New prototype phone gives fitness check - The Wellness Mobile Phone

Hmmm...this phone can tell me when I have bad breath...and can sense what I am doing...running, walking resting and counts the calories...or what ever else I might be doing...hmmmm...good thoughts, but this phone might just be a little to nosy...I do like the bad breath indicator though as I would always know when it is time for another breath mint!  BD

CHIBA, Japan - It can take your pulse, check your body fat, time your jogs and tell you if you have bad breath. It even assesses stress levels and inspires you with a pep talk. Meet your new personal trainer: your cell phone.  The prototype Wellness mobile phone from Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc. targets users with busy lives who want a hassle-free way of keeping track of their health, according to company spokesman Noriaki Tobita. The phone, unveiled this week at the CEATEC electronics show outside Tokyo, has an inbuilt motion sensor that detects body movement and calculates how many calories you burn.

Hold the phone with outstretched arms, and it turns into a mini body fat calculator. A sensor at the top of the phone takes your pulse from your fingertip.

Worried about bad breath? Use the phone's breathalyzer. After Tobita blew on a tiny hole on the side of the handset for about three seconds, the screen flashed, "Not too bad."

When the busy spokesman answered "Yes" to a series of questions — including "Do you feel lethargic?" and "Do you go to bed after midnight?" — a message appeared on the screen warning he was under a lot of stress.

"Don't worry, tomorrow's a fresh new day," the phone then flashed. "Keep your chin up!"

New prototype phone gives fitness check - Yahoo! News

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FTC Cracks Down on Health Sites' Claims - Online Sellers of alternative hormone replacement therapy products

Best I think to stay with your doctor's advice on this one...BD

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed complaints against seven online sellers of alternative hormone replacement therapy products, alleging that the Web sites made health claims for their natural progesterone creams without supporting evidence.

Six of the sellers have signed consent orders barring them from making unsubstantiated claims in the future, the FTC announced Friday. The seventh Web site did not respond to repeated efforts to contact it by the FTC staff, and its case will be heard by an administrative law judge, the agency said. "Millions of women seek safe, effective alternatives to hormone replacement therapy," said Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "These companies violated their trust by making claims they just couldn't prove.

FTC Cracks Down on Health Sites' Claims - Yahoo! News

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TeleMedic Systems - Telemedicine products...

Products have the potential to guide and help a non medical person in an emergency by connecting to a physician who can see patient vital signs and other information in real time and guide a non medical person to assist in getting emergency relief to a patient.  Data can also be transmitted via the VitaLink connection to and from local PCs and PDAs..life saving data streaming...has been used by companies such as British Airways, U S Airways and others to respond to an emergency situation...BD

Remote medical emergencies are an ever-growing concern for organizations with employees working in an environment where there is no medical support. TeleMedic Systems have created VitalLink 1200 to help people in these stressful, sometimes life-threatening conditions. With the ability of satellite communications there is now access for people in remote areas to get medical help at the touch of a few buttons.

In an emergency situation VitalLink 1200 is simply turned on and voice prompts and on-screen instructions guide the user on how to attach the simply designed medical leads to the patient's body. These medical leads measure heart rhythm, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, temperature and pulse. The user now simply connects the VitalLink 1200 to the communications link and a one-button push connects through to the medical center. Once connected the Doctor in the Medical Centre can drive the VitalLink 1200 and assess, diagnose and advise on how best to manage the patient. There is also the ability for the Doctor and the user to communicate with each other. Voice and text messages can be sent and there is also the ability for files and images to be sent from either the Doctor or the user end.

VitalLink³ Unit
This is the primary hardware element of the whole VitalLink³ / VitalNet platform. The VitalLink³ unit acts as an intelligent manager of ALL the available systems and services relating to a single patient. This includes collating all incoming information from medical sensors to a single standardized data stream. It handles multiple simultaneous requests for elements of this data stream from local IT devices. It also intelligently monitors available communications in order to transmit the whole data stream to the nearest VitalNet server.

Wireless Devices
VitalLink³ offers 802.11 b/g (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth wireless connectivity both inbound and out. There is also the option for a built-in 3G/GPRS/GSM data card. This means the expansion and configuration options are almost limitless. VitalLink³ accepts data from wireless medical sensors, computers and other devices, such as cameras and mobile phones. The unit also makes data available in the same way – sending data to local PCs or PDAs and connecting to a VitalNet server directly via Wi-Fi or through a satellite or mobile telephone link.

TeleMedic Systems

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NightHawk Radiology Services - Teleradiology Services

This could be very valuable for rural areas in emergency situations where  radiologist services are needed and also in areas where the availability to reach a radiologist locally is restricted or over loaded.  BD

NightHawk employs a team of specialists to expedite all state licensing, hospital privileging and internal credentialing process. These individuals facilitate paperwork, set up teleconferences or meetings between licensing and credentialing boards and our doctors in order to make sure our radiologists can assist you to our full capacity.

When an image is taken at a NightHawk-affiliated hospital, it is sent to NightHawk through our highly reliable virtual private network. The workflow software then identifies the most appropriate radiologist based on his or her specialization, hospital credentials and workload capacity (how busy he or she is at that time) Upon receipt, the NightHawk radiologist performs a preliminary evaluation of the scan and dictates a written report. The patient data and report are sent back to the originating hospital, and if the evaluation requires immediate attention, the local physician may be contacted to discuss the findings that night. If the evaluation does not require immediate attention, the scan undergoes a primary evaluation the following morning by the local radiologist.

NightHawk Radiology Services - PACS Technology, Radiology Technology and Digital Radiology ? NightHawk Radiology Services

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Congressional members move forward with efforts to override the veto for children's health care...

Labor unions and advocacy groups, including MoveOn.org, said yesterday they are joining the effort to override the veto and expect to spend more than $1 million to persuade lawmakers to oppose Bush. The campaign will include television advertising and phone calls to lawmakers to argue for expansion of the program, representatives of the groups said in a conference call with reporters yesterday. The organizations are targeting members of the House, which approved the legislation last month without the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. The Senate passed the measure with a veto-proof majority.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.

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Medicare To Recover $4 Billion From Providers

Part D...BD 

Medicare, the U.S. health program for the elderly, said it will recover $4 billion from providers of drug benefit plans that were overpaid in 2006, when prescription costs were lower than expected. The reclaimed money will come from hundreds of health insurers and benefit managers that provide the so-called Part D drug plans, the government said Friday.

Medicare To Recover $4 Billion From Providers -- Courant.com

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The NHS / Patient Deadlock, UK

The NHS in the UK continues to address the culture shift that is occurring with medical care relative to hospital stays as they continue with the re-structuring of the system...BD 

There's been a lot of talk from politicians over the past three weeks about patient-centred care. We've spent a long time listening to patients about the things that matter and the research shows that the talk is sadly more rhetoric than reality. "We've identified a deadlock in the system that's led to a real complacency culture existing in the NHS and a service that doesn't tackle the issues that matter to patients. It's no surprise that problems with food, cleanliness and the organization of care crop up time and time again when the NHS isn't listening or responding to patients' needs. "Nurses, doctors, managers - they all want to hear from their patients. The NHS now needs a complete culture shift so that patients are encouraged and supported to provide feedback throughout their time in hospital and assured that their comments will make a difference. Acting on feedback would be the quickest and easiest route to making the improvements patients want to see."

