Desperate Hospitals - Century City Doctors Hospital (Los Angeles) begins shutting down, others file Chapter 11 to reorganize

This is a continuing post about "desperate hospitals" that I started last week.  In light of the recent Medicare rules, audits, etc. some hospitals are just not making it.  50% of the hospitals in the country border on insolvency.  Century City Hospital is not by any means in a "poor" or "needy" area, so to see this happen here is an eye opener.  They had been looking for a buyer.  Now for a little history here:  The hospital had just re-opened a few years ago under new ownership.  When remodeled, it was pretty much state of the art, even with many celebrities having surgery here, and this hospital is only a few miles from Beverly Hills, CA. 

Here is the current website, which I'm sure will go away shortly, but take a look for yourself.  When they re-opened, they had the "lab of the future" and you can read more here.

"The new owners, the Salus Surgical Group of Beverly Hills, Calif, wanted to create a new model for health care delivery—one that focused on the patient and used leading technology to achieve greater efficiency and better care. They invested $100 million to completely refurbish the building and purchase equipment to create a paperless system."

Now let's take a look at the VIP rooms...notice the nice hardwood floors too...

A surgery room....

Gourmet menus from Wolfgang Puck available...

They had the DaVinci robot for various surgery procedures...

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the scenes in the recent movie with Jack Nicholson, "The Bucket List" sure look like they were filmed here as well.  So this somewhat sends chills down your back if you will when a state of the art hospital located in an affluent area can't make it, right?  Will be interesting to follow this one and see what may happen next.  Not too long ago I did a post on their electronic medical records system and the almost record time deployment they had.  They had also received a grant for nurse training not too long ago.  BD

Financially troubled Century City Doctors Hospital has begun shutting down and officially will close next Friday, according to hospital executives.
The hospital will close its emergency room Saturday and begin transferring about 25 patients being treated at the hospital to nearby facilities beginning this weekend.

Today the hospital filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Employees said they didn't get paid today, and top hospital executives said the facility did not have the money to pay them.

Century City Doctors Hospital begins shutting down - Los Angeles Times

In Nashville, TN

Trinity Hospital LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Erin Tennessee-based company has debts of at least $1.2 million and less than $10 million, according to United States Bankruptcy Court documents filed this week. The company's assets are estimated at between $1 million and $10 million.

In Terrell, TX

Renaissance Hospital officials filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday.

Renaissance Hospital officials filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday.
According to Lynette Nadeau, marketing director for the City of Terrell, the bankruptcy protection was filed for the hospital in Terrell as well as the one in Grand Prairie. Both facilities are operated by Atlantic Health Group.
Nadeau said the bankruptcy protection will give the hospital a chance to reorganize and that the move does not mean that the hospital doors will close.

 

Technorati Tags: Hospitals,Bankruptcy,Chapter 11,Healthcare,Chapter 7,EHR,EMR,Medical Records,Open Vista

Read More

Financial Director of Shriners Hospital for Children Pleads Guilty to Fraud

This is pretty bad all the way around.  This just goes to show the need for check and balances no matter where you are.  Here this person was the head financial individual for the hospital and set up 3 companies to funnel money, and it amazes me that folks just don't get it, there are audit trails today!  In the world of technology everything has a trail and it will eventually be found, but again very sad that children who could have used some of this money have suffered.  BD 

A former Shriners Hospital for Children executive this morning admitted stealing more than $800,000 that would have gone to the care of sick children.
Robert Brodzin, 41, was a certified public accountant and the director of fiscal services for Shriners - the hospital's main financial person here in St. Louis.
U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway called Brodzin 'the lowest of the low.'
'This case absolutely sickens me,' she said. 'While children were fighting for their lives ... he was stealing money.'

Health Care Renewal: Health Care Executives Gone Wild: Financial Director of Shriners Hospital for Children Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

Read More

LA hospital answers suit by Ed McMahon

 In a related story the hospital states they would like to have the lawsuit thrown out of court.  Mr. McMahon has been in the news lately over his default on his mortgage as well, with the likes of Donald Trump to help out.  No doubt he could use some of those funds he spent years handing out for Publisher's Clearinghouse.  BD 

Attorneys for

Technorati Tags: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,Ed McMahon,Hospital,Legal Suits,Healthcare

wrote in Wednesday filings that McMahon failed to prove allegations of fraud, battery, elder abuse and emotional distress. They also want to prevent McMahon from seeking punitive damages.

The Associated Press: LA hospital answers suit by Ed McMahon

Read More

Start-Up ER Vendor Raises Funds - Forerun ED Dashboards

This should come as no surprise as Dr. Halamka has posted about some of this technology in his own blog, which there is a link to on this site and you can also go here to read.  Also in the news recently was the availability of another program used called Medpedia from the Medical School.  The Medical Center is also working on a large Medical Records program to host medical records for physicians to help take the bite out of the cost and make electronic records a reality for physicians in the area.  BD 

The Massachusetts Development Technology Corp., which invests in start-up and early-stage technologies in the state, was the lead investor in the funding round and was joined by existing investors.

Waltham, Mass.-based Forerun is commercializing technology developed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The company expects to make the remotely hosted software widely available within 18 months.

"The technology behind Forerun was pioneered by doctors who have extensive experience with emergency-room operations. Dr. John Halamka, Chief Information Officer of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Richard Wolfe, Chair of the Emergency Department at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Dr. Larry Nathanson, Director of Emergency Medical Informatics at the center are the key physicians responsible for making the ED Dashboard a best in class application at the BIDMC where it has enjoyed a six-year optional success record."

