Fiscal emergency for California

HealthCare the immediate focus...BD 

One thing the governor said lawmakers could do to help ease the budget pinch is to pass his health care plan. Schwarzenegger estimated that his plan would bring in an additional $4 billion in federal Medi-Cal funding - money he suggested would prevent otherwise inevitable cuts to social services programs.

One thing the governor said lawmakers could do to help ease the budget pinch is to pass his health care plan. Schwarzenegger estimated that his plan would bring in an additional $4 billion in federal Medi-Cal funding - money he suggested would prevent otherwise inevitable cuts to social services programs.

SACRAMENTO - Facing a projected $14 billion budget deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday said he will declare a fiscal emergency, which will allow the governor and lawmakers to cut spending more quickly and also sets the stage for slashing state services and programs - perhaps by as much as 10 percent.

Legislative leaders said they will meet with Schwarzenegger next week to begin working on what the governor described as "across-the-board" cuts. His aides said departments have been told to prepare for a range of possible cuts, with 10 percent a central figure.

"We are going to call this January for a fiscal emergency when the legislators come back," Schwarzenegger said. "We will make that announcement next week sometime with the legislative leaders."

San Jose Mercury News - Fiscal emergency for California

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Kessler Says He Was Fired for Reporting Fund Problems

Whistle Blower or firing someone to show some type of action is taking place?  BD 

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- David Kessler, the former U.S. drug regulator fired as dean of the University of California at San Francisco's medical school, said he was let go after pointing out that a university fund had $100 million less than he was told it would have when he joined the school.

Kessler, 56, said in an e-mail sent to UCSF personnel yesterday that he was terminated Dec. 13 while trying to resolve problems that arose from his role as a ``whistle-blower.'' Bloomberg News received a copy of the e-mail, and Kessler confirmed in a telephone interview it was authentic. He then e- mailed further documentation on his charges.

In May, Kessler testified before the House Oversight Committee in Washington on the FDA's inability to regulate food safety in the U.S.  Administrative funds for his office were set to reach $71.8 million for 2007-2008, according to spreadsheets provided by Kessler after an interview. An audit later showed the discretionary spending fund to be $31.9 million in debt, a $103.7 million difference, according to the documents supplied by Kessler.

``Simply put, our food safety system is broken,'' Kessler said then. `` The reality is that there is currently no mandate, no leadership, no resources, nor scientific research base for prevention of food safety problems.''

Bloomberg.com: U.S.

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Stem cells used to fix breast defects

According to the article, this process has some real potential with many in the US working on the process as well.  BD

SAN ANTONIO - For the first time, doctors have used stem cells from liposuctioned fat to fix breast  defects in women who have had cancerous lumps removed.  

The approach is still experimental, but holds promise for millions of women left with cratered areas and breasts that look very different from each other after cancer surgery. It also might be a way to augment healthy breasts without using artificial implants.

So far, it has only been tested on about two dozen women in a study in Japan. But doctors in the United States say it has great potential.  This is a pretty exciting topic right now in plastic surgery," said Dr. Karol Gutowski of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "There are people all over the country working on this."

Stem cells used to fix breast defects - Yahoo! News

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New Vein Viewer Imaging System

We have featured this in the past, one more hospital taking advantage of this new technology...BD

It's called a vein viewer imaging system. it uses infrared lights to see our veins. so doctors and nurses can clearly see where they are and which ones are the best to use. "this gives us diff options that maybe we have not seen before by using the traditional eyes and feel technique this actually lets us see the veins  that we have not been able to see before" 

Rockford Memorial is the only hospital in the area that has this new piece of equipment.

WIFR - Morning Show

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Health Care Reform to Benefit California's Ailing Hospital System

Governor makes a visit to Long Beach Memorial Hospital to address Medi-Cal issues with hospitals canceling contract...BD

Sacramento, California - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today highlighted how health care reform ensures financial stability to our state's ailing hospital system by providing billions of dollars from the federal government so services are less vulnerable.

"Our health care reform plan will bring billions of dollars of badly needed money to our healthcare system and ensure that future Governors will not have to make the decisions we are being forced to make today," said Governor Schwarzenegger. 

The Governor visited Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, which illustrates one of the main reasons why we need to fix our broken health care system: California pays some of the lowest Medi-Cal rates in the nation. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center reports losing $28 million last year alone treating Medi-Cal patients.

Hospitals up and down the state have been canceling contracts to treat Medi-Cal patients.

Three have canceled contracts just this month and many doctors won't even consider treating Medi-Cal patients because state payments don't fully cover their costs.

Participants joining the Governor today at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center included:

Barry Arbuckle, chair-elect, California Hospital Association, and president and chief executive officer with Memorial Care Medical Centers  Matt Kinley, chair of the Board, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Danny Curtin, director, California Conference of Carpenters  Dr. Jay Cohen, chair-elect of the Board, California Association of Physician Groups

Imperial Valley News - Health Care Reform to Benefit California's Ailing Hospital System

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'Dr.Filth' gives up medical license

And the office had no hot water, in New Jersey...BD 

A Jersey City doctor whose office was shut in October after city health inspectors found a stockpile of used vials, needles and expired medications in his office, has voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine, state officials announced today.

Dr. Sun C. Tzeng -- who has maintained a practice in Jersey City at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Stegman Street for over three decades -- signed a voluntary consent order to surrender his license yesterday, according to the Attorney General's Office.

During an inspection conducted Oct. 19, city health officials found the storefront office filled with what they estimated to be two years worth of medical waste, including bloody vials, used syringes, and a barrel full of plastic tubes used for vaginal tests.

'Dr.Filth' gives up medical license - Hudson County Now - NJ.com

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Bill Gates: The skills you need to succeed

Word of wisdom from Mr. Gates....software is everything....and in healthcare software IS your best friend..BD 

The power of software.  One of the most important changes of the last 30 years is that digital technology has transformed almost everyone into an information worker.

Today and in the future, many of the jobs with the greatest impact will be related to software, whether it is developing software working for a company like Microsoft or helping other organizations use information technology tools to be successful.

Lifelong learning is vital

A solid working knowledge of productivity software and other IT tools has become a basic foundation for success in virtually any career.  Communication skills and the ability to work well with different types of people are very important too.

Today and in the future, many of the jobs with the greatest impact will be related to software, whether it is developing software working for a company like Microsoft or helping other organizations use information technology tools to be successful.

BBC NEWS | Business | Bill Gates: The skills you need to succeed

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Wearable Dialysis Unit Effective in Tryout - the Wearable Artificial Kidney

Not ready yet for prime time but the initial trials look good...a couple folks had issues, but again it's a new product in development... 2 had clotting issues but both had heparin dosing reduced...as this goes forward this sure would be a nice product for those requiring dialysis and giving some quality of life back...BD 

LONDON, Dec. 13 -- An investigational wearable hemodialysis device demonstrated promising safety and efficacy in a pilot study of eight patients with end-stage renal disease, researchers here reported.
But three of the eight patients who tried out dialysis on the hoof for four to eight hours had serious adverse effects involving coagulation and vascular access, said Andrew Davenport, M.D., of University College Hospital Medical School, and colleagues.

Patients using the device achieved a mean flood flow of 58.6 mL/min, with a dialysate flow of 47.1 mL/min, the investigators reported in the Dec. 15 issue of The Lancet.  The mean plasma clearance rate was 22.7 mL/min and mean plasma creatinine clearance rate was 20.7 mL/min

The device used in the trial was developed by Xcorporeal Inc., of Los Angeles. "All patients were pleased with treatment, and had no complaints," the investigators wrote. "They stated unanimously that they would recommend this device to other patients."

