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Substituting nurses for doctors results in high quality care, few savings

Many primary care responsibilities can be safely transferred from doctors to appropriately trained nurses, says a new review of evidence. Yet there is little proof that such a shift reduces physician workload or health-care costs.

27 Apr 2005

Millions of employed Americans uninsured and unable to get Medical Care

A new study analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that a significant number of working Americans in every state do not have health care coverage, with more than 20 million working adults not having coverage. In eight states, at least one in five working adults is uninsured.

27 Apr 2005

New survey shows physicians recognize health disparities and address them in their practices

Many of the nation's physicians are now involved in the effort to eliminate racial and ethnic health care disparities, according to a recent survey released by the Commission to End Health Care Disparities.

27 Apr 2005

Nurses in the UK are calling for a reconsideration of the laws governing euthanasia

At their annual meeting the Royal College of Nursing heard arguments in favour of terminally-ill patients having the right to decide when and how to end their lives.

26 Apr 2005

$75 million boost to Canada's health care system

In an effort to improve and strengthen their health care system Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today announced a $75 million federal initiative that is expected to assist more than 2,000 internationally educated health care professionals to put their skills to work in Canada.

25 Apr 2005

New training course launched to help improve dementia care

The Alzheimer’s Society has launched the first nationally accredited training course aimed at improving the quality of care given to people with dementia.

23 Apr 2005

Who needs health care - the well or the sick?

Shifting drug spending from the worried well in rich countries to those with treatable disease in poorer nations will benefit the health of everyone, argues a doctor in this week's BMJ.

21 Apr 2005

Better referral training for emergency doctors helps improve patient care

Emergency doctors with specific training in making referrals can help achieve a safer patient experience, according to research published this week in Emergency Medicine Journal.

20 Apr 2005

Researchers examine nursing home quality of care

Not-for-profit homes in the United States generally provide better care than their for-profit cousins, says a new study by University of Toronto researchers.

20 Apr 2005

If MyPyramid can assist people in effectively adopting the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines, it will be a great success

The ultimate value and success of the new “MyPyramid” Food Guidance System graphic will be measured by whether it can serve as an effective tool to help people eat according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Time will tell if MyPyramid will convey to consumers the vital nutritional messages of balance, variety, moderation and adequacy.

19 Apr 2005

Call for a United States Global Health Service

The federal government should create and fund an umbrella organization called the United States Global Health Service (GHS) to mobilize the nation's best health care professionals and other experts to help combat HIV/AIDS in hard-hit African, Caribbean, and Southeast Asian countries, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

19 Apr 2005

NHS must overhaul its approach to adolescent health

The NHS must overhaul its approach to adolescent health if it is to meet the health needs of young people in the UK, says a paper in the BMJ.

19 Apr 2005

Can hospital data detect poor performing doctors?

For over 20 years, routine data sources such as the hospital episode statistics have been widely perceived as being of little value because of problems with completeness and accuracy, and the Department of Health has in the past dismissed their use for identifying poor quality services.

19 Apr 2005

To boost efficiency, hospitals borrow principles from factory floor

Many health-care industry bottlenecks can be eliminated, resulting in major improvements in efficiency, cost savings and patient care when hospitals borrow principles from production lines on the factory floor, according to researchers in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

13 Apr 2005

Bugs in the gut could help doctors develop individualised healthcare

The success of personalised healthcare hinges on a better understanding of how microbes in the gut interact with different medicines report scientists from Imperial College London and Astra Zeneca.

13 Apr 2005

Better deal for part-time British doctors

Under new contracts which will come into force this June, UK doctors in training will find it easier to work less than full time.

12 Apr 2005

Respiratory medicine could be heading for crisis

Respiratory medicine could be heading for crisis if doctors are not offered more opportunities for flexible training and working, according to a new survey launched by the British Thoracic Society (BTS).

12 Apr 2005

105 new health center grants totaling more than $63 million

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced plans to award 105 new health center grants totaling more than $63 million. These grants will help an estimated 632,000 Americans, including many without health insurance, obtain comprehensive primary health care services.

12 Apr 2005

Germany leads the way with e-health

Germany is poised to introduce its next generation e-health card in 2006. The new version, set to replace the existing insurance card – holding only the patient’s name, address and insurance number – will be the latest example of smart card technology to hit the market in Europe. It will be able to store prescription information and might even be used as the standard card for a digital signature – the key to modern eGovernment applications.

12 Apr 2005

Medicare announces funding for health insurance counseling

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 50 percent increase in funding for the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). SHIPs are a key partner in Medicare’s Education and Outreach effort to insure that everyone with Medicare knows they are eligible for prescription drug coverage, that they will have a choice of at least two plans, and that there will be extra assistance for those in need.

12 Apr 2005