MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'health'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:42 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182094&cid=t_92181_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-dry-i-am-day-to-day-life-with-sjogrens-syndrome%2F Many of us who live with autoimmune diseases wonder how many different ones we can have. Sometimes they seem to be piling up on us in a world in which one usually has one disease, we can have several. There are times they “bleed” into each other like sand art when the tide rises and life can become very confusing. There is something about we mere mortals that drives us on to find a name for our suffering. Usually, we know something is wrong long before we get a label from a doctor. It often involves seeing many physicians and hearing their guesses as to what we have wrong with us. Each of them cannot know everything but the good ones do know what to do about it when they don’t know; they send you to a specialist. We keep the appointments because, secretly, we need to know our sym... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182094 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:42:14 +0100 5182094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181684&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2FiJ8gUqxmiYc%2Fhealth-status-children-linked-socioeconomic-status.html I’ve written before about how children from poor families have a higher chance of needing PICU care than do children from more affluent families. Eligibility for Medicaid is a good marker for this; nearly half the population of most urban PICUs is made up of children on Medicaid, even though the national average (it varies a little from state to state) for children on Medicaid is about 25%. So poor kids are more likely to become critically ill.A report from the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, a renowned health policy organization, lays out how poverty correlates so closely to poor health. This chart is the most telling. It measures a somewhat vague quantity, something they call “children in less than very good health.” They obtain this value by surveying parents, so ... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181684 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:46 +0100 5181684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181796&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-ut-austin-finally-getting-its-long-awaited-medical-school%2F2011.09.02 The headline is disingenuous: yes, there’s a Med School headed for Austin. Congrats, Brackendridge! Kinda amusing tale after the quote: Lawmakers and local leaders are hopeful a plan unanimously adopted at Thursday’s University of Texas System Board of Regents meeting means they could finally get what they’ve long been waiting for: a new medical school. One of the elements of the plan outlined by Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa is to “advance medical education and research in Austin.” Even before Thursday’s meeting ended, state Sen. Kirk Watson issued a press release reading between the lines, calling for the creation of a flagship health science center and medical school in Austin. “Within the next 30 days, I plan to offer a path – and a challenge for our community – to bu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181796 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:10 +0100 5181796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181787&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5nzekSZKljs%2F The following is a guest post by Karen Orloff Kaplan the CEO of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. TEAL is on trend this September. Not only is teal a top fashion color for fall 2011, it’s the color of ovarian cancer awareness—and September is national ovarian cancer awareness month. Here’s how you can help raise awareness of this disease. To support ovarian cancer awareness you can get involved in the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s United States of Teal campaign. The goal of the campaign is to have every state in America teal—which happens when state legislators pledge their support for ovarian cancer awareness. Twenty-four states are already teal—visit www.unitedstatesofteal.org to see if your state supports women with ovarian cancer. The website also shows how you can... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181787 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:15:09 +0100 5181787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181970&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhi-tech-choose-your-own-adventure-coming-medical-school-near-you Though it was longer ago than I care to admit, I can remember checking out every copy of the Choose Your Own Adventure® series my local library had to offer. Whether it was “Prisoner of the Ant People” or “Zombie Penpal” (nope, I didn’t make those titles up!), those books allowed me to control my own destiny, choose my own fate – escape from the ant people or allow my long-distance pal to eat my brains for breakfast. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181970 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:02:32 +0100 5181970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181685&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2FukKfl4KNhzA%2Freplacing-fee-service-reduce-costs.html In this enlightened era of evidence-based medicine, you’d think that the progressive academics, viziers, and mandarins who are cluttering the policy making commentariat would pay more attention to what was tried before. That should be doubly true if those lessons come from that health care nirvana called Europe, where enlightened central bureaucracies wisely allocate health care for its caffè sipping, plaza strolling and beret adorned citizenry.Case in point is “bundled payment,” which has been underway for several years in the Netherlands. Thanks to this timely New England Journal perspective from Jeroen Struijs and Caroline Baan, readers can get some insight about what is and isn’t known about the topic.Read the rest of Will replacing fee for service really redu... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181685 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:00:37 +0100 5181685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181754&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiE-w4yBV7BI%2F By Ilya ShapiroOver the last year and a half, I’ve blogged many times about Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu, the controversial nominee to the Ninth Circuit, the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over the western states and territories.  Here’s an op-ed I published in the wake of that nomination — which happened to coincide with Obamacare’s enactment.  And here’s a taste of what I wrote when Republicans filibustered Liu, which ultimately led him to withdraw: I’m not going to weigh in here on the issue of whether judicial nominees ought to be filibustered in general . . . but if ever there were an “extraordinary circumstance” fitting into the Gang of 14agreement that broke the judicial logjam under President Bush, this is it. As I blog... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181754 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:42:28 +0100 5181754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181742&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWtTkmF-1j1A%2F Cancer Among 9/11 Responders: Research published in the Lancet finds that firefighters who worked at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks were 19% more likely to later develop cancer than firefighters who didn’t work at the site, the WSJ reports. Still, experts and study authors said the study isn’t definitive and that it will take many years for data on cancer incidence to accumulate. In addition, the number of cases wasn’t large enough to draw conclusions about the rates of specific cancers, the paper says. Pulling “Firepot” Fuel: Reports of burns have led to the recall of gel fuel used in outdoor “firepot” decorations by nine companies, the Associated Press reports. The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission says consumers should stop using the f... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181742 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:25:31 +0100 5181742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182161&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F09%2F02%2Ffrom-self-reported-patient-data-to-mobile-predictions%2F E-Health 3.0: How Can The Semantic Web Change The World Of Internet Health Information? TEDxOverlake – Dr. H. Jack West – Self-Educated Patients and The Future of Cancer Care A beginner’s guide to digital pharma: part 15 – implementation “Don’t believe those that say you can’t measure the return on investment (ROI) of digital and social media programs – if you can’t measure it you shouldn’t be doing it…” NHS medical director urges GPs to use Skype for consultations He said some GPs already offer consultations via Skype and may interest many others. ‘Then I find myself thinking that’s the sort of thing that will appeal to some people. It would appeal to me,’ he said. He argued it would be much more convenient for patients and GPs. How Do Genera... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182161 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:04:38 +0100 5182161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182053&cid=t_92181_118_f&fid=34852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joepaduda.com%2Farchives%2F002155.html Everyone seems convinced there's a ton of fraud in Medicare. And they may be right. What there wasn't, for far too long, was much emphasis on finding and prosecuting the criminals stealing from taxpayers by defrauding Medicare. Well, looks like... (Source: Managed Care Matters) Managed Care Matters blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182053 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5182053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181958&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F2ScUo2cTw1c%2F Many of you might remember my recent post about EMR Performance Issues (ie. EMR Slowness). Turns out, the post had a pretty big impact on some readers of the site. In fact, it sounds like it was partially therapeutic for some to realize that they’re not alone. I asked permission to share one of the responses with you so you could get some more first hand perspective on the issue of EMR slowness. I share it in the hopes that others can be aware and avoid it. Plus, I hope the EHR vendors that read this will take it to heart and be fanatically focused on EMR speed and customer support. I’ve removed the name of the writer and the names of the vendors. Plus, realize that it was written originally in an email communication and not necessarily to be published. OMG…you hit the na... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181958 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:28:48 +0100 5181958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182049&cid=t_92181_118_f&fid=34850&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBusinessBlog%2F%7E3%2F9bNH8gYAQvI%2F My Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts card has a “Blue Care Line” phone number on the back. I’d never used it until recently but in the past couple weeks have had the occasion to call it twice. It’s a good service, which connects fairly quickly to an RN, who then uses a protocol driven system to help identify whether the patient needs to go to an ER, doctor’s office, or can perform self-care. I found it more convenient and systematic than calling the PCP’s office, and more considerate than calling my physician relatives and friends. And of course it’s easier and cheaper than heading to the emergency room. I don’t know whether they still refer to these lines as “demand management,” but in the 1990s when co-pays were $5 the sal... Health Business Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182049 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:12:49 +0100 5182049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181798&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-features-of-a-bundled-payment-for-care-improvement-project%2F2011.09.01 Many health care provider organizations have not been overly eager to jump onto the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) bandwagon, citing high startup costs and uncertain returns on investment given the complexity of the program.  Well, recently, the CMS Center for Innovation has announced the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement initiative.  This initiative incorporates elements of earlier CMS demonstration projects — the gainsharing demos and ACE (acute care episode) bundled payments demonstrations which the HealthBlawger has helped a number of clients around the country qualify for in the past — and builds on the broad authority granted to the CMS Center for Innovation under health reform. The advantages to proceeding with a Bundled Payment for Care Improvement project inc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181798 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:00:08 +0100 5181798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182150&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fy40e0ba2MBU%2F Jeanene Harlick, 37, was at 65% her ideal body weight and needed a feeding tube, but her insurance company wouldn’t cover inpatient care at an eating disorder facility. Harlick lives in California, which has one of the nation’s strongest mental health parity laws—laws that say insurance companies must provide the same coverage for mental illness as they do for physical illness). So she sued—and won, for now; the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco just said that her insurance company, Blue Shield of California, must pay for her residential care. The ruling could make a difference in how insurers in other states cover mental health treatment, too. Forty-nine states and D.C. have mental parity laws, but they vary in degree widely, according to the National Conf... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182150 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:51:32 +0100 5182150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181702&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fsay-it-aint-so-howard-dean-runs-through.html The revolving door now accommodates the whole political spectrum.  A Salon article documented the transit of one Howard Dean, former darling of the left-wing of the Democratic party:Howard Dean has long cultivated an image as the plainspoken doctor who speaks for the left wing of the Democratic Party, a role he still plays as a pugnacious pundit on TV. But since his term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee ended in January 2009, Dr. Dean has taken on a less-noticed role: paid advocate for interest groups that would find few fans among the progressive voters once energized by Dean's 2004 presidential bid.Dean may not be the worst of the 'buckrakers,' those prototypical capital characters who exploit their name and connections without regard for principle. But his recent po... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181702 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:39:00 +0100 5181702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181735&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fimplementing-health-reform-association-health-plans%2F The Affordable Care Act comprehensively reforms health insurance in the United States.  Its central reform provisions apply to “a group health plan and health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage,” that is, to individual, small group, large group, and even self-insured coverage. In fact, however, the ACA does not cover all forms [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181735 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:35:54 +0100 5181735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181689&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2Fe9psMgGuTlw%2Fdisruption-affect-physicians-health-reform.html To paraphrase Clayton Christensen, author of The Innovator’s Dilemma, when discussing healthcare, disruptive forces set the stage for meaningful innovation and consumer cost reductions.This is where we now find ourselves. What percentage of our nation’s GDP is reasonable to spend on healthcare – 15%, 20%, 25%? What adaptations are necessary to maintain high quality for those who now receive it and simultaneously provide access to primary care and preventive services to the ~50 million in the US who are presently uninsured? Can we achieve this dual goal, is it a reasonable goal, a moral imperative, a fiscally practical and prudent consideration? Whatever your political leanings or interpretation of the individual mandate present in the ACA, these are important questions to... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181689 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:00:59 +0100 5181689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181799&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fimproving-doctor-patient-communication-to-provide-patient-centered-care%2F2011.09.01 The first experience patients are likely to have with your hospital is not in an ER visit or inpatient stay.  A patient’s first experience will most likely be in one of your primary-care physician offices.  That because a person is 10 times more likely during a year to end up in the physician’s office for a routine visit than they are to require an overnight hospital stay. As a hospital marketer or patient experience officer this should raise an interesting question. How well do your physicians–particularly your primary-care physicians–represent your brand? Take “patient-centeredness.” Lots of hospitals these days are promoting themselves as providing patient-centered care.  