Medical Quack

More Business Intelligence Software for Drug and Health Plans - As PharmMD Launches New Line of Algorithms To Help Them Meet the CMS Bonus Plans And Get 5 Star Ratings..Ho Hum

I don’t know about you but I have heard enough about all the ratings anymore and with so much competition and rhetoric out there, it means very little any more as the real items that count is the doctor you are consulting, the hospital you are in or the drug plan that is currently servicing you, but I guess all these press releases are <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TK0Nlf5ye4I/AAAAAAAAh7o/1hTEnb8eM8E/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="62" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TK0NloqK1hI/AAAAAAAAh7s/nGU3eVLCYwI/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>meant to drive up business, although anymore they are all so “canned” and almost in every one there’s a comment on how ‘excited, pleased, enthused” etc. they are, not to mention boring and stuffed full of all kinds of marketing jargon.  So here’s a vendor that is now going to help drug and health plans up their ratings. As a consumer you will be delighted to read this, bragging rights below on how many lives they have under management…do you feel like a can of peas?  I think sometimes the folks who write this stuff forget that consumers read it too.  “PharmMD now has millions of lives under management and has delivered savings in excess of three times the costs to its clients. Most importantly, it has positively impacted the lives of patients by giving all providers the information necessary to improve the management of prescription medications.” This entire rating game really got old with me when I found HealthGrades listing dead doctors and couldn’t even archive those who are deceased.  They sell this information too and create other named sites that lead back to them, so again credibility on algorithmic ratings….nah…it doesn’t matter that much anymore.  There’s nothing wrong with having information to reference but gee the consumer is already over whelmed with enough in life right now so these items as such are just disruptive and nobody really cares.  I used to write software and normally am a big enthusiast and love to see some new innovative code out there but stuff like this doesn’t really show much value anymore and frankly is just another bunch of algorithms for sale and those transaction fees just keep rolling in profits.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/healthgrades-and-other-md-rating-and.html">HealthGrades And Other MD Rating and Referral Sites List “Dead Doctors” on Their MD Information Pages And Even Include the Insurance Plans the “Dead Doctors” Honor</a></h4> Next as consumers we will have to see all these health and drug plans tout their ratings which again makes no difference at all as your case is the one that matters.  Drug and Health plans I thought were already up to their ears in software, but in case not, there’s more on the way.  BD <blockquote> NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(<a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/">EON: Enhanced Online News</a>)--PharmMD, the nation’s leader in quality Medication Therapy Management (MTM), announced today a new product, PharmMD STAR Solution, to help health and drug plans increase their Medicare CMS Star Ratings. “We saw an opportunity to help both patients and health plans,” said Bo Bartholomew, chief executive officer of PharmMD. “This new technology solution ensures that patients will get access to the best care available and helps health plans qualify for new bonuses and rebates that are available through the health care reform bill.” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced CMS Star Rating to provide an easy-to-understand rating system for health and drug plans. CMS rates plans based on several criteria that range from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the best. Beginning in 2012, health and drug plans that score at least a 4-star rating can earn bonuses of 1.5 percent and upwards to 5 percent after 2013. Those bonuses, however, are based on the scores the health plans earn this year. Currently, most plans would not qualify since the national average is around 3.25 stars. </blockquote> <a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20101006006507/en/PharmMD-Launches-Product-Health-Plans">PharmMD Launches New Product for Health Plans | EON: Enhanced Online News</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8dd90902-f569-497a-931f-b970537b4e11" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/algorithms.+PharmaMD" rel="tag">algorithms. PharmaMD</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/software" rel="tag">software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ratings" rel="tag">ratings</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drug+plans" rel="tag">drug plans</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlh+plans" rel="tag">heatlh plans</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/press+release" rel="tag">press release</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/data" rel="tag">data</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CMS" rel="tag">CMS</a></div>

More Business Intelligence Software for Drug and Health Plans - As PharmMD Launches New Line of Algorithms To Help Them Meet the CMS Bonus Plans And Get 5 Star Ratings..Ho Hum

I don’t know about you but I have heard enough about all the ratings anymore and with so much competition and rhetoric out there, it means v...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

At Stanford Hospital Coronary Stent Processes Are Done On As an Outpatient Procedure–Using the Radial Artery in the Wrist

Just recently in the news too is the new medical school with simulators so perhaps <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="67" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKVqZGswXMI/AAAAAAAAhzs/-7KEcBcHK7E/image%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="175" /></a>this procedure can be maximized through training.  The new facility was financed through private philanthropy, debt and school resources.  Unlike using the femoral artery in the leg, which almost guarantees and overnight stay for observation, going in via the wrist is a lot easier on the patient too.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/stanford-university-opens-state-of-art.html">Stanford University Opens State of the Art Medical School</a> Such visits to the hospital are becoming more common lifesaving procedures today to unblock arteries clogged with plaque which reduce blood flow.  One physician <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzyaqN2L4I/AAAAAAAAh7U/-caXWARV5Xo/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzybKPqvdI/AAAAAAAAh7Y/CAgm6sQGkJY/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="198" /></a>said: “I actually feel a little guilty when I have to use the femoral route,” Tremmel said. She performs almost all of her PCIs and angiography, a diagnostic technique using special dye and x-rays to look for heart disease, transradially. “ Transradial patients don’t require the nurse to pressure on the patient’s groin for about a half hour to help stop bleeding either and it’s a shorter distance to the heart and the patient is not required to lay on their back for 6 hours after the procedure and get a small bracelet type device and a bandage.  Many cardiologists are already familiar with the femoral artery procedure and thus retraining may need to take place in many hospitals for the “wrist” procedure to become more common. Transradial Interventions have an entire department of their own at Stanford.  BD<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzybieCjMI/AAAAAAAAh7c/tu7Rb8engGU/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="124" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzycPdlN7I/AAAAAAAAh7g/fFnf1qPstEk/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> <blockquote> STANFORD, Calif.--(<a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/">EON: Enhanced Online News</a>)--You can have a percutaneous coronary intervention through your femoral artery or radial artery. Put another way, you can have a catheter stuck into your groin or your wrist. Not sure which you’d prefer? <blockquote> “It’s a whole lot easier on the body” </blockquote> Then consider Richard Francis, a local accountant and ex-Navy pilot, who had stents inserted through the radial artery in his wrist at <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstanfordhospital.org&esheet=6458221&lan=en-US&anchor=Stanford+Hospital+%26+Clinics&index=1&md5=9e8b87041b1913f01d6224d12be2eacb">Stanford Hospital & Clinics</a> on July 15, two days before turning 67. A coronary stent is a tiny mesh tube that helps open up blood vessels clogged with cholesterol, fat and other stuff that leads to heart disease. Stenting is usually preceded by angioplasty, which involves expanding a balloon inside the artery to crush the plaque. Sometimes angioplasty is used exclusively. In any case, procedures practically guarantee a night in a hospital bed if done the traditional way — through the femoral artery. </blockquote> <a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20101006006897/en/Stanford-Hospital-Coronary-Procedure-Longer-Requires-Overnight">At Stanford Hospital, Coronary Procedure No Longer Requires Overnight Stay | EON: Enhanced Online News</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:fd827a8d-0d5a-4da5-a9dc-3a4098c966df" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stanford+Univeristy" rel="tag">Stanford Univeristy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+school" rel="tag">medical school</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/simulation" rel="tag">simulation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/dummies" rel="tag">dummies</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/stents" rel="tag">stents</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/procedures" rel="tag">procedures</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/outpatient" rel="tag">outpatient</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/blood+vessels" rel="tag">blood vessels</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/plaque" rel="tag">plaque</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Transradial+Intervention" rel="tag">Transradial Intervention</a></div>

At Stanford Hospital Coronary Stent Processes Are Done On As an Outpatient Procedure–Using the Radial Artery in the Wrist

Just recently in the news too is the new medical school with simulators so perhaps this procedure can be maximized through training. The ne...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

BlueCross Feels The Need To Launch A Pandora Internet Radio Station? Marketing…Marketing…And More Marketing…