All patients in the trial had been receiving hemodialysis for an average of 17.9 years and all were receiving regular hemodialysis three times a week at the time they volunteered for the study. Five of the patients were men and the average age of patients was 52.

Medical News: Wearable Dialysis Unit Effective in Tryout - in Nephrology, General Nephrology from MedPage Today

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New Jersey: No Flu Shots, No Preschool

And a couple other vaccines as well...BD 

New Jersey on Friday became the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers, saying their developing immune systems and likelihood of spreading germs make them as vulnerable to complications as the elderly.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Fred M. Jacobs approved the requirement and three other vaccines for school children starting Sept. 1, 2008, over the objections of some parent groups.  New Jersey also will require preschoolers to get a pneumococcal vaccine and sixth-graders to get vaccines against meningitis, which New Jersey already requires for college dormitory residents, and a booster shot against whooping cough, which in recent years has seen a resurgence blamed on waning potency of shots given to infants and preschoolers.

ABC News: New Jersey: No Flu Shots, No Preschool

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New Contraception Option for Women

Awaiting FDA approval....BD

An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration recommended on Thursday the approval of a new method for sterilizing women that would give them another option to tubal ligation.

The device, called Adiana, is made by Hologic Inc. of Bedford, Mass. The company markets the product as a low-risk procedure that can be performed in the doctor's office. Overall, about 700,000 women in the U.S. elect to have their tubes tied each year, which typically occurs in a hospital operating room.

FDA documents showed that the procedure was not foolproof. During a clinical trial, 570 women were told they could rely on Adiana for contraception. Company officials said they had not yet set a price for the procedure. It will be up to the FDA to determine when Adiana will be made available to the public.

ABC News: New Contraception Option for Women

Web Site

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Optimizing Santa - 150 Computer Clicks Per Family Saves Him A Lot Of Travel

Let's get Santa up to a Quad Core desktop soon...even Santa is looking seriously at mobile computing these days..BD

It's been revealed that what Santa needs is a comfortable armchair and a fast finger to turn a 24,902 mile(a) shopping trip around the world into just 1 hour(b) spent in front of a computer, leaving Santa all rested up to do his Christmas Eve deliveries. 

150 clicks are all it would take for Santa Claus to buy all the presents from across the world for a typical UK family(c). Santa need not spend £3370 on sleigh fares(d) nor travel 56 hours(e) on his famous sleigh to purchase the presents either, as he would in years past.  Santa on an Intel(R) Centrino(R) powered laptop picture courtesy of Intel,

This would mean Santa need not stop at getting the Jones' their gifts online, he could purchase gifts online for every person in the world in a record 1.32 billion hours, 198 billion clicks of the mouse, and save himself having to travel to 194 countries to drop presents off(h)

To buy the 5 pre-identified gifts online consistently takes approximately one hour using an Intel(R) Centrino(R) Processor (Those product placements could get old - editors ) and Wi-Fi connection

Optimizing Santa - 150 Computer Clicks Per Family Saves Him A Lot Of Travel | Scientific Blogging

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12 Days of Christmas Spam

In the holiday spirit and a reminder to watch out for spam...BB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReUs8YTVTKg&eurl=http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/security/the_12_days_of_spammers.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535

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German dads jump at chance to stay home with kids

Interesting concept in Germany to help increase the low birth rate...BD

BERLIN (Reuters) - German fathers are staying home with their newborn babies in unexpectedly high numbers in the first year of a generous government subsidy meant to boost the country's low birth rate, officials said on Friday. "It's becoming much more acceptable for someone just starting out in his career to take some time off to be with his kids," Families Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.

Fathers accounted for about 10 percent of subsidy beneficiaries in the third quarter of this year, a maj or shift in the attitude of German men taking time off work for their children, officials said.  A parent taking time off work to care for a newborn is paid two-thirds of his or her net monthly salary, up to a maximum of 1,800 euros, tax-free for 12 months. The other parent can take a further two months off to extend the benefit to 14 months.

German dads jump at chance to stay home with kids - Yahoo! News

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ETime Home Endoscope ("Digital Pen Camera")

Cant get one here in the US yet...plug the usb connector to your pc and have at it...look at anything where you can use the pen...the review has a couple videos and additional content...I don't know how many want to see our scalp, the inside of our nose, but this device makes it possible with using your pc usb plug in...who knows where this technology may lead someday...BD

An endoscope is a thin viewing device, suitable for being poked into places where the human eye cannot, and possibly should not, otherwise see.

Since it's likely to be dark... in there, endoscopes usually have some sort of illumination device built in. The more sophisticated kinds of endoscope shoot light out of the same lens the user looks through. The common otoscope, for peering into ears, is the simplest example of that idea.

Endoscopes are useful for all sorts of things, but they're also usually rather expensive. Endoscopes that incorporate a camera so you can hook them up to a TV or computer are, generally speaking, more expensive again.

And then, there's this one.

  

In the review we get a look at what his scalp looks like...BD 

If you've ever felt that the world could really do with a full screen action video of you trimming your nose hair, this is the device that'll make your dream a reality. More practically, it really will let you take pictures or video of just about anything you could poke a pen into.

Review: ETime Home Endoscope ("Digital Pen Camera")

Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

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No Mevacor Without a Prescription, Panel Says

Thumbs down from the FDA...no over the counter for this statin...BD

Mevacor over the counter? No way, said the panel of experts meeting to advise the FDA on Merck’s proposal to make the cholesterol-lowering drug available without a prescription.

The vote this afternoon was a washout: 10 against, 2 in favor and 1 abstention, the WSJ’s Anna Wilde Mathews told us.

Health Blog : No Mevacor Without a Prescription, Panel Says

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Mobile Computer to Dominate 2008 - Intel

This is even more important for Health Care...as this trend continues to grow, having access to the web and patient records to create more intelligent decisions is not going away any time soon...the sooner you're on the band wagon the better for everyone involved...BD

Intel also stated that Notebooks are likely to get smaller in 2008, in response to today’s dynamic lifestyle requirements for improved portability.  An innovative range of Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC) will lead the way for those in need of extreme portability. UMPCs will provide full PC capability in ultra light and small form factors for on-the-go business users.  To that end, in the first half of 2008, Intel will introduce a platform codenamed Menlow, which will deliver 10x lower power compared to the first UMPCs in the market.

The company claimed that over the past year, online social networking has gained momentum thanks to companies like Second Life, Facebook and Linked-In, while online video consumption has increased dramatically over the last year, as movie-lovers downloaded more digital files than ever before. 

Intel also revealed that PC customisation will be the new king, as customers demand to get personal with their technology. Commenting on this trend, Elamrawi added: “Whether you are a gamer or a mobile professional, a speed demon or a film enthusiast, PC manufacturers will offer an increasing range of notebooks to suit customers’ usage models and personality in 2008,”

Trade Arabia - Middle East business information | Trade news portal

Hat Tip:  Tablet PC Talk

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Lannett Receives FDA Approval For Phentermine

Obesity management...more generic news...BD 

Lannett Company, Inc. (Amex:LCI) announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company's supplemental Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) of Phentermine Hydrochloride Capsules 30 mg. The company expects to commence marketing this product immediately.
Phentermine Hydrochloride (HCl) is indicated for the short-term management of obesity. According to Wolters Kluwer, sales of generic Phentermine HCI Capsules exceeded $37 million for the 12 months ended October 2007.
"This approval complements our Phentermine HCI Tablet 37.5 mg which is the generic equivalent of Adipex-P®, marketed by Gate Pharmaceuticals, a division of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and is an important addition to our product portfolio," said Arthur Bedrosian, president and chief executive officer of Lannett. "Through the hard work and dedication of our research and development team, we continue to build a robust pipeline despite a tremendous backlog of product applications pending at the FDA."

