Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

NBCSL calls for support of healthcare reform bill

Representative Calvin Smyre (GA), President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators issues the following statement in support of healthcare reform bill pending in Congress.

22 Mar 2010

Executive order on abortion funding to assuage anti-choice members: Center for Reproductive Rights concerned

News reports today confirm that an executive order on abortion funding is being developed in an attempt to assuage anti-choice members of the House of Representatives and to secure their votes in the down-to-the-wire battle over passage of healthcare reform. The text of the proposed executive order has not been publicly disclosed. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights has this response:

22 Mar 2010

Gender divide over the healthcare reform bill

The historic healthcare reform bill has unearthed a strong difference between the Catholic nuns and Bishops. In short the great gender divide is at play again! While 59,000 nuns all over the country are in support of the bill, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops oppose it strongly.

22 Mar 2010

Thomson Reuters study finds 7.3% rise in employer healthcare costs for 2009

Average healthcare costs for U.S. employers increased 7.3 percent in 2009, according to study published today by Thomson Reuters. The year-over-year increase topped the 2008 rate of 6.1 percent and occurred in a year when the U.S. inflation rate was negative.

22 Mar 2010

SHEA, IDSA release new clinical practice guidelines for CDI in adults

A joint panel of experts from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America today released online new clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults. The guidelines, to be published in the May issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, update recommendations regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and infection control and environmental management of this disease.

22 Mar 2010

AFSCME to continue healthcare reform battle to the U.S. Senate

"Tonight's historic vote marks a major milestone in the struggle to break the power of the insurance industry and provide quality, affordable health care for millions of American families. Democrats in the House, with the determined leadership of President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, demonstrated the courage that is necessary to defeat the special interests and do what is right for the American people.

22 Mar 2010

HAIs in southeast U.S. community hospitals: Infection rates for CDI surpass MRSA's

Researchers studying epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections in community hospitals in the southeast U.S. found that rates of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) surpassed infection rates for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Scientists also discovered that healthcare-associated CDI, which is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis, occurs more often (21 percent) than healthcare-associated infections due to MRSA.

22 Mar 2010

Catholics for Choice comments on healthcare reform promises

At the outset of the debate over healthcare reform, leaders in the Democratic Party made a number of promises to the American people.

22 Mar 2010

A new chapter in the history of healthcare reform

The US house of Representatives has voted narrowly to pass a landmark reform that has been on the agenda for quite some time now. The bill passed by 219 votes to 212, with no Republican backing after strong debate. This bill will extend insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans, and marks the biggest change to the US healthcare system in decades.

22 Mar 2010

Given Imaging to purchase Sierra Scientific Instruments from Water Street Healthcare Partners for $35M

Water Street Healthcare Partners, a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on health care, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its gastrodiagnostic device company, Sierra Scientific Instruments, to Given Imaging Ltd ( GIVN). Given Imaging, the global leader in patient-friendly GI diagnostic and monitoring solutions, will purchase the business for $35 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in early April.

22 Mar 2010

Pelosi urged Obama to not cut back on health care plan

The New York Times recounts the steps Democrats took to regroup on the health overhaul legislation after losing their filibuster proof majority in the Senate after Massachusetts voters elected Republican Scott Brown in January. According to the Times account, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi helped steer President Barack Obama away from a more modest approach on health care. '"We're in the majority,' Ms. Pelosi told the president. 'We'll never have a better majority in your presidency in numbers than we've got right now. We can make this work," the paper reported.

22 Mar 2010

In historic vote, House passes sweeping health bill

Kaiser Health News senior correspondent Mary Agnes Carey reports that, by a vote of 219-210, the House of Representatives has cleared the Senate-passed health care bill for President Barack Obama's signature. The House will now vote on a separate package of legislative changes to that bill -- known as a reconciliation package -- to send it to the Senate for debate this week.

22 Mar 2010

GAO's recommendations to be implemented for new Martin Army Community Hospital construction at Fort Benning

The United States Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it is fully implementing the Government Accountability Office's recommendations for the future construction of the new Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Ga.

