Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

University of Leeds' £50 million research initiative to improve quality of life in second half century

A £50 million research initiative, aimed at giving people '50 active years after 50' is being launched by the University of Leeds.

20 Oct 2009

Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

With the 2009 influenza season upon us, characterization of the epidemiology and duration of shedding for the nH1N1 virus is critical. Investigators from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service capitalized on a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights about the natural behavior of the nH1N1 virus, including shedding patterns, during a recent large-scale swine flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

20 Oct 2009

Seguro Surgical obtains global marketing rights to use a novel abdominal surgery device

Seguro Surgical, Inc., a medical device development company specializing in the commercialization of surgical instrumentation, today announced that it has acquired, from The Johns Hopkins University, the global marketing rights to a novel device for use in abdominal surgery.

20 Oct 2009

GlaxoSmithKline may see increased sales of Relenza during the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that during the A/H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, GlaxoSmithKline could see its Relenza sales increase if Tamiflu-resistant strains of the virus spread. GlaxoSmithKline recently signed A/H1N1 2009 vaccine contracts with various governments for more than $3 billion and is donating supplies to less wealthy nations, ensuring that the company strikes a balance between profit and public health concerns.

20 Oct 2009

Academic medical centers do not always practice the values they preach

As the national conversation about healthcare reform engages millions of Americans, a new Brandeis study sheds light on the values of medical faculty who train the nation's physicians and lead in health care and research in the U.S.

20 Oct 2009

Investment opportunities in the global patient monitoring market thru 2015

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of Global Markets Direct's new report "Global Patient Monitoring Investment Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts to 2015," to their collection of Patient Monitoring market reports.

20 Oct 2009

Philips launches DirectLife fitness program to deliver health benefits

Philips is delivering on their commitment to be the leader in health and well-being with the launch of Philips DirectLife, a new customized, interactive fitness program that offers a fun and simple solution to people eager to adopt a more active lifestyle.

20 Oct 2009

Rexall Diabetes Starter Kit for newly diagnosed patients

Over 40 per cent of Canadians diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, such as diabetes, feel confused or overwhelmed after leaving their doctor's office, shows a Leger Marketing survey commissioned by the Rexall family of pharmacies.

20 Oct 2009

Body composition analysis can help in determining obesity risk

The body mass index (BMI) has long been the yardstick in deciding who is at risk because of their weight. BMI is essentially a measure of density, identifying 'under-' and 'over-weight' risk groups. Recent studies however point towards a more sophisticated approach to the issue.

20 Oct 2009

Poor readiness by many hospitals to tackle H1N1 pandemic; RNs step up protest

Some 16,000 registered nurses at 39 hospitals at three Catholic hospital chains in California and Nevada will join a one-day strike and picket October 30 as RNs step up the protest over poor readiness by many hospitals to confront the H1N1 pandemic, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) announced today.

20 Oct 2009

Progressive group launches ad urging Sen. Reid to include public option in reform legislation

"The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) launched an ad urging Sen. Harry Reid to muscle through a public option as part of healthcare reform," The Hill's Blog Briefing Room reports (Zimmerman, 10/19).

20 Oct 2009

Diabetes represents a global health threat

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) released new data today showing that a staggering 285 million people worldwide have diabetes.

20 Oct 2009

Winner of first annual Healthcare Administrator Award announced

Deborah Friberg, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named the recipient of the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award, presented by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). The award recognizes a healthcare facility's executive team member who has demonstrated significant support for infection prevention and control throughout their facility.

20 Oct 2009

Website answers questions about 'end of life'

Questions about end of life are as old as humanity, yet they can be new and overwhelming when someone we care about is dying.

19 Oct 2009

Baxa and SINOPHARM sign distribution agreement

Baxa Corporation, a US-based medical device company in Englewood, Colorado, has signed an exclusive four-year distribution agreement with SINOPHARM, a China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation, to promote sales of its products in China.

19 Oct 2009

More details emerging on health reform's proposed changes to Medicare

The Dallas Morning News reports on some of health reform's proposed changes to Medicare and local consumer reactions. "The 10.4 million beneficiaries with private insurers' Medicare Advantage plans will still get coverage at least comparable to regular Medicare, but some will see fewer extra benefits or higher out-of-pocket costs. For most of Medicare's 45 million beneficiaries, an overhaul will improve coverage by beefing up drug benefits, preserving access to physicians, paying for more preventive care and putting Medicare on firmer financial footing."

19 Oct 2009

Study on the economic impact of antibiotic overuse and antibiotic-resistant infections

The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA) and Cook County Hospital (currently John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County), today announced the release of an eye-opening study on the economic impact of antibiotic overuse and antibiotic-resistant infections (ARIs) sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from bioMerieux and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

19 Oct 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

"The American people deserve facts and a fair discussion of what's most important as Congress tackles healthcare reform. AARP and the American Medical Association are committed to preserving the best of our current system and to working to improve it with policies that expand coverage, improve quality and make insurance more affordable" (Jennie Chin Hansen and J. James Rohack, 10/19).

19 Oct 2009

SEIU opts out of ad campaign opposing tax on 'Cadillac' plans

The healthcare negotiator for one of nation's most powerful unions made clear that it opposes a tax on high-cost-insurance plans, despite abstaining from an multi-union campaign objecting to the plan," The Hill reports. "The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was not among the 27 unions to sign on to an ad criticizing a proposed tax on 'Cadillac' insurance plans that was included in the Senate Finance Committee healthcare bill."

19 Oct 2009

Hatch-Waxman patent infringement litigation concerning Duac Gel dismissed

Perrigo Company announced today that the Hatch-Waxman litigation relating to Duac® Gel (clindamycin phosphate (1%) and benzoyl peroxide (5%) gel) filed by the Stiefel Laboratories division of Glaxo SmithKline has been dismissed with prejudice.

19 Oct 2009