Sorry, Blue Cross is not going to be on my list with my selections of Pandora radio stations and you know what, there’s a ton of folks reading this post that have no <a href="http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh269595535411334344#/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKze6JHdv6I/AAAAAAAAh7M/F2td7pmeKEQ/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="145" /></a>clue what Pandora is?  You so get only so many free hours a month without a paid subscription too.  I like the idea and use it, but even with this I have not found that I need a subscription as there are many source of music on the web and I do have low background music running all during my workday.  Gosh forbid the day comes when I can’t tell the difference between what is good workout music or not and need an insurance company to tell me that too.  This is no reflection on Pandora, just a commentary on behavioral studies (big right now with insurance companies) where everyone is trying to gain a piece of your brain and be able to modify your behavior in certain directions, even to the point of potential subliminal suggestions.  I turned it on for a few minutes, not for me but it got about 5 minutes of my time and I like to choose my own music. It sure looks like insurers are really looking at any tingle of a consumer interest on the web to draw up some more business, that is if your body fits the algorithmic formulas and they don’t consider you a potential risk and money loser when they score you and your health.  BD <blockquote> CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(<a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/">EON: Enhanced Online News</a>)--When you’re searching for tunes to tune up your body, the last place you’d think to turn to is your insurance company. But that’s exactly who’s bringing you music to help you improve your health. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has launched the first ever health insurance-sponsored Pandora music station. To hear music from the BlueCross Pandora Radio Station, go to <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pandora.com%2F%3Fsc%3Dsh269595535411334344&esheet=6458340&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pandora.com%2F%3Fsc%3Dsh269595535411334344&index=1&md5=e644760279877789896602f866cf9bd0">http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh269595535411334344</a>. </blockquote> <a href="http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20101006007008/en/BlueCross-Launches-Pandora-Internet-Radio-Station">BlueCross Launches Pandora Internet Radio Station | EON: Enhanced Online News</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:048708f5-13e0-4abe-bb0a-d64d295dda18" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Blue+Cross" rel="tag">Blue Cross</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/music" rel="tag">music</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/marketing" rel="tag">marketing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pandora+radio" rel="tag">Pandora radio</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/algoirthms" rel="tag">algoirthms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/risk+assessment" rel="tag">risk assessment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/scoring" rel="tag">scoring</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/behavioral+marketing" rel="tag">behavioral marketing</a></div>

BlueCross Feels The Need To Launch A Pandora Internet Radio Station? Marketing…Marketing…And More Marketing…

Sorry, Blue Cross is not going to be on my list with my selections of Pandora radio stations and you know what, there’s a ton of folks readi...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Residents of Washington DC Can Also Get a Free HIV Test at the DMV

I don’t care what state one lives in, a visit to the long lines at the DMV is not anything one looks forward too, but now there’s something else to wait in line for in <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzVoM0g7tI/AAAAAAAAh68/L85DI5-o1Ew/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="179" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzVoYu_vRI/AAAAAAAAh7A/n7yoxuKjdmo/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="226" /></a>Washington DC and this is a free HIV test that has a wait of maybe 20 minutes to get the results too.  In addition a $15.00 credit is given for the expenses at the DMV. We are starting to see more medical type testing appearing in non conventional surroundings, such as K-Mart for an aneurism test.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/blue-light-special-at-k-martfree.html">Blue Light Special at K-Mart–Free Aneurysm Screenings at the Pharmacy Department September 20- November 5th</a></h4> <a href="http://www.gilead.com/pipeline">Gilead Sciences</a>, a company that specializes in HIV drugs was responsible for <a href="http://www.gilead.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzVpH7gmrI/AAAAAAAAh7E/W-PdVU3ZKqc/image%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="153" /></a>making the grant possible.  Below is a listing from their website of the HIV/AIDS drugs they have available.  The company also has quite a few clinical trials in process, and some of those are outside the HIV/AIDS area to include a couple areas of heart disease.  BD <a href="http://www.gilead.com/products/?theProd=atripla#atripla">Atripla®</a> (efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) is the first and only once-daily single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. It is intended for use as a stand-alone therapy, or in combination with other antiretrovirals, and combines Gilead's Truvada® (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) with Sustiva® (efavirenz), manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb. (U.S. approval, 2006; E.U. approval, 2007.) <a href="http://www.gilead.com/products/?theProd=emtriva#emtriva">Emtriva®</a> (emtricitabine) is a once-daily oral nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. Emtriva is also available as an oral solution for use in pediatric patients. (U.S. and E.U. approval, 2003.) <a href="http://www.gilead.com/products/?theProd=truvada#truvada">Truvada®</a> (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a fixed-dose once-daily combination pill containing Viread® and Emtriva®. It is used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. (U.S. approval, 2004; E.U. approval, 2005.) <a href="http://www.gilead.com/products/?theProd=viread#viread">Viread®</a> (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a once-daily oral nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NtRTI) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and adolescents in combination with other antiretroviral agents. (U.S. approval, 2001; E.U. approval, 2002.) Viread® was also approved in 2008 as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B in adults. (U.S. and EU approval, 2008.) <blockquote> (CNN) -- Residents of the nation's capital can now get a driver's license and free HIV testing -- at the same time. A Department of Motor Vehicles branch in southeast Washington is offering testing for the disease under a pilot program aimed at educating residents and reducing stigma. "We realize that this is a nontraditional setting, but this program is about normalizing HIV and extending testing opportunities," said Angela Fulwood Wood, chief operations officer for nonprofit Family and Medical Counseling Service. "We chose the DMV because it offers a good cross-section of people." Gilead Sciences, a California-based pharmaceutical company, provided a $250,000 grant to fund the program, according to Wood. The first-day response was "excellent ... there has been a line waiting to get the HIV test," Vigilance said. "Many people have to wait for some of the DMV services and the rapid HIV test takes only 20 minutes. It fits perfectly with the waiting times." </blockquote> <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/06/washington.hiv.testing/index.html?eref=rss_health&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29">Residents can get tested for HIV as they wait for driver's license - CNN.com</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f48884af-f7ff-41fa-9393-6533451f41e4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HIV" rel="tag">HIV</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AIDS" rel="tag">AIDS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DMV" rel="tag">DMV</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Washginton+DC" rel="tag">Washginton DC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gilead+Sciences" rel="tag">Gilead Sciences</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/screening" rel="tag">screening</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/grants" rel="tag">grants</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharma" rel="tag">pharma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/driver's+license" rel="tag">driver's license</a></div>

Residents of Washington DC Can Also Get a Free HIV Test at the DMV

I don’t care what state one lives in, a visit to the long lines at the DMV is not anything one looks forward too, but now there’s something ...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Emergency Room Imaging Costs Rise Sharply Which Would Be Expected With The Ability to Create an Accurate Diagnosis And Lower Radiation Exposure with Newer Devices On the Rise

We come back around again to the question of both safety and money on this topic and I don’t there’s a doctor around who would hesitate ordering an image if he needed it for a diagnosis, but granted there’s the other side of the coin with a few that see this as an opportunity to increase income.  Of course we need to look at the dose of radiation the patient is exposed to and technology is providing some input there with CT Scanners for one example like the one used at Miller’s Children’s Hospital with 320 bit exposure has a far lower exposure rate than the standard 64 bit used in many facilities.  <img align="right" border="0" height="166" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SzKQSL7mUcI/AAAAAAAAbo4/OSlOyA4-NqI/clip_image006%5B7%5D.gif?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="218" />Note too, the reversal here of the numbers as lower bit always used to mean less exposure and now we have 320  bit with less than 64 bit.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/320-bit-ct-scanners-offer-less.html">320 Bit CT Scanners Offer Less Radiation Exposure Than 64 Bit – New Technology Making the Difference With One Rotation</a></h4> Now when it comes to cost we have yet one more issue.  Back in 2008 companies such as Phillips were in the news with investing in MRI machines that were manufactured in China.  Other companies are paying attention to China, too. <a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?capId=394038">Siemens</a> last September opened a medical research and development, manufacturing, service, sales, and marketing center in Shanghai. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/chinese-mris-coming-to-your-hospital.html">Chinese MRIs, Coming to Your Hospital</a></h4> “One of the most aggressive companies is Medtronic (<a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?symbol=MDT">MDT</a>), which in December announced it was investing $221 million to buy a 21% stake in <a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?capId=9649234">Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer</a>, a Hong Kong-listed manufacturer of medical equipment based in China's northeastern Shandong province.”<img align="right" border="0" height="168" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SA-6zy6AJCI/AAAAAAAAFnY/sACoX9RWl78/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="244" /> This ripple effect also continue with the cost as a subsidiary of a major health insurance company has purchased a company in China that already has an open line of communication with the FDA to work with promoting more Chinese medical devices and drugs globally and to here in the US, as it’s not big secret today that insurers are looking at every angle to keep the cost of care and treatment down. When looking at companies as a whole today, it’s important to not forget what the subsidiaries are doing by all means.  In this case it is a subsidiary of a subsidiary of United Health Care so a little bit of a trail to chase here but by now we all know that Ingenix is the analytics arm of United with the vast offerings of algorithms all over the map so in essence we are seeing the involvement here of insurance companies taking a stake in getting devices approved from the front side of the game instead of the back side.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/05/unitedhealth-subsidiary-ingenix.html">UnitedHealth subsidiary (Ingenix Subsidiary I3) Acquires ChinaGate – Working to Sell Chinese Products Globally</a></h4> From the website: “We are familiar with the Chinese regulatory system and are well connected with most of the top urban class A  hospitals and clinical trial centers that are GCP certified by the China State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Moreover, since we worked many years in multi-national pharmaceutical companies ,we are well versed in ICH, European and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements on Good Clinical Practice (GCP). “ Again, no doctor is going to shy away from ordering imaging if he/she believes it is in the best interest of the patient and with new devices that have lower exposure rates we are seeing improvement there, but we come back to the cost and how often does a facility buy a new device?   Diagnosis still remains a bit of a hit and miss as it has been for years as there’s no 100% methodology out there.  Certainly it takes more time as well as the staff time to do the imaging, but when it comes down to the cost, the value of a human life should be first priority as there’s also no doctor under the sun that wants to either miss a diagnosis or risk a malpractice suit as a result.  BD <blockquote> The use of costly advanced imaging techniques in U.S. emergency rooms tripled in a decade, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., meaning many more patients were exposed to higher levels of radiation. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore studied data on emergency room visits from 1998 to 2007, looking for evidence that "excessive use of medical imaging increases healthcare costs and exposure to ionizing radiation (a potential carcinogen) without yielding significant benefits to all patients," according to the JAMA report. They found that, while the use of the scans went from 6 percent of ER visits in 1998 to 17 percent in 2008, there was no corresponding increase in the diagnosis of life-threatening conditions or hospital admissions. Dr. Raul Uppot, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, told the magazine that the study neglected to address a key aspect: The importance of negative results from the scans. Visits involving the imaging scans took 126 more minutes than visits which didn't involve CT or MRI </blockquote> <a href="http://www.massdevice.com/news/emergency-room-ct-mri-use-triples-10-years">Emergency room CT, MRI use triples in 10 years | MassDevice - Medical Device Industry News</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:733ad544-26f2-4d29-98dc-82cf4bf42402" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ER+room" rel="tag">ER room</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/diagnosis" rel="tag">diagnosis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/imaging" rel="tag">imaging</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CT+Scanner" rel="tag">CT Scanner</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/budgets" rel="tag">budgets</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/admissions" rel="tag">admissions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/patient" rel="tag">patient</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/doctor" rel="tag">doctor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ingenix" rel="tag">Ingenix</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/United+HealthCare" rel="tag">United HealthCare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/China" rel="tag">China</a></div>

