ICERx - help your patients before disaster strikes

In Case of Emergency Prescriptions...New site that allows doctors, pharmacists and patients to enroll.   According to the site, information is only released in case of an emergency.  All 3 parties can enroll.   The data base being used is from Sure Scripts, the same data base that is used for online "free" prescribing for physicians.  BD

ICERx is a new secure on-line service that allows licensed doctors and pharmacists anywhere in the United States to help you get information about your prescription medicines. This secure online service will help your doctors and pharmacists know which drugs you have been prescribed, their doses, whether you have refills available, which doctor prescribed them, and which pharmacies have information about your prescription. If you are an evacuee from an area affected by a disaster and you need to renew your prescriptions or get a new one, please let any doctor or pharmacist know that ICERx is available for their use.

Help your patients before a disaster strikes
Registration begins June 1, 2007
For more information 1.888.ICERX.50

Source:  http://www.icerx.org/

Free Drug Samples? Bad Idea, Some Say

Samples have been a great help to me...other than keeping the closet updated, there doesn't seem to be an issue in my opinon...BD

Published: May 1, 2007

Everyone loves freebies, and patients are no exception. So drug company sales representatives try to keep sample cabinets in medical offices well stocked with the latest medications, for doctors to dispense as the need arises.

Patients like going home with free samples because it saves them a trip to the drugstore and a co-pay, and doctors are happy to oblige, because samples help patients get started on treatment right away.

But now some leading academic medical centers are restricting the use of samples, and a smattering of physician practices are shutting down the sample cabinet. These critics say doctors should be choosing the most appropriate medication for a patient based on the best scientific evidence available — not just grabbing something from the office stash that happens to fit the bill.

“Doctors who are shutting the door to sales reps are cutting themselves off from a lot of valuable information,” said Scott Lassman, senior assistant general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade association. “Sales reps can explain when it’s right to use a drug, when it’s not right to use the drug, which patients might benefit and which patients it might not work for.” /p>

Source: Free Drug Samples? Bad Idea, Some Say - New York Times

FDA Searches Offices of Pet Food Maker

 

SATURDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday searched the facilities of a pet food manufacturer and one of its suppliers in the continuing probe of contaminated dog and cat food products, the Associated Press reported.

The officials searched an Emporia, Kan., pet food plant operated by Menu Foods and the Las Vegas offices of ChemNutra Inc., the news service said, citing information supplied by the companies.

Menu Foods made many of the more than 100 brands of pet food recalled since March 16 because of contamination by the chemical melamine. ChemNutra supplied Menu Foods with wheat gluten, one of two ingredients imported from China and tainted by melamine used in the recalled pet products. Both companies said they were cooperating with the investigation, the AP said.

Source: FDA Searches Offices of Pet Food Maker, Supplier - Health and Medical Information produced by doctors - MedicineNet.com

What's Behind All the Bad Press for Health Insurers?

 

"I think people are paying attention more now than they ever have," Flanagan says. "We're getting closer to what might be considered a public outcry."

Christopher Ohman -- president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, a trade organization representing most of the major insurers in the state -- agrees but says he hears a different kind of outcry.
"I think we're reaching the boiling point with rising costs of health care. People are angry," Ohman says. Insurers "are the ones who are the messenger of those rising costs, and I think we're seeing some shots being taken at the messenger."
Consumer advocates see it somewhat differently.

"Not only is a big part of the rising costs of health care directly related to insurers and insurers' profits, the whole notion that insurers can legally deny coverage to people at the very time when they most need it is ludicrous," says Anthony Wright, director of Health Access California.

Source: What's Behind All the Bad Press for Health Insurers? - California Healthline

Mobile Keyboards for Windows Mobile Phones and UMPCs

These mobile devices keep getting more interesting all the time.  I have used a keyboard similar and it does take a little getting used to, but they do work.

• The lightweight and flexible keyboard designed for mobile computing devices uses

• Bluetooth connectivity, is 100% fabric, water-repellent, and comes with a mobile phone/PDA stand.

• With a pair of AAA battery allows you up to 10 hours of usage.

Just Mobile, Mobile Your Keyboard!

The keyboard can roll up and fit in a handy stuff sack whenever you aren't using it.

Source: Mobis

PC World - Use and Misuse of Spreadsheets

This is a good article giving some overall expertise on when to use spreadsheets.  I agree with most of what is said here and I still in my day to day travels run across small and large organizations still using both Word and Excel spreadsheets as their data banks.  As the article states there are alternatives that even make the job much easier than manually manipulating data in Word and Excel.  Don't get me wrong here, Word and Excel are excellent tools for use at letter templates, reworking and calculating data, but not for the ultimate storage of your data.  Training really comes in handy to assist those in making decisions in reference to the proper software to use.  Most of the time, once the education process has begun with the end users and alternatives are introduced, individuals can and do see how much harder they are working and the additional time consumption required to use Word and Excel spreadsheets as their primary data sources.  One other small factor too is that storing all these documents takes up so much additional room versus a good data base program that is usually easier and more convenient for all to use.  BD

But while spreadsheets are still extremely useful, they aren't the universal answer to a business's financial management problems. Furthermore, better data controls can help you can make more effective use of spreadsheets.

Today, many small businesses rely heavily on Microsoft Excel for most or all of their financial needs, from budgeting to tracking customer accounts receivable and calculating employee payroll. I have a soft spot in my heart for the venerable spreadsheet, but it's simply not the best tool to handle all the number-crunching that a business requires.

The widespread inappropriate use of spreadsheets in business reminds me of the tale of the poorly trained carpenter who was shown how to use a hammer to drive nails. Since he was familiar with the hammer, he used it for all his woodworking--even for breaking a board in two. Most people would agree that a saw is a more appropriate tool for that job. Similarly, while a spreadsheet is well-suited for some financial applications, it's a poor choice for others.

Source: PC World - Use and Misuse of Spreadsheets

Wal-Mart To Expand Retail Health Clinics To 400 Stores In Three Years

 Possible opportunity for additional business for local hospitals...BD

Wal-Mart Stores will open health clinics at as many as 400 of its U.S. stores in the next three years, and as many as 2,000 in the next five to seven years, the company announced on Tuesday, Bloomberg/Boston Globe reports (Bloomberg/Boston Globe, 4/25). The health clinics will be managed independently by local or regional hospitals, CEO H. Lee Scott told the World Health Care Congress, a national meeting for CEOs, senior executives and government officials (CQ HealthBeat, 4/24). The clinics will be staffed by nurse practitioners or physicians and will offer preventive and routine care. Companies that operate the clinics will decide whether to accept health insurance for visits, which typically cost $40 to $65, according to Wal-Mart spokesperson Kevin Gardner (Bloomberg/Boston Globe, 4/25). Wal-Mart currently has 76 clinics operating in 12 states (Wall Street Journal, 4/25). Many of the clinics offer walk-in appointments and are open seven days a week. More than half of the people visiting those clinics lack health insurance, and 15% said they would have gone to an emergency department if the clinics were unavailable (Bloomberg/Boston Globe, 4/25). Scott said, "We think the clinics will be a great opportunity for our business. But most importantly, they are going to provide something our customers and communities desperately need -- affordable access at the local level to quality health care" (AP/Indianapolis Star, 4/25).

Source: Wal-Mart To Expand Retail Health Clinics To 400 Stores In Three Years

The Internet Can Seriously Damage Your Health

This article does a good job on addressing "information over-load" which we all have today it seems in any area of our lives...BD 

Online medical information is changing the tone of GP consultations. From increased awareness of potential problems to robust - if often erroneous - self-diagnosis, a significant proportion of patients are taking Internet based medical information to the GP surgery.
Yet the majority of the information available online is at best confusing, at worst misleading, or simply being used inappropriately. In most cases, patients cannot differentiate between a sponsored link and a real study.

Combine this overload of confusing, often dangerous, information with the extraordinary rise in online pharmacies and the increasing danger of self-medication, and GPs simply cannot afford to ignore the implications of the Internet on patients.
Patients crave information. Using the Internet during a consultation offers real benefits in satisfying this need by directing patients to the right site and delivering essential confidence.

Source: The Internet Can Seriously Damage Your Health

The new wheelchairs....

Mobility has even gone to produce better wheelchairs for the disabled...some that do stairs...I wonder if any of these will be even partially covered someday by Medicare...BD 

The road less traveled is now within your reach

The iBOT® Mobility System's powerful 4-Wheel Function is designed to provide you with a greater sense of independence, in and out of your home.




