Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Sanofi-aventis, UCSF announce research and development collaborations

Sanofi-aventis and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) announced today that they have formed two research and development collaborations that join together leaders from academia and industry to more rapidly advance groundbreaking innovation from the lab to the patient.

13 Jan 2011

Study: Women with abnormal mammograms experience lower QoL and increased anxiety

Doctors are calling for women to receive more information about the pitfalls of breast cancer screening, as well as the benefits, after some women who received false-positive results faced serious anxiety and reduced quality of life for at least a year.

13 Jan 2011

Robot-assisted surgery improves outcomes in uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer patients

Robot-assisted surgery dramatically improves outcomes in patients with uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer, said researchers at the Jewish General Hospital's Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Montreal. Moreover, because of fewer post-operative complications and shorter hospital stays, robotic procedures also cost less.

13 Jan 2011

Interventions for preventing falls in older persons should include an exercise component

In the first update of the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society's guidelines on preventing falls in older persons since 2001, they now recommend that all interventions for preventing falls should include an exercise component and that a number of new assessments should be used, including; feet and footwear, fear of falling, and ability to carry out daily living activities.

13 Jan 2011

BP-lowering medications provide long-term benefit of reducing death risk from cardiovascular disease

In a study published in December 2010, in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association, investigators have shown that early treatment with blood pressure-lowering medications provides a long-term benefit of reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

13 Jan 2011

WSHA receives 2010 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award

The Washington State Hospital Association today received the 2010 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for work advancing the collaboration of hospitals around patient safety. This is one of the highest honors an organization can receive for patient safety and quality.

13 Jan 2011

New study finds safety net holding together -- but future challenges are likely

A Kaiser Family Foundation study offers a detailed take on how states managed to maintain their health programs in face of the additional burdens brought by the recession (Kaiser Health News is a program of the Foundation).

13 Jan 2011

Tenet says Community Health's hostile bid falls short of company's value; Caritas has national aspirations

News outlets details the ongoing back-and-forth as Community Health Systems continues its pursuit of rival hospital group Tenet Healthcare Corp. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe details what may be in store for Caritas' hospital system.

13 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Insurance rate increases; High risk pools; Mental health funding

In another sign of dysfunction in the U.S. healthcare system, Blue Shield of California has levied three rate increases in rapid succession that could raise some premiums as much as 59%. New state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has said he plans to scrutinize the increases, and that's a good thing, given that Anthem Blue Cross sought a huge increase in premiums last year based on faulty math. But Blue Shield's request also highlights why the country should stay the course on healthcare reform (1/12).

13 Jan 2011

ADVENTRX completes $22.5 million financing

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has completed the previously announced sales of 8,184,556 units in a registered direct offering to RA Capital Management, certain healthcare-focused investors, and other institutional investors for a per unit purchase price of $2.75, representing gross proceeds to ADVENTRX of approximately $22.5 million.

13 Jan 2011

TKM-PLK1 drug may offer hope for patients with advanced solid tumor cancers

A new investigational drug designed to stop cancer cells from reproducing may offer hope for patients with advanced solid tumor cancers. Clinical trials of TKM-PLK1 for qualified patients are now open at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.

13 Jan 2011

Chamber of Commerce signals a 'low-key' strategy in support of repeal

In addition to the Chamber's approach, news outlets detailed the National Taxpayers' Union plans once the repeal vote is over to focus on certain tax provisions in the new law that the Obama administration may be willing to address. Also, experts on Minnesota Public Radio discuss the political positioning and implementation action at the state level.

13 Jan 2011

California insurance commissioner asks more insurers to delay rate hikes

Last week the new insurance chief asked Blue Shield Of Califorina to delay its increase. This week his attention includes Anthem, Aetna and PacifiCare.

13 Jan 2011

US most susceptible to brand erosion post patent expiry

On average, small molecule brands in the US experienced the greatest degree of brand erosion following patent expiry and exposure to direct generic competition, according to a new report from independent market analyst, Datamonitor.

12 Jan 2011

RAS includes Merge iConnect solution

Merge Healthcare, a leading health IT solutions provider, today announced that Radiology Associates of Sacramento (RAS), the largest private radiology practice in Northern California, has expanded their Merge solution suite to include Merge iConnect.

12 Jan 2011

Sharp refines IT service management strategy to include BMC solutions

Sharp HealthCare is known for leveraging IT to support its culture of quality service, innovation and excellence. But as the industry faces new reforms affecting patient care and management of patient data, Sharp is relying on BMC Software for an integrated approach to maintain its reputation of IT innovation.

12 Jan 2011