Health Care


White Patients Have Better Surgical Survival in Teaching Hospitals

Elderly patients who undergo surgery at teaching-intensive hospitals have better survival rates than at non-teaching hospitals, but these better survival rates apparently occur in white patients, not black patients, according to a new study that appears in the February issue of the Archives of Surgery.

Tips for Continuing Health Care during a Recession

During these tough economic times, the Institute for Good Medicine and the physician members of the Pennsylvania Medical Society are urging the public to protect their greatest asset--their health.

EPA to Review Bush Rules on Emissions

The EPA said it would reopen the possibility of regulating carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, according to the Washington Post.

Survey: Gen-X Mostly Unprepared for Long-Term Care Costs

Half of respondents estimated the average annual nursing home stay is between $20,000 and 60,000 per year, when the national average cost of one year in a nursing home is more than $75,000.

New Studies Show Rates, Risk Factors of Patient Awareness during Anesthesia

How many patients experience unwanted awareness during general anesthesia for surgery? The true rate is low but difficult to determine, while certain factors seem to increase the risk, according to a pair of studies in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

a red heart symbolizing the cost of a heart attack or critical illness

AHA Highlights Critical Illness Insurance

Noting February is American Heart Month and tomorrow turns people's attention to matters of the heart, the American Heart Association reminds us heart attack survivors may be financially strapped during recovery.

FDA, International SAE Consortium Release Genetic Data on Adverse Drug Events

The first data offering health care professionals a better look into the genetic basis of certain types of adverse drug events was released recently by the Food and Drug Administration and the International Serious Adverse Event Consortium (SAEC). The data are focused on the genetics associated with drug-induced serious skin rashes, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and helps better predict an individual's risk of developing these reactions.

Veterns Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki

VA Implements Patient Safety 'Step-Up'

The nationwide Step-Up is the culmination of an educational program by Secretary Eric Shinseki's VA to implement stronger procedures and better accountability at VA health care facilities.



Study Finds Cognitive Tests May Predict Driving Safety in Alzheimer Sufferers

Doctors may be able to use certain cognitive tests to help determine whether a person with Alzheimer's disease can safely get behind the wheel. The research is published in the Feb. 10, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

a yellow sign warning of slippery conditions

HSE Starts Phase Two of 'Shattered Lives'

The British campaign to reduce slip-and-fall injuries is focused on seven sectors where they are common: food retail, catering and hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, building and plant maintenance, construction, health care, and education.

Survey: Middle-aged, Older Americans Struggling During Downturn

While Congress debates an economic recovery bill, many middle-aged and older Americans are finding it difficult to stay above water.

DOL Gives CANEL Workers Special Exposure Cohort Designation

The Department of Labor has announced that all former Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory (CANEL) workers have now been added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits.

"Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research"

Report: HIPAA Privacy Rule Not Private Enough

Among its recommendations, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Health Research and the Privacy of Health Information urges all health research institutions take strong measures to safeguard the security of personal¬ly identifiable health information and advises the Department of Health and Human Services to support the development and use of new security technologies and self-evaluation standards.

USFA, NVFC Release Volunteer Fire, Emergency Services Guide

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), working with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), has issued a revised Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services.

DOL Pays $100 Million in Benefits to Florida Residents

The Department of Labor recently announced that it has paid more than $100 million in compensation and medical benefits to Florida residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

a cars exhaust, which contributes to urban air pollutants

Ozone Wheezing's Cause, New Treatments Found

Researchers from NIEHS and Duke University said they identified several proteins that can limit the lung irritation and wheezing caused by exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant.

FDA, Eli Lilly Evaluating the Drug Xigris

The agency's safety review of the drug comes on the heels of a recent study reporting an increased risk of serious bleeding events and death in patients with sepsis and baseline bleeding risk factors who received the drug.

CDC Publishes Inaugural Emergency Response Report

CDC's Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER) has released its inaugural report on CDC activities in public health emergency preparedness, titled Public Health Preparedness: Strengthening CDC's Emergency Response.

Survey Finds Retirement, Health Care Costs Top Concerns

The results also exposed a growing emphasis on "personal responsibility" and a potential blind spot related to generational differences.

helicopter ambulance

EMS Helicopter Hearing Moves to Safety Equipment Today

A recent spate of crashes brought this industry's safety into focus once again. The four-day hearing that began yesterday in Washington, D.C., is examining the industry's performance, risks, oversight, funding structures, and record. This Ben Saladino photo shows a helicopter operated by CareFlite, which is a party to the hearing.

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