Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Democrats ask Obama not to dilute contraceptive benefits

Democratic lawmakers, fearful that President Obama is on the verge of significantly diluting a proposed regulation that would give millions of women access to birth control without out-of-pocket insurance charges, are furiously lobbying the White House to hold the line.

24 Nov 2011

OECD report finds U.S. pays more by far for health care

The U.S. healthcare system is more effective at delivering high costs than quality care, according to a new study that found first-rate treatment for cancer but insufficient primary care for other ailments. The study, released on Wednesday by the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, said Americans pay more than $7,900 per person for healthcare each year -- far more than any other OECD country -- but still die earlier than their peers in the industrialized world.

24 Nov 2011

Pediatricians warn about hazards of button batteries

With the increasing production of electronic products in the consumer market, more button batteries are found in the home setting. From remote controls and watches to musical greeting cards and toys, these small, shiny objects are the perfect size for a curious child to swallow or even push into their nasal cavity or ear canal. It is important for parents to be aware of the dangers that button batteries pose to young children and the damage that these batteries can cause.

23 Nov 2011

Men less willing to participate in cancer screening than women

Although men have higher cancer mortality rates than women, they are less willing to be screened for cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., and colleagues at Sanoa Consulting LLC, Muscle Shoals, Ala., and the New York University College of Dentistry.

23 Nov 2011

Study evaluates how eating habits could impact obesity trends among adults

Too much fast food, poor meal choices and bad eating habits are causing more Canadians to be overweight or obese. Despite this trend, individuals who eat well are 20 per cent less likely to be obese, according to a study by Concordia University economists published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.

23 Nov 2011

No link between availability of primary care physician and retail clinic use

Use of retail medical clinics located in pharmacies and other retail settings increased 10-fold between 2007 and 2009, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

23 Nov 2011

Holiday health tips for cancer survivors

Surviving the holidays with one's waistline, bank account and sanity intact can be challenging for everyone, but the season affords specific pitfalls - and opportunities - for cancer survivors who are mindful of staying healthy throughout the season and beyond.

23 Nov 2011

State roundup: Calif. retirees to retain health benefits; Emory, MinuteClinic partner in Ga.; Free services in Md.

Health benefits for government retirees may not be eliminated if state and local governments had clearly promised workers those benefits, the California Supreme Court ruled in an Orange County case Monday. The unanimous ruling is expected to make it more difficult for state and local governments to shave costs by cutting health benefits to retirees if elected officials in previous years made it clear that those benefits would last a lifetime.

23 Nov 2011

Study: Vaccine development efforts currently focus on incidence rather than mortality rates

Drug companies currently developing therapeutic cancer vaccines may be determining the cancers they target based on the number of annual cases, not the number of deaths they cause.

22 Nov 2011

Recommendations aim to enhance health and quality of life for frail and vulnerable patients in nursing home care

More than 1.5 million adults live in nursing homes in the United States, and approximately 30 percent of people will diewith a nursing home as their last place of residence. As this population continues to increase, so will the need for physicians to assist those patients with proper care and guidance in making end-of-life decisions.

21 Nov 2011

State roundup: Provider groups merging - or not

A selection of health policy stories from California, Illinois, Georgia, Connecticut, Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts.

21 Nov 2011

Aetna, Banner Health Network enter accountable care collaboration

Aetna today announced an accountable care collaboration with Banner Health Network and the introduction of Aetna Whole Health, a new commercial health care product that provides members access to highly coordinated care from physicians and facilities in the Banner Health Network.

21 Nov 2011

EU's FP7 programme provides €6M grant for Thyroid Hormone Replacement for Subclinical Hypo-Thyroidism Trial

Dr Patricia Kearney, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCC is one of a group of researchers from European Universities who will participate in a new research project investigating current treatment practices for people who suffer from a mildly underactive thyroid gland.

21 Nov 2011

New blood pressure remote monitoring program for Stamford employees, families

Stamford Hospital has launched a new blood pressure remote monitoring program for its employees and their families in order to detect risk factors for heart disease while helping to improve their overall health.

21 Nov 2011

Roger C. Lipitz Center to offer free Guided Care training and tools for ACOs

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will offer free training and technical assistance for organizations that seek to use the Guided Care model to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

19 Nov 2011

AHRQ: Primary care experiencing 'diminishing economic margins'

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality notes in an upcomping installment of its "Facts and Stats Series" that, despite primary care's importance to the health care system, the discipline is facing a number of challenges.

19 Nov 2011

HDL joins Executive Committee of PCPCC

Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., a CAP accredited leader in health management, has joined the Executive Committee of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC), a national organization committed to the advancement of the patient-centered medical home.

19 Nov 2011

NCQA to release standards and guidelines that compose new ACO Accreditation program

On November 21, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will release the standards and guidelines that compose its new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Accreditation program.

18 Nov 2011

Overlake acquires Issaquah Medical Group

Overlake Hospital Medical Center is continuing to grow its network of primary care medical clinics on the Eastside with the acquisition of Issaquah Medical Group, now named Overlake Medical Clinics Gilman.

18 Nov 2011

Research roundup: The effect of heart drug costs; Doctors' financial incentives when ordering stress tests

The researchers examined whether drug costs for heart attack patients affects health. Half of a group of more than 5,000 patients were given prescription coverage that eliminated co-payments and expanded drug choices. The others had "usual prescription coverage."

18 Nov 2011