Sean Johnson

After 21 days of living trapped in a Chilean mine, family members of the miners were able to get a visual of their loved ones as the first video of the men and their living conditions reached the surface today.

A new ruling has set back the Obama administration's efforts to expand stem-cell research yesterday after a judge issued a preliminary injuction which prevents the federal government from funding any medical research related to embryonic stem cells.

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly obsessed with social media. And while social media does allow users to make connections and share experiences in ways that simply were not possible 20, 15, and even 10 years ago, the harsh reality is that social media involvement can become an addiction.

The BP oil spill has been in the news for so long that many people have become numb to the reports coming out of the Gulf Coast. But health advisers have begun to turn their attention to the impact that the spill will have on those who have been close to the devastated region.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a seasoned radio host with over 30 years experience. Her popularity is undeniable; however, she announced yesterday that she will be quitting her talk show, in part due to criticism from a racially charged conversation she had with a caller.

Michael Douglas faces his toughest role yet: a real-life cancer patient. The 65-year-old ex-smoker is preparing for an eight-week treatment regimen that will include radiation and chemotherapy.

The Associated Press has released some guidelines pertaining to social media terms and usage in the new AP Stylebook; some changes are long overdue, and others are a bit of a headscratcher.

The highly coveted iPad was released last weekend, and those who were fortunate enough to acquire the new gadget have been quick to discuss what kind of impact it will have on just about any industry. But what kind of impact will the iPad have on healthcare?

Early this morning, President Obama announced that there is no actual need for healthcare reform, and apologized for "making such a big deal about it before."

Consider this a call to action. Telemedicine needs more attention in neurology practices and hospitals

Allison Connelly-Flores, Urban Health Care, Inc, told her story about despair, faith, hope, frustration, jubilation, and, through all of these things, success.

One of the ongoing sessions is the panelist of healthcare bloggers, and each day presents a different panel of recognizable voices.

EMRs have the ability to transform healthcare and give providers the ability to streamline workflow and spend more time with patients.

If your patient needed rehabilitation for an injury or simply wanted to sharpen his or her cognitive skills, do you think they'd rather be asked to perform mundane movement drills and fill out test sheets or play a fun video game?

The FDA public hearings on the use of the Internet and social media to promote FDA-regulated medical products drew hundreds of presenters and thousands of written comments. Although the FDA isn't expected to issue formal rules or guidance until late next year at the earliest, the initial response among stakeholders has been positive.

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show recently concluded in Las Vegas; but aside from everything transforming into 3D, there were some other advances and introductions in the world of tech gadgets that are worth mentioning.

Migraine sufferers got some more bad news on Monday, when the results of a study determined that "sufferers are also more prone to splitting head pain after drinking too much."

Today was the final day of the American College of Rheumatology's 2009 Scientific Meeting. Here are some of the study highlights from the finale.

Dozens of posters were presented under the RA umbrella during the morning of day 4 at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals 2009 Annual Scientific Sessions.

Dozens of posters were presented under the RA umbrella during the morning of day 4 at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals 2009 Annual Scientific Sessions.

Objectives for this presentation included identifying biologic agents in the use of RA; discussing the role of TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis; describing the role of B-cells in rheumatoid arthritis; and discussing what advances need to happen in order to better treat this condition.

Today's panel discussion on improving the quality of care through quality, innovation, and service included some all star presenters. If this team were a baseball team they'd be the Yankees; we're talking about some big names. We have Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, president and chief executive officer of Cleveland Clinic; Dr. William Wright, Executive Medical Director Colorado Permanente Medical Group; and Dr. Gary S. Kaplan, Chairman and CEO of the Virginia Mason Health System.

Electronic Health Records – the three words that you’ve probably heard a billion times. They are the words that lead to other words that you hear over and over again: incentives, penalties, integration, etc. Many physicians admittedly hesitate to implement an EHR in their practice for numerous reasons. But aside from the big ones, such as cost, security, and the time it takes, there’s one major barrier – interoperability.

Today’s discussion on EHR incentive payments and implementation included a lot of issues that regular MDNG readers are familiar with: HITECH, “meaningful use,” and annual incentives. Although it may seem like the same old song and dance, the reality is that all those dates you’ve been hearing about are fast approaching.

Leah Cohen, a Government Affairs Representative for MGMA, led off her presentation today by announcing to the large crowd that she is “only the messenger.” It was a great way to break the ice, and her comment got many laughs from the physicians in the audience who were looking to her to sort out some of the legislation that affects them.

The easiest way to avoid any kind of HIPAA problems is to make sure that your patients’ personal health information (PHI) is secure – by definition, secure PHI cannot be breached. Best to get prepared now because as HIPAA informs, the penalties they-are-a-comin.

Today's MGMA session on Web 2.0 was a very interesting session to sit in on, not only because of the subject matter, but also because of the audience interaction.

What do physicians really think about the HITECH act, health IT stimulus incentives, and the government’s new role in their lives? Using the power of social media, we did a little research and asked MDNG readers to share their opinions, concerns, and advice.

What do physicians really think about the HITECH act, health IT stimulus incentives, and the government’s new role in their lives? Using the power of social media, we did a little research and asked MDNG readers to share their opinions, concerns, and advice.

What do physicians really think about the HITECH act, health IT stimulus incentives, and the government’s new role in their lives? Using the power of social media, we did a little research and asked MDNG readers to share their opinions, concerns, and advice.