Which? Calls For An End To The NHS / Patient Deadlock, UK

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Few Americans Are Familiar With A Medical Specialty That Could Decrease Pain And Increase Quality Of Life Without Surgery

Another somewhat unknown specialty...the Rehab physician...something we can learn about from our primary care physicians and when one might be beneficial to our health care...BD 

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) told family physicians attending an annual meeting here that rehabilitation physicians, also known as physiatrists, can be important allies in helping patients decrease pain and improve function without extreme interventions or costly procedures. At a session of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), doctors learned that despite the value rehabilitation physicians (physiatrists) offer patients, very few Americans are even aware of the specialty or know to ask about it. Family practitioners, the first contact for most people with undiagnosed health concerns, could play a key role in guiding patients to talk to rehabilitation physicians who are nerve, muscle and bone experts, treating injuries or illnesses that affect how patients move.

Rehabilitation physicians specialize in non-surgical management of a full range of conditions including low back, shoulder and neck pain, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, sports injuries, or more complex conditions such as spinal cord injuries, stroke and cardiac rehabilitation and traumatic brain injuries, using advanced diagnostic techniques and treatment options. The AAPM&R survey indicated that 70% of respondents go to their PCP for information about medical professionals or specialists prior to visiting a specialist.

Survey Shows That Few Americans Are Familiar With A Medical Specialty That Could Decrease Pain And Increase Quality Of Life Without Surgery

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British patients get therapy on computer

Log on the computer to help get rid of your phobias in the UK...covered by the NHS...effective or cost cutting for the NHS?  BD

LONDON - For nearly her entire life, Mary had a crippling fear of cramped spaces that meant she couldn't travel on airplanes, subways, or cars. Seeing a psychologist didn't help. So she tried something else. The 61-year-old bookkeeper, who only gave her first name to protect her privacy, sat down in front of a computer and spilled out her problems to a kind of psychiatric computer game called "Fearfighter." ADVERTISEMENT Last year, "Fearfighter" was one of two programs endorsed by Britain's health advisory watchdog for people with panic attacks, mild depression, or phobias.

People uncomfortable with getting advice from a computer can still choose to see therapists, but the option of logging on for help is now available — and will be paid for by the government-run National Health Service.

British patients get therapy on computer - Yahoo! News

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Woman's Hospital Files Federal Lawsuit Alleging Inadequate Medicaid Reimbursements

Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in a federal court against the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the administration of Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) for allegedly declining to adequately pay for services covered under Medicaid, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.

Fontenot, Woman's president and CEO, said the hospital was forced to file the lawsuit to secure the full reimbursements required by federal and state law. The lawsuit says that Woman's efforts to work with the state to increase its Medicaid reimbursements were unsuccessful despite at least 30 meetings with more than 22 members of the state Legislature and Blanco's administration. The hospital is not seeking damages but is asking the federal court to require the state to address "grossly inadequate" Medicaid reimbursements to Woman's. According to Fontenot, doing so could result in about $4 million for the hospital. "The refusal of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the governor to adequately fund the care for which the state is responsible has reached such proportions as to threaten access to many services that we provide to the community at large," Fontenot said in a statement.

Woman's Hospital Files Federal Lawsuit Alleging Inadequate Medicaid Reimbursements From Louisiana Health Department

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Microsoft Health Records...

And this is what we need to help make this work...one of my favorites...BD 

Read the original story and review of the Health Vault here...

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Pentagon acting like an HMO?

There have been stories on the television news on the same issues in the recent past...BD 

First is this news from the St. Louis Dispatch, that the Pentagon has been discharging tens of thousands of combat troops on the pretense that the mental health problems they've developed after serving in Iraq aren't PTSD but rather pre-existing personality disorders.

The pre-existing part is the kicker because it means that the Pentagon, acting like your least favorite HMO, wont pick up the cost of the medical care of these troops after it discharges them. They have kicked out about 22,000 troops who they say have pre-existing personality disorders. I don?t believe that, Missouri Sen. Kit Bond told the newspaper. And when you kick them out, they don?t get the assistance they need, they aren't entitled to DOD or Veterans Administration care for those problems.

Rolling Stone : PFSD: Pentagon Screws-over Soldiers Disorder

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Program will give hurricane-impacted firms in LA free software

And there would be no reason for the healthcare  folks to jump on this too...BD

Some small businesses in Louisiana that were affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita are eligible for a year of free software licensing from Microsoft Corp., under a program announced today by the company and Sen. Mary Landrieu. Businesses with five to 200 employees who enter into a three-year agreement with the company to license software, including Microsoft Office, will get the first year free. For a company with 50 employees and 25 computers licensing Microsoft Windows and Office programs, the saving is equal to about $12,000, Landrieu said. The agreement is the result of a letter Landrieu sent to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates asking for assistance for ailing Louisiana small businesses. Landrieu said the program is one way to help struggling businesses get back on their feet.

Program will give hurricane-impacted firms in La. free software licensing - Money - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

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Coding Cues: Answers to your questions about...99211

Always helpful information from Medical Economics on coding..BD

There are important points to remember when billing a 99211 visit. Medicare reimburses for services that are either provided directly by the practitioner or are provided "incident to." So you need to make sure you're following the incident-to rules when you submit 99211 for a Medicare patient. This includes making sure a physician is present in the office suite at the time the service is renderedeven when a nurse performs a service that doesn't require a physician's direct supervision.

Coding Cues: Answers to your questions about... - Medical Economics

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Aetna CEO Calls Microsoft, Google Health 'Vaporware

For some reason, this doesn't surprise me...but again, the entire focus with Microsoft is as I interpret this...Healthcare..not dollars...and this is more than likely why it will see a very high approval rate...it will require a little reading and training by those choosing to participate to ensure you know how and when to share..and the site uses good strategic advertising to fund...it's totally a horse of a different color..BD

Theres all this hubub about what Google and Microsoft are doing, Aetna CEO Ron Williams (pictured) said this afternoon on a visit to Health Blog HQ. Were perplexed by the fact that their vaporware gets all this attention and we get very little. He was talking about Aetnas rollout of its own personal health record a version of the same thing Microsoft launched this morning and Googles been working on for a while. Aetna launched its PHR earlier this year. Its now available to some 800,000 Aetna members and should be available to all 16 million by the end of next year, Williams said.

Health Blog : Aetna CEO Calls Microsoft, Google Health 'Vaporware

Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

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Democratic Leaders Schedule SCHIP Legislation Vote For Oct. 18 In Hopes Of Overriding President Bush's Veto

A few more days added...sad that this bill did carry a veto...BD

The House on Wednesday won a procedural vote that allowed them to postpone until Oct. 18 a vote to override a veto of legislation that would reauthorize and expand SCHIP, CQ Today reports. President Bush vetoed the bill on Wednesday. According to CQ Today, the delay is intended to give Democrats and bill supporters time to "make a 'no' vote as politically unpalatable as possible for Republicans" (Wayne, CQ Today, 10/3).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the two-week delay will allow time for Democrats and outside groups to pressure Republicans that voted against the bill (Coile, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/4). However, Republican House leaders said they are confident they will be able to sustain the veto (Lueck, Wall Street Journal, 10/4).

Democratic Leaders Schedule SCHIP Legislation Vote For Oct. 18 In Hopes Of Overriding President Bush's Veto

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Healthware - Wearable Computers in Healthcare Report

This report is available for purchase that examines "wearable" computers...the site has a PDF that give the outline of the information covered.  This is not a free publication, but might be of interest to those wishing to explore and understand the roles that technology is and will play in this area.  BD 

The role of wearable computers in patient monitoring. The role of health providers in the wearable computing market. Potential drivers for the wearable computer market. Adaptation of current products for use in medical applications. Bundling of wearable computer applications and services. Opportunities in wearable computing for IT and telecoms vendors. Like Internet enabled home appliances, wearable computing captured the imagination of both the media and the public. Even so, for some time this enthusiasm failed to translate into commercially successful products. Recently, however, a number of companies have started marketing garments, or healthware, which monitor the breathing, temperature and heart rates of athletes and keep fit enthusiasts. As well, healthcare providers have identified a role for wearable computers in remote patient monitoring. While we are a long way from a Utopia where clothing continually monitors our health a growing number of wearable computers are being used in telemedicine applications and clinical trials.