By allowing you to travel easily over uneven terrain, such as grass, sand, or gravel, as well as climb curbs up to 5 inches (127mm) high, the iBOT® Mobility System will help you perform many activities of daily living on your own. Whatever you want to do, enter or exit your home, enjoy your backyard or local park, shop for groceries, or visit friends, the iBOT® Mobility System can help you get there. The 4-Wheel Function on your INDEPENDENCE® iBOT® Mobility System lets you handle uneven terrain with ease and stability, wherever life may take you.

For those needing to move over some very rough terrain...here's another alternative... BD

                          http://www.tankchair.com/gallery.htm

 

Source: iBOT® Mobility System: 4-Wheel Function

Hospital renovations take a page from high-end hotels

 It's hard to believe this is a hospital...BD

(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- Windowless corridors, drab paint and crowded rooms have typified hospitals for more than a century - and the effect can be downright depressing.

Get ready for a radical shift.

Meanwhile, hospitals built in the 1950s to serve the parents of boomers are nearing the end of their life cycle. "It's like a perfect storm," says Anjali Joseph, director of research at the Center for Health Design. She expects a golden age of health-care construction, with U.S. spending projected to top $45 billion this year, up from $11.6 billion in 1997.

The extensive use of natural light has led to shorter patient stays and a happier staff at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich.

By embracing a new school of thought called evidence-based design, a few pioneering hospitals have shown that more creatively planned facilities can lead to satisfied patients, a happier staff, and a healthier bottom line.

The model for these new medical centers: high-end hotels.

Take, for example, Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich. The lush greenery, indoor pond, and reading spaces in its lobby could just as easily belong in a Hilton. So could the entryway of Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, Fla., completed just four and a half years ago, with its soaring glass dome roof and tranquil pool. Musicians play classical music there several days a week.

The changes--especially the natural light and soothing music--receive high marks from the staff, and costly employee turnover has dropped from a 14 percent annual rate to 12.5 percent since 2001.

Source: Hospital renovations take a page from high-end hotels - April 1, 2007

Mexican Wal-Mart launches cheap generic drugs

Following suit as done here in the US for the $4.00 generic prescriptions available for over 300 common generic drugs...BD 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's leading retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico, or Walmex, has launched a line of 150 cheap generic drugs, selling for no more than $3.50, in a new bid to boost its appeal as a one-stop shop for clients looking for low prices.

Walmex's Medi-Mark generics line started selling last week at the retailer's supermarket chains.

The low-priced drugs include everyday staples like pain and fever reliever paracetamol, as well as more complex medicines such as cafergot, used for migraine treatment.

Some of the medicines, which are being manufactured by different laboratories, will cost 90 percent less than the leading over-the-counter brand, according to an industry source.

Source: Mexican Wal-Mart launches cheap generic drugs - Yahoo! News

Eli Lilly And Company Introduces Reconcile(TM) For Separation Anxiety In Dogs

I don't think I'm quite ready for this yet, and neither is the dog...don't know how big of a seller this will be, but it appears to be another marketing arm in the world of pharma....BD

In field studies of approximately 600 dogs, 73 percent of dogs receiving Reconcile(TM) showed improvement in separation anxiety-related behavior within eight weeks when compared with dogs receiving behavior modification training alone. Within one week of starting Reconcile(TM) treatment and behavior modification training, 42 percent of dogs showed improvement. During trials, the most common adverse reactions to Reconcile(TM) were calm or lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, shaking, diarrhea, restlessness, excessive vocalization, aggression and -- in infrequent cases -- seizures.
Reconcile(TM) allows dogs to be more receptive to your training to help with anxiety

Source: Eli Lilly And Company Introduces Reconcile(TM) For Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Survey says..the latest stats on Doctor/Pharma relationships...

Food is at the top of the listing, I guess we all have to eat...BD 

They surveyed 3,167 doctors from six specialisms: anesthesiology, cardiology, family practice, general surgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics. The response rate was over 50 per cent.
The results showed that:

-- 94 per cent of doctors reported some type of relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.
-- 83 per cent said these relationships involved receiving food in the workplace.
-- 78 per cent said they involved receiving drug samples.
-- 35 per cent received reimbursement for costs of going to professional meetings or continuing medical education (CME).
-- 28 per cent received payments for consulting, giving lectures, or enrolling patients in trials.
-- Cardiologists were more than twice as likely to receive payments as family doctors.
-- Family doctors met with industry reps more often than did doctors in other specialisms.
-- Doctors who practised on their own or in group practices met with reps more often than those working in hospitals and clinics.

In conclusion, the researchers said these results show that:
"Relationships between physicians and industry are common and underscore the variation among such relationships according to specialty, practice type, and professional activities."

Source: Probing Doctor And Industry Ties

Hospitals Tackling Low-Tech Back Offices

Good article on how even small improvements in IT make a difference, even if the big move to a full on elecronic medical records system is not perhaps yet in the picture...BD 

High-tech health care grabs headlines and the public’s imagination. Some of the buzz derives from the notion that less-invasive surgery or snazzy electronic medical records can save time and money. (But ask Kaiser Permanente about the perils of computerizing patient records.)

Forget the glitz. For many hospitals, even a dose of last century’s computer technology could go a long way toward cutting waste. Routine administrative tasks often are still done on paper. Hospitals are way behind, says Pam Matthews, director of business information systems for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, a professional association. Matthews tells the Health Blog: “This back-office stuff, you are just now seeing it becoming automated like you would in other industries and other larger businesses.”

Source: Health Blog : Hospitals Tackling Low-Tech Back Offices

Posing as pals, drug reps sway doctors' choices | Science & Health

Interesting article...sometimes the first thing I need to say when walking in to a potential client's office is "I'm not a drug rep" as anyone dressed in business attire these days to conduct business in a physician's office can easily be assumed to be a pharma rep...BD

CHICAGO (Reuters) - As much as doctors would like to deny it, subtle attention from friendly drug sales representatives can have a big impact on what drugs they prescribe, according to two U.S. studies published on Monday.

"Physicians underestimate their own vulnerability. They think they are smarter ... but they are not trained in recognizing this kind of manipulation," said Adriane Fugh-Berman, a Georgetown University Medical Center researcher and co-author of one of the studies.

Source: Posing as pals, drug reps sway doctors' choices | Science & Health | Reuters

Linking medical data: hospitals join electronic sharing of patients' records

 

“A lot of times patients are unable to give us all the information for a recent visit that they’ve had at the hospital,” he said. “Previously, we had to get records from that outside hospital through their medical records department, which may be closed.

“They may be able to get us that information 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours later.” Now, when a patient comes in from a regional hospital, Ferris only has to sit down at a computer, type in the patient’s name and press a button. “We’re able to get the information so much faster, and the information we get is more accurate,” Ferris said.The WNC Data Link system connects electronic medical records from hospitals across the region through a secured Internet connection, allowing doctors to access a patient’s information at the click of a mouse. “It has expanded access to medical information dramatically for these patients when they come into the emergency room,” Ferris said.

Connecting hospitals                   

Dr. Julian Ferris works on the Data Link computer at Mission Hospitals St. Joseph campus emergency room Thursday. The Data Link project links patient medical records electronically to hospitals across the region.                                                                   

Gary Bowers, executive director of the WNC Health Network, said the WNC Data Link system grew out of the vision of the chief information officers at hospitals around the region.“They have great electronic records systems, but, generally, they don’t talk to one another,” he said.

Source: CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Linking medical data: More WNC hospitals join electronic sharing of patients' records

U.S. Wonders if Drug Data Was Accurate - Zyprexa

 

“The F.D.A. continues to explore the concerns raised recently regarding information provided to the F.D.A. on Zyprexa’s safety,” Dr. Mitchell Mathis, a deputy director in the psychiatry division of the agency’s center for drug evaluation and research, said.