Lannett Receives FDA Approval For Phentermine

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Hospitals' charity work hard to assess - California

Many non profits lack software to allow analysis and projections to assess community benefits, let alone just the simple facts on the number of people in the community that projects have reached...budgets impact these items as non profits simply sometimes do not have the available funds that for profits have available...but something definitely worth looking into for the non profits though and there is open source software than can help with business  intelligence..especially when there is a risk of potentially losing a tax exempt status when an audit takes place.  BD 

For-profit hospitals in California provide free care to indigent patients at rates equal to nonprofit hospitals that receive income and property tax exemptions, according to a report released Thursday by the state auditor's office.
But, according to the report, nonprofits provide other community benefits such as medical research, physician training and wellness promotion valued at $656 million, nearly three times the $242 million they would have paid in corporate income and property taxes in 2005.  That is, if the numbers can be believed.

"There is no real way of knowing what nonprofit community benefits are," said Doug Cordiner, chief deputy to State Auditor Elaine M. Howle. "If there's a desire on the Legislature's part to better understand the benefits provided, then we recommend that a more standardized way for reporting benefits be required."

Hospitals' charity work hard to assess - Los Angeles Times

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Do Probiotics Really Work?

Many foods contain friendly bacteria...being our systems become so clean with antibiotics, perhaps the need to introduce friendly bacteria can be a good concept...pills, yogurt, etc, all around the grocery store...BD 

Probiotics contain "friendly" bacteria, and are said to help with intestinal health. You can buy it as a pill, or get it in yogurt and other food products. For Rita Condon, most days begin with her mixing up a healthy dose of bacteria to eat. She says the rest of us could use more in our diets, too. Even if you haven't noticed, probiotics are everywhere, from specialized yogurts to smoothies and snack bars — even baby formula. Roxanne Green, a health and beauty aids coordinator, said, "I have a little 3-year-old grandson that just started preschool and is starting to pick up all of the colds from everybody, and so I have him on probiotics."

In fact, 159 products containing the friendly bacteria were introduced just this year — up from 102 last year.

Dr. Tod Cooperman of Consumerlab.com warned, "People should know that, although these come under FDA regulations, the FDA is not checking these probiotics, nor any supplement on a regular basis."

The lesson of probiotics, according to researchers, is that many people have become so clean — so sterile — they actually need to put some bacteria back inside.

ABC News: Do Probiotics Really Work?

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House Democrats Stall Medicare Vote; Republicans Propose Bare-Bones Bill, Including SCHIP Extension

The latest update after the veto....but it appears the present version that stands a chance on being passed does not include enough additional funding for SCHIPs...BD

The House on Wednesday decided to delay until next week a vote on a Medicare package that would delay the scheduled 10% reduction to Medicare physician fees, CongressDaily reports. According to CongressDaily, "Democrats are hoping to win support in the Senate for more than the 'bare-bones' fix being proposed by House Republicans, but it is unclear if that will be possible" (Johnson/Bourge, CongressDaily, 12/13). Aides from both parties said that the bare-bones package released on Wednesday could become law if Democrats fail to pass a broader bill before Congress adjourns.

The Republican package would halt the physician fee cut, but it does not include any fee increase. The proposal also would extend for one year several Medicare programs that are about to expire, including a program that gives higher reimbursement to rural health care providers, transitional Medicaid assistance and exemptions to caps on occupational therapy benefits. The physician fee fix would be paid for using money from a Medicare Advantage "stabilization fund" and by reducing MA payments to hospitals with teaching programs (Armstrong [1], CQ Today, 12/12). Republicans say the proposal is the only one that could pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Bush (CongressDaily, 12/13).

House Democrats Stall Medicare Vote; Republicans Propose Bare-Bones Bill, Including SCHIP Extension

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Governor's 2007 healthcare plan nears deadline - California

All we hear is that folks are working on it...will the balance be found?  This is indeed one difficult project and gets more heated as the deadline approaches as the entire nation is watching what will happen in California...BD

SACRAMENTO — As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's promised "year of healthcare reform" enters its final fortnight with still no result, any hope for an eleventh-hour agreement appears to hinge on whether he is willing to carve out exceptions to his goal of obtaining coverage for 100 percent of Californians.

Negotiations among Schwarzenegger, Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and healthcare interest groups have been stubbornly deadlocked since the governor called a special legislative session in early September to attempt to salvage his hoped-for reforms.

Neither side can find a balance between affordability assurances for individuals and subsidy levels for the state that meets its bottom line.  "If you have 20 people on a desert island and you have a raft that only holds 10," he said, "you don't put all 20 people on board, because it sinks the raft."

Governor's 2007 healthcare plan nears deadline : Public Health : Ventura County Star

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Heart Defibrillator - Medtronic - do you go back to replace?

Big decision...and who pays for the repair and removal too?  and what about those that have dual implants, one for defibrillating and one for being a pacemaker?  Tough questions both for patients and the physicians...BD 

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — For one heart patient, there will be no more agonizing over whether the implanted device meant to save his life might kill him instead.

On Tuesday, two months after Medtronic warned doctors and nearly a quarter-million patients that a wire, or lead, connecting their electronic defibrillators to their hearts might break, the 48-year-old patient had the lead and defibrillator removed and replaced. It required a painstaking 90-minute operation here at Morristown Memorial Hospital.

“This has been a nightmare,” said the Morristown patient. He described his fears and agreed to let a reporter observe the procedure on the condition that his identity remained private.  Most Fidelis users will not end up needing such an operation, although all have been advised to check with their doctors. But the number of patients with the potentially faulty leads has made this the most widespread problem yet involving a heart device. And the episode has drawn renewed scrutiny to the way medical devices — particularly heart leads — are approved and regulated in this country. The episode has led to investigations in both houses of Congress. One reason for Wall Street’s relief is the widespread agreement among doctors that most patients whose Fidelis leads have not already fractured are better off simply leaving them in place. The caveat is that the defibrillators need to be reprogrammed and monitored, to improve the odds of catching any developing fractures early.

Heart Defibrillator - Medtronic - - New York Times

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Why use steroids? They work

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Baseball players and other athletes use steroids for one reason -- they work.

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who launched an independent probe into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in March 2006, was expected to name on Thursday at least 50 Major League Baseball players who used banned drugs, despite rules and health warnings.

They can cause acne, enlarged breasts and shrunken testicles in men. Th ey cause women to grow facial hair and can lead to infertility in both sexes.  Yet some players still use them. Why? Because they can help build muscle and endurance more quickly, mostly by speeding recovery from strenuous workouts, experts say.

Why use steroids? They work - Yahoo! News

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Intensive care quality of sleep improved by new drug dexmedetomidine

A new sedative drug has been shown to improve the sleep quality and comfort levels of intensive care patients, compared to the most commonly-used medication, according to research published today in the journal JAMA.

US and UK researchers compared the effects of the new drug dexmedetomidine with the commonly used sedative lorazepam, both of which reduce the pain and anxiety experienced by mechanically ventilated ICU patients and which help them to tolerate invasive procedures such as the insertion of catheters and feeding tubes.