Who should purchase this report:-

Wearable computer vendors.
Healthcare providers.
Mobile network operators.
Semiconductor manufacturers.
Pharmaceutical companies.
eHealth equipment vendors.
Investors in the healthcare sector.
Other organizations active in ehealth provision.

Wireless Healthcare - Reports

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Compromised Government Web Sites - California

Security should be on everyone's agenda...watch for the EBay and Pay Pal email phishing as well...BD 

San Francisco (IDGNS) - The U.S. federal government took steps earlier this week to shut down Web sites in California in order to protect the public from hacked Web sites, but new incidents show that the problem is not going away any time soon.  "Also, in these days of heightened security concerns from hackers, it is important to quickly stop potentially harmful damage to federal, state, and local Web sites from those who have no love for our country."

The security of U.S. government Web sites has been front-page news in California this week after the U.S. General Services Administration, which administers the .gov top-level domain, temporarily removed California's state servers from the Internet's DNS infrastructure, apparently because of a security problem on the Web site of a small state agency, the Transportation Authority of Marin.

On Thursday, compromised pages hosted by the Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Superior Court of Madera County, California, were still hosting inappropriate content. Brookhaven had links that redirected visitors to pornographic Web servers, and the Madera County court site featured ads for porn and Viagra.

For example, the Madera Superior Court site has a "Click Here To E-mail Our Webmaster" link on the bottom of its front page, but when Trend Micro Network Architect Paul Ferguson used it to inform the court that its site had been hacked, his e-mail bounced back as undeliverable. Madera Superior Court representatives did not return a call seeking comment.

Bad things lurking on government sites - Yahoo! News

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Microsoft Health Records - Special Review and Basic Information

I have included what I hope to provide is some extensive information on the new Health Vault. If you read this blog regularly, you know I am a big advocate of privacy, and for many good reasons. I hand it to Microsoft for taking a jump into the records business, and thus this morning I set up my account to go through the motions and see first hand how it works.

One of my biggest concerns is privacy and who has access...as we all know sometimes information is perhaps not used for the interest of good health care, but rather for financial gains and additional data mining information that has the potential to either deny or hinder our process for obtaining both health care and insurance coverage. My personal opinion here would be to ensure this does remain a "personal" page and hopefully no access from insurance companies to gain information would be available; however, if one wanted to include information from an insurance company if they decided to make documents available, it would be up to you to be able to make that decision on whether or not you want to add this information to your records, and the realization of this is to cut data mining from the purpose of online records and keep the main purpose of this effort in the forefront...better health care and information for the patient..without dollar signs attached for data mining.

I have reviewed and looked at many of the on line health records and I too have had big reservations about where I want any of this information posted. The first step of the process is to have a "Live ID" from Microsoft, and if you currently have a Live ID, and the password is not strong enough, it will need to be updated.

Here's the news article and you can continue below for some additional screen shots and information added based on my observations and creating an account. BD

________________________________________________________________________________

SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. launched a Web site Thursday for managing personal health and medical information, jumping into an industry whose digital future is clouded by privacy worries. Users can dole out access -- in the form of e-mailed invitations -- to different slices of their private health data to doctors, family members and other people they trust as the need arises.

Microsoft's Nolan said gaining consumers' trust is a potential problem, one the company tried to address by spelling out exactly what data would be shared each time the user connects to a new application or gives someone new permission to see a record.

So far, Microsoft said applications from the American Heart Association, American Lung Association and other organizations are in the works, and devices including blood glucose monitoring systems made by Johnson & Johnson will be able to upload data into the system.

Microsoft said CapMed, which already markets personal health record tools, will create an application for HealthVault, as will Kryptic Corp., whose program will help doctors send and receive information from HealthVault without having to switch from technology they already use

And some of the best sources of comprehensive health records data -- major insurance providers, many of which already offer personal health records tools -- haven't agreed to build applications that work with HealthVault.

Link to Health Vault: http://www.healthvault.com/

Continued Coverage and Information

After creating my account, I was sent to a page to agree to the terms of use and I also took the time to read the privacy policy. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary here as every site these days has the same privacy policies posted. In any rate, to continue, you need to accept the terms after logging on with a Live ID. I already had one I used through a Hotmail account.

This screen allows you to see how thing work and to view some of the health partners contracting with the site. There are some names on the list you will probably recognize.

More than one record can be added, for example you might want to use the site for the entire family. There are levels of security with the "custodian" having the ultimate access and permissions granted. The custodian has the say so over all. The screens are nicely designed to allow for quick and easy access. All the screens will be blank as there is no data added yet.

I'm thinking I also might want to add my dog...he's family too.




This is the "create a new record" screen, where other members can be added.



This is the document manager on the site. You can upload documents from your computer. If you have worked with any web based email or even picture sharing sites, you will get the hang of this immediately. A window opens so you can search your computer and select items to upload.

Now for another neat feature ....search....I can search for health information by keyword, so what I have done on the following screens was to search for the word "headache".

After my search is complete, I was presented with related articles, Web results, and the right hand column has some "sponsored results", in other words the site is add supported and will show books available about headaches from Amazon in this case, so I can review and look up any published material that might be available for purchase. Below the ad section for books, there are several other sponsored links to sites that offer additional information and potential products that would relate to headaches, such as pain relief, nasal sprays, etc.

The Scrapbook feature

This is something I found very unique and interesting. Let's say you have done some research on headaches or want to save the link for later reference. Do we want to use the more than likely over crowded "favorites" link on the browser...I don't know about you, but mine keeps growing and finding information in favorites can be a chore too.

The scrapbook will save this information for you and allow you to create a "tag". In my scrapbook now I have a link called "headache". I can use this same tag again to categorize another article I have researched, so now I have all my 'headache" information in one convenient spot. Very cool....

I can also send articles from my scrapbook to others....

I think this is going to be a very interesting project as it evolves. I do recommend to everyone to fully read all the instructions and privacy notices before you start. If you have not been active for over 20 minutes, the system will automatically log you out for security reasons. Most online banking does this as well.

Once I have signed back in I am presented with the dashboard controls for my account at the Health Vault.

I will be doing more testing with the site and thus far this looks to be the best attempt at online records I have seen. Again, if the goal of better health care and privacy is maintained here without being compromised to data mining for profit, I think Microsoft could really be on to a potential solution. Right now this is beta and if you do sign up for an account and have suggestions, there is a place for that as well.

The site through partners has the ability for you to share your records with your physicians as well as signing up for health coaches, and again research those thoroughly before jumping in feet first to make sure this is what will be in your best interest. Some health coach companies are subsidiaries of insurance companies and you need to read the fine print once you share the records, as to where they go from there.

You can also cancel your account at any time, but it is held for 90 days in case you decide otherwise and want to reinstate your account. After the 90 day period, you will need to start from the beginning. If you feel you have shared something and want to remove it, you can do that too, but just remember if the other party has already accepted and obtained a copy of the information you shared, that cannot be rescinded if they have created a local copy for their files...again, just be sure of what you intend to share and with who.

And one more thing, don't forget about the help files on the site...there's a lot of good information on "how to" with the various screens of the site.

