Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

WHO calls on countries to prevent, control spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Amid the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, the WHO on Friday urged countries to take greater action to limit the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, CIDRAP News reports. "Calling such pathogens 'a growing and global public health problem,' the WHO said, 'Countries should be prepared to implement hospital infection control measures to limit the spread of multi-drug resistant strains and to reinforce national policy on prudent use of antibiotics, reducing the generation of antibiotic resistant bacteria,'" according to the news service (Roos, 8/20).

24 Aug 2010

THL completes acquisition of Intermedix Corporation

Intermedix Corporation, a leading provider of revenue cycle management and software solutions to the emergency healthcare industry, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition by Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. from Parthenon Capital Partners and its minority shareholders including Glenview Capital Management.

24 Aug 2010

Today's opinions: More on the trustee's report, cutting the deficit

Republicans claim to be deeply worried about the deficit — their favorite political target, followed closely by President Obama's relentlessly demonized health care reform. So why are they so determined to overturn one of the central cost-control mechanisms of the new reform law? (8/21).

23 Aug 2010

SEB opens new state-of-the-art laboratory operation, R&D facility

Cryo-Cell International, Inc., one of the largest and most established leaders in stem cell innovation today announced that S-Evans Biosciences, the Company's exclusive Célle menstrual stem cell technology license partner in China has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory operation and research & development facility located in a Hi-Tech park designated to become an epicenter for stem cell and genomics R&D; cellular therapies and stem cell cryopreservation services.

23 Aug 2010

Medical loss ratio rules for insurers could bring controversy to Sebelius' office

Once the National Association of Insurance Commissioners finalizes recommendations on insurance companies' spending on medical costs versus administrative expenses, the next stop for that proposal will be the desk of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Politico reports.

23 Aug 2010

Health overhaul raises regulators' profiles, confuses consumers

Modern Healthcare's 2010 list of the sector's most powerful players is out, and because of the health law, regulators in usually lower-profile federal agencies have carved out places near the top of the roster for the second year in a row. The magazine reports, "Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, stood at No. 31 on the list three years ago. This year, just as in 2009, she holds the No. 7 spot. Clancy's clout has risen with the agency, which was created 20 years ago to support and conduct healthcare outcomes research."

23 Aug 2010

RelayHealth achieves full accreditation with ePAP from EHNAC

RelayHealth, a leading provider of healthcare connectivity services, announced today that it has achieved full accreditation with the e-Prescribing Accreditation Program from the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission. EHNAC's ePAP accreditation demonstrates the operational integrity of companies that use e-prescribing, by ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations, accommodation of industry standards and proper use of relevant formats.

23 Aug 2010

Health law changes rules for docs with in-house imaging machines

"For years, John Finkenberg, an orthopedic surgeon in San Diego, sent patients who needed MRIs to outside imaging centers. But last year, he and his five partners bought their own million-dollar machine and now, he says, the doctors can work more closely with the technicians and give their patients immediate results" (Galewitz, 8/23).

23 Aug 2010

Readers of Modern Healthcare magazine name Obama as most powerful person in healthcare

President Barack Obama was voted the most powerful person in healthcare by readers of Modern Healthcare, the nation's leading weekly healthcare business news magazine. It's the second consecutive year Obama topped the magazine's annual ranking of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.

23 Aug 2010

Arrayit selects PMA pathway for OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Screening Test

Arrayit Corporation, a leader in life sciences and healthcare technology, announces today that the company has chosen the Premarket Approval pathway for its OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Screening Test. While the standard for a PMA is higher than for a 510(k), the company believes that a PMA OvaDx submission can achieve a Class III PMA approval, the most stringent approval level granted by the FDA for in vitro diagnostic devices.

23 Aug 2010

First Edition: Aug. 23, 2010

Today's headlines include news about developments related to the nation's medical privacy rules and the power struggle surrounding implementation regulations for a key section of the new health law.

23 Aug 2010

MedClean technologies second quarter 2010 revenue decreases to $131,758

MedClean Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of on-site technology for the treatment and disposal of medical waste and the destruction of confidential documents and related media, today announced financial results for the 2010 second quarter for the period ended June 30, 2010.

23 Aug 2010

Americans' confidence to access and pay healthcare services drops: Thomson Reuters Healthcare Survey

Americans' confidence in their ability to access and pay for healthcare has hit its lowest level since December, according to a consumer sentiment index from Thomson Reuters.Overall confidence dropped to 95 points on the Thomson Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index in July the lowest level since the index was launched in December 2009.

23 Aug 2010

NextGen Healthcare collaborates with clients for Primary Care Information Project

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced its successful collaboration with clients that received assistance through the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP), a bureau of the NYC Health Department.

23 Aug 2010

AHRA announces third Patients First grant program to provide health care facilities

Healthcare facilities across the country are committed to providing the highest levels of patient care and safety for their communities. To help facilities build new or expand existing education and patient care initiatives, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management announces the third year of its successful Putting Patients First grant program.

23 Aug 2010

Researchers find medication for diabetes, smoking cessation

The script for two research teams inducted today into the American Chemical Society (ACS) scientific "hall of fame" the ACS Heroes of Chemistry is a tale of two pills. One team invented a medication that helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels. The second team invented a medicine that helps people stop smoking, an addiction that experts regard as today's single greatest preventable cause of death worldwide.

23 Aug 2010

Golden Meditech medical device business raises USD 40 million

Golden Meditech Holdings Limited, China's leading integrated healthcare enterprise, is pleased to announce that its medical devices business has successfully raised USD 40 million from a number of renowned private equity investors where the proceeds will fund the construction of new production lines for both medical devices and medical accessories to fund the formation of joint-venture with Fenwal Inc.

23 Aug 2010

Intelerad to feature hospital solutions at AHRA annual meeting

Intelerad Medical Systems will be featuring its hospital solutions at the AHRA 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition on August 22 to 26, 2010 in Washington, DC.

23 Aug 2010

Hospira Japan receives approval for long term use of Precedex IV sedative

Hospira Japan Co., Ltd. today announced it has received an approval for the long-term (greater than 24 hour) use of the sedative "Precedex IV™200ug" (generic name: dexmedetomidine hydrochloride). This approval follows Hospira's first launches earlier this year of Precedex in Canada and in South Korea, important milestones for Hospira as the company continues to build the molecule's global presence.

23 Aug 2010

NBA player Alonzo Mourning uses celebrity fame to fight kidney disease

In October 2000, Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), a kidney disease that causes scarring in the glomeruli, the blood vessels in the kidneys that filter the blood to make urine.

21 Aug 2010