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Study finds no significant difference in hospital angioplasty volume and death rates in patients with myocardial infarction

A study based on a contemporary registry of patients with myocardial infarction (heart attack) indicates that even though hospitals that perform a higher number of angioplasties are more likely to follow evidence-based guidelines and have shorter times to the angioplasty procedure, there appears to be no significant difference in outcomes such as length of hospital stay or risk of death, according to a study in the November 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Nov 2009

Pharmaceutical Institute introduces comprehensive series of e-courses on hospital marketplace

Pharmaceutical Institute, a leading provider of specialized training solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, today announced the launch of a new e-course titled, Hospital Marketplace. The new Hospital Marketplace e-course is the newest addition to the company's Managed Markets Excellence(TM) series, a comprehensive series of e-courses designed to fill the critical need for basic and advanced managed markets knowledge for commercial professionals.

25 Nov 2009

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America continues its present coverage guidelines for mammography screenings

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), one of the largest mutual life insurers and a leading provider of employee benefits for small and mid-sized companies, today announced that the company will continue to follow its current insurance coverage guidelines for mammography screenings.

25 Nov 2009

Involving family members in medical rounds can improve standard of care, says new study

Involving family members of pediatric cancer and hematology patients in medical rounds benefits both the family and the medical team, according to a new Indiana University School of Medicine study.

25 Nov 2009

$80 million grants may soon be available to support health information technology workforce

Dr. David Blumenthal, HHS’ National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, today announced plans to make available $80 million in grants to help develop and strengthen the health information technology workforce.

25 Nov 2009

Strategies to manage holiday stress

As Black Friday nears and national unemployment levels push into double digits for the first time in decades, the American Psychological Association's (APA) newest Stress in America survey finds that Americans continue to cite financial concerns as leading sources of stress.

25 Nov 2009

Canadians with chronic neck and back pain now have access to top spinal care

Canadians suffering from chronic and severe neck and back pain now have access to the top spinal care available. Spinal heath expert, Dr. Ron Nusbaum, has launched Back Clinics of Canada, a state-of-the-art facility that focuses on educating patients on the importance of spinal health and offering cutting-edge care that can bring an end to back pain.

25 Nov 2009

BK Medical, MedAssets Supply Chain Systems sign new product agreement

BK Medical, an innovative leader in medical ultrasound and a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ:ALOG), has signed a new three-year product-line agreement with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems.

25 Nov 2009

$Current, older generation is more prone to hip and pelvic fractures$

Current, older generation is more prone to hip and pelvic fractures

Stover and his partner, Dr. Hobie Summers, use leading edge technologies to treat serious and sometimes life-threatening orthopedic conditions such as pelvic fractures, broken legs, foot and ankle injuries and dislocations. They also treat patients who have experienced multiple traumatic injuries.

24 Nov 2009

ADA and Temple University team up to improve oral health in underserved communities

The American Dental Association (ADA) has signed an agreement with Temple University to train new dental team members as part of a pilot program to improve the oral health in underserved communities.

24 Nov 2009

News outlets examine sanitation in Ethiopia, Liberia

The Daily Monitor examines efforts underway to improve sanitation and promote hygiene in Ethiopia. According to the country's Ministry of Health, "sanitation coverage of Ethiopia has made progressive achievement reaching 54.8% in the current year from 11.5% in 2003," the newspaper reports.

24 Nov 2009

IPS examines next year's UNGASS on MDGs, improvements in maternal health

Inter Press Service reports that the September 2010 U.N. Generally Assembly meeting will feature a three-day special session (UNGASS) on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

24 Nov 2009

Hospital officials report job cuts, concern about possible effects of reform

Several news outlets find that hospital executives are worried about their facilities' finances, and for a Chicago hospital the prospect of health care reform brings even more concerns.

24 Nov 2009

Public ponders fairness of 'Cadillac' tax, affordability issues

BusinessWeek: "In chasing revenue to help pay for health-care reform, Democrats have managed to rally two groups that tend to oppose each other—unions and Big Business. The focus of their ire: a proposed 40% excise tax on high-premium or so-called Cadillac health plans."

24 Nov 2009

Senate personalities shape, debate health reform bill

The New York Times Prescriptions Blog reports on a ripple in "the Senate's predominant history as an old-boys' club." It notes that "to move the bill forward for full debate, the Democrats' last two crucial votes came from women: Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

24 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health news: Home HIV treatment; voluntary testing in Kenya; women/HIV scorecard; Global Fund Zimbabwe grant; contraceptives in Tanzania

The New York Times reports on a Lancet study that found treating Ugandan HIV patients at home is cheaper and just as effective as treating them in a clinic.

24 Nov 2009

Senate Democrats brace for heavy health reform work

The Hill reports that "Democratic leaders sent out a notice Monday morning alerting senators that when the chamber returns to session after the Thanksgiving holiday, 'roll call votes could occur at any time during the day and evening, with weekend sessions likely.'" The health bill is also likely to affect work on a climate change bill and some senators' plans to go to the climate summit in Copenhagen (Bolton, 11/23).

24 Nov 2009

Medical advances abound while surgeons report concerns about medical errors

The Wall Street Journal reports on "20 health-care advances to give thanks for this Thanksgiving." Among the most key: "Life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 77.9 years in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, continuing a long upward trend. (That's 75.3 years for men and 80.4 years for women.) ... Death rates dropped significantly for eight of the 15 leading causes of death in the U.S., including cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, accidents, diabetes, homicides and pneumonia, from 2006 to 2007."

24 Nov 2009

HIV peaked in 1996, according to the United Nations

The number of HIV cases worldwide — 33 million — has remained steady during the last two years and the epidemic peaked in 1996, according to the United Nations, The Associated Press reports. The disease looks stable in most regions, except for Africa, according to the UN. "

24 Nov 2009

KHN column: Answers from Iowa

In this Kaiser Health News column, Michael L. Millenson writes about insights one could gain from paying attention to what's happening in Iowa. "The Des Moines home of the Chicago Cubs' AAA farm team boasts of being 'one of the top minor league facilities in the country.' This might also be an accurate description of the State of Iowa's political status, in which its quadrennial presidential caucuses help determine who advances to the Big Show."

24 Nov 2009