News

The concept of healthcare reform is pointless unless we address fraud and waste. It matters little whether providers are cognizant of the fact they are defrauding or are just financial dullards.

My impression is that the reaction of physicians to electronic decision support has been mixed.

To reiterate—the big opportunity in healthcare reform is in being aware of what's going on and what is not—measuring and managing; managing and measuring.

Vertebroplasty, the percutaneous injection of a cement into a vertebral fracture, has become a widely used procedure for the treatment of spinal compression fractures.

A third Class II HLA gene has been identified as another risk factor for celiac disease by a researcher at the University of the Basque Country in Spain.

Cardiogenic shock continues to be a major complication of acute myocardial infarction, with in-hospital mortality approaching 70% to 80% for patients who are managed medically.

How long is too long for state licensing boards to investigate complaints about healthcare providers?

Patients who are depressed are less likely to adhere to a physician’s orders about physical activity and less likely to be physically active on a regular basis, the results of a new study show.

Recently ASCO came out with a recommendation that all patients and families should be apprised of the cost of cancer care at the beginning of their treatment.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has added information on the H1N1 (swine flu) virus to its clinical practice guidelines on the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections.

Managed Care is an opportunity to do just that—manage the care and create a balance of its three interdependent components: access, cost and quality.

During the 5th annual HOPA conference, Christy S. Harris, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, led a breakout workshop that examined outcomes related to inadequate adherence in patients with malignancy.

In case you haven’t heard, the FDA has found that TNF blockers are associated with an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers when used in children and adolescents.

A cannibalistic process in cells may be the key to prevent harmful bacteria from becoming successful pathogens, and a decrease in this process may also lead to problems in the way that the intestinal tract handles infections.

Health officials overseeing the move for health care information technology (HIT) under government incentives are concerned that breaches of EHR systems are a serious possibility and that preventative measures need to be put in place.

This week President Obama made his case for the healthcare overhaul in a state close by (he was in NC) and I wish I could have made the trip to ask some questions. For the most part I am ALL for a major overhaul.

Researchers have found that the microbiome of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease is altered in comparison to healthy patient.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond well to methotrexate may benefit from ofatumumab, preliminary results from a Phase III trial show.

Long-term memory loss and cognitive problems that heart bypass patients suffer after surgery are due to the underlying coronary artery disease and not the use of a heart-lung machine during surgery, new research shows.

The AMA proposal to ban lab coats is an infection control measure, but will it work?

The Food and Drug Administration approved the Bristol-Myers/AstraZeneca once-daily drug Onglyza for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults.

The FDA yesterday approved Invega Sustenna, an extended-release injectable suspension, for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Researcher John Csernansky, MD, is working to produce a "map of the unique dips, swells and crevasses of the brains of individuals that he hopes will provide the first scientific tool for early and more definite diagnosis of mental disorders such as schizophrenia."

The 2009 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation became available this week, with statistics that reflect data collected up to 2006 and 2007.

People are living longer and the population is aging; as a consequence, we are seeing more need for chronic disease management, but at the same time, there is a decline in the availability of primary care physicians.

Michael Jackson's health history is front page news.

Oophorectomy is a fairly routine procedure in women with cancers of the gynecologic tract; performed as part of surgical staging.

Hopefully when you or your mobile employees are behind the wheel of a car, you refrain from using your cellphone.

On the one hand, there's rationing... And on the other hand, there's measurement and management...

Drug-induced diseases and serious adverse drug effects can alter therapeutic plans and greatly affect patient outcomes. Many medications are known to have a narrow therapeutic index and to require close patient monitoring.