While the routinely-administered lorazepam successfully lessens discomfort, it has also been associated with an increased risk of brain dysfunction, including coma and delirium, which prolong patients' time in hospital and raise the chance of death.

Intensive care quality of sleep improved by new drug dexmedetomidine

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Zakeez - "give your baby a hand"

Helps Mom and Babies bond...add you scent to the "hand" pillow..and has use in hospitals as well for children experiencing long term stays...BD 

The Zaky® is the award-winning bonding, therapeutic, and positioning pillow, ergonomically designed to assist parents and their children feel closer to each other.

It is a soft but heavy pillow that imitates the look, feel, weight, scent, and warmth of the parents’ hand and forearm. It assures proper positioning, helps with pain management and sleep, provides a sense of protection, and assists with the physical and psychological development of the child.

Scent it - place it on the chest for a night or with a drop of perfume/after-shave   Warm it - in the dryer or towel warmer for a few minutes

Wash/Dry it - in the washing bag provided     Control the weight and firmness - by shifting the filling

The Zaky is the only product specifically developed to have the scent of mom, so it help babies bond with their mothers even when they are away from each other.  It is the only product designed to stay with the baby to give him/her comfort and a sense of protection when he/she changes environments (hospital, car, home, sitter, child-care, etc).  It is fully washable (comes with its own washing bag) and it is made with extremely high quality workmanship.

Children and adults that have a long stay due to cancer, burns or other treatments etc. and families cannot stay 24/7 find the Zaky comforting as it smells and feels like their loved ones.  It also helps on positioning after surgical procedures.
Some moms swap scented Zakys with the child so both feel closer to each other (moms scent it for the child and the child scents it for his/her mom)

Zakeez - "give your baby a hand" (tm)

Hat Tip:  Medgadget

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State accuses Blue Shield of illegal cancellations - California

Update on seeking 12 million dollar penalty..BD

California's top insurance regulator has accused Blue Shield, one of the state's largest health plans, of 1,262 violations of claims-handling laws and regulations that resulted in more than 200 people losing their medical coverage.
Calling the allegations "serious violations that completely undermine the public's trust in our healthcare delivery system and are potentially devastating to patients," Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said he would announce today that he would seek a $12.6-million fine.

The department's action against Blue Shield is the latest example of regulators closing ranks on the cancellation issue. Both agencies are seeking regulations aimed at curtailing cancellations, also known as rescissions. And both are investigating the way these are handled at the state's biggest health plans.

State accuses Blue Shield of illegal cancellations - Los Angeles Times

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Young Gordy Moore travels through time, invents Penryn - Intel

We all know about Intel's commitment to health care, but let's take a break and look at the humorous side of some of the things they do too...Intel bunnymen take over NYC...these are not to be confused with the similar white suits worn by orthopedic surgeons...but the idea of clean and sanitary is the same...see the pictures below..notice any similarities?  BD 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/13/7-year-old-gordy-moore-travels-through-time-invents-penryn/

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Microsoft Research: Research & Programs for Healthcare

Ever wonder what goes on with Health Care research at Microsoft...well here's a short preview of some of what is going on...several links listed below on different areas of health care research...BD 

eScience is immensely rich in computational challenges; we work to identify emerging areas of research in the academic community through conferences which focus on common computational challenges across many disciplines and smaller events which focus on challenges specific to a research domain. We periodically solicit proposals from the academic community in an effort to understand a specific problem area and explore potential areas where Microsoft may be able to make a contribution. Our specific interests change over time, but current areas of interest include:

• Assisted cognition
• Social networks
• Capture of large-scale sensor data
• Building tools for bioinformatics
• Synthetic biology
• Biomedical informatics
• Mobile devices and healthcare
• Personalized medicine
• Cross-disciplinary research and education

“Microsoft as a corporation has always had a really strong desire to do things that are socially relevant,” Tolle says. “What better way to be good corporate citizens than to put money into supporting medical research?

“There is a disparity in different countries’ abilities to do medical research and provide better health care to their populations,” she adds. “We are planning a global medical-research initiative that financially supports best-of-breed research in computational medicine with the hope that we can have a positive impact on the equalization of world health care.”

• Long-term health monitoring outside a hospital setting.
• Injury prevention of physically active individuals.
• Remote diagnostics—similar to telemedicine, but through cellphones.
• User authentication for high-security areas.
• Activation of a mobile device through body motion.

Microsoft Research: External Research & Programs

Microsoft Biomedical Research News and Highlights

Biomedical Computing

Health Care and Life Sciences at Microsoft

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Health Care for Vets Has Become Best-in-Nation

What keeps putting the VA at the top of the list...medical records and access to information...they save trees too at the same time...nothing new here in the fact that better decisions are made when one does not have to shoot from the hip and has solid credible information at their fingertips....and they do it cheaper than Medicare...and yes there are pros and cons to how the overall administration works, but you can't argue with information availability...BD 

Experts generally agree that electronic records are absolutely essential to significant health care reform. However, only about 5 percent of the nation's hospitals now have them.   The difference is the VA's life-long relationship with patients. It gives them a strong financial incentive to invest in technology that aids preventive medicine. And it works --

Experts generally agree that electronic records are absolutely essential to significant health care reform. However, only about 5 percent of the nation's hospitals now have them.

But in the VA system, every patient's records are as close as a computer. It saves millions of dollars. And it's not just good business, it's good medicine.  That means, for example, that in most private hospitals 20 percent of lab tests are repeated simply because doctors can't find a patient's results.

Study after study puts the VA system at the very top for fewer medical errors, for effective treatments, for lower costs and for patient satisfaction. And the VA delivers all of this for at least $1,500 less per year per patient than Medicare.

ABC News: Health Care for Vets Has Become Best-in-Nation

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Drug Trip in the E.R.

What is "Special K" and how is it used in the ER...it doesn't stop the pain, but induces an attitude of "I don't care" which allows a patient to remain conscious through a procedure...an out of body experience of sorts...BD 

Special K, or ketamine, is in fact an old drug. Available since the early '60's, it has enjoyed something of a rebirth in the past few years in hospitals, in-patient psych facilities and — illegally, of course — in nightclubs (the sweaty-techno-mosh-pit kinds, not the ones with elegant ladies at small tables). Though it's listed as one, ketamine is not really an anesthetic; it's not even an analgesic. It doesn't actually stop pain. On Special K, you'll still feel pain — you just won't care. Patients I have seen on ketamine become nonchalant about what's going on with their bodies, as if they're not really in there: "Out of body" is how users say they feel on it.

Many patients, like Sasha, seem to be fascinated by the Special K high. This is what mortified me that night when I realized how much he liked what ketamine was doing to his amazing brain. I was afraid that Sasha had tasted a forbidden fruit, peeked into a place he might never forget, one he might long for. Into a 9-year-old mind already struggling with so much adult turmoil, we had loosed a psychedelic snake proffering an alternative and apparently pleasant reality.

Drug Trip in the E.R. - TIME

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Researchers Identify Epigenomic Test That Could Improve Treatment For Specific Gastric Cancers

New information on stomach cancer from the John Wayne Cancer Institute...they also have a lot going on with breast cancer research studies and clinical trials...BD 

A study by researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center in a recent issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology identifies activation of the enzyme COX-2 in gastric cancer tumors as a prognostic indicator for poor outcome. The study suggests that inhibiting COX-2 with readily available drugs may improve outcomes for some gastric cancer patients. 