Start-Up ER Vendor Raises Funds

Technorati Tags: EHR,EMR,Medical Records,Dashboard,Harvard,Harvard Medical School,Beth Israel Deasoness Medical Center,Technology

Read More

Medical Quack - Feedburner for RSS Updates...

Here's the link to the Feedburner site.  Many prefer Feedburner so we are now on the list so there's now a choice.  If you are not familiar with Feedburner, don' be concerned it is business as usual and this is an advanced feature that some folks prefer to use. 

http://feedproxy.google.com/blogspot/PHZF

Read More

N.J.'s biggest insurer may turn for-profit - Blue Cross

If you read this article, it uses California as an good example on how this has been successful, well ask us in California what we think?  We have some of the lowest paying contracts in the country for doctors, so it appears the non profit status with the tax breaks that accompany that status don't look so good anymore.  "For-profit companies can offer better pay packages, including stock options, to top executives, Pauly said."  These are the folks that benefit.  BD

TRENTON - Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Jersey's largest health insurer, filed yesterday to become a publicly held for-profit company, a move that could bring the state a $1 billion windfall for health care but that comes with concerns about how the change could impact consumers.

Horizon's president and chief executive officer, William J. Marino, said converting to a for-profit company would help raise capital and allow competition with other insurers as he anticipates broad health-care changes. The value of the insurer on the open market, which Marino estimated was at least $1 billion, would go to a charitable foundation that, under current state law, would aim to provide health care for the needy.

Marino said that as a for-profit company Horizon would have more access to capital markets to make needed investments.

N.J.'s biggest insurer may turn for-profit | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/16/2008

Read More

Two More Face Transplants Show Promising Results - in Surgery

Amazing story on how they have rebuilt this man's face after being attacked by a bear.  It's not anywhere near perfect, but when looking at the before and after pictures, it sure is a major improvement.  Back in March the first entire facial transplant was successful.  Who knows what levels plastic surgery will move to in the future. 

For this man, this is one big help.  BD 

XI'AN, China, Aug. 21 -- Two new partial face transplants with good results have been reported by surgical teams here and in France.
The Chinese team successfully repaired massive damage caused by a bear attack on a 30-year-old man, according to Shuzhong Guo, M.D., and colleagues at Xijing Hospital here.

Medical News: Two More Face Transplants Show Promising Results - in Surgery, Transplantation from MedPage Today

Technorati Tags: Plastic Surgery,Facial Transplant,Surgery,Transplant,Healthcare

Read More

Online research: Doubting their doctors

This makes sense though due to the amount of information available and developments that are occurring in healthcare almost daily.  Doctors are already pretty maxxed out in the family practice side of things and reading journals these days has to be an even bigger chore. 

Just due to the the fact of the vast areas of information, the physician may have missed something as nobody out there is on top of everything today, so seeing something and asking your physician about it is not a bad idea, as it could be useful as well.  Healthcare has changed today to being more of a working partnership with both parties asking questions and sharing information.  The web has changed this and in the past, the physicians were pretty much our sole source of information, but no more.  BD  

Nearly four out of 10 adults have doubted a medical professional’s opinion or diagnosis because it conflicted with information they found online, according to a report from Envisions Solutions, a health care consulting firm. The younger the health care consumer, the more likely they are to be skeptical of their care providers.

Forty-three percent of patients aged 18 to 34 have doubted their medical providers opinions due to a contradiction with online information, while only 27 percent of respondents aged 65 and older have done so. Overall, 38 percent said they’ve experienced doubts after their providers’ opinion conflicted with information they’d read online, the report says.

Online research: Doubting their doctors - - Medical Economics

Read More

CMS Publishes Proposed HIPAA Rules

New rules would include electronic data transactions, something that has been a bit vague with past rules.  In a related story there's a forum being established to create and work on better HIPAA rules, and who knows someday we may actually see ICD-10 become a reality.   BD 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Aug. 22 published in the Federal Register proposed rules announced a week ago to adopt the ICD-10 code sets and HIPAA 5010 transactions standards.

CMS Publishes Proposed HIPAA Rules

Read More

Genentech to Pay Retention Bonuses

The options between Roche and Genentech get even more interesting.  With big companies taking over today and economic decisions being made, you can't really blame them.  Also, good scientists are worth their weight in gold, so there's always the potential of discussions with venture capital folks for new start ups as a potential threat as well.  What is really nice here is that the bonuses go through whether or not the buy out is successful or not.  BD 

Genentech said Thursday that it would spend up to $371 million on retention bonuses to keep its employees from leaving because of the possible acquisition of the company by its majority shareowner, Roche.

Genentech to Pay Retention Bonuses - NYTimes.com

Read More

Meet the Bloggers - Michael Moore

 Tune in here to check this out.  I should probably tune in here and there, as this was news to me.  Anyway, we haven't heard Michael Moore in a while and now he's going to talk about all kinds of issues including the election.  No doubt healthcare will be right in there.  BD 

"Watch Mike talk with host Cenk Uygur about issues he covers in his new book, Mike's Election Guide 2008. "With John McCain admitting that he has no idea how to use a computer," Mike said, "we'll be providing Sen. McCain a step-by-step tutorial on how to turn one on, log onto the internet, and send an e-mail."