Source: U.S. Wonders if Drug Data Was Accurate - New York Times

Number Of Orphan Drugs Increases, But Costs High For Consumers

 

The Hartford Courant on Sunday examined orphan drugs -- those that treat disorders affecting fewer than 200,000 people -- which are "one of the fastest-growing areas in pharmaceuticals" and can be "extraordinarily costly" for consumers. The drugs often are extremely expensive because they are developed for a small pool of patients and "because developing any new medication is a long, risky and costly undertaking," the Courant reports. The pharmaceutical industry estimates that the cost of developing a drug costs $800 million from inception to human clinical trials, and only 30% of experimental drugs ever receive FDA approval. As a result, "when it comes time to affix a price to an orphan drug, companies are eager to recoup their investment quickly," the Courant reports. The increase in orphan drug development activity can be attributed to a 1983 federal law that offers tax breaks and market exclusivity for such products, as well as the "realization by smaller pharmaceutical companies that the drugs represent a lucrative entrepreneurial niche," according to the Courant.

Source: Number Of Orphan Drugs Increases, But Costs High For Consumers

Digital Signatures coming soon to the Medical Business

 

That simple fact can have major effects on cost reduction, customer satisfaction and higher ROI. CIC Electronic Signature solutions enable a legally binding, compliant, paperless business process for many different industries including:

• Healthcare—HIPAA and other privacy requirements dictate that consumer medical information be protected against access by unauthorized individuals. Electronic signature solutions from CIC can help ensure that your healthcare solutions go that last step in protecting the information in a paperless environment.
• ePrescriptions—Fraud is rampant in the prescription marketplace. Paperless electronic solutions supported by CIC Electronic Signature solutions can make significant inroads to eliminating the problem.
• Government procurement—Paperwork reduction is the government’s mantra. With CIC Electronic Signature solutions, secure, electronic, paperless contract processes can be a reality.
• Materials transportation and tracking—CIC Electronic Signature solutions enable solutions that make electronic bills of lading, and material and inventory tracking secure and trustworthy.
• Contracts management—Secure, non-repudable, paperless, electronic contracts can only be effectively implemented if electronic signatures are part of the solution.
• Consumer purchases—the laws have changed for signatures and capturing just an image is no longer enough to insure dispute resolution of consumer transactions.

Here's an example right here in Orange County with the Planning Division implementing tablets with e-signatures.  BD

"The browserbased
system is accessible from the department’s
intranet, and clients have access via the Internet.
A key strategy of the system is to reduce or
eliminate paper and hard-copy filing systems.
Therefore, the PDSD is beginning to create and
sign documents digitally, storing them in a central
database. The technology behind the system
is Adobe Acrobat software, Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF), Java, Java Server Pages,
CIC Sign-It for Adobe Acrobat software, and
Wacom signature tablets.
contained legal documents."

Source:  http://www.cic.com/solutions/others/

Scientists Discover New Virus Responsible For Post Transplant Deaths

 

Three patients who died after receiving transplanted organs from the same donor in Australia were all infected with a previously unknown virus. Researchers at the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues in the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia, with the help of 454 Life Sciences, identified that the virus seems to be related to a well-known culprit of post transplant infections:

Over 30,000 organ transplants are performed in the U.S. each year. Knowledge of the genetic sequence of this virus will enable improvements in screening that will enhance the safety of transplantation.

Press release: Scientists Discover New Virus Responsible For Deaths of 3 Transplant Recipients From Single Donor In Victoria, Australia ...

Source: Scientists Discover New Virus Responsible For Post Transplant Deaths
by Michael

Tax Provision Would Reduce Medicare Payments To Providers

 

Hospitals and small physician practices that obtain a significant amount of their revenue from Medicare reimbursements "stand to be the hardest hit" by a "little-known provision" included in a 2005 federal tax law, the Wichita Eagle reports. Under Section 511 of the 2005 Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act, the federal government by 2011 must withhold 3% of payments to all businesses that pay taxes and contract with the government. David Busatti, CFO of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., said, "You already have physicians unwilling to take Medicare patients or are capping them because of (low) Medicare reimbursements, and this certainly will exacerbate the problem. Then you're talking about a critical access problem ... and sicker patients ending up in the emergency room. Hospitals, especially (rural) hospitals, could end up in very bad shape." Chip Kahn, president of the Federation of American Hospitals, last month testified before Congress that the provision "will require a total overhaul of the local, state and federal government reimbursement systems in order to comply." Lawmakers in both the Senate and the House have introduced bills that would repeal the provision

Source: Tax Provision Would Reduce Medicare Payments To Providers

FDA OKs Generic Ambien

 

The following 13 manufacturers have received FDA approval for zolpidem tartrate tablets: Mylan Pharmaceuticals, TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA, Roxane Laboratories, Watson Laboratories, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Apotex, Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Genpharm, Mutual Pharmaceutical Company, Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Carlsbad Technology, and Lek Pharmaceuticals.

Source: FDA OKs Generic Ambien - Sleep Disorders including, Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, Snoring and Nightmares

Physicians Should Be Able To Review Performance Ratings Before Release

A policy paper and principles assuring that physicians are given the opportunity to comment on performance ratings that they believe are inaccurate were adopted this week by the American College of Physicians (ACP) at its annual meeting. The principles, part of the paper Developing a Fair Process Through Which Physicians Participating in Performance Measurement Programs Can Request a Reconsideration of Their Ratings, also address performance ratings that do not take into account the characteristics of the practice or patient population being treated prior to the release of ratings to the public.
ACP is host to 6,000 physicians for Internal Medicine 2007 from April 19-21 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Accurate reports of physician performance will allow physicians to effectively assess and improve their performance, and enable consumers and purchasers to make informed decisions concerning treatments, coverage and the quality of care. The principles, ACP says, should be considered in tandem with other organizational principles on developing measures; sharing, aggregating, and reporting data; and the ethics of physician performance measurement.
ACP has stated in previous position papers that programs measuring physician performance should operate in a fair, objective and scientifically sound manner. Performance data should be used for public reporting or to determine physician payment only after data are fully adjusted for case-mix composition, including age, severity of illness, co-morbidities, and other features of a physician's practice and patient population that may influence the results.

Source: Physicians Should Be Able To Review Performance Ratings Before Release, USA

AARP, UnitedHealth, Aetna create new health plans

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) Apr 17 - The influential organization for the elderly AARP has expanded its line of health insurance plans for older Americans in conjunction with UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Aetna Inc., AARP said on Tuesday.

AARP and UnitedHealth, which already offer a number of joint insurance plans, will add a Medicare Advantage managed care plan with prescription drug benefits for people who qualify for Medicare.

AARP's new arrangement with UnitedHealth is expected to bring in an extra $22 million a year in royalties for the group, which said it could not comment on what the deal was worth to the insurer. It also said it aimed to boost current enrollment from 7 million AARP members in the insurer's various plans to 14 million by 2014.

AARP has about 38 million members overall.

Source: AARP, UnitedHealth, Aetna Offer New Health Plans

Wal-Mart Sees Medical Clinic Boom in Retail Stores

 

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) Apr 13 - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is forecasting more than 6,600 in-store medical clinics will open their doors in the next five years in retailers nationwide, a company official said on Thursday.

"I think it's an indication of how bullish individuals (chief executives of clinics and retailers) are," Alicia Ledlie, senior director for Wal-Mart's health business development, said at a health care retailers convention in Orlando.

With 75 clinics in Wal-Mart stores in 12 states, the company has ended its pilot program and plans a faster roll-out of additional clinics nationwide.

Source: Wal-Mart Sees Medical Clinic Boom in Retail Stores

Hospital, Upset Over Claims Denials, Accuses HMO of Racketeering

 

Its members are suing two of the region's largest health insurers, claiming each tried to weasel out of paying for millions of dollars in patient care.

In the latest suit, filed last week, the Brooklyn-based Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center accused the 1.3 million-member Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York of engaging in an illegal conspiracy to routinely reject valid claims.

Brookdale's chief executive, David Rosen, said the managed care company refused to pay for more than 1 of every 5 days its patients spent at the hospital last year. Often, those rejections were on the grounds that the treatment was not medically necessary.

The lawsuit said many of those denials were baseless, and it cited the example of one patient who spent 11 days at Brookdale after having surgery for a malignant brain tumor.

The gravely ill woman suffered from brain swelling and organ failure and was fed through a tube during her hospital stay. But, according to the lawsuit, the HMO ultimately refused to pay for her final eight days of care, saying "the patient was medically stable.''