20 Mar 2010

Bleach solution effective in reducing hospital-acquired infections

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is the one of the leading pathogens causing hospital-acquired infection in the United States. It may cause diarrhea, colitis, sepsis and lead to prolonged hospitalization and death.

20 Mar 2010

Arizona eliminates CHIP; Schwarzenegger seeks to reform California prison health care system

The New York Times: "Arizona on Thursday became the first state to eliminate its Children's Health Insurance Program when Gov. Jan Brewer signed an austere budget that will leave nearly 47,000 low-income children without coverage." The state's budget woes are a stark depiction of "how the fiscal crisis afflicting state governments is cutting deeply into health care.

20 Mar 2010

Penny-wise and pound-foolish: Proposal to eliminate funding for New Jersey's tobacco prevention program

Governor Christie has let down New Jersey's kids and taxpayers with his proposal to eliminate funding for New Jersey's tobacco prevention and cessation program. This proposal will lead to more kids becoming addicted to tobacco, fewer tobacco users getting the help they need to quit, more lives being lost and New Jersey taxpayers paying the bill for higher tobacco-caused health care costs. It is truly penny-wise and pound-foolish budgeting.

20 Mar 2010

U.S to face potential outbreak of hyperinflation by 2015

The National Inflation Association - http://inflation.us - today issued a warning to all Americans of a potential outbreak of hyperinflation in the U.S. by year 2015 caused primarily by the healthcare bill and rising interest payments on our national debt.

20 Mar 2010

Merge Healthcare commences tender offer for all outstanding common stock shares of AMICAS

Merge Healthcare, a health IT solutions provider, announced today that it has commenced a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock in AMICAS, Inc., a leader in image and information management solutions. The tender offer is being commenced as provided in the previously announced definitive merger agreement between Merge and AMICAS dated as of February 28, 2010, under which a subsidiary of Merge will acquire all of the outstanding shares of AMICAS, Inc.

20 Mar 2010

SHEA, APIC awarded first Partnership in Prevention Award to National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia

During the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology awarded their first Partnership in Prevention Award to the National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia.

20 Mar 2010

Haiti rebuilding assessment calls for health improvements; U.S., international donors continue long-term reconstruction efforts

"An assessment [for rebuilding Haiti after the January earthquake] prepared by foreign experts for the U.N. ... calls for a system that guarantees universal access to primary care, quality services and essential medication," the Wall Street Journal reports.

20 Mar 2010

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

NBCSL calls for support of healthcare reform bill

Executive order on abortion funding to assuage anti-choice members: Center for Reproductive Rights concerned

Gender divide over the healthcare reform bill

Thomson Reuters study finds 7.3% rise in employer healthcare costs for 2009

SHEA, IDSA release new clinical practice guidelines for CDI in adults

AFSCME to continue healthcare reform battle to the U.S. Senate

HAIs in southeast U.S. community hospitals: Infection rates for CDI surpass MRSA's

Catholics for Choice comments on healthcare reform promises

A new chapter in the history of healthcare reform

Given Imaging to purchase Sierra Scientific Instruments from Water Street Healthcare Partners for $35M

Pelosi urged Obama to not cut back on health care plan

In historic vote, House passes sweeping health bill

GAO's recommendations to be implemented for new Martin Army Community Hospital construction at Fort Benning

Bleach solution effective in reducing hospital-acquired infections

Arizona eliminates CHIP; Schwarzenegger seeks to reform California prison health care system

Penny-wise and pound-foolish: Proposal to eliminate funding for New Jersey's tobacco prevention program

U.S to face potential outbreak of hyperinflation by 2015

Merge Healthcare commences tender offer for all outstanding common stock shares of AMICAS

SHEA, APIC awarded first Partnership in Prevention Award to National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia

Haiti rebuilding assessment calls for health improvements; U.S., international donors continue long-term reconstruction efforts

Industry Focus eBook - Medical device (1st edition) eBook

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Industry Focus eBook - Medical device (1st edition) eBook

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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