Health Care


Year One of H1N1 Showed System's Effectiveness, Frieden Says

Influenza activity remains low, but the CDC director warns a resurgence is still possible. Almost 17,800 deaths worldwide have been attributed to H1N1, WHO says.

Patient Recruiter Pleads Guilty for Role in Fraudulent Medical Testing Scheme

Recruited patients were instructed to claim they had certain symptoms to trigger medically unnecessary tests, which Medicare then performed.

Night Shift Linked to Sleep Problems in Younger Workers

Sleep problems were most apparent in workers in their 30s and 40s. Former shiftworkers had more sleep problems than those who had never done shiftwork.

Joint Commission Set for Nurses Week

A podcast and Facebook discussion are part of the accrediting organization's preparations for the May 6-12 event.

FDA phasing out certain inhalers

Seven Inhalers That Use CFCs Being Phased Out

FDA originally proposed to phase-out the seven metered-dose products in 2007 and reached a final decision after reviewing more than 4,000 public comments and information submitted as part of a public meeting. The earliest deadline, affecting two of the inhalers, is June 14.

The October 2009 death of an Indiana man from rabies linked to a type of bat prompted the CDC recommendations.

CDC Issues PPE Recommendations for Rabies Autopsies

Its work in the investigation of an Indiana man's death from rabies last October has caused CDC to issue recommendations for pathologists who perform autopsies on people who had suspected or confirmed cases.

New York Spearheads First Occupational Health Awareness Week

Enhancing the week's impact, the event is being held in conjunction with Workers Memorial Day, April 28, which traditionally serves as a nationwide day of remembrance to recognize U.S. workers who die and become disabled each year on the job.

EPA Proposes Adding 16 Chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory List

Each of the chemicals is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," the agency said, noting the additions would be the first program chemical expansion in more than a decade.



FDA Provides Information to Consumers About Triclosan

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently updated its Web site with information about triclosan, a common ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It may be found in antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpastes, and some cosmetics--products regulated by the FDA.

NQF: U.S. Health Care Not as Safe as It Should Be

Communication failures between patients and health care providers are at the root of systems failures and human errors that lead to harm, says the National Quality Forum, a nonprofit organization trying to improve the industry.

AHRQ Finds Hospital Charges Grew 88 Percent for Uninsured

The amount that hospitals charge the uninsured for inpatient care grew by 88 percent between 1998 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The average charge for an uninsured hospital stay grew from $11,400 in 1998 to $21,400 in 2007 after adjusting for inflation.

Study Finds Doctors with Ownership in Surgery Center Operate More Often

When doctors become invested in an outpatient surgery center, they perform on average twice as many surgeries as doctors with no such financial stake, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System.

9/11 FDNY Rescuers Show Lasting Lung Damage

A study of nearly 13,000 rescue workers from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) shows that the significant proportion who suffered acute lung damage after exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust have not recovered normal lung function in the years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Mary Andrus wins lectureship award

Infection Preventionist Honored for Oratory Prowess, Epidemiology Efforts

In addition to her ability to present a dynamic lecture on the science of infection control, Mary Andrus, BA, RN, CIC, has received the 2010 Elaine Larson Lectureship Award "for her breadth of knowledge and experience working to prevent health care-associated infections," said APIC President Cathryn Murphy.

Researchers Reaffirm Link between Effective Nurse Communication, Patient Safety

A systematic review of nursing handoff literature has determined that minimal research has been done to identify best practices, despite well-known negative consequences of inadequate nursing handoffs. The article was published in the April issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN).

Correct Exercise, Posture Key to Older Adult Fall Prevention

Being able to stay in their homes and remain independent is a daily struggle for many older adults. As we age we tend to lose our flexibility, our connective tissue tightens, and we have prolonged reaction times. Problems with vision, including depth perception, all increase the likelihood of falling. When a child falls it may result in a few bumps and bruises.

Walking

Study: Walking Lowers Women's Stroke Risk

In a nearly 12-year follow-up study, women who walked two or more hours per week had a significantly lower risk of stroke than women who didn’t walk.

April is Stress Awareness Month

Relax. Stress Awareness Day is Still a Week Away

"Although it is not possible to give a universal prescription for preventing stress at work, it is possible to offer guidelines on the process of stress prevention in organizations," NIOSH says.

Study Links Sleep Apnea to Increased Risk of Stroke

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men, according to new results from new research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men.

Study Spotlights More Accurate Way to Diagnose Tuberculosis

TB continues to be a contagious scourge in developing countries, and with the world shrinking rapidly due to global migration, the World Health Organization considers it a major public health threat in developed nations as well, including the United States.

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