The most likely scenario for Europe throughout 2010 is continuing low-level transmission and small outbreaks of the pandemic 2009 A(H1N1) influenza, although larger outbreaks could occur, according to the March 9 forecast.
March 22 is the deadline to apply for the awards being handed out at Fire-Rescue Med in early May. The awards honor creative approaches to improving therapies for patients with acute coronary syndromes and sudden cardiac arrest.
"One may think that fingersticks are selected more frequently because they cost less; however, that isn't necessarily true," says white paper author Richard Penington. "Likewise, some believe that the venous blood draw gives results that are more accurate because the blood is sent to a lab for testing. That's also not necessarily true."
This year's Patient Safety Awareness Week has the tagline "Let's Talk: Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare."
A majority of consumers read food labels and are increasingly aware of the link between good nutrition and reducing the risk of disease, according to the latest survey of dietary habits released today by the Food and Drug Administration.
Drinking four or more cups of coffee daily is associated with reduced hospitalization for rhythm disturbances by 18 percent, the American Heart Association has reported.
When stroke strikes, choking off blood supply to the brain, every minute counts: Nearly two million neurons die each minute a stroke is left untreated, making it a race to recognize symptoms so that lifesaving "clot-busting" drugs can be administered. Forty-five percent of Americans--135 million people--are more than an hour away from primary stroke centers, the facilities that are best equipped to care for them if they are stricken by the condition, according to new research led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine that will be presented February 24 at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in San Antonio.
Results from a study of construction workers' chest x-rays at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities from 1996 to 2006 indicated that, depending on trade, abnormal results were found in 11 to 25 percent of the workers studied. The prevalence of abnormal chest x-ray increased with age and years worked.
"While most people think of construction or manufacturing as high-risk occupations where eye injuries are prevalent, even jobs requiring 'smart phones,' laptops, and desktop computers can cause vision problems if not used properly," notes AOA's Dr. James Sheedy.
"From eliminating central-line bloodstream infections in the neonatal intensive care unit, to organizing statewide HAI prevention initiatives, to improving employee influenza vaccination rates -- this year's Heroes demonstrate what improvements in patient safety can be accomplished when focused commitment and unrelenting determination coexist," said APIC President Cathryn Murphy.
According to the study, factors driving sales include the introduction of novel therapeutics for drug-resistant bacteria, increasing incidence of severe fungal infections, the potential launch of new antiviral agents, and the introduction of new drugs in the HIV market.
Older patients hospitalized for acute care or a critical illness are more likely to experience cognitive decline compared to older adults who are not hospitalized, according to a study in the February 24 issue of JAMA.
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) recently offered guidance to help patients understand recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings about Advair® (fluticasone and salmeterol), Foradil ® (formoterol), Serevent® (salmeterol) and Symbicort® (budesonide and formoterol), daily inhaled medications containing a long-acting beta agonist (LABA, a 12-hour bronchodilator).
Dr. Dipak Desai had voluntarily agreed not to practice medicine, but Wednesday's unanimous acceptance of his surrendered license by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is "absolute and irrevocable," the board stated.
The agency's revised "current intelligence bulletin" for asbestos fibers and other elongate mineral particles explains what NIOSH still wants to explore and also clarifies the 1990 NIOSH recommended exposure limit for airborne asbestos fibers.
"People with rare diseases remain a medically underserved population around the world," said Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the event's sponsor. "Studies have shown that it typically takes many years to get an accurate diagnosis for a rare disease."
The maker of Maalox brand products has agreed to change the name of Maalox Total Relief to one that does not include the word "Maalox" and will change the drug's packaging to avoid further confusion and health-related consequences.
Women are underrepresented in clinical trials that are used to formulate guidelines, and lower social support following a heart attack leads to worse outcomes.
The non-invasive device, developed especially for those with osteoarthritis, is worn against the skin and designed to give patients and physicians the ability to precisely adjust the amount of pain-relieving force applied to the knee.
Lisa Allen, senior vice president overseeing human resources for the American Hospital Association, has worked on employee management issues since joining the association in 2001.