You know … when the hospital and its staff try where possible to be sensitive to and honor the wish... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181799 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:05 +0100 5181799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181690&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2FPwDProPiXnM%2Fnatural-language-processing-electronic-health-records.html 80 percent of the clinical documentation that exists in healthcare today is unstructured.  It is sometimes referred to as “the text blob” and is buried within electronic health records (EHRs).  The inherent problem with “the text blob” is that locked within it lies an extraordinary amount of key clinical data – valuable information that can and should be leveraged to make more informed clinical decisions, to ultimately improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs.  To date, however, because it consists of copious amounts of text, the healthcare industry has struggled to unlock meaning from “the text blob” without intensive, manual analysis or has chosen to forego extracting the value completely.Read the rest of Natural language processing in electronic ... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181690 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:03 +0100 5181690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181904&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FVL9Co8ZNmQY%2F URL: http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/This website is a service for people who are seeking information about DBT (Dialectal Behavior Therapy). This site was written primarily by PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH DBT, not DBT professionals. For this reason, consider the source of any given document. We cannot give advice, but we can talk about our experiences on our DBT journey. In this regard, I hope we can help one another. For: Anyone, ConsumersTopics: Behaviour Management, Clinical Psychology, Emotional Health, General Psychology, Mental Health, Mental Health PromotionFeatures: Collaborative News, Information, Links, Research, e-learning This website is a service for people who are seeking information about DBT (Dialectal Behavior Therapy). This site was written primarily by PEOPLE WHO HAVE BE... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181904 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:51 +0100 5181904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181957&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2F_VlWsGVP6dk%2F Normally this time of year, I’m making plans to attend the many fall conferences in health IT and related industries. This year, my decisions are harder. You see, it seems like everyone decided to schedule their events during the last week of October: AMIA 2011, Oct. 23-26, Washington MGMA Annual Conference, Oct. 23-26, Las Vegas TEDMED 2011 Oct. 25-28, San Diego CHIME11 Fall CIO Forum, Oct. 26-28, Austin, Texas Just for kicks, I’m scheduled to participate in the Institute for Health Technology Transformation’s Health IT Summit, Nov. 2-3 in Beverly Hills, Calif. All are worthwhile, and all will be great places to find relevant stories for this blog and my various media clients. It probably makes most sense to go west, hitting MGMA and TEDMED, then spending the weekend in ... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181957 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:47:10 +0100 5181957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182152&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrTAjMCPc-Kg%2F Labor Day signals the unofficial end of summer, which is great news if you’re looking forward to finally opening your door to crisp mornings temps and colorful fall foliage. But along with the change of season brings less time at the pool or the beach which could seriously hamper the amount of sunshine we get. That’s a good thing for our skin, but not always beneficial for our mood. Granted, depression can strike women at virtually any time of year and for many different reasons (sometimes there isn’t even a specific reason that can be pinpointed). Approximately 12 million women develop depression each year–twice as many as men, and one out of every eight of us will battle it during our lifetime. Depressing, huh? If you find yourself feeling down, sad and/or tired w... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182152 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:26:53 +0100 5182152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181800&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhospital-ceo-is-diagnosed-with-cancer-while-building-a-new-cancer-center%2F2011.09.01 Pat Elliott, me and a HUGE cactus at Banner MD Anderson! I am just back from the Phoenix-metro area. It’s now the 5th largest in the United States and despite home foreclosures, there is still a feeling of growth in many areas. Gilbert, a nearby suburb, has expanded to over 200,000 people and a growing major medical center. I spent several days interviewing patients and staff about the soon-to-open, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. The hope is that by bringing MD Anderson’s world-renowned expertise, clinical trials and processes to this new center, cancer care around Phoenix and the southwest will be improved. Look for my video interviews coming soon. But, in the meantime, one interview stuck out for me; the one with the Banner Health President and CEO, Peter Fine. Peter is in his lat... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181800 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5181800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182162&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fwebicina-and-streaming-well-become-partners%2F It’s a great pleasure to announce the new partnership between Webicina.com and Streaming Well, the leading European health video production and distribution channel. Webicina, a free services curating medical resources in social media will feature videos created by professionals on Streaming Well. Here is one example for allergy. I did an interview with Francis Banbury Namouk, head of Streaming Well about this collaboration: How was Streaming Well launched and what is the rationale behind that? Having worked in online health publishing for 5+ years in the United States, where the DTC model encourages publishers to prioritise SEO keyword content, I felt there was a real lack relevant and useful information for patients online. As our chief medical adviser, Paul Stillman puts it &#8220... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182162 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:57:50 +0100 5182162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181736&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fberwick-to-keynote-health-affairs-briefing%2F Don Berwick, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will keynote Health Affairs’ September 8 briefing on controlling health care costs. At the briefing, Health Affairs will release its September 2011 issue, “The New Urgency To Lower Costs.” Topics to be discussed include chronic disease costs and opportunities for savings through prevention; who bears [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181736 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:09:50 +0100 5181736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181781&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F09%2Finfant-rotavirus-vaccine-may-protect-all-of-us.html Rotavirus infections can be devastating for infants and young children, causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines leading to severe diarrhea, and often abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. But a study published this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that rotavirus may infect many more older children and adults than previously thought—and that vaccinating infants may protect the older groups as well. Rotavirus vaccines were introduced and recommended for infants in 2006, and can prevent 85 percent or more of severe cases. Before the current vaccines, rotavirus was the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and small children in the U.S., causing up to 70,000 hospitalizations each... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181781 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5181781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182163&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fradboud-reshape-academy%2F One of the best initiatives in social media and healthcare I’ve recently seen is definitely the Radboud REshape Academy. Finding for our path to migrate into real participatory healthcare we come across a lot of interesting people, information, innovations and most of all questions. Right from the beginning we started to share, with our network. We have been doing this with our conferences, our research, our lectures and through field trips made to our Radboud REshape & Innovation Centre for HC institutions, insurers, government and other people interested in changing healthcare. And of course our Innovation Centre. In setting up The Radboud REshape Academy (@REshapeAcademy on twitter) we would like to create a place, in real life and virtual as well that one could find peers loo... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182163 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:33:46 +0100 5182163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181975&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fehr-incentives-likely-improve-quality Healthcare is one of the last industries in the United States to universally incorporate technological advancements. While most sectors have made significant investments in information technology to improve efficiency and consumer relationships, America’s health care system is still largely paper-driven. As a result the healthcare system is plagued by inefficiency and poor quality. Delivery is slower, more prone to errors, and harder to measure and coordinate than it should be. Investments in health information technology can help improve this situation. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181975 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:19:45 +0100 5181975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181897&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fsxsw-2012-psychology-picks-need-your-vote%2F Time is running out to vote for some of your favorite SXSW 2012 Interactive panel ideas through the SXSW panel picker (Friday at midnight is the deadline). Yes, you need to register a free account in order to vote, but it takes only a minute to do so. I’ve organized a panel again for consideration, as have some other psychologists and professionals. I’ve highlighted three panels I’d like you to vote a big thumbs-up on, if you have a minute today. While people’s votes only constitute 30 percent of how a panel idea is chosen to present at SXSW Interactive, it’s an important part of the process that helps the organizers make the tough decisions. The panel I’ve proposed is about online therapy. But not your everyday kind of online therapy… Click on th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181897 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:14:46 +0100 5181897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181802&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmisdiagnosis-happens-all-the-time-tips-to-avoid-it%2F2011.09.01 Billionaire Teddy Forstmann has apparently been diagnosed with a serious form of brain cancer.  There’s a tragic twist to the story: according to Fox Business News, Forstmann believes that for more than a year, he had been misdiagnosed with meningitis. ABC News wonders: How could such a misfortune befall a billionaire —- a man able to afford the best doctors, best technology and the most sophisticated diagnostic tests? They’re missing the point.  Misdiagnosis happens with shocking regularity – as much as (more…) *This blog post was originally published at BestDoctors.com: See First Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181802 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:03 +0100 5181802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181943&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fwhere-are-indian-medical-entrepreneurs.html The Indian healthcare industry has become sick and disruptive innovations are needed to heal it ! This is a huge business opportunity . We need to remember that healthcare spending in India today accounts for less than 4.2% of the GDP, whereas in most developed countries it is 6-9% and in the USA it is as much as 16%. This means there is immense growth potential in India in this sector ! Since doctors deal with patients daily, and see the problems and pain points firsthand, one would expect them to be leaders in creating fixes to heal the system. However, they are very few medical entrepreneurs in India today . I feel there are many reasons for this. For one, doctors are part of the problem themselves ! They are so used to making patients wait, that they don’t even realize that this u... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181943 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:58:00 +0100 5181943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182065&cid=t_92181_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FI8F8AzUnEz4%2F We are pleased to announce that full recordings for all presentations delivered during the 2011 SharpBrains Summit: Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century (March 30 — April 1, 2011) are now available both to Summit Participants and to non-Participants. You can Learn More Here and Access 40+ Talks and 20+ hours of up-to-date information and analysis of brain science, technology and innovation, delivered by nothing short of a world-class faculty. –> Reg­is­tered Sum­mit Par­tic­i­pants can access all Ses­sion Record­ings by click­ing on the ses­sion titles in the Agenda page and using the same Username and Password they used to participate in the Summit. –> Didn’t Reg­is­ter to Par­tic­i­pate in the 2011 Sharp­Brains Sum­mit but want to access all Ses­... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182065 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:21:34 +0100 5182065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182054&cid=t_92181_118_f&fid=34852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joepaduda.com%2Farchives%2F002154.html In MCM's ongoing effort to keep our loyal readers apprised of things that will affect their businesses, it's time to remind one and all that the Super-Committee's budget cuts are due in less than three months. Yep, in 83 days... (Source: Managed Care Matters) Managed Care Matters blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182054 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5182054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181782&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fstressed-out-employees-at-risk-for-other-health-problems.html Super stressed? If so, it might also effect how much you eat and exercise, and even your confidence, according to a study published today in the American Journal of Health Promotion in which researchers found that asking people just one simple question about their stress levels quickly determines their risk for poor health. Researchers looked at responses from a survey of 13,000 workers who had enrolled in their employer’s wellness center. Nearly 17 percent, or 2,147, reported stress "as bad as it can be." Those very stressed employees reported poorer eating habits, more fatigue, and lower activity levels than their less-stressed counterparts. They also reported more health problems, including being overweight and having high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Ot... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181782 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:30:00 +0100 5181782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181783&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fbaby%2F2011%2F08%2Fcoping-when-kids-nag-for-unhealthy-food.html Consider it your offspring’s revenge for your attempts to hide vegetables in their mac and cheese or chocolate cake. A new study examines the techniques and manipulations that children use to persuade, cajole, or simply wear down their parents to buy commercially advertised products such as junk food. In the paper, “The Nag Factor—A mixed-methodology study in the US of young children’s requests for advertised products”, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Children and Media, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discovered that children who were more familiar with characters on commercial television shows were more likely to persist in their demands for advertised items. The study focused on 3- to 5-year-olds, inter... