Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Newly founded National Institute for Quality Improvement and Education

The newly founded National Institute for Quality Improvement and Education (NIQIE) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the integration of quality improvement and continuing education for healthcare professionals.

1 May 2007

Community leaders engage lawmakers on the value Medicare Advantage

More than three dozen community leaders from across the country have come together to actively engage lawmakers on the value Medicare Advantage provides to vulnerable seniors in their communities.

1 May 2007

3M and Gen-Probe collaborate to combat healthcare-associated infections

3M and Gen-Probe have announced that the companies have formed an exclusive worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize rapid, easy-to-use nucleic acid tests to detect certain dangerous healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

1 May 2007

Many NYC pharmacies fail to cater for people with poor English

Despite widespread capacity to provide prescription medication labels in languages other than English, few New York City pharmacies do so and as a result, limited-English patients face serious risk of medication error, according to a study by The New York Academy of Medicine presented at the annual meeting of the Society for General Internal Medicine (SGIM) in Toronto, Ontario.

30 Apr 2007

FDA approves INVEGA treatment for schizophrenia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INVEGA (paliperidone) Extended-Release Tablets, a new once-daily, atypical antipsychotic, for the long-term maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

30 Apr 2007

Ranbaxy receives approval to manufacture Pravastatin Sodium tablets in U.S.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals has announced that RLL has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Pravastatin Sodium Tablets (Pravastatin), 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg, with 180-day market exclusivity in the U.S. healthcare system for the 80 mg strength.

27 Apr 2007

Ranbaxy receives approval to manufacture Zolpidem tablets for insomnia

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), has announced that the Company has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets, 5mg and 10mg.

27 Apr 2007

Quarterly UK Clostridium difficile and MRSA figures

Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency show there were 55,681 cases of Clostridium difficile infection reported in patients aged 65 years and above in England in 2006.

27 Apr 2007

Governments must act on biggest epidemic in human history

The diabetes pandemic is threatening to overwhelm global healthcare services. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launched a new consensus statement on diabetes prevention, to be published in the May issue of Diabetic Medicine, hot on the heels of a December 2006 United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for concerted international action.

27 Apr 2007

New fetal heart monitor

New technology, the size of a mobile phone, which could save the life of an unborn child, has been developed by scientists from The University of Nottingham.

27 Apr 2007

Brits over-react to threat of crystal meth

In order to prevent the illegal production of the highly addictive drug, crystal meth, authorities in Britain are considering making some cold medicines available on a prescription-only basis.

26 Apr 2007

How will digitisation of health information impact health care?

In a survey of 200 patients and their representatives, clinicians and other healthcare professionals (librarians and IT staff) from across eight NHS trusts, Professor Ann Blandford and Professor Peter Lunt have looked at the growing need to understand how digitisation of health information will impact upon patients, staff and managers across the health service.

26 Apr 2007

New study on prisoner health

People with chronic illnesses can experience great difficulties in prison, but people such as drug addicts and the homeless may find their healthcare improves, according to a study in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

26 Apr 2007

Psychotherapeutic drug spending surges

Spending on prescription drugs to treat depression, anxiety, pain, schizophrenia and other conditions climbed from $7.9 billion in 1997 to $20 billion in 2004 - over a 150 percent increase, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

25 Apr 2007

1.2 million hospitalized patients experienced an adverse drug event

In 2004, 1.2 million hospitalized patients experienced an adverse drug event, 90 percent of which were due to a side effect from a medication that was properly administered, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

25 Apr 2007

Extended bed rest leads to substantial muscle deterioration in older adults

Extended bed rest – often necessary during hospitalization – leads to a substantial amount of muscle deterioration in older adults, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) report in the April 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association .

25 Apr 2007

Primary school children should not be routinely screened for obesity

Primary school children should not be routinely screened for obesity and overweight in the absence of effective treatment, finds research in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

25 Apr 2007

Costs of treating heart disease and cancer have increased substantially

The costs of treating heart disease and cancer rose markedly between 2000 and 2004, from $62 billion to $90 billion and $42 billion to $62 billion, respectively, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

25 Apr 2007

Chronically ill prisoners can face great healthcare problems, but others inmates enjoy improved health

25 Apr 2007

New FDA audio broadcasts provide emerging drug safety information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting health care professionals and consumers to the availability of audio broadcasts that provide emerging drug safety information.

24 Apr 2007