Meet the Bloggers

Hat Tip:  PharmaGossip

Read More

HIMSS - Awards - Healthcare IT, EMR, EHR

There are several categories listed, and nominations are open.  Use the link below to access the site.  You will need to sign up and establish an account to nominate.  BD

The Call for Nominations will run from August 15th until October 30th. Nominations are currently open for the following HIMSS Awards:

HIMSS utilizes awards to recognize the special contributions of individuals, groups and organizations to the advancement of the healthcare profession as encompassed by the HIMSS mission. These special contributions may vary widely due to the diverse membership of the organization and the broad definition of the healthcare professions represented. Sponsorship of these awards and nomination of recipients come from components within HIMSS often with collaboration from other allied professional societies, academia, and businesses.

HIMSS - Awards - Healtchare IT, EMR, EHR 

Technorati Tags: HIMMS,HealthCare,Health IT

Read More

Johnson & Johnson Gets Rejected - Doribax

Well back to the drawing board to gather up some additional data.  We live in a world of data today, overloaded data for that matter, and decisions just are not as simple as they used to be.  With all the additional side effects coming to light the FDA appears to be taking the same stance as everyone else, "give me more information".  BD 

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is the latest victim of the FDA’s tendency not to follow its panel's recommendation. Today the company announced that the FDA had rejected its current bid to expand the label of its antibiotic Doribax to include the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia. J&J will probably resubmit with more data  in reply to the Complete Response letter. The drug is used to treat complicated internal infections and is already approved in Europe for that expanded use. Last month, an advisory panel said the drug was both safe and effective when tested for the expansion.

Johnson & Johnson Gets Rejected

Technorati Tags: FDA,Johnson and Johnson,Pharma,Drugs

Read More

Microsoft Enlists Jerry Seinfeld

It will be interesting to see when Seinfeld and Bill Gates get together on ads and commercials.  All we need now is to add a little "Konan" and we would have non stop laughter.  Everyone today is increasing their advertising coverage and Microsoft is doing the same.  BD 

Microsoft weary of being cast as a stodgy oldster by Apple Inc.'s advertising, is turning for help to Jerry Seinfeld.

The software giant's new $300 million advertising campaign, devised by a newly hired ad agency, has been closely guarded. But Mr. Seinfeld will be one of the key celebrity pitchmen, say people close to the situation. He will appear with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in ads and receive about $10 million for the work, they say.

Bink.nu | Microsoft Enlists Jerry Seinfeld - Bink.nu

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Sienfeld,Advertising,Bill Gates,Commercials

Read More

Aesthetics, do they make a difference, patients say yes!

I think hands down anyone would agree here that having a nice surrounding area can certainly be a help, but at the same time with more consumers not having insurance and the tough economic times we are experiencing, will the clinics and hospitals have a return on their investment with a limited number of patients able to afford the care?  BD 

Submitting to chemotherapy, radiation treatments, MRIs, CT scans and the like can be bad enough. But often, dreary, windowless rooms and corridors only worsen the experience.

But evidence-based design is not without controversy. With many patients lacking insurance, and the costs of care spiraling, some critics question whether spending on aesthetic features is the best use of money, especially when it is hard to prove they do any good. Hundreds of studies have linked various elements of design to reduction of stress, reduced use of medications, and better patient outcomes, but these conclusions aren't based on large-scale clinical trials considered the most reliable medical evidence.

The Informed Patient - WSJ.com

Read More

The Smell of Cancer

Research has also used dogs to sniff out skin cancer, so there could be something to this; however it is found and the earlier the better.  Work in progress to develop additional markers as well.  BD

People who are prone to developing skin cancer have to undergo frequent exams and biopsies of suspicious moles in order to catch tumors at an early stage. But a new finding suggests a quicker, noninvasive method for detection. Scientists have identified a characteristic odor profile given off by skin-cancer tumors, which might one day allow diagnosis by a wave of a detector across the skin.

Technology Review: The Smell of Cancer

Read More

Personal-Genomics Companies Get California Licenses for DNA Testing

Progress is being made and appears both sides are satisfied here.  DeCode has also applied for a license.  Both companies appear to be using a physician for the test results which was at the crux of the matter.  We also need more physicians who understand genomics too, and recently DeCode had addressed this issue with their accelerated marketing plan directed towards physicians.  No news yet on how New York stands with their decision making processes yet, who have also set rules and denied consumer genetic testing.  BD 

After sending cease-and-desist letters to a number of companies offering personal-genomics services directly to consumers, the state of California appears to have made peace with at least two of them--Navigenics and 23andMe. Both received licenses this week allowing them to continue to do business in California.

The letters, sent in June by the California Department of Public Health, outlined two main state regulations: laboratories performing tests must be clinically licensed, and a physician's order is required for all clinical tests. (For more on the state's action, see "Genetic Testing for Consumers Scrutinized.")

Technology Review: Blogs: TR Editors' blog: Personal-Genomics Companies Get California License

Technorati Tags: genomics,23andMe,Navigenics,genetic testing,personal genomics

Read More

Politics - Court rejects California's Medi-Cal cuts

This is getting pretty dire as Medi-Cal providers stopped receiving payments in late July because the state does not have a spending plan in place.  How long will this go?  It is very difficult already to find physicians and facilities that will take Medi-Cal, unless you are pregnant and having a baby, which seems to be the only item where they have a decent compensation rate.  BD 

A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt in the state's 10 percent reduction in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, improving access to care for 6.5 million low-income patients but throwing a new wrench in already difficult budget negotiations.

The U.S. District Court decision forces the state to reimburse most Medi-Cal providers at rates prior to the 10 percent cut, which lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made effective July 1 as a cost-cutting measure to help resolve a $15.2 billion budget shortfall this year.

