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| December 9, 2008 |
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Experts: Comparative effectiveness needed in health care reform
Health policy experts say the key to controlling health care costs is the ability to compare the effectiveness of drugs, treatments and devices for specific conditions. Project HOPE senior fellow Gail Wilensky says health IT will be the enabler that allows U.S. health care to compare data to improve efficiency and reward high quality care. Healthcare IT News (12/8)
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Report: Recession adds to ED overcrowding
A new report from the American College of Emergency Physicians shows the recession is adding to an already serious problem of too many people using hospital emergency departments for nonemergency care. The unemployed, uninsured and even those who can't get a timely appointment to see their physician threaten the ability of hospitals to treat true emergency cases, experts say. NYTimes.com (12/8)
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Women who have major heart attack fare worse than men
Data from 420 hospitals show women are 12% more likely to die of a major heart attack in a hospital than men. Overall survival rates for women who suffer heart attacks are about the same as men when under hospital care, but a gender gap remains for treatment of the most severe type of attack, caused by a total blockage of an artery. Researchers say women also are less likely to get the recommended aspirin within 24 hours of an attack or to receive timely treatment to restore blood flow. MSNBC/The Associated Press (12/8)
Half-dose of flu vaccine found effective for adults
Giving adults just half of the recommended dose of flu vaccine appears to provide protection, which researchers say could help stretch vaccine supplies during shortages. Study results show the half-dose produced the highest antibody levels among women and participates ages 18 to 49. Researchers say more studies are needed to confirm the findings. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (12/8)
Opinion: Clinical guidelines can lack evidence
Some clinical guidelines may be based more on the personal views of physicians than on a thorough review of scientific data, writes Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, a pediatric cardiologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He says national guidelines are error-prone and can cause sudden shifts that confuse doctors and parents. NYTimes.com (12/8)
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Study: E-prescribing may decrease use of expensive drugs
Experts found a 3.3% boost in doctors' use of the lowest-priced medicines as well as a drop in prescriptions for costlier treatments a year after a Massachusetts insurance program adopted an e-prescribing system from Zix. This equals an annual savings of $845,000 per 100,000 patients for insurance firms and consumers, according to the study. Reuters (12/8)
Clinical surveillance technology can save lives, money
Six-hospital system Baptist Health is using Thomson Reuter's Clinical Xpert CareFocus software to increase clinical surveillance and save the system more than $1 million. The clinical surveillance tool has led to clinical interventions, resulting in increased efficiency, savings and patient safety. Healthcare IT News (12/5)
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GSK wins FDA clearance for wider use of Boostrix
The FDA granted approval for the use of GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix -- a vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough -- in adults ages 19 to 64. The decision expands GSK's market for the vaccine, which is cleared as a booster for patients ages 10 to 18. CNNMoney.com/The Associated Press (12/8)
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Lawmaker reaffirms support for FDA power over new-drug ads
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said he plans in January to reopen discussions on giving the FDA authority to prohibit direct-to-consumer ads for new drugs, which may carry risks that are not yet fully understood. Waxman, who is set to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year, said the proposal "makes a great deal of sense and can provide FDA an important tool to protect the public health." Reuters (12/8)
Obama announces inclusion of health care IT in stimulus package
President-elect Barack Obama has added increasing health care IT infrastructure to the economic stimulus plan that currently is being prepared in Congress. During a Dec. 6 radio address, he announced that the U.S. needs to continue to be a leader in IT. "We will make sure that every doctor's office and hospital in this country is using cutting edge technology and electronic medical records so that we can cut red tape, prevent medical mistakes, and help save billions of dollars each year," Obama said. Government Health IT magazine (12/2008)
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Help cultivate the industry's future leaders
Through its professional development programs, the AHIP Foundation supports companies in cultivating a work force that supports the goals of providing quality, accessible and affordable health care to all. The Executive Leadership Programs and the Minority Management Development Program creatively link academic and experiential learning through classroom participation, mentoring, and practical business and clinical experience. Applications are now being accepted.
Health care reform: What you need to know
Attend AHIP's 2009 National Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., and be part of discussions on major health reform initiatives of interest to the health care industry. President-elect Barack Obama's administration and leaders on Capitol Hill are committed to addressing issues such as Medicare, SCHIP and health coverage for the uninsured. Don't miss our conference for in-depth analyses of these proposals. Register today.
AHIP releases recommendations for addressing obesity
AHIP's white paper, "Facing the Challenge of Unhealthy Weight: Recommendations for the Health Care Community," offers recommendations and examines promising programs that health plans and clinicians have developed in collaboration with community partners to encourage body mass index screening and address the obesity epidemic. The recommendations are based on the work of an AHIP Expert Panel and AHIP-sponsored meetings.
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