Health Care


FDA Approves New Wireless Device for Heart Failure Patients

The agency has approved the first-ever implantable wireless device with remote monitoring to measure pulmonary artery pressure and heart rate in patients with heart failure.

Hypothermia Trial Beginning in Pittsburgh

Doctors will try to save seriously injured patients -– dying patients, actually -– by using the procedure.

NFPA Conference Features Surgical Fires Panel Discussion

The association's Health Care Section is sponsoring the June 11 panel.

World Health Assembly Approves Hepatitis Resolution

The resolution notes the importance of implementing measures to protect vulnerable groups and says there is a need to improve screening.

Pertussis Cases Soar in California

The number reported this year through April, 1,711, more than tripled the number during the same period in 2013.

FDA Requires Lower Lunesta Starting Dose

The agency has announced it will be requiring a lower starting dose for the sleep drug.

WHO Committee: MERS Not Yet an Emergency of International Concern

May 13’s decision took place at the fifth meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. WHO's statement says the committee members did agree their concern about the situation has significantly increased, given the recent spike in cases.

FDA Approves New Tablet to Reduce Stroke, Heart Attack Risk

The agency approves Zontivity to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in high risk patients.



The lack of standards and key information about the interface -- where the gowns and gloves meet at the wearer

NIOSH, Partners Researching Effectiveness of Isolation Gowns

ASTM has formed a task group to develop a specification standard for them, Selcen Kilinc-Balci, a physical scientist for NIOSH's National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, reported on the agency’s Science Blog.

"Despite claims to the contrary, the fact is that the top dose of Zohydro is no more potent than the highest strengths of other extended-release opioids like Oxycontin and extended-release morphine," FDA Commissioner Hamburg noted..

Taking Aim at Zohydro Won't Solve Opioid Abuse: FDA's Commissioner

Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg writes that the states "have an important role to play in addressing a critical driver of opioid abuse -- inappropriate prescribing practices. However, we can't just focus on one drug, Zohydro, alone."

WHO Issues Updated MERS-CoV Risk Assessment

As many as 75 percent of the recent cases are secondary infections -- meaning individuals who became infected through contact with another person. Most of these are health care workers who became infected at work.

FDA Proposes More Oversight on Tobacco Products

The agency proposes extending its authority to other products, including e-cigarettes.

FDA Proposes Expedited Medical Device Access Program

The agency proposes a new expedited access program for medical devices for patients whose conditions are urgent and serious.

National take-back days have allowed participating agencies to take more than 4.1 million pounds of unwanted or expired prescription medications out of circulation since DEA

DEA Holding Eighth Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 26

Participating agencies have taken more than 1,700 tons of unwanted or expired prescription medications out of circulation during the past three and a half years in this way.

FDA Approves Treatment for Hay Fever

The FDA approves Ragwitek for treatment of short ragweed pollen allergies.

The CDC recommendations include tips for safe transportation, personal safety, vaccinations, and over-the-counter medications during the tournament in Brazil.

CDC Offers 2014 World Cup Travel Tips

Vaccinations, avoiding mosquitoes, and choosing safe transportation are some of its recommendations.

Existing Medicare and Medicaid health care facilities more than 75 feet tall will have 12 years in which to install fire sprinklers throughout.

CMS Adopting 2012 Life Safety Code

The agency has set a 60-day comment period for the proposed rule it published April 16. A new provision for existing health care occupancies will require buildings more than 75 feet tall to have automatic sprinkler systems installed throughout the building.

New Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Approved

The FDA has approved Tanzeum subcutaneous injection for those living with type 2 diabetes. FDA is requiring post-marketing studies for Tanzeum, including a clinical trial to evaluate dosing, efficacy, and safety in pediatric patients.

The study published in JAMA in April 2014 suggests a more conservative transfusion strategy can reduce hospital-acquired infection rates.

Conservative Transfusion Strategy May Cut Hospital Infection Rates

JAMA has published a paper by a team led by Drs. Mary Rogers and Jeffrey Rohde of the University of Michigan. They examined the association between two types of transfusion strategies and health care-associated infections.

CA Workers' Comp Agency Issues Proposed Opioids Guideline

The Division of Workers' Compensation is accepting public comments until April 21.

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