The move increases reimbursement rates the state pays to doctors, dentists, pharmacists, adult day-care centers and other providers who serve Medi-Cal patients. It excludes some hospitals who do not contract with the state and do not provide emergency care.

Politics - Court rejects California's Medi-Cal cuts - sacbee.com

Read More

The Ultimate Steal Promotion - Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for Students

The offer has returned.  You will need an email address with an edu extension to qualify as well as being enrolled as a student.  Visit the website for more details.  It runs for quite a long time, until December 31, 2010.  Normal price is 10 times $59.99, so this is quite a deal.  BD

Program Description: All eligible university students are entitled to make a purchase from the promotion site as described further below. Promotion Duration: This offer commences at 12:00PM Pacific Daylight Savings Time on July 1, 2008 and all purchases must be made via the Promotion web site by 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time on December 31, 2010 at which time the offer ends. 

Bink.nu | The Ultimate Steal Promotion - Bink.nu

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Office,Microsoft,Students,Ultimatesteal

Read More

Medical Quack - New Blog Format

If you have logged on today, you have probably noticed a new look.  This was long overdue and some items that I felt were no longer useful have been dropped for the sake of not having too much on here where one gets lost.

There may still be a few bumps in the road to work out here, and if you see anything strange or not working, please let me know.  Today may not have any new posts as I am finishing up some other chores. 

The "comment" section is a little different with this format so be sure and look for the small icon, and that will direct you to the page whereby comments can be added.   Watch for the small black "call out" cloud at the top of each post. 

 

Also click on the "Sphere" link for additional related information from both bloggers and professional journals, such as Reuters and WSJ.

 

This week has been pretty busy and please be sure to view the interview done with Helicos, one company who makes the sophisticated genomics machine that will determine our DNA. 

http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/helicos-biossciences-and-personalized.html

Next week there's another interview in the works from the Mayo Clinic, so stay tuned.  

Thank you once more to all who frequent and refer others to the site.  There's a long list of other medical bloggers you may want to visit as well from the links, and most of them also link back to this blog as well. 

Technorati Tags: Bloggers,Medical Information,Healthcare,Medical Quack,Helicos,Sphere

Read More

Prostate Cancer Foundation Commits $4.3 Million to Young Investigators

Additional information is available at the website along with a listing of the peer committee.  Over $350 million has been raised by the foundation.  In addition to the Young Investigators awards the Challenge Awards were also recently in the news and announced.

Online donations and subscriptions to news letters can be found here, along with a multitude of resources and general information about prostate cancer, causes, treatment plans, research an so on.  Private donations are still the driving force today for research and development without some of the restrictions and complicated processes required for government grants and allow researchers additional freedoms and areas of exposure that otherwise may not be possible.  BD 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) today announced 19 Young Investigators Awards for 2008.  Designed to encourage the most innovative research thinkers to continue their careers in prostate cancer research, the awards provide recipients with $75,000 annually for three years to support specified research programs. These awards, totaling $225,000 each, are matched by the recipients’ institutions. This round of Young Investigator Awards represents a new $4.3 million commitment by the PCF to the global cancer research community. 

“The response to the first year’s call for applicants was global, resulting in 76 applications from eight countries in North America, Europe and Asia,” commented Dr. Howard Soule, executive vice president and chief science officer for the PCF. “The research proposals focused on 16 different prostate cancer research areas. The applicants represented seven medical and scientific disciplines including medical oncology, radiation oncology, urology, pathology, imaging science and many areas of molecular science. Supporting a focus on prostate cancer by talented, young investigators is critical to realizing the PCF’s goal of accelerating breakthrough discoveries that can potentially end death and suffering from prostate cancer.”

Prostate Cancer Foundation Commits $4.3 Million to Young Investigators

Technorati Tags: Prostate Cancer,Prostate Cancer Foundation,PCF,Cancer Research,Healthcare Awards,Research,Molecular Science,Oncology,Pathology,Imaging Science,Radiation Oncology

Read More

Primary Cause of Personal Bankruptcy in America - Healthcare

Interestingly enough, while I was watching this video, my cell phone rings from Anthem Blue Cross with an automated questioning system about taking care of my health, somewhat of a parody as I was reviewing the video for the blog.  I went through the system and first off I do have to make one comment, I found it to be an interruption of my time.  Luckily I was in my office updating the blog, but what if I was in a meeting with a client?  Is this appropriate to blast off computerized calls to cell phones?  Are we to the point when insurance companies are going to dictate to me as to what time of the day I need to address my healthcare? 

Why do the companies need to impose on my time, especially during the fact that this was done during business hours, can't they wait until after 5 or to in the evening to do this?  Yes I do want to take care of myself and can improve my own health issues, but why do I need a call in the middle of the day, again from a computer to advertise this?  I am sure there are others out there today who received the same notifications as the names were queried from their data base and selected for the solicitation. 

Now back to the premise of this video, one startling fact brought about the bankruptcy situation here is that 75% of the people in this study HAD HEALTH INSURANCE, so the offer of protection is only partial and even with insurance, if you get sick, you are still left out there hanging.  The automated phone call today was not in the interest of better health, but rather more of a osmosis type of marketing technique.  Watch the video as there are some very good points made here. 