Source: N.Y. Hospital, Upset Over Claims Denials, Accuses HMO of Racketeering

How an Email Rant Jolted a Big HMO

 

A 22-Year-Old's Tirade
Made Trouble for Kaiser;
Mr. Deal Got Fired, Famous

By RHONDA L. RUNDLE
April 24, 2007; Page A1

LOS ANGELES -- On a Friday morning last November, Justen Deal, a 22-year-old Kaiser Permanente employee here, blasted an email throughout the giant health maintenance organization. His message charged that HealthConnect -- the company's ambitious $4 billion project to convert paper files into electronic medical records -- was a mess.

In a blistering 2,000-word treatise, Mr. Deal wrote: "We're spending recklessly, to the tune of over $1.5 billion in waste every year, primarily on HealthConnect, but also on other inefficient and ineffective information technology projects." He did not stop there. Mr. Deal cited what he called the "misleadership" of Kaiser Chief Executive George Halvorson and other top managers, who he said were jeopardizing the company's ability to provide quality care.

"For me, this isn't just an issue of saving money," he wrote. "It could very well become an issue of making sure our physicians and nurses have the tools they need to save lives."

Source: Critical Case: How an Email Rant Jolted a Big HMO - WSJ.com

Captain America Arrested With Burrito In Pants

 Family MD blowing off a little steam?  BD

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A Brevard County doctor dressed up in a Captain America outfit was arrested with a burrito in his tights. What he allegedly did at the police station got him into more trouble.

Doctor Raymond Adamcik, 54, would probably rather forget about the weekend when he was arrested on charges of battery, disorderly conduct, drug possession and trying to destroy evidence. It's not what you would expect from a doctor or Captain America.

The Palm Bay family physician was at On Tap bar as part of a pub-crawl with other medical professionals. It was a sort of costume party on a bus that would take them around from bar to bar.

Everything was fine until, witnesses said, Captain America started getting too forward with a burrito he kept tucked inside his blue tights, a burrito that ultimately landed him in jail.

Source: Captain America Arrested With Burrito In Pants - News Story - WFTV Orlando

Mandatory tablet splitting

I came across my first instance of an insurance company requiring a patient to split tablets about a month ago. One of our regulars has recently switched to a new doctor, and the doctor is adjusting doses on his various therapies. In any case, the doc prescribed citalopram 20mg qd #30, but the insurer (UnitedHealth for the win!) would only pay for citalopram 40 ½ tab qd #15.

What the hell is with that? You’re going to make a guy with acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, BPH, and T2DM split his fricken tablets?? Are you kidding me? This guy can barely remember all the medical conditions he has, nevermind what pills he takes at what time for which condition. (There’s about 15 meds in all that he takes on a daily basis.

Source: Mandatory tablet splitting :: OnThePharm

Desktop & Mobile - RIM Around the Rosies, Pocket Full of Posies

Can't beat them...join them I guess....good move on the part of RIM.  BD 

Microsoft's Windows Mobile team should declare a holiday. RIM is supporting Microsoft's mobile operating system, even if by supplanting one user interface with another.

Earlier today, RIM announced support for Windows Mobile 6 devices in a surprising usurpation of Microsoft's software. The forthcoming Blackberry Application Suite will come with an application that recreates the look and feel of RIM's device software and major features.

No doubt some folks at Microsoft will balk at RIM pushing aside the Windows Mobile 6's UI, even if just temporarily, to mimic a competing product. But RIM's forthcoming software suite should also smell of sweet victory for Microsoft.

With Windows Mobile 5, Microsoft introduced corporate, RIM-like push-to-mail features from Exchange Server 2003. In early 2005, most businesses running Exchange Server had yet to move to version 2003. Two years later, there are many more Exchange Server 2003 installations, and version 2007 is available.

For all the snappy-looking Blackberries out there, many more devices run Windows Mobile software. In a change from past upgrades a number of U.S. carriers will provide Windows Mobile 6 upgrades for version 5 devices like Samsung's BlackJack. Numbers favor Microsoft, whether Exchange Server on the back end or Windows Mobile on the device.

Source: Microsoft Watch - Desktop & Mobile - RIM Around the Rosies, Pocket Full of Posies

A City Goes Tablet PC for Building Inspectors...

 

The City of Corvallis, Oregon, has gone Tablet PC with its building permit process. Applications and payment in the process can now be done 24 hours a day. Designed to eliminate paperwork and save time and money, the on-line process allows residents to monitor the status of projects.

With the new PC tablets, inspection reports are automatically uploaded to computers so staff members won’t have to type them in, said Craig Perkins, city electrical inspector.
“I’ve had this tablet since about November,” Perkins said, as he gave a demonstration of the unit at the CoHo Ecovillage development site in south Corvallis last week. “There’s a little learning curve. It’s actually pretty cool. It’s made my life a little bit easier.”
He showed how the PC tablet can pull out sections of the building code and plug those directly into e-mails.
Tom Day, construction superintendent of Legend Homes, looks forward to getting e-mails instead of searching job sites for written inspection cards at 5 p.m.
“I’m building houses instead of running around,” he said.

This only makes sense, and I’m betting we’ll see more and more of this in the future.

Source: A City Goes Tablet PC

Possible Contamination and Malfunction of Heart Valves and Valve Conduits, Annuloplasty Rings, Surgical Grafts, Meshes and Other Devices Manufactured by Shelhigh, Inc.

Issued : April 18, 2007

Dear Healthcare Practitioner:

This is to notify you that all medical devices manufactured by Shelhigh, Inc. of Union, N.J. were manufactured under conditions that may have contaminated the devices and may result in devices that fail to function for the expected life of the products. We are also recommending actions that could help minimize risks to patients.
Background

FDA’s inspections of Shelhigh, Inc. revealed significant manufacturing problems that included improper sterilization and extension of expiration dates for the firm’s medical devices. The FDA has seized all the medical devices at the Union, N.J. manufacturing plant (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01612.html).

To identify a Shelhigh device, we recommend that you first check for the manufacturer’s name and address (Shelhigh, Inc., currently located at 650 Liberty Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083; and, previously located at 67-71 East Willow Street, Milburn, NJ 07041), which we believe are consistently displayed on the device packaging. Below are some brand names known by FDA of medical devices manufactured by Shelhigh, Inc., including those that have not been cleared/approved by FDA:

* Shelhigh BioRing™ (annuloplasty ring)
* Shelhigh Gold™ perforated patches
* Shelhigh Internal Mammary Artery
* Shelhigh No-React® Dura Shield
* Shelhigh No-React® EnCuff Patch
* Shelhigh No-React® Pericardial Patch
* Shelhigh No-React® PneumoPledgets
* Shelhigh No-React® VascuPatch
* Shelhigh No-React® Stentless Valve Conduit
* Shelhigh No-React® Tissue Repair Patch/UroPatch™
* Shelhigh Pericardial Patch
* Shelhigh Pre Curved Aortic Patch (Open)
* Shelhigh Pulmonic Valve Conduit No-React® Treated
* Shelhigh BioConduit™ stentless valve
* Shelhigh BioMitral™ tricuspid valve
* Shelhigh Injectable Pulmonic Valve System
* Shelhigh MitroFast ® Mitral Valve Repair System
* Shelhigh NR2000 SemiStented™ aortic tricuspid valve
* Shelhigh NR900A tricuspid valve

Recommendations

1. Consider using alternative devices.

2. We recommend that you assess the overall health status of each patient implanted with a Shelhigh, Inc. device, and provide the testing, monitoring and care that is appropriate considering each patient’s individual case. The following information will help with your assessment:

* Shelhigh, Inc. received FDA’s clearance to market medical devices beginning in 1997.
* We are aware of published reports of premature (accelerated) failure associated with some Shelhigh devices.
* A Shelhigh device could potentially be contaminated with bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin.

3. You may wish to provide to your patients the FDA’s Preliminary Advice For Patients (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/medicaldevicesafety/atp/041807-shelhigh.html).

Lilly Drops Its Prescription Assistance Program for the Poor

 

In a little-noticed move, Lilly has dropped “Lilly Answers,” its Patient Assistance Program for people without health insurance. Merrill Lynch’s David Risinger noted that ending the free-drugs-for-poor-people effort may have helped goose Lilly’s 1Q numbers.

“Eli Lilly reported 1Q pro forma U.S. sales up 11% YOY, including 10% net price and 1% volume.  The net price benefit was surprising because the transition of dual eligibles (Medicaid to Medicare) annualized January 1, 2007.  We think a key factor was less free goods due to the ending of the 'Lilly Answers' patient assistance program on December 31, 2006.  Many prescriptions previously filled under that program are now covered by payers (particularly Medicare Part D), which boosts realized net price dramatically in some cases (i.e. Forteo).”

