The pharmacist will see you now - UK

We have retail clinics to fill in the gaps but in the UK there's another solution of utilizing the pharmacist to take some of the patient visit time from the over worked MDs...the physician still does major diagnosing, but the pharmacist does the follow up and provides some basic care and last week the government is working on a plan to have the pharmacists be the first stop for minor ailments instead of the physician ....like there, they are limited to what they can treat, and need to complete additional education courses to practice beyond the normal realm of a pharmacist...the number of consultations is 57 million a year...sounds like a very large number of visits to be shifted to the pharmacist from the care of the physician...and the pharmacists may not have the same earnings I might guess as does the physician...BD 

LONDON -- Twice a week, Stephen Inns sees patients with high blood pressure at his office in a medical practice in southern England. Usually he conducts a few quick tests, asks them how they're doing and adjusts their medicines if necessary.
Inns isn't a doctor; he's a pharmacist.  Letting pharmacists and nurses prescribe medicines, according to a policy statement from the Department of Health, is part of the government's plan to modernize the health system, by eliminating barriers between professions and allowing patients easier access to drugs.

He is one of fewer than 100 pharmacists across Britain recently given permission to prescribe drugs for patients and provide basic care, without relying on a doctor. The move is part of Britain's attempt to expand its healthcare system by allowing medical professionals such as nurses and pharmacists to treat patients.  Last week, Britain issued a new government strategy to strengthen the role of pharmacists even further. According to the proposal, pharmacists will be the first port of call for certain ailments -- colds, minor stomach and skin problems. That will save doctors 57 million consultations a year, officials said.

Inns can prescribe any medicine (except controlled drugs like morphine and codeine) for any condition he is qualified to treat -- he specializes in cardiovascular medicine.

The pharmacist will see you now - Los Angeles Times

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Microsoft's Savvy Open Source Move

Many more open source applications are being certified to run on Server 2008 and one big benefit is the virtual operating systems being baked in versus a Linux configuration, both are ready for 64 bit computing...BD

Repeat after me: Microsoft (MSFT) Windows is wildly popular for running open source applications.

Skeptics may not believe that statement, but it's true. Whether its the Firefox Web browser or the latest open source server application, chances are there's a very popular version for Windows.  And Microsoft wants to keep it that way. In fact, a small but strategic Silicon Valley company is helping Microsoft to certify open source applications for Windows Server 2008.  The company is working with SpikeSource to ensure open source applications work with Windows Server 2008. SpikeSource has so far certified five PHP applications for Microsoft’s new server operating system

Microsoft's Savvy Open Source Move - Seeking Alpha

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Street Theatre for Single-Payer Healthcare - New York

New York by far is always the best for the performing arts...new entry with a "street theatre" agenda from the The Private Health Insurance Must Go coalition...2 hour presentation on the streets of Manhattan...BD 

"Our street theatre includes a short skit that spells out the problem with our for-profit healthcare system and lays the blame where it belongs -- the greedy for-profit health insurance companies."

Union Square 
  Saturday April 26th
  12:00p - 2:00p

publish.nyc.indymedia.org | Street Theatre for Single-Payer Healthcare

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Jury awards doctor $4 million in health care lab case

One for the doctor...for sticking to his case...our physicians are still practicing good medicine and he argued the tests could have resulted to unnecessary treatments....BD 

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—A state court jury in Bridgeport has awarded more than $4 million to a doctor who was fired from a health care lab in Stratford after he complained that one of its tests could jeopardize patients' health.

The six jurors found on Friday that Dianon Systems Inc.'s firing of Trumbull doctor G. Barry Schumann in April 2005 violated his free speech rights. The verdict could increase to nearly $7 million when lawyers' fees and interest are added in.

Jury awards doctor $4 million in health care lab case - Boston.com

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Drug Makers Near an Old Goal: A Legal Shield

One more slug of court cases for Big Pharma...Judge is rule whether or not any of the lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson can go forward..but the FDA did approve the patch...we do we go from here...BD 

For years, Johnson & Johnson obscured evidence that its popular Ortho Evra birth control patch delivered much more estrogen than standard birth control pills, potentially increasing the risk of blood clots and strokes, according to internal company documents....The Ortho case, however, suggests that Johnson & Johnson, like other drug makers, is not always quick to tell the F.D.A. about potential problems with its medicines.

The Bush administration has argued strongly in favor of the doctrine, which holds that the F.D.A. is the only agency with enough expertise to regulate drug makers and that its decisions should not be second-guessed by courts. The Supreme Court is to rule on a case next term that could make pre-emption a legal standard for drug cases. The court already ruled in February that many suits against the makers of medical devices like pacemakers are pre-empted.

Drug Makers Near an Old Goal: A Legal Shield - New York Times

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Coalition Pushes Medical Device ID

Work to establish device ID numbers to reduce the risk of counterfeit products being used..members include the AHA, Catholic Health Association and more...letter send to the FDA...BD

A coalition of provider, consumer, research and quality organizations has sent a letter to Food and Drug Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach asking for a timeline for when the agency will publish a rule to mandate a unique identification system for medical devices.

The FDA has been consulting with industry stakeholders on such a rule since 2005 and in recent months has come under pressure to finish the task. Legislation enacted last fall to revamp the FDA mandates a unique identifier on the label of medical devices. The law, however, does not specify what types of medical devices would fall under the regulations......“A national UDI standard has great potential for our entire healthcare system. It will improve patient safety while increasing efficiency for manufacturers by reducing the potential for counterfeit products being used on a patient.

Coalition Pushes Medical Device ID

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The Evolution Of Mobile Hardware - Health Care and Tablet PCs

What's working for hospitals with Mobile computing...fairly in depth article that goes over the selection not only of tablets, but also PDAs, how they are selected, being used, and the training input from the hospitals...the one hospital is right up front noting the physicians do want performance, and I can agree there, as many need the power to run dictation software and just the availability to chart faster...not all tablets are created equal and thus those with single unit processors might not suit the needs of the physician on the go with several areas where the device is needed...inside a facility whereby everything is connected internally, lower CPU units may work fine...BD 

....But after full implementation began, some staff members were a little intimidated by all the new functionality of the Tablet PCs. 

“We purchased the devices because we didn’t want physicians to purchase one that wouldn’t work at both hospitals. There’s only a limited amount that will,” she says. “But sometimes physicians want the latest and greatest hardware, so they can still purchase their own device and we will try to work with it.”

“Our organization made the decision to not push the tablet features on our staff,” he says. “But if they want to learn, we will teach them and let them use the hardware that way.” So far, San Diego Hospice & Pallative Care has purchased 223 of the convertible devices but hasn’t yet introduced them to all staff members.

Despite an early mixed reception, the provider wants to continue offering the Tablet PC functionality because it hopes to use the devices for other applications, such as to enable patients to sign care authorizations, Hahn says.