The second video is a clip from Robodoc, a comedy movie, but it makes a point here on how healthcare is viewed and sometimes administrated today.  The administrator here certainly feels better about his decision and this is a dramatization to a degree.   We all need to feel good about decisions we make and today it is more challenging than ever, and stop and think, it the quest for saving money worth a decision making profile shown here?  And do we need those marketing calls from the insurers on our cell phones as mentioned above?  How far will all of this go?  Perhaps this is another issue for the State of California to look in to, how healthcare insurers market and when.  BD   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAStkva6cDk                                                                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So103NTwIMY

Technorati Tags: Healthcare,Bankruptcy,Health Insurance,Blue Cross,Marketing,Privacy

Read More

US FDA warns GE Healthcare IT unit over records

 An update was also issued here.  According to the article, 15 days have been given to GE to respond.  The full report and letter from the FDA can be viewed here.  It appears the issues are relative to in-house software applications, but not limited as there were PACS issues and a few other issues, such as the maintenance of the Seibel data base (part of Oracle) that were mentioned in the letter.  The letter states some of the responses were adequate, while others were not.  It appears the FDA is attempting to do a pretty thorough audit to ensure software systems are reporting properly, again to make sure additional errors are not created.  Technology is great and has answers to many issues, but technology also creates it own issues. 

Deluged today with the overflow of information, and clinicians have it two-fold, it is not uncommon for one's focus to either be distracted or interrupted.  When reading the FDA letter, it appears there are some issues that remain in question.  Software solutions are becoming increasingly complicated today and thus audits and re-checks should appear everywhere without a doubt, GE and any company offering software solutions.  BD

WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned GE Healthcare's Integrated IT Solutions unit for failing to keep proper records, according to documents released on Tuesday. The information technology unit, which makes various computer and software systems, also failed to establish proper procedures to review products, the FDA said in a warning letter dated Aug. 12.

Officials from the IT unit had responded in June to the FDA over the complaints, but some of the company's corrective actions were "inadequate," the agency wrote.

US FDA warns GE Healthcare IT unit over records | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

Technorati Tags: FDA,GE Healthcare,Software

Read More

SinoFresh(R) Nasal Spray Kills MRSA "Super-Bug" In Live Noses

This appears to be some very interesting and perhaps good news in the fight against MRSA, but it is still preliminary.  According to the article the spray is safe enough to leave the "normal" amounts of microbes to keep a normal population in the nasal passages.  BD 

SinoFresh HealthCare, Inc. (OTCBB: SFSH) announced preliminary results today from a successful in vivo pilot study indicating  that its patented SinoFresh® nasal spray was shown to be useful in controlling the MRSA "super-bug" in the nasal passages. This study utilized a recognized scientific model intended to demonstrate SinoFresh® nasal spray's ability to kill MRSA hiding in the nasal passages. These favorable efficacy results follow an earlier, successful in vitro study that was conducted at the Public Health Research Institute under the direction of Dr. Barry Kreiswirth, director of the Tuberculosis Center and Hospital Infections Program.

SinoFresh(R) Nasal Spray Kills MRSA "Super-Bug" In Live Noses

Read More

Healthcare Discussions -Harry and Louise Return

This is one video found on You Tube, to show the real life discussions of healthcare in the US today. 

As I understand, there will be more to come, but it brings to light that we can no longer live in "denial" and believe the system is going to fix itself and in today's booming world of technology, which way do we turn?  There's many good things happening out there with research and development, but how can we ensure that all citizens can participate and benefit, that is the million dollar question. 

I hope we see more of these discussions soon, so we keep focused on the real issues today, health is everything and should not be simply viewed as a "commodity".  BD 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGvkZszS21Y

Technorati Tags: Healthcare IT,Harry and Louise,Cancer Research,Healthcare

Read More

Stem Cells and Breast Surgery

This is a fairly new concept of mixing fat and stem cells for breast surgery.  The article states that the potential of going up a couple sizes may not be there, only about one size, but the surgery can be repeated.  Fat is taken from other parts of the body.  The machine does the mixing to create the solution.  This had not been approved here by the FDA and and due to the fact that stem cells and fat are being mixed it falls under their area of jurisdiction. 

Most procedures have been done in Japan so far.  If successful, this could be a good technique for restoration after breast cancer.  Being the patient is the donor, there's no fear of rejection, but the main fear is rather that the tissue could turn hard or calcify after time. 

One physician stated he had reservations as there's not enough information yet over time to determine how this process will maintain after a few years or so. "The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's research arm is funding a breast-augmentation study. Patients are being recruited at ClinicalTrials.gov."  BD 

Researchers around the world are seeking ways to regenerate damaged hearts, spines and skin with stem cells. At an operating table here recently, Kotaro Yoshimura leaned over a 51-year-old woman and put stem cells to use for a different purpose: cosmetic breast surgery.

A small San Diego company, Cytori Therapeutics Inc., says it has invented a machine that combines fat with a mixture of stem cells and other regenerative cells. The device is being used by some hospitals in Europe and Japan. Cytori is sponsoring human tests in Europe and talking to the FDA about similar efforts in the U.S.

Stem Cells and Breast Surgery - WSJ.com

Technorati Tags: Breast Surgery,Clinical Trials,Fat,Stem Cells

Read More

California fines 18 hospitals for violating healthcare regulations - Southern California

This was quite a listing, some of the hospitals I am familiar with and even Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach was fined for leaving a surgical instrument inside a patient, which required a second surgery to remove.  Other issues were related to death due to an overmedication, a patient falling out of a wheelchair and dying from the incident, to allowing an unlicensed staff person to function as a licensed nurse. 

