Nursing News and Research

Latest Nursing News and Research

Revenues grow, but states wrestle with shortfalls in Medicaid needs

A new Census Bureau report find revenues for local and state governments are growing but many states are still having difficulty funding Medicaid programs. In Conn., the governor says he has reservations about a proposal to create a new entity to oversee state health care. California and New Jersey officials are having trouble finding cuts to balance the budget. And hospital officials in Texas are urging lawmakers to not trim health care.

31 Mar 2011

Study: Diet-exercise can improve physical performance in obese seniors

For obese seniors, dieting and exercise together are more effective at improving physical performance and reducing frailty than either alone.

31 Mar 2011

Porter Adventist Hospital inaugurates new clinic to treat TIA

A transient ischemic attack is a form of minor stroke that can last just minutes, often without any lingering symptoms. But if left untreated, those who have one are at an estimated 25 percent greater risk of having another stroke or other complication within 90 days.

30 Mar 2011

Prompt treatment with correct antibiotic may prevent longer hospital stay in children with severe pneumonia

In critically ill children with pneumonia, delays of even a few hours to treatment with the correct antibiotic can mean more days in the hospital, reports a study in the April issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

30 Mar 2011

NUS, Agilent partner for lipidomics research

Agilent Technologies Inc. and the National University of Singapore today announced an agreement to develop expertise and knowledge in the area of analytical lipidomics. The goal of the partnership is to develop workflow solutions that enable researchers to more accurately understand disease states.

30 Mar 2011

New policy brief: Community college education programs can solve nursing shortage

All programs educating students for licensure as registered nurses, whether they offer associate or bachelor's degrees, are essential to solving the nation's nursing shortage, says a new policy brief released today by the American Association of Community Colleges.

29 Mar 2011

Study: No increase in abnormal mammogram results after breast 'lipomodeling'

Lipomodeling—a relatively new approach to breast augmentation in which fat is transferred to the breasts from other parts of the body—doesn't interfere with routine screening mammograms, reports a study in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

29 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: 'Lesson' from R.I. on waivers; Wis. infant mortality rate disparities; diabetes and seniors

Medicaid is the major cost driver in state budgets these days, so several Governors have proposed a deal to the White House and Congress: They'll take less money in return for the flexibility to run the program with fewer federal strings. A case study in the potential benefits is coming from liberal Rhode Island.

29 Mar 2011

Atypical antipsychotics is a safe mental health medication for nursing home residents

Conventional antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines often administered to nursing home residents are no safer than atypical antipsychotics and may carry increased risks, according to an article in CMAJ.

29 Mar 2011

People with arthritis can benefit from exercise

An estimated 50 million adults in the United States suffer from arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the best ways to combat the onset of arthritis as well as to control pain and improve function is through exercise.

29 Mar 2011

Roundup: States 'scrambling' on Medicaid budget; health costs for inmates, Ex-Cons; kids' insurance

Strapped states are scrambling to address Medicaid's ballooning costs before the federal government cuts back a critical source of funding this week. Medicaid is one of state's costliest burdens. And the weak economy swelled the rolls to record numbers. Nearly 49 million people -- or almost one in six Americans -- were covered by the safety net at the end of 2009, the latest figures available.

29 Mar 2011

Medicaid realities: More harm than good (Op-ed)

On January 7, 2011, 33 governors and governors- elect sent a letter to the White House and Congressional leaders detailing how new federal Medicaid mandates will drown their states in more debt.

28 Mar 2011

CNN political analyst David Gergen spoke with home care and hospice providers at annual March on Washington event

Nationally known and recognized political analyst David Gergen spoke today at the National Home Care & Hospice Association’s March on Washington event about the uncertain times that we face as a country.

28 Mar 2011

State laws regarding baby blood samples analyzed

State laws and policies governing the storage and use of surplus blood samples taken from newborns as part of the routine health screening process range from explicit to non-existent, leaving many parents ill-informed about how their babies' left over blood might be used, according to a team led by a member of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Utah. A report on their analysis of the subject is published March 28 in the journal Pediatrics.

28 Mar 2011

Ozarks Medical Center selects ProVation Order Sets electronic solution

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Ozarks Medical Center has selected ProVation® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate® Decision Support, as the hospital's electronic order set solution.

28 Mar 2011

Nurse staffing levels, safety net status both factors in patient outcomes

A new study finds that higher nurse staffing levels can lead to better patient outcomes. However, the study also found this to not always be the case at safety net hospitals. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Mirror reports on hospitals' efforts to reduce readmissions. And, in other news, new research has found that patients are less likely to fill prescriptions when doctors specify brand names instead of allowing generic substitutions.

28 Mar 2011

Review questions diagnostic value of MRI scans to detect rupture of silicone breast implants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently recommends regular follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for women with silicone breast implants. But a new review shows significant flaws in the evidence supporting this recommendation, reports the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

28 Mar 2011

Cancer drug Gleevec may hold promise against scleroderma: Study

A drug approved to treat certain types of cancer has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with scleroderma, according to results from an open-label Phase II trial. While the drug's efficacy must be demonstrated in a Phase III trial, the gold standard for testing a drug, researchers are optimistic that Gleevec- (imatinib) could potentially be a weapon against the chronic connective tissue disease for which a treatment has remained elusive.

28 Mar 2011

Asbury Communities offers management and support services for older adults

In 2010, more than 4 million baby boomers turned 50, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Boomers today represent 28 percent of the U.S. population, or 76.1 million people. With so many people aging, how is the senior living industry going to provide services to this group of older Americans?

28 Mar 2011

SHOM selects Scott & Co to audit Company's financials for past two years

Southern Home Medical Equipment, Inc., a Holding Company providing healthcare services, healthcare professionals and equipment to medical institutions, has selected Scott & Company, a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board approved accounting firm in Columbia, SC, to audit the Company's financials for the past two years and provide additional accounting services to the Company.

28 Mar 2011