For example, its pre-op department nurses prefer to use the Tablet PCs to handwrite notes in their surgical system, also from Cerner. And others like the enhanced mobility they get with the smaller form factor.  We will purchase more Tablet PCs, but the majority of charting is done on the mobile carts,” Smith says. “It’s not always going to work with one device. So you have to offer multiple types.”

Point of Care Part I: The Evolution Of Mobile Hardware

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Misys to Link with Cardiac Devices

Medical records software company integrating with medical devices... BD

Misys Healthcare Systems will integrate its Misys MyWay electronic health records software with the cardiac monitoring devices of Bothell, Wash.-based Cardiac Science Corp. 

Misys will integrate Misys MyWay with Cardiac Science’s Burdick electrocardiograph, Quinton stress tester and Holter cardiac monitor.

Misys to Link with Cardiac Devices

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Meet the Pills

This is a very funny short series...meet your pills...from the Center for Medicine in the public interest...there are a few more videos on the site...BD  

 

 

 

 

 

And the saga continues....

And the pill gets drilled....you're not generic? 

http://www.cmpi.org/index.asp

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Make Health Courts central to medical reform

With all the lawsuits in healthcare today, do we need a separate branch of the judicial system to handle healthcare issues only?  This article mentions the fact that is has been suggested...hope this is not the solution overall...could we soon be seeing something like Judge Judy on the airwaves...as this seems to be a trend today with legal cases being displayed on television or the web...we need better healthcare overall and not just another form of media to exploit and continue to clog the already overburdened judicial system...BD 

In a recent letter, "Separate frivolous malpractice cases from worthy," the writer states "as long as there is no mechanism to separate the worthy from frivolous cases, this state will continue to drive away the best and brightest from considering practicing."

Make Health Courts central to medical reform -- Medicine, Boca Raton, New York Times -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

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U.S. Health Care Worse by the Decade

Good article...are the voices of the doctors finally being heard...sure hope so...BD 

It turns out their doctors want to move up, too. They are way ahead of politicians in daring to go where the rest of the industrialized world has already gone: to a national health insurance system.

It's the politicians who are lacking in courage, too cautious to confront the fear tactics that the insurance industry, the drug industry and other big players roll out every time. As for interest groups that represent doctors, Carroll says, those organizations supporting only incremental reform appear to be out of step. "We know what the representative groups are saying," he notes. "We wanted to see what actual physicians believe."

U.S. Health Care Worse by the Decade | Health and Wellness | AlterNet

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FDA, 23andMe Respond to Gene-Drug Test Article

"But with genetic testing, it's still early, and we've got a chance to do it right."....very well possible and what stance will the FDA take?  It's going to totally uproot many of the ways they have done business over the years, and the public will demand answers quickly....and regulation...BD 

After decades of anticipation, the age of personalized, gene-based medicine is nearly here. But how good are its recommendations? And when a test tells you what drugs to take, how can you be sure that the science is solid?

23andMe aside, pharmacogenetic testing in some cases appears to be running ahead of the science supporting it. And that may be why regulation is so important.

Perhaps the companies are right -- but what if they're not? What if they're wrong next time? Some analysts -- such as the Center for Genetics and Public Policy authors of a Science article that prompted my own coverage -- say the government needs to set and enforce clinical standards for gene-drug interaction tests. The companies themselves appear open to this; they know that a few high-profile mistakes could scare customers away. The big question, then, is whether the FDA will follow their advice.

FDA, 23andMe Respond to Gene-Drug Test Article | Wired Science from Wired.com

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Pesticides found in wine

This did not make my day by any means...I'm sure we have pesticides in our domestic wine too..but is enough to be dangerous is the question...I didn't know a little "Raid" came free with each glass....BD 

An European environmental group said pesticides used on grapes were found in 35 of the 40 bottles of wine they tested.

Pesticide Action Network Europe, working with groups on Austria, France and Germany, said a study found pesticides in all the conventional wines, and a low level of pesticide residues in one of six organic wines. The analysis revealed 24 different pesticide contaminants in the wines.
On average, each wine sample contained more than four pesticides, although one bottle had 10.

Study: Pesticides found in wine

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Medicare mandates upgrades at dialysis sites

One area of healthcare that HAS to go with electronic records...from the article it appears to be a swap out of some old conditions that were perhaps costly with newer electronic records and devices to keep up with the times....BD

Patients at dialysis centers can expect an individualized plan, electronic health records and defibrillators in every unit under new Medicare rules.

The rules aren't expected to cost dialysis centers more because other provisions will be eliminated, including requirements for a long-term care plan, Barry Straube, Medicare's chief medical officer, said in a telephone news conference Thursday.Because of the scope of the changes, dialysis facilities will have 180 days to come into compliance instead of the normal 60 days, Straube said.

Medicare mandates upgrades at dialysis sites | www.azstarnet.com ®

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$4 Generic Nation: Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC Sign On

Will get the links posted on the site as soon as they are available that go directly to the page without having to navigate the grocery chain site....good stuff...BD 

The Wal-Martization of generic drug prices rolls on today, with Ralphs, Fred Meyer and QFC boarding the $4 generics bus.

No big surprise here — all three chains, with stores in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California, are part of Kroger, the supermarket/drugstore empire that last fall announced $4 generics in a bunch of its other chains.

Health Blog : $4 Generic Nation: Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC Sign On

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Doctor Anonymous Show - Blogtalkradio

Last evening, I finally had the opportunity to participate as a listener and the guest speaker was Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital on Blogtalkradio.    I found the show to be very informative as well as an open forum to comment in the "live" text area.  The show has been on the air for a couple months and it's my fault it took me so long to finally make an appointment with myself to attend!  The show has had other great guests, some of whom are referenced in this blog quite frequently too.  Dr. Anonymous has done a great job in putting this together and it takes time and effort on his part to create the shows, I might add. 

The link at the bottom provides a replay from last evening, as well as an archive to past shows and events.  If you register, you can also participate to comment and ask questions.  There is also a live telephone line to call in during the show.  This is an open forum where anyone interested can listen in and participate.  Last night was overall impressive as you had Mr. Levy open to comments and right up front about the goals and past achievements of the hospital and talked about what a powerful tool blogging has become...and it was interesting to find out that his career has not always been healthcare.  In looking around the site, there are several other blog radio talks that address healthcare to check out.  There is a permanent link on this site to the show in the resources column on the right hand side to locate as well. 

