Consultation News and Research

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Mood disorder patients seek explanation for symptoms

The primary focus of many patients attending a psychiatric consultation for mood instability is to obtain an explanation for their symptoms, report researchers.

20 Jan 2014

New, "designer" dietary fiber may eliminate side effects of current IBS treatment

A newly-developed, "designer" dietary fiber with an added potential prebiotic effect may eliminate the side effects of current treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome which affects 10-20 percent of the population, disproportionately women.

20 Jan 2014

Lifestyle changes and screening tools prove to reduce cancer risk, says doctor

President Nixon funded research to wage a war on cancer, a long battle that we're still fighting today. While the last 40 years haven't brought us a cure, we have made some meaningful progress in developing tools and knowledge to take a bite out of our cancer risk.

10 Jan 2014

The fight against HIV/AIDS: an interview with Dr. Mit Philips, HIV/AIDS Policy Analyst, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

People mainly speak about the progress in HIV/AIDS. We at MSF know and are very conscious of the fact that there has been enormous progress, but the progress is very uneven.

6 Jan 2014

Apple Valley Medical Clinic Sleep Center moves to 14843 Energy Way in Apple Valley

The Apple Valley Medical Clinic's Sleep Center has moved to 14843 Energy Way in Apple Valley. The center, which opened in 2010 under the medical direction of Scott Benson, M.D., a family medicine physician with the Apple Valley Medical Clinic, offers preventive care, diagnosis and referral for treatment of sleep disorders.

3 Jan 2014

USARAD Holdings offers unique wellness program for businesses through SecondOpinions.com

USARAD Holdings Inc. a leading US Joint Commission Accredited teleradiology and telemedicine solutions provider is now offering a Complimentary Corporate Membership Plan through SecondOpinions.com. This unique wellness program can lower insurance premiums for businesses, increase employee productivity and improve the overall quality of healthcare.

2 Jan 2014

January 6 announced as registration deadline for Depuy ASR hip implant cases

In November 2013, Johnson & Johnson announced that it has agreed to pay at least $2.5 billion to settle nearly 8,000 DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant lawsuits which have been filed across the country. It is estimated by some accounts that the total settlement figure could reach $4 billion.

28 Dec 2013

Preoperative tests increasing for Medicare patients undergoing cataract surgery, despite lack of benefits

The elimination of extensive routine preoperative tests and consultations represents an area of potentially large health care savings across many disciplines, particularly for low-risk patients being evaluated for cataract surgery. It is also a major theme of the Choosing Wisely campaign from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

28 Dec 2013

Takeda terminates development activities for fasiglifam (TAK-875)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) announced today that it has decided voluntarily to terminate the development activities for fasiglifam (TAK-875), an investigational treatment for type 2 diabetes, due to concerns about liver safety.

27 Dec 2013

Medical consultation increases for Medicare patients before cataract surgery

Preoperative consultations before cataract surgery became more common for Medicare patients despite no clear guidelines about when to require such a service, hinting at unnecessary use of health care resources, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

24 Dec 2013

State highlights: Calif. midwives prepare for new independence; Minn. gov supports nurse board changes; Colo. Medicaid dental care

California licensed midwives will have increased independence and authority in attending births, potentially giving more pregnant women access to their services under a new law that goes into effect in January. Assembly Bill 1308 removes an unworkable clause that required all licensed midwives to be supervised by a physician. Licensed midwives had been unable to fulfill that requirement since it went into effect 20 years ago because physicians' malpractice insurance prohibited them from filling that role. In addition, licensed midwives will now be authorized to operate birth centers without physician supervision and will have increased access to drugs, tests and medical devices used in their practice (Renner, 12/18).

20 Dec 2013

Longer looks: A 'biopsy chaperone;' medical errors at assisted living homes; 'wasting money' on multivitamins

At least 80 times in recent years, employees at San Diego County assisted living homes overlooked serious medical issues, gave the wrong medication or otherwise failed to properly care for vulnerable seniors. The problems arose as a result of the unique position held by the care homes, viewed by many families as health-care facilities even though they lack the required levels of training, supervision and oversight. The new cases were examined by U-T Watchdog as part of an ongoing partnership with the CHCF Center for Health Reporting at the University of Southern California (Jeff McDonald, 12/14).

20 Dec 2013

Bristol-Myers Squibb signs agreement to sell global diabetes business

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its global diabetes business that was part of its collaboration with AstraZeneca. Under terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will make an upfront payment of $2.7 billion to Bristol-Myers Squibb, with potential regulatory- and sales-based milestone payments of up to $1.4 billion and will make royalty payments based on net sales through 2025.

19 Dec 2013

Investigators, CTUs chosen to lead five HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks through 2021

Principal investigators and clinical trials units have been chosen to lead and conduct the research of five HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks through 2021. The effort is directed and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Total funding for the networks' leadership and the CTUs is expected to reach $225 million in 2014, the first year of operation.

17 Dec 2013

Interactive booklet boosts parents’ RTI confidence

An interactive booklet given to parents in primary care can help them to be more knowledgeable and feel more confident about when and when not to consult a doctor for their child’s respiratory tract infections.

16 Dec 2013

ESMO’s position paper highlights role of oncologists toward quality cancer care

Medical oncologists have a vital role to play in cancer care, particularly as treatments become ever more complex, a new position statement from the European Society for Medical Oncology says.

13 Dec 2013

Experts develop innovative technologies to improve healthcare and border security

With a solemn ceremony organized on December 11, 2013 NCBJ concluded the 85.5 million PLN worth "AiD" R&D project co-financed by European Union. Project outcomes include 3 demonstrators of innovative medical devices (Coline 6, IntraLine, and InLine PN50) and 2 demonstrators of cargo scanners developed to improve security at European border crossing checkpoints (SWAN and CANIS).

13 Dec 2013

AudioEducator presents audio conferences on latest CPT coding updates for 2014

The providers want accurate reimbursement, whereas the payers want efficient claims processing. The ever-changing CPT® code set doesn't make your job easy. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), there will be 335 total code changes in 2014, to include 175 new codes, 107 revised codes, and 47 deleted codes.

12 Dec 2013

Results-Based Financing for Health can get 20% more health care with same funds

Countries and major donors are changing the way they finance maternal and child, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS health programs in low-income countries to increase their impact.

11 Dec 2013

Initiating palliative care consult in emergency department reduces hospital length of stay: Study

New York University College of Nursing researcher and Assistant Professor Abraham A. Brody, RN, PhD, GNP-BC and colleagues reporting in Journal of Palliative Medicine found that initiating a palliative care consult in the emergency department reduced hospital length of stay when compared to patients who receive the palliative care consult after admission.