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Ontario Hospital Association and CAW reach tentative agreement for hospital employees

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) announced today that it has reached a negotiated, tentative three-year collective agreement for hospital employees represented by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW).

4 Sep 2009

Americans' health perceptions contradict national statistics

We think we’re healthier than we actually are, suggests a new survey from market research leader Mintel. Surveying Americans about their health, Mintel found people’s perceptions strongly contradict national statistics about obesity, illness and wellness.

4 Sep 2009

Positive impact on medication adherence through Aetna's care management program

Aetna announced today results of an analysis from the first half of 2009, demonstrating an average medication adherence of over 95 percent for its members taking Specialty medications. Disease states evaluated in Aetna’s analysis include: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, Crohn's disease, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), psoriasis, Hepatitis C and asthma.

4 Sep 2009

Minnesota offers model for cost-effective health care

In the second of two reports, NPR examines how Minnesota provides lessons on how to create a more cost-effective health care delivery system. "Many agree that the [fee-for-service] system for doctors and hospitals doesn't work ... and is a major driver in rising health care costs. The health care bills before Congress may do little to change that. But on the state level, Minnesota may have found its own way to move doctors off of the fee-for-service treadmill."

4 Sep 2009

New scholarship program announced for health care students

At a time when most health care professions are experiencing significant worker shortages and need is growing, community colleges and businesses are teaming up to support future graduates in key health care professions.

4 Sep 2009

Healthland and PMI form partnership to provide EIS solutions to small community hospitals

Healthland, America's market leader of healthcare information solutions for small community and critical access hospitals, announced today it has partnered with the Performance Management Institute (PMI), to deliver an innovative solution to small community hospitals. PMI works with numerous state networks and hospital systems to provide a platform for monitoring and performance.

4 Sep 2009

Members of Congress will seek business investment in Rwanda

A delegation of five U.S. members of Congress traveling in Africa "pledged to woo the U.S. business community to invest in Rwanda," New Times/allAfrica.com reports. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who is leading the delegation, "said that Rwanda has proven to be one of the most favourable places to do business and it would be a major destination for U.S. investors," the publication writes. "I think the U.S. can continue to send individuals here, businessmen especially, that would invest in Rwanda and also help the people of Rwanda. I think this is very important," Meeks said.

4 Sep 2009

World should contribute $23B to increase women's access to contraception, UNFPA says

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday "appealed for the world to contribute more to improve women's health and access to contraception," Agence France-Presse reports.

4 Sep 2009

FDA approves new xTAG Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2 from Luminex

Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new cystic fibrosis (CF) test: the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 4 Sep 2009

Uninsured populations to receive health care coverage through grants from HHS

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $70.9 million in grants to 13 states to support the expansion of health care coverage for their uninsured populations.

4 Sep 2009

Oncotype DX multigene expression test for breast cancer patients

In an effort to provide breast cancer patients with prompt, critical information about treatment options for use at their first visit with the medical oncologist, a number of leading U.S. surgeons request Genomic Health's Oncotype DX molecular test at the time of surgery or biopsy.

4 Sep 2009

Department of Health's guidance on swine flu vaccination leaves local health chiefs confused

Thousands of frontline health workers in England are trapped in a postcode lottery after Department of Health (DH) guidance on swine flu vaccination has left local health chiefs confused over who is eligible for the jab.

4 Sep 2009

U.S. Army awards AWR certification for the Masimo Radical-7 and Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeters

Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, today announced that its Radical-7 and Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeters have achieved Airworthiness Release (AWR) Certification from the United States Army.

4 Sep 2009

U.S. hospitals place high precedence on environmentally responsible practices

Summary: Results of a recent survey commissioned by StandPoint indicate that U.S. Hospitals are putting a higher priority on implementing environmentally responsible practices. The major initiatives fall into two groups -- Waste Stream Management and Infrastructure.

4 Sep 2009

Complaint filed against Coventry for violating the Exchange Act

Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (“Coughlin Stoia”) today announced that a class action has been commenced on behalf of an institutional investor in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on behalf of purchasers of the common stock of Coventry Health Care, Inc. (“Coventry” or the “Company”) between February 9, 2007 and October 22, 2008, inclusive (the “Class Period”), seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).

4 Sep 2009

Obama's health care dilemma evokes memories of 1974

Kaiser Health News reports on similarities between past and present health reform efforts.

4 Sep 2009

Pzifer to pay $2.3 billion in medicare/medicaid fraud settlement

The Obama administration announced a landmark $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement with Pfizer, Inc. Wednesday, which is expected to change drug companies' promotion of off-label use of medicines.

4 Sep 2009

Media examine debate over UNESCO international sex education guidelines

The New York Times examines how "[a] set of proposed international sex education guidelines aimed at reducing H.I.V. infections among young people" and unplanned pregnancies, based on "more than 80 studies of sex education," has received some criticism. The release of the final guidelines, originally scheduled for next week by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has been delayed.

4 Sep 2009

New web resource launched for AAC community supporters

Prentke Romich Company (PRC), the leading manufacturer of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with speech disabilities, today announced the launch of AAC Language Lab, a comprehensive new web resource for speech professionals, teachers, and parents who support the AAC community.

4 Sep 2009

Insects may guide in building better artificial tissues and organs

Insects are about to be analyzed in a new way by a host of Virginia Tech engineering faculty. They will be using some fancy state-of-the-art equipment, such as a kilometer-long synchrotron x-ray light source, which might be enough to scare any bug. And first up will be beetles, grasshoppers and silk moths because they have some endearing characteristics.

4 Sep 2009