In short, I found the show to be an item I need to include on my future agendas and would highly recommend it to others, speakers and topics change from week to week.    Great job and very informative, and also nice in the fact that the guest speakers can relax and be themselves and offer some personal communication with listeners.  I wonder which hospital CEO might take the microphone next??   BD 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctoranonymous

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On Top of Tax Breaks, Nonprofit Hospitals Reap Big Profits

How are they bringing in the dough?  This article states a decline in charity care to be one area, but I'm sure there's much more between the lines...Medicare is being a bit nicer to the hospitals with increases while the physicians continue to look at the potential cut in pay on July 1st...BD 

There’s big money in health care, even for institutions that aren’t chartered to make a profit. The combined net income of the 50 largest nonprofit hospitals in this country was more than $4 billion in 2006, up from less than $1 billion in 2001, the WSJ reports.

There are a bunch of reasons for the profit growth. Medicare reimbursements to hospitals have been climbing, and some big mergers have given hospitals more leverage in negotiating prices with insurers. Critics also cite inadequate spending on charity care.  Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) says, “Some nonprofit hospitals seem to forget that their operations are subsidized with generous tax breaks. They allow their priorities to get out of whack.” The senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee threatened last year to introduce legislation that would require nonprofit hospitals to deliver minimum levels of charity care to maintain their tax benefits.

Health Blog : On Top of Tax Breaks, Nonprofit Hospitals Reap Big Profits

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UnitedHealth Tries to Dig Out from Customer Service Problems

More about the troubled customer services areas of the carrier...I would venture to say this is one "big fix"...being they are forecasting a decline with commercial enrollment...BD 

Admitting that you have a problem may be the first step toward a solution. But, as UnitedHealth is discovering, it isn’t the last.  But may take a while to change customers’ perceptions. Goldman Sachs reported in January that UnitedHealth received “the most negative comments by far” from national employers, who cited problems such as service lapses, lack of responsiveness and turnover among account managers.

Health Blog : UnitedHealth Tries to Dig Out from Customer Service Problems

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Congressman's data on stolen laptop

I'm sure he may get the same plan as everyone else out there, free credit protection for a year...or perhaps this might bring some additional light to the importance of data security..since it included health records...BD 

Barton, ranking minority member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asked the Health and Human Services Department's inspector general to investigate the theft of the unencrypted laptop from the car of a National Institutes of Health researcher, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Congressman's data on stolen laptop

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Healthcare In Supermarkets – Dream On

This looks to be an All-In-One device...scans, records...blood pressure...images, video exam camera, blood tests, patient records....as I read this, there needs to be 2 stations, one at origin and one at the receiving end...could open up some new doors for the retail clinics.  I did a revisit the other day to a CVS store with a clinic and things were not too busy the day I went by, but they did do a tremendous business during flu season and we actually had a discussion about personalized medicine that day and the upcoming future in health care.  One other item of mention is that very same day I heard the clinics advertised on the radio with "free cholesterol checks" for the entire month of April, now that could be only for this area, but that was the first radio advertising I had heard...one more way to drive business to their doors of the retail clinics....BD 

Telemedicus has begun providing DREAMS technology for educational purposes to My Healthy Access Clinics located in Wal-Mart Supercenters.

All of the patients records are transmitted to the physicians workstation where they can be digitally exported to an existing electronic medical records system. All transmissions between the two workstations are encrypted to meet HIPAA requirements.

My Healthy Access operates non-emergency wellness clinics located in Houston area Wal-Mart stores. The primary focus of these clinics is to provide immediate medical  diagnosis and treatment for minor illnesses such as colds, flu, strep throats, sinusitis, minor injuries and infections as well as administering preventative vaccinations. The price is reasonable and as no appointment is necessary, most patients can be in and out in 20 minutes. MHA currently leases space in six Houston area Wal-Mart Supercenters for its My Healthy Access branded clinics.

Telemedicus’ Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services DREAMS technology turns practically any ambulance, clinic or medical transportation vehicle into a mobile trauma center or Telehealth location. Through the Intelligent Communications Manager (ICM), the doctor is able to provide treatment immediately through the medical technician because the doctor can see the patient and diagnostic data through the Telemedicus system.

Real-time scans from an ultrasound imager and stat blood test results from an Abbott iStat blood analyzer attached to the remote workstation are also displayed in real-time at the physicians workstation.

Healthcare In Supermarkets – Dream On

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Microsoft HealthVault Solutions Conference

Convention for developers and others about creating solutions to work with building on the Health Vault Platform....BD

Join us and fellow experts from across the industry to discover how your business can thrive by building on the HealthVault platform. Together, we can help bring healthcare into the Internet Age.

Microsoft HealthVault Solutions Conference

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Lack of Health Insurance Kills Californians

California now checking in, over the past few weeks, various states have calculated and reported their numbers....BD 

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)  -- More than eight people die each day in California because they don’t have health insurance, according to a new report by Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers.

The Families USA report, the first-ever state-specific report of this type, is based on a groundbreaking national study by the Institute of Medicine, which in 2002 forged the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes.

KCBS - Study: Lack of Health Insurance Kills Californians

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It's My Right, Pregnant Man Tells Oprah

The continuing story of the "pregnant man"....changed his gender, kept the working parts and now is expecting...big news as it made the Oprah show...BD 

Thomas Beatie, a former woman who is now a pregnant man, defended his decision today to have a baby, saying he has a "right to have a biological child."

Despite removing his breasts, growing a wispy beard and legally having his gender changed from female to male, Beatie, 34, kept his female sex organs intact because he hoped to have a child some day.

ABC News: It's My Right, Pregnant Man Tells Oprah

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What Will Primary Care Look Like in 20 Years?

I ask the same thing...and it's a good question with many possibilities...BD 

We know primary care’s messed up. Docs get paid a lot for doing procedures, but not much for sitting with patients, trying to figure out what’s wrong and what to do about it. So where do we go from here?

Health Blog Question of the Day: Which of these models will take off? What will primary care look like 20 years from now?

Health Blog : What Will Primary Care Look Like in 20 Years?

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Germs in soil find antibiotics tasty

Scientific explanation as to why our soil is not overburdened with drug remnants...and some antibiotics are derived from soil...BD 

WASHINGTON - Antibiotics for breakfast? The drugs are supposed to kill bacteria, not feed them. Yet Harvard researchers have discovered hundreds of germs in soil that literally gobble up antibiotics, able to thrive with the potent drugs as their sole source.  These bacteria outwit antibiotics in a disturbingly novel way, and now the race is on to figure out just how they do it — in case more dangerous germs that sicken people could develop the same ability.  On the other hand, the work explains why the soil doesn't harbor big antibiotic buildups despite use of the drugs in livestock plus human disposal and, well, excretion, too.

Nor is it a surprise that soil bacteria can withstand some antibiotics; some had already been found. After all, a number of antibiotics are natural — think penicillin. Some antibiotics have been derived from soil.

Germs in soil find antibiotics tasty - Yahoo! News

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The Speech That Maimed Schering And Merck

This will only stand to increase the desire for information in the areas of personalized medicine...genetics hopefully will soon offer more information to hopefully avoid this type of situation in the future....one drug is having one devastating effect...BD

Shares of Schering-Plough have dropped 26% this week, and Merck's stock is down 15%. The reason is a recommendation from a four-doctor expert panel at the American College of Cardiology that said physicians should sharply reduce the use of Zetia and Vytorin, the $5 billion cholesterol franchise shared by the two companies.