Hoon noted that COX-2 remains a significant research interest for all gastrointestinal cancers, and that previous studies have suggested COX-2 inhibition can play a role in colon cancer prevention. The current study, which continues a strong collaboration between JWCI and the Dutch Gastric Cancer Group at Leiden, is one of the largest biomarker studies to date relating COX-2 and gastric cancer. "It is the first to suggest an epigenetic biomarker for gastric cancer progression," he added.

Celebrating over 25 years, the John Wayne Cancer Insitute (JWCI) has become one of the premier cancer research and treatment centers in the nation. Discoveries made by the research team at JWCI have international impact. Our scientists work closely with all institute departments to ensure research is being supported in the highest manner possible. Through collaboration with scientists across the nation as well as participation in international conferences and symposiums, JWCI researchers stay at the forefront of international cancer research.

JWCI Researchers Identify Epigenomic Test That Could Improve Treatment For Specific Gastric Cancers

John Wayne Cancer Institute

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1 Trillion Dollars Hospital Bill Fast Approaching, USA

Something we all know, the tab continues to increase..the percentage numbers of the areas cited here with growth seems to be a reflection on what is happening in today's hospitals....BD 

U.S. hospitals charged $873 billion in 2005 - a nearly 90 percent increase from the $462 billion charged in 1997 - according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research. The 2005 bill, which is adjusted for inflation, represents the total amount charged for 39 million hospital stays.

For 10 conditions, the growth was greater than the average of all hospital stays:
- Sepsis - 189 percent
- Chest pain - 181 percent
- Respiratory failure - 171 percent
- Back pain - 170 percent
- Osteoarthritis - 165 percent
- Irregular heart beat - 131 percent
- Procedure complications- 120 percent
- Congestive heart failure - 117 percent
- Medical device complications - 113 percent
- Diabetes - 97 percent

1 Trillion Dollars Hospital Bill Fast Approaching, USA

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Medical Device That Is Changing The Lives Of Back Pain Sufferers

This looks promising to those suffering from back pain as an alternative treatment for surgery and uses new touch screen technology so no mouse or keyboard are required to operate...BD

In the United States, low back pain is the second most common reason for physician visits and the third most common indication for surgery. However, a special report published in the December issue of Anesthesiology News highlights exciting research on a medical device that offers patients a non-surgical treatment option in treating chronic low back pain. The device is called the DRX9000™ and is manufactured by Axiom Worldwide of Tampa, FL.

They conclude their special report by stating, "The DRX9000™ computerized nonsurgical spinal decompression systems were designed to provide maximum patient benefits with the use of a noninvasive approach that may help minimize health care resources and offer a potentially optimal therapeutic approach to the treatment of LBP (low back pain)."

At Axiom Worldwide, we created the DRX9000™ to assist healthcare providers in their effort to treat back pain conditions. With treatment on the DRX9000™, your patients can non-surgically achieve relief from their debilitating back problems. By combining technology and science, physicians can utilize the DRX9000™ to offer patients an alternative to surgery.

Special Report Describes A Medical Device That Is Changing The Lives Of Back Pain Sufferers

Web Site

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Cyberkinetics Receives FDA Response Letter On Andara OFS

Looking for potential FDA approval in 2008 based on trials and studies...a new way to stimulate nerve repair and restore sensory and motor function...system is removed after 14 weeks of therapy..great technology to restore movements to those with nerve damage and lost of motion. that are months to years old..BD

Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: CYKN; "Company;" "Cyberkinetics"), announced that it has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting additional analyses and data regarding its Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) marketing application for the Andara™ OFS™ (Oscillating Field Stimulator) System, a nerve growth stimulator designed as a treatment for acute spinal cord injuries. Based on the FDA's request for additional data and analyses, the Company now expects that approval of its Andara™ OFS™ System for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury may be delayed until at least the first half of 2008.

"The FDA has identified additional information related to our clinical and engineering data that we must provide prior to completion of their review of the Andara™ OFS™ HDE," stated Timothy R. Surgenor, Cyberkinetics' President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to working with the FDA over the coming weeks to fully understand their requirements. We believe that we can provide the information that the FDA has requested in an additional amendment to our HDE application in early 2008.

In the future, the BrainGate System could be used by those individuals whose injuries are less severe. Next generation products may be able to provide an individual with the ability to control devices that allow breathing, bladder and bowel movements.

Cyberkinetics Receives FDA Response Letter On Andara OFS System For Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Web Site

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Adult Stem Cell Heart Attack Study Updated At American Society

Stem cells...interesting study on using the patient's own bone marrow cells to help in treating damaged cardiac muscle after a heart attack...BD 

Doctors are using patients' own bone marrow stem cells (progenitor cells) to treat the damage to cardiac muscle after a heart attack in a study at Emory University School of Medicine.
The study investigators--Emory cardiologist Arshed Quyyumi, MD, and hematologist/oncologist Edmund Waller, MD--will update their colleagues on its progress at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Atlanta.

In the clinical trial, patients receive the standard of care for their condition, including cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and implantation of a stent in the blocked artery. During catheterization, the bone marrow cells are introduced into the coronary artery where a blockage caused the patient's heart attack. To guide the bone marrow cells to the critical area, a balloon is inflated around the catheter, temporarily sealing off the artery from the rest of the circulation.

Adult Stem Cell Heart Attack Study Updated At American Society For Hematology Meeting

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Juicy Suits: Cutting off her/his own testicles in prison

This is one strange suit for the records...if he or she was not a burglar, professional help would have been a lot easier to seek out rather than a do it yourself castration...and is now suing for 10 million...give me a break...BD 

A prisoner is suing Oregon Department of Corrections Director Max Williams and 16 other state prison officials for ignoring what he calls his severe case of gender-identity disorder.

According to a civil-rights lawsuit filed Nov. 21 at U.S. District Court in Portland, 27-year-old Jorey Lee Brewis—aka Rebekah Katherine—was so troubled that he cut out his testicles in his cell and mutilated them.

Brewis was sentenced to 70 months in 2000 for robbery. But he's had his original sentence extended by seven years for a series of convictions while behind bars for assault, carrying a weapon and supplying contraband. He is currently being held at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla.

Brewis refers to himself as a female throughout the lawsuit, which says his discomfort with his male body is so severe that he's tried suicide four times since 2002 and has tried to castrate himself 13 times.

Willamette Week | Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

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Charity Gives Free Medical Care - California

Super Saturday at a northern California hospital - the day when uninsured patients can have surgery performed for free and there are plans to expand this program...nice work on the part of the doctors and hospital here and nice that it has expanded to Orange County as well...BD

The number of Americans without health insurance reached an all-time high of 47 million in 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and there are no signs that number is decreasing.  But one Northern California program may actually be making a difference. Operation Access is a nonprofit program started in the Bay Area by two doctors frustrated at the lack of opportunities to help poor, sick people within their community.

The doctors wanted to find a way to offer surgeries to low-income, uninsured patients — for free. So they enlisted the help of 15 volunteering medical professions who agreed to give their time and expertise — and one hospital, which agreed to give its facilities and equipment.  "Super Saturday" at Kaiser Permanente's Oakland Hospital was coordinated with the help of chief of surgery Steven Webster. The event was organized around 45 volunteers, who helped perform surgery on 10 patients in a single day.

Aune says Access has a lot planned for the future. The program has several expansion projects in the works for the Bay Area and is developing a program to help other regions replicate their approach — like one branch did when it started last year in Orange County, Calif.

"Hospitals and doctors doing charity work is old," Rauh said. "What's new [with this program] is the organization."