Emergency Room Imaging Costs Rise Sharply Which Would Be Expected With The Ability to Create an Accurate Diagnosis And Lower Radiation Exposure with Newer Devices On the Rise

We come back around again to the question of both safety and money on this topic and I don’t there’s a doctor around who would hesitate orde...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Tissue Samples From Exposure to Plutonium and Uranium To Be Studied To Determine How Individuals Who Were Exposed Have Been Affected

In addition to radiation tissue samples of asbestos or beryllium nature will also be studied.  This is applying technology and information to libraries of samples that <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzDXZ98p1I/AAAAAAAAh6w/EBSGIAnm4yg/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="147" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKzDX9EqYdI/AAAAAAAAh60/sUqVqaXZsOs/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="254" /></a>have not been previously studied for long term effects.  As mentioned in the article workers who were accidentally exposed to radiation may now have an answer in time as the research begins.  Volunteer donations of samples from Hanford and Los Alamos are also making the study possible so in addition to libraries on file, current tissue samples can be analyzed as well.  BD <blockquote> ScienceDaily (Oct. 6, 2010) — Tucked away in a metal sided warehouse at the Richland Airport, Washington State University researchers sift through years, even decades, of data files and human tissue samples in an attempt to track how previous nuclear workers were affected by and other nuclear-industry related elements. The project is called "The United States Transuranium & Uranium Registries," (USTUR) and is operated by the WSU College of Pharmacy, with support from the United State Department of Energy Office of Health and Safety. The samples of tissue and body organs come from volunteer donors who worked at government sites where plutonium, uranium and other elements were processed, such as Hanford and Los Alamos. Collecting data from tissue samples means dissolving the tissue in an acid and running it through a series of separation steps so the purified plutonium or other desired elements can be extracted and collected for measurement. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101006114450.htm">Human tissue, organs help scientists learn from plutonium and uranium workers</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c5ccf0e1-796a-4b6b-9741-c46cf1f9b54c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/plutonium" rel="tag">plutonium</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/uranium" rel="tag">uranium</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/safety" rel="tag">safety</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Department+of+Energy+Office+of+Health+and+Safety" rel="tag">Department of Energy Office of Health and Safety</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tissue+samples" rel="tag">tissue samples</a></div>

Tissue Samples From Exposure to Plutonium and Uranium To Be Studied To Determine How Individuals Who Were Exposed Have Been Affected

In addition to radiation tissue samples of asbestos or beryllium nature will also be studied. This is applying technology and information t...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

FDA Awards Grants for the Study of TB to Create Better Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The grants include finding biomarkers to target vaccines and creating a repository of specimens to gather information for research.  Six physicians were selected and each plays a role with a specific area of research.  TB has been a long time <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKy5Zanl9II/AAAAAAAAh6k/GATpLCcWRQs/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="144" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKy5Z1iNOjI/AAAAAAAAh6o/GjTzcspqfAk/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="181" /></a>disease spread throughout the air and years ago there patients were placed in institutions to avoid spreading of the disease as TB is not new and has been amongst society for years.  The press release link below names the physicians and each area of research for their investigations.  BD <blockquote> FDA awards nearly $3 million for TB research Awards support critical public health need for TB drug development The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the award of $2.9 million to support six research projects that will help with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis (TB). TB remains a major public health challenge with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Two recent articles published by FDA’s Office of Critical Path Programs note that advances are urgently needed in TB drug development to shorten therapy and to treat drug-resistant disease. “FDA recognized an urgent need for the engagement and leadership of public health institutions to promote this critical, but neglected, area of medical therapeutics,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm228250.htm">FDA awards nearly $3 million for TB research</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e2b282ff-dab9-4e8c-9de3-35327f98690e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TB" rel="tag">TB</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/grants" rel="tag">grants</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tuberculosis" rel="tag">tuberculosis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/vaccines" rel="tag">vaccines</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/therapy" rel="tag">therapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a></div>

FDA Awards Grants for the Study of TB to Create Better Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The grants include finding biomarkers to target vaccines and creating a repository of specimens to gather information for research. Six phy...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Germ Eliminating Smartphone Sanitizer–Works for MP3 Players and Other Mobile Devices–3 Minutes to Remove Germs

This looks to be a great idea as doctors running around all day long using their <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvpRNUr0I/AAAAAAAAh6E/J1-9W92DxRA/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvqQ_IRlI/AAAAAAAAh6I/hKqLzMZM5Ig/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="211" /></a>devices in a hospital could be exposed to almost anything and no brain surgeon required there to figure this out.  As a consumer too, this could also be useful.  At $49.95 it’s not going to break the bank.  In looking at the website, the company’s expertise in sanitization has been with toothbrushes and now it looks like <a href="http://violight.com/viuvcephsa.html">Violight</a> has some new territory here. The company claims it works on viruses like the H1N1, staph and many more.   Last year I wrote about a keyboard and there have been a few more of those types of products to come out since then.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/germ-zapping-keyboard-for-use-in.html">Germ-Zapping Keyboard – for use in Hospitals to help prevent the spread of MRSA, C Diff, and other bacterial infections<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvrNy8WaI/AAAAAAAAh6M/hRgzQEvK1Hw/s1600-h/image%5B16%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvsDrXIiI/AAAAAAAAh6U/KOJ02neDe28/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="109" /></a></a></h4> There’s also a vacuum cleaner from Oreck using UV lighting to help keep the germs away. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/germ-killing-vacuum-cleaner-from-oreck.html">Germ-killing vacuum cleaner from Oreck uses UV light</a></h4> Just yesterday I posted about a clinical trial working on solutions to fight MRSA being conducting at UCI to better address MRSA with a grant from stimulus funds. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/10/clinical-trial-on-fighting-mrsa.html">Clinical Trial on Fighting MRSA Infections in Southern California To Begin With 10 Million Dollar Grant</a></h4> The website states that it zaps 99% of the germs on the phone or other device. It’s pretty simple to use, insert device, put the cover on, and it takes 3 minutes to have a sanitized iPhone, Blackberry or what ever device you are using.  BD <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 357px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ca7a03f2-5adb-4cce-be31-14e936045552" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="a55ad694-1db9-4056-9292-3a363d31bab0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Ynltm6qI4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('a55ad694-1db9-4056-9292-3a363d31bab0'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"357\" height=\"217\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/q3Ynltm6qI4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/q3Ynltm6qI4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"357\" height=\"217\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvs7X2hxI/AAAAAAAAh6Y/rpcZkjBEJdY/videoe1dd4c963bd8%5B30%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div><div style="width:357px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">Phone Sanitizer</div></div> <blockquote>This innovative sanitizer eliminates up to 99.9% of germs, bacteria and viruses that accumulate on smartphones, MP3 players, Bluetooth <a href="http://violight.com/viuvcephsa.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="97" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyvt9mF7FI/AAAAAAAAh6c/LrATZ3WeR3s/image%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="160" /></a>headsets and ear bud headphones using safe ultraviolet light - the same technology hospitals use to sanitize instruments. In only five minutes, the UV light kills bacteria and viruses like H1N1, Streptococcus, E. coli, and Salmonella and is able to reach deep into keypad crevices and other hidden areas that sustain germ vitality. Just slid your smartphone or iPod into the Violight, close the lid and it automatically begins to sanitize. This is an absolute, 21st century must-have device.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.thegreenhead.com/2010/09/violight-germ-eliminating-smartphone-sanitizer.php">The Green Head - Violight - Germ Eliminating Smartphone Sanitizer</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:430d148a-4118-4b04-972e-a02cea1c7f0d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Violight" rel="tag">Violight</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/germs" rel="tag">germs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRSA" rel="tag">MRSA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bactera" rel="tag">bactera</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/sanitization" rel="tag">sanitization</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cell+phones" rel="tag">cell phones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MP3s" rel="tag">MP3s</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/devices" rel="tag">devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/doctors" rel="tag">doctors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mobile+devices" rel="tag">mobile devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mHealth" rel="tag">mHealth</a></div>