The panel recommendation came after the presentation of a small but extremely controversial study called ENHANCE, in which Vytorin did no better than generic Zocor at clearing the arteries of patients with an inherited disease that causes high cholesterol.

We need to understand the effect of new drugs on people. And that relying on a drug's effect on a set of lab tests may not tell the whole story. We have learned this lesson before. It appears that we need to learn it again.

The Speech That Maimed Schering And Merck - Forbes.com

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Vista Service Pack 1 Upgrade on the Sahara Tablet PC

Just a short note here to advise that I have updated the i440D with Service Pack 1.  The update went off without a hitch.  It will take about a good hour or so to complete, but the entire process is pretty much on auto-pilot. 

There big reason for me to update was for some additional compatibility with Office 2007, which was running fine before, but now Outlook appears to load a bit faster and I believe there is a small decease in the boot time, but I have not actually timed the event.  I live in Outlook and have several add on features that make it easier for me to work with items such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Pay Pay, Conference Scheduling, Attensa RSS Feeds software, Outlook Connector for Outlook Live and a few others, so I have a very busy toolbar, and everything is still working well.  Here's what my toolbar looks like...as you can see I take full advantage of any item that will maximize Outlook integrate features that make life easier for me.  One of my absolute favorites is connecting to Windows Live Maps, it sure makes finding address a cinch without ever leaving Outlook.  Service Pack 1 has been just fine in my book with no reported issues at all.  It will be included shortly in the normal Windows Updates per Microsoft, so if you don't update manually, be ready to have the unit out of operation for an hour or so to complete the process.  BD 

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abletFactory Handwriting Recognition EMR Electronic Medical Record Tablet

If you are a small or individual practice and want to get started with an affordable solution and being maximizing the use of a tablet PC, this is definitely one to look at...anybody that reads this column regularly knows what a huge fan I am of One Note...and Fritz has created another winner to work with One Note...BD 

The abletFactory is pleased to announce the release of the OneNote 2007 EMR Suite.  A com­pletely re-designed user interface (GUI) with easy-to-use features combining the functions of the EMR Toolkit, SOAP Toolkit, eScript Toolkit, all in one product, updated to work with Micro­soft’s OneNote 2007..   More Details for OneNote2007 EMR Suite Here

As part of the new One Note 2007 EMR Toolkit, we have added a number of templates from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.abletfactory.com/EMRToolkit.html

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TabletKiosk(TM) Ships the GETAC 840XT Full Mil-Spec Tablet PC

We all watched at CES earlier this year, the unit being constantly dropped on the floor and it just kept on working...BD 

TORRANCE, CA--(Marketwire - April 3, 2008) - TabletKiosk™, a leader in Tablet PC based mobile computing solutions, today announced that it is shipping the GETAC 840XT (g840XT), the company's first full mil-spec rugged Tablet PC, created in partnership with rugged mobile computing pioneer, GETAC.

The company produces slate style tablet PCs and UMPCs featuring touch screen and pen input, marketed through an authorized reseller channel and directly through the company website. For more information, visit www.TabletKiosk.com.

TabletKiosk(TM) Ships the GETAC 840XT Full Mil-Spec Tablet PC

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Saved by the Beat of Her Heart

Nice story with the device being able to save her life, versus the alternative of perhaps waiting for a heart transplant...

She did for more than a decade until, at age 28, the schoolteacher and mother felt a sudden change. "I woke up and I felt like I couldn't breathe, and it just got worse," she said. "I couldn't walk maybe two or three steps without feeling like I had to gasp for air."

It turned out that one of the drugs doctors gave her as part of her cancer treatment had weakened her heart.The new device, which is just a third of the size of earlier assist devices, was designed to fit smaller frames, like those of women and teens. Doctors implanted it just below the heart, and it was powered by an external battery carried like a backpack.

ABC News: Saved by the Beat of Her Heart

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Placebo Television #11

"Placebo Television has been described as "The Daily Show of Medicine". This installment discusses Vytorin, the American College of Cardiology Conference, the TAPAS study, BMI Camp, and the shortage of primary care physicians."

His latest updates...as always, makes the point and adds a little touch of humor...BD

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pO_oDf1wGsM

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Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. Announces It Will Open Two DNA-Genetic Testing Labs

More labs to test for genetics as personalized medicine continues to grow in momentum..BD

Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc (OTCBB: BMSN), a biotechnology company focused on adult stem cell processing and cryogenic storage, announced it will open two DNA-Genetic Testing laboratories for the molecular-level detection of genes linked to specific human diseases.
With approximately 2,000 disease associated genes identified, and over 4,000 diseases caused by genetic defects, genetic testing used to assess the risk of developing certain diseases will become an increasingly important part of medical practice.

Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. Announces It Will Open Two DNA-Genetic Testing Labs

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Doctor Anonymous: Dr. A Show

Blog Talk Radio....Paul Levy, hospital CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess hospital in Boston is the guest this evening, from the blog "Running a Hospital"...will put this on my agenda this evening! 

You can also use the direct link on the right hand side of this page to connect later tonight...BD 

http://doctoranonymous.blogspot.com/2008/04/dr-show-29-tonight.html

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The Deadly Risks of Organ Transplants

No doubt, one big question to ask...and what is the disease inherent with the transplanted organ has a lot to do with it as well....BD

When a liver became available, it came with a catch. The donor had a history of risky sexual behavior and the organ could give the middle-aged recipient hepatitis — or worse, HIV/AIDS.

"The patient was not in the ICU and was able to answer questions, but it took him several conversations for him to make up his mind," said Kimberly Sullivan, his nurse and transplant coordinator.

"It depends on what might be transmitted," she said. "But if you look at it from the perspective of a dying patient, would he rather die or have a small chance of developing something like hepatitis B? Most patients take the organ and a chance at life."

ABC News: The Deadly Risks of Organ Transplants

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Stanford Researcher Criticizes FDA Plans To Reduce Oversight Of Off-label Drug Use

My next question is, what's going to happen when "personalized medicine" become mainstay with seeing your physician? 

Proposed guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would allow companies to market more drugs for unapproved uses and are a step in the wrong direction, said a researcher from the Stanford University School of Medicine. "The FDA should not suddenly start telling physicians how to practice. Physician judgment is critical, especially when approved therapies have not succeeded. Off-label prescribing can be an important tool in such cases," he said. "But in other cases, off-label prescribing has become first-line therapy even in the absence of strong evidence of benefits and safety. This is problematic."

Drugs approved for depression, schizophrenia and seizures were most likely to be used off-label without adequate support for other conditions.