Again, this appears to be the best online approach I have seen to date. BD

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071004/microsoft_healthvault.html?.v=1

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Lab mix-up leads to unnecessary double mastectomy

Horrible story....and makes a point about double checking your work sometimes...when it comes to healthcare, oops is just not good enough...and now this one is another case added to the legal and court files...and this one rightly so...BD

When she heard the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, Darrie Eason had but one thought: Please don't let me die. Four months and a double mastectomy later, doctors told Eason that her tissue sample had been mislabeled, and that she never had cancer. "I didn't know what to believe," said Eason, a 35-year-old single mother from Long Beach. "They told me I had cancer and now they're telling me I didn't. I didn't know if the next day they were going to call me and say, 'Sorry, we made a mistake, you really do have cancer.

The case is not the only one of its type on Long Island.

Lab mix-up leads to unnecessary double mastectomy -- Newsday.com

Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

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Walgreen Subsidiary To Open 100 More Retail Health Clinics

Walgreens is right up there with CVS with the expansion of retail health clinics...BD

Take Care Health Systems, a subsidiary of Walgreen that operates a chain of retail health clinics based in pharmacies, on Tuesday announced plans to open 100 additional clinics in nine new markets nationwide, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. Take Care, which Walgreen acquired in May, currently operates 63 clinics in Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and St. Louis. Under the expansion, Take Care will open clinics in Cincinnati; Cleveland; Houston; Las Vegas; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; and Tucson, Ariz. By the end of 2008, Take Care will operate 400 clinics nationwide (AP/Wichita Eagle, 10/3).

Walgreen Subsidiary To Open 100 More Retail Health Clinics

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Breast cancer Virtual Anatomy

Great educational tool on breast cancer, posted from the folks over at Medgadget.  More information available at Medgadet on the the potential availability of this and perhaps more material like this on the web.  Truly a great find here.   Click on the picture or the link below to view. 

 

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/36454bre.html 

Source:  Medgdget

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Varicose Veins Treated Quickly And Effectively With Next-generation Ablation Catheter

New procedure and quick too...sometimes varicose veins are painful and this appears to be a great alternative solution, although at present, only available at 10 hospitals...and you can return to work the same day...BD

An estimated 25 million Americans-mostly women-suffer from varicose veins, and 30-something Deborah Heine was one of them. As soon as the Santa Monica mother of three would wake up each morning, she'd complain, "My feet are killing me!" After her baby was born last year, she'd tried running to get back into shape but had to stop because her feet-which ached constantly-hurt even more when she exercised. All of that changed recently when she underwent a short outpatient procedure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center that used a new, next-generation radiofrequency catheter to treat her varicose veins. Describing the experience as "overnight relief" , Heine says, "I woke up the next morning and felt like my feet were 10 pounds lighter. I was able to do all of my routine activities without any pain. ."

After the procedure is completed, Dr. Levin wraps the patient's leg in a thick ace-type bandage that needs to be worn for two to three days. As soon as the patient recovers from the IV sedation, they're cleared to leave the hospital. Some return to work the same day-the only restriction they're given is to avoid running or bouncing for about 10 days.

Varicose Veins Treated Quickly And Effectively With Next-generation Ablation Catheter

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Skin Patches For Flu Vaccine Under Development

This would be a nice alternative to a shot, if it works...but we have a wait before this technology could be offered...BD

Flu vaccine delivered through painless microneedles in patches applied to the skin could soon be an alternative to delivery through hypodermic needles, according to researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Using new grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling approximately $11.5 million over five years, researchers from the two institutions plan to develop a new vaccine product using the microscopic needles. "A vaccine administered through a skin patch would have a number of advantages, including less discomfort to the recipients, lower cost and reduced production time," says Richard Compans, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology in the Emory School of Medicine. "Potentially, individuals could administer the vaccine to themselves, perhaps after receiving it in the mail."

Skin Patches For Flu Vaccine Under Development At Emory, Georgia Tech With NIH Grants

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Confusion in Alabama...what is a sex toy and what is used for medical purposes - Supreme court doesn't want to deal with it..

Funny story actually...can't blame the courts for not wanting to go there...BD 

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declined to hear a nine-year-old case challenging Alabama's ban on the sale of sex toys. The state law prohibits the distribution of "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value." The law, though, does make exceptions for "a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, legislative, judicial, or law enforcement purpose." What medical purposes do sex toys serve?

So, is selling a sex toy always illegal in Alabama? Probably not, since the statute focuses on how a device is designed and marketed. Something that's used as a vibrator but isn't marketed for erotic play might be legit. The Hitachi Magic Wand, for instance, is often billed as a personal massager rather than a vibrator.

The medical uses of dildos and vibrators. - By Michelle Tsai - Slate Magazine

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New York City taxi drivers threaten to strike... this time over healthcare....

Well they got over the technology rub with GPS units and are now in the same boat with the rest of us...healthcare..much more important than working with GPS units...BD

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is at it again! According to reports, the group that was responsible for the September 5th walkout of cab drivers in New York City is once again planning to call for a strike, slated for October 22nd, and this time around, the striking taxi drivers say they will "get in the face" of cabbies who choose to work. If you'll recall, the initial strike was over the installation of GPS units which would monitor pickup and drop-off points of the drivers (as well as provide credit card services, entertainment, and news for passengers), but the Alliance seems to be changing its tune.

The group is now lobbying for city-funded health care, a pension fund, and official recognition as a union. "They have pushed us further and further up against the wall so that it's not just about the technology and economics," Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said. "It's about something even greater."

Good call from Engadet! 

New York City taxi drivers threaten to strike... again - Engadget

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X-ray Colonoscopy may be more available soon

Good news here...and they are done very quickly...and are much less expensive than the full test done as an outpatient at the hospital with no anesthesia...BD

Two of the largest studies yet of "virtual colonoscopy" show the experimental technique works just as well at spotting potentially cancerous growths as the more invasive method. It's also quicker and cheaper. The X-rays can help sort out who really needs the full exam and removal of suspicious growths, called polyps. In one study, only 8 percent of patients had to have follow-up traditional colonoscopies, which are done under sedation and carry a small risk of puncturing the bowel. But what some people consider the most unpleasant part can't be avoided: drinking laxatives to purge the bowel so growths can be seen.

X-ray colonoscopy may be more available soon - CNN.com

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Medicare Contractors Are Inappropriately Denying Medicare Payment, Restricting Access To Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation Services

Yikes...inaccurately second guessing doctor's decisions about the patients who would benefit from this care...forcing hospitals through the red tape nightmare...with the appeals process averaging 18 months and the claims are being overturned...indicating non appropriate denying of claims...not that the CMS guidelines might be a little confusing to interpret, but bottom line once more is that the patients are not getting the care...bD

A new study finds that a growing number of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units are inappropriately denied Medicare payment for care provided to their patients. A high rate of these payment denials are successfully overturned with findings that the care questioned was in fact medically appropriate. But the administrative red tape required to set things straight drains hospital resources resulting in less funds available for patient care.

The report found that 63 percent of denied bills that had completed the appeals process were overturned resulting in nearly $6 million dollars being returned to hospitals.

New Study Shows Medicare Contractors Are Inappropriately Denying Medicare Payment, Restricting Access To Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation Services

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Day surgery for brain tumors on the NHS in Britain

Brain surgery on an out patient basis in the UK...BD

The technique has been developed by Britain's youngest female brain surgeon, Dr. Gelareh Zadeh at University College Hospital, London. The new technique "freezes" the patient's scalp with a local anaesthetic before making an incision in their skull. Experts say the use of a local rather than general anaesthetic makes operating easier and means the patient makes a faster recovery; they can also go home the same day rather than remain in hospital for up to a week. The procedure was first performed in July this year on 52-year-old patient Deborah Calder, who remained awake throughout the surgery and was able to talk to her doctors throughout the operation. Mrs Calder, who had cancer in her lungs before it spread to her brain, says the procedure was completely painless, and she was made to feel very relaxed; the operation has apparently given her "a new lease of life". By evening she was at home with her family enjoying a cup of tea and has since made a full recovery.