Germ Eliminating Smartphone Sanitizer–Works for MP3 Players and Other Mobile Devices–3 Minutes to Remove Germs

This looks to be a great idea as doctors running around all day long using their devices in a hospital could be exposed to almost anything a...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Harnessing Human Feces for Power in the UK–Cooking and Staying Warm is Now a Reality With Creating Biomethane

Participation and contributions with this project are no problem and the power of the <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyl-Tq3elI/AAAAAAAAh54/skau0A5w0C4/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="124" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKyl-m3OVOI/AAAAAAAAh58/SeVXWH2zxMk/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>toilet is providing energy solutions to around 200 homes.   It takes 3 weeks and the average consumer produces around 30 kilos of raw material every year.  That was interesting to find out too.  The smell of natural gas is added and it burns just like regular gas.  This could be fueling many additional homes in the near future and they are doing something useful here as it has to go somewhere.  There’s certainly no shortage of raw material <grin>.  BD  <object data="http://in.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=163797823" height="259" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://in.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=163797823"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://in.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=163797823" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="259" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> <blockquote>Oct 6 - British householders are cooking and staying warm with gas produced in their toilets following the completion of a project to make biomethane from human waste and distribute it through the country's gas network. Stuart McDill reports.</blockquote> <a href="http://in.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=163797823&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=Technology&videoChannel=6&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FINVideoTechnology+%28Video+%2F+IN+%2F+Technology%29">UK cooks, stays warm with human gas | Video | Reuters.com</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:eaf36a25-f833-455e-8244-f17620827e49" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UK" rel="tag">UK</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/feces" rel="tag">feces</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/energy" rel="tag">energy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gas" rel="tag">gas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/sewage" rel="tag">sewage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/biomethane" rel="tag">biomethane</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/recycling" rel="tag">recycling</a></div>

Harnessing Human Feces for Power in the UK–Cooking and Staying Warm is Now a Reality With Creating Biomethane

Participation and contributions with this project are no problem and the power of the toilet is providing energy solutions to around 200 hom...

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Clinical Trial on Fighting MRSA Infections in Southern California To Begin With 10 Million Dollar Grant

This is not your regular clinical trial as we think of, but rather using soap and mouthwash that contains <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorhexidine">Chlorhexadine</a> to be given to a patient upon release from the hospital.  Hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange County will identify patients with MRSA or staph infections.  In addition patients will receive an ointment containing Mupirocin that is applied in the nose, since this is where staph likes to live.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKwbgCj-6FI/AAAAAAAAh5s/ZqgKcTjTnyo/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="170" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKwbggc1mtI/AAAAAAAAh5w/FoIh4rMWsp0/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="220" /></a> The study will involve 1700 candidates over an 18 month time frame and some may be aware of the fact that they have the bacteria.  The participants will be monitored for a year and half the participants will receive educational information only.  The hope here is to prevent the next infection via proper release and home care treatments.  Chlorhexadine has been known to work well against MRSA, but there has been little documentation and I hope for all this is a success against the killing bacteria.  If you have been to a dentist and received any type of prescription mouthwash, you may have already experienced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorhexidine">Chlorhexadine</a> and now the option of the FDA approved chemical in soap is being explored too. <blockquote> A UC Irvine doctor is hoping that a special soap, mouthwash and nasal ointment can prevent staph infections caused by the drug-resistant bacterium MRSA. <a href="http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5478">Dr. Susan Huang</a> has <a href="http://today.uci.edu/news/2010/10/nr_mrsa_101001.php">received a $10 million grant</a> from the Obama administration’s stimulus package to run a randomized clinical trial of the treatments. If the study is successful, the treatments could help the estimated 1 percent of Americans — about 1.8 million people — who are carriers of MRSA. About one-third of Americans have Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on their skin or in their noses, but the vast majority of the time they’re harmless. “Nobody knows what makes some people susceptible and others not,” Huang said. “But there are risk factors.” Huang, medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention at UCI Medical Center and an assistant professor at the university’s infectious disease school, says her research will provide the first close look at home treatments offered after someone has left the hospital. ”We’re trying to look at whether or not we can prevent the next infection from occurring,” she said. In the forthcoming clinical trial, half of the subjects will receive a regimen designed to “decolonize” the MRSA bacteria. The treatments include soap and mouthwash containing Chlorhexadine, which Huang says has been used for decades in hospitals and is a proven weapon against MRSA, but “it’s not been standardized, and it’s not well-studied in trial form,” Huang said. That test group also will get Mupirocin, an ointment made by GlaxoSmithKline that’s applied in the nose, “because that’s where staph likes to live,” she said. The $10 million grant came from a program of the 2009 federal stimulus package called the CHOICE program, which provides money to study the effectiveness of various medical treatments. </blockquote> <a href="http://healthyliving.ocregister.com/2010/10/04/soap-mouthwash-may-end-misery-of-mrsa/24304/">Soap, mouthwash may end misery of MRSA - Healthy Living : The Orange County Register</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2022e196-46ae-4150-8f5b-b3a71156de49" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chlorhexadine" rel="tag">Chlorhexadine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/staph" rel="tag">staph</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRSA" rel="tag">MRSA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infections" rel="tag">infections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinical+trial" rel="tag">clinical trial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UCI+Irvine" rel="tag">UCI Irvine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bacteria" rel="tag">bacteria</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infectious+diseases" rel="tag">infectious diseases</a></div>

Clinical Trial on Fighting MRSA Infections in Southern California To Begin With 10 Million Dollar Grant

This is not your regular clinical trial as we think of, but rather using soap and mouthwash that contains Chlorhexadine to be given to a pa...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

FDA Approves Xeomin® A Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox)To Treat Cervical Dystonia