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181783 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:15:00 +0100 5181783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181898&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fis-california-eliminating-mental-illness-treatment%2F According to DJ Jaffe, co-founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center which advocates for mandated outpatient treatment laws, California is “eliminating mental illness treatment.” This, of course, will be a surprise to the tens of thousands of mental health providers in California. Millions of Californians currently receive treatment for their mental disorders, both in the private and public sector. In fact, Californians wanted to make up for past deficiencies in funding their mental health services, so they passed a law in 2004 that set aside new money specifically to help fund treatment. Jaffe claims the money isn’t going to the programs it was intended to fund. Should we take his word for it? The easiest way to see whether Jaffe’s claims hold up are to look at the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181898 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:13:20 +0100 5181898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181804&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthree-common-ailments-that-can-be-treated-with-regular-exercise%2F2011.08.31 It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments. First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive. Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr John M* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181804 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:42 +0100 5181804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181737&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fthe-challenges-of-payment-reform-and-administrative-simplification%2F As both a Canadian and an analyst who focuses on US healthcare, I have an abiding curiosity in comparisons between the US and Canadian systems, so it was with great interest that I read the recent Health Affairs article by Dante Morra and coauthors entitled “US Physician Practices Versus Canadians: Spending Nearly Four Times As Much Money [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181737 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:57:12 +0100 5181737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181959&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FTHPZrzE1cCI%2F In a post on EMR and EHR about Social Media and EMRs, Andre Vovan, MD MBA from Mitochon Systems offered an interesting insight into the comparison between EMR and social media. Social media and EMR are a natural fit. Think about what social media really enables. The ablity to stay connected, following different strings of info/story weaved by connected people. Say for instance you and your friends went to the Grand Canyon, one person took pictures while the other did the cooking, planning, and was responsible for entertainment during the trip. When they try to retell the story to their friends, each will be able to add different aspect of the story and with social network platforms such as facebook, this is possible. Now take the story above, and insert 2 doctors and change the trip taken ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181959 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:44:38 +0100 5181959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182154&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FMlN0iqzLiRA%2F Thanks to scientists with questionable time on their hands, we now have another reason to blame our parents for our not-so-perfect life. Apparently, a new study indicates that the month you were born could affect whether or not you will face an eating disorder later in life. Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, researchers looked at 1,293 people with anorexia nervosa and compared their birth dates with the general population born between 1950 and 1980. What they found was a higher incidence of people with eating disorders who were born earlier in the year, specifically between the months of March and June. The least number of patients were born between September and October. As ridiculous as this sounds, scientists rationalized it by stating in the research report: As with most ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182154 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:39 +0100 5182154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182031&cid=t_92181_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Ftreat-diabetes-simple-diet%2F Treating Diabetes type 2 is not easy, but we have to be aggressive because the complications are devastating: from heart disease to renal failure. First, we have to examine where diabetes comes from. Is it from our bad genes, or maybe pollution?  Or maybe it’s something we are supposed to live with.  People think of diabetes as an unwelcome family member. Something they never wanted, but they can’t get rid of and have to learn to live with. Type 2 Diabetes is a disease when your body cannot: React properly to the sugar lowering hormone insulin.  It happens when you have too much sugar in your body.  You try to push it into your cells with insulin, but it’s like trying to push more garbage into a full can. You can’t do it, and your body won’t take in anymore and stops respond... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182031 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:08 +0100 5182031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182032&cid=t_92181_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fsoaking-sleep-night-sweats-kill%2F While it may be ok to work up a sweat during exercise or physical activity, night sweats are something completely different, and diagnosing it as just a symptom of menopause can do more harm than good. The truth is that there are several things that can be causing your night sweats, and it’s important, for each reason, to see a holistic doctor and get it checked out, so that it isn’t just cast aside as a menopausal symptom. Below are other causes of night sweats. Some of them are relatively binned , but some are really dangerous . Excessive clothing: The first, and most common cause, is excess clothing. It is important to sleep in a cool room and wear breathable fabrics. Being over-dressed during sleep can not only cause night-sweats, but you can become dehydrated, and even get kidne... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182032 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:16:11 +0100 5182032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181816&cid=t_92181_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1837 I think a lot about the slow, certain dissolution of medicine as we know it.  Mental health issues crowd emergency departments, as few mental health clinics are available.  Psychiatrists are in short supply.  Drug abuse overwhelms the medical system, with either patients seeking pills or patients families hoping to get them off of pills. Persons with little interest in their own health continue to smoke and drink, use Meth and eat poorly.  Disability claims are skyrocketing as younger and younger individuals confabulate their misery in hopes of attaining a check, paid for by someone else. The poor, with genuine medical problems, have increasing difficulty finding care as jobs, and insurance, fade away.  Politicians, eager to be re-elected, eager to be loved, promise more and supply le... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181816 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:14:08 +0100 5181816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181900&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fif-i-could-go-back-to-college-id-be-a-little-more-practical%2F [If I Could Go Back is a series of articles that center around the college experience. Hindsight is 20/20, and sometimes the best advice we could ever give stems from experiences in our past that make us cringe just the tiniest bit.] “If I could do it all over again, I’d major in Education.” “Oh, me too. Either that or Business.” “I should have majored in Economics. At least then I’d have a real job.” These are not the words of slackers or lazy, “Generation Me” complainers. Nor is this a made up conversation invented by a conglomerate of strict parents hoping their children will study something safe in college. This dialogue was actually spoken, by real twenty-somethings, all of whom worked hard for good grades and big fellowships... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181900 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:25:14 +0100 5181900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181944&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fi-was-just-talking-to-patient-whose.html . She had had a poor ovarian response and he wanted to know whether it was worth trying another cycle again on not. His question was simple . Is it worth subjecting her to the pain of an IVF cycle ? Do we have a chance of success ? Or is it futile ? Are we just breaking our head against a brick wall . He wanted my opinion, based on what we’d learned from the first IVF cycle. He loved his wife a lot , and was very protective of her. He didn't want her to go through the pain of another IVF failure , and while he understood that there were no guarantees, he still needed advise as to whether it was sensible to try again. The major problem with an IVF cycle is not the physical pain of course - it's the emotional pain of failure, because there's so much riding on the outcome of an IVF cycle.... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181944 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:03:00 +0100 5181944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181784&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fpoor-sleep-linked-to-high-blood-pressure.html Older men who regularly miss out on deep, restorative sleep have an 80 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a study out this week in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension. Researchers used in-home sleep monitors to measure how long and well 784 men 65 and older slept. After an average of 3.4 years, 243 men had developed high blood pressure. Men who spent less than 4 percent of their sleep time in of slow-wave sleep, considered the deeper, restorative stage of sleep, had the highest risk of developing high blood pressure. In addition, men with reduced slow-wave sleep had shorter sleep duration, more awakenings at night, and more severe sleep apnea. Nearly a third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and the risk if higher in sen... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181784 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5181784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181954&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=22291&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedgadget%2F%7E3%2FR1HkxciZRro%2Fucla-researchers-replace-lenses-with-holograms-to-develop-affordable-handheld-dual-mode-microscope.html A team of UCLA engineers has developed a portable, affordable, and easy to use microscope which they hope will revolutionize healthcare in developing nations. In order to reduce both the cost and weight of their device, the researchers eliminated the heaviest and most expensive component of most microscopes – the lenses. The researchers instead use holograms, which are formed when light that passes through or bounces off of a sample interacts with light which has not contacted the sample. The new microscope uses a simple sensor chip to capture the holograms, and data can then be sent to a laptop or remote cloud server for processing. The microscope features two modes: a “transmission mode” which lets it analyze blood or water, and a “reflection mode” which can be used to obtain i... Medgadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181954 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:37:18 +0100 5181954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181771&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOQfxnCT1GtU%2F By Michael F. CannonHere are a few takeaways from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s most recent monthly poll. 1. Nearly Two Thirds of ObamaCare’s Supposed Beneficiaries Think It Won’t Help Them. ObamaCare‘s actual beneficiaries are politicians, government bureaucrats, insurance companies, drug manufacturers, etc.—but that’s another blog post for another time. The law’s supposed beneficiaries are the uninsured. Yet 61 percent of them think the law will either not help them or will hurt them (see pie chart below). The main takeaway: Congress can repeal ObamaCare and its supposed beneficiaries won’t even care.   2. Some of the Uninsured Who Think ObamaCare Will Help Them Are Wrong. One respondent said that under ObamaCare, you “can go to ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181771 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:56:48 +0100 5181771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181772&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FLbNhcRAIVCE%2F By Michael F. CannonFrom time to time, I’ve posted Pollster.com’s trend estimate of all polls gauging public opinion on ObamaCare.  It’s a great little tool.  But recently, I noticed something. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s monthly tracking poll not only finds the most support for ObamaCare, but it also gets disproportionate weight in the Pollster.com trend estimate, simply because KFF polls the public on ObamaCare more frequently than others.  Since President Obama signed the law on March 23, 2010, KFF has polled this question more often than the next two most frequent polls combined.  That makes the gap between opposition and support smaller than it would be if KFF conducted its poll as frequently as other groups conduct theirs (or vice versa). To illustrate,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181772 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:54:32 +0100 5181772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182167&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fwebicina-search-interview-about-semantic-indexing%2F Now that Webicina.com has a new design and a brand new search engine, I thought it would be useful to show the basic features and I also publish an interview with Endre Jóföldi, CEO at WebLib LLC, the company behind the search engine of Webicina.com. If you do a search for diabetes, you will see whether Webicina has a diabetes resource (a blog, podcast, Facebook group, Twitter user, etc), collection (Diabetes and Web 2.0) or sub-section (Diabetes Mobile Apps). You can narrow the search by “social media collection” (e.g. a diabetes resource in the asthma collection), “curated dynamic news category” (e.g. news categories featuring diabetes resources), “resource type” (RSS, resource, subsection or collection) or “languages”. Please tell us... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182167 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:50:50 +0100 5182167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181960&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FGFmRr9VJvx8%2F Chuck Podesta is Fletcher Allen Health Care’s chief information officer. ICD-10 would not be so daunting if the deadline was not occurring during the rush to get EHRs for meaningful use. Add in value-based purchasing, bundled payments and transitioning to ACOs, and you can see why many CIOs are retiring early or migrating to the vendor or consulting world. We are just over two years away from the October 2013 deadline, and there is much work to be done. ICD-10 contains 68,000 codes, as opposed to the 13,000 currently used in the ICD-9 world. There is a code for every condition that exists on the planet. The revenue cycle system, which includes registration, HIM and billing/AR, will be the lynch pin to ICD-10 readiness. Having a solid vendor partner and a strong product is key to a succ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181960 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:56:35 +0100 5181960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181785&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fnew-vaccine-resistant-strain-of-bird-flu-is-detected-in-asia.html A new strain of bird flu, officially called avian H5N1-2.3.2.1 influenza, has been detected in poultry flocks in Vietnam and China. Even more worrisome, the strain appears to be resistant to the current vaccine, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). But the agency says that no cases of the new strain of H5N1 flu have been reported this year. Most of the northern and central parts of Vietnam have been invaded by the new strain, the FAO said in a statement. Vietnam is considering a new vaccination campaign this fall, since the old vaccines won't work against the old strain. The ongoing H5N1 flu virus caused illness and death in humans in 2003. The virus spread in poultry, peaked in 2006, and then hit a low in 2008 after widespread poultry slaughters in affected ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181785 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:30:00 +0100 5181785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181902&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fring-the-bells-that-still-can-ring-letting-go-of-perfectionism%2F Of all of the concerns clients bring to therapy, perfectionism can be one of the most relentless and the most difficult to overcome. It shows up under any number of guises, from the more mundane to more serious versions: “I’m not going to try to learn how to waterski because I know I won’t be any good at it.” “Anything less than an A is not a good enough grade.” “I need to punish myself for not being perfect.” Perfectionists engage in multiple problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They tend to fear failure, disapproval, and making mistakes. Sometimes they fear success. They overemphasize “shoulds” and engage in all-or-nothing thinking. They constantly pressure themselves to succeed. A shameful belief about inner “badness” often is at the core of pe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181902 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:51:17 +0100 5181902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182033&cid=t_92181_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fdrug-approvals-halt%2F What does it mean when the FDA only approves 21 drugs in one year? Does it mean that the drugs being put before them are so terrible that they refuse to approve them? Maybe it means that they are so riddled with side effects that the FDA can’t possibly say yes. No!     