FDA Needs More Inspectors, Updated Databases, According To FDA Official

<p>I keep reading these stories about the FDA....last time there were top workers without computers and I thought even the low cost Intel Classmates could benefit, now data bases are corrupted due to similarities<strong>....perhaps SharePoint could be in order here</strong> for collaboration with SSL connections?  If the manufacturer's numbers are used as primary indexes and create duplicates, perhaps another index number could be added...there are mechanisms that can run queries before a duplicate is entered in almost any data base program....sound like migration time to an updated data base program should be in the works...BD  </p> <blockquote><a href="http://www.fda.gov/">FDA</a> needs to hire more inspectors and update its database that tracks approved prescription drugs, Janet Woodcock, the agency's deputy commissioner for scientific affairs and chief medical officer, said on Wednesday, <cite>CongressDaily</cite> reports. Woodcock testified at House Appropriations <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_ardf.shtml">Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies</a> hearing (Edney, <cite>CongressDaily</cite>, 2/27).</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98984.php">FDA Needs More Inspectors, Updated Databases, According To FDA Official</a></p>

FDA Needs More Inspectors, Updated Databases, According To FDA Official

I keep reading these stories about the FDA....last time there were top workers without computers and I thought even the low cost Intel Class...

Read more »

Hospital in Orange probed for medical mix-up

<p> 3 Wrong Knee surgeries in 2 years....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>St. Joseph Hospital in Orange is under state investigation for mistakenly doing knee-repair surgery on a patient's good knee, the third "wrong-site" procedure to occur at Orange County's largest hospital since January 2006.<br>The Feb. 15 operation was intended to repair a patient's left knee but was "inadvertently performed on the right knee," according to a prepared statement released by the hospital in response to questions from The Times. Citing privacy concerns, the hospital declined to identify the patient or release other details.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-stjoseph1mar01,0,6552729.story">Hospital in Orange probed for medical mix-up - Los Angeles Times</a></p>

Hospital in Orange probed for medical mix-up

3 Wrong Knee surgeries in 2 years....BD  St. Joseph Hospital in Orange is under state investigation for mistakenly doing knee-repair surg...

Read more »

GPS-equipped walkers promise to keep elderly patients on track

<p> Now this is interesting and has some merit...will be interesting to follow this story and see how it works with the folks at the nursing home...GPS has come to the walker...BD  </p> <blockquote><a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jnfTICAII/AAAAAAAADQM/Iv1CHKypaXA/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="216" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jniDICAJI/AAAAAAAADQY/i36LQBcc-U8/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a> We've already seen GPS used to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/28/siemens-aysystem-utilizes-gps-grps-for-emergency-tracking-ale/">track</a> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/klic-launches-kp-100-terrestrial-based-personal-locator/">elderly patients</a>, but some student researchers now look to be taking the idea one step further, with them outfitting some nursing center patients' walkers with a GPS system that helps guide them around. While the exact technical details are a bit unclear, the system apparently uses GPS when the patients are out and about, and relies on a WiFi-based system to direct 'em around inside the nursing center itself. The entire system has also obviously been about as simplified as possible, with it boasting just five buttons and large arrows pointing the way to the patients' destination. As a student project, however, it's still quite a ways from gaining any widespread use, although it has apparently been at use at the one nursing center their testing it at for several months already</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/gps-equipped-walkers-promise-to-keep-elderly-patients-on-track/">GPS-equipped walkers promise to keep elderly patients on track - Engadget</a></p>

GPS-equipped walkers promise to keep elderly patients on track

Now this is interesting and has some merit...will be interesting to follow this story and see how it works with the folks at the nursing ho...

Read more »

FDA Clears Cellsearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell Test For Monitoring Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients

<p> Veridex, LLC announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an expanded clearance for the CellSearch™ System to be used as an aid in the monitoring of metastatic prostate cancer (MPC) patients. The CellSearch™ System currently is cleared for monitoring metastatic breast and metastatic colorectal cancer patients. <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jhCTICAGI/AAAAAAAADP8/L9nmss7x8Yw/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="115" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jhDjICAHI/AAAAAAAADQE/Mklw85p57mg/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="178"></a></p> <p>The CellSearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Test from Veridex is a simple blood test that captures and assesses CTCs to determine the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer at any time. The test provides an objective, quantitative, real-time reading of tumor information so that oncologists can provide optimum care for their patients.</p> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98810.php">FDA Clears Cellsearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell Test For Monitoring Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients</a></p>

FDA Clears Cellsearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell Test For Monitoring Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients

Veridex, LLC announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an expanded clearance for the CellSearch™ System to be ...

Read more »

New York City Launches EHR System

<p> EClinicalWorks will also offer the product for purchase for those who do not qualify to meet the elegibility requirements...30% of the patients must be uninsured or on Medicaid...there's a $4000.00 contribution to the Fund for Public Health in New York and BYOC (bring your own computers)..BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Monday announced the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pcip/pcip.shtml">launch</a> of a new, $60 million electronic health record system that is intended to improve preventive health, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/nyregion/26health.html?ref=nyregion"><cite>New York Times</cite></a> reports. The EHR system, which the city has developed over two years, was created with $30 million from the city and about $30 million from the state and federal governments. Two hundred physicians with 200,000 patients have committed to using the EHR system, and the city hopes that by the end of the year, the system will include 1,000 physicians with one million patients, according to Thomas Frieden, the city health commissioner.<a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jgSzICAEI/AAAAAAAADPs/6RLf5Cn181I/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="114" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jgTjICAFI/AAAAAAAADP0/o_FS_vKUnJs/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="111"></a> </p> <p>The system will include patient medical histories, laboratory results and prescription drug regimens. In addition, the system will provide physicians with updated information through a series of alerts, such as overdue dates on prescriptions or cholesterol checks, as well as information on best practices for the treatment of illnesses. The health department will be able to obtain general health care provider data from the EHR system but will not have access to specific information on individual patients.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98828.php">New York City Launches EHR System</a></p>

New York City Launches EHR System

EClinicalWorks will also offer the product for purchase for those who do not qualify to meet the elegibility requirements...30% of the pati...

Read more »

Saturday Night Live: Annuale

<p>For women on the go...this is funny....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><embed id="W47c8de0533177940" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/47c8de0533177940" width="384" height="316" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all"> </embed></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=221774">Saturday Night Live: Annuale</a> </p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/annuale.html">Kevin, MD</a></p>

Saturday Night Live: Annuale

For women on the go...this is funny....BD  Saturday Night Live: Annuale Hat Tip:  Kevin, MD

Read more »

Quest to Team up With Google on Medical Records

<p> One partner has been announced...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>CHICAGO (Reuters) Feb 28 - Quest Diagnostics Inc said on Thursday it will team up with Google Inc to provide patients with electronic access to medical test results. <p>Quest's proprietary Care360 patient-centric physician portal will serve as the platform for securely transferring patient data into a GoogleHealth account, at the user's request.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570820?src=rss">Quest to Team up With Google on Medical Records</a></p>

Quest to Team up With Google on Medical Records

One partner has been announced...BD CHICAGO (Reuters) Feb 28 - Quest Diagnostics Inc said on Thursday it will team up with Google Inc to ...

Read more »

New Treatment for Heart Arrhythmias

<p> After 3 procedures his condition was gone...clinical trial in place and the last step before FDA approval...BD</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jYIzICAAI/AAAAAAAADPM/lYSGj_6BIMs/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="135" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jYKDICABI/AAAAAAAADPU/LKjBPhp0uRA/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="169"></a>PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One moment you feel fine. The next, your heart is racing at almost double the pace. Atrial fibrillation affects more than two million Americans. Although it is the most common arrhythmia, medicines for the condition only work about half the time. Now, researchers are testing a new tool that may help put a patient’s heart back on track.<strong> He says with this procedure, the ultrasound is delivered very precisely and does not damage other tissue. And since there is no potential for gaps in the scar tissue, Dr. Callan says the symptoms of atrial fibrillation shouldn’t come back</strong>.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jYLTICACI/AAAAAAAADPc/-i2RvXfKdo8/image%5B10%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jYMTICADI/AAAAAAAADPk/5bjJWTOxTEQ/image_thumb%5B6%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="130"></a> </p> <p>It took three traditional ablation procedures to make Calvaresi’s symptoms go away. Now, he’s says it’s good to know a new kind of help may soon be available if his heart problems come back.</p> <p> </p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=18031">Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - New Treatment for Heart Arrhythmias</a></p>

New Treatment for Heart Arrhythmias

After 3 procedures his condition was gone...clinical trial in place and the last step before FDA approval...BD PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Ivanhoe...

Read more »

Microsoft Office 2007 -Rabbits to the Rescue

<p> Being that Microsoft Office now is it's own platform, this entertaining video shows how Office can help you manage your small business...cute...BD  </p> <p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:75a34dab-d106-4ccc-aef8-0cd71818bf1a" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 257px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object height="211" width="257"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0vC9taroEsI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0vC9taroEsI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="257" height="211"></embed></object></div></div></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vC9taroEsI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vC9taroEsI</a></p>

Microsoft Office 2007 -Rabbits to the Rescue

Being that Microsoft Office now is it's own platform, this entertaining video shows how Office can help you manage your small business....

Read more »

Europe May Open Airwaves to Drug Firms

<p> Late night television may not be the same in the UK...although the ads will not be exactly the same as what we see here in the US...but there have been other means of advertising used already such as Pfizer beer mats...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>LONDON (Reuters) Feb 25 - Europe is preparing to loosen the gags stopping drug <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jSYjIB_-I/AAAAAAAADO8/qjAx00_Eve0/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="125" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jSZTIB__I/AAAAAAAADPE/SV0hZwTiPlw/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="88"></a>firms from communicating with patients, fueling controversy over whether the public will get impartial information on prescription medicines. <p>Manufacturers welcome new proposals to let them disseminate "non-promotional" information through television, radio and other outlets, since it could spur faster uptake of new drugs</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570632?src=rss">Europe May Open Airwaves to Drug Firms</a></p>

Europe May Open Airwaves to Drug Firms

Late night television may not be the same in the UK...although the ads will not be exactly the same as what we see here in the US...but the...

Read more »

Women Scarred by 'Collagen' From Fake Dr.

<p>I felt this article needed posting as a warning to all when it comes to botox and who does the procedure...make sure it is a physician, ask for credentials so something like this does not happen..as the article states, <strong>it is a procedure and not a spa treatment....</strong>BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>Doctors warn that could be dangerous, as some California women found out when they received cosmetic injections at a local salon. Instead of the subtle enhancements they hoped for, these women are now permanently disfigured.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jQejIB_8I/AAAAAAAADOs/33KtIGByA84/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="105" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8jQgDIB_9I/AAAAAAAADO0/mRbM1KuNH6I/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="143"></a> Keep in mind, collagen and other authentic fillers come in labeled, prepackaged tubes, with a sticker that peels off and goes in your medical chart as a record of what you've had injected.</p> <p>Fresno police investigated the incident and arrested Mario Nieves Perez in a sting operation. Perez was not who he claimed. <p>"The truth is he's not a medical doctor in any way shape or form," said Chief Jerry Dyer of the Fresno Police Department. </p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/Story?id=4362846&page=1">ABC News: Women Scarred by 'Collagen' From Fake Dr.</a></p>

Women Scarred by 'Collagen' From Fake Dr.

