Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

SEIU enters two new tentative contract agreements with Watsonville Community Hospital

Watsonville Community Hospital announced today that it has reached two new tentative contract agreements with the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Workers-West.

18 Jan 2011

AMS introduces STEP toolkit to help men with ED and SUI

American Medical Systems, a leading provider of world-class devices and therapies for male and female pelvic health, today announced the launch of its Solutions to Educate Patients Program in Europe.

18 Jan 2011

Pharmacists can help patients to manage their medication and stop smoking

Consulting a pharmacist, or other healthcare professional, when quitting smoking boosts a patient's chance of long-term success from three per cent to 30 per cent.

17 Jan 2011

Australian rural healthcare ailing with lack of funds: Report

The latest data shows that Medicare paid out at least $670 million less in rural Australia in 2006-07 for GP and other primary health services than it has done for the cities. A total of at least $2.1 billion every year is short in the public health expenditure for rural regions compared to cities. Also there is a $500 million underspend in rural areas on the PBS, and at least a $1 billion shortfall on dental and allied health.

17 Jan 2011

Study: Health advocacy groups don't always disclose drug company funding

The researchers noted that since these lobbying organizations often urge greater access to new drugs and treatments, these contributions should be made public.

14 Jan 2011

House GOP poised to restart health law repeal effort; Vote set for Wednesday

Republican leaders in the House have scheduled debate to begin on Tuesday. And, although the vote — which will follow a day later — is largely considered symbolic, it will kick off the GOP push to defund the bill and undo some of its more unpopular provisions.

14 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Ariz. shooting and mental health care; Republicans' reform agenda; Calif. insurance hikes

Democrats can do their part by resolving not to thwart everything that the Republican majority wants to accomplish, but rather by looking for opportunities to work with the opposing party for the good of the country. ... Republicans can reciprocate by not repeating a costly mistake that Obama made when he first took office and rushing into the health care debate when the country wanted him to focus on jobs, jobs and jobs (Ruben Navarrette Jr., 1/13).

14 Jan 2011

Pennsylvania announces bulletin on Procedures for Surrogate Healthcare Decision Making

The commonwealth has issued a bulletin intended to strengthen and clarify the roles of families and other parties in making healthcare choices for adults with special needs, acting Secretary of Public Welfare Michael Nardone announced today.

14 Jan 2011

Ortivus wins procurement order from Southern Älvsborgs Hospital, Sweden

Ortivus have won a procurement of patient monitoring equipment for the cardiology and emergency departments at Southern Älvsborgs Hospital in Borås, Sweden. Furthermore have orders in Italy and Norway been obtained that confirms Ortivus distributor and Value Added Reseller contracts in respective countries.

14 Jan 2011

F.N.B. Capital closes $5.0MM funding for Celtic Healthcare

F.N.B. Capital Corporation, LLC, a Pittsburgh-based merchant banking subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation, today announced the closing of $5.0MM in funding for Celtic Healthcare, Inc., based in Mars, Pennsylvania. Celtic Healthcare is a leading regional full-continuum home healthcare and hospice services provider.

14 Jan 2011

Everyday Health to become exclusive health destination for AOL Network

Everyday Health, Inc., a leading provider of health solutions, today announced that AOL Inc. will make Everyday Health the exclusive health destination for AOL Network, replacing AOL Health. Beginning April 1, 2011, AOL's nearly 14 million daily users seeking health content will be directed to Everyday Health's award-winning health content.

14 Jan 2011

Endosense, Siemens Healthcare enter joint catheter ablation development project

Endosense, a Swiss medical technology company, and Siemens Healthcare, one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry, have agreed to commence a joint development project intended to integrate the contact-force data provided by Endosense's TactiCath® force-sensing ablation catheter with Siemens' electrophysiology solutions.

14 Jan 2011

Baylor Health Care System to implement standardized, certified EHR

Baylor Health Care System is today announcing its intent to continue to improve the quality of patient care in North Texas through the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR) across the health care system. It is one of thousands of hospitals and eligible professionals across the country officially registering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to demonstrate its commitment to achieve "meaningful use" of EHRs.

14 Jan 2011

Skanska awarded healthcare projects totaling $282M in California

Skanska has been awarded two major healthcare projects in California. The total contract amount is USD 282 M, approximately SEK 1.9 billion, which will be included in order bookings for the fourth quarter of 2010.

14 Jan 2011

Covidien announces support for FDA on safe use of acetaminophen

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products and the world's largest producer of acetaminophen, supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the safe use of acetaminophen.

14 Jan 2011

Judge orders Guidant to pay $296 million fine for withholding information about faulty heart devices

This Boston Scientific Corp. subsidiary faces this fine as well as three years of probation as part of a case that began in 2005.

14 Jan 2011

Centice launches integration and solutions platform for Computational Raman Spectroscopy application

Centice Corporation, a pioneer in chemical verification and identification using Raman Spectroscopy and computational sensor technology, announced today the availability of an integration and solutions platform for the application of Computational Raman Spectroscopy to satisfy technology needs in process manufacturing, healthcare, public safety and materials science.

14 Jan 2011

GOP leaders reformulate strategies to undo health law

In the wake of last weekend's shootings in Arizona, GOP House leaders are contemplating ways to proceed with their planned health law repeal vote. Meanwhile, even as the debate continues — perhaps with more civility — The Washington Post offers a fact-check of one of the key points in play.

14 Jan 2011

New research shows hospital's design features can improve patient care, reduce health care expenses

Extra large private hospital rooms with plenty of natural light and artwork may seem like unaffordable luxuries, but new research shows that these and other architecture and design features can improve patient care and in the long run reduce health care expenses.

14 Jan 2011