Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Vicus initiates VT-122 Phase 2 trial in advanced liver cancer, systemic inflammation and cachexia

Vicus Therapeutics, LLC, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 trial evaluating VT-122, a novel investigational combination of etodolac and propranolol, and Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets, as a potential new treatment option for patients with advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), systemic inflammation and cachexia.

28 Dec 2010

Palladium Equity Partners acquires Jordan Healthcare Holdings

Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, a private investment firm based in New York focused on investments in the U.S. Hispanic marketplace, announced today that one of its affiliates has acquired Jordan Healthcare Holdings, Inc. Terms were not disclosed.

27 Dec 2010

Cancer survival rates improving

Survival rates for cancers of the bowel, breast, lung and ovary that were diagnosed between 1995 and 2007 were compared between Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Overall, survival rates improved in all six countries. However, survival was found to be “persistently lower” in Denmark, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This was particularly the case after the first year of diagnosis and for patients aged 65 and over. In UK cancer survival rates have improved significantly. Breast cancer survival at five years, for example, increased from 74.8% in 1995-9, to 81.6% in 2005-7. Despite this, the UK still has the lowest breast cancer survival rate at five years.

27 Dec 2010

Demand for medical interpreters to increase in the new year

As the number of non-English speakers seeking healthcare in the United States continues to grow, so does the need for medical interpreters who can serve as a liaison between patients and their doctors. The demand for medical interpreters is expected to increase even more when new standards go into effect on January 1, 2011 requiring healthcare organizations to provide an interpreter to patients who speak limited English.

24 Dec 2010

Littleton and Porter hospitals selected to pilot new iTriage 'Tell us you're coming' feature

Porter Adventist and Littleton Adventist hospitals have been selected to pilot a new iTriage® feature that allows hospital emergency staff to be further prepared to meet the needs of incoming patients.

24 Dec 2010

Meaningful use of EHR systems is an IT and organizational initiative

Meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is more than an IT or clinical initiative, according to Reonel "Joon" Saddul, Vice President, Clinical Informatics, at St. Joseph Health System. It is an organizational initiative. Implementation could cost the organization three times more than it should, if not done right from the start, therefore, Saddul advises that all parties are included in the decision-making and planning processes, and the projects aligned to known and likely future requirements.

24 Dec 2010

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Twenty-two percent of all admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2008 were for patients born the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt was first inaugurated President of the United States or earlier, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

24 Dec 2010

60% of type 2 diabetics who use insulin would switch to a less expensive biosimilar insulin if available

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 60 percent of surveyed type 2 diabetes patients in the U.S. who currently use insulin indicate they would request that their doctor switch them to a less expensive biosimilar insulin if such an agent became available.

24 Dec 2010

China emerging as world leader in stem-cell R&D

Recent breakthroughs show that China is emerging as a world leader in stem-cell research and development, says Emerging Healthcare Solutions President and CEO Cindy Morrissey.

24 Dec 2010

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

"Dilma Rousseff had barely been confirmed as Brazil's new president in November when she made her first foreign visit, to Mozambique," which "included a symbolic stop-off at a pharmaceutical factory that is under construction in preparation for opening in 2014. … The plant will produce a range of medicines for one of its leading lusophone - Portuguese-speaking - African partners, marking the resurgent power and growing reach of its sponsor, Brazil's own state-led drug sector," the Financial Times writes in an article that examines the partnerships Brazil is establishing at home and abroad.

24 Dec 2010

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

American Regent is conducting a nationwide voluntary recall to the consumer and user level of ALL unexpired lots of the following products: Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 7.5%, 44.6 mEq/50 mL, Single Dose Vial

24 Dec 2010

9/11 responders health bill gains congressional nod

In one of the last acts of this not-so-lame lame-duck Congress, lawmakers overcame wrangling and cleared legislation that would cover the costs of medical care for 9/11 rescue workers.

24 Dec 2010

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Texas officials have filed criminal charges against a West Texas physician over accusations that they say he orchestrated against two nurses who had filed a complaint against him with the state medical board (Sack, 12/23).

24 Dec 2010

Health spending and mandates: What is central to the overhaul's implementation and what is not

CQ looks forward and offer analyses regarding how determinations about mandatory and discretionary spending will impact the health law's implementation. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on a new study exploring how central the individual insurance mandate is to expanding coverage.

24 Dec 2010

Guardian Home Care Holdings sold to AccentCare

Friedman Fleischer & Lowe today announced that it has sold Guardian Home Care Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of home care and hospice services, to AccentCare Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing home healthcare companies.

24 Dec 2010

Bonovo Orthopedics announces closing of $10M Series C Preferred Stock financing

Bonovo Orthopedics, Inc., a leading provider of orthopedic products to the Chinese healthcare market, announced today that it closed a US$10 million Series C Preferred Stock financing. The financing was led by OrbiMed Asia Partners and was participated in by Legend Capital and Bonovo's existing shareholders.

24 Dec 2010

Dec. 31st healthcare reform deadline limits patient choice and encourages business as usual

In 10 days, thousands of workers will put down their tools and halt construction at 45 hospitals across the country, simply because the hospitals have physician owners.

23 Dec 2010

Chinese government should show more leadership on HIV/AIDS, says AHF

In response to news that the most recent round of grants issued by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is nearly $1 billion less than just two years ago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today called on nations to give more to help fight HIV/AIDS around the globe.

23 Dec 2010

NPSF creates new membership program for patient safety professionals

The National Patient Safety Foundation, a nonprofit specializing in advancing safe patient care, is creating a groundbreaking new membership program for patient safety professionals that will provide a unique opportunity for sharing of best practices and the unification of the growing patient safety community. New members can join the American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety at NPSF starting in January 2011.

23 Dec 2010

Columbia Asia opens new hospitals in India and Malaysia

Columbia Asia, a fast-growing hospital company with Pacific Northwest roots, has opened hospitals in two cities near New Delhi, India, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

23 Dec 2010