ABC News: Charity Tries to Give Free Medical Care

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California's new CIO faces uphill battle

The state is looking to improve business intelligence at the top level and health care will undoubtedly be right up there at the top and the article mentions one big huge item that was never completed. BD 

California’s new chief information officer Teresa (Teri) Takai faces an uphill battle as she tries to help a state that has struggled historically to manage its vast and varied information technology resources. She replaces Clark Kelso, who was the state's CIO for the past four years.

California has struggled with IT strategy and oversight over the past decade. Five years ago, state lawmakers shut down the state’s technology office when they learned that then-CIO Elias Cortez and other officials approved a $95 million enterprise licensing agreement with Oracle that was done without competition. When the office’s charter was up for renewal, they chose not to renew it and also canceled the Oracle deal.

California's new CIO faces uphill battle

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Robot Helps Out With Knee Surgery - Makoplasty

Surgery done in 3D with a partial knee replacement...instead of an entire knee...BD

Roche combines the use of robotics and traditional knee replacement surgery using something called Makoplasty.

"With the robot, the robot knows where we are at all times in 3D," said Roche. "It's a precision that we can't match with external jigs and saws and human eye, so it brings a level of precision way above that."

Smaller incisions create less bleeding, less scarring and a quicker recovery. 

The best candidates are those with mild or moderate arthritis of the knee.

"If your knee is only arthritic in one compartment, we try not to have to replace the complete knee," explained Roche.  "The bearings themselves only have a life span of maybe 10 to 15 years," explained Roche. "So if we can do a small procedure to alleviate their pain and get them back to work in weeks rather than months, it benefits them."

cbs4.com - Robot Helps Out With Knee Surgery

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Bush vetoes funding for children's healthcare again in the midst of the holiday season

SCHIPs had it's second veto from President Bush....BD 

President Bush’s [second] veto of an SCHIP expansion was only the fourth veto of his presidency. AP reports that the White House "sought as little attention as possible, with the president wielding his veto behind closed doors without any fanfare or news coverage."
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that they have not yet scheduled a date for an override vote, but it could be "next week" or "the week after."

For American kids seriously in need of the care SCHIP would provide, Bush's veto is like getting a lump of coal in a Christmas stocking.

Northwest Progressive Institute: Bush vetoes funding for children's healthcare again in the midst of the holiday season

From the White House

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Merck Recalls Childhood Meningitis Vaccine

Merck & Co. is recalling about a million doses of a childhood vaccine, after testing showed a sterilization problem in a Pennsylvania factory.

The company is not aware of any harm to children who received the vaccine, known as Hib, which prevents meningitis and pneumonia. It is a three-dose shot recommended for all children under 5 and is usually given to infants starting at two months old.

The recall involves 10 lots of Hib vaccine and two lots of a combination vaccine for both Hib and hepatitis B, a Merck spokeswoman said.

ABC News: Merck Recalls Childhood Meningitis Vaccine

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Update on the HealthVault -HealthBlog

Dr. Crounse gives us a nice update on what's happening and some nice hands on demonstrations with this latest video..in one portion of the video, we see a blood pressure cuff attached to a PC to transmit readings...nice update and good information here. BD

A couple of week's ago I had a chance to catch up with Peter Neupert and Sean Nolan from our Health Solutions Group here at Microsoft. They sat down with me to record a special video program for my House Calls for Healthcare Professionals series.

Using HealthVault, people can store and control an array of health information including prescription medication lists, health histories, hospital discharge summaries, lab results, fitness data and search results.

HealthBlog - The Health Vault

Streaming Video located here

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Seniors Unable To Afford Prescription Drugs, Study Finds

Even with physician assistance, the problem still remains for seniors, especially here in California where the study was conducted...25% just pitched their medications all together...so where does this leave the physician in the compliance areas for P4P?  BD

Two-thirds of California seniors cannot afford their medications, and nine in 10 seniors want to be able to choose which medications are prescribed to them, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the Honolulu Advertiser reports. For the study, Chien-Wen Tseng, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Hawaii John Burns School of Medicine and a physician investigator at the Pacific Health Research Institute, and colleagues surveyed 1,100 California residents who were at least 65 years old.

Among participants who stopped taking drugs, 17% said that their physician had checked to see if they could afford the treatments.  25% of participants skipped, stopped or never began taking treatments because of cost;

Seniors Unable To Afford Prescription Drugs, Study Finds

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What is Glucoboy?

Neat product that will work with Nintendo Game Boy...a network of sharing information regarding health geared for use by kids....and you can create your own web site and share your experiences...also there are games that come along with the unit so you can play cards and answer trivia questions relative to diabetes management...not available here in the US yet, but perhaps soon..BD 

By itself, the Glucoboy is an advanced blood glucose meter that is extremely accurate and highly precise using only a 0.6µL sample of blood!

When used with the Nintendo Game Boy® Advance System or the GRiP incentive-based web community, Glucoboy becomes part of an entire network that rewards testing compliance and good health management.

Glucoboy is much more than just a meter, it is an integrated system that assists patients and support networks, helping them work together to provide the highest level of care, compassion and compliance.

The Glucoboy is a highly accurate and precise self-diagnostic device.

• 10 Second test time
• 0.6 µL sample size
• 1.1 to 29.2 mmol/L result range
• 500 glucose result memory
• Automatic shut off
• Glucose dehydrogenase biosensor

In addition to a stand-alone blood glucose meter, the Glucoboy contains 2 full length video games and a mini-arcade. To access the video games, the Glucoboy must be inserted into the cartridge slot on a Nintendo Game Boy® Advance System, or into the Game Boy® cartridge slot on a Nintendo DS.

Glucoboy Web Site

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Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor

Cancer tests may be back in order shortly in Canada..BD 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian Parliament was set to overrule the country's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday and order a reactor that makes crucial radioisotopes for cancer tests be restarted immediately. The Chalk River reactor -- which makes more than two-thirds of global supply of the medical isotopes -- was shut down in November, quickly triggering shortages.

Once the reactor is restarted it will take three or four days before operator Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd can begin delivering isotopes. When injected into the body, the isotopes give off radiation that can be seen by a camera to diagnose cancer, heart disease and other medical conditions.

Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor - Yahoo! News

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Man drinks liter of vodka at airport line - doctor called in

Too much liquid in one container...A doctor called to the scene determined he had possibly life-threatening alcohol poisoning, and he was sent to a Nuremberg clinic for treatment.  BD

BERLIN - A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing a liter (two pints) of vodka at an airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new carry-on rules, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the Nuremberg airport on Tuesday, where the 64-year-old man was switching planes on his way home to Dresden from a holiday in Egypt.

New airport rules prohibit passengers from carrying larger quantities of liquid onto planes, and he was told at a security check he would have to either throw out the bottle of vodka or pay a fee to have his carry-on bag checked as cargo.

Instead, he chugged the bottle down — and was quickly unable to stand or otherwise function, police said. 

Man drinks liter of vodka at airport line - Yahoo! News

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Are Pet Pigs A Health Hazard?

I almost resent the name of this one...they too can be therapeutic and need the same love and care that one would give a dog..along with shots, etc, and feeding may require a larger budget...but from the article here, there's nothing wrong with a pot bellied pig, just not in an apartment, etc. same as you would do for a large dog.  bD 

Barbie is a highly intelligent and affectionate child. She knows her colors, sleeps in her own bedroom and curls up at night with her head in her mother's lap. But she eats like a pig. 

