Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Almirall seeks European approval for linaclotide to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

Almirall, S.A. announced today that it has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for linaclotide, an investigational guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptor agonist for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Once approved, linaclotide will be marketed in Europe under the trademark Constella®.

29 Sep 2011

First Edition: September 29, 2011

In today's headlines, reports that a Supreme Court ruling on the 2010 health law is now likely before the 2012 presidential election.

29 Sep 2011

Clinithink, Acusis to improve clinical documentation in ambulatory and acute care settings

Acusis, LLC and Clinithink Ltd. have agreed to collaborate with the initial goal of enhancing the clinical documentation process in ambulatory and acute care settings through the integration of Clinithink's new and transformative technology into the market-leading Acusis solution: AcuSuite.

29 Sep 2011

SIS becomes an Industry Supporter of ASA

Surgical Information Systems (SIS) has become an Industry Supporter of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), as a part of a Corporate Supporter program available to pharmaceutical, medical device, anesthesia information management system and practice management companies.

29 Sep 2011

Bone and joint health supplements market to be worth over $9 billion by 2017

A globally ageing population, changing consumer lifestyles and a focus on preventative medicine is driving growth in the bone and joint health supplements market, which is forecast to be worth over $9 billion by 2017.

29 Sep 2011

Costs of premiums for employer-provided health insurance jump

A study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the average annual premium for family coverage was 9 percent higher in 2011 than in the previous year. Although many benefit analysts say the federal health law's requirements played only a small part in the rise, the results could provide political fodder for the law's supporters and opponents.

29 Sep 2011

ACOs: Will feds be ready for the start date?

Health care stakeholders and lobbyists are increasingly convinced that CMS will not make the Jan. 1 deadline for launching the flagship accountable care organization program mandated by the Affordable Care Act as release of the final rule slips later into the fall.

29 Sep 2011

Hospitals fall short in efforts to curb readmissions

A Dartmouth Atlas report that studied Medicare beneficiaries concluded that hospital readmission rates are largely static. Facilities will face financial penalities next year if they do not improve their statistics.

29 Sep 2011

House GOP lawmakers launch new investigation into Planned Parenthood

House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., sent Planned Parenthood a six-page letter earlier this month requesting financial information and details on how the women's health organization keeps federal funds separate from abortion services.

29 Sep 2011

Debt panel operates in secret, eyes 'dual eligibles' as possible source of savings

The 'super committee' is taking a look at proposals to reduce spending on this population, which qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid and is made up of the sickest and poorest American citizens. In the background, the New York Times examines what congressional "short-term fixes" say about the legislative body.

29 Sep 2011

New report finds little evidence to support off-label use of atypical antipsychotics

There is little evidence to support the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs for some treatments other than their officially approved purposes, even though many clinicians continue to commonly prescribe these drugs for so-called "off label" uses, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

29 Sep 2011

Senate gives nod to autism bill

A bill to reauthorize autism-related research and screening programs passed the Senate on Monday night by unanimous consent, ending concerns that programs might expire at the end of the month.

29 Sep 2011

TD2 wins AZBio's Fast Lane award for economic development of Arizona biosciences

TGen Drug Development (TD2) won a Fast Lane award from the Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) for promoting the economic development of Arizona biosciences.

29 Sep 2011

Calif. bill could affect out-patient surgery centers; some Florida public hospitals prosper

Also in news about local hospitals, the Mayo Clinic announces plans to develop a new medical school branch in Arizona and a Minn. hospital is accused of dumping a patient.

29 Sep 2011

EMRC White Paper assesses current status of biomedical research in Europe

The European Science Foundation's EMRC publishes new White Paper assessing the current status of biomedical research in Europe in a global context. European biomedical research is advancing at a great pace compared to the relatively small funds available, and with more funding, it could do better.

29 Sep 2011

DaTscan aids doctors in diagnosing patients with Parkinson's disease

Fifty thousand to 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) in Winfield, Ill., is among the first medical centers in North America to be using a new technology called DaTscan, an imaging tool that aids doctors in diagnosing patients who demonstrate Parkinsonian symptoms, like Parkinson's disease.

29 Sep 2011

Roche to sponsor 3rd Annual World MRSA Day

As part of its ongoing work in the prevention and control of serious infections in healthcare settings, Roche announced today its sponsorship of the 3rd Annual World MRSA Day.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 29 Sep 2011

Ethicon Endo-Surgery announces definitive agreement to acquire SterilMed

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (EES), a global leader in the development of innovative medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held SterilMed, Inc. (SterilMed), a leader in the reprocessing and remanufacturing of medical devices in the United States.

28 Sep 2011

DJO receives exclusive rights to sell Exos' range of upper extremity products

DJO Global, Inc., a leading global provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Exos Corporation, providing DJO with exclusive rights to sell Exos' broad range of upper extremity products that incorporate Exos' thermoformable polymer technology in North and South America.

28 Sep 2011

First Edition: September 28, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the costs of employer insurance plans and the final installment of KHN's "Building Ambitions" series about children's hospitals.

28 Sep 2011