Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

NICE to lose its power to ban life saving drugs

Ministers have finally clarified that patients would not be denied life-extending drugs just because the NHS rationing body decides they are too expensive. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) the drug watchdog in the UK will be stripped of its powers to stop drugs being available on the NHS due to price. The arbitrary limit on the cost of new drugs – around £30,000 per year of extended high-quality life – will be scrapped from 2014.

1 Nov 2010

New PHQ-9 screening test evaluates major depression in adults

Primary-care clinicians know teen depression is common, but they've lacked a reliable screening test for it. Now researchers at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle Children's, and Group Health report the PHQ-9 is a good screening test for major depression in adolescents.

1 Nov 2010

Research Roundup: Primary care doc pay and satisfaction; fixes to Medicare reimbursements; free vaccines?

A critical element of improving population health in underserved areas is the adequacy and distribution of the primary care physician supply, write the authors of this study, who interviewed 42 primary care physicians from both underserved and non-underserved areas in Los Angeles County, California.

30 Oct 2010

Providers brace for health overhaul, seek to improve quality

The (Torrance, Calif.) Daily Breeze: "With health care reform on the way -- bringing with it scores of new Medi-Cal patients -- community clinics that treat mostly low-income and uninsured patients are looking at ways to transform into primary care medical hubs. South Bay Family Health Care, based in Redondo Beach, will get help doing that from Los Angeles County's only public health insurance plan, L.A. Care. The nonprofit health plan has hired a consulting firm to help 11 clinics improve their treatment model over the next two years" (Evans, 10/28).

30 Oct 2010

New Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush University provides proper diagnosis for athletes

Concussions, like any injury, need proper assessment and time to heal. Some may brush off an injury to the head, but an injury to the brain may be severe with possible long-term consequences. Athletes or individuals who suffer a bump or blow to the head now can see a physician for assessment within 24 to 48 hours at the new Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush University Medical Center.

29 Oct 2010

Studies identify effective strategies for improving colorectal cancer screening among African-Americans

African-Americans are less likely than whites to be screened for colorectal cancer, and the disparity almost certainly contributes to higher mortality. A new review of studies identifies effective strategies for improving the situation, but suggests that work remains to be done.

29 Oct 2010

Public health care supporters call for investigation of Copeman Healthcare Centre

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq's recent announcement of her department's investigation into the controversial Sentinelle Health Group in Ottawa has prompted public health care supporters in BC and Alberta to call for a similar review of the Copeman Healthcare Centre.

29 Oct 2010

Miami Miller School receives grant to study impact of GenerationOne's mobile solution on heart failure patients

The James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program has awarded the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Geriatrics Institute a $100,000 grant for a year-long study on the impact of GenerationOne's Mobile Heath Solution on heart failure patients.

29 Oct 2010

Hospital group and physicians looking at ACOs; Harvard to open primary care education center

In an Oct. 27 letter to the CMS, the Federal Trade Commission and HHS inspector general's office, the Federation of American Hospitals offered comments on accountable care organizations.

29 Oct 2010

Opto Circuits acquires Unetixs Vascular's detection and diagnostics products

The acquisition of Unetixs Vascular's detection and diagnostics products complements and strengthens the existing Opto Circuits (I) Ltd. product portfolio investment in Criticare Systems, Inc.'s vital signs monitoring line and pulse oximetry sensors. Unetixs Vascular is a leader in products aimed at the detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that is affecting a growing portion of the population in both the developed world and in emerging economies.

29 Oct 2010

Pfizer announces approval of Lyrica capsules for peripheral neuropathic pain

Pfizer Inc announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. This follows the recent approval in Japan of Lyrica for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia on April 16, 2010. Lyrica is the first medication approved for peripheral neuropathic pain in Japan where it is co-promoted with Eisai Co., Ltd.

29 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 28, 2010

Today's news includes headlines about the reasons behind rising health premiums.