I felt this article needed posting as a warning to all when it comes to botox and who does the procedure...make sure it is a physician, ask ...

Read more »

FDA Approves Wyeth’s Pristiq For Depression

<p> This is a relief for the drugmaker, which faced repeated setbacks in gaining agency approval and needs to replace revenue that will be lost when patents on Effexor XR - a $3.8 billion moneymaker - start to expire this year.  The next big hurdle for the drugmaker is winning FDA approval to market Pristiq to treat hot flashes caused by menopause. As with the indication for depression, Wyeth has faced repeated delays at the agency and it remains unclear how this will play out.</p> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/02/fda-approves-wyeths-pristiq-for-depression/">Pharmalot » FDA Approves Wyeth’s Pristiq For Depression</a></p>

FDA Approves Wyeth’s Pristiq For Depression

This is a relief for the drugmaker, which faced repeated setbacks in gaining agency approval and needs to replace revenue that will be lost...

Read more »

Clinic Reuses Needles, Sparks Hepatitis C Scare

<p> Another story on re-used syringes...not needles just the syringe...a similar story was long unfolding in New York, relative to the same scenario....40,000 patients during the time frame to be testws for Hepatitis C as there is no way to know who was and who was not treated with a re-used syringe...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A clinic may have infected a handful of patients with hepatitis C but about 40,000 more should be tested for that virus, as well as for HIV, health officials said Wednesday. To retain its state license and Medicare certification, the center faces increased on-site inspections and fines yet to be determined. <p>Six people who underwent procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada now have the blood-borne hepatitis C virus, the Southern Nevada Health District said in a statement.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Germs/wireStory?id=4356734">ABC News: Clinic Reuses Needles, Sparks Hep C Scare</a></p>

Clinic Reuses Needles, Sparks Hepatitis C Scare

Another story on re-used syringes...not needles just the syringe...a similar story was long unfolding in New York, relative to the same sce...

Read more »

Robotic Fido Makes Grandma Smile

<p> Great project, great outcomes at the nursing home....myself I am not ready for a digital dog...yet...but when they have one I can program to bite....ok enough of that silly thought!  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Dogs may have a hard time wrapping their paws around this one: Robotic competition is nipping at their heels in the man's-best-friend department. <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8iDNTIB_6I/AAAAAAAADOc/PRbJIEGe5iA/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="121" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8iDOjIB_7I/AAAAAAAADOk/TXhmA84B2rg/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="169"></a> <p>A study by Saint Louis University found that a lovable pooch named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at relieving the loneliness of nursing home residents and fostering attachments.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4366200">ABC News: Robotic Fido Makes Grandma Smile</a></p>

Robotic Fido Makes Grandma Smile

Great project, great outcomes at the nursing home....myself I am not ready for a digital dog...yet...but when they have one I can program t...

Read more »

MDs Cleared of Wrongdoing in Ledger Death

<p> This article brings up some very good points...every physician you see needs to know what medications you are taking...did he divulge this information to both MDs?   BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A California doctor and a doctor in Houston, Tex. have been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with their prescription of painkillers to actor Heath Ledger, who died from a <strong>drug overdose after he ingested a lethal cocktail of painkillers, anti-anxiety medicine and sleeping pills.</strong></p> <p>Thursday, DEA agents grilled the two doctors in Texas and California. In the days after Ledger's Jan. 22 death, the DEA subpoenaed New York Police Department records and the city's medical examiner's report, federal and city officials told ABC News at that time.  According to the medical examiner's office, Ledger took "prescribed therapeutic doses...or less" of each medication he ingested. The medications, however, were not meant to be taken together. The cumulative effect was that the actor's brain stem function that controls breathing was impaired, and Ledger "fell asleep and never woke up."</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Movies/story?id=4366265&page=1">ABC News: MDs Cleared of Wrongdoing in Ledger Death</a></p>

MDs Cleared of Wrongdoing in Ledger Death

This article brings up some very good points...every physician you see needs to know what medications you are taking...did he divulge this ...

Read more »

Bush to tie in CCHIT-certified EHR to the Rollback of the 2008 Medicare Fee Cuts

<p> I also post threads at EMR update and one of the members, Dr. Al Borges created a post that I also felt was newsworthy for readers here....he makes some very good points about privacy and the omission of the AMA in the latest government rounds in Washington...is the AMA supposed to be the official representation of physicians in the US?  We all want and need medical records that inter-operate for better health care, but the questions on how to regulate, create, and implement are still a huge issue of concern...I just attended the annual HIMMS meeting in Orlando and I can't think of any one company that I met with that does not have integration and interoperability either currently in place or in the works...<strong>there are system integrators that do just that</strong> as well and it seems to be strange that there is a concern that private vendors would even consider the idea of creating software that doesn't have these capabilities...a hot topic and the jury will be out on this one for some time to come...BD  </p> <blockquote> <ul> <li> <p>Congress is now meeting behind closed doors trying to craft another bill. <strong>Even the AMA has been left out of the negotiations.</strong></p> <li> <p>There are a lot of lobby groups trying to influence the process. See the article below:</p></li></ul> <p><strong><em>The U.S. Congress needs to pass health-care IT legislation before private companies develop multiple systems that don't talk to each other, two advocacy groups say.</em></strong> <p>Members of the Health IT Now Coalition and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) urged Congress to move ahead with health IT legislation such as the Promoting Health Information Technology Act. The bill would establish a public/private group to recommend health IT standards and certification and would budget US$163 million a year for health-care providers to adopt health IT products, such as electronic health records. <p>Some groups, including Patient Privacy Rights, have raised concerns that the legislation doesn't adequately address patient privacy issues. "The Senate Wired Act has no privacy protections or language ensuring patient control of health records," the group said on its Web site. "It must not pass unless patients have the right to keep their health records private." <p><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/142556/health_care_reform_must_include_it_issues_group_says.html">http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/142556/health_care_reform_must_include_it_issues_group_says.html</a></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/forums/p/11804/75915.aspx#75915">ALERT!! Bush to tie in CCHIT-certified EHR to the Rollback of the 2008Medicare Fee Cuts - emrupdate.com</a></p>

Bush to tie in CCHIT-certified EHR to the Rollback of the 2008 Medicare Fee Cuts

I also post threads at EMR update and one of the members, Dr. Al Borges created a post that I also felt was newsworthy for readers here.......

Read more »

Healthcare organizations feeling cyber attacks growing - HIPAA audits may have finally arrived...

<p> <strong>Hospitals be ready for a surprise audit</strong>...this comes right on the heals of another post today about the breach with Health Net publishing personal information on several physicians on the web...is this a problem...<strong>YES</strong>...see the comments from <a href="http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/">Dr. Halamka</a> below (and use the link to read more from his blog under the blog roll section).  <strong>The HIPAA audits may have finally arrived</strong>...and the solutions go way beyond a year's free credit rating services for those who have been compromised...as that is only a Band-Aid for the entire process...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hyizIB_4I/AAAAAAAADOM/9n4kTQ1lK7k/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hykDIB_5I/AAAAAAAADOU/LWphK4o7vdc/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="118"></a> Healthcare organizations feel under increasing attack from the Internet, while security incidents involving insiders and disappearing laptops with sensitive data are piling up. On top of that, there's now the prospect of a surprise audit from the federal government agency in charge of overseeing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act security and privacy rules.  The prospect of an unannounced HIPAA audit by the government is an event that could shake anyone up, but in the final analysis, the federal probes are probably good for the healthcare industry, says Mark Jacobs, director of technology services in the data-center operations at Pennsylvania-based WellSpan Health.</p> <p>“There is definitely an uptick in attacks,” says <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/030107-caregroup-halamka-healthcare-it-standards.html">Dr. John Halamka</a>, CIO at both Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/010906-caregroup.html">Harvard Medical School</a> in the Boston area. “Privacy is the foundation of everything we do. We don’t want to be the TJX of healthcare.” TJX is the Framingham, Mass-based retailer which last year disclosed a <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/102407-tjx-data-breach.html">massive data breach</a> involving customer records.</p> <p><strong>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees HIPAA compliance, has contracted with the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to conduct surprise audits of hospitals this year, says Gartner analyst Barry Runyon.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/022708-healthcare-cyberattacks.html">Healthcare organizations feeling cyberattacks growing - Network World</a></p>

Healthcare organizations feeling cyber attacks growing - HIPAA audits may have finally arrived...

  Hospitals be ready for a surprise audit ...this comes right on the heals of another post today about the breach with Health Net publishing...

Read more »

Microsoft Cuts Vista Prices to Urge Upgrades

<p> Good news...now the upgrade to Vista becomes a bit more affordable...2 of the features I have found with Vista that were not included with XP are "tablet inking" and "voice recognition"...2 good reasons to think about moving up....BD  <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hmOjIB_2I/AAAAAAAADN8/tiwEOSK9oKU/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="121" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hmPTIB_3I/AAAAAAAADOE/9KQX_GS58oY/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="95"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>In the United States, Microsoft will reduce prices for Windows Vista Ultimate, the company's top-end operating system, to $319 from $399 for the full version and cut the price for an "upgrade" version to $219 from $259 for consumers who already run Windows XP or another edition of Vista.</strong> <p>It also cut prices for upgrade versions of Vista Home Premium, its mainstream product, to $129 from $159. The price cuts vary by country.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2271591,00.asp">Microsoft Cuts Vista Prices to Urge Upgrades - News and Analysis by PC Magazine</a></p>

Microsoft Cuts Vista Prices to Urge Upgrades

Good news...now the upgrade to Vista becomes a bit more affordable...2 of the features I have found with Vista that were not included with ...

Read more »

Doctors notified of personal data on Web - Health Net

<p> Security breach of the week...major insurer this time<strong>...at the rate we are going here perhaps all of us will have a one year free subscription to a year's worth of credit monitoring service</strong>...which is not the ultimate solution of course, time to take notice and implement some better security....why do we not trust insurers?  Of anyone in health care today, the insurers certainly have the funds to invest in this area...without cutting and denying claims to make this a trusted reality....part human error....BD    <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hgADIB_0I/AAAAAAAADNs/M9yFQ2Yz4aY/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="69" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hgAjIB_1I/AAAAAAAADN0/CHvlftfJoYY/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="177"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) - A health insurance company in California has notified more than <strong>100,000 doctors in 11 states, including Wisconsin, that their personal information was posted on the Internet, raising a risk of identity theft, a spokeswoman said Thursday.</strong> <p>The doctors' Social Security numbers were accidentally posted on a Web site of <b>Health Net</b> (nyse: <a href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=HNT">HNT</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=HNT">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=HNT">people </a>) Federal Services, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., for about two months, spokeswoman Molly Tuttle said. <p>HNFS learned about the mistake, caused by 'part human error' and 'part of our software too,' in December, she said. The government contractor provides health insurance for nearly 3 million military families and veterans in 23 states.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/02/28/afx4711446.html">Doctors notified of personal data on Web - Forbes.com</a></p>

Doctors notified of personal data on Web - Health Net

Security breach of the week...major insurer this time ...at the rate we are going here perhaps all of us will have a one year free subscrip...