Dystonia has been a hard to diagnose disease at times and other times can be confused with other disorders.  The link below goes back a short post on how Botox gave a grandmother her voice back.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuUfQL3P8I/AAAAAAAAh5U/ps9Ul2_8lfE/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuUf9lYxQI/AAAAAAAAh5Y/vMR4wcOnrcI/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="199" /></a> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/11/botox-gives-grandmother-her-voice-back.html">Botox Gives Grandmother Her Voice Back</a></h4> In addition deep brain stimulation has been used to treat dystonia and now it appears Botox may even be a simpler treatment and the FDA has approved the use for certain types of dystonia.  The link below describes in more detail what dystonia is, a neurological disorder.  BD  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/deep-brain-stimulation-for-dystonia-and.html">Deep Brain Stimulation for Dystonia and Parkinson’s Disease and More?</a></h4> This certainly seems like one to try before going the route of an implant and surgery if it is in an area of treatment approved by the FDA.  More information will be forthcoming soon <a href="http://www.xeomin.com/">from the website.</a>  BD <a href="http://www.xeomin.com/"><img alt="image" border="0" height="220" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuUgGiZnTI/AAAAAAAAh5c/Box1M3gVZiY/image%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="382" /></a> Press Release: GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 5 / PRNewswire/ - Merz Pharmaceuticals today announced that Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA), a new botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia (CD) or blepharospasm, is now commercially available in the U.S. XEOMIN was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 30, 2010.   XEOMIN is a botulinum toxin type A that is free from accessory proteins. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia, to decrease the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain in both botulinum toxin-naïve and previously treated patients and blepharospasm in adults previously treated with Botox® (onabotulinumtoxinA). “We are excited that XEOMIN is now available in the U.S.,” said Jack Britts, President and CEO of Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC. “XEOMIN is a new treatment option for patients with cervical dystonia or blepharospasm. Merz is committed to patients having access to the product by providing a variety of service offerings and financial assistance programs for patients. We are pleased with the initial response from healthcare professionals and patients and we believe XEOMIN will make a difference in the lives of CD and blepharospasm patients who receive the product. Our Medical and Sales representatives have begun activities supporting the product to healthcare professionals who regularly inject botulinum toxin for the treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.” As part of its commitment to the professional and patient communities, Merz will offer a comprehensive product support system that allows a single point of contact for assistance with ordering, product information, reimbursement questions and patient support. Merz will also offer a drug co-pay assistance program for eligible patients, designed to provide direct assistance to patients for their out-of-pocket costs. “Over the years, botulinum toxin has become an important treatment for cervical dystonia and blepharospasm,” said Stephen Gollomp, M.D., Clinical Professor of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Penn., and an investigator for XEOMIN. “With the availability of XEOMIN in the U.S., physicians and patients now have a new therapeutic option for the treatment of these conditions.” To order XEOMIN, call 1-888-4-XEOMIN (1-888-493-6646). About Dystonia Dystonias are neurological movement disorders in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. These movements, which are involuntary and sometimes painful, may affect a single muscle (focal), a group of muscles such as those in the arms, legs, or neck (segmental), or even the entire body (generalized). Symptoms can be mild or severe and dystonias may be markedly disabling. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuUgiJEQeI/AAAAAAAAh5g/PYeA7_V6l8E/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="125" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuUg9Ag-NI/AAAAAAAAh5k/L0qkKjtPEEQ/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> Although dystonia is thought to be rare, it is possibly undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to lack of specific clinical criteria. With focal dystonia, such as blepharospasm or cervical dystonia, most people first experience symptoms in middle age. According to an epidemiology study conducted in Rochester, Minn., focal dystonia, which includes cervical dystonia, and may be characterized by twisting of the neck, and blepharospasm, or excessive eyelid spasm is estimated to affect 295 per million people in the U.S. About XEOMIN In nature, Clostridium botulinum produces the toxin in association with ancillary accessory proteins. Manufacturers utilize this naturally occurring protein complex to produce therapeutic botulinum toxin products.  Now Merz introduces XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA) which employs a proprietary manufacturing process that isolates the therapeutic component and eliminates these accessory proteins. More than 84,000 patients have been treated with XEOMIN worldwide since 2005.  The U.S. is the 20th country to approve XEOMIN for the treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm. XEOMIN is the only botulinum toxin that does not require refrigeration prior to reconstitution. Merz believes this may simplify product distribution and storage, and help ensure product integrity at the time of injection. XEOMIN will be available in 50-unit and 100-unit vials, which Merz believes may allow for more precise billing and reduce wastage.   IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: Distant Spread of Toxin EffectPostmarketing reports indicate that the effects of XEOMIN and all botulinum toxin products may spread from the area of injection to produce symptoms consistent with botulinum toxin effects. These may include asthenia, generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, blurred vision, ptosis, dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, urinary incontinence and breathing difficulties. These symptoms have been reported hours to weeks after injection. Swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life threatening and there have been reports of death. The risk of symptoms is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity but symptoms can also occur in adults treated for spasticity and other conditions, particularly in those patients who have underlying conditions that would predispose them to these symptoms. In unapproved uses, including spasticity in children and adults, and in approved indications, cases of spread of effect have been reported at doses comparable to those used to treat cervical dystonia and at lower doses. CONTRAINDICATIONS XEOMIN is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to the active substance botulinum toxin type A or to any of the components in the formulation and in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s). WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS The potency units of XEOMIN are not interchangeable with other preparations of botulinum toxin products.  Therefore, units of biological activity of XEOMIN cannot be compared to or converted into units of any other botulinum toxin products. Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with botulinum toxin products (anaphylaxis, serum sickness, urticaria, soft tissue edema, and dyspnea). If serious and/or immediate hypersensitivity reactions occur further injection of XEOMIN should be discontinued and appropriate medical therapy immediately instituted. Treatment with XEOMIN and other botulinum toxin products can result in swallowing or breathing difficulties. Patients with pre-existing swallowing or breathing difficulties may be more susceptible to these complications. In most cases, this is a consequence of weakening of muscles in the area of injection that are involved in breathing or swallowing. When distant effects occur, additional respiratory muscles may be involved [See Boxed Warning]. Deaths as a complication of severe dysphagia have been reported after treatment with botulinum toxin. Dysphagia may persist for several months, and require use of a feeding tube to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. Aspiration may result from severe dysphagia and is a particular risk when treating patients in whom swallowing or respiratory function is already compromised. These reactions can occur within hours to weeks after injection with botulinum toxin. · Cervical Dystonia: Patients with smaller neck muscle mass and patients who require bilateral injections into the sternocleidomastoid muscles are at greater risk of dysphagia. Limiting the dose injected into the sternocleidomastoid muscle may decrease the occurrence of dysphagia. · Blepharospasm:  Injection of XEOMIN into the orbicularis oculi muscle may lead to reduced blinking and corneal exposure with possible ulceration or perforation. Lower lid injections should not be repeated if diplopia occurred with previous botulinum toxin injections. · Individuals with peripheral motor neuropathic diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or neuromuscular junctional disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome) should be monitored particularly closely when given botulinum toxin. Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk of clinically significant effects including severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical doses of XEOMIN. ADVERSE REACTIONS · Cervical Dystonia:  The most commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥10% of patients and twice the rate of placebo) for XEOMIN 120 Units and XEOMIN 240 Units, respectively, were: dysphagia (13%, 18%), neck pain (7%, 15%), muscle weakness (7%, 11%), and musculoskeletal pain (7%, 4%). · Blepharospasm: The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥10% of patients and twice the rate of placebo) for XEOMIN were eyelid ptosis (19%), dry mouth (16%), visual impairment (12%), diarrhea (8%), and headache (7%). DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant treatment of XEOMIN and aminoglycoside antibiotics, spectinomycin, or other agents that interfere with neuromuscular transmission (e.g., tubocurarine-like agents), or muscle relaxants, should be observed closely because the effect of XEOMIN may be potentiated. USE IN PREGNANCY Please see full prescribing information for XEOMIN, including Boxed WARNING, available at <a href="http://www.XEOMIN.com">www.XEOMIN.com</a> <a href="http://www.XEOMIN.com"><http://www.XEOMIN.com></a> . <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f0471869-294c-4f53-8e3b-4238921b99f5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Merz" rel="tag">Merz</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/dystonia" rel="tag">dystonia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/neurological+disease" rel="tag">neurological disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Botox" rel="tag">Botox</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xeomin" rel="tag">Xeomin</a></div>

FDA Approves Xeomin® A Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox)To Treat Cervical Dystonia

Dystonia has been a hard to diagnose disease at times and other times can be confused with other disorders. The link below goes back a shor...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Steve Jobs Attends Governor Schwarzenegger’s Signing The Legislation to Create Nation’s First Kidney Donor Registry in California- It Was His Idea and Work To Push It Through

Today the governor signs this into law and Steve Jobs as you may or may not be aware of was very active in getting this legislation started, being a transplant <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN3PhXeGI/AAAAAAAAh44/343MyM73XpM/s1600-h/image%5B13%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN3oxoy8I/AAAAAAAAh48/wZMoRkdynj4/image_thumb%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="261" /></a>patient himself a short while back.  The bill passed unanimously through both California legislature houses.  The Governor talks highly about how his conversations with Steve Jobs brought this to fruition.  The program will make organ donations available to everyone and Governor Arnold states that when you sign up as a donor, one could be saving a potential 13 lives.  In the picture above you can see Steve Jobs to the right of the the governor.  This program now requires you to make a decision of whether we are “in” or “out”.  Steve Jobs take the stage and adds his words on how precious this give of life is.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN4E-0UCI/AAAAAAAAh5A/qJkb6M7X0hQ/s1600-h/image%5B25%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN4dnKRCI/AAAAAAAAh5E/RkFk7RlUGGQ/image_thumb%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="398" /></a> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-steve-jobs-influenced-live-organ.html">How Steve Jobs Influenced the Live Organ Donor Registry and Driver’s License Donor Bill In Front of the California Legislature</a></h4> Certainly Steve Jobs had the opportunity to travel and get on donor lists that most would not just due to who he is and what he does.  He had to travel to Memphis to receive his liver.  This story goes into detail here and how he decided to support the bill as more lives could be saved with some administrative procedures.  Steve Jobs also had to live in Memphis for a while as he recovered   Below is the video of the live event today.  BD <embed src="http://tweetcast.in/player-licensed-viral.swf" height="324" width="420" bgcolor="DFDFDF" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="&autostart=false&backcolor=DFDFDF&dock=false&file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dot.ca.gov%2Fgovflash%2F20101005_sign.flv&frontcolor=3F3F3F&icons=false&lightcolor=3F3F3F&plugins=viral-2d&stretching=fill" /></embed> <blockquote> Governor to Highlight Legislation to Create Nation’s First Kidney Donor Registry <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN5GZXJtI/AAAAAAAAh5I/DiHgvzwIEOs/s1600-h/image4.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="152" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuN5qNaaCI/AAAAAAAAh5M/kK3HRk-X5Vw/image_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> Governor Schwarzenegger will be joined by Senator Elaine Alquist and Senator Mark DeSaulnier for the ceremonial signing of legislation to create the nation’s first living donor registry for kidney transplants and increase organ donation opportunities for Californians. </blockquote> <a href="http://tweetcast.in/">Watching Gov. @Schwarzenegger highlight legislation to create nation's first kidney donor registry - live at http://tweetcast.in/1382</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:58ddc72e-1025-450d-805a-1316c26c279e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Schwarzenegger.+laws" rel="tag">Schwarzenegger. laws</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/kidney+donor+Registry" rel="tag">kidney donor Registry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/State+Laws" rel="tag">State Laws</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Steve+Jobs" rel="tag">Steve Jobs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/transplants" rel="tag">transplants</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/kidneys" rel="tag">kidneys</a></div>