28 Oct 2010

Joined-up approach to evaluate childhood obesity programmes

A united front is needed to tackle childhood obesity effectively, according to researchers at the University of Hertfordshire's Weight and Obesity Research Group.

28 Oct 2010

PCP credits dedicated primary care community for formation of Harvard's new Center

Harvard Medical School's (HMS) establishment of its $30 million Center for Primary Care is a powerful statement of the importance of primary care and the role major medical institutions must play in its transformation, according to Boston-based nonprofit Primary Care Progress (PCP). PCP credits a dedicated and engaged primary care community, partnering with a visionary dean, for the formation of Harvard's new Center.

28 Oct 2010

Ipsen reports 8.3% increase in Group sales for first nine months of 2010

Ipsen reported today its sales for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2010.

28 Oct 2010

A look at the secretive AMA panel behind Medicare's payment rates

A group of 29 physicians, convened by the American Medical Associations and "mostly selected" by specialty trade groups, have the task of recommending how to divide Medicare money into payments for each service, procedure and treatment the program covers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

28 Oct 2010

£600 million cancer drug fund for UK cancer patients

Good news for cancer patients in England, the government has announced that it would fulfill a pledge to set up a drugs fund. Earlier the Department of Health promised the extra funding after a report revealed the low level of spending in the UK on cancer medication compared to the rest of Europe.

27 Oct 2010

Diabetes threatens the eyesight of many unsuspecting Americans

Diabetes causes more new cases of legal blindness among working-age Americans than any other disease. If diabetics are monitored regularly by their ophthalmologist, this vision loss is almost always avoidable. Yet, tragically, more than half of all people living with diabetes do not get the recommended annual dilated eye exam. As the number of people with Type 2 diabetes rises in the U.S., the CDC projects that the number of adults with diabetic retinopathy will double by the year 2050. Yet 90 percent of diabetic eye disease can be prevented simply by proper regular examinations and treatment and by controlling blood sugar.

27 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 27, 2010

Today's headlines note that the new health law has Democrats playing defense, while Republicans offer few new alternatives to the sweeping measure.

27 Oct 2010

New campaign raises funds for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

UCSF has launched an innovative fundraising campaign that leverages social media to raise awareness of and dollars for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. The UCSF Challenge for the Children, a collaboration with the online fundraising platform Causes.com, kicks off today (Oct. 26, 2010) as part of the groundbreaking festivities for the new UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, site of the future children's hospital as well as women's and cancer hospitals.

27 Oct 2010

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

NICE to lose its power to ban life saving drugs

New PHQ-9 screening test evaluates major depression in adults

Research Roundup: Primary care doc pay and satisfaction; fixes to Medicare reimbursements; free vaccines?

Providers brace for health overhaul, seek to improve quality

New Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush University provides proper diagnosis for athletes

Studies identify effective strategies for improving colorectal cancer screening among African-Americans

Public health care supporters call for investigation of Copeman Healthcare Centre

Miami Miller School receives grant to study impact of GenerationOne's mobile solution on heart failure patients

Hospital group and physicians looking at ACOs; Harvard to open primary care education center

Opto Circuits acquires Unetixs Vascular's detection and diagnostics products

Pfizer announces approval of Lyrica capsules for peripheral neuropathic pain

First Edition: October 28, 2010

Joined-up approach to evaluate childhood obesity programmes

PCP credits dedicated primary care community for formation of Harvard's new Center

Ipsen reports 8.3% increase in Group sales for first nine months of 2010

A look at the secretive AMA panel behind Medicare's payment rates

£600 million cancer drug fund for UK cancer patients

Diabetes threatens the eyesight of many unsuspecting Americans

First Edition: October 27, 2010

New campaign raises funds for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

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Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

A journey through science, software, and innovation: Insights from the Bruker software team

CellVoyant's AI-Powered Vision for the Future of Cell Therapy

Scalable, Smart, and Accessible: The Future of Lab Automation

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