Read more »

Medical mystery solved in slaughterhouse

<p> Update on the mystery and some real intense forensic investigations to solve the mystery the fumes inhaled were the cause...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><b>AUSTIN, Minnesota (CNN)</b> -- A mysterious nerve disorder that hit some slaughterhouse employees with debilitating symptoms apparently was caused by inhaling a fine mist of pig brain tissue. <p>Susan Kruse remains unable to work but has felt some relief with immunotherapy <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hYDTIB_yI/AAAAAAAADNc/hH-WVYBoXlg/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="116" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hYDzIB_zI/AAAAAAAADNk/xJFMBdrgo60/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="144"></a>treatments and medications.<strong>  While eating pig brains isn't dangerous, inhaling fumes from particles of pig brain matter can be, scientists say.  A translator assisting Spanish-speaking patients helped to expose the hidden risk, which prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to name a new disease and led to changes in how pig brains are harvested. </strong> <p>Health investigators said droplets of the mist could have entered a worker's system through the mucous membranes in the nose or mouth. Once in the body, the foreign pig brain matter prompted the immune system to produce antibodies to attack it, in a process similar to an allergic reaction.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/02/28/medical.mystery/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail">Medical mystery solved in slaughterhouse - CNN.com</a></p>

Medical mystery solved in slaughterhouse

Update on the mystery and some real intense forensic investigations to solve the mystery the fumes inhaled were the cause...BD  AUSTIN, M...

Read more »

UnitedHealth Acquires Sierra Health For $2.6 Bln At $43.50/ Share; To Sell Individual HMO Plans To Humana For $185 Mln

<p> This potential merger has been hanging for a few months in Nevada, so big that the Department of Justice was involved...but still subject to approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services in Nevada...it gets a bit complicated as well with Humana agreeing to buy the Medicare Advantage HMO from United...about 25,000 members under the Secure Horizons HMO plan...so in short United HealthCare now has an even larger market in Nevada with the merging and purchase of Sierra...this has been in the news lately as it could stand to reduce the overall number of insurers in the state and less competition from the policy pricing areas...BD  <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hMpDIB_wI/AAAAAAAADNM/aowaXcC508Q/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="71" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R8hMpjIB_xI/AAAAAAAADNU/P0ADCo-p68g/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="116"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>(RTTNews) - Monday evening, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. a health and well-being company said it has completed the acquisition of Sierra Health Services Inc. effective as of close of business today. <strong>UnitedHealth would acquire all the outstanding shares of Sierra Health for $43.50 per share in cash</strong>, valuing the transaction at about $2.6 billion. Under the agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, would merge with Sierra Health.</p> <p><strong>Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Justice conditionally approved UnitedHealth's acquisition of Sierra Health. Under the condition, UnitedHealth Group will have to divest its individual Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage HMO plans in Clark and Nye Counties, which represent about 25,000 members.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/BREAKING%20NEWS/1134172/">UnitedHealth Acquires Sierra Health For $2.6 Bln At $43.50/ Share; To Sell Individual HMO Plans To Humana For $185 Mln - Update</a></p>

UnitedHealth Acquires Sierra Health For $2.6 Bln At $43.50/ Share; To Sell Individual HMO Plans To Humana For $185 Mln

This potential merger has been hanging for a few months in Nevada, so big that the Department of Justice was involved...but still subject t...

Read more »

California health insurers boost doctor bonus payments by $10M to $65M

<p> Critics are stating the current amounts have not been sufficient enough to adequately encourage participating levels....and the financial investments required with technology to drive the process...BD</p> <blockquote>Williams said IHA data shows significant regional variations statewide, which may help explain <strong>why California's P4P initiative has had less success than some similar efforts elsewhere. "One of the reasons California looks lukewarm is that we're mixing areas that are doing well with areas that are not,"</strong> he added, describing the Bay Area and Sacramento as leading the way, with the Inland Empire region in Southern California bringing up the rear.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/02/25/daily33.html?page=2">California health insurers boost doctor bonus payments by $10M to $65M - San Francisco Business Times:</a></p>

California health insurers boost doctor bonus payments by $10M to $65M

Critics are stating the current amounts have not been sufficient enough to adequately encourage participating levels....and the financial i...

Read more »

HIMSS 2008 Exhibition and Annual Conference and Blogging Break....

<p> <strong>I will be taking a break from my normal blogging for a few days</strong> to attend the<u> <strong><a href="http://www.himssconference.org/exhibition/newProductShowcase.aspx">HIMMS Conference in Orlando, Florida.</a></strong> </u> If any readers of this blog are attending, please come by the <strong><a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com"><img align="right" src="http://www.himss.org/VendorLogos/Tabletkiosk.gif"></a>TabletKiosk booth</strong> and say hello.  I may or may not be there, but feel free to send me an email to<u> <strong>ducknetservices(at)hotmail.com</strong></u> and it will forward to my phone to locate me, as it's a very large  show.   Nice to have modern technology at work!  In addition be sure to check out the <strong><a href="http://tabletkiosk.blogspot.com/"><u>Mobility Matters blog from TabletKiosk from Gail <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vF2lNFPI/AAAAAAAADL8/9-_8OperWvU/image%5B43%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="71" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vGWlNFQI/AAAAAAAADME/pJuOXVH1fBw/image_thumb%5B29%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" width="96"></a>Levy</u></a> for additional information.  I should be easy to identify as I'll be carrying around a nice <a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com/products/sahara/i400s_pp.asp">Sahara Slate tablet</a>....like the one in the picture above.  Also, be sure to check in at <a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/"><u>EMR Update.Com</u></a> for some video coverage of the conference.  There will be coverage of the events posted at the EMR Update site and TabletKiosk will be one of them... EMR Update also syndicates <u>The Medical Quack</u> blog, so you can stay up to date there as well....</strong></p> <p><strong>Hope to see you there...BD   </strong></p> <blockquote> <h4>TabletKiosk  - Booth 831</h4> <p>TabletKiosk offers a broad range of portable Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs featuring both touch screen input and handwriting recognition to maximize portability and productivity in a hospital setting. Our adaptable computer hardware solutions can be integrated as components of a mobile deployment or stationary kiosk solution. </p> <p><em><strong>"The HIMSS show is closed to the general public</strong>, but if you are in the Orlando area and are  interested in attending the show, send me an email and I can see what I can do about getting a pass for you.  My email: </em><em><strong>Gail(at)tabletkiosk.com</strong></em>"<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="77" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vJGlNFSI/AAAAAAAADMU/p6-ByRsEFbo/image_thumb%5B27%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" width="144"></p> <p><em>"We'll be showing a sneak preview of the eo i7300 series, the first the first fully modular UMPC. <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vKWlNFTI/AAAAAAAADMc/tckmsYZGjW4/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="111" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vLWlNFUI/AAAAAAAADMk/loiJbD-2uVE/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" width="146"></a>We'll also be showcasing the Sahara Slate PC i400 series running several EMR programs and an innovative room scheduler by our partner </em><a href="http://www.netsimplicity.com/industries/healthcare.asp"><em>NetSimplicity</em></a> <em> used to reserve examination and operating rooms." </em></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R783AGlNFXI/AAAAAAAADNI/HcpkvqQmFCY/image42?imgmax=800"><em><a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R783AGlNFXI/AAAAAAAADNI/HcpkvqQmFCY/image42?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="82" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R78vMmlNFWI/AAAAAAAADM4/abVenf71o6s/image_thumb%5B28%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" width="140"></a></em></a>While at HIMMS, be sure to also stop by the <strong><a href="http://www.officeally.com/">Office Ally</a></strong> booth to see their live EMR system running on a Sahara i440D tablet.....<strong>booth 3805</strong></p> <p><strong></strong><br><strong>Electronic Medication Administration Report (eMAR)<br>Enterprise EMR<br>Mobile Computers <br>Pen Tablets and Notebooks</strong><br><br><a href="http://www.tabletkiosk.com"><strong>http://www.tabletkiosk.com</strong></a></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.himssconference.org/exhibition/default.ASPX?ExhName=TabletKiosk">HIMSS 08 >> Exhibition</a></p>

HIMSS 2008 Exhibition and Annual Conference and Blogging Break....

  I will be taking a break from my normal blogging for a few days to attend the HIMMS Conference in Orlando, Florida.   If any readers of...

Read more »

BlogTalkRadio - Doctor Anonymous - Dr. A Live 26: Doug Farrago 2-28-2008 at 6:00 PM

<p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R78kfmlNFNI/AAAAAAAADLs/WFTWO5I4eWQ/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="119" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R78kgmlNFOI/AAAAAAAADL0/MOCVQacVxnA/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="204"></a>  The <strong>Disruptive Physician....</strong>If you haven't seen his listing on You Tube...well worth checking out and <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/search?q=placebo">we have several of his past videos on this site</a>...just do a search for placebo and you'll find him...<strong>he is one funny physician...</strong>BD  </p> <p>Doug Farrago, MD talks about his blog The Placebo Journal and his video podcast called Placebo TV.  Use the link on this site or sign in below....</p> <p><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctoranonymous/2008/02/29/Dr-A-Live-26-22808">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctoranonymous/2008/02/29/Dr-A-Live-26-22808</a></p>

BlogTalkRadio - Doctor Anonymous - Dr. A Live 26: Doug Farrago 2-28-2008 at 6:00 PM

  The Disruptive Physician.... If you haven't seen his listing on You Tube...well worth checking out and we have several of his past vid...

Read more »

Will you trust your medical information to Google?

<p> No official HIPAA compliance...check and read what is and what is not policy...read the fine print...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>For Google, <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1129">the pilot is a good test</a>. If these Web-based PHR systems are going to <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R78gfGlNFLI/AAAAAAAADLc/pqXidNHAySk/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R78gf2lNFMI/AAAAAAAADLk/0WBXmTUe5Gw/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="158"></a>work they are going to have to play nice with existing systems already in place. Interoperability has been an issue in the PHR market, which is why folks like Google and Microsoft, which <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=785">has already launched HealthVault</a> have an opening. <p>The concept of a PHR system makes a lot of sense, but there are key differences between the profiles offered by Google and Microsoft and systems from hospitals.<strong> The biggest one: These PHR services from the likes of Google, Microsoft and RevolutionHealth aren’t covered by HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). HIPAA, passed in 1996, created standards for electronic health care transactions and addressed security and privacy issues.</strong> <p>Since the portals behind PHRs don’t technically own the data–since the user picks and chooses what to put into the repository–<strong>there are no HIPAA requirements</strong>. Data brokers and medical institutions have HIPAA requirements.  In a nutshell, these newfangled PHR systems give you some privacy protection but it’s just what’s covered in each company’s privacy policy</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8062">Will you trust your medical information to Google? | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com</a></p>

Will you trust your medical information to Google?

