Medical News

RSS

Models show complex changes in payment system, revenue for hospitals in Medicare

Modern Healthcare: Health reform has left "industry executives scrambling to project what will happen to revenue and expenses in the coming decade." Some are using models to guess what will happen when payments change for Medicare and Medicaid. "The models, released or under development by trade groups, including the American Hospital Association, Greater New York Hospital Association, and Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, don't produce reliable projections, but rather a best guess — or many guesses

2 Sep 2010

Indiana reports fewer preventable medical errors; Kansas struggles to meet oral health needs

The Indianapolis Star: "Indiana's hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers reported a decrease in preventable medical errors last year -- including a 33 percent drop in the number of bed sores. Overall, 306 facilities reported 94 preventable medical errors in 2009, according to a report released Monday by the Indiana State Department of Health. That's down from 105 errors reported each year in 2008 and 2007. The 22 pressure ulcers, also called bed sores, reported for 2009 were the fewest since the state's medical-error reporting system began four years ago" (Lee, 8/31).

2 Sep 2010

Researchers to explore spatial patterns of obesity and risk factors

South Dakota State University researchers are using the tools of spatial analysis to explore nationwide data for insights on what influences obesity."We can identify and map some of these regions or 'hotspots' of high and low obesity," said associate professor Michael Wimberly of SDSU's Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence. "Ultimately what we want to do is explain what some of the drivers are."

2 Sep 2010

National Health Information Resource Center honors Interstitial Cystitis Association for special publication

The Interstitial Cystitis Association, the only nonprofit health association dedicated solely to improving the lives of those affected by interstitial cystitis (IC), was recently honored with an award from the National Health Information Resource Center. The organization received honors for a special issue of its ICA Update – a quarterly magazine focused on current IC research, treatment, and lifestyle issues.

2 Sep 2010

Postterm birth increases cerebral palsy risk: Study

While preterm birth is a known risk factor for cerebral palsy, an examination of data for infants born at term or later finds that compared with delivery at 40 weeks, birth at 37 or 38 weeks or at 42 weeks or later was associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2010

FDA launches performance management system in support of open government initiative

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched an innovative performance management system designed to advance the President's commitment to transparency, public participation, and collaboration in the work of government.

2 Sep 2010

New research clinic in Edinburgh to improve outcomes for multiple sclerosis sufferers

A research clinic for multiple sclerosis patients is being set up with a -10 million donation from the author J K Rowling.The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh will place patients at the heart of research to improve outcomes for multiple sclerosis sufferers.

2 Sep 2010

Non-kidney transplant patients likely to undergo kidney transplant prior to dialysis: Study

Kidney failure may accompany or complicate transplantation of the liver, heart, or lung. Because increasing numbers of individuals are receiving non-kidney transplants, researchers have wondered whether more of such patients are being listed for kidney transplants.

2 Sep 2010

ESC announces new Clinical Practice Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) today announces the release of new Clinical Practice Guidelines covering Atrial Fibrillation. These are the first guidelines to be prepared solely by the ESC on this very important topic.

2 Sep 2010

Quidel's RapidVue hCG lateral flow pregnancy immunoassay granted FDA 510(k) clearance

Quidel Corporation, a leading provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the sale of Quidel's RapidVue® hCG test, a lateral flow pregnancy immunoassay for the qualitative detection of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG).

2 Sep 2010

CDC launches new online video to provide information on Assisted Reproductive Technology

Reproductive health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched three new online videos to provide science-based information for anyone considering Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

2 Sep 2010

Physicians assistants, nurse practitioners take on more primary care duties

In the final part of a three-part series on primary care, NPR reports on physicians assistants and nurse practitioners taking the place of physicians as deliverers of primary care. "Unlike physicians in primary care, the number of physician assistants and nurse practitioners are on the rise. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, there were 74,100 physician assistants in practice in 2008, the most recent census available.