Source: http://www.brandweeknrx.com/2007/04/lilly_drops_its.html

St. Jude Medical - FDA Approval of Internet Based Data Management for Implantable Cardiac Devices

 

Merlin(TM).net Patient Care Network is First Cardiac Rhythm

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2007--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Merlin.net Patient Care Network, (PCN), an Internet-based central repository for patient device data that enables physicians and clinicians to connect directly to their patients' stored device data at any time, from anywhere, that Internet access is available.

Merlin.net PCN collects data from implant procedures, remote transmissions and in-clinic follow-up sessions. With immediate access to patient information through the secure Merlin.net PCN website, physicians can monitor and assess patient device data and determine the level of care needed remotely. Patients can send data directly to physicians using Merlin.net PCN from the comfort of their own home via the currently available Housecall Plus(TM) portable transmitter. Merlin.net PCN supports all currently marketed Atlas(R) and Epic(R) family implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) device families in the United States.

Source: St. Jude Medical | News Releases

UMPC Tablet helps individuals with Disabilities

This is a great page on showing how a tablet pc can help individuals with disabilities..the keyboard was ok, but when you read this article you can clearly see how the EO UMPC from Tablet Kiosk has transitioned his experience.  Good page to bookmark.  The docking station that comes with this model is a real key here as well.  He is also using the built in web cam...BD

Dave drives an eo

Previously I have reviewed and offered my thoughts on Tablet PCs, one being a slate [Sahara Slate] and the other [Acer C200] having a keyboard with touch screen.

While the tablet experience really highlighted some advantages for myself and the way I could interact with them, the issue for me with these previous devices was primarily that they were physically too large.

[Dave driving the eo]

If you’re new to Lifekludger, you’ll not be aware that I have a disability and use a mouth-stick to operate computers, well, just about everything. For that reason, the size and physical layout of a machine is paramount over issues like speed, weight, ports, brand.

Source: lifekludger » Lifekludging a UMPC

Windows Home Server CTP

 I haven't had time yet to post my own screenshots, but found this blogger who has done some nice work with adding a few screenshots of the new and upcoming Windows Home Server, now out in public beta...BD

You instantly notice that setup is a bit different this time around. When installing on the same PC you are given the choice of install type which is either a new install or a server re-installation. This completely wipes all settings etc. but preserves backups and all shared folder contents, cool!

Source: Windows Home Server CTP. - Randomelements :: Blog

Robotic surgeon to team up with doctors, astronauts on NASA mission

 

Raven, the mobile surgical robot developed in the UW's BioRobotics Lab, weighs about 50 pounds. Its nimble appendages can suture wounds and perform minimally invasive surgeries. Credit: David Clugston

This week Raven, the mobile surgical robot developed by the University of Washington, leaves for the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The UW will participate in NASA's mission to submerge a surgeon and robotic gear in a simulated spaceship. For 12 days the surgical robotic system will be put through its paces in an underwater capsule that mimics conditions in a space shuttle. Surgeons back in Seattle will guide its movements.

The 12th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations test will take place May 7 to 18 off the coast of Florida. The robot leaves Seattle on Friday. During the mission, Raven will operate in the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory, a submarine-like research pod about 60 feet underwater. This mission will test current technology for sending remote-controlled surgical robotic systems into space.

Source: Robotic surgeon to team up with doctors, astronauts on NASA mission

BiCOM Reports Better-Than-Expected Results Due to Unique Tonometer Diaton Launch – Tonometry Through Eyelid / Glaucoma Detection Device

 Now this is very interesting...much less evasive than dialating pupils in the eyes...BD

BiCOM Inc. at a recent conference call, reported better than expected results due to a successful launch and unexpected increase in sales of its recently introduced transpalpebral (through the eyelid) tonometer Diaton, a device used for Glaucoma detection. Diaton to be revealed in over 30 countries. The company has increased its outlook for 2007

New York, NY, April 19, 2007 --(PR.com)-- BiCOM Inc. has obtained the FDA approval for Diaton tonometer back in April of 2006. This unique hand-held tonometer allows to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) through the eyelid, with no contact with cornea, no sterilization and without the use of anesthesia drops. Transpalpebral (Diaton) approach is ideal for patients with corneal concerns like conjunctivitis, edema, erosion, cornea pathology, high degree of ametropy or astigmatism, or acquiring IOPs following laser refractive and other corneal surgeries.

Source: BiCOM Reports Better-Than-Expected Results Due to Unique Tonometer Diaton Launch – Tonometry Through Eyelid / Glaucoma Detection Device - PR.com

Doctors Try New Surgery for Gallbladder Removal

 

Doctors in New York have removed a woman’s gallbladder with instruments passed through her vagina, a technique they hope will cause less pain and scarring than the usual operation, and allow a quicker recovery. The technique can eliminate the need to cut through abdominal muscles, a major source of pain after surgery.

The operation was experimental, part of a study that is being done to find out whether people will fare better if abdominal surgery is performed through natural openings in the body rather than cuts in the belly. The surgery still requires cutting, through the wall of the vagina, stomach or colon, but doctors say it should hurt less because those tissues are far less sensitive than the abdominal muscles.

Source: Doctors Try New Surgery for Gallbladder Removal - New York Times

Watch out for EHR audit pitfalls - Coding consultants explain where the risks are and how to avoid them

Be aware of the pre-formatted templates to a degree...they can be useful but maybe it is best to customized and adapt your own... 

Overdocumentation can also be related to how a physician uses an EHR, Martin points out. If a physician implements the system without customizing the EHR templates to his practice style, "the templates may contain more information than what he's used to documenting. So it appears that the history and the exam are more complex, but the medical decision-making level is low."

It's long been known that physicians tend to code higher for office visits after they get EHRs. But now Medicare and private payers are taking an active interest in this trend, and audits of computerized practices are becoming more frequent. So if you have an EHR, be very careful how you code, say coding consultants.

Source: Watch out for EHR audit pitfalls - Coding consultants explain where the risks are and how to avoid them. - Medical Economics

Physical Therapists Have Top Occupation

 We must all have a lot of pain these days...BD

Physical therapists have come out ahead as a top career choice for US college graduates and as second only to clergy in job satisfaction in two different news articles this week that highlighted the nation's top occupations.

The April 17 issue of the Chicago Tribune reported findings of a poll from the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago that place physical therapists second among five top occupations in job satisfaction, and the only health care professionals listed. The worker satisfaction study was based on data collected since 1988 on more than 27,500 randomly selected people. More than three-quarters of the participating physical therapists reported being "very satisfied," and the study suggests intrinsic rewards seem to be the key to satisfaction.

: Physical Therapists Have Top Occupation - Increased Demand And High Job Satisfaction Place PTs Among Nation's Top Occupations

Robotics Institute: HeartLander

The HeartLander is a miniature mobile robot to facilitate minimally invasive beating-heart intrapericardial therapies.

 The robot:

• enters the chest through an incision below the sternum,
• adheres to the epicardial surface of the heart,
• navigates to any location on the epicardium, and
• administers the therapy under control of the physician.

As compared to current minimally invasive cardiac robotics, this concept obviates cardiac stabilization, lung deflation, and access limitations. These advantages will result in greater efficiency and reduced trauma, as well as opening the possibility for ambulatory outpatient cardiac surgery. The current HeartLander prototype uses suction to maintain prehension of the epicardial surface, and wire-actuation from offboard motors for locomotion. Magnetic tracking and fluoroscopy provide feedback to the physician, who controls the device through a joystick interface. A working channel provides access for various therapeutic tools. This prototype has demonstrated successful prehension and locomotion on all surfaces of a beating pig heart through a 20-mm percutaneous incision. Additionally, epicardial lead placement and myocardial dye injection have been accomplished.

Source: Robotics Institute: HeartLander

Coding IV Therapy from Medical Economics

 

CPT 2006 replaces the universal infusion codes—90780 and 90781—with six new codes that follow the G code structure that CMS introduced for 2005. "The new CPT codes distinguish between hydration and treatment—the reasons why physicians give fluids," says Patricia Davis, a certified coder and business office supervisor at MHS Primary Care in Middletown, CT.

CPT now breaks intravenous therapy into two groups:

• 90760-90761: for hydration purposes.
• 90765-90768: for therapy, prophylactic, and diagnostic injections and infusions.

