Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Health IT firms scrambling for workers

Technicians are needed to help hospitals develop and use electronic health records. Other reports look at the efforts to develop secure and efficient digital records.

20 Sep 2012

Study examines association of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery with weight loss, diabetes mellitus

Severely obese patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery had significant weight loss that was sustained for an average of 6 years after the surgery and also experienced frequent remission and lower incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol levels, compared to participants who did not have the surgery, according to a study in the September 19 issue of JAMA, and theme issue on obesity.

20 Sep 2012

Health interest groups strategize to stop automatic cuts

Industry lobbyists hope the "shock value" of last week's White House report detailing the reach of the cuts will add momentum to efforts to persuade Congress to repeal the legislation before reductions start in January.

20 Sep 2012

New tools can help track healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have each released new tools and information to help track deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in nursing homes and other long-term care settings.

19 Sep 2012

Study examines link between drug or alcohol use disorders and death in veterans with PTSD

Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who are also battling drug or alcohol problems face a higher risk of death, according to new research from the University of Michigan Health System and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

19 Sep 2012

Some states consider partial Medicaid expansion under health law

Also in the news, a report about how a ruling barring health coverage for illegal immigrants, allowed to stay in the United States because they were brought here as young children, is angering Hispanic groups.

19 Sep 2012

New book offers view inside Supreme Court's health law discussions

News outlets report on Jeffrey Toobin's new book, which offers internal insights about the Supreme Court's landmark health law decision.

19 Sep 2012

Bangladesh struggles to provide health care in urban slum areas, Guardian reports

As more people move into the urban slum areas surrounding Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, basic services such as water, sanitation and health care are being stretched to capacity by "[n]ew residents who are increasingly pushed out to the city's fringes," the Guardian reports.

19 Sep 2012

Devon Medical Products receives PDAC approval for extriCARE 2400 system

Devon Medical Products, a global medical device manufacturer and distributor, today announced it has received approval from the Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding (PDAC) contractor for its extriCARE 2400 Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) pump and associated bandages and disposable canister.

19 Sep 2012

Roundup: Filipino nurses in Calif. win $1M in language discrimination lawsuit; Texas Lawmakers hear of Medicaid managed care woes; Calif. soda limits could be next

A group of Filipino nurses who claimed they were mocked for their accents and ordered to speak "English only" won a nearly $1-million settlement against a Central California hospital where bosses and co-workers were allegedly urged to eavesdrop on the immigrant workers.

19 Sep 2012

Xenex's pulsed xenon UV more effective than bleach in decontaminating C. diff surfaces

Healthcare associated infections (also referred to as HAIs or hospital acquired infections) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, costing more than $30 billion each year. Evidence continues to mount that hospital cleanliness plays a role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter.

19 Sep 2012

Friendly bacteria: do we really need to eat probiotic yogurts?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) probiotics are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”.

19 Sep 2012

Frontline teamwork, safety practices slice hospital infection rate by 40%

Implementation of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program has reduced the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections by 40% in more than 1100 US intensive care units, reports the agency that funded the program.

18 Sep 2012

Mass. high court upholds dismissal of lawsuits challenging Medicaid reimbursements

The Massachusetts' court has upheld the dismissal of lawsuits brought by some hospitals alleging the state's 2006 health law didn't reimburse them enough for caring for Medicaid patients.

18 Sep 2012

States watch Calif. as it builds exchange; Red state officials wrestle with opposition to law and need to implement it

News outlets report on both the progress and difficulties states are facing as they attempt to establish health exchanges and meet other health law requirements. Meanwhile, Vermont is hoping to move beyond the federal law as it tries to set up a single payer system.

18 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: Dragging the 'C word' -- cost -- out of hiding; Elton John on discrimination against state prisoners with HIV

We need death panels. Well, maybe not death panels, exactly, but unless we start allocating health care resources more prudently -- rationing, by its proper name -- the exploding cost of Medicare will swamp the federal budget.

18 Sep 2012

Roundup: Mont. settlement money to pay for uninsured's prescription drugs; Physician assistants' role in Mass.; Atlanta to cut worker premiums

The Montana attorney general's office says nearly $1 million collected in drug company settlements will be used to help pay for prescription medicine for people who are uninsured and underinsured. Attorney General Steve Bullock said in a statement Thursday the money came from settlements dating back to 2010 with four drug companies accused of inflating the wholesale prices of drugs paid by Medicare and Medicaid.

18 Sep 2012

Covidien now offers unique solutions for treatment of chronic total occlusions

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of the Viance Crossing Catheter and Enteer Re-entry System for treating chronic total occlusions (CTOs) endovascularly.

18 Sep 2012

Fall prediction and prevention technology: an interview with Rob Goudswaard and Heribert Baldus from Philips

Falls in the elderly are a major health problem. It is has emerged from data in the US that roughly 1 in 3 people over 65 fall at least once a year. Half of them experience the same again the next year.

18 Sep 2012

Maya Angelou Center to hold summit on issues that affect women and girls' health

The Maya Angelou Center for Women's Health and Wellness at Forsyth Medical Center announced today it will hold a three-day international summit focusing on contemporary issues affecting women's and girls' health beginning Thursday, September 27 through Saturday, September 29.

18 Sep 2012

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Health IT firms scrambling for workers

Study examines association of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery with weight loss, diabetes mellitus

Health interest groups strategize to stop automatic cuts

New tools can help track healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes

Study examines link between drug or alcohol use disorders and death in veterans with PTSD

Some states consider partial Medicaid expansion under health law

New book offers view inside Supreme Court's health law discussions

Bangladesh struggles to provide health care in urban slum areas, Guardian reports

Devon Medical Products receives PDAC approval for extriCARE 2400 system

Roundup: Filipino nurses in Calif. win $1M in language discrimination lawsuit; Texas Lawmakers hear of Medicaid managed care woes; Calif. soda limits could be next

Xenex's pulsed xenon UV more effective than bleach in decontaminating C. diff surfaces

Friendly bacteria: do we really need to eat probiotic yogurts?

Frontline teamwork, safety practices slice hospital infection rate by 40%

Mass. high court upholds dismissal of lawsuits challenging Medicaid reimbursements

States watch Calif. as it builds exchange; Red state officials wrestle with opposition to law and need to implement it

Viewpoints: Dragging the 'C word' -- cost -- out of hiding; Elton John on discrimination against state prisoners with HIV

Roundup: Mont. settlement money to pay for uninsured's prescription drugs; Physician assistants' role in Mass.; Atlanta to cut worker premiums

Covidien now offers unique solutions for treatment of chronic total occlusions

Fall prediction and prevention technology: an interview with Rob Goudswaard and Heribert Baldus from Philips

Maya Angelou Center to hold summit on issues that affect women and girls' health

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems

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