2 Sep 2010

Companies increasingly use wellness programs to promote health, cut down on costs

Chicago Tribune reports on the rise of wellness programs at various companies that have led to a boost in productivity: "As companies increasingly get creative about holding the line on health care costs, more are turning to inexpensive wellness programs.

2 Sep 2010

High vitamin D level improves survival rate in heart failure patients: Study

Survival rates in heart failure patients with reduced levels of vitamin D are lower than in patients with normal levels. This is the finding of a major study carried out at University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands. Results also suggest that low levels of vitamin D are associated with activation of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS - a pivotal regulatory system in heart failure) and an altered cytokine profile.

2 Sep 2010

Prometheus launches Crohn's Prognostic test

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, today announced the commercial launch of its proprietary PROMETHEUS® Crohn's Prognostic test. This novel and unique diagnostic represents a significant advance in the Prometheus Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) franchise of diagnostic and prognostic tests, and complements the market-leading PROMETHEUS® IBD Serology 7.

2 Sep 2010

Healthy eating impacts long-term success in workplace

Eating healthy and living well is about more than your waistline. Most people think about the visible impacts that healthy eating have on our lives, yet fail to consider what poor dietary habits can do to our careers.

2 Sep 2010

High levels of OPG hormone associated with adverse outcome after myocardial infarction

Patients suffering with heart failure are more likely to die if they have high levels of a bone hormone called osteoprotegerin (OPG).

2 Sep 2010

Hospitals ill-prepared for move to electronic medical records, survey finds

Government requirements for hospitals to get cash rewards for the "meaningful use" of electronic medical records may be too stringent for many facilities, which lack the tech savvy to meet them, according to Mass Device, a New England-based medical device business newsletter. "A small fraction of U.S. hospitals reported using electronic medical records software last year and even fewer would have met new requirements for 'meaningful use' of the systems in 2009, according to an American Hospital Assn. survey."

2 Sep 2010

Support falls for health overhaul as Obama administration prepares for midterms

Kaiser Health News: Public support for the new health law slipped in August, "a development sure to stir concerns among the Obama administration and congressional Democrats seeking to shore up support for the law in the months leading up to the mid-term elections." The latest poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 43 percent of Americans viewed the law favorably, which is down from 50 percent in July.

2 Sep 2010

Preterm infants born in lower-level hospitals show high mortality rates: Study

An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that very low-birth-weight and very preterm infants not born in highly specialized, level III hospitals have an associated higher likelihood of neonatal and predischarge death compared to similar infants born at level III hospitals, according to an article in the September 1 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2010

Medical News

Models show complex changes in payment system, revenue for hospitals in Medicare

Indiana reports fewer preventable medical errors; Kansas struggles to meet oral health needs

Researchers to explore spatial patterns of obesity and risk factors

National Health Information Resource Center honors Interstitial Cystitis Association for special publication

Postterm birth increases cerebral palsy risk: Study

FDA launches performance management system in support of open government initiative

New research clinic in Edinburgh to improve outcomes for multiple sclerosis sufferers

Non-kidney transplant patients likely to undergo kidney transplant prior to dialysis: Study

ESC announces new Clinical Practice Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation

Quidel's RapidVue hCG lateral flow pregnancy immunoassay granted FDA 510(k) clearance

CDC launches new online video to provide information on Assisted Reproductive Technology

Physicians assistants, nurse practitioners take on more primary care duties

Companies increasingly use wellness programs to promote health, cut down on costs

High vitamin D level improves survival rate in heart failure patients: Study

Prometheus launches Crohn's Prognostic test

Healthy eating impacts long-term success in workplace

High levels of OPG hormone associated with adverse outcome after myocardial infarction

Hospitals ill-prepared for move to electronic medical records, survey finds

Support falls for health overhaul as Obama administration prepares for midterms

Preterm infants born in lower-level hospitals show high mortality rates: Study

Revolutionizing Life Science: An Interview with SCIEX on ASMS, the SCIEX 7500+ System, and AI-Driven Quantitation

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

Latest News