Stanford Researcher Criticizes FDA Plans To Reduce Oversight Of Off-label Drug Use

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Governor Offers Support to HMO Members - California

But, the California Medical Association opposes the ban as physicians might send entire hospital bills to the patients, rather than bill directly to the insurers...BD 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  -- The Schwarzenegger administration announced Wednesday that it's working on plans help HMO members stuck with unexpected emergency room bills.

Governor Schwarzenegger wants to ban doctors and hospitals from billing patients more than their HMOs would pay.

Patients often have to pay out of pocket for emergency room care when doctors don't have contracts with the same HMOs that serve hospitals.

If providers believe they have NOT been paid enough by the managed care plans, they bill patients for the difference.

KCBS - Governor Offers Support to HMO Members

Related Story:  http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51315

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Botox scare as scientists say the toxin may spread in the body

New warnings about the use of Botox....BD 

The scientists at the Italian National Research Council's Institute of Neuroscience in Pisa injected the toxin into the whisker muscles of rats and found traces of it were evident in the rodents' brain stems three days later and was still present six months later.

It works by weakening or paralyzing muscles or blocking nerves to smooth out the skin and the effects last for up to four months.

Botox can cause side-effects such as headaches, an upset stomach or flu-like symptoms and there have been a significant number of reports of dangerous botulism symptoms in some users. Last month the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. warned that Botox and Myobloc caused severe muscle spasms in children with cerebral palsy, a use not approved by the FDA and some children had died

Botox scare as scientists say the toxin may spread in the body

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The Hospital Nobody Wants

In Chicago, and now they are trying to give it away...BD 

A money-losing hospital in a blue-collar Illinois suburb is closing because the nonprofit group that runs it couldn’t find a buyer at any price, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Blue Island has lost $40 million since 2000, and the red ink is flowing faster all the time. Half the people who go to the hospital’s emergency room and a quarter of all those admitted to the hospital are either uninsured or covered by Medicaid, which makes it tough for a hospital to turn a profit.

Health Blog : The Hospital Nobody Wants

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What does CRM have in Common with EHR/EMRs

A couple weeks ago I attended the CRM (Customer Relations Management - MS Dynamics) launch here in Huntington Beach, California.  I was surprised at the turn out as the room was full...I sat next to an individual who was in sales and couldn't tell me how much time he has gained back in being able to be back out in front of customers instead of doing paperwork and how he connects from the field easily to create short updates.  He told me it has really helped increase his sales.

When you stop and think about the process of selling and implementing both types of applications, there are many similarities...both are record keeping applications, both link to additional information, they have reports, and most importantly both allow the users to drill down to find the information needed, as well as providing a user friendly method for data input. 

The biggest issue with both too, getting people to use the software, in that part of the scenario, the same issue exists.  

One other huge benefit from both is the ability to incorporate data from additional software, called integration.  We keep hearing this word "integration" today and it is quickly becoming the foundation as to how we maximize the use not only of our time, but the ability to create good decisions.  CRM software is building a data base much like an EMR, but is not necessarily health care critical, but again information is entered and queried in much the same fashion.  One of the larger expenditure items on the agenda this year for small  and medium size companies is the addition of CRM and Business Intelligence software to help speed up the process of mining and finding information with a couple of clicks instead of having to go to many sources for the same. 

Doing manual studies and creating reports from a myriad of sources is just as time consuming if not moreso than using paper patient charts, and just as cumbersome to have to fill filing cabinets full of paper folders.  We all focus on the "paper chart" doctor and how to convert to electronic records, when in fact there are just as many businesses out there still going about managing their business in the same fashion - on paper and requiring employees to manually handle folders and files, or having one big hard drive full of documents to have to manually search, much less copy and paste to move to another program or document.  Both CRMs and EMRs need document management as well for those items that do not have tabled information that can be stored in a program.  SharePoint can help to eliminate some of this and secure documents at the same time. 

The one big ticket that seems to be overlooked is employee time, to have to manually work with files that are not either in an organized EMR or CRM system.  I see that in both health care and in other types of businesses.  Employee time is the factor that will kill you with lack of efficiency and duplicating efforts.  With integration, you get the best of both worlds.  Enterprises have been doing this for many years, as you pretty much expect your phone carrier today to have their fingertips on every bit of information regarding your account...and they do. 

There is also the possibility of EMRs and CRM working together...when you stop and think about some of the possibilities.  The CRM can keep track let's say of your vendors, maybe the medication you need to keep on hand and what you spend for vaccines as an example, with some integration you will be able to further drill down and see actually how many patients required the vaccine, how often, and be able to make intelligent decisions as to how much you will spend in a year, or create a projected budget, complete with cost, based on combined information from both elements.  This article from a prior post goes into additional detail about Business Intelligence and EMR/EHR integration. 

Microsoft also has CRM software directly related to health care...there are also open source solutions available.  CRM software integrates where it is supposed to be, with email.  Even some of the open source solutions will also integrate with Outlook. 

In short, healthcare gets all the attention of being farther behind the rest of the business world for not being in the digital age; however, other businesses face the same challenges and there's more small to medium size businesses that haven't capitalized on being digital yet as well. The real winner though for healthcare is to combine and maximize both to not only have digital records, but get grip on how the practice or hospital is operating in real time to make accurate and concise decisions quickly without an undue amount of time relegated to manually producing the same, the clock is ticking away and every minute counts.  A few clicks of the mouse is a lot faster and much more efficient than hours of rummaging through paper records, medical or otherwise. 

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GE Healthcare closes Tampa office

Restructuring to allow for integration of patient monitoring systems and wireless IT solutions...BD 

About 72 people could lose their jobs when GE Healthcare shuts down its Tampa office.

In a notice filed with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, GE Healthcare said the shut down of the office at 4502 Woodland Corporate Blvd. would occur between June 27 and Sept. 26.

The company will relocate the business at the Tampa office to facilities in Milwaukee and Helsinki, Finland, according to a statement. A number of new positions will be created in Milwaukee, and qualified Tampa employees willing to relocate will be given priority, the statement said.

GE Healthcare closes Tampa office - Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology:

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Medicine of the Future - DNA Testing for health and recovery...

There are also offerings to the public called "recreational genetics", whereby one can send a saliva sample for $1000.00...it remains to be seen how insurance companies will fit in to the scenario....for payment of claims...and goodness forbid using the information for eligibility for coverage to fall in to any pre-existing areas...for this woman is was a tremendous help, but she was also lucky to find one of the few doctors who are familiar with the practice of testing DNA...BD

With the growing popularity of generic drugs and big box stores featuring vast pharmacies, it may seem that the medical world is becoming less personalized and more universalized. In some ways, that may be true, but several experts in the medical field say future diagnoses are likely to become as individualized as they can possibly be as genetic research continues to transition into the clinical world.