Day surgery for brain tumours on the NHS in Britain

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HIPAA no bar to revealing Levy's location, experts say

Mayor leaves, abandons office, spent time in an undisclosed hospital...officials want records...does it violate HIPAA or does it not?  Interesting article on how to interpret HIPAA..BD

ATLANTIC CITY - Federal health law experts said health privacy laws are confusing, but should not keep city officials from revealing where the resort's mayor is. Mayor Bob Levy's last official duty came last Wednesday, when he signed seven ordinances into law. Since then he, and his black city-issued Dodge Durango, have apparently vanished. His attorney and city officials have said since Thursday he was in an undisclosed hospital receiving unspecified treatment. In the meantime, Business Administrator Domenic Cappella has served as acting mayor.

Adding to the problem is that top city officials say they know where he is, but providing more information would run afoul of the 1996 federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly called HIPAA.

Not so, said Washington, D.C., attorney Kirk J. Nahra. He said HIPAA could cover some city officials who work with protected health information in the human resources department, but not top officials and others who know.

"HIPAA is an enormously confusing set of rules," he said. "I hear all the time of people saying I can't do something because of HIPAA."

HIPAA no bar to revealing Levy's location, experts say

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Iron Mountain Acquires Records Management Firm

Iron Mountain and RMS have a shared vision of making electronic medical records a reality," said Mark Rempe, Iron Mountain's vice president of Health Information Services said.

Both Iron Mountain and RMS have years of experience in delivering health information management services that solve specialized file room and film management problems of healthcare providers—such as managing both physical and digital records simultaneously, enabling timely access to patient records, and complying with ever-growing patient-privacy and records-management regulations, Rempe said.

Iron Mountain Acquires Records Management Firm

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Houston physician indicted in alleged wheelchair scam

I would guess approving 20-60 wheelchairs a day might stick out in anyone's book...that's a lot of wheelchairs for one MD to create certificates for and as the article states, many were fraudulent..BD

A Houston physician accused of helping defraud the federal government of $29 million by prescribing motorized wheelchairs for people who didn't need them was indicted today. Michael D. Kim allegedly took a kickback of $200 for every wheelchair he needlessly prescribed and the companies that sell the chairs allegedly delivered much cheaper "scooters" to applicants, authorities said.. The federal Medicare system paid companies that participated in the scheme $4,200 for wheelchairs when the scooters they delivered cost $1,700, according to a statement issued by the Houston U.S. attorney's office today.

Houston physician indicted in alleged wheelchair scam | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

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Physician may have infected patients

All 1800 patients since 2004 have been offered free blood tests..this is your biggest potential nightmare...all over re-using syringes it appears...especially for eye surgery...BD 

Bloomington - The search is on for hundreds of patients who may have been infected at an Indiana clinic. Two patients have already tested positive for Hepatitis C. Doctors at the labs of Internal Medicine Associates use common standards to keep patients safe. "We use universal precautions and everything's single use, so one needle, one patient," said William Beyer, CEO of Internal Medicine Associates. But the State Department of Health found that wasn't happening at the Bloomington Surgery Center. The department says an anesthesiologist at the clinic used the same syringe on multiple patients undergoing eye surgery.

While the anesthesiologist was re-using syringes, ten patients had Hepatitis C, one had Hepatitis B, and one HIV. After the surgeries, two people developed Hepatitis C.

WTHR - Indianapolis News and Weather - Physician may have infected patients

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Wrinkled? Pressed for time? Clinic offering walk-in Botox

What a novel idea...with the new technology developing maybe the Botox can take care of your migraine at the same time...BD 

Here's a new Saturday errand to sandwich between dropping off dry cleaning and a stop at the dog groomer: dropping in for walk-in Botox. Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics are holding walk-in Botox clinics from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the company's Chandler and Mesa locations. The Chandler site is on the southeast corner of Warner Road and Loop 101. The Mesa location is 4140 E. Baseline Road, Suite 110, west of Greenfield. Customers who get the sudden urge to try the wrinkle-banishing injections - which cost $250 for a typical person - will receive a $25 cash reward good toward future Botox treatments.

Wrinkled? Pressed for time? Clinic offering walk-in Botox

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Allergan Buys Espirit Pharma

Perhaps to expand the Botox business...testing has been done for the use of Botox for over active bladders and migraines so perhaps this falls into the plan to expand treatment revenues for over active bladders with some new technology...BD 

Allergan Inc.s interest in unmet medical needs has led it to a new market. The Irvine-based drug maker is paying $370 million for Esprit Pharma Inc., a New Jersey maker of a drug to treat overactive bladders. Allergans paying cash for Esprit, which is privately held. The deals expected to close in the fourth quarter. Lazard Capital Markets analyst Alexander Arrow believes the Esprit deal is setting the stage for another potential use for Allergans longtime flagship Botox.

Sanctura is expected to do $40 million to $48 million in sales this year. Allergan thinks the drug has the potential to do $300 million to $400 million in yearly sales.
The drug is taken twice a day to treat overactive bladder. The Food and Drug Administration also has approved a once-a-day version.

Orange County Business Journal Online

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CVS/pharmacy Stores in Los Angeles Metro Area open Minute Clinics...

Minute Clinic come to southern California...prices for services listed on the link below...Orange County has the bulk of the new clinics...BD 

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic (http://www.minuteclinic.com), the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based health care in the United States, has opened 14 health care centers at CVS/pharmacy stores in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. The company expects to open up to 11 additional locations in the metro area before the end of the year. MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by master's-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinic also offers common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis A & B.

Los Angeles County
      - Glendale, 1122 East Broadway
      - Rededa, 19353 Victory Blvd.
    Orange County
      - Aliso Viejo, 26891 Aliso Creek Rd.
      - Anaheim, 1660 West Katella Ave.
      - Buena Park, 8850 Valley View St.
      - Costa Mesa, 1150 Baker St.
      - Foothill Ranch, 26686 Portola Pkwy.
      - Huntington Beach, 19121 Beach Blvd.
      - Irvine, 14330 Culver Drive
      - Ladera Ranch, 27702 Crown Valley Pkwy.
      - San Clemente, 638 Camino De Los Mares
      - Seal Beach, 921 Pacific Coast Highway
      - Trabuco Canyon, 21572 Plano Trabuco Rd.
    San Bernardino
      - Ontario, 2456 S. Grove Ave.

An Innovation in Health Care Opens at CVS/pharmacy Stores in Los Angeles Metro Area

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U.S. sues Delphi over worker medical records

This could be the beginning of legal privacy issues...employees asked to sign a release when returning back to work so the employer could view their medical records...who will have access and when and how...BD

NEW YORK, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said on Monday it sued Delphi Corp (DPHIQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) for allegedly making illegal inquiries about employees' medical conditions and retaliating against those who objected. The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, alleges that the auto parts maker violated federal law because it required workers returning from sick leave to sign releases permitting the company to access their medical information, it said.

"The ADA prohibits employers from making inquiries as to whether an employee is an individual with a disability unless the inquiry is shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity," the commission said in its complaint.

A spokesman for Delphi said he had not seen the lawsuit yet and did not have immediate comment.