No official HIPAA compliance...check and read what is and what is not policy...read the fine print...BD  For Google, the pilot is a good ...

Read more »

PSAS -Women Who Can't Stop The Feeling

<p> Not even sex can help...not related to raging hormones...men have a similar problem called Priapism...could add to RLS, (restless leg syndrome?)..some say the older you get, the worse it gets...new experimental drug on the market, anti depressants do and do not help...read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistent_sexual_arousal_syndrome">Wiki</a> here...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>If you thought "Grey's Anatomy" writers invented Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), think again. <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R78fbmlNFJI/AAAAAAAADLM/YE0dCswq4mQ/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="118" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R78fcGlNFKI/AAAAAAAADLU/zFfGB-7RE0U/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="104"></a> <p><strong>PSAS, identified and named just six years ago, remains a mysterious condition that thousands of women wish they didn't have.</strong> They are constantly on the edge of orgasm regardless of time, place or circumstance. And while this situation might sound desirable, funny or just plain weird it is actually akin to being a prisoner: a nightmarish reality where a woman's body acts independently of her own desires. <p>"And sex doesn't help it," Lauren said. "Orgasm doesn't relieve it, sometimes it makes it stronger. This is to me, irritating, torture."<strong> "Every lecture I give on this, there's always smirks in the audience: 'Oh I wish my wife was like this.' These are professional physicians," Dr. Goldstein said. "And I said, 'No, no, you're, you don't really want this. You do not want your wife to have this, please.'</strong>" <p>Dr. Goldstein is also experimenting with a new drug that affects the brain's dopamine levels. So far it has shown some success, but more research will be needed to decide if it is effective.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WaterCooler/Story?id=3676562&page=1">ABC News: Women Who Can't Stop Feeling Sexual</a></p>

PSAS -Women Who Can't Stop The Feeling

Not even sex can help...not related to raging hormones...men have a similar problem called Priapism...could add to RLS, (restless leg syndr...

Read more »

2 Girls With Rare 'Mermaid Syndrome'

<p> Sad story on the struggle to live with this condition...nobody really wants to be a mermaid...Medical Mysteries will also feature the story...check the link for additional details below...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78bZWlNFHI/AAAAAAAADK8/1pnLCTLSrlI/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78baWlNFII/AAAAAAAADLE/XVjXlBb1r84/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="114"></a> Eight-year-old Shiloh Pepin is a force of nature. With a husky voice she can barely contain, and a level of enthusiasm that could derail a freight train, she has a way of expressing herself that is half grade-schooler and the rest someone who became too wise, too soon, about the prospect of spending her life under the care of doctors.</p> <p>Shiloh is one of only three people in the world known to have a condition called sirenomelia, also known as "Mermaid Syndrome." She was born with her legs fused together, and her parents, Leslie and Elmer Pepin, knew it was possible that their child would be affected by the syndrome before Leslie gave birth.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WaterCooler/story?id=4323532&page=1">ABC News: Meet 2 Girls With Rare 'Mermaid Syndrome'</a></p>

2 Girls With Rare 'Mermaid Syndrome'

Sad story on the struggle to live with this condition...nobody really wants to be a mermaid...Medical Mysteries will also feature the story...

Read more »

Baxter Heparin Shortage

<p><strong> It's official now...Heparin shortage exists...BD</strong>  </p> <blockquote> <p>February 21, 2008<b> (Rockville, MD) </b>– There is now an official shortage of Baxter's <b>heparin</b> in the US, following the problems with adverse reactions associated with the product. The FDA added Baxter's 1000 units/mL 10-mL and 30-mL multidose vials to its official list of drug shortages earlier this week.  Baxter temporarily stopped manufacturing multiple-dose vials of heparin earlier this month because of reports of serious allergic reactions and hypotension in patients who receive high bolus doses of the drug. The reactions have included difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and rapidly falling blood pressure that can lead to life-threatening shock. Four people have died after receiving heparin, although the relationship to the drug is unclear.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570512?src=rss">Baxter Heparin Shortage</a></p>

Baxter Heparin Shortage

It's official now...Heparin shortage exists...BD   February 21, 2008 (Rockville, MD) – There is now an official shortage of Baxter...

Read more »

Ontario man featured in U.S. health-care debate

<p><strong> A story on the health care wait in Canada...</strong>now suing for his cost in the US as he had a cancerous brain tumor.....as reported in the past, the city of <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/pittsburgh-has-more-mri-machines-than.html">Pittsburgh has more MRIs than the entire country of Canada</a></strong>...there are good things about both systems, however, the US just having a large number of MRIs could avoid the one issue at hand here.  As far as the length of wait to see a physician, that's another issue....single pay system would require a huge amount of resources...perhaps an area where Canada is behind by comparison...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON–A retired Newmarket man who had to go to Buffalo to have his brain tumour removed has emerged as a poster boy in the ongoing health-care debate in the U.S. presidential election. <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:cb225445-cda3-4bf2-9be2-49624281950e" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 284px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object height="234" width="284"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H4u5x9XAsAs&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H4u5x9XAsAs&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="284" height="234"></embed></object></div></div> <p>Lindsay McCreith, who is suing the Ontario government because he says it could not provide timely medical treatment, is the star of a YouTube video made by independent filmmaker Stuart Browning to warn Americans about the move toward socialized health care advocated by Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/305918">TheStar.com | USElection | Ontario man featured in U.S. health-care debate</a></p>

Ontario man featured in U.S. health-care debate

A story on the health care wait in Canada... now suing for his cost in the US as he had a cancerous brain tumor.....as reported in the past...

Read more »

The Truth About Trans Fats

<p> Good article that gives the full story....so there is some good to trans fats after all...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>We've just come off several years of hearing that trans fat is bad for us -- worse than lard, worse than butter, worse than eating pork rinds and bacon grease.  And now they're telling us there's <em>good</em> trans fat? Indeed, trans fat has become the whipping post of the entire health community, because it raises the bad (LDL) cholesterol -- just as too much saturated fat does -- <strong>but it has a double-whammy effect of lowering the good cholesterol (the HDL stuff) too.</strong> <h6><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78RlWlNFFI/AAAAAAAADKs/9RbWdCT3uRU/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="112" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R78RmmlNFGI/AAAAAAAADK0/344hbO-mnRc/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="148"></a>Trans Fat 101: What Is It? </h6> <p>The trans fat you've heard about is a manufactured or industrial trans fat. It starts out as liquid vegetable oil, which then gets bombarded with hydrogen atoms to make it a bit more firm at room temperature. </p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3069206&page=1">ABC News: The Truth About Trans Fats</a></p>

The Truth About Trans Fats

Good article that gives the full story....so there is some good to trans fats after all...BD  We've just come off several years of he...

Read more »

Forensic Testing Kit From Applied Biosystems Helps Improve DNA Analysis In Sexual Assault Cases

<p><strong>I am guessing we might just see something like this on CSI-NY?.....</strong>would be nice to the the process run on a Tablet PC too....<strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/search?q=csi-ny">watch for the Sahara Tablet on the show...</a></strong>it is used on almost every show!  BD   <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78P2WlNFBI/AAAAAAAADKM/1Q1SyYfW_cU/image%5B10%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="112" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R78P3GlNFCI/AAAAAAAADKU/fKXv4_RVG2c/image_thumb%5B6%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="178"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>With the introduction of the <strong></strong><a href="http://marketing.appliedbiosystems.com/mk/get/QUANTDUO?utm_source=google&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=duoquant">Quantifiler® Duo kit,</a> forensic laboratories can obtain more comprehensive information than conventional methods in a single, highly sensitive quantification reaction. The new kit simultaneously provides a quantitative and qualitative assessment of total human and human male DNA and more accurately estimates the quantity of DNA in degraded samples. This efficiently provides the male-to-female DNA mixture ratio, guides selection of the optimal DNA profiling chemistry kit and is expected to increase analysis success rates. Overall, the Quantifiler® Duo kit streamlines and integrates the forensic DNA workflow to maximize recovery of results from sexual assault cases and other challenging samples. <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78P5WlNFDI/AAAAAAAADKc/cz_rQAtYszU/image%5B6%5D?imgmax=800"><img alt="image" border="0" height="308" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R78P62lNFEI/AAAAAAAADKk/vPLeZeclY1M/image_thumb%5B4%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="526"></a> <br><strong>The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) forensic laboratory, an early user,</strong> is currently validating and planning to add the Quantifiler® Duo kit into its workflow to better assess the characteristics for each DNA sample and obtain information to indicate which DNA profiling chemistry should be used in subsequent analyses: a standard short tandem repeat (STR) kit or a male-specific STR (Y-STR) kit. The ability to obtain more detailed information prior to DNA profiling enables the SDPD analysts to improve results and reduce the need for repeat analysis.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98207.php">New Forensic Testing Kit From Applied Biosystems Helps Improve DNA Analysis In Sexual Assault Cases</a></p>

Forensic Testing Kit From Applied Biosystems Helps Improve DNA Analysis In Sexual Assault Cases

I am guessing we might just see something like this on CSI-NY?..... would be nice to the the process run on a Tablet PC too.... watch for th...

Read more »

Genetic Test for Hair Loss

<p> It is only $149.00 to find out if you will be bald...otherwise you can save your money and wait to see what nature has in mind for you...BD  <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R78L72lNE_I/AAAAAAAADJ8/aXxn7_KvRtk/image%5B7%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R78L8WlNFAI/AAAAAAAADKE/LGrHg_MB7ns/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="123"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>Having knowledge of your genetic risk for early onset Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Baldness) will help you make the right decisions to preserve your hair.  <p>The HairDX test will provide you with a genetic analysis of your risk for developing Pattern Baldness.  HairDX also reports about a less common genetic variant of the same gene, that if present indicates a greater than 85% likelihood of not going bald before the age of 40. </p></blockquote> <p><a href="https://www.hairdx.com/Default.aspx">HairDX - Genetic Test for Hair Loss</a></p>

Genetic Test for Hair Loss

It is only $149.00 to find out if you will be bald...otherwise you can save your money and wait to see what nature has in mind for you...BD...

Read more »

When Flu Shots Fail - Change is in the works

<p> "<strong>The flu shots given across the country are, for many, proving to be a bust</strong> -- only effective against about 40 percent of the flu strains now in the United States."....a reformulation for the vaccine is in the works, first time in 20 years....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Federal health officials who met in Maryland today were already preparing for the next flu season, which starts in the fall. <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R78CYGlNE9I/AAAAAAAADJs/PZsPsjtqZgw/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R78CY2lNE-I/AAAAAAAADJ0/lc0k4xjCHpU/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="147"></a> <p>For millions of Americans, what began as a mild flu season has developed into pure misery.  In Raleigh, N.C., almost half the students at one school are out sick. So many teachers had the flu, officials considered canceling classes. In Placenta, Calif., influenza is spreading through whole neighborhoods and families. In Augusta, Ga., one hospital was swamped with people complaining of fever, dry cough and body aches.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=4326711&page=1">ABC News: When Flu Shots Fail</a></p>

When Flu Shots Fail - Change is in the works

" The flu shots given across the country are, for many, proving to be a bust -- only effective against about 40 percent of the flu st...