.....the tests are not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not regulated yet, they are not usually covered by medical insurance. And, because they are still somewhat new, there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding them.

However, this type of medicine is already catching on in traditional practice. National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver recently opened the Center for Genetics and Therapeutics that will analyze DNA.

Medicine of the Future - Fort Collins Local News |Fort Collins Now, Colorado

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Nuance Voicemail to Text

Offered through a wireless carrier...speech recognition through the cell phone...converts your voicemail messages to text...sent to either Email or SMS format....nice...BD 

Nuance’s telco-grade Voicemail to Text service delivers high-quality readable messages in minutes, giving you quick access to accurate transcriptions of your voicemail messages. Your entire voicemail message is transcribed and delivered directly to your mobile device. Users don’t have to worry about writing down or losing information while on-the-go. Messages can be saved, indexed in an archive and retrieved anytime, anywhere.

 

Nuance - Mobile Devices - Nuance Voicemail to Text

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Schizophrenic Patients Often Discontinue Medication Due To Restrictive Drug Policies

Without medication chances of reoccurrences and hospitalization rise.  BD

Policies requiring authorization before physicians can prescribe newer medications to schizophrenic patients may be counter-productive. According to a new study, patients in Maine's Medicaid program who found themselves in this situation were 29% more likely to stop or disrupt medication use than patients not subject to the policy. In addition, although the policy was originally designed to cut costs, government savings were minimal at best.

Schizophrenic Patients Often Discontinue Medication Due To Restrictive Drug Policies

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After Tax Breaks, Big Pharma Lays Off NJ Workers

3 major drug companies...even with the incentives created with tax breaks to create job sin New Jersey, but the job cuts are not just limited to one state of late...BD

New Jersey has given more than $65 million in subsidies to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Novartis in the name of economic development over the past 11 years. Recently, the three drug makers have turned around and laid off employees in the Garden State.

Was that a fair deal? Sarah Stecker, a policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective, argues that it wasn’t in an opinion piece in today’s Newark Star-Ledger.

Health Blog : After Tax Breaks, Big Pharma Lays Off NJ Workers

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Microsoft Surface Coming to AT&T Stores to help customers select their cell phone

Nice...some will get to see Surface in action...BD 

Beginning with 5 stores on April 17th, Microsoft Surface will finally arrive in public. Five AT&T stores will be the first places to see the new machines up close and personal. Specifically, Surface will arrive at two AT&T stores in New York, one in San Francisco, one in San Antonio, and one in Atlanta. Each store will have a few machines where customers can compare different features of the various handsets AT&T offers.

Microsoft Surface Coming to AT&T Stores | Sarah In Tampa | Channel 10

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WellPoint won't pay for hospital mistakes

Payment will be cut off if surgery is done on the wrong patients or body part...catheter infections...that could have been prevented...11 items on the initial check list...several other carriers have already made this announcement as well as Medicare...BD 

NDIANAPOLIS - Health insurer WellPoint Inc. will start making hospitals pay for certain medical mistakes by cutting off reimbursement.

The insurer announced Wednesday it will not cover costs tied to three major medical errors, so-called "never events" like surgery on the wrong body part. It also may withhold payment for expenses tied to eight other problems triggered by hospital care, including bedsores or infections from a catheter.

WellPoint won't pay for hospital mistakes - Health care- msnbc.com

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Report: IT Heads Back to Basics

Collaboration and information management are the two hottest software areas for small and midsize businesses, which means CRM and Business Intelligence software...good news is that it is becoming more affordable and easier for the small and medium size businesses to install...there are even many open source alternatives...shortage of skilled IT workers will continue..with a reliance on more outsourced solutions...and healthcare is in the same boat...BD 

When it comes to technology, it's back to basics for 2008—that means security, disaster recovery and consolidating infrastructure—with dropping interest in extra goodies such as increasing business efficiency or improving work force productivity, according to a new report.

Other important areas include e-commerce and converged communications. The report also found that 57 percent ranked leveraging data assets as an important business goal, while 51 percent ranked business process improvements as very important.

According to the report, spending on software in general will rise, with 43 percent of software budgets going to new initiatives in 2008—an 11 percent increase over 2007. Most software spending will go to upgrading or replacing legacy systems. As for specific software expenditures, security software spending led the pack, with 37 percent planning on increasing spending in that area. Closely following security software were information management at 32 percent, infrastructure software at 32 percent and collaboration applications at 28 percent.

Report: IT Heads Back to Basics

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Blue Cross of California taking on Anthem name

New branding for Blue Cross in California...BD 

Blue Cross of California is adopting a new name that has a nod to the past of its parent company, and starting Tuesday will be known as Anthem Blue Cross.

The Woodland Hills-based company is part of Indianapolis' WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP). The current WellPoint Inc. was formed in 2004 when Thousand Oaks' Wellpoint Health Networks Inc. merged with Indianapolis' Anthem Inc. in a $16.5 billion deal.

The following changes will be taking place as the new name is being used:

Blue Cross of California taking on Anthem name - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

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'Alien'-type Viruses May Be Able To Treat MRSA

Just pack a few viruses on the dressing to go...and they can live for 3 weeks to keep killing the MRSA virus according to this article..and can also be used with sutures...and a new device that can identify MRSA on contaminated surfaces...BD

ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 2008) — New methods that involve sticking thousands of bacteria-killing viruses to wound dressings are offering ways to prevent hospital operating theatres from spreading infections, scientists heard  1 April 1, 2008 at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting.

Now doctors are harnessing these little alien creatures to help prevent the spread of hospital superbugs by developing materials impregnated with thousands of tiny beads coated in bacteria-killing viruses.  "We've also developed a device to rapidly detect MRSA on contaminated surfaces. This will allow us to screen patients before surgery to limit the chances of passing on superbug infections by positively decontaminating patients and isolating them to avoid cross-contamination", says Janice Spencer.

'Alien'-type Viruses May Be Able To Treat MRSA

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Former Children’s Hospital doc hit with 4th suit alleging sexual abuse

Not good...will be another story to follow...BD

A noted former Hub pediatrician once featured on the Oprah Winfrey show was accused yesterday of molesting an 8-year-old patient in the 1980s, according to a Suffolk civil suit.

The complaint is the fourth lawsuit that Boston attorney Carmen Durso has filed against Dr. Melvin D. Levine, who was chief of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in the 1970s.

Former Children’s Hospital doc hit with 4th suit alleging sexual abuse - BostonHerald.com

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Aetna closes $1.5 billion financing deal

Health insurer Aetna Inc. said Tuesday it closed a financing deal for $1.5 billion in credit with 21 domestic and foreign financial institutions.

The company has an unsecured five-year revolving credit agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank and the lenders were led by JP Morgan and Citibank. The new financing supersedes Aetna's existing $1 billion five-year credit agreement.

