Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Challenges in overcoming communication barriers when treating non-Swedish-speaking patients

The healthcare system faces a challenge in overcoming communication barriers when treating non-Swedish-speaking patients, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

26 Oct 2010

Francisco Partners to invest in Quantros

Quantros, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare software and services for data management, decision support analytics, and clinical business intelligence, today announced that Francisco Partners, one of the world's largest technology-focused private equity firms, has agreed to make a significant capital investment in the company.

26 Oct 2010

IDC grants MedImmune global rights to GLA adjuvant

Immune Design Corp. (IDC), a privately held biotechnology company developing novel vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it has entered into a license and development agreement with MedImmune for the use and commercialization of IDC’s proprietary Glucopyranosyl Lipid Adjuvant (GLA) as a component in vaccines for select infectious diseases.

26 Oct 2010

DKSH’s distribution centers achieve GMP/GDP certification

On the occasion of DKSH's Annual Logistics and Quality Seminar in Taipei, Business Unit Healthcare organized a Certification Award Ceremony to acknowledge the great success of the certification program. It was presided by Charles Toomey, Executive Vice President Business Unit Healthcare, and Dr. Eize de Boer from SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance).

26 Oct 2010

Beryl redefines focus as patient experience company

Beryl, the leader and pioneer in outsourced healthcare contact center services, announces its redefined focus as a patient experience company. For 25 years, Beryl has focused on making it easier for patients to access information and healthcare providers, which enhances patients' interactions with healthcare systems. While this underlying theme has always been present, redefining its focus ensures that all of Beryl's products and services are developed with a laser focus on their impact on improving the patient experience in healthcare.

26 Oct 2010

Knowledge gaps and unjustified fear common among caregivers of children with MRSA

Knowledge gaps and fear - some of it unjustified - are common among the caregivers of children with a drug-resistant staph bacterium known as MRSA, according to the results of a small study from the Johns Hopkins Children Center. These caregivers thirst for timely, detailed and simple information, the researchers add.

26 Oct 2010

Barbers help customers control high blood pressure

Neighborhood barbers, by conducting a monitoring, education and physician-referral program, can help their African-American customers better control high blood pressure problems that pose special health risks for them, a new study from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute shows.

26 Oct 2010

Sleep disorders threaten kids with premature heart disease and stroke

Poor sleep patterns and lack of proper sleep could be threatening thousands of Canadian adolescents with premature heart disease and stroke, warns Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Brian McCrindle, a pediatric cardiologist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

26 Oct 2010

Pre-retirees concerned over rising healthcare costs

Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of pre-retirees ages 50-64 are not at all confident that they are saving enough to handle healthcare costs in retirement, according to a new survey from the Society of Actuaries (SOA). Additionally, only seven percent of participants said they are very confident about having enough savings.

26 Oct 2010

AAHP highlights safety of homeopathic children's medicines

The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists (AAHP), representing the major manufacturers and distributors of homeopathic drugs, highlights the safety of homeopathic children's medicines in response to the recall of Hyland's Teething Tablets. The AAHP supports the efforts to protect the safety of children by both the Standard Homeopathic Company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

26 Oct 2010

John Theurer Cancer Center unveils new $130M, 155,000-square-foot comprehensive facility

The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center unveiled a new $130-million, 155,000-square-foot comprehensive cancer facility that will enhance the cancer center's ability to deliver multidisciplinary extraordinary care, best-in-class clinical quality, and cutting-edge research. The doors will open for patients in January 2011.

26 Oct 2010

Sprint to Meaningful Use solution helps healthcare organizations to achieve Stage 1 requirements

MEDSEEK, the leading provider of enterprise eHealth solutions that give patients, clinicians and administrative staff an optimal 360-degree online experience, today announced the introduction of its Sprint to Meaningful Use solution, specifically designed to help healthcare organizations quickly achieve the objectives of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act).

26 Oct 2010

Panasonic completes investment in CardioNexus

Panasonic Corporation of North America has completed an investment in CardioNexus Corporation, a portfolio company of Houston's Fairway Medical Technologies which works closely with the Texas Medical Center. The move is part of Panasonic's plans to establish itself as a global leader in Personalized Preventive Medicine. The investment follows on an earlier Panasonic initiative to establish a presence in the world's largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center based in Houston.

From PHC Europe B.V. 26 Oct 2010

PhRMA representatives meet with officials in India to discuss compulsory licensing

During a visit with government officials, industry leaders and NGOs in India last week, representatives from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a U.S. lobbying group that represents the country's pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology companies, addressed "the Indian government's proposal to allow local drugmakers to make low-cost version of patented drugs so that they can be made available to patients," the Economic Times reports.

26 Oct 2010

Maven Semantic updates Lymphocyte Cell Biology research database

Maven Semantic announces updates to their Lymphocyte Cell Biology research database. The new database is now available to marketing, business development, competitor intelligence, KOL, medical affairs and related departments in the life sciences sector.

26 Oct 2010

Doctors, nurses and urgent care centers address increasing demand

The (Lynchburg, Va.) News and Advance reports on doctor shortages in Virginia: "Attracting more physicians to the area, and keeping them, is a challenge that has become more urgent. So much so that Centra is in the midst of creating a formal Physician Recruiting Office, where staff will work to convince physicians to consider coming to Lynchburg for their residency or to practice.

26 Oct 2010

Baxter announces launch of GLASSIA in the U.S.

Baxter International Inc. today announced the commercial launch of GLASSIATM [Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human)] in the United States. GLASSIATM is the first available ready-to-use liquid alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (Alpha1-PI) and is indicated as a chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults with emphysema due to congenital deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), an under-diagnosed hereditary condition characterized by a low level of alpha-1 protein in the blood.

From Baxter International Inc. 26 Oct 2010

Chemed third quarter revenue increases 8.0% to $320.5 million

Chemed Corporation which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation (VITAS), the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2010, versus the comparable prior-year period.

26 Oct 2010

Entrust Healthcare acquires PRISMA Systems Medical Billing

Entrust Healthcare today announced it has expanded its physician billing and revenue cycle consulting services with the acquisition of PRISMA Systems Medical Billing. Entrust made today's announcement at The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) 2010 Annual Conference in New Orleans. No financial details on the transaction were provided.

25 Oct 2010

Mergers between hospitals and insurers expected to increase

"Health system reform, in combination with economic factors and trends in play, is expected to speed consolidation of health insurers and hospitals, leaving physicians to figure out how they should adapt," American Medical News reports. "The prospect for mergers and acquisitions throughout the industry is high thanks not only to health system reform, but also more access to financing to buy up other companies.

25 Oct 2010