U.S. sues Delphi over worker medical records | Transportation | Reuters

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Bank of America, Health Net team on medical-payment venture

First we had the Blue Cross Bank and now B of A with Health Net...and the ability to pay online...BD 

Bank of America Corp. has formed a venture with Health Net Inc. to market health-care payment plans. Under the agreement, customers covered by Health Net insurance can use a BofA health-savings account debit card to pay for health-care expenses. In addition, they can go online to pay their medical expenses electronically. Health-savings accounts, created by the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act in 2003, allow individuals to pay for qualified medical expenses on a tax-advantaged basis.

BofA, Health Net team on medical-payment venture - Baltimore Business Journal:

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High-tech clinics signal end of local hospitals

New changes in health care in the UK....BD 

A string of "superclinics" aimed at halving the amount of patients needing hospital treatment will form a central plank of the most radical NHS shake-up for 60 years. The details, to be announced today by Lord Darzi, the health minister, will spell the end of the traditional district hospital by bringing together a range of services under one roof. Hundreds of polyclinics which are designed to take on 50 per cent of outpatient treatment will be based near population hubs and will meet all routine health care needs, rather than patients having to visit separate hospitals.

High-tech clinics signal end of local hospitals - Telegraph

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Medical device companies on defense

Another emerging issue...new devices that are also helping to advance health care, but will we have access to them?  BD

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Medical device companies are on defense to prove their pricey new technologies are worth the price, in the face of increasing U.S. health care costs and rising numbers of individuals without health insurance. Executives accused the U.S. Medicare program of not keeping pace with medical device innovations by skimping on industry reimbursements at a meeting of Advamed, the medical device industry's trade group on Tuesday. The use -- and sometimes overuse -- of medical technologies ranging from tiny wire-mesh stents to prop open heart arteries to advanced body imaging -- are often blamed for driving up health care costs in recent years.

Imaging services such as expensive MRI and CAT scans are a frequent target of critics who say the tests are overprescribed and add millions in costs to the health care system.

The industry recently staved off $400 million in cuts in the Medicare program to imaging services in a bill to extend children's health insurance program. President George W. Bush has said he will veto the bill and it will likely go back to the Congress for further cuts.

Medical device companies on defense | Reuters.co.uk

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Health and Wellness: The Medical Credit Card Trap

Michael Moore's film Sicko opens with the haunting vignette of a man who loses part of two fingers in a sawing mishap. As he lacks both health insurance and a bottomless bank account, hospital authorities give him a choice of which finger to re-attach. It's a wonder the hospital finance office didn't simply tell Moore's hapless accident victim to apply for a line of credit -- an increasingly popular way for the cash-strapped under-insured to cover their medical expenses. Health-care chains such as Kaleida Health, which includes five hospitals and numerous outpatient facilities in upstate New York, advertise credit cards as a way for patients to commence receiving services. Kaleida helpfully notes that G.E.Money's CareCredit "lets you begin your treatment immediately -- then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that are easy to fit into your monthly budget.

AlterNet: Health and Wellness: The Medical Credit Card Trap

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New Information Resource added to the site - Heart Valve Surgery Online

We have added a new resource for patients and anyone for that matter to find out more information relative to heart valve surgery..the link will take you the the main learning center and from there you can visit additional resources at the site, and learn more about the book called "The Patient's Guide to Heart Valve Surgery"...the link is placed on the right hand reference column after the prescription links...BD 

"On this page and in my heart valve surgery blog, I am going to help you learn about heart valve surgery. As you may have already read, I had aortic and pulmonary valve replacements (via the Ross Procedure) a few years ago. Below you will find some important information about cardiac surgery. However, if you would like to better understand the challenges and opportunities of heart surgery, you may want to read my book, The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This special book is filled with twenty-one chapters of critical insights for patients and their caregivers."

Learn About Heart Valve Surgery Online Here - Mitral Valve Prolapse, Aortic Valve Replacement

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Survey shows lengthy waits for ER patients 5 /12 hours the average for hospital admittance- San Diego

The page also shows the average number of monthly ER visits for the area hospitals.  BD

SAN DIEGO Suddenly find yourself in a medical crisis and need an emergency room? Don't hold your breath. In general, patients waited nearly 5½ hours before being admitted to a hospital bed in the county last year, according to a survey released yesterday. The wait ranged from 3½ to 17½ hours

Survey shows lengthy waits for ER patients | The San Diego Union-Tribune

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How IT giant McKesson handled the theft of laptop computers containing confidential patient data

We report every week on data breaches, theft, etc. and this time it is nice to have a broadcast on how McKesson is handling the stolen notebook...as he mentions this is not feared to be actual data base information but perhaps other information relative...there is a big difference between the two...and a good reason for security and not extracting anything from charting that is tied to any type of medical record..not reflective on the case here, but I have seen this done one too many times in my travels, MD walking around with USB jump drives, with Word documents on there with no passwords or encryption that contain patient physicals, HPIs created, etc....all you need to do is lose one of these..MDs using portable devices without any passwords...PDAs, tablets, etc. and patient data has been exposed who knows where...good listening and less than 10 minutes...BD

John Hammergren, McKesson Corp.s top executive, shares the lessons his company learned from having two computers with confidential patient data on them stolen from its offices.

How IT giant McKesson handled
the theft of laptop computers containing confidential patient data :: Modern Healthcare Online

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Judge allows class action against Target Web site

This story sort of bugs me...Target does a lot of nice things...did we mention the program for the $4.00 prescriptions here?   There are also hardware solutions available and in the works for blind individuals...and tablet PCs are a huge asset for those who are blind and/or deaf...there are printers and pocket pc solutions in this area as well...and has anyone turned on the Microsoft "Ease of Use" features included in Vista?  The Narrator is a huge help...but even fewer decide to try the features and see what it can do.  We have covered stories on how tablet PCs can help the paraplegic with no use of their hands...they use a pencil or something they can manipulate with their mouth to navigate...in short, I just don't think this one should fly as hardware solutions carry the real key to accessibility and there's a lot more to come in this area...BD 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge in California certified a class action lawsuit against Target Corp brought by plaintiffs claiming the discount retailer's Web site is inaccessible to the blind, according to court documents. ADVERTISEMENT Judge Marilyn Patel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also rejected Target's motion for summary judgment in the case, according to the ruling filed October 2.

Judge allows class action against Target Web site - Yahoo! News

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Eavesdrop Through Walls With a Do-It-Yourself Recording Spy Stethoscope

Ok, now we have a real use for all those old stethoscopes some of you may have hanging around the office...I had to think twice about posting this as I know of a couple that just might be all over this...(grin)...be sure and watch the video at the links below...BD 

  For some reason, we're seeing a lot of spy gear making the rounds these days, and here's yet another, an eavesdropping device you can make yourself for less than $25. This guy has replaced the earpieces on a $10 stethoscope with condenser mics from a couple of cheap multimedia microphones. Then it's no big deal to hook those up to the recorder of your choice, so you can have the proof you need. Take a look at the how-to video, after the jump.

 

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/spy-gear/eavesdrop-through-walls-with-a-do+it+yourself-recording-spy-stethoscope-304765.php

Hat Tip and extra thanks for this one:  Medgadget

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Visualization Software of IBM for Electronic Health Records...

Currently being tested in Denmark...click and view patient information based on using an avatar representation of the patient...software like this would really be useful on mobile tablet units, especially with being able to switch between both a touch screen and digitizer to add notes as needed to the chart...BD 

Its like Google Earth for the body, said IBM Researcher Andre Elisseeff, who leads the healthcare projects at IBMs Zurich Research Lab. In hopes of speeding the move toward electronic healthcare records, weve tried to make information easily accessible for healthcare providers by combining medical data with visual representation, making it as simple as possible to interact with data that can improve patient care.