Steve Jobs Attends Governor Schwarzenegger’s Signing The Legislation to Create Nation’s First Kidney Donor Registry in California- It Was His Idea and Work To Push It Through

Today the governor signs this into law and Steve Jobs as you may or may not be aware of was very active in getting this legislation started,...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Social Security Awards Health IT Contracts To Four Vendors to Establish or Acquire Health IT Technology to Work with Medical Records in Processing Disability Claims

Social Security early on expressed their interest with electronic medical records <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TA3IchjXW-I/AAAAAAAAeqY/TuYrlGuuNn0/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" />and there have been some pilot programs working in this area too.  Back in August there were hints that some new big contracts were coming up and this looks like this is it or a part of it.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/social-security-big-contract-coming.html">Social Security Big Contract Coming Up–IT and Infrastructure Updates Really Needed–Cobol Still In Place In Some Areas</a></h4> In Boston at <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/ehrs-go-beyond-treatment-social.html">Beth Israel Deaconess, a pilot program</a> was created and is in use, beginning in 2008 and they have been exchanging records, and I believe they were the actual first program started by Social Security.  Social Security is also sharing records with the VA and DOD.  The medical records are relative to disability claims being filed and speeds up the process tremendously.  In August of 2009 Social Security set their own budget for electronic medical records.   Back in February of this year Social Security announced 15 healthcare facilities who would be participating in the exchange of records with additional pilots.  <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/S_H5iWtG2_I/AAAAAAAAeEw/U-q1q6ID1DE/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" /> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/social-security-awards-contracts-for.html">Social Security Awards Contracts for Electronic Medical Records – 15 New Recipients for Disability Claim Info</a></h4> We see some familiar faces here such as Grumman who also was awarded the meaningful use contract for provider reporting data base work. <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/defense-contractors-focusing-on.html">Since defense contracts are down,</a> many companies have switched their focus to IT as that field is still growing.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/05/cms-outsourcing-creation-of-meaningful.html">CMS Outsourcing Creation of “Meaningful Use” Database to Northrop Grumman in a $34 Million Contract</a></h4> Accenture has a big job with their portion of the contract with the data integration processes to include mobile and web portals.  Social Security well on their way on getting things in motion to be connected.  BD  <blockquote> The Social Security Administration (SSA) has selected four prime contractors under the Information Technology Support Services Contract (ITSSC) that will be used, in part, to acquire health information technology that works with electronic health record (EHR) systems to process applications for disability benefits. The ITSSC includes a one-year base period plus six additional one-year options with an aggregate ceiling valued at $2.8 billion. The four prime contractors under ITSSC are Accenture, Computer Sciences Corp., Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. "All four companies are prime contractors, but SSA has directed different paths" for each, he said. For instance, Accenture's focus is on "emerging technologies," including projects involving analytics, mobile, and web portals, Shane said. Accenture will also focus on integrating data from EHRs into SSA systems to assist in disability and other entitlement program determinations, he said. The scope of ITSSC underscores SSA's increasing need for health IT, as the data contained in EHRs will enable disability claims and other entitlement program determinations to be done more quickly, efficiently, and accurately, he said. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/EMR/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227700130&cid=InformationWeek-Twitter">Social Security Awards Health IT Contracts -- Electronic Health Records -- InformationWeek</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3b73ec0d-4049-439a-b6be-e0db5a7a2901" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Social+security" rel="tag">Social security</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Congress" rel="tag">Congress</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grants" rel="tag">Grants</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/contract" rel="tag">contract</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infrastruture" rel="tag">infrastruture</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HIT" rel="tag">HIT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/transactions" rel="tag">transactions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Accenture" rel="tag">Accenture</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Computer+Sciences+Corp." rel="tag">Computer Sciences Corp.</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Northrop" rel="tag">Northrop</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grumman" rel="tag">Grumman</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lockheed+Martin" rel="tag">Lockheed Martin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/aggregation" rel="tag">aggregation</a></div>

Social Security Awards Health IT Contracts To Four Vendors to Establish or Acquire Health IT Technology to Work with Medical Records in Processing Disability Claims

Social Security early on expressed their interest with electronic medical records and there have been some pilot programs working in this ar...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

UCLA and 5 University of California Hospitals Receive $9.9M from HHS Study Use of Wireless and Remote Care Management to Reduce Hospital Readmissions–Participatory Sensing

I have often commented on how wireless technology has been somewhat left out in some of the meaningful use discussions and in my thoughts, wireless use could <a href="http://dgsom.healthsciences.ucla.edu/dgsom/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="61" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuB0IP6omI/AAAAAAAAh4s/28UbOsYqBfE/image%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="312" /></a>have been added as a “bonus” type situation, not required but more points for those who are using this technology.  This study is to compare conventional follow up procedures with various types of wireless monitoring to see if return trips to the hospital can be avoided and if done properly, everyone should win here. I talk a lot about implementation with devices as that is important as other wise you could very well create a “nag” and turn people off too.  UCLA has also been a front runner with “participatory sensing” and I have included information in post in the past on how this works.  This is important because if everybody hates it and it doesn’t have an ease of use for all, then the purpose is lost.  <img align="right" border="0" height="235" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SvT91Zgb4dI/AAAAAAAAa2s/XC3od2FZJdI/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="310" /> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/participatory-sensing-medical-devices.html">Participatory Sensing – Medical Device Study at UCLA With Reporting Data</a> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/11/participatory-sensing-with-cell-phones.html">Participatory Sensing with Cell Phones – New Study to Determine If This Works and How Disruptive It Could Be</a></h6> The White House is well versed on participatory sensing too and realizes the importance of a good implementation and probably why this support has been given in this effort. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/11/white-house-speaks-about-wireless.html">White House Speaks About Wireless Technology – Healthcare And Participatory Sensing</a></h4> The success of course requires involving the patient too as if they don’t like it or want to try, then success may not follow.  This study is to see what they like and how it can over come the readmission problems with having information available earlier before a situation turns into an emergency visit, and this study is all about participatory sensing.  BD <blockquote> A UCLA-led consortium of five University of California medical schools, plus Cedars–Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has received $9.9 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to research the use of wireless and telephone care management to reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/healthsci.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="84" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKuB0dhk11I/AAAAAAAAh4w/__tOTmv4HR4/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="129" /></a> The three-year grant, "Variations in Care: Comparing Heart Failure Care Transition Intervention Effects," is funded under the AHRQ's Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness (CHOICE) program. "Heart failure patients have high rates of hospital readmissions, and a critical window for preventing readmissions is as the patient transitions from the inpatient to outpatient setting," said Dr. Michael Ong, assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the grant's principal investigator. "This project compares two approaches designed to help patients make a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient care. We will compare whether each approach reduces readmissions among heart failure patients at six different medical centers." The project will be a three-armed, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of two interventions: managing the transition from inpatient to outpatient care via telephone, and managing the transition from inpatient to outpatient care via wireless remote monitors and telephone. These will be compared to the standard care for heart failure patients. The award is part of $473 million in AHRQ grants and contracts that support projects to help people make health care decisions based on the best evidence of effectiveness. The funding, announced Sept. 30, covers all of the AHRQ's allocation and $173 million administered for the HHS Secretary by the AHRQ. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/uoc--ucg100410.php">UCLA-led consortium gets $9.9M to reduce hospital readmission of heart failure patients</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0b17cd19-8a29-4cd6-9fb1-861263e237f5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HHS" rel="tag">HHS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UCLA" rel="tag">UCLA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/readmissions" rel="tag">readmissions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/study" rel="tag">study</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/remote+wireless+care" rel="tag">remote wireless care</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/grant" rel="tag">grant</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heart+failure" rel="tag">heart failure</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/outpatient" rel="tag">outpatient</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/trial" rel="tag">trial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/interventions" rel="tag">interventions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mobile" rel="tag">mobile</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/participatory+sensing" rel="tag">participatory sensing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mHealth" rel="tag">mHealth</a></div>