She is one — a potbellied pig, that is. Barbie is one of the hundreds of thousands of such domesticated animals that live "the life of Riley." Or Wilbur, Babe and Porky.  Rivaled in intelligence only by primates, whales and dolphins, pigs learn faster than dogs, and can even be trained to count.

"And they're quieter than a dog," said Finck. "They don't bark, they oink, and they don't go crazy at the door. They don't jump up on you or get out and run around the neighborhood. They are not aggressive, and will only bite if they are afraid. Their typical response is to run away. They hate confrontation."

ABC News: Are Pet Pigs A Health Hazard?

One of the greatest advantages to studying dogs is they age faster -- literally, in "dog years," so scientists can get the results of their studies more quickly.

"It's like a compressed biological life span that we can study -- the cancer progression -- and also potentially the response to therapy," said Dr. Karin Sorenmo, associate professor of oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Related story - Dogs are Revolutionary to Cancer studies...

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Health care challenges fire up U.S. students

More are looking in to the business side of health care, and gosh we all know it is needed as healthcare is about 5 to 10 years behind the rest of the business world..they all need help especially from the world of IT management..BD 

Now, with health reform in the headlines and countless families having their own health crises, students are pouring into health policy classes in economics, political science, history, and public health departments. Many plan on making health policy their career.

"Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, physician group practices -- they all need people to run their businesses. There are a lot of jobs out there," said Dennis Shea, who teaches health policy at Pennsylvania State University.

Aaron Chang, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, tried one subject and then another before he heard a lecture on health policy by professor Jon Oberlander. Chang signed up for a course with him, worked as an intern on health in the state legislature, and now recommends 600-page tomes on health policy to his friends -- who go and read them.

Health care challenges fire up U.S. students - Boston.com

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Patients Fare Better In Hospitals Using Info Technology

Study says pretty much the obvious...better records and information...better care...paper is not cutting it today with the extra amount of time required to dig through and get the needed information...check your hospital and see what level of information technology is being use...it will vary from some who are completely automated to those who barely have anything at all and usually that will be a hint of technology in the administrative area with all patient charting still using old paper folders...BD 

Patients are more likely to have better health outcomes if they are treated at hospitals using information technology (IT) systems, according to a comprehensive new Florida State University study.
The study compared overall IT adoption with patient discharge data at 98 hospitals across Florida, providing the most comprehensive analysis to date of the relationship between information technology use and health outcomes. The study appears in the November/December issue of the Journal of Healthcare Management.

Such conditions can be prevented when clinicians have up-to-date patient information, standardized medical order sets and evidence-based guidelines on best treatment procedures. Menachemi found that hospitals properly using IT networks are best able to ensure that clinicians receive critical information at the point of care to assist physicians in adhering to proven clinical guidelines.

The study examined three categories of IT use that affect various aspects of hospital operations: administrative, clinical and strategic. Administrative operations included those IT systems used in billing, payroll and supply chain management. Clinical operations included pharmacy and laboratory, computerized physician order entry and electronic health records. Strategic operations involved systems used for managed care, nurse staffing and executive information.

FSU Study: Patients Fare Better In Hospitals Using Info Technology

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Americans' Cholesterol Levels Improving

Survey says 199 is the average down from 222 when it began the survey in 1960...BD 

For the first time in nearly 50 years, the average cholesterol level for U.S. adults is in the ideal range, according to a new government report.   Physicians say although Lipitor and other cholesterol-lowering drugs may lead to a small increase in cancer odds, the benefits of these drugs greatly outweigh these risks.

Results from a national blood test survey found the average total cholesterol level was 199. Doctors like patients to have total cholesterol readings of 200 or lower.

ABC News: Americans' Cholesterol Levels Improving

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Claus Gets Candid About Weight, Laugh

Is Santa too fat?  Is he a diabetic?  How's his blood pressure...cute candid interview...BD 

Claus has been under siege in recent years by what he has characterized as a "vast politically correct conspiracy" that includes the media, the American Civil Liberties Union and the U.S. surgeon general, among others. 

The latest barb aimed at Claus targets his well-documented weight problems. Acting Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson told the Boston Herald that Claus is too fat and sets a bad example for kids.

"Who would want to see a little string-bean Santa looking trim like yourself?" he said to Berman.

ABC News: Claus Gets Candid About Weight, Laugh

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Advanced Imaging Integration Module Now Available For Cardiac Arrhythmias

Medical software and hardware needs to integrate just as desktop and other computer software...this unit will import from Siemens ICE images...and includes 3D mapping...better real time diagnostics keep getting better..BD 

Electrophysiologists now have access to the latest technology from Biosense Webster, Inc. to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The CARTOSOUND Image Integration module with the new SOUNDSTAR 3D Catheter can now be used with the CARTO XP Navigation System. The new CARTOSOUND Module with the new System Software 2007, is the first ever integration of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) with 3-D mapping.

The CARTOSOUND™ Module integrates real time ICE images from the Siemens ACUSON® Sequoia™ and Cypress™ ultrasound systems using the novel SOUNDSTAR™ 3D Catheter with the CARTO® XP EP Navigation System. This ultrasound catheter utilizes an embedded position sensor to display location and beam orientation on the CARTO® XP System, which enhances visualization of ICE images and ablation catheter location. Additionally, using the CARTOSOUND™ Module with the SOUNDSTAR™ 3D Catheter in conjunction with the CARTOMERGE® Image Integration Module combines the anatomic details of a pre-acquired CT or MRI image with real time ICE.

Advanced Imaging Integration Module Now Available For Cardiac Arrhythmias

Web Site

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With Obesity, Diabetes, And Cardiovascular Disease On The Rise, Physicians Need More Comprehensive Guidelines

There are guidelines for P4P, so why not better guidelines for patient care?  What is the #1 priority?  BD 

According to survey results released, when 2007 Cardiometabolic Health Congress participants were asked what guidelines they follow for treating patients with multiple cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, the largest group of respondents indicated that they didn't follow any particular set of guidelines and that better guidelines are needed.
The survey queried more than 750 cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, and primary care clinicians who attended the 2007 Cardiometabolic Health Congress here in September.

The survey results indicate a clear lack of consensus among clinicians on how to screen, diagnose, and manage patients at increased risk. For example, when congress participants were asked, "When treating patients with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, what is your highest priority?

With Obesity, Diabetes, And Cardiovascular Disease On The Rise, Physicians Need More Comprehensive Guidelines

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Sysmex America Receives FDA Clearance For XE-5000(TM) Hematology Analyzer

Eliminating the need for additional manual counts andor smear reviews...BD 

Sysmex America, Inc. announced that its Sysmex XE-5000 Automated Hematology Analyzer has been cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the U.S. The XE-5000 represents an enhanced, best-in-class, high throughput analyzer that provides 31 whole blood reportable parameters including advanced clinical parameters and a body fluid specific mode. The Sysmex XE-5000 will be available in the United States, in Latin America and in Canada beginning in December 2007.

Sysmex America Receives FDA Clearance For XE-5000(TM) Hematology Analyzer

Web Site

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Amedica Receives FDA Special 510(k) Clearance For Its Valeo(TM) Ceramic Spinal Implant

A new medical grade silicon nitride for orthopedic surgeries..the article states they are ghost-like under X-ray imaging...BD 

Amedica Corporation, an orthopedic implants company focused on silicon nitride ceramic technologies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a Special 510(k) marketing clearance for Amedica's Valeo(TM) ceramic VBR spinal implant.
The Valeo VBR spinal implant is intended for vertebral body replacement to aid in surgical correction and stabilization of the thoracolumbar spine. The Valeo VBR incorporates Amedica's novel silicon nitride ceramic, which provides new functionalities compared to competing devices currently on the market. The implant is designed to restore the biomechanical integrity of the anterior, middle and posterior spine, even in the absence of fusion, for a prolonged period of time.