The ASME 3-D avatar will allow doctors to “click” on the 3-D avatar of the human body–here the spine–and instantly see all the available medical history and information related to that patient’s spine, including text entries, lab results and medical images such as radiographs or MRIs.

Visualization Software of IBM for the Future of Medicine: Interview! « ScienceRoll

Hat Tip:  Medgadget

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Artificial cornea research...

New technology being developed and tested...if successful could have trials as early as 2008 for human candidates...BD 

Every year, in Germany alone, around 7000 people wait for a new cornea to save their eyesight. But donor corneas are in short supply. In an EU project, researchers have developed an artificial cornea which is to be clinically tested in early 2008. A patient whose cornea is damaged through a congenital malformation, hereditary disease or corrosion is at risk of going blind. One solution is to implant a donor cornea. The central part of the natural cornea is removed in a circular fashion, and the new cornea is inserted and sutured in place. A vast number of patients are affected: every year, 40,000 people in Europe alone hope for a donor often in vain. Many attempts have therefore been made at producing artificial corneas, so far with little success. This is due to the conflicting requirements imposed on the material: While it has to grow firmly into the natural tissue at the edge, it must allow no cells to deposit themselves at the center of the cornea, as this impairs the patients vision.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Research News 10-2007-Topic 3

Hat Tip:  Medgadget

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FDA approves knee-injury device for humans

The device will help with chronic tears and provide access to blood and cells as the body works to repair...and there's potential use in store for animals as well...a new way to repair joint tissues and keeping them healthy...BD

COLUMBIA, Mo. A new knee-surgery device investigated by University of Missouri-Columbia researchers that will help to repair meniscus tears, which were previously defined as irreparable, has been approved by the FDA for use in humans. Previous treatment options forced surgeons to completely remove the  damaged portion of the meniscus. Typically the removal of the meniscus leads to painful, debilitating arthritis in the knee. Herb Schwartz, president and CEO of Schwartz Biomedical, LLC, and James Cook, MU professor of veterinary medicine and surgery and William C. Allen Endowed Scholar for Orthopedic Research in MUs College of Veterinary Medicine, developed the BioDuct Meniscal Fixation Device. Schwartz and Cook believe that patients with meniscus tears will now be able to have their meniscus saved along with long-term knee function.

FDA approves knee-injury device for humans

http://www.sflorg.com/sciencenews/scn081806_01.html

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New Leukemia Drug Stems - Clinical studies beginning by the end of this year..

A new, easily ingested form of a compound that has already shown it can attack the roots of leukemia in laboratory studies is moving into human clinical trials, according to a new article by University of Rochester investigators in the journal, Blood. The Rochester team has been leading the investigation of this promising therapy on the deadly blood cancer for nearly five years. And to bring it from a laboratory concept to patient studies in that time is very fast progress in the drug development world, said Craig T. Jordan, Ph.D., senior author of the Blood article and director of Translational Research for Hematologic Malignancies at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

New Leukemia Drug Stems From Feverfew

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Uppers' Keep Going Up

The black market for these products keeps getting larger via solicitation on the Internet...BD

An editorial by Professor Hamid Ghodse, Director for the International Centre for Drug policy, in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry warns that a co-ordinated global response is needed to the increasing illegal use of amphetamines ('uppers') sold on the internet. 35 million people worldwide take amphetamines, which are the second most widely used drugs in the world. Misuse of these stimulants goes back many years. Members of the armed forces and the industrial workforce took them during the second World War; and in the 1960s and 70s they were increasingly prescribed as antidepressants and slimming aids, and misuse became common.

Uppers' Keep Going Up

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American Hospital Association gets political...

Patients are not the only ones frustrated with today's system...working to find solutions and not adding more turf battles..BD

American Hospital Association President and CEO Richard Umbdenstock on Monday in a speech to the Akron Regional Hospital Association and the Greater Akron Chamber said that the group will participate in the health care debate during the 2008 presidential campaign, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. AHA has sought opinions on proposals to address the issue of the uninsured and improve health care quality, Umbdenstock said. According to Umbdenstock, AHA supports proposals to expand health insurance to all U.S. residents and to mandate that health insurers cannot deny applicants because of pre-existing medical conditions. However, Umbdenstock "stayed away from discussing the concept of government-run universal health care" to avoid "alienating a certain segment of people from taking part in the AHA discussion," the Beacon Journal reports. He said, "What we're looking for are the best ideas, not turf battles."

American Hospital Association To Participate In Health Care Debate During Presidential Campaign

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Mouth-mounted Camera - bizarre and interesting location for a camera...

I don't think I would be up for this one at all, first of all you need "pretty"teeth for the best effects here...I don't think I want to view my Cheerios in such manner...BD

Hanging a camera on the side of your dome is one thing, but cramming one in your throat takes a level of bravado we have no experience with. Still, we can't  help but toss props to Mr. Justin Quinnell, who somehow managed to insert a camera into his throat and snap a few interesting photos which he's currently selling as art. We know, the above image alone probably grossed quite a few of you out, but for those into this, be sure and hit the read link for a real mouthful.

 

Mouth-mounted camera leads to unconventional art - Engadget

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Online videos may be conduits for viruses

Be careful when connecting to video sources...if you do not know the page or the source.  This site has You Tube links and are legitimate links.  Watch for additional email attempts from unknown senders with links...phishing attempts are still on the rise.  BD

One worm discovered in November 2006 launches a corrupt Web site without prompting after a user opens a media file in a player. Another program silently installs spyware when a video file is opened. Attackers have also tried to spread fake video links via postings on YouTube. That reflects the lowered guard many computer users would have on such popular forums. "People are accustomed to not clicking on messages from banks, but they all want to see videos from YouTube," Rouland said. Another soft spot involves social networking sites, blogs and wikis. These community-focused sites, which are driving the next generation of Web applications, are also becoming one of the juiciest targets for malicious hackers. Computers surfing the sites silently communicate with a Web application in the background, but hackers sometimes secretly embed malicious code when they edit the open sites, and a Web browser will unknowingly execute the code. These chinks in the armor could let hackers steal private data, hijack Web transactions or spy on users.

Online videos may be conduits for viruses - Yahoo! News

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Symlin, diabetes treatment to help control blood sugar highs and lows - taken at mealtime

Product used in conjunction with insulin...site has complete details and patient safety information as well....approved by the FDA...BD

SYMLIN is an injectable medicine for adults with type 2 and type 1 diabetes to control blood sugar. It is always used with insulin to help lower blood sugar during the 3 hours after meals. SYMLIN is used with insulin to lower blood sugar but your blood sugar may drop too low (severe hypoglycemia), especially if you have type 1 diabetes. You must use SYMLIN exactly as prescribed. Nausea is the most common side effect with SYMLIN. When you first start SYMLIN, your healthcare professional should tell you to reduce the dose of insulin you take before meals by 50 percent. Never mix SYMLIN and insulin.

Information on Symlin, diabetes treatment to help control blood sugar highs and lows

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Taxotere Gets FDA Approval For Advance Head And Neck Cancer Before Chemoradiotherapy And Surgery

 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Taxotere Injection Concentrate combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil for induction therapy of locally advance squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck before chemoradiotherapy and surgery. The Agency says the approval was based on the results of Phase II randomized, open label, international human trial, TAX 324, which demonstrated that Taxotere is safe and efficacious and appreciably improves survival.