UCLA and 5 University of California Hospitals Receive $9.9M from HHS Study Use of Wireless and Remote Care Management to Reduce Hospital Readmissions–Participatory Sensing

I have often commented on how wireless technology has been somewhat left out in some of the meaningful use discussions and in my thoughts, w...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation - The Work Across the World–60 Minutes Takes a Deep Look and Talks With Melinda Gates While Touring Countries Where the Foundation Works

In case you missed 60 Minutes this weekend, this is a great interview and “travel <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1D4ZyyKI/AAAAAAAAh4Q/3TISyG6twXg/s1600-h/image%5B21%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1ETHNUQI/AAAAAAAAh4U/QR0Z3aMW6hU/image_thumb%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="214" /></a>with” view of what the 10 year old foundation is doing and where.  The Gates plan to give away 90% of their fortune to create cures and help fight disease and educate the world and the US.  You don’t hear a lot about the foundation as they are not plastered all over the world looking for donations, they are self funded and thus it’s up to them where the money is spent.  India is a focus with Melinda’s efforts on educating women having children as so many die, and she felt it was a neglected crisis with showing how to attend to the child after childbirth first.  Polio is also a problem and the goes over how the vaccination needs to be distributed.  They are knocking on doors to find every child that has not tasted the polio vaccination and they saw people afflicted that we have not seen here in the US in the 60s.  <embed src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" scale="noscale" salign="lt" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" background="#333333" width="425" height="279" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="si=254&uvpc=http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/uvp_cbsnews.xml&contentType=videoId&contentValue=50093936&ccEnabled=false&hdEnabled=false&fsEnabled=true&shareEnabled=false&dlEnabled=false&subEnabled=false&playlistDisplay=none&playlistType=none&playerWidth=425&playerHeight=239&vidWidth=425&vidHeight=239&autoplay=false&bbuttonDisplay=none&playOverlayText=PLAY%20CBS%20NEWS%20VIDEO&refreshMpuEnabled=true&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6923498n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea.4&adEngine=dart&adCallTemplate=http%3A//www.cbs.com/thunder/ad.doubleclick.net/adx/request.php%3F/can/news/%7B%25videoNode%7D%3Bsite%3Dnews%3Bshow%3D%7B%25videoParentNode%7D%3B%7B%25videoFeatPath%7Dpartner%3Dnews%3Blvid%3D%7B%25videoId%7D%3Boutlet%3DCBS+Production%3BnoAd%3D%7B%25videoNoAd%7D%3Btype%3Dros%3Bformat%3DFLV%3Bpos%3D%7B%25posDart%7D%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D%7B%25random%7D%3B&adPreroll=true&adPrerollType=PreContent&adPrerollValue=1" /></embed> Deaths of infants have been cut in half with education.  Melinda Gates works with <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1Ej8s44I/AAAAAAAAh4Y/h3H1vXuVHfo/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="108" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1FCgzArI/AAAAAAAAh4c/1mRZddXdnTk/image_thumb%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="174" /></a>hard facts and determines where money can be best spent so more can benefit.  She finds much more joy in connecting with people.  The foundation has over 800 employees and is in the process of constructing a new headquarters.  The video focuses on Melinda’s efforts but there’s also some coverage with Bill Gates here and how they think and work together.  The Gates children will be wealthy and are not at a loss and discussions continue with the inclusion of Warren Buffett and the challenge for others to give.  Malaria is a focus as they discovered that very little money has been dedicated in this area and thus it is an area for focus.  We might all remember the TED presentation in Long Beach from a couple of years ago when Bill Gates turned loose a jar of mosquitoes to make his point.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/giving-pledge-call-for-philanthropy.html">The Giving Pledge Call for Philanthropy Continues to Grow–40 <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1FYMts-I/AAAAAAAAh4g/iO1EIWbp6Rw/s1600-h/image%5B20%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="135" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKt1FgAJidI/AAAAAAAAh4k/fuU41O9dCZI/image_thumb%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="134" /></a>Billionaires Committed</a></h4> American student education is the big focus in the US. Only 1/3 of high school seniors are prepared to go to college.  The Gates want to move this up to 80%.  Bill Gates describes Melinda as very analytical and the correspondent from 60 Minutes comments on how the couple are just a very normal match with goals, thinking and where they are going.  The video below is a “plus” web only show that discusses how the 60 Minute interview an presentation was created.  <embed src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" scale="noscale" salign="lt" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" background="#333333" width="425" height="279" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="si=254&uvpc=http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/uvp_cbsnews.xml&contentType=videoId&contentValue=50093913&ccEnabled=false&hdEnabled=false&fsEnabled=true&shareEnabled=false&dlEnabled=false&subEnabled=false&playlistDisplay=none&playlistType=none&playerWidth=425&playerHeight=239&vidWidth=425&vidHeight=239&autoplay=false&bbuttonDisplay=none&playOverlayText=PLAY%20CBS%20NEWS%20VIDEO&refreshMpuEnabled=true&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20018310-10391709.html?tag=component.0&adEngine=dart&adCallTemplate=http%3A//www.cbs.com/thunder/ad.doubleclick.net/adx/request.php%3F/can/news/%7B%25videoNode%7D%3Bsite%3Dnews%3Bshow%3D%7B%25videoParentNode%7D%3B%7B%25videoFeatPath%7Dpartner%3Dnews%3Blvid%3D%7B%25videoId%7D%3Boutlet%3DCBS+Production%3BnoAd%3D%7B%25videoNoAd%7D%3Btype%3Dros%3Bformat%3DFLV%3Bpos%3D%7B%25posDart%7D%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D%7B%25random%7D%3B&adPreroll=true&adPrerollType=PreContent&adPrerollValue=1" /></embed> Bill Gates was also recently on Oprah taking about the new movie, “Waiting for Superman” and for years he has testified almost to the point of being an annual fixture with Congress stating the same information as relates to education for children and in my opinion, if some of those folks in that Congressional room became at least minimal participants in general consumer literacy, the might have a better idea and grasp this a little better as most come from the older generation and this is something you can’t get without some participation and first experience and they need to participate to write better laws today too.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/waiting-for-superman-inconvenient-truth.html">Waiting for Superman An Inconvenient Truth” Movie – Bill Gates and Oprah Discuss The Future and Today of Education</a></h4> Bill Gates doesn’t give up and will be the keynote speaker at the mHealth Summit next month in Washington DC along with many other prominent names in Health IT today.  You might say he’s wearing them down to gain participation. My own opinion, we would have a highly more productive arm of government if we could get more participation with healthcare technology and would have better created laws as a result as we are so much growing tired of the type of soap opera we hear and see about today and to move this up to the next level with members of Congress participating and<img align="right" border="0" height="51" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TFhaPqftQ3I/AAAAAAAAgOI/bAYCHNa5nxg/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="254" /> expanding their knowledge would be great.  It’s just not all for the kids and “for those guys over there” anymore.  If we can kills that old paradigm and drag some folks out of the 70s, I think we would really see the US progress.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/bill-gates-named-keynote-speaker-at.html">Bill Gates Named Keynote Speaker at 2010 mHealth Summit To Be Held November 8-10</a></h4> Bill Gates also see the future of creating drugs and cures with investments as such <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TFhaNxRP4gI/AAAAAAAAgN4/1ThNDd5c6kA/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" />with technology that simulates creation and makes it safer for researchers to work in this environment. <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/04/bill-gates-invests-in-software-company.html">Bill Gates Invests In Software Company That Predicts and Helps Generate Creating New Drugs</a></h6> This was such a good story by 60 Minutes and compared to all the lust and algorithmic formulas running out there in the world for greed, so refreshing to see the human element has not been lost the the commitment of the foundation to bring all of this together as their philanthropy group is like no other in the world, they have both the brains and the money and believe that sharing and working together is the key.  BD <blockquote> They visited rural Uttar Pradesh, India, to learn more about some of our work in family health--to save <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/maternalnewbornandchildhealth/Pages/default.aspx">maternal and newborn lives</a>, with a focus on social and behavioral change in village households and communities--and Washington, D.C., where they toured a public school and discussed <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/college-ready-education/Pages/intensive-partnerships-for-effective-teaching.aspx">what makes an effective teacher</a>. In addition, Pelley sat down with Bill and Melinda in Seattle to talk about the work of the foundation and reasons behind their giving. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/foundationnotes/Pages/gary-darmstadt-60-minutes-101004.aspx">"60 Minutes" Profiles Melinda Gates and Our Work - Gary Darmstadt | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:56345d3b-7cf8-41ff-bb52-e6466713723a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Melinda+and+Bill+Gates+Foundation" rel="tag">Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/malaria" rel="tag">malaria</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Melanda+Gates" rel="tag">Melanda Gates</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/60+Minutes" rel="tag">60 Minutes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/disease" rel="tag">disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/philanthropy" rel="tag">philanthropy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/money" rel="tag">money</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/charity" rel="tag">charity</a></div>

Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation - The Work Across the World–60 Minutes Takes a Deep Look and Talks With Melinda Gates While Touring Countries Where the Foundation Works

In case you missed 60 Minutes this weekend, this is a great interview and “travel with” view of what the 10 year old foundation is doing and...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Health Tech Today Speaks with Todd Park on How HealthCare.Gov Works and the Planning (Video)

Dr. Bill Crounse has a discussion about how Healthcare.Gov was created and what<img align="right" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TCxSoB_acCI/AAAAAAAAfSQ/KERbkgRp1-E/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="186" /> is offered for consumers to make a choice of insurance carrier easier.  Todd Park is the CTO who put together the project to bring the site online, again in an effort to dig through a lot of the rhetoric and get the information mined as to what consumers need.  Back in August I posted a video at the link below done by Tech Crunch that also spoke with Todd Park and today we have some additional information on the site.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKtns8im1rI/AAAAAAAAh4E/fghS-0tatvY/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKtntINIlrI/AAAAAAAAh4I/pg83T04AQJY/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="166" /></a>  Project Blue Button is also discussed.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/story-behind-building-of-healthcare-gov.html">The Story Behind The Building of Healthcare. Gov - 90 Day Creation, Help From Twitter and the Silicon Valley Made It Possible</a></h4> In the right hand side of this site, you can always find a link to visit HealthCare.Gov.  <object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2," height="360" type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="440"> <param name="source" value="http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/silverlight/player/1/player-en.xap" /> <param name="enableHtmlAccess" value="true" />	 <param name="background" value="#FF000000" /> <param name="allowHtmlPopupwindow" value="true" /> <param name="minRuntimeVersion" value="3.0.40624.0" /> <param name="autoUpgrade" value="true" /> <param name="initParams" value="Culture=en-US,Uuid=15306322-5bb7-4599-80d2-a8fad9719d8a,Autoplay=false,MarketingOverlayText=Visit this video's website,ShowMarketingOverlay=true,MiscControls=FullScreen;Detached,ShowMenu=True,Tabs=Embed;Email;Share;Info,VideoUrl=http://microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/15306322-5bb7-4599-80d2-a8fad9719d8a,Mode=Player" /> <a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156" onmousedown="javascript:new Image().src = 'http://m.webtrends.com/dcsygm2gb10000kf9xm7kfvub_9p1t/dcs.gif?dcsdat=' + new Date().getTime() + '&dcssip=www.microsoft.com&dcsuri=' + window.location.href + '&WT.tz=-8&WT.bh=16&WT.ul=en-US&WT.cd=32&WT.jo=Yes&WT.ti=&WT.js=Yes&WT.jv=1.5&WT.fi=Yes&WT.fv=10.0&WT.sli=Not%20Installed&WT.slv=Version%20Unavailable&WT.dl=1&WT.seg_1=Not%20Logged%20In&WT.vt_f_a=2&WT.vt_f=2&WT.vt_nvr1=2&WT.vt_nvr2=2&WT.vt_nvr3=2&WT.vt_nvr4=2&vp_site=Embedded&wtEvtSrc=' + window.location.href + '&vp_sli=Embedded'" style="text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" src="http://img.microsoft.com/showcase/Content/img/resx/en-US/installSL.gif" style="border-style: none" /> </a> <noscript><div><img alt="DCSIMG" height="1" id="DCSIMG" src="http://m.webtrends.com/dcsygm2gb10000kf9xm7kfvub_9p1t/njs.gif?dcsuri=/nojavascript&WT.js=No" width="1" /></div></noscript> </object> I walked through the initial opening of the site and added some of my own comments here and the best part is the fact that it didn’t look or act like your normal government website. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/07/healthcaregov-site-opens-to-assist.html">Healthcare.Gov Site Opens To Assist Consumers in Finding Health Insurance – Video and Preview</a><img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/THsxLR4O03I/AAAAAAAAg5o/dVUkOUzR5Ec/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" /></h4> Todd does admit how confusing it is today with finding the right insurance option as there is so much out there.  He mentions to also please use the feedback buttons when you visit so they can be responsive and get the information on board that consumers want and can use.  He said President Obama liked the site and decided to do his own “hands on” review and it was the first review of a website done by a President.  At the end, the Blue Button is discussed and how HealthVault can handle the information patients can download.  BD  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/va-can-now-use-blue-button-to-download.html">VA Can Now Use the “Blue Button” to Download Their Data from Their PHR (Personal Health Record)</a></h4> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/15306322-5bb7-4599-80d2-a8fad9719d8a">Microsoft Showcase: Obama's Health Website</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:43705e81-8977-4984-be2e-2c62e2ce81ce" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+Tech+Today" rel="tag">Health Tech Today</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HHS" rel="tag">HHS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthCare.Gov" rel="tag">HealthCare.Gov</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bill+Crounse" rel="tag">Bill Crounse</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/government" rel="tag">government</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a></div>

Health Tech Today Speaks with Todd Park on How HealthCare.Gov Works and the Planning (Video)

Dr. Bill Crounse has a discussion about how Healthcare.Gov was created and what is offered for consumers to make a choice of insurance carr...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Rats Are Getting Teeth Re-Implanted With Stem Cells and Same Technology Can Be Used for Replacement Teeth

I guess we have a couple rats now that can smile.  If anyone has gum disease or has had dental implants you know what I’m talking about here.  If you have an <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKtgNY5yAnI/AAAAAAAAh34/W_ZiWTvGDuY/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="142" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKtgN0O6dFI/AAAAAAAAh38/e1pKhFRV3iw/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="174" /></a>implant, it is a process and you live with small screws that grow into your bone to hold the tooth, I have some of those.  With this technique it appears that stem cells can either be useful with putting a tooth back let’s say after an accident or the ability to insert a tooth replacement.  I have good gums, but bad teeth, so I need the replacements for sure.  Others have great teeth, but the gums can’t hold the teeth.  In a related post yesterday, a company received FDA approval for using collagen membrane too and this part stands to strengthen the bone area. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/10/collagen-matrix-receives-fda-510k.html">Collagen Matrix Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Collagen Dental Membrane–Regenerative Dentistry (Medicine)</a></h4> Of course using stem cells with rats teeth is the beginning to move this forward for us, the humans.  There’s also this technology with growing a tooth too, so it looks <img align="right" border="0" height="96" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TABoVesAq4I/AAAAAAAAeaI/0TS5hVWfQ1c/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="173" />like there’s going to be more than one option here with tooth replacement in the near future as the tools and research are lining up.  BD <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/05/dental-implants-using-bodys-own-stem.html">Dental Implants Using Body’s Own Stem Cells To Grow Them – Regenerative Dentistry In the Works</a></h4> I wonder too on the last link here about the quality of the tooth genes we have too and if we have bad ones, then perhaps the first option might work better if the teeth would grow with cavities.  BD  <blockquote> Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have successfully used stem cells to reattach molars to tooth sockets within lab rats’ mouths. The stem cells were obtained from the periodontal ligament of molars extracted from mice, expanded in an incubator, and then seeded onto barren rat molars. This could have great implications for humans who lose teeth due to gum disease in the future... and for all those toothless old rats out there. Two to four months after being placed in the rats’ mouths, the stem cells on the teeth aligned and formed new fibrous attachments between the tooth and bone. The result was firmly attached teeth. Tissue sections indicated that the replanted teeth were surrounded by newly formed, functional periodontal ligament fibers and new cementum, which are both essential to tooth attachment. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/stem-cells-used-to-reattach-teeth/16560/">Stem cells used to reattach teeth in rats</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1f4245e4-511f-455b-9af8-23687ec835ce" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/dental" rel="tag">dental</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/teeth" rel="tag">teeth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/regenerative+medicine" rel="tag">regenerative medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/membranes" rel="tag">membranes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/stem+cells" rel="tag">stem cells</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/implants" rel="tag">implants</a></div>

Rats Are Getting Teeth Re-Implanted With Stem Cells and Same Technology Can Be Used for Replacement Teeth

I guess we have a couple rats now that can smile. If anyone has gum disease or has had dental implants you know what I’m talking about here...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

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Rats Are Getting Teeth Re-Implanted With Stem Cells and Same Technology Can Be Used for Replacement Teeth

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