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Lobbying is up as health industry examines impact of reform proposals

"Companies and groups hiring lobbying firms on health issues nearly doubled this year as special interests rushed to shape the massive revamp of the nation's health care system now in its final stretch before Congress." As many as 1,000 groups "have hired lobbyists since January, compared with 505 during the same period in 2008, according to a USA TODAY analysis of congressional records compiled by the nonpartisan CQ MoneyLine."

23 Nov 2009

Health debate bears down on senators

"As one of the few senators undecided on healthcare reform, Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln faces a huge headache. Liberals attack her as an obstructionist, even though she cast a key vote keeping the effort alive. Republicans are lining up to run against her -- seven, so far, and counting. The voters here at home seem conflicted, if not downright confused.

23 Nov 2009

Hatch, other conservatives argue individual mandate is unconstitutional

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch is leading the Republican movement against the proposed individual mandate to buy insurance, arguing "Congress has no constitutional authority to tell people what to buy with their money, Salt Lake Tribune explains. "'If we have the power simply to order Americans to buy certain products, why did we need a Cash for Clunkers program?' Hatch said during a debate in the Senate Finance Committee. 'We can simply require Americans to buy certain cars.

23 Nov 2009

Error-plagued Los Angeles hospital cuts deal to reopen

A plan to reopen Los Angeles' Martin Luther King Jr. hospital as a private, nonprofit facility in partnership with the University of California is the latest example in a new trend among public hospitals that has lead to greater efficiency, and often quality elsewhere, The New York Times reports. Like many public hospitals, MLK had a track record of inconsistent quality and grim finances, and "was closed in 2007 after a series of errors, some of them fatal.

23 Nov 2009

Administration seeks to distance reform effort from cancer screening fallout

As the intense debate continues over new cancer test guidelines, the Obama administration is trying to protect health care reform from the controversy's fallout.

23 Nov 2009

Cerner connects to its associates, clients globally through AT&T Telepresence Solution

Connecting associates around the world and collaborating with clients is now a quicker, more interactive process for global healthcare solutions provider Cerner ( CERN). Cerner began using the AT&T* Telepresence Solution, an immersive video technology that connects remote participants, earlier this year to help respond to client service requests in a timely manner and to conduct virtual business meetings with its associates, clients and business partners around the world.

23 Nov 2009

Study finds depressed or burned out surgeons more likely to commit major error on the job

Surgeons who are burned out or depressed are more likely to say they had recently committed a major error on the job, according to the largest study to date on physician burnout. The new findings suggest that the mental well-being of the surgeon is associated with a higher rate of self-reported medical errors, something that may undermine patient safety more than the fatigue that is often blamed for many of the medical mistakes.

23 Nov 2009

Cook Medical unveils its uterine manipulator/injectors at 38th Global Congress of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Laparoscopic surgeons received their first glimpse of Cook Medical’s uterine manipulator/injectors (UMI) last week at the 38th Global Congress of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, sponsored by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).

23 Nov 2009

CDEX' ValiMed MVS and ID2 Meth Scanner placed on ABMI GSA Contract Schedule

CDEX Inc. and All Business Machines, Inc. announce that the ValiMed™ MVS (Medication Validation System) and ID2 Meth Scanner™ product lines by CDEX have been placed on the ABMI GSA Contract Schedule. ValiMed MVS puts a technological safety net between the patient and errors made in the compounding of high risk medications and guards against narcotic diversion. Both are now available to the Government markets through the ABMI GSA Schedule.

23 Nov 2009

Senators prepare for upcoming health reform battles

The Wall Street Journal reports that, in a party-line vote Saturday night, "Democratic leaders finally moved their sweeping health bill to the Senate floor, where wheeling and dealing over major unresolved and divisive issues likely will shape the legislation before its next big test." Some centrists are busy saying they won't support a bill with a government-run public option in it. They are also divided over abortion.

23 Nov 2009

GOP strikes back on Senate health vote

Republican senators turned out to criticize the Democratic health overhaul on Sunday talk shows, saying it is "something Bernie Madoff would really envy," would expand a "medical ghetto," and may "collapse of its own weight," The Hill reports. Supporting the bill, which cleared an initial Senate vote to bring the legislation to the floor Saturday night, is tantamount to ignoring "the wishes of the American people," the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Sunday (Johnson, 11/22).

23 Nov 2009

Digital divide appears between hospitals that treat the rich and poor

"Hospitals that disproportionately care for poor patients are less likely than other hospitals to have adopted health information technology," according to an October study published in Health Affairs, American Medical News reports. The economic stimulus legislation in February directed $19 billion in federal investments to help all types of hospitals adopt electronic records, but some researchers are concerned the money may not close that divide.

23 Nov 2009

Eclipsys reaches milestone: 50 millionth order entered into its EHR system

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, continues to strengthen its position as a leader in computerized physician order entry (CPOE) with the announcement today that long-standing client Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (Sarasota Memorial), located in Sarasota, FL, recently entered its 50 millionth order into its electronic health record (EHR) system. The notable physician order was entered by emergency medicine specialist Bill Colgate, MD.

23 Nov 2009

AMCP awards Health Net Federal Services for its education and communication materials

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, the government operations division of Health Net, Inc., today announced it recently received multiple MarCom Awards for its education and communication materials from the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals (AMCP). AMCP is an international organization of thousands of creative professionals, recognizing the best materials and resources in the business through its MarCom Awards.

23 Nov 2009

Texas Court dismisses all claims against Merck in VIOXX-related lawsuit

Merck said today that Travis County, Texas District Court Judge Scott H. Jenkins granted Merck's motion for summary judgment, dismissing all claims in a VIOXX-related lawsuit filed on behalf of the State of Texas.

23 Nov 2009

Verizon launches telehealth services

Time, distance and cost often hamper efforts to link patients with the right health care expert, causing further concern for those needing to consult with faraway doctors. Verizon is answering this need with new services for physicians, hospitals, clinics and insurers that enable providers to "see" patients through video consultations, as well as other collaboration services.

23 Nov 2009