Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Supreme Court could announce today its plans for the health law

After a year and a half of legal skirmishing, President Obama's embattled health care law has arrived at the Supreme Court riding a surprising winning streak and carrying a constitutional stamp of approval from prominent conservative judges. … The Supreme Court is expected to announce as soon as Monday that it will hear the Florida case, the largest and broadest challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

15 Nov 2011

Survey of health opinion leaders finds 'unflagging' health overhaul support

In this survey, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and Modern Healthcare, 89 percent of respondents supported moving forward with the measure's implementation. In related news, the National Committee for Quality Assurance plans this month to begin accrediting accountable care organizations. Meanwhile, in local coverage, North Carolina's health exchange grant remains unspent and a rural California county has its own health reform calculus.

15 Nov 2011

HIV and syphilis on the rise among MSM

Rates of HIV and syphilis are very high and rising among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City, reports a study in the November issue of JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

15 Nov 2011

Fact-checking Romney's debate performance

CNN examines comments made by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney regarding the possible dollar savings that could result by repealing the health law, while the AP revisits his positions regarding the Massachusetts health law he signed while that state's governor. Also in the news, more on Rick Perry's Texas and where the candidates state on health research.

15 Nov 2011

GE Capitol healthcare flexes muscle, reaps benefits

The full breadth of health care reform has yet to be felt, but GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services is reaping the benefits. The Bethesda-based specialty finance firm is witnessing an upturn in business that has it on track to surpass its 2010 lending activity by roughly 15 percent. … Through the first nine months of the year, the company, which provides financing to some 40 sectors of the health care industry, deployed more than $5 billion in loans.

15 Nov 2011

CDC launches new antibiotic tracking system

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new antibiotic tracking system allowing hospitals to monitor antibiotic use electronically, make better decisions about how to improve use, and compare themselves to other hospitals. Before now, CDC was only able to track antibiotic use in doctors' offices.

15 Nov 2011

New technology speeds up 'near real-time' vaccination data collection

New technology now makes it possible to collect 'near real-time' data about whether people are having any side effects from vaccination. By studying people who received the 2009-10 swine flu vaccination in Scotland, researchers showed that this rapid reporting can add another layer of safety to future vaccination campaigns. In addition, the data collected revealed no significant safety issues in patients exposed to the vaccine.

15 Nov 2011

Pregnant women, new mothers benefit from text4baby mobile service

Researchers at UC San Diego Health System's Department of Reproductive Medicine and the National Latino Research Center (NLRC) at Cal State San Marcos University recently presented data at the American Public Health Association Conference in Washington D.C., demonstrating the impact of text4baby, a free mobile service that provides pregnant women and new mothers in San Diego with maternal, fetal and newborn health information via text messages and connects them to national health resources.

15 Nov 2011

N.J. plans to use managed care system for Medicaid enrollees with mental health problems

The N.J. effort must secure federal approval first. Also in Medicaid news, a judge in California this week will hear arguments in the challenge to the state's plans for adult health care.

15 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: Conservative legal path on health law; Romney's plans for Medicare and vets; States moving on reform

A federal appeals court in the District of Columbia endorsed the constitutionality of health care reform this week in an opinion as notable for its authorship as for its legal reasoning. The majority opinion in the 2-to-1 decision was written by Judge Laurence Silberman, a stalwart of conservative jurisprudence whose views are said to be enormously influential in conservative legal circles.

14 Nov 2011

Bayer and J&J’s blood thinner drug triumphs at late phase clinical trial

Drug makers Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson’s new blood clot preventing drug can provide life-saving benefits at very low doses in patients who suffer from acute coronary syndrome finds a new clinical trial.

14 Nov 2011

Stem cell bandage human clinical trial for torn meniscal cartilage

The company behind a pioneering stem cell bandage, believed to be the world's first adult and autologous (patient's own) stem cell treatment designed to heal torn meniscal cartilage, can now take the technology to human clinical trials thanks to an investment from one of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs.

14 Nov 2011

Fears about ICD shock during sex leads to performance problems in heart patients

Adults with congenital heart disease and implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) often have a high level of fear and anxiety about the device delivering a shock during sex - resulting in sexual performance problems, according to research (Abstract 14165) presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

14 Nov 2011

Super committee may delay tax details

As the panel's Nov. 23 deadline approaches and doubts about its ability for success persist, a new approach is emerging in which the panel may opt to postpone politically difficult decisions by deciding the amount of new revenue their deficit-reduction plan would require, but leaving specifics to Congress' tax-writing committees to fill in next year.

14 Nov 2011

Decision Simulation licenses virtual patient platform from University of Pittsburgh

Decision Simulation LLC, the leading provider of web-based virtual patient platforms that enhance clinical decision-making skills, today announced it has extended its licensing agreement with the University of Pittsburgh.

14 Nov 2011

Demand for non-drug intervention for atrial fibrillation will remain, despite FDA PVAC decision

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the search for an improved method of treating atrial fibrillation (AF) will be unaffected by the recent mixed decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel on Medtronic's phased radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein ablation catheter (PVAC).

From Medtronic 14 Nov 2011

Data shows cost-effectiveness of ZOLL LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that data showing the cost-effectiveness of the LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator was presented in two scientific presentations and posters at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 in Orlando over the weekend.

14 Nov 2011

Allscripts approves Apixio Community Search product

Apixio Inc., the leading provider of clinical integration and medically intelligent search solutions for private health data, announced that its Community Search product has been tested and approved by Allscripts and is now featured in the Allscripts Application Store and Exchange on the company's ClientConnect website. Apixio is available today for users of Sunrise Clinical Manager (SCM) 5.5.

14 Nov 2011

Harrison Medical Center installs three Toshiba Infinix-i vascular X-ray systems

Performing cardiac catheterizations through the radial artery is proven to make exams safer for patients while frequently reducing post-procedure hospital stay times. To conduct radial interventions from both the right and left side, Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Wash., installed three Infinix™-i vascular X-ray systems from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

14 Nov 2011

Conmed Healthcare Management third quarter net revenue increases 17.4% to record $18.1M

Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc., a leading full service provider of correctional facility healthcare services to county and municipal detention centers, today announced financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

14 Nov 2011