Read more »

Arizona Center For Education And Research On Therapeutics Launches PDA Version Of QT-Prolonging Drug Lists

<p>The <a href="http://www.qtdrugs.org/medical-pros/drug-lists/drug-lists.htm"><strong>list includes drugs</strong></a> that contain the risk of inducing serious<strong> heart arrhythmias and death</strong>....and the list contains links to educational material...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>The <a href="http://www.QTdrugs.org">QTdrugs.org</a> website currently lists over 100 drugs in four categories based on <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7745WlNE7I/AAAAAAAADJc/caPXnYPWHKM/image%5B5%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="415" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7748WlNE8I/AAAAAAAADJk/cg72eCdbk4E/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="341"></a>relative risk, including a comprehensive list of drugs to be avoided by patients with inherited Long QT syndrome. Drugs on the lists can be sorted by brand or generic name, and a new search function allows mobile users to enter full or partial drug names to search for possible matches in the database. The PDA lists are viewable online at <a href="http://www.QTdrugs.org/m">http://www.QTdrugs.org/m</a>. </p> <p><strong>Drugs are listed with up to 2 common brand names.</strong> There are several brand names for some of the common drugs, such as pseudoephedrine and erythromycin.<strong> It is also important to look at the list of active drugs in medicines that contain a combination of drugs such as Zyrtec-D®, which contains cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. </strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98239.php">Arizona Center For Education And Research On Therapeutics Launches PDA Version Of QT-Prolonging Drug Lists</a></p>

Arizona Center For Education And Research On Therapeutics Launches PDA Version Of QT-Prolonging Drug Lists

The list includes drugs that contain the risk of inducing serious heart arrhythmias and death ....and the list contains links to education...

Read more »

Medical Device Ruling Redraws Lines on Lawsuits

<p> This will certainly change the events of current and potential lawsuits...who do you trust...can the FDA do the job?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday protecting many types of medical device makers from personal injury lawsuits began rippling through the courts and law offices almost immediately.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R76X6GlNE5I/AAAAAAAADJM/LS_fVqYFHtI/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="130" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R76X62lNE6I/AAAAAAAADJU/ZXBCTkEGQxw/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="132"></a> <p>The majority of Class III devices submitted for F.D.A. consideration — hundreds each year — are variants on products like standard pacemakers that were already in the market when the main law covering devices was passed by Congress in 1976. <strong>While companies must notify the F.D.A. when introducing such products, the agency does not require extensive safety and effectiveness testing before allowing them to be sold.  As things stand now, lawyers expect injury lawsuits to leave design questions behind and focus on whether patients were harmed because a company did not make or handle the product according to the safety processes laid out in the documents approved by the F.D.A.</strong> <p>Hours after the decision in the case, Riegel v. <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/medtronic_inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Medtronic</a>, was announced, lawyers involved in a group of Florida state court cases related to <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/johnson_and_johnson/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Johnson & Johnson</a>’s drug-coated Cypher heart stent received an e-mail message from Judge Mary Barzee Flores asking for briefs on whether the lawsuits should be allowed to continue.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/business/22device.html?ex=1361422800&en=caf8ccb34ef6cc7f&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss">Medical Device Ruling Redraws Lines on Lawsuits - New York Times</a></p>

Medical Device Ruling Redraws Lines on Lawsuits

This will certainly change the events of current and potential lawsuits...who do you trust...can the FDA do the job?  BD  The Supreme Cou...

Read more »

Paying Patients Test British Health Care System

<p> Everything is not free for <strong>those who chose seeing a private physician...</strong>some pay for an MRI as the wait it considered too long...and the decision to have NHS or private care...as you can't have both for the same aliment...and this article states is has a tendency to confuse treatment issues...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>LONDON — Created 60 years ago as a cornerstone of the British welfare state, the National Health Service is devoted to the principle of free medical care for everyone. But recently it has been wrestling with a problem its founders never anticipated:<strong> how to handle patients with complex illnesses who want to pay for parts of their treatment while receiving the rest free from the health service. </strong> <p> <p>Although the government is reluctant to discuss the issue, hopscotching back and forth between private and public care has long been standard here for those who can afford it. But a few recent cases have exposed fundamental contradictions between policy and practice in the system, and tested its founding philosophy to its very limits.</p> <p><a name="secondParagraph"> <p></a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>In fact, patients, doctors and officials across the health care system widely acknowledge that patients suffering from every imaginable complaint regularly pay for some parts of their treatment while receiving the rest free. The rules are confusing. “It’s quite a fine line,” Ms. Mason said. “You can’t have a course of N.H.S. and private treatment at the same time on the same appointment — for instance, if a particular drug has to be administered alongside another drug which is N.H.S.-funded.”</strong> But, she said, the health service rules seem to allow patients to receive the drugs during separate hospital visits — the N.H.S. drugs during an N.H.S. appointment, the extra drugs during a private appointment.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/world/europe/21britain.html?ex=1361422800&en=518067061050c8c4&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss">Paying Patients Test British Health Care System - New York Times</a></p>

Paying Patients Test British Health Care System

Everything is not free for those who chose seeing a private physician... some pay for an MRI as the wait it considered too long...and the d...

Read more »

Pfizer Has Its Heart On Its Sleeve

<p> Purchasing a drug that has not been FDA approved...but used in Europe, <strong>Encysive,</strong> used for hypertension...developed by Pfizer researchers....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Its latest leap of faith is with <b>Encysive</b> (nasdaq: <a href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=ENCY">ENCY</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=ENCY">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=ENCY">people </a>), the maker of thelin. Thelin treats pulmonary arterial hypertension or high blood pressure in the heart. The drug is already being marketed in the European Union, Australia and Canada, but has come up for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval three times without results. <p><strong>Pfizer will pay $195 million, or $2.35 per share, in cash for all of the company's issued and outstanding shares.</strong> The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008. Pfizer's offer was 8.7% higher than Encysive's opening share price on Wednesday, the day the deal was announced. Shares of the company shot up 110.2%, or $1.19, to $2.27 by close on Wednesday. While Pfizer's share stayed relatively flat with only a slight increase of .5%, or 10 cents to $22.47.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/healthcare/2008/02/20/pfizer-encysive-thelin-markets-equity-cx_lal_0220markets30.html?feed=rss_business_healthcare">Pfizer Has Its Heart On Its Sleeve - Forbes.com</a></p>

Pfizer Has Its Heart On Its Sleeve

Purchasing a drug that has not been FDA approved...but used in Europe, Encysive, used for hypertension...developed by Pfizer researchers.....

Read more »

L.A. says Health Net illegally halts insurance

<p> Website has been set up by the City Attorney for those to respond to any unfair acts by insurers..."<em><a href="http://www.protectingtheinsured.org/default.html">If you have information regarding what you believe are unlawful, fraudulent or unfair business practices of a health plan or health insurer, we request your assistance in this investigation</a>."  BD</em></p> <p><strong>LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION REGARDING DENIAL OF HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS OR COVERAGE DUE TO UNLAWFUL, FRAUDULENT OR UNFAIR PRACTICES<a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R76IjmlNE3I/AAAAAAAADI8/1Wcgd4GG10I/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="116" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R76IkGlNE4I/AAAAAAAADJE/cNwVOzFLuII/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="149"></a> </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Los Angeles' city attorney has sued Health Net Inc. - one of California's largest insurers - accusing the company of unlawful and deceptive business practices for canceling coverage after patients make medical claims.  <p>Rocky Delgadillo said the insurer, which is based in Woodland Hills (Los Angeles County), saved more than $35 million in medical expenses by illegally rescinding the policies of at least 1,600 members. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. <p>Delgadillo said he's also initiating a <strong>criminal investigation into Health Net's practice of awarding employee bonuses for meeting annual goals for policy rescissions. State regulators in November fined Health Net $1 million for lying to investigators about engaging in this practice.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/22/BUIVV6HTF.DTL">L.A. says Health Net illegally halts insurance</a></p>

L.A. says Health Net illegally halts insurance

Website has been set up by the City Attorney for those to respond to any unfair acts by insurers..." If you have information regarding...

Read more »

New funds for development of high tech prosthetic limb

<p> Update...DARPA continues to work for the bionic prosthetics...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>February 22, 2008 A team led by the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at Johns Hopkins University has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to complete development of a prosthetic arm that will look, feel and perform like a natural limb. <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R76FQWlNE1I/AAAAAAAADIs/cRWC9airvGU/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="106" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R76FR2lNE2I/AAAAAAAADI0/gMUFAqZ7A6Y/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a> <p>The funding forms Phase 2 of <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/tag/darpa/">DARPA’s</a> Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009 program, aimed at providing the most advanced medical and rehabilitative technologies for military personnel injured in the line of duty.  The Proto 1 limb system also includes a virtual environment used for patient training, clinical configuration, and to record limb movements and control signals during clinical investigations.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/high-tech-prosthetic-limb/8840/">New funds for development of high tech prosthetic limb</a></p>

New funds for development of high tech prosthetic limb

Update...DARPA continues to work for the bionic prosthetics...BD February 22, 2008 A team led by the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at ...

Read more »

GREAT-WEST, the insurer that pays less than Medicaid for an office visit...?

<p> Health care provider paying less than Medicaid?  How could that happen?  This astute healthcare individual did a comparison and this is what was found...BD  </p> <blockquote><b><a href="http://www.greatwesthealthcare.com/GreatWestHealthCare/default.aspx">GREAT-WEST Healthcare</a></b> has recently been processing our claims under an "OPEN ACCESS" network plan.  For a 99213 intermediate office visit, Great-West is now allowing <b>$44.   </b>This is below our state Medicaid (you know, the program for the needy & disabled) allowed amount of $52.10.  In my correspondence with them over their abysmally low reimbursement, I asked whether they would like to become publicly known across the world wide web as “the insurer that pays less than Medicaid?” ....</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/forums/p/9908/70531.aspx#70531">GREAT-WEST, the insurer that pays less than Medicaid - emrupdate.com</a></p>

GREAT-WEST, the insurer that pays less than Medicaid for an office visit...?

Health care provider paying less than Medicaid?  How could that happen?  This astute healthcare individual did a comparison and this is wha...