Aetna closes $1.5 billion financing deal

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Inexpensive Blood Pressure Drugs Fight Heart Disease

Study was stopped early as the results were so much better than anticipated..inexpensive blood pressure drugs were helping folks avoid heart attacks...BD 

Two big studies offer good news to people with high blood pressure, finding that novel ways to use cheap drugs already on the market can lower their risk of heart attacks, stroke and death — even if they are very old.  The study was stopped last July after monitors saw that those on the diuretic had 39 percent fewer fatal strokes and 21 percent fewer deaths from any cause — benefits far exceeding what researchers predicted.

Both studies were stopped early so the surprising benefits could be made known. Doctors presented results Monday at an American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago.It is never too late to start" on blood pressure drugs, said Dr. Nigel Beckett of Imperial College in London, who led one study in the elderly that also was published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

ABC News: Blood Pressure Drugs Fight Heart Disease

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Restless Nurse Syndrome, An Integrated Viral Advertising Campaign

....it also promotes the cure for RNS, the imaginary drug Lacidem taken in conjunction with a 13-week travel nursing assignment from Medical Solution....aimed at creating an awareness of the traveling nurse vocation....BD 

Travel nursing and allied health staffing company Medical Solutions has launched an integrated viral marketing campaign directed towards nurses and allied health professionals throughout the United States. The campaign centers around a series of video mockumentaries which chronicle the work of the fictional Dr. Turbatus and his crusade against Restless Nurse Syndrome (RNS). Utilizing an interactive website, blog, social meadia, Web 2.0 techniques and traditional print media allows the campaign to engage healthcare professionals in various demographics

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Staffing Company Medical Solutions Launches Restless Nurse Syndrome, An Integrated Viral Advertising Campaign

You Tube Site:  http://www.youtube.com/user/drturbatus

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Healthcare IT Innovators MTBC & Practice Fusion Integrate 5% Medical Billing & Free On-Demand EMR

This is interesting since MTBC has their own EMR and are now partnering with Practice Fusion, a free ad supported EMR...BD 

SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two fast-growing innovators in healthcare technology, MTBC and Practice Fusion, have integrated comprehensive revenue cycle and practice management with a free on-demand electronic medical record (EMR) system, creating a cost-effective end-to-end solution, the companies announced.

The partnership of web-based platforms substantially streamlines a medical provider’s business process. Patient and claim data initially entered in Practice Fusion’s EMR, such as procedure and diagnosis coding, is transferred securely and seamlessly on a daily basis to MTBC’s web-based billing platform, with its real-time financial reporting and array of practice management tools. MTBC’s dedicated teams in billing, practice and patient support complement the cutting-edge service package.

Healthcare IT Innovators MTBC & Practice Fusion Integrate 5% Medical Billing & Free On-Demand EMR

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Riverside County Regional Medical Center Selects Surado CRM

One more hospital invests in CRM and Business Intelligence software...hard to do all of this manually today as the hospital CIO notes...BD 

RIVERSIDE, Calif., March 31, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Surado Solutions, the emerging innovator in Customer Relationship Management (CRM: 60.10, +2.23, +3.85%) solutions, today announced that Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) went live with Surado CRM Health earlier this month replacing its current Indigent Managed Care System as part of its Comprehensive Case Management system initiative.

Riverside County Regional Medical Center successfully completed an Indigent Services System, named HealthCRM. Using Surado CRM as the foundation for Indigent Services Business needs and working with Surado consultants, hospital staff created business solutions for Eligibility, Claims, and Financials. By leveraging Contact Management and features of Workflow within the Surado Enterprise product, and the use of Microsoft Visual Studio, RCRMC has been able to incorporate business practices into consistent business processes. RCRMC information technology software engineers developed more than 240 custom healthcare screens for various business functions, including indigent Patient Registration, Scheduling, Eligibility Tracking, Claims Adjudication and Processing and Provider Relations. Reporting and Analytics using built-in reporting tools and integration with Business Objects' Crystal Report Writer will provide managers and administrators with operational reporting as well as key performance indicators. Complex business rules and screen designs were accomplished using Surado CRM Custom Application Designer (CAD), which is part of the Core Surado CRM system.

RCRMC's Chief Information Technology Officer, Edward Papp, is considering expanding the use of the CRM solution into other areas of the hospital. "With tightening economic constraints in public health, Surado provided an affordable alternative to outdated and manual processes," said Papp.

Riverside County Regional Medical Center Selects Surado CRM

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One man's story: When an autistic child grows up

Good story about an adult living with autism....BD 

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (CNN) -- When meeting Jeff Donohoo, it's not immediately apparent he is a 36-year-old man living with autism. In fact, unless you get him talking about the Atlanta Braves -- one of his true passions in life -- he is a very quiet person.

"Jeff has a social problem, not a mental problem," she explained. "He's very smart. He reads encyclopedias ... he just doesn't know how to talk to people."

From then on, friends who visited the house always made an effort to interact with Donohoo, through a high-five or a simple "hello."

One man's story: When an autistic child grows up - CNN.com

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Pay Per View Funerals....

Good idea, but I think this should be a charity event...not something you need to pay for...has the same undertones as making money from healthcare...BD 

LONDON (Reuters) - Pay-per-view funerals go live online in Britain on Tuesday, allowing mourners who cannot attend services in person to pay their last respects via the Internet.

"For those who need it, this is a very important service. It means that rather than being excluded, they can at least witness and be a part of a funeral as it happens. In a time of stress this is something that can ease the pain."

Live, on Good Mourning TV! | Oddly Enough | Reuters

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The 5 Biggest Mistakes of EHR Implementation

Good lengthy article about how to transition the office or medical center...things are much more complicated today and it's not a world of "EMR out of the Box"...preparation and time management is a vital key....BD 

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."

The above quote by Eleanor Roosevelt is the theme of our article and the hope these five facilities had when they opened up to ADVANCE and bravely shared their stories of EHR disasters and downfalls. One facility watched as money drained out of its practice and its patients switched doctors; another made its physicians' workday even more cumbersome than it had been in the paper world; and a third unknowingly put its patients at great risk just by updating its system. In the end, however, all shared one remarkable similarity: They never gave up on their EHRs.

As the go-live date approached, Julie Barto, BS, MS, administrator, started getting nervous. Absolutely nothing had been scanned in. They hadn't made a single template, and no one had any idea what their EMR tablets even looked like.

"We had older physicians who didn't know how to use a computer. They hadn't even e-mailed before this! Things like how to turn on the tablet, we didn't even know that," Barto said. "We knew nothing, absolutely nothing."