It means that they have hit a wall. Resources have been tapped and there’s nothing new and world-altering that the market really needs. Aside from looking for cures, the drug needs have been exhausted. So, what’s next? Because the truth is that though medication may be exhausted, we are still suffering from the same problems. And if the pharmaceutical companies aren’t going to start moving to finding miracle cures, there has to be another way to make us feel better. The answer is functional medicine. What ... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182033 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:46:32 +0100 5182033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181979&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fsocial-media-reactions-top-5-worst-emr-myths Healthcare IT News Associate Editor Molly Merrill wrote a July 26 piece on the five worst EMR myths. Over the past month, there's been debate and discussion surrounding the list, via our social media outlets and in our reader comments posted on the Healthcare IT News site. Here are the five misconceptions Merrill included: read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181979 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:45:12 +0100 5181979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181750&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FdY5KD_-b2fY%2F With growing concern about mental health issues and suicide among adolescents, more  schools and communities are using voluntary screening programs to identify at-risk kids, today’s Informed Patient column reports. The programs rely on free questionnaires that have been shown to be reliable indicators of depression in adolescents including the Columbia University-developed TeenScreen and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. But mental-health screenings are opposed by certain groups and legislation has been introduced to prevent their mandatory use. Some mental health advocates say large-scale screening programs are not as cost-effective as relying on teachers, school health officials, primary-care doctors and parents to identify and intervene with troubled teens. One emerging model for he... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181750 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:23:44 +0100 5181750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182066&cid=t_92181_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FcHHww-Xin4g%2F (Editor’s note: Pathways responsible for higher-order thinking in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), or executive center of the brain, remain vulnerable throughout life—during critical early-life developmental windows, when the PFC fully matures in the early 20s, and finally from declines associated with old age. At all ages, physical activity and PFC-navigated social connections are essential components to maintaining brain health. The Experience Corps, a community-based social-engagement program, partners seniors with local schools to promote purpose-driven involvement. Participating seniors have exhibited immediate short-term gains in brain regions vulnerable to aging, such as the PFC, indicating that people with the most to lose have the most to gain from environmental enrichment.) Over ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182066 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:18:19 +0100 5182066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181786&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fcan-a-little-chocolate-really-cut-your-risk-of-heart-disease-and-stroke.html People who eat higher amounts of chocolate have a significantly lower risk of heart disease—37 percent lower, in fact—than those who consume less of the confection, according to a large-scale review published this week in the British Medical Journal. The study also found a 29 percent reduction in stroke risk and a 31 percent reduction in diabetes risk in people who consume higher amounts of chocolate. While none of the research involved randomized controlled trials, the evidence does hint at a rather sweet prospect: A little chocolate might be good for your heart as well as your soul. Researchers looked at the results of seven studies including 114,009 participants, and compared the group with the highest chocolate consumption with the group with the lowest. The studies did no... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181786 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5181786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181790&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FFSpBgAwfDVs%2F By Mary Grealy. When we talk about people who don’t have access to healthcare, there’s a natural assumption that it’s because they can’t afford it.  A new study shows that’s not necessarily the case. According to the study published in the journal Health Services Research, 21 percent of American adults said they had delayed care for non-financial reasons compared to 19 percent that cited cost as the primary reason for not seeking healthcare. Those non-financial reasons included not being able to get to a doctor’s office during working hours, long commutes to the medical office, or not being able to get an appointment soon enough.  As the study’s lead author said, “In reality, there are all kinds of reasons why people can’t get the care they need when they need it.” Th... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181790 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:16:36 +0100 5181790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182096&cid=t_92181_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-multiple-sclerosis-spell-checker%2F The more I write about multiple sclerosis, the more I realize that I’m smarter than my computer about said topic. Sometimes I feel like my spell-checking software hasn’t caught up with the vernacular of our disease. Other times, I feel like we’re just making up words for stuff — oft, we are! Myelin, Cog-Fog, Assistive, PML, CCSVI… not something your everyday word processing program recognizes; and I need it too! In my current state, I find myself relying more and more on the brain under my fingertips more than I trust my own T-Cell infested gob but squiggly red, blue or green highlights (GREAT! Now I’m to understand color-coding as well) splash their way across my screen as I type. I once mentioned, a few years ago now my issue with typing my passwords when my fingers aren�... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182096 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:13:11 +0100 5182096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181751&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQa2nPPR_42c%2F “Niche Blockbusters”: Pfizer’s newly approved lung-cancer therapy crizotinib, to be sold under the brand name Xalkori, represents a relatively new tack for the pharma giant: a drug aimed at a small group of patients with a serious disease whom tests show will likely benefit from the treatment, the WSJ reports. Drug makers can bring these potential “niche blockbusters” to market quickly and more cheaply than drugs aimed at a mass audience, and because the medical need is dire, insurers will pay up for them. Xalkori will sell for $115,200 per year. Asking the Uninsured: The Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest tracking poll finds only 31% of uninsured people think the health-care overhaul law will help them get coverage, NPR’s Shots blog reports. A full 37% of... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181751 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:20:05 +0100 5181751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181945&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-to-do-consultation-3-step-approach.html I was giving an infertile couple a tour of our IVF lab. The husband was a cardiologist and he was marveling over how complex IVF is . He knows I am a big believer in Information Therapy, and he started wondering aloud how I could explain something so intricate, involved and complex as IVF in a 15 min consultation. I explained that I have a standard three-stage format for doing a consultation. In step number one , I explain normal fertility - how babies are made when everything is working properly. I review normal anatomy and physiology ; the role of the cervical mucus and the fallopian tubes; the concept of the fertile time; when ovulation occurs and how to track this; and the importance of frequent intercourse to maximize normal fertility. This is a review of the basics , just to make su... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181945 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:19:00 +0100 5181945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174691&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-to-do-consultation-3-step-approach.html I was giving an infertile couple a tour of our IVF lab. The husband was a cardiologist and he was marveling over how complex IVF is . He knows I am a big believer in Information Therapy, and he started wondering aloud how I could explain something so intricate, involved and complex as IVF in a 15 min consultation. I explained that I have a standard three-stage format for doing a consultation. In step number one , I explain normal fertility - how babies are made when everything is working properly. I review normal anatomy and physiology ; the role of the cervical mucus and the fallopian tubes; the concept of the fertile time; when ovulation occurs and how to track this; and the importance of frequent intercourse to maximize normal fertility. This is a review of the basics , just to make su... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174691 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:19:00 +0100 5174691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174622&cid=t_92181_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FX8KSTUUJEno%2F A chest trauma patient lies before you. When would you perform an emergency thoracotomy? A case-based Q&A approach to the indications and contraindications. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174622 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:10 +0100 5174622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174604&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fwidely-used-acne-treatments-lack-evidence-says-new-study.html Most teenagers experience at least some degree of acne, and the problem sometime extends into adulthood. When it’s severe (or even when it’s not) it can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and diminished quality of life. Yet despite the scads of prescription and over-the-counter treatments marketed for acne, very little is known about their comparative effectiveness—that is, which of them works best, and for whom, according to a review published today in the journal Lancet. Researchers at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and other institutions undertook a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on acne causes, treatments, and management dating back to 1999. The treatments they examined included topical ones, such as benzoyl peroxide (Clearas... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174604 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:31:00 +0100 5174604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174627&cid=t_92181_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1829 This is my column in yesterday’s Greenville News.  A direct link requires a subscription, so I reprinted it here. Thanks! Being ‘hung up’ about sex isn’t so horrible One of the chief objections to Christianity is that it meddles in people’s personal lives. This is a curious objection, in some ways. Christianity has fairly little to say about food or drink, except to advocate moderation. And very little to say about clothing, except that modesty is appropriate. It’s silent on computers and automobiles. And it generally advocates discipline couched in love where children are concerned. What its detractors mean often comes down to this: ‘Christianity has something to say about sex, and we don’t like it one bit.’ Typically, one hears that ... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174627 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:10:39 +0100 5174627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174696&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=22291&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedgadget%2F%7E3%2FohBL2o3t4hU%2Fgene-z-ipod-based-tablet-performs-genetic-analysis-on-micrornas.html Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) developed a low cost device which is able to perform genetic analysis on microRNAs. The device, which is called Gene-Z, operates with an iPod Touch or Android-based tablet and can be charged using solar energy. This makes it a perfect tool to use in low-income and resource-limited countries.  It makes it possible to screen for cancer markers in rural areas where the pathology department is far out of reach or non-existent. Syed Hashsham, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at MSU, worked together with Reza Nassiri of the Institute of International Health. He demonstrated the Gene-Z at the NIH Cancer Detection and Diagnostics Technologies for Global Health Conference last week. Nassiri said in the press release: “Cancer is e... Medgadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174696 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:58:05 +0100 5174696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5175807&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Fgateway-to-social-marketing%2F http://www.cdc.gov/HealthCommunication/?source=govdelivery At the CDC’s Gateway to Communication Practice and Social Marketing you can access many resources to help build your health communication or social marketing campaigns and programs. Whether you are looking for tips for analyzing and segmenting an audience, choosing appropriate channels and tools, or evaluating the success of your messages or campaigns, it’s all here in one place! (Source: BHIC) BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5175807 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:23:34 +0100 5175807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174605&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F08%2Ffeds-warn-of-bad-iodine-swabs-from-hp-industries-inc.html The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recall warning last week of iodine-based swabs made by H&P Industries, Inc. in Hartand, Wisconsin. The antiseptic medical swabs may be "non-sterile," says the company. The recall involves all lots (beginning with 8J-8M, 9A-9M, 0A-0M, 1A-1C) of Povidone Iodine Swabsticks, Prep Solutions, Scrub Solutions, and Prep Gel. The antiseptic products—which are used by doctors in preparation for surgical procedures as well as by consumers for treatment of minor cuts and burns—were produced without having a means of testing for the products' sterility, says the FDA. According to H&P Industries, extensive testing of the iodine swabs and prep solutions have not, so far, yielded any contaminated product. Nor has the company received any complai... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174605 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 +0100 5174605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174586&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Faco-101-the-basics-of-accountable-care%2F Regarding the subject of “health care reform” during the past year, it is certain that more has been written about, more conferences have been devoted to, and more consultants have been engaged for the topic of “accountable care organizations” (ACOs) than any other.  ACOs are in the spotlight both because of several provisions in the [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174586 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:51:11 +0100 5174586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174606&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fdont-use-medicines-affected-by-hurricane-irene.html If Hurricane Irene left you with flooding and water damage, chances are food, drinking water, and even medicines in your home were affected, exposing you and your family to potential illness and other serious health risks. To lessen these risks, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that you discard any drug products—even those in their original containers—that have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. That includes capsules, tablets, and liquids in drug containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers and injections, inhalers, and skin medications. If needed, contact your doctor or pharmacist for replacements. In addition, medications that have been placed in any alternative storage containers should be discarded if they have come in contact wi... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174606 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5174606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174703&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Fg_faMvFVu7k%2F Lynn Scheps is Vice President, Government Affairs at EHR vendor SRSsoft. In this role, Lynn has been a Voice of Physicians and SRSsoft users in Washington during the formulation of the meaningful use criteria. Lynn is currently working to assist SRSsoft users interested in showing meaningful use and receiving the EHR incentive money. Check out Lynn’s previous Meaningful Use Monday posts. A great deal of work, discussion, and debate by the HIT Policy Committee and its Workgroup members went into developing the recommendations for meaningful use Stage 2 (discussed in the last two Meaningful Use Monday posts). Meetings were frequent and lengthy, but I tried to listen in on most of them to gain some insights into the thinking behind the decisions being made and the future direction of me... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174703 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:35:33 +0100 5174703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174613&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fafter-one-year-the-mayo-clinic-center-for-social-media-is-still-going-strong%2F2011.08.29 I’ve always been a great fan of what Mayo Clinic has been doing on social media. Then after Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media was launched, I became a member of the international external advisory board which I’m very proud of. I reported when they launched a patient community and also discussed how well they did this. Now the Center is 1 year old and still performs perfectly. An excerpt form their previous entry: Here’s a sneak peek of a few topics that were discussed during Mayo’s retreat: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174613 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:38 +0100 5174613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174664&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Fnutritional-supplements-to-treat-adhd-bipolar-depression-empowerplus%2F In this study, only 49 percent of the participants kept providing the researchers data at 6 months — meaning the majority of them dropped out of the study before the 6 months were up! LOCF is generally frowned upon in good research unless there’s a very good rationale for its use. Why? Because research shows that this method gives a biased estimate of the treatment effect and underestimates the variability of the estimated result. In other words, it stacks the deck to demonstrate a treatment’s effectiveness — even when it might not be. It’s a research slight of hand. The bigger problem with this study and most of the studies cited by TrueHope is that they all suffer from significant design problems. All are open-label designs with biased, self-selected samples... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174664 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:45:54 +0100 5174664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174692&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fputting-end-to-didnt-ask-didnt-tell.html This is a guest post from a clever medical student , Muthukar Ramanathan. If there are more like him, the future of medical practise holds a lot of promise ! ---------------- How many times have you felt that you forgot to mention something important after leaving your doctor’s clinic ? Unable to ask an embarrassing question or to did not remember to discuss your recent allergy? This familiar problem of "Didn't Ask Didn't Tell" among patients is due to multiple reasons - chiefly lack of recollection, stress or even laziness. But this inability to communicate well with physicians ultimately hurts patients due to incorrect diagnosis or treatment. As a medical student sitting as an observer in physician's office, I noticed that many times patients could not accurately provide much needed... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174692 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:59:00 +0100 5174692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174614&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-beneficial-effect-of-laughter-on-your-health%2F2011.08.29 I stumbled upon the article ‘Laughter: gender-specific variations’ in Revista Clínica Española (‘Spanish Clinical Journal’) and I can’t help thinking about the need for taking this into account to improve doctor-patient relationships. The text can actually be read as a guide to understand how every person laughs and how to use it in clinical practice. Table 1. Laughter effect on health (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Diario Medico* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174614 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:27 +0100 5174614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174608&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FDwEY8Iozcz0%2F By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn. Nuns and priests were CEOs at 770 of 796 Catholic hospitals in the U.S. in 1968. This year, there are only 8 of them leading 636 hospitals. Sister Mary Jean Ryan, who retired as CEO of SSM Healthcare, says, “We’re a dying breed.” Why has this happened, and why should we care — whether or not we’re Catholic? The New York Times covered this story on August 22, 2011, titled, Nuns, a ‘Dying Breed,’ Fade from Leadership Roles at Catholic Hospitals. NY Times editors smartly placed this story in the “U.S.” section and not under the “Religion” corner of the paper. At the crux of this historical transition at religious hospitals is whether the values that drove the heart and soul of these institutions — caring for the needy, the safety net population... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174608 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:23:01 +0100 5174608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174599&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1CUaz70JSQk%2F By Ilya ShapiroSCOTUSblog’s symposium on the constitutionality of Obamacare — to which I contributed, as did Bob Levy – provides a glimpse at the astonishing views of the law’s supporters.  It particularly shows how divorced the legal academy’s leading lights are not only from basic constitutional text and structure, but from jurisprudential reality. Most prominently, in responding to the Eleventh Circuit’s decision striking down the individual mandate (and to Richard Epstein’s symposium essay), storied Harvard professor Laurence H. Tribe criticizes the court for “reflecting what appears to be a widely held public sentiment” that Congress cannot “mandate that individuals enter into contracts with private insurance companies for the purchase o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174599 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:45:41 +0100 5174599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174570&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2FEWfnSVMz1yw%2Fhealth-insurers-idea-century.html I have come up with the idea of the century.  My idea will make your company the richest in the world while attracting millions of new patrons to your credit and debit card services.  I don’t know why no one has done it in the past.  It has made the insurers of America countless billions of dollars and now you can profit as well.  My only request is that you pay me 1% in royalties for bringing this opportunity to you.Ready?  It’s so simple it will knock your socks off.  Under your current company guidelines, your cardholder charges a purchase and takes his merchandise home.  You charge your cardholder interest and charge the merchant a processing fee.  Once the transaction is processed, you pay the merchant the money owed to him.  You make a profit off of interest and fees.Rea... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174570 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:21 +0100 5174570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174704&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMJr4_oLHBIQ%2F Time to touch on a few popular topics that I found being discussed on Twitter. First, I’ll put the tweets and then a little but of my own commentary on these hot button issues in healthcare IT. @GovHIT Does a nationwide #EHR lower healthcare costs? Social media reactions | #GovHIT Blog http://ow.ly/64DL1 I always love when people talk about a nationwide EHR. I actually think that it’s a bad title by Government Healthcare IT, but that it’s a very good question. To me a nationwide EHR implies that there is one EHR for the entire nation. I think a number of other countries which are much smaller and less complex than the US have proven quite well that a nationwide government run EHR is a bad idea. I think the Government HIT article actually refers more to widespread adoption... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174704 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:20:12 +0100 5174704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174805&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Fgames-for-health-keynote-speaker%2F One of the most promising conferences this fall will definitely be the Games for Health taking place in Amsterdam, between 24 and 25 of October. You know how close health games are to my heart. I was invited to be a keynote speaker for the event which I gladly accepted. I hope to see you there! Building on the successful editions in Boston (MA, USA) the first edition of ‘Games for Health Europe’ will be held October 24th and 25th 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. More than 500 attendees from Europe, USA and Asia will participate in inspiring presentations, experience state of the art demonstrations and share knowledge in informative workshops. Conference content will be provided by a wide range of researchers, game developers and medical professionals. Also the conference will provid... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174805 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:45:02 +0100 5174805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174607&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fmake-sure-your-post-irene-food-and-water-are-safe.html If you’re one of the millions feeling the after effects of Hurricane Irene in the form of power outages, flooding, and other damages, food and water safety is a paramount concern. To avoid illness from contaminated drinking water and food, the Food and Drug Administration is urging people to take the following precautions: Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. When in doubt, throw it out. Do not eat food packed in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth and similar containers that have been water-damaged. Discard food and beverage containers with screw-caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops, cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods, if they have come in contact with flood water. These containers cannot be ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174607 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:20:00 +0100 5174607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174693&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-do-i-decide-which-treatment-is.html Many infertile couples are confused as to which treatment to select. There seem to be so many choices – and even worse, so many different opinions from different doctors ! It’s hard for them to figure out if IUI is better for them ( as recommended by their gynecologist) or whether they should move on to IVF ( as suggested by their RE) ! This is why it's very important to create a comprehensive treatment plan right from the beginning . For example, I recently saw a young patient with polycystic ovarian disease . I sat with her and explained her options to her. Step number one would be ovulation induction with metformin , and if that didn't work, then we’d use ovulation induction drugs such as letrozole or clomiphene. If that failed, then one option would be laparoscopic ovarian drill... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174693 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:14:00 +0100 5174693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5170344&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F28%2Farticles-of-interest-28%2F Racial Gaps in Early Childhood: Socio-Emotional Health, Developmental, and Educational Outcomes Among African-American Boys National Center for Children in Poverty http://bit.ly/mZ5AtP Aratani, Yumiko; Janice L. Cooper; Vanessa R. Wight Published: April 2011 Examines gaps in early childhood cognitive and socio-emotional development among African-American and white boys, gaps after controlling for socioeconomic and family traits, and factors that boost resilience to risk. Makes policy recommendations. [@fdncenter Foundation Center] Disparities in Unintended Pregnancy Grow, Even As National Rate Stagnates http://bit.ly/pAnIB0 A new analysis from the Guttmacher Institute shows that following a considerable decline between 1981 and 1994, the overall U.S. unintended pregnancy rate has remaine... BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5170344 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:44:57 +0100 5170344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174617&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpatient-history-found-to-be-key-element-in-making-a-diagnosis%2F2011.08.28 Four out of five doctors agree that they don’t need scans to make the right diagnosis. It’s an old-fashioned concept frequently discussed among ACP members, but the history and physical combined with basic tests is way more important to diagnosis than ordering scans and advanced tests. A recent research letter in the Archives of Internal Medicine makes the case. In the letter, Israeli researchers described a prospective study of 442 consecutive patients admitted from the emergency department in 53 days. A senior resident examined all patients within 24 hours of admission (mean=14), including a history, physical, and review of ancillary test findings done at the emergency department, such as blood and urine tests, electrocardiography, and chest radiography. The resident also rev... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174617 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0100 5174617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174713&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fend-beginning-and-launch-i2o When Dr. Farzad Mostashari, the national coordinator for health information technology, addresses more than 4,700 healthcare professionals at the Allscripts Client Experience in Nashville on Monday morning, Aug. 29, he’s likely to discuss one of the most exciting developments in healthcare today – and perhaps surprisingly, it won’t be the meaningful use of electronic health records.  read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174713 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:48:46 +0100 5174713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174619&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-news-stories-beware-of-insufficient-evidence%2F2011.08.28 After seeing the NBC Nightly News last night, a physician urged me to write about what he saw: a story about a “simple blood test that could save women’s lives.” Readers – and maybe especially TV viewers – beware whenever you hear a story about “a simple blood test.” And this is a good case in point. Brian Williams led into the story stating: “Two of three women who die suddenly of cardiac heart disease have no previous symptoms which is all the more reason women may want to ask their doctors about a blood test that can be a lifesaver.” Then NBC News chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman said: “It’s not a new test, it’s not an experimental test but nonetheless it’s a test not a lot of people know about and tha... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174619 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:00:15 +0100 5174619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169545&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-physicians-have-a-role-in-controlling-healthcare-costs%2F2011.08.27 The Role of Physicians in Controlling Medical Care Costs and Reducing Waste by the RAND Corporation and David Geffen, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Santa Monica was just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).  I do not think the JAMA should have published this article. 1.Why would the JAMA publish such an article? 2. Why are physicians blamed for all the waste in the system? 3. Why is it the physicians’ responsibility to eliminate waste when they are not the cause of the greatest percentage of the waste? “The amount of money spent on medical care is increasing faster than the gross domestic product (GDP), and the federal deficit is increasing.” The initial statement assumes that the government deficit is increasing because phy... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169545 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:05:19 +0100 5169545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169510&cid=t_92181_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Forlinst.puflet.info%2FDepeche%2520Mode%2520-%25202009%2520-%2520Sounds%2520of%2520the%2520Universe%2F03%2520Wrong.mp3 Meanwhile you might want to listen to “Wrong” (Depeche Mode) Yesterday I screened my spam-folder. Between all male enhancement and lottery winner announcements, and phishing mails for my bank account, there was an invitation to peer review a paper in “SCIENCE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY”. Such an invitation doesn’t belong in the spam folder, doesn’t it? Thus [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169510 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 20:26:53 +0100 5169510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169501&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2FLEb9WqGLWlY%2Ftrouble-dr-google.html Things have been a bit tough of late, the bad economy is starting to bite, and you’re feeling the pressure.  To top it all, your body has been acting strangely in ways it never has before.  Your muscles twitch in funny areas for hours at a time, you tire easily, and you have fleeting pins and needles in your limbs.  