Source: Coding Consult - IV Infusions - Medical Economics

Hospitals are hiring again - New market forces mean job openings for physicians. But do your homework before you sign that contract

 

Why doctors and hospitals are hooking up again

The upswing in hospital employment partly reflects the desire of many younger doctors to avoid running their own practice—and running themselves into the ground. "There's a shift in mindset," says Gee. "Doctors coming out of medical school are more interested in reasonable hours."

For newly minted doctors and veterans alike, the high cost of malpractice coverage can tip the scales away from self-employment. Hospitals are often willing to pay malpractice premiums for the physicians they hire, especially in smaller communities that can't afford to lose surgical specialists, says Mark Smith, executive vice president of Merritt, Hawkins.

Shortages of surgical specialists add force to the new wave of hiring. It's hard to operate a hospital if there's no orthopedic surgeon on staff. In particular, hospitals feel hard-pressed to provide specialty coverage for their emergency departments. Lawsuit-wary—and just plain weary—physicians are becoming so loathe to pull this duty that they have to be paid handsomely to sign on. Hospitals can make ED call part of the job description of an employed physician.

Source: Hospitals are hiring again - New market forces mean job openings for physicians. But do your homework before you sign that contract. - Medical Economics

Physician, hospital groups join lawsuit against Blue Cross

 

The largest organizations representing California physicians and hospitals joined a lawsuit against Blue Cross of California on Thursday, accusing the state's largest health plan of illegally and routinely refusing to pay them millions of dollars for medical care provided to enrollees whose policies were later canceled.
The move puts the doctors and hospitals on the side of patients, regulators and consumer advocates who have criticized Blue Cross and its competitors for canceling individuals' policies after they incur costly treatment. Such cancellations have left some patients with significant financial or medical hardships.
Blue Cross, owned by Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., defends the practice, saying it cancels policies only after determining that individuals submitted incomplete or inaccurate applications for coverage. In such cases, the insurer contends, the patients are responsible for paying the doctors and hospitals.

Source: Physician, hospital groups join lawsuit against Blue Cross - Los Angeles Times

More about Google as a health services tool

 

In my office, where all documents are either PDF or rich text format, or RTF, we use Google's desktop search for anything from a patient's or a doctor's phone number to retrieving a document based on its unique words or peculiar contents. This cuts down a lot of "hunting" for information in my office.

Narayanachar Murali, M.D.
Gastroenterology Associates of Orangeburg
Digestive Endoscopy Center
Orangeburg, S.C.

Source: Modern Healthcare Online

Med school in Valley? UC Merced gets grant

 

MERCED - Creating a University of California medical school in the San Joaquin Valley got a jumpstart recently with a $225,000 grant to establish a telemedicine network providing access to specialists for residents of the underserved region.

The funding came in the form of a seed grant from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley earmarked for the university's newest campus in Merced. UC Merced first announced plans to develop health sciences and medical education programs in the Valley in March 2006.

Source: Recordnet.com: Med school in Valley? UC Merced gets grant

Schwarzenegger Touts Health IT as Part of Health Care Overhaul

 

Schwarzenegger in the past year has signed executive orders to:

• Develop a statewide broadband policy;
• Accelerate health IT adoption; and
• Establish a goal of complete health information exchange between consumers, insurers, providers, researchers and government agencies within the decade.

Source: Schwarzenegger Touts Health IT as Part of Health Care Overhaul - California Healthline

Tablets in Action

 

I don't know much about the context in which in this picture was taken, but it does demonstrate that Tablets are more welcome at a dinner table than regular laptops.

 

http://franksworld.com/blog/archive/2007/04/18/4564.aspx

NeuroArm - University of Calgary

 

World’s first image-guided surgical robot to enhance accuracy and safety of brain surgery

Surgery is about to change with the introduction of a new surgical robotic system at the University of Calgary/Calgary Health Region. NeuroArm aims to revolutionize neurosurgery and other branches of operative medicine by liberating them from the constraints of the human hand.

The world’s first MRI-compatible surgical robot, unveiled today, is the creation of neurosurgeon Dr. Garnette Sutherland and his team. Dr. Sutherland has spent the last six years leading a team of Canadian scientists, in cooperation with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), to design a machine “that represents a milestone in medical technology.”

Source: NeuroArm | University of Calgary

Making medical fact-finding easy

 

Faced with a minor illness or major health-care crisis, many people turn to the Internet for information. But with the misinformation that absolutely anyone can post on the Web, and the medical jargon, the task can be daunting. Physicians provide basic information, but they don't have time to answer every question.

 

Becky Hughes and her daughter Hannah (left), who was born with spina bifida, have done research on the birth defect with the assistance of Mary Anne Fernandez (right), a medical librarian at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Medical librarians have master's degrees or doctorates, often with special certification in health care. They are trained to distinguish good information from bad. Major hospitals have offered medical library services to physicians on staff for years. A new trend is the development of libraries that offer medical information to consumers.

Source: Making medical fact-finding easy | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Life/Travel: Health

New York City To Provide No-Cost Electronic Health Record Technology To 'High-Volume' Providers Of Care For Medicaid And Uninsured Patients

New York City officials today will announce a $19.8 million contract with eClinicalWorks for electronic health records software systems, which will be given to city health care providers who treat low-income residents, the Boston Globe reports. The purchase is part of a plan introduced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) to improve information systems used for Medicaid beneficiaries, prisoners and other outpatient populations, including patients treated at community health centers (Rowland, Boston Globe, 4/16). Farzad Mostashari, an assistant city health commissioner who is overseeing the project, said, "We will cover half of all the high-volume Medicaid providers in the city, those where over 30% of their patient encounters are Medicaid or the uninsured."

Source: New York City To Provide No-Cost Electronic Health Record Technology To 'High-Volume' Providers Of Care For Medicaid And Uninsured Patients

Tablet Man

Watch the short video with some simple math with a tablet..hope we see more of him in action...BD


http://www.ustream.tv/LorenHeiny/videos/mAuHD7e9MW0AASyJTbm0ew

Arkansas school to trial iPod, WiFi-equipped school bus

 

If you thought taking a ride on the GamerBUS was a thrill, this one will really make you long to be a youngster in Arkansas again. Reportedly, the Sheridan school district is launching the Aspirnaut Initiative to bring laptops, iPods, and wireless internet right onto Bus 46, and amazingly, they expect kids to actually glean knowledge rather than hit up a round or two of Counter-Strike. The project hopes to make the unbelievably long (three hours, to be exact) commute that some rural students face a bit less boring and a tad more educational, as students will have access to informational podcasts and web-based learning modules whilst cruising on home. Interestingly, the three-year pilot project will not give students class credit for their extra effort initially, but for brainiacs who stick with the program, they'll purportedly be keeping the goods for themselves once the trial run concludes.

Source: Arkansas school to trial iPod, WiFi-equipped school bus - Engadget

Hand Sanitizing Spray Moves Clorox Into Personal Care Category

 

For decades, The Clorox Company has helped consumers and industry professionals keep their homes and businesses cleaner and healthier through laundry sanitizing and surface disinfecting. Today, Clorox's Professional Products Division extends the Clorox brand's health and wellness efforts beyond surfaces to hand hygiene with the launch of Clorox Anywhere Hand Sanitizing Spray, representing the company's first entry into the personal care category.

The new hand sanitizer will be available for sale to:
• Healthcare professionals (hospitals; acute and long-term care facilities; medical, dental and veterinary offices)
• Travel/food industry professionals (restaurants, cruise ships, hotels, airlines)
• Education professionals (child care centers and schools) • Fitness professionals (gyms and health clubs)

Source: Hand Sanitizing Spray Moves Clorox Into Personal Care Category

Cervarix® Offers 100% Protection Against Precancerous Lesions Caused By Cancer-Causing Human Papillomavirus Types 16 And 18 For Over 5 Years

 

The GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) cervical cancer candidate vaccine, CERVARIX®, demonstrated 100 percent efficacy in preventing precancerous lesions due to cancer-causing human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 for up to 5.5 years in an extended follow-up trial, according to data presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research. The trial results demonstrate the longest duration of protection seen in any cervical cancer vaccine trial reported to date.

Source: Cervarix® Offers 100% Protection Against Precancerous Lesions Caused By Cancer-Causing Human Papillomavirus Types 16 And 18 For Over 5 Years

Dear Patient: P4P is Here

As one MD states..... 