ADVANCE for Health Information Executives | Editorial

Source:  http://www.tabletpctalk.com/newsarticles.shtml#newsitemEkpZpVAFplEzrVWHBp

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SQL Server 2008: What's New

Hard Hat Area:  Summary of what is new with SQL Server 2008...notice the reference made to the new LINQ language...data binding language used with Silverlight and Windows Presentation Foundation applications...something to give some though to...also Hot add CPU...which needs to work with a 64 bit enterprise edition of Server 2008 and requires the enterprise version of SQL Server 2008...BD 

Once again, Microsoft has released a new version of SQL Server that promises to improve life for database administrators. The latest version is SQL Server 2008, and it offers a large variety of new features and functionality that will make the administration a whole lot better.

Database administrators who have been using SQL Server® 2005 for any length of time will find many of the same features that they use in their day-to-day jobs, but they'll also soon discover that these familiar tools have been enhanced in SQL Server 2008. The new functionality built on the existing features goes a long way in reducing the number of workarounds or customizations once needed for using various features in complex database environments.

Well, SQL Server 2008 enhances LINQ by providing a new LINQ to SQL provider that allows developers to issue LINQ commands directly against SQL Server tables and columns. This will reduce the amount of time it takes to create new data queries.

Another new feature, Hot Add CPU, lets you add additional CPUs to a database server without affecting the availability of the databases residing on that server. However, you should know that Hot Add CPU does have some limitations, as it is only useful when running the 64-bit Itanium-based Windows Server® 2008 Enterprise Edition or Datacenter Edition, and it requires the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server 2008.

SQL Server 2008: What's New

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Doctors Lobby Against Medicare Payment Cuts

Only 3 groups outspent the AMA with lobbying last year...Big Pharma right up at the top of the list..and this is a big issue this year...July 1st is the deadline for the proposed 10% cut in compensation...BD 

Every so often, the Health Blog puts in a phone call to the Medical Group Management Association, a trade group for medical practices. Practically every time we hear the same dire warning: Physicians will cut back on care for Medicare patients because of impending cuts in payment.

Turns out we’re not the only ones who hear this refrain. It’s become a ritual for groups including the American Medical Association and other medical societies to warn Congress that doctor pay isn’t up to snuff. Last year, the American Medical Association spent $22 million on lobbying, its biggest sum ever, the Hill reports. Only three groups outspent it: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, General Electric and, you guessed it, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Health Blog : Doctors Lobby Against Medicare Payment Cuts

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Lotrel, A Single Pill Combination For Treating High Blood Pressure

Study is showing promise in reducing cardiovascular events by 20% with high risk patients..BD 

Interim results from the ACCOMPLISH (Avoiding Cardiovascular Events through COMbination Therapy in Patients LIving with Systolic Hypertension) trial demonstrate that high-risk, high blood pressure patients treated with Lotrel(R) (amlodipine besylate and benazepril HCl) had 20% fewer cardiovascular events than those taking a benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination. This is the first cardiovascular outcomes trial in a hypertensive population where all patients were randomized to receive a single-pill combination treatment at the onset of the trial as opposed to a step care regimen. Lotrel is approved for the treatment of high blood pressure. It should not be used before other medications have been tried first.

Lotrel, A Single Pill Combination For Treating High Blood Pressure, Reduced Cardiovascular Events By 20% In High-Risk Patients

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Hot Sauce Numbs Knee Pain

Hot Sauce, on the new frontier for pain relief...the nerves become overwhelmed and shut down...thus there goes the pain....this is not the hot sauce we put on a taco, but rather a purified version of the basic ingredient being studied...so don't pour hot sauce on your knee just yet...BD 

WORCESTER, Mass. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Hot sauce can put a fire in your belly and leave your eyes crying for more. Now, doctors are testing to see if the hot stuff that numbs your tongue can numb knee pain. The spicy new treatment is part of a study that uses Adlea, an ultra-purified form of capsaicin. Dr. Birbera injects it into a patient's knee to relieve pain.

Hot sauce is used to spice up your food. Now, capsaicin -- the active principle that gives chili peppers their punch -- is knocking out knee pain.  At age 71, Ron Johnson says his knee is in better shape than it was in his fifties.  Adlea is not FDA approved and doctors are still testing to see just how long the pain is relieved.

Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - Hot Sauce Numbs Knee Pain

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Pinhole-Glasses - Help Improve your vision inexpensively

Something worth a try and looking at...for $19.95 a pair it's definitely worth a try...and they even include the shipping charges...with all the work I do on the computer it certainly couldn't hurt...BD 

Are you tired of constantly changing your prescription eyeglasses to meet the ever-increasing power of your lenses? Do you wonder why in spite of wearing them your eyesight is getting weaker day-by-day?   Would you like to use a single pair of glasses lifelong for correcting vision due to eye problems like myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), or problems related to computer use?
Even if you do not have any vision issues, the glasses can help.  The technology is actually not new and has been around for quite a while.  By restricting your vision to a smaller area, glare from the sun and other lights can be less obtrusive. Pinhole glasses do not use any lenses and use the principal of light only, thus reducing the exposure of some dangerous rays.  

One thing you won't have to worry about would be scratches to the lens surface.  They are to be used when watching television, working on the computer (which I do quite a bit) and you can also take them with you to the movie theater. They are not to be worn when driving or at any time when you need all of your peripheral vision. 

They are not right for everyone with eye disorders, including a honeycomb effect and diffraction.  They are not expensive by any means and offer a guarantee, so there's not much to risk as far as expense.  The holes in the glasses are 1 - 1.5 mn and spaced using laser technology.  Presbyopia is condition in which the eye lens lose their ability to focus properly. It is a problem that is caused due to age. People over the age of 45 are at risk of getting the disorder so I guess this puts me right in there to be at risk. 

People with cataracts have even been able to get relief with the reduction of light on the eye and has lead to better vision with less interference.

Please send your emails to: service@pinhole-glasses-direct.com.

http://www.pinhole-glasses.com
 http://www.pinhole-glasses.com/order.html
 http://www.pinhole-glasses.com/faq.html

Pinhole-Glasses-Direct: Buy Pinhole-glasses (sponsored review)

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FDA Seeks Civil Penalties From Calif. Device Maker - Advanced Bionics

The issue goes back to hearing aides shipped in 2005 and 2006...failure to notify of potential risks appears to be the case...BD 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is seeking a $2.2 million penalty against a California hearing aid manufacturer for violations of federal law, including manufacturing standards violations and the failure to notify the FDA of a change in an outside supplier or vendor, which may have exposed recipients of the devices to unnecessary health risks.
The hearing aids pose a public health risk due to excessive moisture, exposing patients to the risk of device failure, possible surgery, and the potential for additional hearing loss.  On July 7, 2003, Advanced Bionics received FDA approval to market the HiRes90k Implantable Cochlear Stimulator, a cochlear implant hearing aid surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear to treat profound hearing loss in adults and children. The hearing aid is considered a Class III device by the FDA-the most stringent regulatory category for devices.

FDA Seeks Civil Penalties From Calif. Device Maker

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