Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Ways to save money without letting health care suffer

Recent reports show that more and more people are cutting back on their health care or medicines to save money. But cutting back to save money isn't always the best solution, especially when it comes to doctor's appointments and required medicines

1 Sep 2009

Officials flesh out new grant program to help states, doctors with health IT

Two weeks ago, the Obama administration offered nearly $1.2 billion in stimulus-funded grants to set up state-run health information exchanges, and create 70 "health IT regional extension centers" to help physicians adapt to the digital era, a term officials defined in greater detail during a conference call late last week, Modern Healthcare reports.

1 Sep 2009

'Public plan' divides Democrats on health bills

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has pledged to include a government-run insurance option in the House bill that will be voted on next month. This reassures liberals but will make it difficult or impossible to get the votes needed to pass it if the public option is included. … 'I don't see how we get to 218,' said a senior Democratic aide. 'The Blue Dogs are 'Hell nos.' The people who voted yes [on energy] want to vote 'no' twice.'"

1 Sep 2009

AAO-HNSF to issue the first guideline for helping physicians manage dysphonia

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) will issue the first--and only--national clinical practice guideline to help healthcare practitioners identify and manage patients with hoarseness, also known as dysphonia. The guideline emphasizes evidence-based management of hoarseness by clinicians, and educates patients on the prevalence of this common vocal health issue.

1 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: Flu, cholera in PNG; improving life awards; HIV/AIDS in Rwanda; men and maternal/child health; MDR-TB in India

"Twin outbreaks of a flu-like illness and dysentery in a remote region of Papua New Guinea have killed 47 people and infected another 2,000 villagers, a senior medical official said Monday," Agence France-Presse reports. According to provincial health adviser Doctor Theo Likei, the WHO has collected and is testing samples of the virus from the "stricken villages" (8/31). Additionally, the country is experiencing a cholera outbreak - "the first time the disease has officially been confirmed in the country," the BBC reports (Mercer, 8/31).

1 Sep 2009

Explainers and fact checks on health reform bills

Several news organizations published explainers on health reform.

1 Sep 2009

Celticare Health Plan of Massachusetts to cover legal immigrants from October

CeltiCare today announced that the Commonwealth has accepted its proposal to manage healthcare services for Aliens with Special Status (AWSS). This population has been enrolled in the Commonwealth Care insurance program (Commonwealth Care) run by the Massachusetts Health Connector.

31 Aug 2009

Home births performed by registered midwives are safe and natural

Having your baby at home is as safe as birth in the hospital, according to a new study published in the September Canadian Medical Association Journal. In Ontario, as in BC where the study was conducted, Registered Midwives are the only heath care professionals who attend home births.

31 Aug 2009

PacifiCord to start its fifth free prenatal class in Southern California

Dedicated to serving the private cord blood banking needs of Southern California, PacifiCord (www.pacificord.com) today announced it will be offering free prenatal classes in Temecula starting September 21, 2009.

31 Aug 2009

Rite Aid pharmacies to offer regular seasonal flu shots throughout the flu season

Many Rite Aid pharmacists have already been giving regular seasonal flu shots following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice that anyone who wishes to reduce the risk of getting the regular seasonal flu get a flu shot as soon as they are available.

31 Aug 2009

PrimeSuite provides physicians with access to lab results, radiology reports and transcribed documents from their community health system

Physicians using Greenway Medical Technologies’ electronic health record (EHR) solution, PrimeSuite, now have access to lab results, radiology reports and transcribed documents from their community health system through RelayHealth’s Virtual Information Exchange platform.

31 Aug 2009

MD Buyline introduces integrated capital planning and budgeting program

MD Buyline introduces Buyline BUDGET, an integrated capital planning and budgeting program for researching, selecting, budgeting, and purchasing capital equipment.

31 Aug 2009

TriZetto Group launches new version of CareAdvance Enterprise system

The TriZetto Group, Inc. today announced the general availability of its CareAdvance Enterprise® 4.6 system, the new version of the company’s health management platform for healthcare payer organizations.

31 Aug 2009

New chief strategy officer for Merkle

Merkle (www.merkleinc.com), one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing database marketing agencies, announced the appointment of Vice President Pete Mehr, Ph.D., as chief strategy officer to its growing healthcare marketing practice, which launched earlier this year to provide data-driven marketing insight and strategy to leading healthcare and pharmaceutical clients.

31 Aug 2009

New Hospital Operating System solution from StatCom launched

StatCom, a developer of innovative healthcare software, announced today availability of its Hospital Operating System™ solution, a comprehensive patient throughput solution.

31 Aug 2009

SDBJ names A-Life Medical executive as the CFO of the Year

A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of computer-assisted coding products and services to the healthcare industry, announced today that Jaye Connolly, who serves as chief financial officer and chief operating officer, has been named CFO of the Year in the private company category of the 2009 San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) CFO of the Year awards program.

31 Aug 2009

Illumina delivers its first individual genome sequence to Dr. Hermann Hauser

Illumina, Inc. today announced that it has delivered Hermann Hauser’s genome sequence. Dr. Hauser, Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners Ltd, is the first consumer to purchase Illumina’s individual genome sequencing service working with his physician, Michael Nova, MD, of Pathway Genomics.

From Illumina, Inc. 31 Aug 2009

XerGame products to be showcased at the US Open Tennis Championships

XerTech Inc., a leading manufacturer, seller, and distributer of cutting-edge, interactive fitness systems, today announced that it will showcase its XerGame products at the US Open Tennis Championships, starting today, August 31, and running through the end of the event on September 13, 2009.

31 Aug 2009

Health care reform will kill competition in most states: BestHealthcareRates.com

Management at BestHealthcareRates.com is astonished with the government’s claims that the health care reform that they are working hard to bring about will actually encourage competition. It is much more likely that it will kill competition in most states as the giant arrives in town and takes a portion of everybody’s business.

31 Aug 2009

Fifth annual Pathology Visions conference to showcase digital pathology technology and its healthcare applications

The newly formed Digital Pathology Association (DPA), a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of digital pathology applications in healthcare, invites interested pathology professionals to join them for the fifth annual Pathology Visions conference, to be held September 13-15 in San Diego, CA, at the Marriott Hotel and Marina.

31 Aug 2009