Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Duke team, AHA to kick-off Regional Systems of Care Demonstration Project

Competing cardiac care teams in some of the nation's most populated areas will start working together to markedly reduce the time from heart attack to treatment as part of a new program designed by cardiologists at Duke University Medical Center.

14 May 2012

Medication nonadherence linked to unnecessary cardiovascular hospitalizations in older patients

Older patients with high cholesterol or high blood pressure are at particular risk for unnecessary hospitalizations if they don't follow doctor's orders on taking their medications, according to new research from Express Scripts presented this week.

14 May 2012

April job growth numbers reflect increased need for skilled home healthcare services

A Department of Labor (DOL) report released last week signaled that 19,000 American jobs were added in April, primarily resulting from 15,000 new jobs in the ambulatory care field, which includes the home healthcare sector. This news comes at a critical time as the economy and American job creation remain a top priority for all lawmakers.

14 May 2012

DIBH can spare hearts and lungs of breast cancer patients from radiation

Respiratory movement during radiotherapy makes it difficult to hit the right treatment target and this in turn can lead to an under-dose of radiation to the tumour, or a potentially toxic over-dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. Getting this right is a real challenge for the radiotherapist, but new techniques are helping to deliver the correct dose to the right place, the 31st conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 31) will hear today.

14 May 2012

Unemployment rates in healthcare industry fell slightly to 8.1% in April

Unemployment rates fell slightly to 8.1 percent in April according to newly released figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers added 115,000 workers last month, which is down 39,000 from March and 45,000 shy of the minimum some economists had forecast.

14 May 2012

Study demonstrates accuracy of AliveCor’s iPhone-based ECG

AliveCor, the developer of a breakthrough mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) recorder, today announced results from a study that demonstrated the accuracy of the company's iPhone-based device, by comparing its Lead I to Lead I from a conventional 12-lead ECG. The study found that the iPhone-based event recorder is an accurate clinical tool for ECG assessment and could prove to be a new tool for allowing immediate recording and analysis of an ECG rhythm.

From AliveCor, Inc. 14 May 2012

CRT-D cost-effective treatment for mildly symptomatic heart failure patients

Medtronic, Inc. today announced findings from an economic analysis of the landmark RAFT (Resynchronization / Defibrillation in Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial) trial demonstrating that cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation (CRT-D) is a cost-effective treatment for mildly symptomatic heart failure patients.

14 May 2012

Factors associated with successful vaginal birth after Caesarean

Melissa Lunsford wants a vaginal delivery for her fourth child. Following a series of Caesarean and vaginal deliveries for her other children, she couldn't find a doctor or a hospital willing to give her the vaginal birth option for her current pregnancy.

11 May 2012

NBHA commends FDA for continuing investigation of bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis

In response to today's Perspective pieces published in the New England Journal Of Medicine, the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA), a public-private partnership bringing together the expertise and resources of its 42 members from the private and non-profit sectors to collectively advance bone health and prevent disease, commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for continuing to investigate the risks and benefits of long-term bisphosphonate treatment.

11 May 2012

Damaging consequences of potential spending cuts to medical research

The report "Sequestration: Health Research at the Breaking Point," released today by Research!America, demonstrates the damaging consequences of potential automatic spending cuts, or sequestration, to the nation's medical research enterprise and public health, and offers examples on how these cuts would delay scientific discoveries that could lead to new treatments and cures for deadly diseases.

11 May 2012

Viewpoints: Two views on how to fight obesity; Tough choices for big business on health costs

Forgive us if we don't cheer at the prospect of adding 32 million to the total number of Americans who are dozens of pounds too heavy, a count that stood in 2010 at 78 million.

11 May 2012

Chromatin compaction required for proper embryonic stem cell differentiation

New research findings show that embryonic stem cells unable to fully compact the DNA inside them cannot complete their primary task: differentiation into specific cell types that give rise to the various types of tissues and structures in the body.

11 May 2012

Accelerated partial breast irradiation does not compromise survival

Using a concentrated, highly targeted dose of radiation to the breast has equally good results as irradiating the whole area, with no adverse effects on survival and a much better cosmetic outcome, Hungarian researchers have found.

11 May 2012

IASIS Healthcare second quarter net revenue up 3.8% to $647.6M

IASIS Healthcare LLC today announced financial and operating results for the fiscal second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, IASIS adopted accounting guidance that results in the classification of the provision for bad debts as a revenue deduction rather than an operating expense, and such guidance has been applied to the financial statements of both the current and prior year periods.

11 May 2012

GOP lawmakers doubt co-op loan program's ability to promote competition, lower health costs

They outlined their concerns in a letter sent this week to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Meanwhile, Marilyn Tavenner, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services acting administrator, provided details about the innovation center's staffing and funding to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

11 May 2012

HIV prevention drug receives FDA panel's backing

The drug has already been approved as a treatment for HIV/AIDS. The FDA is expected to decide about approval by June 15.

11 May 2012

Northstar Healthcare reports $0.6M net loss for first quarter 2012

Northstar Healthcare Inc. today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012. All dollar amounts are in United States currency unless otherwise stated; percentage calculations are based on the numbers in the financial statements and may not correspond to rounded figures presented in this release.

11 May 2012

House approves $310B in cuts, Medicaid and children's health care targeted

The bill is designed to shield the Pentagon from automatic cuts that were laid out in last year's debt accord.

11 May 2012

With Medicare, other health issues in flux, lawmakers and lobbyists struggle to decide next steps

Six health care lobbyists told Politico Pro that much of their strategic planning depends on the Supreme Court's upcoming health law decision and the November elections. But some lawmakers are signalling hope that this is the year to address Medicare's "doc fix" problem.

11 May 2012

Steps toward a permanent Medicare 'doc fix'?

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., introduced the latest bill Wednesday aimed at reforming how Medicare pays healthcare providers and to prevent a scheduled, Jan. 1, 2013 cut to physician reimbursement rates. The bipartisan measure would replace Medicare's current pay formula.

11 May 2012