Archive for March, 2009

Historic Pact Creates Largest RN Union Ever in U.S.

Mar 30, 2009 No Comments by

In a dramatic move to unite the power and influence of America’s leading direct care RN organizations, the United American Nurses, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association today announced they are joining together to form a new, 150,000-member association.

Industry News Read more

People with Disabilities May Miss Out On Significant Tax Savings This Season

Mar 27, 2009 No Comments by

People relying on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may have among the lowest incomes, yet they can pay more than they should in taxes, according to Allsup, a leading provider of Social Security disability, financial and healthcare-related services to people with disabilities.

Industry News Read more

Stanford Study Improves Insights Into Parkinson’s Disease and Possible Treatments

Mar 25, 2009 No Comments by

About the only thing doctors have understood about deep-brain stimulation, which is widely used to treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms, is that somehow it works for many patients. In a new study that will be published March 19 in the online journal Science Express, Stanford University researchers used light to illuminate how the treatment works, generating surprising insights into the diseased circuitry and also suggesting new ideas to improve Parkinson’s therapy.

Industry News, Research Studies Read more

How to Enhance E-Prescribing Adoption Rate

Mar 23, 2009 No Comments

Financial incentives for physicians to adopt health information technology (HIT) included in the recent economic stimulus bill will increase the number of prescribers using electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) to more than 75 percent over the next five years—nearly double the rate of use anticipated after passage of last year’s e-prescribing legislation— according to a new study from Visante, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) said today.

Read more

Health Habits Improving, but Uphill Climb Remains

Mar 20, 2009 No Comments

According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (WBI), the health habits of many Americans are improving during this new year, but there’s still a long way to go.

Read more

EHR’s Head for the Ice Age

Mar 18, 2009 No Comments

To correct this industry issue, the AC Group is coining a new term: Integrated Community EHRs, also known as ICE. The premise of these services centers around creating a thriving community that connect physicians and patients on a clinical level.

Read more

New Study Measures Effects of Medicare Part D on Prescription Drug Use

Mar 16, 2009 No Comments

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School, and Adheris, Inc., an inVentiv Health company, announce today a new study highlighting the effects of Medicare Part D coverage on the use of selected essential drugs and out-of-pocket spending among seniors without prior drug coverage.

Read more

Mental Disorders, Heart Conditions Are Most Expensive Medical Conditions in the US

Mar 13, 2009 No Comments

A first-of-its-kind study indicates that mental disorders and heart conditions are the two most expensive medical conditions in the United States in terms of personal health spending.

Read more

Having a Connection with Your Patient May Affect Their Health

Mar 11, 2009 No Comments

Health care in the United States is often fragmented and uncoordinated. It is common for patients to receive episodic care from different physicians. A new study in Annals of Internal Medicine, however, finds that patients who are connected to a specific primary care physician are more likely to receive guideline-consistent care than those who are connected to a practice but not a physician.

Read more