Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Research findings could improve treatments for pneumonia, other inflammatory conditions

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a new biological pathway of innate immunity that ramps up inflammation and then identified agents that can block it, leading to increased survival and improved lung function in animal models of pneumonia.

1 Apr 2013

Covidien wins patent infringement suit against Ethicon Endo-Surgery

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that it has won a patent infringement suit against Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, relating to Ethicon's Harmonic line of ultrasonic surgical products.

30 Mar 2013

AAWC translates patient education brochure on pressure ulcers into Spanish

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care announces that its latest patient education brochure on the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, "Take the Pressure Off!" has been translated into Spanish.

30 Mar 2013

Study predicts 30% premium increase for some Californians who buy their own insurance

The increases, prompted by the federal health law, will be offset for many people by new federal tax subsidies, the report suggests.

30 Mar 2013

GE Healthcare seeks approval to supply Optison to EU market from Oslo manufacturing facility

GE Healthcare today announced that it has submitted an application to amend its European Marketing Authorisation that will allow the company to manufacture Optison 0.19 mg/ml dispersion for injection within its own facility.

30 Mar 2013

CDC to portray impact of COPD in COPD Foundation's anti-smoking ad campaign

The COPD Foundation announces today that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will, for the first time, depict the impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in its national ad campaign, Tips From Former Smokers.

30 Mar 2013

AACN selects seven Pennsylvania hospitals to participate in nurse leadership training program

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses selects seven Pennsylvania hospitals as the newest participants in its hospital-based nurse leadership and innovation training program.

30 Mar 2013

Health industry faces shortage of IT professionals

In addition, a regulation permitting hospitals to donate medical records software to doctors is scheduled to expire.

30 Mar 2013

Investment in women's health important for global development

"Throughout my tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives and on the Committee on Appropriations, I have had the opportunity to help shape U.S. development assistance. And I am proud of the United States' leadership in providing support and funding for critical global health initiatives that both save lives and strengthen our position in the world," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) writes in The Hill's "Congress Blog."

30 Mar 2013

Tenn. governor refuses to expand Medicaid

Gov. Bill Haslam said he wants to expand health insurance coverage for low-income residents, but "on his own terms" by enrolling large numbers in private insurance plans.

30 Mar 2013

HeCN celebrates Doctor's Day on March 30

HEALTHeCAREERS Network (HeCN), the only single-source healthcare recruiting solution for providers and job seekers, is honored to celebrate Doctor Day on March 30. This week honors the 700,000 physicians across the U.S. and their role in healthcare.

29 Mar 2013

Doctors renew lobbying to change Medicare payment formula

The American Medical Association is pushing hard to get Congress to make a permanent "doc fix," The Hill reports.

29 Mar 2013

Majority of consumers lack awareness on new health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act

In a series of nationwide focus groups conducted by Intuit TurboTax®, a majority of consumers who participated lacked awareness of their new health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as "Obamacare". In addition, a most of them did not know if they would qualify for financial assistance to help cover the cost of health insurance.

29 Mar 2013

First Edition: March 29, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of renewed interest between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans to find ways to cut Medicare costs:

29 Mar 2013

Racial disparties in autism treatment

The need for professional care of African-American children with autism can go unmet. Some of the disparity could stem from cultural differences in parental perceptions of behavior, says autism expert Margaret C. Souders, PhD, RN, assistant professor of human genetics at Penn Nursing.

29 Mar 2013

Study: Heart failure medications highly cost effective in saving lives

A UCLA study shows that heart failure medications recommended by national guidelines are highly cost effective in saving lives and may also provide savings to the health care system.

29 Mar 2013

Wilderness therapy programs are less dangerous than football games

Adolescents participating in wilderness and adventure therapy programs are at significantly less risk of injury than those playing football and are three times less likely to visit the emergency room for an injury than if they were at home, a new study by University of New Hampshire researchers finds.

29 Mar 2013

How much will the health law cost? Depends on whom you ask

Some restaurant chains now say the health law may not cost them so much after all -- mostly because many employees either won't qualify for coverage or may decline it. Meanwhile, analysis continues of a Society of Actuaries projection of big increases in medical claims costs for insurers in the individual market. And the Associated Press examines President Barack Obama's promises regarding health care.

29 Mar 2013

How will immigration reform intersect with Medicare?

In this pair of stories, news outlets examine whether immigration reform will stress the Medicare program as well as what hospitals are doing to address the health law's Medicare Wage Index.

29 Mar 2013

Adding muscle to plans' push for value-based health care

A survey from Catalyst for Payment Reform, a nonprofit lobbying group comprising highly profitable Fortune 500 giants, found that many of its members do not feel like they are getting the value for which they are paying.

29 Mar 2013