeons in U.S. hospitals to treat the critically injured or chronically ill.

1 Dec 2008

Childhood vaccines cause financial burden to many health care providers

The costs that health care providers are charged and reimbursed for childhood vaccines vary widely, and the high cost of some immunizations is leading to significant financial strain for some physicians, according to a pair of new studies from the University of Michigan Health System.

1 Dec 2008

America's Health Insurance Plans to release health care reform proposal

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will release a new comprehensive health care reform proposal that offers solutions to contain rising health care costs, enhance portability, provide affordable coverage options for small businesses, protect against medical bankruptcy, and more.

1 Dec 2008

Age care in jeopardy as workers quit because of job stress

Australian researchers say job stress is forcing many age care workers to leave and is jeopardising the industry.

1 Dec 2008

Experts say reducing number of trauma centres long 'overdue'

According to the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) any move which reduces the number of major trauma centres in New South Wales hospitals is long overdue.

1 Dec 2008

Prescription for improvements in patient safety

A major reform of the way that NHS hospitals pay for legal liability insurance has led to improvements in patient safety, according to research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

30 Nov 2008

AARP report finds value of unpaid family caregiving in Illinois hits over $17 billion

With the economy continuing it's downward turn, family caregivers are stepping up to the plate to help loved ones in need.

26 Nov 2008

Australian doctors say the public hospital system is 'flat lining' and rural hospitals are feeling the strain

According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) when conditions for staff and patients at regional hospitals are compared with those at city hospitals, our country cousins lose out.

26 Nov 2008

Electronic health records may lower malpractice settlements

Use of electronic health records (EHRs) may help reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians, according to a new study.

25 Nov 2008

New voice care center

UT Southwestern Medical Center has gathered a team of specially trained physicians and therapists to launch a new center for voice care dedicated to disorders of the voice and larynx.

24 Nov 2008

HHS releases first-ever inventory of quality measures

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the first-ever inventory of quality measures that are used for reporting, payment, or quality improvement by its agencies and operating divisions.

24 Nov 2008

Should the private sector play a greater role in delivering health care in low-income countries?

A provocative debate in this week's PLoS Medicine examines whether the private sector should step up its involvement in delivering health care in low-income countries.

24 Nov 2008

Study looks at health care in 21 countries

A new study involving health care systems in 21 countries -- and the prospects for change in response to such common pressures as rising costs and aging populations -- casts doubt on the possibility of major overhauls of any of these systems because of the history and traditions that created them.

24 Nov 2008

Final ruling on Patient Safety Organizations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule for Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).

24 Nov 2008

How is a shortage of primary care physicians affecting the quality and cost of medical care?

A white paper, How is a Shortage of Primary Care Physicians Affecting the Quality and Cost of Medical Care? , released today by the American College of Physicians (ACP) documents the value of primary care by reviewing 20 years of research.

19 Nov 2008

Call for greater scrutiny of relationship between medical journalists and health care industry

The BMJ paper outlines three areas where journalists might become entangled in conflict-of-interest issues: during educational activities that may be drug company sponsored, when accepting sponsored awards, or in the day-to-day practice of reporting the news by relying too heavily on industry supplied sources.

19 Nov 2008

Household budget cutbacks in health care could have serious consequences

Household budget cutbacks are becoming commonplace as most Americans struggle to make ends meet, but experts warn that health care needs should not be among the forfeited services.

19 Nov 2008