Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Report highlights rural health care challenges

"Rural residents have even more cause to support a public health insurance plan than those living in cities, advocates of such a plan said Thursday," The Omaha World-Herald reports. "The Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Neb., and the Center for Community Change issued a joint report highlighting the particular health care challenges faced by those living in rural parts of the country."

3 Oct 2009

VA Medical Centers, health care organizations join Planetree to focus on patient-centered health care

As the nation focuses on the future of health care in U.S. hospitals, VA Medical Centers and health care organizations around the country will join Planetree this October to spotlight patient-centered approaches to health care by commemorating the third annual Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month.

3 Oct 2009

FDA approves Bayer's IUD Mirena for treating heavy menstrual bleeding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mirena (levonorgestrel intrauterine system) to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women who use intrauterine contraception as their method of pregnancy prevention. This is the first intrauterine device approved by the FDA for this additional indication.

3 Oct 2009

BMI training course launched by Anthem Blue Cross to tackle childhood obesity

In a continued effort to keep screening for childhood obesity at the forefront, Anthem Blue Cross' State Sponsored Business launched an innovative on-line Body Mass Index (BMI) training course featuring a virtual BMI wheel and web-based interactive practice sessions to help provide hands-on experience.

3 Oct 2009

$1 million grant to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured children

The Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey, an affiliate of the New Jersey Hospital Association, has been awarded a grant of nearly $1 million under a federal program aimed at expanding health insurance coverage to uninsured children.

3 Oct 2009

A-Life Hospital to demonstrate Actus at the 81st AHIMA Convention

A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of computer-assisted coding (CAC) products and services to the healthcare industry, announced today that A-Life Hospital, its wholly owned subsidiary, will exhibit and present at the upcoming 81st American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention and Exhibit.

3 Oct 2009

Democratic leaders shift on public plan, but push ahead despite setbacks

Despite recent setbacks, congressional Democratic leaders have continued pushing for a new government-run insurer as part of health reform. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warmed this week to a more moderate approach to the health insurance plan proposed by centrist Democrats, The Hill reports.

3 Oct 2009

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital opens Hamon Tower for treating critically ill patients

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas announces the opening of the Hamon Tower, the largest expansion in the hospital's history -- a medical complex devoted to intensive care for the region's most critically ill patients.

3 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health news: U.S. food aid declines; agriculture in Zimbabwe; U.S.-backed ITN network; reducing maternal mortality; DNDI expands; healthcare in Congo

Although U.S. food aid funding has increased by 53 percent over the last two years, a Government Accountability Office report on Wednesday said that during the same time period, the "amount of food delivered to address emergencies abroad fell 5 percent," the Washington Independent reports.

3 Oct 2009

Acuality Patient Classification System from API Healthcare

API Healthcare, the leading provider of human capital management solutions to the healthcare industry, today announced the general availability of the Acuality Patient Classification System, which allows hospitals to quickly assess patient care requirements and make appropriate future staffing assignments based on patient acuity levels.

3 Oct 2009

61 institutions awarded grants for cancer research from American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded 94 new national research and training grants totaling $45,097,000 to 61 institutions nationwide in the second of two grants cycles for 2009. The grants go into effect beginning January 1, 2010.

3 Oct 2009

SNM's joint session with CMOD on molecular imaging biomarkers in clinical research

SNM is collaborating with the International Partnership for Critical Markers of Disease (CMOD) during CMOD's 7th Annual Biomarkers and Surrogate Endpoints Symposium, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, Md., Oct. 19th, 2009.

3 Oct 2009

Illegal immigrants receive offers to return home for their health care

Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital's offer to send illegal immigrants who can't afford treatment back to their home countries is raising questions about how to handle health care for that population. Some say the practice is necessary financially while others worry about the patients.

1 Oct 2009

Democrats shoot down Republican abortion amendment, others pass

Members of the Senate Finance Committee wrangled Wednesday over proposed amendments to tighten abortion restrictions to the panel's health reform bill, with Democrats ultimately defeating the effort.

1 Oct 2009

CBO estimate left out hospital exemption; Baucus savings likely lower

The Congressional Budget Office "did not consider that hospitals would be exempt from a Medicare cost-cutting commission in Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus' healthcare overhaul mark, an omission that will slash a conservative $11 billion from $23 billion in savings the commission was expected to produce," CongressDaily reports.

1 Oct 2009

Health care reform bill in Finance Committee could be finalized Friday

The Senate Finance Committee is preparing to finalize a health care reform bill while Democratic leaders are signaling that floor consideration will follow quickly.

1 Oct 2009

Talyst collaborates with healthcare consultancy to provide implementation services

Talyst, a leader in pharmacy automation systems, announced today a partnership with RXinnovate, a healthcare consultancy, to offer top-of-the-line implementation services to Talyst's clients in the acute care industry.

1 Oct 2009

Individuals invited to participate in National Board written exam pilot

The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters continues to advance towards the launch of a single national certification process that will award individuals the credential of "Certified Medical Interpreter" (CMI) in a specific language. It recently concluded the pilot of the National Board oral exam and commenced the pilot of the National Board written exam with an open call to the field for participants.

1 Oct 2009

Presence of sequencing technologies in routine hospital and physician office labs over the next decade

As DNA testing expands and the price and speed of sequencing equipment improves, it's not out of the question that the half-million dollar sequencers now only available in top research labs may find their way into routine hospital and physician office labs throughout the U.S. over the next decade, according to the findings of Kalorama Information.

1 Oct 2009

iTech Medical provides update on MPR system

iTech Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IMSU; FWB: 0IM), a medical information technology company, today provided an update on the Company's clinical and regulatory plans for its proprietary Muscle Pattern Recognition (MPR) System.

1 Oct 2009