Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Kansas, Iowa pursue health law waivers

Meanwhile, The Hill reports that most of the denials resuting from early waiver requests went to unions. And, in other health reform implementation news, Politico Pro reports on what it describes as an "ACO dilemma."

23 May 2011

Lifestyle modifications help control blood pressure levels: More evidence

Evidence continues to build that lifestyle modifications help control blood pressure (BP) levels. Data evaluating the consumption of coffee and alcohol and the impact of low fitness levels will be presented at the American Society of Hypertension, Inc.'s 26th Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2011) and will be featured in the May 22 ASH press briefing.

23 May 2011

Archimedes launches new web interface, ARCHeS Innovator

Archimedes Inc., a healthcare modeling company, today announced the launch of a new web interface, ARCHeS Innovator, which will give health experts direct access to many of the features of the Archimedes Model.

23 May 2011

Chamberlain College of Nursing announces opening of Miramar campus in Florida

Chamberlain College of Nursing is opening a new campus in Miramar, Fla. with classes beginning in July 2011. This expansion reinforces Chamberlain's commitment to prepare additional nurses in the southern portion of the state in response to the growing demand for nurses.

23 May 2011

AMAC Telephony Based Communication Services receives large scale award

American Medical Alert Corp. a provider of healthcare communication services and advanced telehealth monitoring technologies, today announced that its Telephony Based Communication Services was awarded a three year, pharmaceutical brand support and clinical contact communications contract for an internationally recognized, top ten pharmaceutical manufacturer.

23 May 2011

Boston Healthcare announces acquisition of Alpha Care

Boston Healthcare announced today that it has acquired Alpha Care GmbH, a consulting firm based in Germany that provides health economics and policy solutions for pharmaceutical, medical device, payer and provider organizations.

23 May 2011

Morris Hospital installs Toshiba's Ultimax X-ray system to streamline diagnosis, improve patient throughput

Advancements in diagnostic imaging technology are enabling healthcare facilities to achieve multifunctional capabilities using a single modality. To streamline diagnosis and improve patient throughput, Morris Hospital has installed the Ultimax X-ray system from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

23 May 2011

Welch Allyn announces availability of co-branded Health o meter Professional Scales in Europe

Welch Allyn, a leading global provider of medical diagnostic equipment, announced today that its co-branded Health o meter Professional Scales are now available in Europe.

23 May 2011

ShiftWise launches free VeriStaff management system for hospitals, healthcare providers

ShiftWise, the country's leading supplier of online healthcare staff management services, today announced ShiftWise VeriStaff, a free service that allows hospitals and other healthcare providers of all sizes to easily track their staff's credentialing compliance.

23 May 2011

Verizon Wireless and Medco unveil mobile medication app with real-time patient-specific drug safety

Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. have announced a mobile application that can instantly guide patients and their doctors to the lowest-cost prescription drug to meet their health needs and help them identify potentially harmful drug interactions. Available now on Verizon Wireless Android handsets and BlackBerry devices, the new Medco Pharmacy mobile app delivers critical information to help Medco members manage their prescription medications.

22 May 2011

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is a common infection that accounts for almost $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year, according to a new government report. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the agency's May 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, says this condition results in 2.4 million doctor visits annually in the United States, each visit costing an average of $200.

22 May 2011

McDonald's reacts to protests and calls to fire Ronald

McDonald's Corp has refused to pay heed to the protesters who ask it to assess the impact of its food on childhood obesity, and said its trademark clown Ronald McDonald would be hawking Happy Meals to kids for years to come.

22 May 2011

Avandia withdrawal from shelves by November: FDA

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has announced that in the beginning of November, the diabetes drug Avandia will no longer be sold in pharmacy shelves, due to the cardiovascular risks it’s causing its patients.

22 May 2011

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) legislation required a core set of recommended health care quality measures to be identified for voluntary use by State Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which together cover almost 40 million American children and adolescents.

21 May 2011

Studies: Unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers $11B a year

Two studies have found that unplanned pregnancies cost taxpayers up to $11 billion per year. The figure is sure to generate discussion on Capitol Hill as lawmakers grapple with funding for Planned Parenthood.

21 May 2011

Breakthrough reason for cautious hope among those with spinal cord injuries

A team of scientists at the University of Louisville, UCLA and the California Institute of Technology has achieved a significant breakthrough in its initial work with a paralyzed male volunteer at Louisville's Frazier Rehab Institute - the result of 30 years of research to find potential clinical therapies for paralysis.

21 May 2011

Roundup: Kan. exchange blueprint coming soon; 'Most favored nation' ban passes in Conn.; Anti-fraud repeal in Calif.

In a few months, the Kansas Insurance Department is expected to release a blueprint for how a health insurance exchange might work. "We still have a lot of work to do but, so far, the process has been going really, really well," said Linda Sheppard, head of the insurance department's accident and health accident and health division.

21 May 2011

Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

New targeted pills can have dramatic effects on cancer, not only driving the disease into remission but also freeing patients from hours of uncomfortable and boring chemotherapy treatments. Up to 10 percent of patients, however, are not filling their prescriptions for the pills--and cost appears to be a factor, according to a new report.

21 May 2011

UM Board of Regents approves $13.7M renovation project for new health care policy institute

A new health care policy institute – one that is expected to become one of the largest of its kind in the nation – will be established at the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex.

21 May 2011

Ryan Medicare plan may split GOP as Senators prepare to vote on it

After denouncing the House Republican budget plan for Medicare as "right-wing social engineering" and "radical change" on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) found himself on the defensive and his nascent presidential bid in shambles.

21 May 2011