RFIDs could certainly be of help to the sponge and instrument issues and are fairly inexpensive to put in action.  BD 

Eighteen California hospitals have been fined by the state for violating laws regarding quality care for patients, the state public health department announced today. Most of the 18 hospitals are in Southern California, said Ken August, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health. All hospitals in California are required to comply with state and federal laws to remain accredited. Today marks the fourth time the department has disciplined hospitals since a state law went into effect last year authorizing the agency to fine them for placing patients in serious jeopardy. Hospitals are fined $25,000 for each incident that "has caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients," August said. The agency has issued 61 such penalties to 42 hospitals since the state law was enacted last year, including those announced today.

California fines 18 hospitals for violating healthcare regulations - Los Angeles Times

Technorati Tags: Medical Erros,Hospital,Fines,California,Department of Public Health

Read More

Medco Health, FDA To Study Genetic Testing For Medications

More additional affiliations for the FDA to gather information.  In the news recently have been other agreements with companies such as Blue Cross and others who will be providing data to also study the effects of drugs through medical record information in their files, based on claims, etc.

No doubt the FDA probably has one busy IT department after many years and now having to catch up to take advantage of the information technology age, it's all about software (and saving money and cutting costs).  Medco will deliver a series of reports to the FDA about pharmacogenomic testing.  Almost 30 percent of all medications are metabolized by one enzyme (CYP2D6) and this can help in finding or eliminating the correct drug of choice for the treatment plan.  BD

The two-year agreement calls for Medco to deliver reports to the FDA about pharmacogenomic testing, including physician  participation in such testing and the usefulness of testing in prescribing medicines. Medco said it will derive its reports from clinical settings, examining, for example, whether physicians will be willing to change dosages based on a genetic test result. Medco's database of pharmacy claims will supply a large portion of the data to be used in reports to the FDA, the company said.

"Our payer base, the people who pay the bill for prescription drug benefits, are looking for management. They're looking for appropriateness of care, they don't want to throw their prescription dollars down the drain" for drugs that won't work, Epstein said. "That's right up our strike lane."

Medco Health, FDA To Study Genetic Testing For Medications

Technorati Tags: Medco,FDA,Healthcare IT,Technology,Health Insurance,Pharma,Biotech,Pharmacogonomics

Read More

Health Blog - Microsoft Technologies - Clinically Related

The videos are well worth watching as well as fascinating.  These are not just "techs" working at the labs, they are physicians, PHDs, etc. that are working on the healthcare items.  These are just a few screen shots from the videos.  There's all kinds of interesting projects to see here and with the speed of technology moving today, who knows how soon this might work it's way in the main flow of life, it didn't take Surface that long.  The full blog can been read here from Dr. Crounse and Microsoft.  BD

"At least once each year I trek on over to visit my colleagues at Microsoft Research.   The group's headquarters are really just a few blocks from my own office on the Microsoft campus.  This time Andy shows us what may be the next evolution in Surface computing and display technology.  It gets BIG!  Research carries on with the theme by exploring how visualization is helping researchers study the HIV virus."

 

 

This one is literally a "talking head", if you will, and how it sees humans. 

 

The next "big" version of Surface, and with radiology images....

We have seen surface in action, but this is the first glimpse with working with radiology images, zooming in and out and using a keyboard with the surface technology.  The tablet is big 4' x 6', so it could even be a radiology conference center for collaborating, PACS imaging may never be the same. 

 

Working on the visualizing the HIV virus vaccine through sequencing and DNA. 

http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/08/18/microsoft-research-how-we-watch-the-computer-how-it-watches-us.aspx

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Healthcare,Microsoft Labs,Radiology,HIV Research,DNA Testing,Genomics,Software,PACS

Read More

Merck Vioxx study was for marketing - ADVANTAGE by name..

The meaning of advantage is below.  Who knows what might be uncovered next as this may or may not be just a Merck issue, but as documents and other items of years past surface, this is what we have, sell, sell, sell, and it's perhaps not unlikely that some of these items and issues could exist at other companies as well. 

There has been a lot of news and controversy about Pharma marketing in recent years, even enough to change some general policies recently.  With personalized medicine testing coming of age, the day of the big marketing efforts may slowing down once enough information is gathered to allow for intelligent decisions.  BD 

ADVANTAGE, or Assessment of Differences between Vioxx and Naproxen to Ascertain Gastrointestinal Tolerability and Effectiveness.

Merck spokesman Ron Rogers said Hill and his colleagues have been critics of Merck and just cherry picked "some documents to support their thesis."

Dr. Bruce Psaty, a University of Washington epidemiologist, said Hill and his colleagues had disclosed their conflict of interest in their report but that the ADVANTAGE trial wasn't transparent about its purpose.

Researchers: Merck Vioxx study was for marketing

Technorati Tags: Merck,Vioxx,Clinical Study,Pharma,Marketing

Read More

'Retail Clinic' - Spanish Spoken here by the physician...

The MediGo centers opening at three Navarro pharmacies in Miami-Dade County are affiliated with Mercy Hospital, and doctors will be seeing patients in the stores.  This is a change where actual doctors associated with the hospital will be on duty. 

An average visit is $55.00 and this is another potential way to help decrease the over crowded ER Rooms.   BD

A Mexican health-care company opened clinics this week in three Miami-area pharmacies whose customers are mostly Latino. Count that as a national-trend twofer targeting the Latino market and putting clinics in retail stores. . The clinics are owned by Samoho, a Mexico City-based company that already runs a few retail clinics in Wal-Mart stores there.

Health Blog : How Do You Say 'Retail Clinic' In Spanish?

Technorati Tags: Retail Pharmacies,Medical Clinics,Physicians,Mercy Hospital,Miami

Read More

Health Insurance going to the Dogs...