Read more »

Freezing Heart Murmurs

<p> The deep cold can bring a life back to a normal beat through new technology for treating heart mummers...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than two million people live with heart arrhythmias, or an irregular heart beat. It can leave people exhausted and cause strokes and even heart attacks. Now, a new procedure is using extreme cold to freeze hearts back into rhythm.  For the past decade, Peter Nyquist’s heart beat has not felt or sounded like a normal, healthy heart.<a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R76Bp2lNEzI/AAAAAAAADIc/LWD1rEvvtYw/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="117" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R76BqmlNE0I/AAAAAAAADIk/wky-oU2-09w/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="121"></a> <p>"Instead of a constant boom, boom, boom in your chest, it would be boom … boom, boom, ba, ba, ba. Everything was out of beat," Nyquist told Ivanhoe.  <p><strong>A long, thin tube is inserted through a leg vein and threaded to the heart. Catheter cryoablation uses intense cold, minus 90 degrees Celsius, to destroy the heart tissue that is causing the irregular rhythm.</strong> <p>"Our goal is to identify where the origin of the abnormal rhythm is coming from and to specifically target that focus for destruction," Dr. Kerwin says.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=18022">Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - Freezing Heart Murmurs</a></p>

Freezing Heart Murmurs

The deep cold can bring a life back to a normal beat through new technology for treating heart mummers...BD  LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Ivanhoe...

Read more »

Study confirms Aprotinin (Trasylol) drug increases cardiac surgery death rate

<p> Study information on the use of the drug used for cardiac bypass surgery, which is now off the market...BD  </p> <blockquote> <h4></h4> <p>The largest study to date of a controversial cardiac surgery drug shows it increases death rates and damages kidney function, according Duke University Medical Center researchers.</p> <p><strong>Aprotinin, a drug<a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R76AZWlNExI/AAAAAAAADIM/IkgF6urHtKg/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R76AaGlNEyI/AAAAAAAADIU/n6oOx7CQLPY/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="150"></a> used to limit bleeding, was temporarily suspended from marketing in the U.S. in November 2007 after a small Canadian study was stopped because similar findings were discovered. The drug, Trasylol, is manufactured by Baylor AG.</strong> <p>"We're not surprised by the results," says Dr. Andrew Shaw, an associate professor in Duke Medicine's department of anesthesiology and the lead author of the paper which appears in the February 21 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. "It's what we expected to find."  <strong>Of the 10,275 patients studied, 1343 patients (13.2%) received aprotinin, 6776 patients (66.8%) received aminocaproic acid (another drug used to limit bleeding) and 2029 patients (20.0%) received no therapy. All patients underwent coronary-artery bypass surgery (CABG), and 1181 of them also underwent valve surgery.</strong> Patients who received either aminocaproic acid or no therapy did not have high rates of death or poor kidney function seen in the aprotinin group.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/?id=35472">Study confirms aprotinin drug increases cardiac surgery death rate</a></p>

Study confirms Aprotinin (Trasylol) drug increases cardiac surgery death rate

Study information on the use of the drug used for cardiac bypass surgery, which is now off the market...BD  The largest study to date of...

Read more »

US FDA Clears Wyeth Hemophilia Treatment

<p> Hamsters could be the best friend of a hemophiliac....BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) Feb 21 - U.S. regulators on Thursday cleared a new drug to treat the blood-clotting disorder hemophilia made by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.<a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R751lWlNEvI/AAAAAAAADH8/freox4Wc62s/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R751nmlNEwI/AAAAAAAADIE/Dur_Pk4yWIc/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="118"></a> <p>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it licensed Wyeth's Xyntha anti-hemophilic factor, a genetically engineered form of factor VIII, to control and prevent bleeding in patients with hemophilia type A. The drug is made by <strong>altering genes of Chinese hamster ovary cells.</strong> The culture in which the cells are grown is free from human or animal material, nor is any added, which the FDA said minimizes the risk of infection.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570516?src=rss">US FDA Clears Wyeth Hemophilia Treatment</a></p>

US FDA Clears Wyeth Hemophilia Treatment

Hamsters could be the best friend of a hemophiliac....BD  WASHINGTON (Reuters) Feb 21 - U.S. regulators on Thursday cleared a new drug to...

Read more »

Memory loss and thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans

<p> Good news here and I have a mother that is standing proof...keeping the mind active and using her computer is a big part of it...BD  <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R750v2lNEtI/AAAAAAAADHs/25ai_PeHoWQ/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="134" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R750xGlNEuI/AAAAAAAADH0/RJhZr79glEs/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="143"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>Although it's too soon to sound the death knell for the "senior moment," it appears that memory loss and thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans.</p> <p>A new nationally representative study shows a downward trend in the rate of "cognitive impairment" - the umbrella term for everything from significant memory loss to dementia and Alzheimer's disease - among people aged 70 and older. <p><strong>The prevalence of cognitive impairment in this age group went down by 3.5 percentage points between 1993 and 2002 - from 12.2 percent to 8.7 percent, representing a difference of hundreds of thousands of people.</strong> <p>And while the reasons for this decline aren't yet fully known, the authors say today's older people are much likelier to have had more formal education, higher economic status, and better care for risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking that can jeopardize their brains.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/?id=35457">Memory loss and thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans</a></p>

Memory loss and thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans

Good news here and I have a mother that is standing proof...keeping the mind active and using her computer is a big part of it...BD  Alt...

Read more »

Google to store patients' health records

<p> Testing to begin in Cleveland...being transferred from another software, MyChart..BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. will begin storing the medical records of a few thousand people as it tests a long-awaited health service that's likely to raise more concerns about the volume of sensitive information entrusted to the Internet search leader. <p>The pilot project to<a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R70Q5WlNEpI/AAAAAAAADHM/0juq5XVkQU4/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R70Q6WlNEqI/AAAAAAAADHU/TLAC9Wc0LjU/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="100"></a> be announced Thursday will involve 1,500 to 10,000 patients at the Cleveland Clinic who volunteered to an electronic transfer of their personal health records so they can be retrieved through Google's new service, which won't be open to the general public. <p>Each health profile, including information about prescriptions, allergies and medical histories, will be protected by a password that's also required to use other Google services such as e-mail and personalized search tools. The clinic already keeps the personal health records of more than 120,000 patients on its own online service called MyChart. Patients who transfer the information to Google would still be able to get the data quickly even if they were no longer being treated by the Cleveland Clinic.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_hi_te/google_health">Google to store patients' health records - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Google to store patients' health records

Testing to begin in Cleveland...being transferred from another software, MyChart..BD  SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. will begin storing the ...

Read more »

Voters Want a President Who Would Back a Health IT Network

<p> This was a survey of 1000 residents....more are siding with a national health plan it appears...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zvQWlNEnI/AAAAAAAADG8/rJeG0L2su2s/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="98" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zvSGlNEoI/AAAAAAAADHE/KmwFug8gWNo/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="132"></a> Seventy percent of U.S. voters said they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports the creation of a Nationwide Health Information Network, according to a recent survey commissioned by Computer Sciences, <p><a href="http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/264640"><cite>Government Technology</cite></a> reports.  In addition, 77% of respondents said that a national EHR system could address some of the country's most critical health issues, such as improving the quality of care and expediting medical research</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/2/20/Voters-Want-a-President-Who-Would-Back-a-Health-IT-Network.aspx">Voters Want a President Who Would Back a Health IT Network - iHealthBeat</a></p>

Voters Want a President Who Would Back a Health IT Network

This was a survey of 1000 residents....more are siding with a national health plan it appears...BD  Seventy percent of U.S. voters said ...

Read more »

G-Trainer "anti-gravity" treadmill gets approved by the FDA

<p> Well this could make aerobics a thing of the past and has to be much easier on the body than running on the ground...D  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zszGlNElI/AAAAAAAADGs/vZzG9lmoZEE/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zs22lNEmI/AAAAAAAADG0/eZshsMAOSGQ/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="211"></a>Alter-G looks to have been boasting about its G-Trainer "anti-gravity" treadmill for some time now, but it seems that it's now a whole lot closer to finding itself under your feet someday, as it has now been approved as an actual medical device by the FDA. In case it didn't pop up on your radar, the device itself makes use of a specialized air pressure regulation system to reduce the individuals' effective body weight by up to 80%, with it apparently precise enough to make changes in increments as small as 1%. </p> <p><a href="http://www.alter-g.com/alterg/ContentManagement.aspx?Redirect=1&MainPageID=6&SubPageID=13">More information at the web site including ICD-9 and CPT Codes...</a></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/20/g-trainer-anti-gravity-treadmill-gets-approved-by-the-fda/">G-Trainer "anti-gravity" treadmill gets approved by the FDA - Engadget</a></p>

G-Trainer "anti-gravity" treadmill gets approved by the FDA

Well this could make aerobics a thing of the past and has to be much easier on the body than running on the ground...D  Alter-G looks to ...

Read more »

Beef Recall Largest in U.S. History

<p>Where's the beef...well this may not the beef we want...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>February 19, 2008 — It's the largest beef recall in U.S. history: 143 million pounds of beef "voluntarily" recalled by <strong>Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company of Chino, Calif.</strong> <p>The beef, produced from February 2006 until the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended operations at the meat plant on Feb. 2, 2008, <strong>may be contaminated because of "inhumane" practices at the plant, including the processing of cattle too ill to walk.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570405?src=rss">Beef Recall Largest in U.S. History</a></p>

Beef Recall Largest in U.S. History

Where's the beef...well this may not the beef we want...BD  February 19, 2008 — It's the largest beef recall in U.S. history: 143 ...

Read more »

Century City Doctors Hospital Implement Enterprise-wide Clinical Application in Record Time - Open Vista (VA EHR)

<p> This is the original Vista EHR from the VA, reworked and revamped to work outside a government facility...BD  </p> <blockquote>ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - (Business Wire) Medsphere Systems Corporation today announced the successful phase one deployment of its Open Source-based <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zqiGlNEjI/AAAAAAAADGc/7jqK11eLsko/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="156" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7zqj2lNEkI/AAAAAAAADGk/oGkA0r0fnNw/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="113"></a> OpenVista^®electronic health record (EHR) at Century City Doctors Hospital (CCDH) in Los Angeles. The project was completed on an ambitious four-month timetable that enabled the 176-bed acute care facility to meet a self-imposed goal of implementing OpenVista and Keane’s Patcom system by the end of December.  It also integrated OpenVista with Keane’s financial systems based on a joint implementation methodology previously developed under a partnership between the two companies</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/medsphere-and-century-city-doctors-hospital-implement-enterprise-wide-clinical-application,284042.shtml">Medsphere and Century City Doctors Hospital Implement Enterprise-wide Clinical Application in Record Time</a></p>

Century City Doctors Hospital Implement Enterprise-wide Clinical Application in Record Time - Open Vista (VA EHR)

This is the original Vista EHR from the VA, reworked and revamped to work outside a government facility...BD  ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - (Busin...

Read more »

E-MDs EHR recognized by the Academy of Family Physicians..

<p> Family practice voted in favor over other EHRs in survey...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>AUSTIN, TX th Today e-MDs, an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) announced distinguished recognition in "User Satisfaction with EHRs", a survey recently conducted by Family Practice Management, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). <p>(Media-Newswire.com) - AUSTIN, TX – Today e-MDs, an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health records ( EHRs ) announced distinguished recognition in "User Satisfaction with EHRs", a survey recently conducted by Family Practice Management, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Academy of Family Physicians ( AAFP ).</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://media-newswire.com/release_1061292.html">Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency</a></p>

E-MDs EHR recognized by the Academy of Family Physicians..