Amedica Receives FDA Special 510(k) Clearance For Its Valeo(TM) Ceramic Spinal Implant

Company web site

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Washington DC Moves Closer To Licensing Drug Reps

Will licensing help the education process...is is education or the pursuit of commissions driving this initiative?  BD 

Sales reps may want to start studying. The District of Columbia council voted 7 to 6 to approval a bill that would create the first jurisdiction in the US to license sales reps, The Washington Post reports. The move is being closely watched and is likely to be mimicked by several states.

But DC Council member David Catania insists reps still misinform doc and patients about the drugs they peddle as they pursue commissions, the Post writes. “For too long, we have allowed profit and paternalism to be our guide for patient safety,” Catania told the Post in an interview after the narrow vote. “The truth is, no one is minding the store.”

Pharmalot » Washington DC Moves Closer To Licensing Reps

Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

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Women's Health 'Imperiled' By Medicare Plan To Limit Reimbursements For Medical Imaging At Non-Hospital Facilities

Imaging centers outside of of hospitals can also be life saving, especially in rural areas where normal diagnostic procedures require travel time to hospitals, etc.  BD 

Greenberger writes, "Access to modern diagnostic and imaging tools is an issue of critical importance to women's health care that goes beyond general prevention efforts." She concludes, "Women have been waiting a long time to receive the right information and the right care in both hospitals and physicians' offices. Now is not the time to make it more difficult for women to get the care they deserve" (Greenberger, Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/11).

Greenberger continues that Congress' proposal to limit reimbursements for imaging at non-hospital facilities "will have a disproportionately negative effect on millions of Americans who rely on public transportation or live in a rural area," adding that women "with limited financial resources who already suffer from inadequate health services will have to forgo imaging tests because they cannot afford out-of-pocket costs."

Women's Health 'Imperiled' By Medicare Plan To Limit Reimbursements For Medical Imaging At Non-Hospital Facilities, Opinion Piece States

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Drug May Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence

Good results from the study....anything to cure or stop the return of breast cancer is good news...BD

The drug anastrozole reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence among postmenopausal women who took it for three years following treatment with tamoxifen.
A previous clinical trial showed that breast cancer patients who were still disease-free after taking tamoxifen for five years had their risk of recurrence further reduced if they received five additional years of treatment with the drug letrozole. Both anastrozole and letrozole are in the same class of drugs, known as aromatase inhibitors.

Drug May Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence

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New Survey Shows Confronting Alzheimer's Disease A Key Issue In 2008 Presidential Election

That's it, elect candidates with Alzheimer's...a new novel approach...on a serious note, good news this is being addressed and in the spot light...BD 

With less than a month until the presidential caucus and primary season officially begins, a poll released by the Alzheimer's Association indicates how the Presidential candidates plan to address the escalating Alzheimer epidemic could determine who Americans vote for in November. Finding a way to halt or delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease is paramount on the minds of Americans. In a new national survey conducted by Hart Research, more than two out of three Americans polled (68 percent) think it is important to increase the amount of Alzheimer disease research funding and two out of three voters (67 percent) would be more likely to select a Presidential candidate who supports increased government funding for Alzheimer research.

New Survey Shows Confronting Alzheimer's Disease A Key Issue In 2008 Presidential Election

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AT&T gets into the kid-tracking game

California recently passed legislation regarding RFID chips, thus this may not be coming here any time soon.  Interesting how the article comments on how the kids can also beat the system too, so it will be interesting to see how this evolves..BD

While it probably won't be peddling this new tech in California, there's still a whole world of youngsters out there for AT&T to track with its new RFID- and GPS-based mobile resource management systems, which the company has designed specifically with school districts in mind. The so-called MRM platform allows administrators to follow Junior's progress from the minute he steps on the bus in the morning, thanks to GPS-equipped transmitters that log location, speed, and condition and can even "report on events within vehicles." Once he gets to class, the school's WiFi backbone can pinpoint him anywhere on campus courtesy of that mandatory RFID badge he's wearing, which AT&T touts as an efficient solution for daily attendance tracking. That is, until teachers start relying on this system without question, and classes eventually thin out to one student in the back row with a pocket full of cash and a backpack full of IDs.

AT&T gets into the kid-tracking game - Engadget

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Keeping Patients from Landing Back in the Hospital

Plans include identifying patients at risk for return, scheduling follow-up doctor's appointments before patients are discharged, sending nurses to patients' homes within a few days of discharge, monitoring patients at home, and educating patients and families with the hospitals taking more of an active role...Aetna and Kaiser both have pilot programs in the works...identifying high risk readmission patients...BD 

Hospitals are taking steps to prevent the most common risk to patients after discharge: landing back in the hospital due to complications that could have been prevented with better follow-up care.

"We have to start paying attention to people's needs beyond the hospital door," says Mary Naylor, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing. She has conducted a number of clinical trials on a model to help older adults with complex care needs after they are discharged. "The experience of multiple hospitalizations can take a devastating toll on the human psyche and the quality of life for patients and their caregivers," she says.

Both Aetna and Kaiser Permanente, the California-based managed-care giant, are working on pilot programs based on Dr. Naylor's model. Her studies show that discharge planning and home-care services for at-risk hospitalized elderly patients can reduce readmissions, lengthen the time between discharge and readmission, and cut the cost of providing care.

The Informed Patient - WSJ.com

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Remaking The Journal

Will the Wall Street Journal focus more on health care and more blogs; and will the online version become free?  BD

There are already firm plans to eliminate The Journal’s Marketplace section, containing articles on business trends and technology, in the first half of next year, with a new section taking its place, according to people at Dow Jones and the News Corporation who have been briefed on the changes. The editor of Marketplace, Melinda Beck, recently left that post to write a column on health, and no replacement has been named.

Dow Jones announced that Richard F. Zannino, the chief executive officer, and L. Gordon Crovitz, the publisher of The Journal, would leave their posts.  “A lot of us are at least a little worried about what this place will become,” said one veteran reporter at The Journal. “But right now our attitude is, wait and see.”

Remaking The Journal - New York Times

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How healthy is your medical credit score?

Tenet representative feels we are insured just like cars...good questions about future care...will one's credit and insurance standard have an effect on what type of medical service they receive?  Will there be a required credit report before one can be admitted with medFICO?  Will hospitals also start being reporting agencies to add to your credit report?  BD 

Mortgage lenders aren't the only ones showing more interest in your credit score these days – the health industry is creating its own score to judge your ability to pay.

The new medFICO score, being designed with the help of credit industry giant Fair Isaac Corp., could debut as early as this summer in some hospitals.

Healthcare Analytics, a Waltham, Mass., health technology firm, is developing the score. It is backed by funding from Fair Isaac, of Minneapolis; Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp.; and venture capital firm North Bridge Venture Partners, also based in Waltham. Each kicked in $10 million for the project.

Mr. Mooney, of Tenet Healthcare, says the hospital business has changed over the past 30 years to take on characteristics of the retail industry. With patients expected to pay a larger share and do more comparison shopping, they soon will be able to purchase health care much like an automobile, he said.

How healthy is your medical credit score? | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Business News | Dallas Morning News

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