In the UK it certainly is, but residents also have the services of the NHS, so policies for private insurance is an option.  The dogs have it in the insurance department in the UK.  Also, in Europe, if you travel, you can also get a canine passport.  BD 

Take up for pet insurance is almost twice that of private medical insurance, in the latest confirmation of the UK's status as a  nation of animal lovers. Research conducted by Tesco showed that 23 per cent of UK pets were insured last year - making our domestic animals the second most insured in the world behind Sweden's. Meanwhile, just 12.2 per cent of the UK human population had private medical insurance.

London Stock Exchange - Article

Read More

HMO's in Massachusetts report losses

Only one plan showed a profit for the second quarter.  BD 

WORCESTER Three of the states major health maintenance organizations yesterday reported operating losses for the second quarter ended June 30. Tufts Health Plan of Watertown was the lone HMO to report operating income for the second quarter. The three other major HMOs relied on investment income to offset operating losses. Fallon Community Health Plan of Worcester said it posted net income of $1.2 million on revenue of $250 million for the quarter. Net income included a $2.8 million operating loss offset by investment income of $4 million. For the same quarter last year, the insurer posted a net loss of $1.2 million on revenue of $230 million. Fallon had a $3.2 million operating loss for the second quarter of 2007. FCHP membership was 208,479 at the end of the second quarter this year, up from 189,648 on June 30, 2007.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette News

Read More

Another Spooky Old Hospital Becomes Hot Real Estate - Kentucky

 This was the center to house tuberculosis patient and now it will be a hotel when finished.  If you like history, this website on the Sanatorium is very interesting.  There are some work in progress pictures as well as some historical pictures on the site.  It was closed in 1961 when antibiotics were invented. 

Rumors have it that the place is haunted as well....BD

Waverly functioned as a tuberculosis hospital until 1961, when it was closed down to be quarantined and renovated to be opened again in 1962 as WoodHaven Medical Services. The facility remained a geriatrics center until 1980, when it was closed by the state for alleged patient abuse.

It's already happening in Massachusetts and New York, now the next state to turn a former mental health facility into quality real estate is Kentucky. The creepy Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville will become a 78-room boutique hotel with a spa,  fitness center and meeting space for business groups. The historic landmark, which once housed tuberculosis patients is reputedly haunted and has been on a variety of televisions shows as one of the most haunted places in the U.S

Another Spooky Old Hospital Becomes Hot Real Estate - Luxist

Technorati Tags: Sanatorium,Hotels,Development,Historical Buildings,Rennoavation,Hospital

Read More

Home monitors expected to play bigger role in health care - Kaiser Permanente

This is a pretty simplistic system overall and is asking for input every day and as this patient below states, she doesn't have to go to the doctor as often.  It became noticeable as the patients on the program were having better success with their healthcare, less visits to the ER room, etc.  Alerts are sent out if information sent is out of tolerance.  The article also said patients were becoming more in touch with their conditions as a result of the pilot study.  BD 

Di Giovanni had become wearily accustomed to almost weekly doctor visits to manage her condition, and occasional panicky visits to the emergency department when she had trouble breathing. But since she's started with the home telemonitoring system in May, she hasn't visited the doctor once. "As long as you're doing well with the monitor, you just have regular check-ups," she explained.

The device initiates a series of vital sign measurements, and then asks the patient to press "yes" or "no" in response to several questions about symptoms such as difficult breathing or swollen ankles.

Home monitors expected to play bigger role in health care - ContraCostaTimes.com

Read More

EMRConsultant.com Provides Electronic Medical Records Recommendations to Over 7,500 Medical Practices

If you are looking for a firm to help with consulting on the medical records business, here's a place to start.  I know Dr. Fishman and his staff of experts can be of help in the process.  BD 

Palm Beach Gardens, FL, August 16, 2008 --(PR.com)-- EMRConsultant.com is an online recommendation service assisting physicians in their EMR selection process. The online service has the most comprehensive database, evaluating over 100,000 data points relating to over 300 different EMR. EMRConsultant.com (a division of 1450, Inc. www.1450.com) an EMR Consultant Service has announced today that it has assisted more than 7,500 medical practices by providing recommendations for the most appropriate Electronic Medical Record / Electronic Health Record (EMR / EHR) software packages for each practice. The goal of EMRConsultant.com is to aid physicians while they select and implement the most appropriate EMR and other health information technology such as speech recognition, for a painless transition to sophisticated medical record production.

EMRConsultant.com Provides Electronic Medical Records Recommendations to Over 7,500 Medical Practices - PR.com

Technorati Tags: EMR,EHR,EMR Consultant,Medical Records,Healthcare,Health IT

Read More

A Death in the Family - the patient advocacy business and mental illness

This story from the WSJ is a bit spooky and sad.  Do patient advocates understand mental illness?  This patient was able to get representation and was released and later killed his mother. 

When on a "high" they can be very convincing, and yet later when the disease takes over they become irrational and as in this case, out of control.  The physicians were not on the list of those in favor of his release.  BD 

But the doctor's notes also show that William's release was backed by government-funded patient advocates. According to medical records, the advocates -- none of them physicians -- appear to have fought for his right to refuse treatment, to have coached him on how to answer doctors' questions and to have resisted the medical staff's efforts to contact his parents. As one doctor wrote, William told him his advocates believed he is "not a danger, and should be released.

"None of this would have happened if I had been medicated."