Family practice voted in favor over other EHRs in survey...BD  AUSTIN, TX th Today e-MDs, an industry leader in the development and imple...

Read more »

FDA Looks at Wrong Plant in China

<p> Update in the latest <strong>heparin investigation</strong>...FDA went to the wrong place...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>U.S. health officials evaluated the wrong factory when assessing the safety of a Chinese-made drug ingredient that may be a source of problems with a blood thinner, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday. <p>Baxter International's heparin has been linked to four deaths and hundreds of reports of allergic reactions. An investigation will take FDA inspectors to China this week.  Inspections are under way at a Baxter facility in Cherry Hill, N.J. facility and at company supplier Scientific Protein Laboratories of Waunakee, Wis.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=4307873">ABC News: FDA Looks at Wrong Plant in China</a></p>

FDA Looks at Wrong Plant in China

Update in the latest heparin investigation ...FDA went to the wrong place...BD U.S. health officials evaluated the wrong factory when ass...

Read more »

Data Captor Recognized With Global Technology Leadership Award

<p> Integration software....works with many of the major EMR systems and translates HL7 information...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Capsule, the leading independent medical device connectivity solution used by hundreds of healthcare institutions worldwide, announced it received the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Global Technology Leadership Award. <a href="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7piiWlNEhI/AAAAAAAADGM/w3wbw7T1KrM/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="72" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7pii2lNEiI/AAAAAAAADGU/ihIZFthNQks/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="119"></a> <br><strong>DataCaptor™ Connectivity Suite features one of the largest device interface libraries in the world with over 370 different types of medical devices, such as patient monitors, ventilators and infusion pumps, supported.</strong> It automatically converts the medical device data to HL7 or XML format and integrates it with any Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Clinical Information System (CIS), or Alarm and Event Management system saving valuable nursing time, enhancing clinical workflow automation, and contributing to improved healthcare quality. <p>DataCaptor Interface Server is a software engine that collects data from medical devices, translates it into a common protocol such as HL7 and distributes it to Health care Information Systems.  DataCaptor is FDA 510(k) cleared.  In addition, DataCaptor 5.0 includes built-in support for 330 diverse bedside medical devices and plug-ins to all HL7 compatible Health care Information Systems such as Cerner's Millennium, Eclipsys' Sunrise, Epic's EpicCare, Philips' CareVue Chart and many more.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/97712.php">Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Capsule With Global Technology Leadership Award For DataCaptor(TM) Connectivity Suite</a></p>

Data Captor Recognized With Global Technology Leadership Award

Integration software....works with many of the major EMR systems and translates HL7 information...BD  Capsule, the leading independent me...

Read more »

Hospitals to pay for mistakes - fewer catheters in the future...

<p> This might mean less catheters for patients in the future as they can trigger infections....as a result of the new Medicare law that will not pay hospitals for preventable errors...BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>And patients' first sign that something is changing may involve lessening of a big indignity: Today, one in four hospitalized patients is outfitted with a urinary catheter. The tubes trigger more than half a million urinary tract infections a year, the most common hospital-caused infection.<a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7pgq2lNEfI/AAAAAAAADF8/HkiO-kdlbxE/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="131" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7pgrmlNEgI/AAAAAAAADGE/2gw7GSakPSA/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="96"></a> <p>Yet many patients don't even need catheters — they're an automatic precaution after certain surgeries — and many who do have them for days longer than necessary. Why? The University of Michigan reported the first national study of catheter practices last month, finding nearly half of hospitals don't even keep track of who gets one. Fewer than one in 10 hospitals does a daily check to see if the catheter is still needed, a simple but proven infection-reducing system.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23224183/">Hospitals to pay for mistakes - Health care- msnbc.com</a></p>

Hospitals to pay for mistakes - fewer catheters in the future...

This might mean less catheters for patients in the future as they can trigger infections....as a result of the new Medicare law that will n...

Read more »

Medi-Cal cuts will affect everybody - California

<p> Many physicians do not take Medi-Cal already, so does this tend to even lower the rank and file of physicians who will take Medi-Cal patients?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>.....there is now a proposal to cut a whopping 10 percent from Medi-Cal payments to health care providers in California. This poses an enormous threat to our neediest families' medical care. <p>These huge Medi-Cal reductions are supposed to help balance the state budget. But at what cost? Cutting Medi-Cal threatens to limit Medi-Cal patients' access to physicians. It's also likely to drive up the cost of health care for everyone else and cause the state to lose more than $1 billion in federal funds. <p><strong>Medi-Cal is the state's single largest source of medical insurance, providing coverage for 1 out of every 6 Californians</strong> - including 226,630 Santa Clara County residents. The proposed cuts would come after years of under-funding Medi-Cal, leading to one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation. California spends almost 30 percent less per Medi-Cal beneficiary than the national average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. <strong> Finally, virtually every $1 cut from Medi-Cal takes $2 away from the program because the federal government matches the state's share dollar-for-dollar. </strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_8294002">Medi-Cal cuts will affect everybody - San Jose Mercury News</a> </p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/medi-cal-cuts.html">Kevin, MD</a></p>

Medi-Cal cuts will affect everybody - California

Many physicians do not take Medi-Cal already, so does this tend to even lower the rank and file of physicians who will take Medi-Cal patien...

Read more »

FDA-Approved TRC105 Anti-Cancer Agent Developed For Clinical Trials

<p>A novel anti-angiogenic agent, TRC105 (also known as c-SN6j), developed in the laboratory of <a href="http://www.roswellpark.org/Site/Research/Research_Staff/Seon_BenK__PhD">Ben K. Seon, PhD,</a> <a href="http://www.roswellpark.org/Site/Research/Departments/Immunology">Department of Immunology, </a>Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has the<strong> potential to be an effective agent for the treatment of solid tumors. </strong>The <a href="http://www.fda.gov/">United States Food and Drug Administration </a>(FDA) approved <strong>TRC105 as an Investigational New Drug</strong> (IND). A phase I clinical trial, supported by government grants and sponsored by TRACO Pharmaceuticals will be performed at RPCI and three other medical centers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/97685.php">FDA-Approved Novel Anti-Cancer Agent Developed At Roswell Park For Clinical Trials</a></p>

FDA-Approved TRC105 Anti-Cancer Agent Developed For Clinical Trials

A novel anti-angiogenic agent, TRC105 (also known as c-SN6j), developed in the laboratory of Ben K. Seon, PhD, Department of Immunology, Ro...

Read more »

A Story that should not exist... makes me angry and sad...

<p><strong><em>This is a story that make me sad if not outright angry....read on....</em></strong></p> <p>Many hospitals offer a wonderful service for <strong>seniors who live alone</strong> to call and check in every morning, staffed by volunteers...great and my own mother participates through this sort of a plan...wonderful and great that it exists; however this is not a story about this service of seniors helping seniors, but more about a good civic minded volunteer who donates her time to make this a success and her story about the healthcare she received.  <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7ioeGlNEZI/AAAAAAAADFM/mgJ3tHs1CNo/image%5B15%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="139" src="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iofGlNEaI/AAAAAAAADFU/Jy_J6qScEqI/image_thumb%5B7%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="139"></a> </p> <p>I'll call her Mary....every day Mary donates her time to make sure everyone on the list has called in for the morning...and calls the seniors who live alone perhaps have maybe forgotten to check in for the day.  If she does not receive an answer by phone, she has a list of family members or  friends to contact to alert.   Great project as it can alert loved ones of something potentially adverse and get everyone in touch.   </p> <p>Mary, one day, had an accident at the facility...fell and hit her head while doing her volunteer activities at the hospital's facility.  She was rushed to the hospital and seen by the hospitalist on duty.  With the senior service, those who call in do develop a personal relationship with the volunteers as it is something that is done every day.  My mother, on her next call was told that her friend Mary had been taken to the hospital and she was filling in until Mary was able to return to work.  Mary is in her early 80s.  Of course, everyone is <a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iofmlNEbI/AAAAAAAADFc/RkunlE4tedA/image%5B7%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="112" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iogWlNEcI/AAAAAAAADFk/l6ZMuq1fxjc/image_thumb%5B3%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="92"></a>concerned about Mary and has inquired as she is the friendly voice that many seniors hear and speak with every day.  </p> <p>Within a couple days she was released to go home and told to apply some heat and cold treatment to the area and she would be fine, but all was not fine, she could barely stand up and get out of bed.    Upon her release she had told the hospitalist that she was still in pain and there were insufficient tests done, such as an MRI to pinpoint what happened.  Also in making a phone call to the physician afterwards, she was once again told to use hot and cold packs to relieve the pain and told once more she would be fine, no mention of an offer to return.  </p> <p>Within 24 hours of being home, with the help of a friend since Mary lives alone herself, they called 911, and <strong>Mary was taken to another hospital</strong>.  Upon arrival, an MRI was done without question, something overlooked at the hospital where she donates her time.  They found she had serious back injuries as a result of her fall. <strong> She is still in the hospital getting treatment and will be released to senior care nursing home for 3 months to continue therapy, and she has no immediate family, just friends.    </strong></p> <p>The issue I find here is why did the hospital, where she volunteers her time, let her down?  There are many areas to ponder here and insurance was not the issue as far as coverage.  Did the hospitalist, employed by the hospital, not take her complaints seriously, was he/she under additional pressure to meet P4P goals and maintain the current goals for getting patients in and out of the hospital?  Did he/she not care or view her age being any type of factor?  What are the hospital policies in place as far as occupational goals for the hospitalist?  Their performance is scrutinized by the number of re-admissions done as well, so was this a part of the diversion to another hospital to care for her, so was the effort to have her go to another hospital an effort to keep a re-admission off the record?  What are the hospital guidelines for MRIs and was this related to cost?  </p> <p>No matter how you look at this, the <strong>hospital where she DONATES her time every day let her down,</strong> and this makes me sad and angry as something like this is just not supposed to happen.  How cold and indifferent can issues get?  By now, the entire grapevine of all those individuals she was in contact with on a daily basis to check in are discussing this issue in a flurry as she was the <a href="http://lh6.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iohGlNEdI/AAAAAAAADFs/Q9wpGUmd4RA/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="168" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iohmlNEeI/AAAAAAAADF0/IrtXP9GgquA/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="128"></a>caring and concerned individual who donated her time in helping others......in other words it happened to Mary...so what would be in store for those that Mary contacts every day....can they trust and feel a a vote of confidence to how they would all be treated at this hospital...makes you stop and think.....it may only be one insolated incident, but when it happens to you, it is not isolated by any means...and everyone is wanting to know her status and how she is being treated at the other hospital who is now caring for her.</p> <p>Again, there are many stories like this and they all tell a human saga here of HealthCare in the US failing..I felt this was particularly important to bring this to light not only for Mary, but to once again address the problem that we have a very broken system in this country and how long will we as citizens continue to embrace those policies that reduce cost for healthcare only, as they do interfere with decisions that are being made every day...<strong>what has happened to the morale commitment of "doing the right thing",</strong> something that is inherent and lives within all of us. </p> <p>In this case it was not only the hospital but every individual involved in the process of her care that contributed to the break down...<strong>and after this series of events, it does make you wonder how Mary will feel about continuing to donate her time</strong>....if she will physically be able to re-join the wonderful rank and files of those who take it upon themselves to unselfishly donate their time to helping others, will she return to the hospital where she has for years donated her time?  I know how I would personally feel if it were me.....I would hope to someday soon see a day when stories such as this are no longer newsworthy and cease to exist....and everyone she touched will now be aware of the lack of the quality of care she received at the hospital she believed in for so long....BD  </p>

A Story that should not exist... makes me angry and sad...

