Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

DestinationRx is now DRX

DestinationRx, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare comparison tools, technology and data, today announced a strategic decision to rename the company DRX. The change in branding is a response to the company's significant growth in the healthcare industry—from its origins in prescription drug pricing and purchasing technology to its expansion into broader drug and health plan comparison technology and data services.

17 Sep 2011

Nanion’s automated patch clamp platforms show unparalleled results using stem cell derived cardiomyocytes

The Patchliner and the SyncroPatch 96 have successfully been used for compound analysis under current- and voltage clamp recording conditions using different stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The exceptional cell-platform-compatibility and the unique experimental possibilities offered by Nanion’s platforms open up whole new avenues for compound safety testing.

16 Sep 2011

NHS hospitals in their current form are failing and need to “change or disappear completely”: Report

In a report published by Reform, Professor Paul Corrigan, who was a health special advisor to Tony Blair, argues that “the old model and concept of the hospital are failing”, leading to poor standards of care in far too many bankrupt institutions. “Hospitals will have to change or disappear completely” to “provide better, safer healthcare”.

16 Sep 2011

Two reports reveal sad state of affairs in some UK hospitals

Nurses at some institutions are serving up people’s evening meals at 3pm – just because it is more convenient, inspectors found. And several hospitals do not have enough nurses on wards to feed or wash patients, or help move them to prevent bedsores. Nurses arrive unannounced at elderly patients’ bedsides and strap blood pressure monitors round their arms without telling them what they are doing.

16 Sep 2011

General Electric establishes two new joint ventures in Russia

Today, GE expanded its position in one of the world's fastest growing markets by finalizing agreements to set up two new joint ventures in Russia which could drive $10 - $15 billion in sales. Under the new JVs, we anticipate orders of energy-efficient heavy-duty gas-fired power generation turbines with total capacity of up to 5 gigawatts of power as well as thousands of high-tech medical diagnostic units in Russia.

16 Sep 2011

Simple strategies prevent bloodstream infections and save hundreds of patient lives

Following some basic rules of central line hygiene and maintenance, Johns Hopkins Children's Center and 87 other pediatric hospitals have, over five years, saved hundreds of patient lives and more than $100 million by preventing nearly 3,000 central line bloodstream infections, hospital officials announced on Monday, Sept. 12.

16 Sep 2011

Advocates ramp up efforts to protect Medicaid from 'super committee' trims

State Medicaid directors as well as patient and consumer advocates are detailing the harms that would result from various Medicaid changes under discussion.

16 Sep 2011

Life Technologies praises Obama's signing of the America Invents Act

Life Technologies Corporation applauds the signing by President Barack Obama of "The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act" (H.R. 1249). President Obama will sign the bill today at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.

16 Sep 2011

Mindray launches new DP-50 ultrasound system

Mindray Medical International Limited, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide, today announced the introduction of the company's new DP-50 ultrasound system in the United States. The black and white portable unit provides outstanding imaging quality in a compact system and is designed for use in numerous specialty markets.

From Mindray 16 Sep 2011

Canadian Research Chair in e-Health looks at the creation of PUMFs for broader data sharing

The demand for transparency through publicly available healthcare data is on the rise. This is the case for administrative and clinical data for research, and for clinical trials data used to support new drug approvals. Broad data access has a measurable impact on research and policy making.

16 Sep 2011

Novel imaging technique reveals new visual resolution of NK cell action

Scientists reveal in more detail than ever before how white blood cells kill diseased tissue using deadly granules, in research published today in PLoS Biology.

16 Sep 2011

Health CEOs urge deficit panel to raise Medicare's eligibility age

But Blue Dog Democrats said Wednesday that no one is going to cut benefits for seniors or people near the current eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security.

16 Sep 2011

Unlikely coalition launches effort to aid enrollment of people without insurance

Enroll America, which is a group of health care organizations and companies, is making a health coverage push to boost the new health law.

16 Sep 2011

GSA's two forthcoming publications focus on pain relief and medication for seniors

To highlight Pain Awareness Month in September, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) - the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging - is announcing two forthcoming publications focused on pain relief and medication for seniors.

16 Sep 2011

State roundup: Mich. Gov. releases health plan

The job of implementing a key Obama administration health reform - a statewide marketplace where consumers and businesses can buy affordable health insurance - would be turned over to a non-profit company under proposed legislation announced today by Michigan's Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.

16 Sep 2011

Longer looks: Fighting antibiotic resistance; a health care arms race video; the HVP debate

We won't stop the rising tide of infections until we develop a new business model to fight them. We are not quite on the brink of some dystopian Victorian future. But every year, the prognosis for infectious-disease patients gets a bit grimmer. … And more-powerful drugs tend to cost more than the old drugs. … Even in the rich world, death from infection still looms; MRSA alone kills thousands every year. And firms are not developing antibiotics as fast as they used to.

16 Sep 2011

Symposium to raise awareness on post-infectious neurological syndromes

This symposium will provide information to educate physicians, psychiatrists and other medical and mental health-care professionals about the possibility of neurological repercussions to post-infectious syndromes.

16 Sep 2011

Practice Research Award winner describes research to support pharmacist prescribing services

"Doctors who have worked with, and patients receiving care provided by, pharmacist prescribers are highly supportive and value their prescribing roles but research indicates that the service is not being optimised due to a lack of strategic direction and policies to support its place in patient care" said Professor Derek Stewart in his keynote lecture as the winner of the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust (PPRT) 2011 Practice Research Award at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Conference in London.

16 Sep 2011

New GE healthymagination initiative aims to improve cancer innovation and care

GE and leading healthcare and financial partners today launched a new healthymagination initiative aimed at accelerating cancer innovation and improving care for 10 million cancer patients around the world by 2020.

16 Sep 2011

Hypnosis to tackle problems of chronic pain: International expert

A visiting international rehabilitation expert has called for Hypnotic Therapy to be considered a ‘mainstream’ treatment option in the management of chronic pain, potentially benefiting thousands of Australian pain sufferers.

15 Sep 2011