A Death in the Family - WSJ.com

Technorati Tags: Mental Illness,Patient Advocacy,Physicians,Healthcare

Read More

Methadone Rises as a Painkiller With Big Risks - and Cheap Price

The most amazing part of this article is the cost compared to OxyContin, that was an eye opener for me, not being acquainted with pain killing medications.  Xanax and Valium do not mix here either and we all remember the Anna Nicole Smith death, which probably accounted for bring methadone to the forefront.  The death rate is climbing close to that of heroin as well.  Perhaps soon heroin could go by the wayside?  Generic wins here with the insurance companies in the cost department, that's a given. 

In a related story the FDA is contemplating training for dispensing pain medications...as the death rates continue to rise.  BD  

In what critics call a stunning oversight, the F.D.A-approved package insert for methadone for decades recommended starting doses for pain at up to 80 mg per day. This could unequivocally cause death in patients who have not recently been using narcotics,..... In November 2006, after reports of overdoses and deaths among pain patients multiplied and The Charleston Gazette reported on the dangerous package instructions, the F.D.A. cut the recommended starting limit to no more than 30 mg per day.

"Her insurance at one point covered only $500 in prescriptions, which paid for just one month’s worth of OxyContin, compared with methadone’s cost of $35 a month."

Methadone Rises as a Painkiller With Big Risks - NYTimes.com

Technorati Tags: Methadone,FDA,Pain management,Drugs,Physicians

Read More

FDA on the low end of the Endotec Ruling - Mobile Ankle devices are ok - Medical Devices

This is amazing that the battle has gone on over 25 years to restrict these devices from use in the US.  The judge said  they are"custom-made medical devices exempt from FDA regulation".  This marks the first loss in the court room for the FDA on a suit they brought to task. 

The judge asked who had been harmed by the device...well there was a blank slate there.  As time marches on there no doubt will be a more transparent FDA in the future.  BD 

 

But, if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had its way, Capricci would have never received the surgery that allows him to hunt, fish and bike. In 2006, the FDA sued Endotec claiming the company had distributed unapproved joint replacement devices. For 25 years the FDA has pursued a policy which has prevented custom mobile bearings ankle joints from reaching the US market. Mobile bearing ankle devices are used exclusively outside the US, which means that US citizens must travel abroad for this treatment.

FDA Gets Knocked Out in Endotec, Inc. Ruling 

Technorati Tags: Medical Devices,FDA,Court,Ankle,Joint Replacment,Endotec

Read More

TV remains top source of news even as online grows

 Consumers of online news tend to be more educated than those who get their news from traditional sources, with 44 percent of college graduates saying they read news online every day.   Healthcare, go to the web.  BD 

Pew found that the largest group of news consumers - 46 percent of those polled - have a "heavy reliance" on television for their news at all times of the day. This group is the oldest, with a median age of 52, and least affluent, with 43 percent unemployed. They are unlikely to own a computer or go online for news.

Overall, among those who get some of their news from TV, fewer are watching the 6:30 broadcast network newscasts, and instead opting for cable news sources such as CNN or Fox News Channel. CNN's audience is now majority Democratic, while 39 percent of Fox News viewers are Republicans, 33 percent Democrats, with the remainder independent or didn't specify.
The group that relies most on the Internet for news is the youngest at a median age of 35. It is also the smallest, at 13 percent of those polled. Fewer than half of them watch television news on a regular basis. Eighty percent of this group has a college education and they are twice as likely to read an online newspaper than a printed version.

TV remains top source of news even as online grows

Read More

Mars Chocolate Company in the Biotech business - Flavanol

The drink can increase the blood flow to your brain, thus perhaps having a favorable effect with some levels of potential prevention of strokes and dementia.  Bring on the chocolate!  BD 

Mars, Inc. has created a new division, Mars Botanical, to further investigate the biomedical potential of cocoa flavanols.

Mars Chocolate Company Says Its Flavanol Drink Improves Brain Blood Flow | Scientific Blogging

Read More

Hospitals Expect to Refund Medicare - 1/3 now investing in software...

33% found a big part of the right answer - software.  Business Intelligence software for a hospital is something you almost can't live without, otherwise the audits can do what they just accomplished.  The auditors will have the software to come in and audit with, so why not get a step ahead and put the auditors out of business.  You can do a search on this site and find plenty of information on health care business intelligence software. 

Also, there's no mention of the dollar amounts to be paid but 40% according to the article were found owing money.  Hopefully these are not any of the 50% bordering on insolvency and not enough to potentially put any of them in bankruptcy or out of business.  The state of California had their issues with the auditors and had some restraints ordered as the audits became to wild and wooly.  BD

The telephone survey of 171 directors, conducted June 30 through July 8, found that of those that have taken action, 77% had conducted internal claims audits; 66% had implemented a claims documentation improvement plan; and 57% had created a special task force to examine documentation, coding and billing. In addition, 33% said they had installed new software to capture correct documentation, coding and billing. Only 18% had hired additional coders.

Hospitals Expect to Refund Medicare

Technorati Tags: Hospital,Bankruptcy,Medicare contractor,Auditors,Business Intelligence

Read More

Hospital bug: 800 hit by lockdown - New Zealand - Infectious Disease virus

Somewhat scary as this could happen anywhere and the workers felt it was due to a lax policy on cleanliness that lead up to this in view of current cost cutting and outsourced agreements. 

More than 800 people have been affected by emergency measures imposed at Dunedin Hospital today in the face of an outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus. Over the past three weeks, 57 patients and staff have been diagnosed with norovirus, which can cause stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. Over the weekend, a further 17 cases were reported. All outpatients clinics, elective surgery, planned admissions and investigations scheduled for today have been postponed, affecting more than 800 people.

Hospital bug: 800 hit by lockdown - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

Read More