Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

OSI Systems to deliver DexaCare bone densitometers for international customer

OSI Systems, Inc., a vertically-integrated provider of specialized electronic products for critical applications in the Security and Healthcare industries, today announced that it has received a contract for approximately $1.3 million from an undisclosed international customer to deliver its DTX-200 DexaCare® bone densitometers.

1 Oct 2009

MSN launches new online service to help people manage healthcare decisions

Today, MSN released the beta of My Health Info, a new online service that helps people manage their health information on the Web. My Health Info is a unique service that offers people a variety of tools and widgets to upload, organize and monitor health information stored in their personal Microsoft HealthVault accounts.

1 Oct 2009

Consumer Watchdog urges Democrats to to support a robust public option in health insurance reform

Consumer Watchdog today called on Congressional Democrats to support a robust public option and rate regulation as a part of any health insurance reform.

1 Oct 2009

Public feels its voice is not heard in debate, Poll finds

News outlets report on issues surrounding support for health care reform including polls that find the public feels its voice is not being heard in the debate and that many people would support paying for reform.

1 Oct 2009

Americans show significant interest in healthcare issues

The Keller Fay Group (www.kellerfay.com) today announced study results indicating that daily U.S. conversation during the summer months focused significantly on the topics of health insurance and the healthcare system, reflecting a dramatic shift since April of this year.

1 Oct 2009

Leading healthcare organizations choose DeviceAnywhere Test Center

As the Senate Finance Committee writes incentive bonuses for IT into the new “America’s Healthy Future Act” reform bill, there already exists a fast-growing roster of vendors and healthcare organizations delivering mobile applications that make health management more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective for the shared benefit of physicians, healthcare providers and consumers alike.

1 Oct 2009

UnitedHealth Group grants $2 million for CSUF's project

A $2 million grant from UnitedHealth Group will help fund California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Department of Nursing’s “Expanding Healthcare Access through Nursing” project.

1 Oct 2009

New provider management solution from Initiate Systems

Initiate Systems, Inc., a leader in data management solutions for the exchange of health information, announced today the launch of its Initiate® Provider Management solution, a unique offering that allows healthcare organizations to create a provider registry to ensure that all systems using provider data operate from the same up-to-date information.

1 Oct 2009

Press Ganey Associates approved as qualified HH-CAHPS survey vendor

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Press Ganey Associates, Inc. as a qualified survey vendor for the Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HH-CAHPS).

1 Oct 2009

58% of Americans believe that H1N1 flu is a serious health hazard: Survey

A majority (58%) of Americans believe that the H1N1 flu is a serious health hazard, according to a new survey released today by Silverlink Communications, Inc. This represents a marked increase as compared to May 2009, when 47% of Americans held this same perception of H1N1. While most Americans believe H1N1 is a serious health hazard, less than one-third (31%) of Americans plan on getting the H1N1 flu vaccine this year, with safety and efficacy of the vaccine cited as primary barriers for not getting the vaccine. Of particular concern, less than 27% of 18 to 24 year olds, a high risk group, plan on getting the H1N1 vaccine.

1 Oct 2009

Incept BioSystems commences human clinical trial of its SMART Embryo Culture System

Incept BioSystems, Inc., a privately-held biomedical device company using patented microfluidic technology developed at the University of Michigan, announced today that it has initiated the first U.S. human clinical trial of its proprietary SMART Embryo Culture System. The microscale SMART technology platform is designed to improve the in vitro manipulation, performance, and viability of embryos for the treatment of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

1 Oct 2009

Swine flu vaccine distribution plan for Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today discussed the state's distribution plans for the new pandemic H1N1 vaccine.

1 Oct 2009

Allscripts chosen as West Penn Allegheny's clinical IT solutions provider

Allscripts announced today a strategic agreement with West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) naming Allscripts as West Penn Allegheny's preferred provider of clinical IT solutions across its network of hospitals and owned physician practices.

1 Oct 2009

HMS announces the acquisition of IntegriGuard

HMS today announced that it has acquired the business of IntegriGuard LLC, an ISO-certified and URAC-accredited organization devoted to the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse in the healthcare system. The company is based in Omaha, Nebraska and will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of HMS Holdings Corp.

1 Oct 2009

Injectible H1N1 vaccine ships ahead of schedule in U.S.

The first H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine shots available in the U.S. were shipped ahead of schedule after the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis finished production nearly two weeks early, the chief executive of the company said Tuesday, the New York Times reports.

1 Oct 2009

Finance panel continues march to the floor, considers a number of health bill amendments

At the end of a long day of amendments to the Finance Committee's health bill, Sen. Chuck Grassley won approval of a provision to raise rural doctor Medicare reimbursement rates. Meanwhile, other senators hope to make adjustments in the bill.

1 Oct 2009

PSA test vital for assessing prostate cancer

When it comes to the prostate cancer, the disease known as the "silent killer" because it often exhibits no symptoms, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. It is the second leading cancer killer in men, just behind lung cancer. Every year, more than 218,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States, claiming about 28,000 lives.

1 Oct 2009

Update from BioCryst Pharmaceuticals regarding intravenous peramivir

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has delivered a written response to the request for proposal (RFP) announced on September 21, 2009 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the supply of intravenous (i.v) peramivir for the treatment of critically ill influenza patients under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). BioCryst management intends to provide an update once the RFP process has reached a conclusion.

1 Oct 2009

Amerinet, OKAAP sign five-year purchasing agreement

Amerinet, Inc., a leading national healthcare group purchasing organization, today announced a new five-year purchasing agreement with the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (OKAAP).

1 Oct 2009

BMJ examines new strategy for universal healthcare in Asia Pacific

A BMJ News article examines a new strategy, which was released at the 60th session of WHO's regional committee for the Western Pacific, calling for countries in the Asia Pacific region to "strive for universal access to health care."

1 Oct 2009