This is a story that make me sad if not outright angry....read on.... Many hospitals offer a wonderful service for seniors who live alone ...

Read more »

Bush Proposes Linking the Medicare Drug Premium to Beneficiaries’ Income

<p> One more "feeble" attempt...and more data mining...fewer than 5% would pay increased premiums...but what about the overpayments to private insurers that provide managed care?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON — President Bush proposed legislation on Friday to increase prescription drug premiums for higher-income <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier">Medicare</a> beneficiaries.   Under the proposal, the federal government would have to “release to the public physician-specific measurements of the quality or efficiency” of doctors. <p>The proposal, which the administration said would generate $3.2 billion of additional revenue for Medicare over five years, was part of a broader package that is intended to rein in Medicare costs while advancing the Republican vision of a larger private role in the health care system. <p>Representative Pete Stark of California, chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, said it was hypocritical of Mr. Bush to try to increase some premiums while not proposing any cuts in “overpayments to private insurance companies” that manage care for nearly nine million beneficiaries.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/washington/16health.html?_r=1&ei=5089&en=5d58e32191cc3db7&ex=1360990800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1203275043-ChCFxisJDJkj5wA0qZptVA&oref=slogin">Bush Proposes Linking the Medicare Drug Premium to Beneficiaries’ Income - New York Times</a></p>

Bush Proposes Linking the Medicare Drug Premium to Beneficiaries’ Income

One more "feeble" attempt...and more data mining...fewer than 5% would pay increased premiums...but what about the overpayments t...

Read more »

Health Plan Sues Accident Victim to recover Entire settlement recovery - the injured victim will likely get nothing...ERISA at work

<p> <strong>Wal Mart stated the company had to look out for the overall members of the plan..</strong>in other words nothing in view of a tragic accident even matters at all...they just want their money...is the health plan in reality a "loan" and not full insurance?  Health plan administered by United Health Care.....<strong>ERISA needs another look when things like this are happening</strong>...loopholes and interpretations are winning.....not the patient...BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>Can you imagine recovering a settlement after being permanently injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, and then being sued by your own health insurance plan to recover all of your settlement funds? <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iENWlNEXI/AAAAAAAADE8/3Hr2UqtodDc/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="134" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7iEO2lNEYI/AAAAAAAADFE/C9vlURHHsIA/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244"></a> <br>That’s exactly what happened to 52-year-old Missouri resident Deborah Shank. A collision with a semi-trailer truck seven years ago left Shank permanently brain-damaged and in a wheelchair. <strong>Her husband, Jim, and three sons found a small source of solace: a $700,000 accident settlement from the trucking company involved. After legal fees and other expenses, the remaining $417,000 was put in a special trust. It was to be used for Mrs. Shank's ongoing and future medical care.</strong></p> <p>But instead of using that money for her medical treatment, it will likely all go to repay Shank’s health insurance plan. <strong>The health plan was administered through Shank’s employer at the time – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart’s health plan was created under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974).</strong> ERISA is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.  Administrators of employer-financed health plans "have an obligation to participants to be impartial," the Wal-Mart spokeswoman says. <p>A Supreme Court ruling last year also has given them a stronger legal position to sue employees. And the employers have been winning.<strong> Her Wal-Mart ERISA health plan sued Shank to recover the $470,000 it spent on Shank’s healthcare. It did not matter that Shank only had $417,000 left over after payment of lawyer fees and litigation costs.</strong> In fact, Shank’s lawyer anticipated Wal-Mart’s lawsuit and tried to protect these funds by depositing them in a “special needs” trust. But the federal district court ruled that this special trust offered no protection, and it could not defeat the claim asserted by Shank’s ERISA plan.  <strong></strong></p><strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119551952474798582.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone">More from the Wall Street Journal here....</a></strong></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1446">Davis Law Group, P.S. Blog| Davis Law Group</a></p>

Health Plan Sues Accident Victim to recover Entire settlement recovery - the injured victim will likely get nothing...ERISA at work

  Wal Mart stated the company had to look out for the overall members of the plan.. in other words nothing in view of a tragic accident even...

Read more »

S.F. businesses preparing for health care law

<p> San Francisco still struggling with how to implement the law...various concerns for different industries...one restaurant adds it to the tab...cab drivers are independent contractors so the burden is back on the individual in that case...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R7h_OmlNEVI/AAAAAAAADEs/nISrkDOUiZo/image%5B3%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="102" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7h_PWlNEWI/AAAAAAAADE0/KKnEX8LnzR8/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="147"></a>But not every business can raise its rates. Cab fares, for example, are set by the city. John Lazar, owner of Luxor Cab Co., said he hopes the financial impact of the law on his company will be manageable because most of his drivers are independent contractors and the bulk of his employees have insurance. "The problem," he said, "is we're being told what to charge for our product."  Naranjo said some employers might cut salaries to pay for the new mandate. "I know employers are looking at that as an option," he said. <p><strong>The owners of Zuni Cafe on Feb. 1 added a 4 percent health surcharge to its menu</strong> to cover the additional costs of the mandate. While a few customers were not pleased, the majority appreciated why the restaurant needed to take action, they said.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/BU4BTQHA3.DTL">S.F. businesses preparing for health care law</a></p>

S.F. businesses preparing for health care law

San Francisco still struggling with how to implement the law...various concerns for different industries...one restaurant adds it to the ta...

Read more »

New Jersey Senator Indicted for Fraud...the Christmas tree budget

<p> Personal gain with consulting services for a hospital in New Jersey...hospital relations appeared to cross a few borders here..was there a split between his personal and business life?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A federal grand jury on Friday indicted State Senator Joseph Coniglio of New Jersey on nine counts of mail fraud and extortion in connection with an influence-peddling scheme connected to a $66,000-a-year consulting arrangement with Hackensack University Medical Center, according to the US Justice Department. Coniglio is said to be one of the more powerful members of the New Jersey Democratic Machine that includes Governor Jon Corzine.  "The allegations against Senator Coniglio in this indictment paint a disgraceful picture of <u>exchanging public tax dollars for personal gain. The public has had more than enough of this type of conduct,"</u>  he said.The Indictment also charges that Coniglio's Chief of Staff, responding to a newspaper's inquiry into Coniglio's arrangement with HUMC, falsely stated that "there is a complete split between Senator Coniglio's personal, private business life and his legislative life. . . <strong>. People from the hospital know not to call our office."</strong></p> <p>Coniglio, 65, of Paramus, NJ, a plumber by trade, allegedly set up the consulting arrangement with Hackensack University Medical Center  to perform "hospital relations," a field in which he had no prior experience. In fact, according to the Indictment, <strong>the arrangement was a way for him to receive $5,000 monthly from the hospital in exchange for his official support for funding requests for so-called "Christmas Tree" budget items from the state Legislature and funding from other state agencies.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.borderfirereport.net/jim-kouri/nj-senator-joseph-coniglio-indicted-for-fraud-and-extortion.html">borderfirereport.net</a></p>

New Jersey Senator Indicted for Fraud...the Christmas tree budget

Personal gain with consulting services for a hospital in New Jersey...hospital relations appeared to cross a few borders here..was there a ...

Read more »

OMG! My life belongs to a Medicare HMO!!!... Too Stupid To Die…

<p> One person's story of a liver transplant...complicated...no problem with the surgery being approved, all the action takes place after the fact with getting the drugs needed post surgery...and the hospital has someone on staff to help patients with the battle getting the meds they need...more expense for the hospital and surely not a pleasurable experience for the patient...the captive audience here for lack of a better description...BD  <a href="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R7h7mWlNETI/AAAAAAAADEc/wKsoa61fo70/image%5B4%5D?imgmax=800"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="111" src="http://lh5.google.com/DucknetServices/R7h7m2lNEUI/AAAAAAAADEk/iqbwJs-E1z8/image_thumb%5B2%5D?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="140"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>If there’s one thing everybody knows about those of us who have body parts replaced, <strong>it is that we have to stay on anti-rejection meds the rest of our lives.</strong> One slip and our immune systems go haywire and try to expel the alien organ. Rejection is NOT fun: you get two grams (yes grams) of a IV form of prednisone (Solumedrol) dumped into your veins, lose what little is left of your immune system and go stark raving bonkers in the meanwhile. I’ve seen people in 9 Long - the transplant floor of UCSF’s Moffitt Hospital - suffering through this madness. They don’t mess up their rejection meds again. <p>“Don’t worry!” said the counselor. “The insurance company will likely want a second opinion and that’s normal. But you shouldn’t have any trouble getting approved.”  “Then things are going ok.” I looked at him puzzled. “Believe me,” he said. “We wouldn’t be doing anything for you if the insurance company wasn’t funding it.” <p><strong>Obviously I made it through the approval, a liver was found, and the transplant happened, all without a peep from HealthNet. I was as amazed by their silence as I was by having my body ripped open and an organ replaced. Transplants, especially liver, are expensive (there’s a lot of cutting and pasting involved in switching livers) usually to the tune of $400,0000 to half a mil. And the insurance company never squeaked? Wow.</strong> <p>A few weeks later, I’m out of the hospital recovering well (this is before my <em>other</em> complications set in) and I go to fill my prescriptions for the anti-rejection meds. <strong>Denied, said the pharmacy. Not part of HealthNet’s formulary, it seems. Medications deemed not necessary, it seems. <em> How could HealthNet not even squeak about dropping $400k for the part swap but now balk at a few hundred dollars for the meds needed to keep it functioning? Huh? Huh?</em></strong> <p>My Myfortic, one of my anti-rejection meds, has gone from $7 copay to $170.....<strong>UCSF has a person dedicated solely to deal with financing transplants so it has a person whose job is to make sure those same companies don’t cut off transplantee’s meds after the transplant’s done.</strong> <p><strong>Sheesh. God may bless America, who knows (I have my doubts). But she clearly forgot to include our health care system.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.toostupidtodie.net/2008/02/16/omg-my-life-belongs-to-a-medicare-hmo-first-in-a-series-unfortunately/">OMG! My life belongs to a Medicare HMO!!! (First in a series, unfortunately) | Too Stupid To Die… | There are a bunch of cats out there missing a life because of you. –my sister, to me</a></p>

OMG! My life belongs to a Medicare HMO!!!... Too Stupid To Die…

One person's story of a liver transplant...complicated...no problem with the surgery being approved, all the action takes place after t...

Read more »