MedWorm: American Health Top 20

The Food Safety Modernization Act—One Year Later

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:45:36 +0100

Just over a year ago, President Obama used 15 pens to sign the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law. The most sweeping update to U.S. food safety law in more than 70 years, FSMA is a huge undertaking for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and, not surprisingly, the agency is already behind on some major deadlines in its efforts to implement it. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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NJ Offers Help to Quit Smoking, but Health Experts Say It’s Not Enough

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:45:35 +0100

New Jersey is spending $1.2 million this year on anti-smoking programs through the state Department of Health. Public health experts say that’s not enough, and discussions are underway in Trenton to find more money to discourage the use of tobacco, whose annual statewide toll is estimated at more than 10,000 deaths and several billion dollars in healthcare costs. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

U.S. Advisors Explain Call to Censor Bird Flu Research

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:44:30 +0100

The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity’s (NSABB) main concern "is that publishing these experiments in detail would provide information that could help some person, organization or government to develop similar mammal-adapted influenza A/H5N1 viruses for harmful purposes," the advisers said in a statement Tuesday. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

At More U.S. Workplaces, Smokers Need Not Apply

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:44:35 +0100

Following the lead of the Cleveland Clinic and a growing number of other hospitals, Pennsylvania's Geisinger Health System will turn away job applicants who smoke starting next month. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Americans Live Longer, Report Finds

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:43:20 +0100

U.S. death rates dropped half a percent between 2009 and 2010, and hit the lowest rate ever, at 746.2 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the latest set of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Does Junk Food in Schools Matter?

RWJF News Digest - Health Insurance Coverage — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:46:05 +0100

Junk food sales in schools, long blamed for contributing to childhood obesity, do not make a difference overall in the weight of middle school students, according to a new study. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Health Insurance Coverage)

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Salmonella Linked to Labs Infected 109

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:46:04 +0100

Between August 2010 and June 2011, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted 109 people in 38 states infected with a commercial strain of Salmonella Typhimurium most commonly found in microbiology laboratories. On Tuesday, the CDC released its final report on the outbreak, which Food Safety Newsfirst reported on in April 2011. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Business Leaders Back Early Education as Economic Development

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:43:35 +0100

Jim Clair says four years ago he was probably the least likely person to become involved in early childhood education. That all changed when he was appointed by then-Gov. John Baldacci to participate in a business roundtable discussion about early childhood investment. Clair says he accepted the invitation "out of a sense of civic duty," but what he learned turned him into an advocate. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

FDA Okays Another Diabetes Combo Agent

MedPage Today Public Health — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:13:09 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has approved an extended-release version of a combination sitagliptin and metformin for adults with type 2 diabetes. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Global Update: India: Full Year Without a Reported Case of Polio

NYT — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:41:40 +0100

India has gone a full year without a new polio case, the World Health Organization announced last week. (Source: NYT)

Hospital-Associated Measles Outbreak — Pennsylvania, March–April 2009

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:45:55 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity

NYT — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:17:16 +0100

The Obama administration announced long-awaited changes to government-subsidized school meals, issuing rules that add more fruits and green vegetables and reduce the amount of salt and fat. (Source: NYT)

Medicaid medical homes saved $1 billion in North Carolina

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:45:21 +0100

However, sicker enrollees and those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid have posed more challenges for the program. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

Obama Addresses Ire on Health Insurance Contraception Rule

NYT — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:15:01 +0100

Facing criticism from religious-affiliated institutions, the Obama administration promised on Tuesday to explore ways to make a new health insurance requirement more flexible. (Source: NYT)

ADHD drug shortage leaves physicians with few choices

American Medical News - HEALTH — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:45:21 +0100

Primary care doctors are encouraged to discuss with patients the available alternatives and the health impact of abruptly stopping treatment. (Source: American Medical News - HEALTH)

CVS retail chain clinics expand while Walgreens operation stalls

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:45:21 +0100

MinuteClinic represents most of the growth in the in-store clinic business, as struggles by its parent company affect the gains of Take Care Clinics. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

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Zyga replaces co-founder with med-tech vet Bullock as CEO

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:35:29 +0100

Jim Bullock, who has led two Twin Cities companies that eventually were sold to med-tech giants, has been named CEO of Zyga Technology Inc., which makes a device for treating lower back pain. Bullock replaces Bob Assell, who co-founded Minneapolis-based Zyga in March 2008. Assell is now Zyga's chief technology officer. Bullock has been serving as CEO of Plymouth-based Atritech Inc. since August 2005. The company announced a year ago that Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX) was buying Atritech for $375 million... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Dr. Ricardo Sotomora Forms Society to Fight Heart Disease

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

A Little Rock physician recently formed an exclusive society for men. Its one purpose: to fight women?s heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Well Blog: The Kettlebell Workout for Back and Neck Pain

NYT — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:01:36 +0100

Kettle-shaped iron weights, which have been used for centuries to train Russian soldiers and athletes, appear to be a promising therapy for back, neck and shoulder pain, new research shows. (Source: NYT)

CMS Moves Closer to Forced Disclosure Provision

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:43:09 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Drug and device companies have just a month remaining to comment on a proposed rule that would require them to report all financial relationships with doctors. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)