Over the weeks these symptoms have become worse. The last straw comes when you notice it is getting harder to swallow your food without thinking about it.You do what any overworked but doctor-shy person does in a free moment – you consult Dr. Google.  He takes your request in a fraction of a second. You learn the muscle twitches are called fasciculations.  You enter “muscle fasciculations, muscle fatigue and swallowing difficulty” into the Search window.Rea... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169501 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:00:29 +0100 5169501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169547&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-importance-of-physicals-for-young-athletes%2F2011.08.27 Increasing numbers of young people participate in outdoor activities, including strenuous competitive athletics. In so doing, they subject their bodies to stresses that are more intense and prolonged than those presented by a largely sedentary life. Every story of a sudden death in a young person is a tragedy, and usually accompanied by commentary pondering the role and utility of pre-activity screening. Could the death have been prevented? What was the physiological condition of the deceased? Could the collapse, often attributed to a heart problem, have been predicted? Was there an examination or evaluation that might have indicated that the deceased was at greater risk, or should have been held out of the activity? These are all important questions, with no simple answers. Sudden collaps... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169547 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5169547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169572&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2F5-tips-for-staying-calm-in-a-hurricane%2F When hurricanes or tropical storms are forecast to reach us, we often go into a panic and fear the worst about the coming storm. The uncertainty of the storm provokes a certain in anxiety in most of us. Some of those fears are very real, as government officials ask residents to evacuate areas directly in the path of the hurricane. Low-lying areas are especially at risk for flooding. Calm is a hard emotion to muster when our entire environment is turning against us. It is ever harder to remain calm when you’re asked to evacuate your home, and live in a shelter or with a family member for a few days. Will my home still be standing when I return? What about my most cherished possessions? Even folks who aren’t asked to evacuate fear the loss of electricity to their homes, and wheth... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169572 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:18:51 +0100 5169572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169573&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2Fzimbardos-infamous-prison-experiment-where-the-key-players-are-now%2F It’s arguably one of the most controversial experiments. It all started in the basement of the psychology building at Stanford University on August 17, 1971 after psychologist Phil Zimbardo and colleagues took an ad out in the paper stating: “Male college students needed for psychological study of prison life. $15 per day for 1-2 weeks.” Over 70 people volunteered for the Stanford Prison Experiment. Twenty-four healthy, smart college-aged men were picked and randomly assigned either to be a guard or a prisoner. The aim of the study was to explore the psychology of prison life and how specific situations affect people’s behavior. But the experiment didn’t last very long — six days to be exact. Zimbardo was forced to pull the plug because of the disturbing behavior of the guard... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169573 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:04:17 +0100 5169573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169588&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fbromocriptine-is-used-for-treating-high.html Bromocriptine is a drug which is used specifically to treat women with hyperprolactinemia - a condition in women fail to ovulate because the pituitary is producing too much of the hormone called prolactin. Hyperprolactinemia is the cause of menstrual disturbance in about 10% of anovulatory women. Bromocriptine lowers prolactin levels to normal (the normal range in most laboratories being less than 20 ng/ml) and allows the ovary to get back to normal. Some doctors sometimes misuse bromocriptine by using it to treat marginally elevated prolactin levels. This is not a good idea. Side effects: The drug often causes nausea and dizziness during the first few days of treatment but the chances of these symptoms occurring can be reduced by starting the drug at a very low dose and gradually buildi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169588 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:45:00 +0100 5169588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169541&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fexercise-now-benefit-later.html If you’re waiting for the “right time” to start working out more, don’t delay. The earlier you start exercising, the more likely you are to maintain physical performance and strength in older age, suggests a study out this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers in England and Australia analyzed self-reported exercise levels of approximately 2,400 British men and women at ages 36, 43 and 53 followed since their birth in the month of March,1946. In 1999, when all the participants in the study were 53 years of age, the researchers measured their grip strength, standing balance, and how long it took them to rise from a chair as indicators of strength and physical performance. Grip strength is a measure of upper-body muscle condition. Chair-r... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169541 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:55:00 +0100 5169541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169597&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMv7wbsW1E7Y%2F Conclusion Don’t accept an EHR that’s slow. Make sure that the EHR performs at a satisfactory level. I know of nothing that frustrates a clinic more than a slow EHR. Related posts:Common EMR Implementation Issue – EHR Performance Issues We’re back again with our ongoing series on Common EMR... Common EMR Implementation Issues – Unexpected EHR Expenses This is the start of a new series of posts... Killer EMR Features According to EMR Vendors I previously posted a request to hear about the “killer”... (Source: EMR and HIPAA) EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169597 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:49:29 +0100 5169597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169511&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fwill-hired-executives-let-healing.html Hospital - noun, 1.  a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm or young  2.  an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care, Merriam-Webster             - noun.  1.  an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people, Oxford DictionaryTwo recent NY Times articles raise concerns that changes in leadership may cause hospitals to stray from their original purpose.  Cook County Health and Hospitals SystemThe first NY Times article discussed leadership of Cook County Health and Hospitals System (in the Chicago, IL area). This is a public health system whose mission was traditionally "to serve Cook County... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169511 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:20:00 +0100 5169511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161727&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F26%2Freduce-health-it-disparities%2F http://bit.ly/qBig1c A draft Federal Health IT Disparities Strategic Plan was posted for public comment on Aug. 24 on the HealthIT.gov blog by the Office of Minority Health and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The comment period will last for approximately 30 days. Those who are interested in commenting are encouraged to provide input on an electronic form available just below the blog posting. [Office of Minority Health Resource Center August 26, 2011] (Source: BHIC) BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161727 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:19:15 +0100 5161727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169561&cid=t_92181_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fthe-challenge-of-obesity.html For those interested in epidemiology, chronic disease, and obesity. This week's edition of the Lancet has a series of four articles and several commentaries that review the economics, epidemiology, social, and policymaking issues affecting obesity that are well worth reading in full. The take away message is that this is an extremely complicated area. There is an emphasis by the authors and commentators that correction of obesity will take government action. Government action in this area tends to resolve around police actions, and taxation. Taxation policies have worked to a significant extent in reducing tobacco consumption in Europe. However, smoking is not a survival necessity whereas eating is. We have to be very careful about the use of police power for public health policy with the ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169561 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:05:04 +0100 5169561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169577&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FxhaaQKoyW30%2F URL: http://www.pale-reflections.com/Pale Reflections is a complete support network for people affected by anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and all eating disorders. We offer information and a caring environment for eating disorder sufferers, their friends and family, and therapists & professionals. For: Anyone, Clinicians, Consumers, ConsumersTopics: Academia, Behaviour Management, Cognitive, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Common Factors, Counselling, Depression, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, General Psychology, Life, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Personality, Personality disorders, Psychology and Technology, Psychology and the Media, Self-help, Abnormal, Addiction, Behaviour Management, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, Life, L... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169577 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:00:39 +0100 5169577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169543&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhome%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-to-get-ready-for-hurrican-irene.html Hurricane Irene is barreling toward North Carolina, where a hurricane warning is in effect, and hurricane watches have been posted for Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New England. Unlike their neighbors to the south, Northeasterners may not be as familiar with hurricane preparedness. Whether you’re weathering in or have to evacuate, there’s a few supplies you should have on hand. Related stories: For a complete guide to staying safe during Hurricane Irene and other disasters, check out: Social Media: Americans' source for disaster news, help and comfort Fast facts: How to prepare a homeowners insurance flood claim Hurricane survival tips for your electronics Hurricane car survival tips How to keep your food safe if Irene knocks out your power In a ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169543 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:41:00 +0100 5169543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182067&cid=t_92181_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F83QTuZxBx3c%2F Obesity linked to Cognition (HealthCanal): - “Obese people tend to perform worse than healthy people at cognitive tasks like planning ahead, a literature review has found, concluding that psychological techniques used to treat anorexics could help obese people too.” - “According to a review of 38 studies on cognitive function and obesity by researchers from the University of NSW, obese people have a tendency toward “reduced executive function”, meaning planning, goal-oriented behaviour and decision-making.” - “Obesity may both cause and be caused by the reduced executive function, said review lead author Dr Evelyn Smith, from UNSW’s School of Psychiatry.” To read article: click Here. To access study: Click on A review of the association between obesity and cognitive fun... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182067 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:09:46 +0100 5182067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169611&cid=t_92181_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F83QTuZxBx3c%2F Obesity linked to Cognition (HealthCanal): - “Obese people tend to perform worse than healthy people at cognitive tasks like planning ahead, a literature review has found, concluding that psychological techniques used to treat anorexics could help obese people too.” - “According to a review of 38 studies on cognitive function and obesity by researchers from the University of NSW, obese people have a tendency toward “reduced executive function”, meaning planning, goal-oriented behaviour and decision-making.” - “Obesity may both cause and be caused by the reduced executive function, said review lead author Dr Evelyn Smith, from UNSW’s School of Psychiatry.” To read article: click Here. To access study: Click on A review of the association between obesity and cognitive fun... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169611 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:09:46 +0100 5169611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169518&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FczOK7xo_ino%2F You’ve stocked up on flashlight batteries and boarded up the windows in preparation for Hurricane Irene’s arrival. Now consider this: what in the heck are you going to eat if the power is off for days? For answers, we turned to Sherry Mahoney, director of nutrition for the Mayo Clinic in Florida. She says meal-planning for a hurricane or any other disaster assumes no electricity, gas or even running water. After the storm passes, there may be a chance to cook outdoors, however, using a propane cooker or grill. (Those are never to be used indoors.) When stocking up ahead of a storm, “pick what your family and children would want to eat” anyway, Mahoney says, so that it won’t go to waste if you don’t need it. Good items to have on hand include canned meats and f... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169518 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:46:16 +0100 5169518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169531&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtpVlZ8rFxyc%2F By Michael F. CannonThe federal government, four states, and a whistleblower have extracted a $154 million settlement from Par Pharmaceuticals for fraudulently inflating the prices it charges Medicaid, according to the Associated Press. With Medicare and Medicaid losing roughly $100 billion each year to fraud and other improper payments, however, the fact that a paltry $154 million settlement is news can only mean that federal and state governments are not even trying to combat fraud in any serious way.   As I explain in this video, that’s because politicians have almost zero incentive to do so — which makes massive amounts of fraud an inherent part of these programs: Under ObamaCare, Medicare and Medicaid fraud will only get worse. $154 Million Medicaid Fraud Settlement a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169531 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:58:12 +0100 5169531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169574&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F26%2Fpresidents-as-patients-an-interview-with-dr-connie-mariano%2F Eleanor Concepcion “Connie” Mariano has quite an impressive resume — even for a doctor. Not only was Dr. Mariano — or, Dr. Connie, as she’s more intimately known by a few — the first Filipino-American to become a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, but she was also the first American woman to be appointed the Director of the White House Medical Unit. In June 2010, Dr. Mariano released The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents: A Memoir (Thomas Dune Books, 2010). I was able to speak with her recently about the psychology behind spending nine years caring for three Presidents of the United States through everything from surprisingly panic-inducing blisters to that sex scandal heard ’round the world. Alicia Sparks: Whether you were headed to a lo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169574 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:31:24 +0100 5169574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169544&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F8O-7TWWsOwk%2F More than 1.7 million Americans are currently living with limb loss, and each year, more than 150,000 more face either full or partial amputation. For many of these people, the option of prosthetics proves invaluable, allowing them to maintain their quality of life. And now, other members of the animal kingdom are getting in on the act! As HuffPost’s Weird News reports, Winter the dolphin, of Clearwater Beach, Fla. is one such fortunate recipient of a prosthetic limb. Winter, who lost her tail to a crab trap at only three months old, had her quality of life restored when experts from Hanger Prosthetics were able to successfully design her a prosthetic tail. For her part, Winter earned a starring role in the forthcoming Warner Brothers film, Dolphin Tale. You can read the full HuffPost st... