Health Care


Consumer Groups Want White House Office Restored

A Dec. 11 letter to President-elect Obama and congressional leaders from seven organizations lists food safety, a consumer "czar," and affordable health care as urgent priorities.

New Rule Aims to Reduce Ozone-Depleting Chemical by 75 Percent

The U.S. plans to reduce consumption and production of HCFCs by 75 percent in 2010 and completely eliminate the chemical by 2030.

Basic Safety Steps for Health Care Workers During Flu Season

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) is urging health care workers and their employers to follow three basic steps this flu season to help prevent influenza infections in the health care workforce.

medical exam gloves

Group to Develop Test Methods for Antimicrobial Medical Gloves

ASTM International has formed a new task group on antimicrobial medical gloves and invites glove suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors; contract test labs; government agency representatives; and infection control practitioners to participate in it.

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Issues Recall of Pediatric Arterial Cannulae

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems (Terumo CVS) has issued an urgent, nationwide/worldwide recall of its Tenderflow™ Pediatric Arterial Cannulae involving 21 lot codes.

Guidance Allowing 'FTC Method' Claims for Cigarettes Rescinded

A better understanding of smokers' "compensatory smoking behavior" is behind the change, the agency said.

OSHA Addresses Restraining Mechanisms for Sharps Containers

"The placement of sharps containers, as well as the measures used to maintain them in an upright position during use, must be based on the site-specific hazard assessment of the area of intended use," wrote Richard E. Fairfax, director of OSHA's Enforcement Program Directorate.

doctor treating a patient

Do Employers Know How They're Paying Medical Providers?

An online survey about workers' compensation policies and practices found nearly 60 percent of respondent employers weren't sure how their third-party administrators or managed care organizations are compensated for medical provider network development.



National Influenza Vaccination Week Begins Today

To help raise awareness regarding the seriousness of influenza and the importance of annual vaccination throughout the influenza season the Department of Health and Human Services, National Influenza Vaccine Summit, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners are conducting activities during the third annual National Influenza Vaccination Week, starting today and running through Dec. 14, 2008.

Ontario Nurses Release Workplace Violence Prevention Guideline

A team of nurses and other health experts spent the past two years identifying the strongest research evidence and developing recommendations to address verbal, emotional and physical acts of aggression and violence that could be perpetrated by health-care professionals, patients or patients' family members.

Study Explores Light Exposure Therapy Effectiveness for Shift Workers

A new study finds the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses, and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a "compromise circadian phase position," which may result in increased performance and alertness during night shifts while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on days off.

Sixteen Organizations Commit to Review under New Wellness Accreditation

This evaluation program will help employers and others compare wellness programs using standardized results and select a wellness program with demonstrated value and quality.

Cincinnati's Drug and Poison Information Center Lists Holiday Hazards

The holiday season is usually a time of joy but it also brings the potential for poisonings, according to the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), a service of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

AAOS Offers Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

The mundane seasonal chore of snow shoveling combines heavy lifting and cold weather can result in possible injuries to the back, shoulder muscles if shovelers do not take the proper precautions, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

New Director Named for NIEHS

Board-certified toxicologist Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., will take over in January at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

nurse

Lone Bright Spot in Jobs Report: Health Care

Health care employment grew by 34,000 jobs in November and has grown by 369,000 jobs in the past year, according to this morning's BLS data, which showed other sectors shrinking sharply.

FDA, WebMD Form Public Health Information Partnership

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and WebMD have announced a collaboration that expands consumers' access to the agency's timely and reliable important health information. This joint effort reflects FDA's emphasis on using innovative, technology-based strategies to carry out its foremost mission, which is to promote and to protect the public health.

Hepatitis C Clinical Trial finds No Benefit from Low-Dose Peginterferon

An NIH funded multi-center clinical trial found no benefit from "maintenance therapy," low-dose peginterferon used for hepatitis C patients who have not responded to an initial round of treatment. In addition, the study showed a surprising health decline in patients with liver disease over the course of four years.

medical resident sleeping

Days Off, Safe Transport Recommended to Reduce Residents' Fatigue

A 15-month study produced this week's Institute of Medicine report that found medical residents' work schedules can hamper their performance and increase errors.

Researchers Identify Age-Related Hearing Loss Gene

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, accounts for 30 percent of all hearing loss, according to a recent online study release in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

Product Showcase

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. Read More

  • AirChek Connect Sampling Pump

    Stay connected to your sampling with the SKC AirChek® Connect Sampling Pump! With its Bluetooth connection to PC and mobile devices, you can monitor AirChek Connect pump operation without disrupting workflow. SKC designed AirChek Connect specifically for all OEHS professionals to ensure accurate, reliable flows from 5 to 5000 ml/min and extreme ease of use. AirChek Connect offers easy touch screen operation and flexibility. It is quality built to serve you and the workers you protect. Ask about special pricing and a demo at AIHA Connect Booth 1003. Read More

  • NoiseCHEK Personal Noise Dosimeter

    SKC NoiseCHEK is the easiest-to-use dosimeter available! Designed specifically for OEHS professionals, SKC NoiseCHEK offers the easiest operation and accurate noise measurements. Everything you need is right in your palm. Pair Bluetooth models to your mobile devices and monitor workers remotely with the SmartWave dB app without interrupting workflow. Careful design features like a locking windscreen, sturdy clip, large front-lit display, bright status LEDs, and more make NoiseCHEK the top choice in noise dosimeters. Demo NoiseCHEK at AIHA Connect Booth 1003. Read More

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