Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Developing brain tumors coax assistance from nearby cells

Developing brain tumors can coax assistance from nearby cells known as microglia, according to a new study from scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

12 Apr 2007

Aggressive behaviour on acute psychiatric wards: prevalence, severity and management

Psychiatric nurses have a one in ten chance of being physically injured by an aggressive patient over the course of a year and many more suffer emotional distress because of the verbal abuse they receive while working in these difficult and challenging environments.

12 Apr 2007

Health care reconsidered: Options for change

The Hamilton Project, an initiative at the Brookings Institution, hosted a forum, "Health Care Reconsidered: Options for Change," today at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. At the event, policy papers on reforming Medicare Part "D" (including closing the "donut hole" gap in prescription drug coverage), improving preventive care and promoting greater affordability through progressive cost-sharing were released by The Hamilton Project.

11 Apr 2007

Report reveals cost of type 2 diabetes complications

A first-of-its-kind report looking at the prevalence and cost of type 2 diabetes complications shows that an estimated three out of five people (57.9 percent) with type 2 diabetes have at least one of the other serious health problems commonly associated with the disease, and that these health problems are taking a heavy financial toll on the United States.

11 Apr 2007

Full impact of mental health and substance abuse disorders on U.S. community hospitals

Almost one-fourth of all stays in U.S. community hospitals for patients age 18 and older – 7.6 million of nearly 32 million stays – involved depressive, bipolar, schizophrenia and other mental health disorders or substance use related disorders in 2004, according to a new report by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

11 Apr 2007

MRSA can be a serious post-operative complication

Drug-resistant bacteria can complicate treatment after many surgical procedures.

11 Apr 2007

AIDS Healthcare Foundation commends the passing of HIV testing bill

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US' largest provider of HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention and education, and operator of the largest non-government HIV testing program in California which conducts more than 15,000 HIV tests annually, today lauded the California Assembly Health Committee for its unanimous vote (12/0) in favor of Assembly Bill 682, California's Routine HIV Screening Bill, which will now move on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

11 Apr 2007

More choice for patients does not mean better healthcare

UNISON is critical of plans to extend patient choice, pointing out that more does not mean better.

11 Apr 2007

New rules ban sexual relationships between doctors and patients

As part of a comprehensive package of reforms in Britain, healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and midwives, will be warned against forming sexual relationships not only with patients but also with former patients.

11 Apr 2007

Macmillan Medical Communications welcomes Scott Carson as national sales manager

Macmillan Medical Communications (MMC) has welcomed Scott Carson as its new National Sales Manager. He will be reporting in to John Elduff, Senior VP of Sales, and will be based out of MMC’s corporate sales office in Philadelphia, PA.

10 Apr 2007

More aggressive breast cancer in Hispanics independent of healthcare utilization

A new study provides evidence that racial differences in the clinical presentation of breast cancer may be due more to biological factors rather than differences in access to healthcare alone.

9 Apr 2007

Many women undertreated for ovarian cancer

One in three ovarian cancer patients in the U.S. fails to receive the recommended comprehensive surgical treatment, according to a study in the May 15, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

9 Apr 2007

Study shows beneficial effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in children

Routine infant immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has caused a 39% fall in all-cause pneumonia hospital admission rates for American children aged under two years, according to an Article published in this week's edition of The Lancet.

8 Apr 2007

Physician's role in getting patients active

Physicians and their patients alike know that physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle, but what is less clear is what kind of a role doctors should have in increasing their patients' activity levels.

7 Apr 2007

Montefiore Medical Center launches human papilloma virus clinic

The only HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Vaccine Clinic of its kind has been launched at Montefiore Medical Center.

7 Apr 2007

Healthy heart behaviors delay onset of heart disease

Most Americans engage in behaviors that can help prevent or delay the onset of heart disease, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

7 Apr 2007

Market study into the distribution of medicines in the UK

The OFT has launched a market study into the distribution of medicines in the UK. This decision follows recent and proposed distribution changes by leading UK medicine suppliers.

5 Apr 2007

Newmarket, Ontario to establish world-class cancer centre

Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) will share its latest knowledge, research in cancer care, and expertise to assist Southlake Regional Health Centre (Southlake) in establishing a world-class cancer centre through a formal affiliation between a world leader in cancer care and the newly established cancer program in the Newmarket-based hospital.

5 Apr 2007

Technology to make implantable devices safe for MRI

While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is already well established as a premiere non-invasive imaging technology, patients with implantable pacemakers, implantable cardiac devices, neurostimulators and other medical devices are often denied the evaluation their medical situation urgently requires.

5 Apr 2007

Rural hospitals shown to provide quality care for patients with heart attacks

Contrary to some previous studies, rural hospitals in Iowa do provide quality care for patients with heart attacks and do not have higher death rates when compared to urban hospitals, report University of Iowa researchers.

5 Apr 2007