Dear Patient: P4P is Here

Dear Mr. and Ms. Patient,
I regret to inform you that I will be spending less time focusing on your heart problem because I have decided to focus on the heart and medical problems that Medicare deems important to assure I get paid. They call this initiative "Pay for Performance (P4P)."
You see they published a list of 74 criteria that will be measured to see if I give good care, so I will get paid appropriately. Fortunatelty for cardiologists, we only have to do four things:

Source: Dr. Wes: Dear Patient: P4P is Here

AARP Says It Will Become Major Medicare Insurer While Remaining a Consumer Lobby

 

WASHINGTON, April 16 — AARP, the lobby for older Americans, announced Monday that it would become a major participant in the nation’s health insurance market, offering a health maintenance organization to Medicare recipients and several other products to people 50 to 64 years old.

The products for people under 65 include a managed care plan, known as a preferred provider organization, and a high-deductible insurance policy that could be used with a health savings account.

When the new coverage becomes available next year, AARP will be the largest provider of private insurance to Medicare recipients. In addition to the new H.M.O., AARP will continue providing prescription drug coverage and policies to supplement Medicare, known as Medigap coverage.

Source: AARP Says It Will Become Major Medicare Insurer While Remaining a Consumer Lobby - New York Times

Exmocare - a Watch that monitors your well being

This sure seems like a good idea in some areas, but I have to give this some real thought..I'm not quite sure I would perhaps want folks to know if I am having a stressful day and give access to all my daily emotions, and on the other hand it could be a useful device. I guess this is all a matter of personal preference as to how much information you may need and how much information one cares to share. BD

 

The Exmocare Watch uses sophisticated sensors to monitor the current status of your loved one so you are always aware of their wellbeing.

The Exmocare Watch is uniquely designed to gather many physiological signals at once. Exmocare Home uses proven methods from contemporary psychophysiology to interpret these physiological signals to interpret emotions. With continuous access to physiological, emotional, and activity information, Exmocare Home is the most advanced overall personal wellness-monitoring system currently available.

At the core of Exmocare Home is the lightweight and durable Exmocare Watch. It is specially designed for your loved one with:

1. Built-in sensors.
2. A Bluetooth^TM transmitter.
3. Rechargeable batteries (charger and batteries are included).

Source: Exmocare: About the Watch

Epocrates for Windows Mobile Phones

Here are a couple screenshots of how the information looks on a mobile PDA phone.  You can customize the formularies you need to research from an account page on the web.  Also, when an account is set up with a PDA, you also have access to the same information from a desktop PC.  There is spot for CME credit as well.  The screenshots here show all the "free" information that is available with setting up an account.  You can also purchase additional information to be downloaded to the device.  BD

Update on United HealthCare’s Plan to Fine Physicians for Using Out-of-Network Labs

 

Apparently physicians in several states besides New Jersey are catching the attention of their insurance regulators over UnitedHealthcare’s effort to fine doctors who continue to use out-of-network laboratories. Now, state authorities in Texas, Connecticut, Iowa, Florida, and California have joined New Jersey state regulators by announcing plans to review the legality of the $50 fine announced by United Healthcare for doctor’s who refer their patients to out-of-network laboratories.

In March, the California Medical Association said that this new policy illegally interferes with PPO patients’ right to access out-of-network benefits and improperly obstructs the physician-patient relationship.

“Patients have the right to decide where to receive health care services, without having to worry that their physicians are being fined or otherwise penalized for their choices. This right is particularly acute for patients who pay premiums for nonexclusive PPO benefits,” wrote CMA chief legal counsel Catherine Hanson. “And physicians have the right to speak freely with their patients about their health care choices, without having to worry that they will be fined or otherwise penalized should their patients choose an out-of-network option.”

Source: Update on United HealthCare’s Plan to Fine Physicians for Using Out-of-Network Labs

Is Pfizer Outsourcing Innovation?

 
According to reports in the Pharma Blogosphere^TM (see below), Pfizer has laid off a "large number of PhD scientists" in an effort to get more lower-level "associates" to shoulder the company's basic research, aka innovation.
Perhaps "PhD Phobia" is behind this rollback of qualified scientists at a time when the industry needs more, not less innovation.
You may recall that back in January, when a study of DTC advertising was published in The Annals of Family Medicine, a Pfizer spokesman said in a phone interview: "It was a bunch of Ph.D.'s sitting around, looking at ads" (see "TV DTC Educate Little, Increase Sales Less").

"I've heard from more than one source that Pfizer has laid off a large number of research staff this week in Groton. This seems to have taken people by surprise in many cases, since the expectation was just that everyone would find out where they were on the new organization charts. Well, in a way, they did." (See "Layoffs - Again").

The talk on Wall Street now revolves around the innovation that Pfizer must buy through mergers, not innovation! In other words, Wall Street investors have little patience for the "Today’s drugs finance tomorrow’s innovation" argument. This is bad news for Pfizer's PhD research scientists!

Source: Is Pfizer Outsourcing Innovation?

CMS Proposes Payment Reforms For Inpatient Hospital Services In 2008

 

Payment to all hospitals would increase by an average of 3.3 percent for FY 2008 when all provisions of the rule are taken into account. Payments to specific hospitals may increase more or less than this amount depending on the patients they serve. For instance, urban hospitals generally treat more severely ill patients and are estimated to receive a 3.5 percent increase in payments.
In addition to the base payment for the DRGs, the law requires Medicare to make a supplemental payment to a hospital if its costs for treating a particular case exceed the usual Medicare payment for that case by a set threshold. Medicare sets the threshold for high cost cases at an amount that is projected to make total outlier payments equal to 5.1 percent of total inpatient payments. For FY 2008, CMS is also proposing to adopt a high cost outlier threshold of $23,015, down from $24,475 in FY 2007. By better recognizing severity of illness in the DRGs, fewer cases would be paid as outliers. However, CMS proposed to lower the outlier threshold to meet the legal requirement to continue paying between 5 and 6 percent of payments as outliers.

Source: CMS Proposes Payment Reforms For Inpatient Hospital Services In 2008

Massachusetts Connector Likely To Approve Health Insurance Exemptions

Not sure how this could work...a law passed for all to have mandatory insurance and now a 20% exemption for low income categories...BD 

The Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector on Thursday likely will approve a proposal to exempt almost 20% of uninsured residents from a state law enacted last year that requires all residents to obtain health insurance, the Boston Globe reports. Under the law, state residents who do not obtain health insurance could face fines or tax penalties. However, the law requires that the state exempt residents who cannot afford health insurance, with the definition of affordability left to the Connector. The proposal that the Connector likely will approve would exempt from the law about 60,000 low- and moderate-income residents who do not qualify for state subsidies, or about 1% of the population (Dembner, Boston Globe, 4/12).

Source: Massachusetts Connector Likely To Approve Health Insurance Exemptions

Feds say plans can soften deadline for doctors' universal ID numbers ...

Rumor has it that Medicare may not be fully prepared as well...BD

Medicare and some insurers might allow physicians to use either their new National Provider Identifiers or older IDs on claims after the May target date.

Washington -- The federal government has given the health care industry up to a year-long reprieve in adopting a new standard identification system for use on electronic claims. But that doesn't necessarily let doctors off the hook when it comes to obtaining and using the new ID numbers.

Under a mandate from Congress, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services established May 23 as the deadline for physicians and other medical professionals to apply for and start using a unique National Provider Identifier on all electronic claims. The 10-digit NPI, designed to replace all other identifiers, is required for anyone who files claims electronically with Medicare or any other payer. This applies even if the physician uses an outside firm that files electronically on his or her behalf.

CMS recently came to the conclusion that too few health plans, doctors and others would be ready to use the NPI in place of all existing IDs, known as "legacy" identifiers, by the May deadline. Small health plans already have until May 2008 to comply, but the agency decided that many other large payers and health professionals also would need more time to get up to speed. Numerous industry organizations, including the American Medical Association, lobbied the government to soften the deadline

Source: AMNews: April 23/30, 2007. Feds say plans can soften deadline for doctors' universal ID numbers ... American Medical News

Massachusetts considers requiring all surgeries to be videotaped ... American Medical News

Doctors and plaintiff lawyers are the bill's biggest critics, saying the doctor-patient relationship would become a Hollywood production.

