Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Ochsner Health System to acquire NSRMC

The private, not-for-profit Ochsner Health System today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase NorthShore Regional Medical Center (NSRMC), the ambulatory surgery center and several pieces of property on which the facility is located in Slidell, Louisiana. The projected closing date is April 1, 2010: this purchase will expand Ochsner Health System to eight hospitals in Southeast Louisiana. The medical staff will remain "open," which is consistent with how the facility operates today.

9 Jan 2010

Gilbert Hospital optimistic about 2010

Gilbert Hospital expects patient volume at its hospital to increase slightly compared to 2009. Conservative planning and continued easing of the nationwide economic unrest have officials at the hospital optimistic about the 2010 calendar year for this community-based hospital.

9 Jan 2010

IntegraMed America plans to open new vein clinic in Columbia, Maryland

IntegraMed America, Inc., the nation’s leading manager of specialty outpatient healthcare facilities in the emerging, technology-focused medical niches of fertility and vein care, today announced plans to open a new vein clinic in Columbia, Maryland in mid 2010.

9 Jan 2010

Insurers hope to sway House-Senate agreement over regulation, taxes

House and Senate lawmakers as well as insurance companies all agree on the need for health insurance exchanges that would allow people who don't get coverage from their employers to shop for better values and compare plans.

9 Jan 2010

Tech Roundup: Virtual visits, EMR loans and a new e-prescribing tool

The New York Times: "Telemedicine has the potential to improve quality of care by allowing clinicians in one 'control center' to monitor, consult and even care for and perform procedures on patients in multiple locations," Doctor and Patient columnist Pauline Chen writes. "A rural primary care practitioner who sees a patient with a rare skin lesion, for example, can get expert consultation from a dermatologist at a center hundreds of miles away."

9 Jan 2010

CCAGW calls for open, televised process on healthcare negotiations

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today called upon Congress and the Obama administration to open the doors and allow taxpayers to view all of the proceedings related to negotiations over the healthcare reform bill.

9 Jan 2010

Study: Reform bills could save health care dollars

The Los Angeles Times: "National healthcare legislation in Congress could slow the growth of medical costs, allowing employers to create 250,000 to 400,000 new jobs a year over the next decade, economists from Harvard University and USC are predicting.

9 Jan 2010

Health Canada clears Zargis Cardioscan device for sale in Canada

Zargis Medical Corp., a majority-owned subsidiary of Speedus Corp. (Nasdaq: SPDE), today announced that Health Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. FDA, has cleared the Zargis Cardioscan(TM) device for sale in Canada.

8 Jan 2010

Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II to acquire the Center for Neurosurgery and Spine in Sartell

Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Center for Neurosurgery and Spine, a 36,600-square-foot, two-building medical office portfolio in the St. Cloud suburb of Sartell. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and the satisfaction of other requirements as detailed in the agreement.

8 Jan 2010

Genentech's ACTEMRA approved to treat RA

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies.

8 Jan 2010

Three new retail stores of China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals opened in 2009

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals" or the "Company"), is a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Chinese traditional medicines, pharmaceutical products, natural health products, health food, cosmetics, and medical equipment in Northeastern China. The Company today announced that it had opened three new stores in 2009.

8 Jan 2010

Centene announces financial guidance for the year 2010

Centene Corporation announced today its 2010 financial guidance. As previously disclosed in our December 10, 2009 press release, the discussions below reflect anticipated start-up costs associated with the new Mississippi contract, announced pharmacy carve-outs in Indiana and Ohio, and the impact of January 2010 rate changes; but do not reflect the potential impact of federal healthcare reform.

8 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 8, 2010

Today's headlines reflect the continuing developments as congressional Democrats discuss policy specifics and take steps toward finalizing their health overhaul.

8 Jan 2010

Dr. Jack Kushner's new book offers counsel for surviving and succeeding in changing economy

In his new nonfiction book, "Coping Successfully with Changing Tides and Winds: A Neurosurgeon's Compass" (published by iUniverse), author Dr. Jack Kushner recounts his impressive autobiography as a doctor and financial expert while also recommending some time-proven counsel for surviving as well as succeeding in this rapidly changing economy.

8 Jan 2010

Prolia drug expected to garner blockbuster sales in 2018

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent request for postmarketing surveillance of Amgen's Prolia, the drug's expected launch this year in the United States and Europe for the treatment of osteoporosis will drive Prolia to garner blockbuster sales in 2018..

8 Jan 2010

Manual of ethical best practices for healthcare documentation businesses now available

Heightened privacy and security concerns, increased calls for transparency of operations, and a growing home-based workforce have prompted The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and The Medical Transcription Industry Association (MTIA) to create their Manual of Ethical Best Practices for the Healthcare Documentation Sector.

8 Jan 2010

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems executes agreement with Jordan Valley Community Health Center

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of healthcare and connectivity solutions, today announced it has executed an agreement with Jordan Valley Community Health Center to deploy NextGen® EPM (Enterprise Practice Management), NextGen EHR (Electronic Health Record) and the NextMD® patient portal, as well as Quality Systems’ integrated EDR (Electronic Dental Record).

8 Jan 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries presents updated strategy to deliver profitable growth by 2015

During its investor meeting today, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. presented an updated strategy, highlighting key opportunities for growth and announcing its long-term goals of reaching revenues of $31 billion and non-GAAP net income of $6.8 billion, or 22% of revenues, by 2015.

8 Jan 2010

Use of technology that expands access to qualified radiologist leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Use of technology that expands access to the most qualified radiologist will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, said MedSolutions, a leading provider of medical cost management services.

8 Jan 2010

Cinergy Health offers tips to prevent and combat obesity

Cinergy Health, a nationwide agency for guaranteed issue and short term major medical insurance programs, responds to a new statistic that shows obesity outranks smoking as the main concern in healthcare.

8 Jan 2010