Taxotere Gets FDA Approval For Advance Head And Neck Cancer Before Chemoradiotherapy And Surgery

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Ending Two-Year Waiting Period For Medicare legislation introduced for early onset of Alzheimers

 

Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007 (S 2102), offered by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), would provide much needed assistance to those under age 65 diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's who lose their jobs and their employer- based health insurance. There are as many as 500,000 individuals under age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer's or a related dementia who may qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but must suffer through the 24 months after the date their SSDI begins for Medicare benefits to start. Over a 10-year period, this legislation would phase out the waiting period and would also, in the interim, create a process by which those with life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer's could get an exception to the waiting period.

Ending Two-Year Waiting Period For Medicare

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Weight Loss Gadgets - The Hula Chair

Perhaps I should have one of these at my desk...need to take a break, how about a little hula at the office...watch the video from You Tube...sorry no CPT Code yet...but perhaps another potentially good tool in the obesity battle...can improve circulation too...BD 

By using the Hula Chair, you can lose weight on your fat a$$ by just sitting on your fat a$$ all day long. The merchant for this weight loss product says that the Hula Chair is "the biggest sensation in Japan! ... Experience better overall health with our patented Hula Chair. This modern miracle combines the best of ancient traditional Chinese medicine with 21st century space-age technology. Improve your balance and coordination as it gently aligns your spine and improves blood circulation. Youll love how it feels as it works out your abs and mid-section. And there's no better way to warm up for any activity. Youll never experience a more pleasurable workout! Simply sit upright in the Hula Chair, press the button and let its elliptical motion work wonders on your body.

Weight Loss Gadgets for the Lazy and Unmotivated | Inventor Spot

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Ossur's PROPRIO FOOT received the 2007 da Vinci Award

Great web site and innovative products for amputees...they have many other innnovative products relative to braces and supports as well including many prosthetic knees...BD

Ossur's PROPRIO FOOT" nets the 2007 da Vinci Award Ossur's Bionic Technology helps amputees live a life without limitations Ossur, a trusted and global developer of more scientifically advanced prosthetic innovations than any other company in the field, is pleased to announce that its PROPRIO FOOT" is the winner of a 2007 da Vinci Award.

The PROPRIO FOOT, the latest in Ossur's Bionic Technology platform, is the world's first motor-powered and intelligent prosthetic foot, a seamless fusion of electronics, mechanics, and human physiology that reduces the energy patients spend in reacting consciously to the environment.

Home - Ossur

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Verizon Reverses Itself on Abortion Messages

Is this even newsworthy?...BD 

Reversing course, Verizon Wireless announced yesterday that it would allow an abortion rights group to send text messages to its supporters on Verizons mobile network.  Last week, Verizon rejected a request from the abortion rights group, Naral Pro-Choice America, for a five-digit “short code.” Such codes allow people interested in hearing from businesses, politicians and advocacy groups to sign up to receive text messages.

Verizon Reverses Itself on Abortion Messages - New York Times

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President Bush Signs Into Law Legislation To Reauthorize Prescription Drug User Fee Act

Pharma will be paying the FDA a little more to hopefully increase safety...BD

President Bush on Tuesday signed into law a bill (HR 3580) that will expand FDA oversight of prescription drug safety and reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Bridges, AP/Long Island Newsday, 9/27). Under the legislation, the user fees that pharmaceutical companies pay FDA to reduce approval times for new medications will increase by about 25% to $400 million annually. The user fees that medical device companies pay also will increase. In addition, the bill includes provisions that address prescription drug safety, postmarket studies on new medications, prescription drug advertisements, clinical trial disclosures, pediatric trials and conflicts of interest on FDA advisory committees (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/21).

President Bush Signs Into Law Legislation To Reauthorize Prescription Drug User Fee Act, Improve Drug Safety

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Strange but true: Evander Holyfield releases Real Deal Grill

This is funny...but the name is maybe not as catchy..so now there's a choice in the grill department...maybe George Forman won't have the lock on grills in the future...BD 

Truth really is stranger than fiction: not only has one former heavyweight champion managed to make a lucrative post-boxing career hawking electric cooking appliances, but now yet another former champ is throwing his proverbial apron into the ring with the release of Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Grill

Strange but true: Evander Holyfield releases Real Deal Grill - Engadget

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Health Insurance and General Motors

Health care costs sore above the costs for raw materials used in manufacturing..and even more than coffee beans...BD

GM spends more on health care than on steel, giving the company labor costs at least $20/hour higher than foreign competitors. Noted less frequently is that GM is far from unique. Ford, even with a better health care structure than GM, also spends more on health than on steel. In 2005, Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz reported that his company spent more on health care than on coffee beans.

Health Insurance and General Motors - HUMAN EVENTS

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FDA tackles illegal hydrocodone products

Products for children 6 and under that have not been approved are the primary targets to include cough suppressants...FDA approved products are not affected...BD 

The action does not affect other hydrocodone formulations, which have FDA approval. Hydrocodone is one of the strongest medications available to treat pain or to suppress cough. The drug has also been an extremely popular drug of abuse and can lead to serious illness, injury, or death, if improperly used. Hydrocodone overdose can result in breathing problems or cardiac arrest, and its use may impair motor skills and judgment. The FDA has received reports of medication errors associated with formulation changes in unapproved hydrocodone products and reports of confusion over the similarity of the names of unapproved products to approved drug products. As part of the drug approval process, the agency considers the possibility of medication errors and name confusion, so that potential safety issues associated with these factors can be minimized. Some hydrocodone pain-relief products, such as Vicodin, are FDA-approved. However, most of the hydrocodone formulations now marketed to suppress coughs have not been approved. The agency is particularly concerned about improper pediatric labeling of unapproved hydrocodone cough suppressants (also known as antitussives), and the risk of medication error involving the unapproved products.

FDA tackles illegal hydrocodone products

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Lab-on-a-chip" breakthrough for on-site diagnostics

 

October 1, 2007 A Californian based company has produced the worlds first disposable photonic lab-on-a-chip solution for next-generation water and food analysis, chemical and biological agent detection, and point-of-care diagnostics. The PhotonicLab Platform from Bioident Technology Inc. enables rapid in-vitro diagnostics, chemical and biological threat detection, and environmental testing without the need for off-site lab analysis. This offers greater mobility and sensitivity compared to existing biological and chemical assays and delivers a cost-effective disposable lab-on-a-chip solution by eliminating the need for complex and expensive readout systems.

Lab-on-a-chip" breakthrough for on-site diagnostics - gizmag Article

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Court rules Medicare plans can be sued for nonpayment ...

As this article states from the court decision, payers can be sued for non payment, even if the funds were administered by an HMO/IPA...Pacificare case is still being settled as well when an IPA went bankrupt and couldn't pay the claims...Pacificare was still held accountable when sued by several physician's groups.  BD 

A recent Texas Supreme Court decision gives physicians and hospitals a remedy when health plans don't make payments under Medicare Advantage contracts, doctors and lawyers say. The state high court on Aug. 31 ruled that a group of Texas hospitals can sue Aetna in state court for allegedly failing to reimburse them. This means the facilities won't have to go through the Medicare administrative appeals process.

A trial judge recently ruled that even when an HMO delegates reimbursement or other duties to another entity, the insurer "may not avoid its ultimate liability for the delegated entity's failure to comply with the applicable statutes and regulations" and remains subject to the Texas prompt-payment law. Doctors could recover up to $8 million, the TMA stated.

Officials from UnitedHealthcare, PacifiCare's parent company, did not return calls for comment.

AMNews: Oct. 8, 2007. Court rules Medicare plans can be sued for nonpayment ... American Medical News

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