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169544 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:10 +0100 5169544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159255&cid=t_92181_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fmisusing-danazol-to-treat-endometriosis.html Danazol is a synthetic hormone, and used to be commonly prescribed as one type of treatment for endometriosis. The brand name includes Danogen and Ladogal. It acts by suppressing the brain's production of follicle stimulating hormones and hence suppresses ovarian function. This is similar to an artificial menopause and results in the shrinking of not only the endometrium in the uterus (and hence no periods); but also hopefully the misplaced patches of endometrium outside the uterus found in patients with endometriosis, causing them to disappear. Side Effects: Hot flushes, weight gain, acne, hirsutism (hairiness). These side effects are quite troublesome, and some women have to discontinue the drug because of these. Usually, while taking the danazol, your periods will stop completely - pseu... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159255 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:44:00 +0100 5159255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158991&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fimproving-surgical-residents-bedside-manner%2F2011.08.25 I was alerted to this Archives of Surgery article (full reference below) by MedPage Today:  Role Playing Boosts Surgical Residents’ Bedside Manner. I find it intriguing.  Role playing gives you a chance for a “do-over” when you make a social or communication faux pas. So much of medicine is communication.  Those of us who have been at it for years, deliver bad news differently (learned the hard way) now than we did previously.  You choose your words more carefully (though I still occasionally screw up).  Some words are more emotionally charged than others.  Some patients want more information than others. The University of Connecticut Health Center conducted a prospective study  of a pilot project designed to  teach surgical residents patient-centered communication skills... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158991 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:15:00 +0100 5158991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158936&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FzFTVxpvSy4g%2F By Ilya ShapiroMy colleagues and I have covered the substance of the Eleventh Circuit ruling that two weeks ago struck down the individual mandate, but where do we go from here?  Why hasn’t the Supreme Court yet resolved the conflict between that ruling and the Sixth Circuit’s from earlier in the summer?  When will it do so?  A few points: The government is now likely to seek en banc review, meaning that they want the entire 10-judge court to review the 3-judge panel’s ruling.  It’s extremely unlikely that the Eleventh Circuit would grant such a motion because the panel is already 2-1 against and the members of the court not on the panel are a 4-3 Republican-appointed majority.  You need a majority (6 of 10) to get en banc review, which means the dissenting J... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158936 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:50:00 +0100 5158936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159277&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Fw2QBei4mkwo%2F For years, we’ve heard about how much clinical information is locked away in payer databases. Payers have offered to provide clinical summaries, electronic and otherwise, The problem is, it’s potentially inaccurate clinical information because it’s all based on billing claims. (Don’t believe me? Just ask “E-Patient” Dave de Bronkart.) It is for this reason that I don’t much trust “quality” ratings based on claims data. Just how much of a difference there was between claims data and true clinical data hasn’t been so clear, though. Until today. A paper just published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that searching EMRs with natural-language processing identified up to 12 times the number of pneumonia c... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159277 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:47:57 +0100 5159277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159547&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FoGyzqLf5Vxc%2F Despite the number of people who tout the benefits of meditation, for years I’ve been against it. Not against the practice itself, but just me doing it. I have never been able to master sitting still, without thoughts. No matter how hard I tried, the supposed path to enlightenment was sheer torture; I could not get my brain to shut up. Recently, however, I discovered the solution to doing so: Find a purpose. And, for me, that purpose is to set an intention for the day. You see, quite by accident, a couple of weeks ago when I was attempting to meditate (letting my thoughts pass like clouds, as I’m told), one thought did appear that seemed worth holding on to. Slow down, have a cup of tea and be OK with what’s left undone. That message came through loud and clear. Call it a... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159547 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:18:56 +0100 5159547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158964&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Ffda-says-cancer-drug-shortage-is-getting-worse.html Several cancer drugs are in low supply, preventing some breast and prostate cancer patients from getting needed treatment, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The shortage of cancer drugs, which has been on the rise since 2010, stems from several factors, according to Valerie Jensen, the associate director of the Drug Shortage Program at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in an interview with MSN. Those factors include problems at manufacturing plants, such as contamination; late delivery of raw materials; and misprints in drug labels and packaging. MSN suggested that delayed inspections by the FDA after problems arise might also contribute to shortages, though Jensen disagreed. On its Drug Shortages Website, the FDA writes that: These shortages occur fo... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158964 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5158964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161730&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fhurricane-food-safety%2F http://1.usa.gov/qN8cec Before and after weather emergencies, it is important to have a plan in place for emergency medication, food and water, and medical supplies for both humans and animals. This is especially true for taking care of individuals with health concerns, particularly if the power goes out. This resource from the FDA provides information to help you prepare. (Source: BHIC) BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161730 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:47:54 +0100 5161730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161732&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fus-fact-finder%2F http://factfinder2.census.gov/ Visit the NEW American FactFinder  to access the latest data from Census 2010 and more. Data from the American Community Survey, the Economic Census, and the Population Estimates Program will be transitioned to the new system in the coming months. A how-to guide for Building Deep Links into the New American Factfinder http://1.usa.gov/q0wR4l (pdf file) is available. (Source: BHIC) BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161732 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:25:39 +0100 5161732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158965&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fbarefoot-running-shoes-are-they-for-you.html Are you thinking about buying a pair of “barefoot-running” shoes, like those introduced this week by Adidas, but wonder if they really live up to the hype? We asked our exercise experts what they think of the suddenly popular trend. Barefoot running shoes—which have thin rubber soles that fit over feet like gloves, with a slot for each toe—allow you to run with the same mechanics as if you were barefoot. And they offer some protection from abrasions, punctures, and stubbed toes. But it's unclear whether the barefoot-running style—in which you're more likely to land on the balls of your feet than the heels—offers any advantages. In theory, it could lead to less hip and knee twisting and have less of an impact on joints. But it might also lead to short... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158965 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:15:00 +0100 5158965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159197&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fusing-tragedy-to-justify-mental-health-services-in-delaware%2F In a letter that could’ve been written in virtually any state by any National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) representative, NAMI Delaware executive director Matthew Stehl and president Mary Berger recently wrote an op-ed for Delaware’s leading newspaper, The News Journal. In the opinion piece, Stehl and Berger decry the lack of adequate funding for mental illness treatment in the state. In a period of economic recession, state-funded health and human services are usually the first to undergo cuts. But it’s an especially relevant issue in Delaware, because the U.S. Department of Justice struck an agreement with the state to ensure it improves its mental health services for its indigent and poor residents who need mental health services. All of which is good. I’m ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159197 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:55:45 +0100 5159197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158920&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Frisk-shifting-in-health-care-and-its-implications-part-two%2F Yesterday, in the first installment of a two-part Health Affairs Blog post, Troyen Brennan and Thomas Lee discussed the shifting of risk they see taking place in the health care system, from insurers and employers to provider and patients. In part two below, Brennan and Lee discuss the implications of this shift for various health [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158920 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:02:47 +0100 5158920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158836&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2Fn-Ujqs5rBoE%2Fpatients-trust-sociable-humanoid-robots.html Within in five years primary care providers will begin being replaced by sociable humanoid robots, avatars, and computer programs. Within ten years you will no longer hear any complaints about medical students choosing specialty residencies over family practice because the role of the physician will be completely redefined to complement a rules based approach to the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. This transformation is inevitable because of demographics, economics, and progress in artificial intelligence, but the academic leaders of medical education and health policy are largely ignorant and unprepared for this massive disruption.Read the rest of Will patients trust sociable humanoid robots? on KevinMD.com.Category: Tech | Tags: Health IT, Primary care | 2 comments (Source: K... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158836 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:43 +0100 5158836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158966&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fbaby%2F2011%2F08%2Fusda-unveils-improvements-to-school-lunch-program.html Your children will have healthier choices for lunch at school thanks to changes to the school lunch program. Starting this fall there will be more fruits and vegetables, less sodium, leaner meats, reduced fat dairy products and whole grains on the menu, according to a recent announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture. “These are the first changes in 15 years”, said USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon. “This is a rare opportunity to make changes in 101,000 American schools in all states and territories. This is the most significant change in the history of the school lunch program.” Children may be offered fresh fruit cups, for example, instead of sugary desserts, roasted or baked chicken rather than deep fried, and they’ll be offered whol... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158966 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0100 5158966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158967&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fvaccines-cause-very-few-serious-side-effects.html The start of school means it’s vaccine time, and a new 667-page report released today from the Institute of Medicine should offer parents some reassurance. It found that there is no connection between the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and autism, despite some parent’s lingering concerns. And it said that other serious side effects of that and other childhood vaccines were rare. A committee of experts convened by the IOM culled through more than 12,000 peer-reviewed articles to examine whether eight childhood vaccines caused adverse events. The report specifically ruled out any causal relationship between the flu shot and Bell’s Palsy, and found that getting vaccinated against the flu doesn’t make asthma worse. It also dispelled any notions of a con... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158967 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:01:00 +0100 5158967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159836&cid=t_92181_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAhQvJIfu6qE%2F Concerns about conflicts of interests are all the rage these days. The FDA is debating whether to loosen rules over complaints that an insufficient number of experts are available for its advisory committees. And the National Institutes of Health just issued new rules covering academics who receive federal funding for their research and also have ties to industry (see here and here). As it turns out, the US Department of Health & Human Services, which oversees both agencies, has its own problems with conflicts. A new report by the HHS Office of Inspector General found most conflict-of-interest waivers issued two years ago were not documented as recommended in federal ethics regulations and only a minority of waivers were signed and dated by HHS employees receiving them. These waivers... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159836 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:12:11 +0100 5159836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159198&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fcan-religion-or-spirituality-help-ward-off-depression%2F People of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities get depression. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to whom it strikes and when. Many people swear by certain things to help them keep depression away. Some people use exercise, while others throw themselves more into their work. Others take a daily dose of a herb like St. John’s Wort or fish oil, because of the association these ingredients have had with a reduction in depression in some studies. But what about religion? Can a strong sense of spirituality or religion help you ward off depression? According to new research that followed a group of people over 10 years, the answer is a qualified “Yes.” The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159198 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0100 5159198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158839&cid=t_92181_85_f&fid=34587&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FKevinMd-MedicalWeblog%2F%7E3%2F6msiiZ9sX3A%2Fimplementing-affordable-care-act-increase-physician-tension.html It’s really quite an ancient debate: 400 to 500 years before the birth of Christ, on the island of Kos (home of Hippocrates) originates the myth of Aesculapius, god of healing, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis.As is not unusual in Greek mythology, Coronis meets a violent death, but the infant Aesculapius is saved. He is raised by a wise centaur, becomes skilled in healing arts, and succeeds in bringing a patient back to life. This act threatens Zeus and the god’s ownership of immortality, so Aesculapius is promptly placed among the stars as Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer.It is the serpent-symbol of medicine (caduceus) that results.Read the rest of Implementing the Affordable Care Act will increase physician tension on KevinMD.com.Category: Policy | Tags: Health reform | 1 com... Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158839 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0100 5158839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161733&cid=t_92181_10_f&fid=34467&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnnlm.gov%2Fbhic%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Finfant-mortality-awareness-2%2F September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month, and in 2011, the Office of Minority Health decided to partner with local communities, and focus on the role of the health care provider. The theme is A Healthy Baby Begins with You…and Us. Healthcare Professionals Take on Infant Mortality. To actually take on infant mortality, doctors, nurses, midwives, and all healthcare professionals need to know not only the medical aspects, but the influence of the social determinants of health on the health outlook of the patients with whom they interact. Cultural and class competence is no longer an option. These major components must be addressed in order to not just decrease, but eliminate health disparities. Place, race, and income do matter, but there are ways to account for them and address th... BHIC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161733 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:27:23 +0100 5161733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158977&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FuWUbQhdO2ls%2F Yesterday, Healthcare IT News reported that a study due out later this month found that the addition of social media tools to online health programs seemed to positively influence the effectiveness of the programs. The study, which is being published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found that “adding an interactive online community to an Internet-based walking program significantly decreased the number of participants who dropped out.” This is just the latest in eHealth innovations – from mobile health apps to electronic medical records and so, so, so much more – leaving the medical community wondering how eHealth will fare moving forward. How do you feel about health-related social networking? Would you join an online health program? What concerns – privacy, quality... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158977 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:15:49 +0100 5158977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159199&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fto-heal-after-an-affair-and-rebuild-the-relationship%2F “For many people, an affair is deeply traumatizing [and] some marriages can’t recover from it,” said Jason Seidel, PsyD, founder and director of The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence in Denver. But if you decide to work on your relationship post-affair, you must accept a hard truth: Another affair can happen. This is the paradox of healing, Seidel said. Often, partners who’ve been cheated on will demand full access to their spouse’s email, cell phone records, Facebook and other accounts (or they’ll sneak around to get the access), he said. They see this as legitimate and essential to helping reestablish trust in the relationship. A common belief is “How could I ever trust you again unless you give me full access?” While this thinking is understandable, it simply doesn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159199 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:40:21 +0100 5159199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159422&cid=t_92181_118_f&fid=34850&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBusinessBlog%2F%7E3%2FXE8ROHqjA7E%2F I’m taking a break from blogging this week so am rerunning some favorite posts from 2010. Please visit the original post to comment. This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Castlight Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dena Bravata. David E. Williams: This is David Williams, cofounder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog.  I’m speaking today with Dr. Dena Bravata.  She is Chief Medical Officer of Castlight Health. Dena, thanks for joining me today. Dr. Dena Bravata:            David, thank you so much.  It’s a pleasure to be here. Williams:            What is Castlight Health and why is it needed? Bravata:            Castlight Health is dedicated to making health care cost and quality information publicly ava... Health Business Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159422 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:10:18 +0100 5159422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159351&cid=t_92181_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FdflHJn4aeTM%2Fbundled-payments-for-care-improvement-initiative-announced-by-cms-center-for-innovation.html Many health care provider organizations have not been overly eager to jump onto the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) bandwagon, citing high startup costs and uncertain returns on investment given the complexity of the program.  Well, recently, the CMS Center for Innovation has announced the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement initiative.  This initiative incorporates elements of earlier CMS demonstration projects -- the gainsharing demos and ACE (acute care episode) bundled payments demonstrations which the HealthBlawger has helped a number of clients around the country qualify for in the past -- and builds on the broad authority granted to the CMS Center for Innovation under health reform. The advantages to proceeding with a Bundled Payment for Care Improvement project include the... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159351 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:17:08 +0100 5159351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159566&cid=t_92181_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fiphone-preventing-er-visits-and-other-stories-this-week%2F Google Hand Holding Brings Pharma to YouTube As Facebook prepares to force pharma marketers to include comments on most pages, Google is actively courting the highly-regulated industry. Working directly with extremely risk-averse drug makers, the company developed a new YouTube feature for them that also can be applied for other marketers. For AstraZeneca’s Medimmune, the change was the difference between having a YouTube channel and scrapping the project all together. AstraZeneca has a new blog! Patients Get Social About Their Health In its April 2011 survey, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions found that 11% of US healthcare consumers use social networks to find or share health information and 8% use blogs. The respondents who use blogs and social networks for health purposes... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159566 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:02:45 +0100 5159566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158968&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fgoogle-to-pay-500-million-for-running-pharmacy-ads.html As part of a settlement with the federal government, Google will pay $500 million for running ads by online Canadian pharmacies in the U.S. that the government says were illegal. The Canadian pharmacies do not require a prescription, and also sell counterfeit drugs. The $500 million settlement covers the estimated amount that Google collected in advertising fees, as well as revenue that the Canadian pharmacies received from people in the U.S. who purchased their products. According to New York Times Bitz Blog, when Google became aware of the governments investigation in 2010, it started requiring that online Canadian pharmacy advertisers be certified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. Google also stipulated that the Canadian pharmacies were only to advertise to Canadian... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158968 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5158968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158969&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Ffda-warns-that-high-doses-of-celexa-are-linked-to-heart-problems.html People should not take more than 40 milligrams a day of the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa and generic) because higher doses appear to trigger potentially fatal heart rhythm problems, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. People at greatest risk include those with heart conditions or low potassium or magnesium levels. The FDA's warning is based on reports it received of people taking the drug who developed abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that could lead to deadly heart rhythm conditions. In addition, a study involving 119 adults found that higher doses of citalopram (up to 60 mg per day) increased the abnormal heart activity. Other research suggests that doses over 40 milligrams are no more effective than lower doses. Bottom line: If you’re ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158969 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:55:00 +0100 5158969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158970&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fnuts-soy-lowers-cholesterol-better-than-low-saturated-diet.html Good news, tofu lovers. Soy-based foods, as well as oats, nuts, and lentils, can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels more than cutting back on saturated fats, says a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the study, 345 people with high cholesterol were placed on three different diets: a low-saturated fat diet; a diet high in cholesterol-lowering foods consisting of soy, fiber, and plant sterols, plus two counseling sessions; and those same foods combined with seven counseling sessions. After six months, the people who received counseling (either two or seven sessions) plus the cholesterol-lowering foods lowered their LDL by at least 13 percent, while the low-saturated fats group saw only a 3 percent reduction. Bottom line: The findings provide ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158970 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:05:00 +0100 5158970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159278&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F6jLMN8ZSAok%2F We’re back again with our ongoing series on Common EMR Implementation Issues. Seems like readers really liked my first entry in the series about Unexpected EHR Expenses. To be quite honest, I was really happy with how that post turned out myself. It’s one of the most comprehensive and useful posts I’ve written in the 5.5+ years I’ve been writing about EMR and EHR. Hopefully we can continue that trend. Today’s Common EMR Implementation Problem: EHR Performance Issues I have to admit that this is a really tough problem to crack. However, it’s also incredibly common. The symptoms for this problem usually are described as, “THIS EHR IS SOOOOOO SLOW!” (This is appropriate use of ALL CAPS since they are often yelling this.) Followed by a *huff* and... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159278 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:44:49 +0100 5159278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158997&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-athletic-heart-how-it-functions%2F2011.08.24 It may seem a little formal to say this, but I would like to start by stating my goals for today’s post: Introduce the concept of the athletic heart; Touch upon the notion of sudden death of the athlete; Explain what an ECG really is, and how it may help diagnose heart disease; Review a recent study about the common ECG variant seen in athletes…Early repolarization. Intro: The adaptations of the human heart never cease to amaze me. Physical training transforms our hearts into high performance engines. Repeated sessions of interval training, combined with longer aerobic efforts, and sprinkled with adequate rest maximize our ability to keep pressure on the pedals, or run the sixth mile of the 10k at the same pace as the first, or for you swimmers, to keep getting back to the wall on th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158997 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:00:14 +0100 5158997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158998&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcdc-outlines-injury-prevention-strategies-in-extreme-weather-conditions%2F2011.08.24 It may seem rather unusual to talk about injuries and weather in the same context, but extreme weather can pose significant risks for many kinds of injury.  Currently, many parts of the United States are experiencing a major heat wave, with record-setting heat and heat indices over the next few weeks.  As we have seen in the recent past, deaths are occurring from heat-related and possibly from participation in outside activities that increase the risk of heat-related illness. During the month of August, many athletes train for the fall sports season, sometimes participating in two practices a day over the course of a few weeks.  While training is necessary and important for athletes to build up their stamina and to improve their performance, health consequences can be deadly if (more&#8... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158998 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:00:44 +0100 5158998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158921&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fmedicares-looming-risk-transfer%2F Editor’s Note: Below, Jaan Sidorov analyzes the risk-shifting inherent in proposals for Medicare reform. Today, Health Affairs Blog is also publishing the first installment of a two-part post by Troyen Brennan and Thomas Lee, which addresses risk-shifting in the health care system as well. Suppose, despite my good health and lifelong habit of avoiding doctors, [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158921 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:53:07 +0100 5158921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158922&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Frisk-shifting-in-health-care-and-its-implications-part-one%2F Editor’s Note: Below, in the first installment of a two-part Health Affairs Blog post, Troyen Brennan and Thomas Lee discuss the shifting of risk they see taking place in the health care system, from insurers and employers to provider and patients. In part two tomorrow, Brennan and Lee will discuss the implications of this shift [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158922 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:50:18 +0100 5158922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159200&cid=t_92181_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Ffrom-end-to-beginning-navigating-a-transition-well%2F I’ve had transitions on my mind recently. A lot of clients I work with feel stuck in the middle of a transition they didn’t quite anticipate, or that felt thrust upon them, or whose ramifications they just couldn’t calculate at the outset of the change. Marriage, divorce, childbirth, graduating college, losing a job, moving back home: whether positive or negative, transitions can be messy. And they can also give birth to previously unforeseen opportunities for growth. Therapy is, after all, about change, so I guess it is no surprise that as a therapist I should be witness to transitions galore. William Bridges, author of a book aptly titled Transitions, writes that moving from here to there involves three distinct stages: endings, the middle ground, and beginnings. He emphasizes that... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159200 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:21:17 +0100 5159200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159439&cid=t_92181_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fo71YDxEQEUA%2F We just noticed that the Alliance for Aging Research offers an excellent list of references on Brain Health Research, organized in these 10 sections below. Enjoy! #1 Nourish Your Noggin: Eat a Brain Healthy Diet #2 Use It or Lose It: Stay Mentally Active #3 Work Out for Your Wits: Exercise and Keep Fit #4 Interact with Others: Stay Social #5 Rest for Restoration: Get Plenty of Sleep #6 Unwind for Your Mind: Manage Your Stress #7 Guard Your Gray Matter: Protect Your Head #8 Think Overall Health: Control Other Conditions #9 Give Your Brain a Break: Avoid Unhealthy Habits #10 Understand Your Risk: Consider Your Genes Related articles: The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains Debunking 10 Brain Myths (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159439 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:52:32 +0100 5159439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158999&cid=t_92181_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fare-patients-considering-the-idea-of-medical-tourism-to-receive-health-care%2F2011.08.24 I must confess that I have a weakness for medical tourism. Patients have always been ready to go on a pilgrimage to find the world’s leading expert (we call it ‘key opinon leader’ now) hoping to find a cure. As long as traditional leaders in the field of Medicine have been the Germans, the French and the English -with some occasional Austrian and Spanish name in the mix- traffic of wealthy patients across Europe is nothing new. Since we entered the antibiotics era, these leaders started to be located mainly in the United States, the cradle of modern, technology-driven Medicine. Thus hi-tech centers got ready to welcome foreign patients, building strong International Customer Support departments. A random example -by no means the only one- would be the Mayo Clinic. On their website y... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158999 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:07 +0100 5158999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159317&cid=t_92181_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhospital-marketing-are-you-ready-patient-experience Social media in healthcare is evolving and finding its way into operational and clinical tools and this has been where much of my focus has been lately.  However, I do want to check-in with where healthcare social media got it's start and a recent survey of hospital marketers will help us with this. Some interesting survey results were released not long ago and I want to share the link to the report and highlight a couple of things.  By 2013, hospital marketers predict: read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159317 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:52:46 +0100 5159317