Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Testimony on importance of addressing health literacy in healthcare communications released

Health Dialog today released testimony on the importance of addressing health literacy in healthcare communications. The testimony was presented before the ERISA Advisory Council during a hearing on July 1, 2010. The council advises the U.S. Secretary of Labor on a number of employee benefits-related issues.

7 Jul 2010

Uptake Medical completes Series B financing led by Maverick Capital

Uptake Medical, a privately held interventional pulmonology company, announced today that it has concluded its Series B financing from an investment group led by Maverick Capital, a new investor. The company plans to use this capital to obtain the CE mark and introduce its unique proprietary Bronchoscopic Thermal Vapor Ablation (BTVA) technology outside of the U.S. The company also has begun its approval cycle with the FDA in the U.S.

7 Jul 2010

Skilled Healthcare Group to challenge Humboldt County verdict

Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. today reported that a jury in Humboldt County, California, returned a verdict against the Company related to a complaint filed more than four years ago. The case has been disclosed in the Company's prior Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K.

7 Jul 2010

SDI Pharmaceutical Company Image 2010 study: Novo Nordisk ranked top among endocrinologists

According to SDI's Pharmaceutical Company Image 2010 study, Novo Nordisk was ranked by endocrinologists as the top company overall. The company was mentioned by 62% of the endocrinologists who participated in the annual study - a substantial increase from last year, when it was mentioned by 52% of participants and ranked second.

7 Jul 2010

Changes in Medicare Part B therapy rates likely to reduce Kindred Healthcare's revenues by $11M per year

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today provided its estimate of the revenue effect of proposed rate changes to Medicare Part B therapy services included in the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. The proposed rule was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") on June 25. The proposed rule is subject to a 60-day public comment period and is scheduled to become effective January 1, 2011.

7 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 7, 2010

Today's biggest health policy news surrounds an announcement by the White House that President Obama will install a new Medicare and Medicaid chief with a recess appointment the bypasses the confirmation process.

7 Jul 2010

CREW calls for antitrust investigation into drug companies

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking for an antitrust investigation into drug companies that offer significant discounts to doctors for providing patients with only that company's vaccines. CREW sent its letter after learning that Sanofi Pasteur and Merck require physician healthcare groups purchasing their vaccines to enter into contracts prohibiting them from purchasing vaccines made by other companies.

7 Jul 2010

CME announces conference on mind-body connection in psychiatric disorders

CME LLC announces Treating the Whole Patient: The Mind-Body Connection in Psychiatric Disorders, a one-day educational conference for professionals to be held on August 14, 2010, at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California. Leading mental health experts Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, Jon W. Draud, MD, MS, Vladimir Maletic, MD, and Charles Raison, MD will review the most recent developments concerning the relationship between mental and physical health conditions and explore the concept of Wellness.

7 Jul 2010

UK expatriates no longer entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules

Long term health insurance in another country is an area UK expatriates will often not have considered in any detail, particularly if they were used to the free care available in the UK. The NHS is a residence-based healthcare system. Therefore, once a person has moved permanently away from the UK they are no longer entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules.

7 Jul 2010

If you witness rudeness you are more likely to make mistakes, says Professor of Applied Psychology

If someone is rude to you at work or if you witness rudeness you are more likely to make mistakes, says Rhona Flin, Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Aberdeen, in an editorial published in this week's BMJ.

7 Jul 2010

Thousands of people with disabilities expected to attend Abilities Expo

Thousands of people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, veterans and healthcare professionals are expected to attend Abilities Expo on Friday, July 9, through Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Admission is free and show hours will be Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.

7 Jul 2010

Severe trauma to head and spine from ATV accidents on the rise: Research

Severe trauma to the head and spine resulting from all-terrain vehicle accidents are increasing dramatically according to research released today from the University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery. The research, to be published in the journal Neurosurgery, highlights the need for efforts to improve ATV stability, increase helmet use, and greater efforts to train riders in safe operation of the vehicles.

7 Jul 2010

Stand-By Systems now eligible to sell products to federal government

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. disclosed today that Stand-By Systems has favorably completed their US Government Central Contractor Registration and is now eligible to sell their breakthrough products to the federal government. EHSI has verified the federal eligibility as part of their due diligence related to an option with Stand-By Systems (SBS), owner of the FDA approved SBS 1615 catalytic oxygen generator and associated systems. The option agreement allows EHSI management to perform due diligence prior to finalizing a definitive agreement.

7 Jul 2010

OTN signs agreement to integrate PharmaTrust's technology into telemedicine service offering

PharmaTrust, makers of the world's leading remote prescription drug dispensing technology, has signed an agreement with the Ontario Telemedicine Network that will enable OTN's Members, including hospitals, to integrate PharmaTrust's technology into their telemedicine service offering. This new development will expand access to valuable pharmacy services for Ontarians.

7 Jul 2010

Virginia Hospital Center selects CredenceHealth to provide best quality of care for patients

CredenceHealth, a provider of real-time clinical intelligence for hospitals and health plans, announced today that Virginia Hospital Center , a 342-bed not-for-profit hospital in Arlington, Virginia, has selected CredenceHealth for the hospital's latest patient quality improvement initiative.

7 Jul 2010

HTA acquires $13.5M medical office portfolio in Texas

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., a self-managed, non-traded real estate investment trust, announced the purchase of a medical office portfolio located in Denton, Texas and Lewisville, Texas for approximately $13,500,000.

7 Jul 2010

QIAGEN receives CE conformity marking for careHPV Test

QIAGEN has completed European certification of its careHPV™ Test to bring human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to public-health programs in low-resource, developing countries, the company announced today at the International Papillomavirus Conference in Montreal, Canada. The CE conformity marking ("Conformite Europeenne") certifies that the careHPV Test has met European Union consumer safety and health requirements, allowing the test to be distributed in developing countries that recognize the CE mark.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 7 Jul 2010

FDA grants Fougera first generic approval for Adapalene Cream 0.1%

E. Fougera & Co., a leading specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer, announced it has received first generic approval from the FDA for Adapalene Cream 0.1% (Rx). Fougera's Adapalene Cream 0.1% is rated AB, generically equivalent to Differin® by Galderma Pharmaceuticals. According to industry data, U.S. sales of the brand named product in 2009 exceeded $55 million. This approval also marks the fourth product approval that the FDA has granted to Fougera this year.

7 Jul 2010

Cymetrix announces expanded partnership with Torrance Memorial Medical Center

Cymetrix, a leader in providing hospitals and healthcare networks with revenue cycle management solutions, today announced an expanded partnership with Torrance Memorial Medical Center to provide self-pay accounts receivable management services. Cymetrix's outstanding performance, and its ability to help the medical center increase its payments from managed care organizations during an earlier contract, contributed to Torrance Memorial's decision to expand its partnership.

7 Jul 2010

Hologic enters definitive agreement to acquire Sentinelle Medical

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sentinelle Medical Inc., a leading provider of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) breast coils, tables and visualization software.

From Hologic, Inc. 7 Jul 2010