Massachusetts physicians are not smiling about the possibility of being on camera in the operating room.

Legislation introduced there in January would require licensed hospitals to make video and audio recordings of all surgeries. Failure to do so would result in a yet-to-be-determined fine.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/04/23/prsb0423.htm

Cost vs. compliance: Physicians encouraged to discuss prescriptions ...

Check out the links on the site to the $4.00 prescriptions offered from Target and WalMart/Sams Club...this could be a real help and make the difference between whether or not someone follows the doctor's orders...BD 

A 45-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes was showing some control of her hemoglobin A1c under the supervision of Virag Y. Shah, MD, but not as much as the Whittier, Calif., family physician would have liked. He decided to add pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione marketed as Actos, to the patient's armamentarium. The woman's blood sugar levels did not drop after three months, so he upped the dosage. Another three months passed, and still nothing. To the contrary, the woman's glucose levels rose slightly.

"Are you taking the medication?" Dr. Shah remembers asking his patient.

"Not all the time," the woman sheepishly answered.

"How often are you taking it?" he asked. "Once a week? Every other day?"

"Well, less than that," she said.

"You're not really taking it at all," Dr. Shah said.

"Well, that's right," the woman answered.

"Did you fill the prescription?"

"No," she said. "It was going to be $180 a month because it wasn't covered. And I can't afford that."

Source: AMNews: April 23/30, 2007. Cost vs. compliance: Physicians encouraged to discuss prescriptions ... American Medical News

Medicare Provides Funding For Health Insurance Counseling In All 50 States

Medicare will provide funding for health insurance counseling in every state to help beneficiaries get the most from the health program for elderly and disabled persons, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today.
Each state will receive a share of $30 million in grant funds so state agencies can bring personalized assistance to people with Medicare at the local level. Under the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), CMS provides funding to 54 SHIPs, including all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Source: Medicare Provides Funding For Health Insurance Counseling In All 50 States

New drugs promise two days without sleep and improved alertness and cognitive powers

 

March 5, 2007 Two years ago, we wrote about the “time-shifting” drug, Modafinil that enables you to stay awake for 40+ hours with close to full mental capacity and with few side effects. The drug is a eugeroic and offers improved memory, mood enhancement, improved alertness and cognitive powers, and has a much smoother feel than amphetamines because they work differently. Popular Science is now reporting that we’re just about to see new forms of super eugeroic called armodafinil .

 

(Modafinil’s creator Cephalon is awaiting FDA approval for the drug), and a drug code-named CX717 from Cortex.

Source: New drugs promise two days without sleep and improved alertness and cognitive powers - gizmag Article

The Colo Rectal Surgeon

This is a funny video of a short song from a couple Canadian comics that was taken from a medical convention...BD

Tailored plus sized pocket fashion for the mobile multimedia gadget lifestyle

This page is very humorous and well worth the watch. With all the gadgets we carry today, they are providing some assistance with the latest fashions...BD







http://www.greatpockets.com/index.php

Pharmalot...Pharmalittle...

Interestingly, AstraZeneca was largely silent much of the week, but by Friday, was forced to reply to a few blogs, including Pharmalot, after it became clear the affair would not simply go away as quickly as a newsletter could be tossed in the trash. (For earlier posts, scroll down or click on 'AstraZeneca' on the tags along the lower right for this past week's collection).

"Like it or not. Blogs, whether run by whistleblowers, marketers, patients or journalists, are a new front. And there's no going back."

Next week is likely to be still busier. Here's why:

Monday: Eli Lilly reports earnings;

Tuesday: House Energy and Commerce committee PDUFA hearing;

Wednesday: Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions committee PDUFA hearing;

Thursday: Merck, Schering-Plough and Wyeth report earnings;

Friday: Pfizer reports earnings.

http://pharmalot.com/2007/04/pharmalotpharamlittle.php

RSS Translates Into Info On Savings

This site actually relies on RSS technology to preview the latest news as forces can be easily joined to combine new and events into one convenient location, to avoid having to waste time clicking from site to site to catch up on current events and news...BD

Internet-savvy people know that RSS stands for really simple syndication. That refers to frequently updated feeds of content such as news articles.

But the acronym could just as easily stand for really smart spending. That's because so much good information about spending money and personal finance is readily available via websites, message boards and blogs.

But surfing from site to site can become tedious, especially if you want to follow information updated daily or several times a day. That's where RSS comes in. The solution can be an RSS news reader, which can aggregate headlines and summaries for all those postings in a single place.

Examples of free Web-based RSS readers are Google Reader, NewsGator, Bloglines and My Yahoo. Desktop software versions of RSS readers include the newer versions of Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
Readers are included in some e-mail programs, including Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird.

Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org). The must-have publication for smart consumers has several RSS feeds, titled consumer news, home and appliances, electronics, cars, medical guide and safety blog.

Source: courant.com | RSS Translates Into Info On Savings

New Storm Surges Through I.T. World

 

According to the Internet Storm Center, a hurricane-like virus is blowing through the PC world, with at least 20,000 infections on Thursday and thousands more expected. It's a new variant of the notorious Storm worm that's been plaguing I.T. administrators since last year's widespread outbreak.

Source: New Storm Surges Through I.T. World - Yahoo! News

Faith, Hope, Charity, and the Jackpot Mentality

 

It is time to call an orthopedic surgeon. You don’t just put a cast something like this.

“Good morning, Dr. Smith. Sorry to wake you up but this is Dr. Bear at the County Hospital Emergency Department. I’ve got a 25-year-old gentleman, snowmobile versus barn, with an open mid-shaft fracture of the left femur but otherwise without significant injuries. We have him in a traction splint and his distal pulses and sensation are intact. On the way through the barn he dragged the end of his broken femur through approximately fifteen feet of cow manure and I’m afraid it was about thirty minutes before his drunken friends decided that he probably wasn’t going to walk it off.”

If you were an orthopedic surgeon, would you come in, especially as you can come up with quite a few good excuses not to?

Source: Faith, Hope, Charity, and the Jackpot Mentality : PANDA BEAR, MD

Help Put Bob Through Med School!

Hello, my name is Bob and I am a first year Medical Student. A very broke first year Medical Student. I need tuition money, this is where you come in.

For just $1 or more via Paypal I will answer any medical question that you may have (including Grey's Anatomy Questions) Hell, I will answer any question period that you may have. I may not know the answer but at the very least I will point you in the right direction or we will have a few laughs.

I will post all questions and answers on this site. That is unless you specify I don't post it. Which may be the case if you are inquiring about an STD you got from the nice young fellow at the bar last night.

My goal is to raise my tuition for next year, which is about $30,000...yes Medical School is expensive.

http://www.putbobthroughmedschool.com/

Unveiling Of Neurosurgery Robot April 17

 
The world's first MRI-compatible robot for brain surgery has been developed by a research team from the University of Calgary / Calgary Health Region. The unveiling of neuroArm will take place at 9:30 am (Mountain Time), Tuesday, April 17.
The six-year, multimillion-dollar project is led by U of C Faculty of Medicine / Calgary Health Region neurosurgeon Dr. Garnette Sutherland in collaboration with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), the company that built Canadarm and Canadarm II for NASA's space shuttles.

Source: Unveiling Of Neurosurgery Robot April 17

Sneak Peek Photos of TabletKiosk's New Sahara i400 Dock

The Sahara is the full size tablet from Tablet Kiosk that offers both touch screen and digitizer.  I have had my hands on the unit and it works great.  You can order from the website and please make a reference to Ducknet if you do place an order..we appreciate it. 

I have worked with the dock with the UMPC and it is also small and light.   This is really a great new look for docking stations and a nice look to compliment the Sahara.  BD

With four USB 2.0 Ports, VGA out, Firewire, Ethernet, power and settings that allow the user to to position their i400 Tablet PC for comfortable writing while docked,  this new streamlined Tablet dock from TabletKiosk will be much appreciated by those purchasing the new Sahara i400 Tablet PC.    I also suspect that there may be a feature or two in this dock that we don't know about yet...

I've always said that for the best possible user experience anyone buying a Slate Style Tablet PC should also purchase the docking station with it and my feeling on that have not changed.   The ability to dock your slate at home or in your office and attach a usb keyboard and mouse, DVD, printer or any or any other accessories you happen to need or use is important for both usability and convenience. 

Source: Sneak Peek Photos of TabletKiosk's New Sahara i400 Tablet PC Dock