Health News E-Clips

An electronic healthcare news link service provided by UHA,

Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association

 

Friday, April 18, 2008  

 

Utah Healthcare Headlines

Panel calls for affordable insurance for all (Salt Lake Tribune, April 18, 2008) State lawmakers in charge of health care reform said they aren't interested in incremental steps, industry executives and advocates who want to protect their turf, or "cry babies." http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8969109

  • Health Care Reform Begins (KCPW Radio, April 18, 2008) The process of improving the state's health-care system begins today with the first meeting of the Legislature's Health Reform Task Force. Co-chairman Representative Dave Clark says the long road to reform will begin with making health care more affordable. http://www.kcpw.org/article/5805
  • Task force taking ‘bite’ out of healthcare (Davis County Clipper, April 18, 2008) It’s the old adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” But the new healthcare task force appears to be taking it all in one gulp. With only 11 legislative “lone rangers,” packaging the healthcare crisis into something Utah can swallow will be a true miracle. http://www.clippertoday.com/print_this_story.asp?smenu=1&sdetail=26276

 

Utah heart program reaches rare 1,000th transplant milestone (Salt Lake Tribune, April 15, 2008) Utah's heart transplant program celebrated its 1,000th transplant Tuesday. It's a milestone that just a handful of other transplant programs in the country have reached. http://www.sltrib.com/health/ci_8932940

  • Utah's 1,000th heart transplant celebrated (Salt Lake Tribune, April 16, 2008) Twenty-three years and two weeks after Utah doctors performed the state's first heart transplant, they implanted their 1,000th heart into Damon Draheim. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8941300
  • SLC Cardiac Cooperative Transplants 1,000th Heart (KCPW, April 16, 2008) The UTAH Cardiac Transplant Program reached a milestone recently by performing 1,000 successful heart transplants. http://www.kcpw.org/article/5791
  • Heart recipients praise donors, Utah program (Deseret Morning News, April 16, 2008) The success of Utah’s four-hospital collaborative heart transplant program stretches from Damon Draheim, who got a second chance at life three weeks ago at Intermountain Medical Center, back 23 years to Tony Shepard, whose fresh start began March 8, 1985 at University Hospital. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270834,00.html

 

LDS Hospital to cut 150 jobs (Deseret Morning News, April 18, 2008) ntermountain Healthcare plans to reduce staff at its former flagship medical center, LDS Hospital, by 150 positions, after patient volumes failed to live up to the expectations projected when Intermountain reduced the hospital's size last fall and opened a new flagship hospital in Murray. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695271446,00.html

 

Relax…Give Blood (Ogden Standard Examiner, April 16, 2008) Reclining with a cold beverage and a bag of popcorn while watching a DVD may be the most relaxing way to save a life -- that is, if you're donating blood at the same time. http://www.standard.net/live/news/130697/

 

A battle against Biliary Atresia (Logan Herald Journal, April 15, 2008) HollyJo Karren had known her son Easten for two months before she learned one of the most important things about him: He was born without a gall bladder. http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2008/04/15/news/news04.txt

 

Cache native selected as hospital CEO (Logan Herald Journal, April 15, 2008) A Cache native has been selected as the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital’s new CEO, after an 18-year career with Intermountain Healthcare. http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2008/04/15/news/news03.txt

 

Salt Lake County to set up acute medical unit at jail (Deseret Morning News, April 16, 2008) You won't see many Salt Lake County jail inmates at the local hospital much longer. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695270999,00.html

  • Jail to open acute medical clinic (KSL TV-Radio, April 17, 2008) fficials at the Salt Lake County Jail announced today that they will finally be able to open their acute medical unit. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3097987

 

Health-care task force girds its loins (Deseret Morning News, April 17, 2008) Plans for a multiyear reformation of the way health care in Utah is gotten and given is officially on the drawing board starting Thursday when an 11-member legislative task force is to meet for the first time. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695271154,00.html

 

Homeless number both up, down (Deseret Morning News, April 17, 2008) The number of homeless Utahns rose by 16 percent statewide during the past year, but the number of people who are chronically homeless is down by almost as much, according to an annual state survey released today. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695271188,00.html

  • Ranks of Utah's homeless swell as rents climb (Salt Lake Tribune, April 17, 2008) The number of homeless Utahns is on the rise as rents climb and more families struggle to pay their bills, new data show. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8955149

 

Protect your family from poisoning (Daily Herald, April 17, 2008) Accidental poisoning can happen at any time, and in any place, but over 90% of poisonings happen in the home. In 2007, the Utah Poison Control Center responded to over 57,000 calls the majority of them being potential poisonings. http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/262857/

 

Mtn. View Hospital Auxiliary holds jewelry sale (Daily Herald, April 17, 2008) The Mtn. View Hospital Scholarship Auxiliary held its annual jewelry sale last Thursday and Friday in the hospital's Continuing Care day room. http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/262770/

 

Head, neck cancer have a few new treatments (The Spectrum, April 17, 2008) When we think of cancer, it is usually breast, skin, lung, colon and prostate cancers that come to mind first. http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/LIFESTYLE/804170333/1024/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

 

Utah gets bonus money from tobacco settlement (KSL.com, April 18, 2008) Utah is getting $42 million this week as part of its settlement with tobacco manufacturers. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3104869

 

National Healthcare Headlines

Most Early-Onset Dementia Not Alzheimer's (Washington Post, April 15, 2008) The root cause of early-onset dementia is usually not Alzheimer's, but rather another neurodegenerative or autoimmune disorder, new research suggests. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041501692.html

 

Guest Opinion: Africans fight back against AIDS devastation (Daily Herald, April 16, 2008) It is one measure of American influence that a meeting at the White House can affect the traffic in Lusaka. http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/262517/59/ 

 

Journal: Drug firm paid MDs for bylines (Boston Globe, April 16, 2008) Drug maker Merck & Co. manipulated public opinion on its blockbuster pain pill Vioxx by paying high-profile doctors to add their names to scientific reports drafted by others, according to a prominent medical journal. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/04/16/journal_drug_firm_paid_mds_for_bylines/

 

Maker of Vioxx Is Accused of Deception (Washington Post, April 16, 2008) Two teams of researchers with access to thousands of documents gathered for lawsuits over the painkiller Vioxx allege that Merck waged a campaign of deception to promote its drug, moving slowly to warn of possible hazards while at the same time dressing up in-house studies as the work of independent academic researchers. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041502086.html?wpisrc=newsletter

  • Reports: Data on Vioxx was misused (USA Today, April 16, 2008) Corporate and government documents from Vioxx lawsuits indicate that the drug's maker, Merck & Co., apparently downplayed evidence showing the painkiller tripled the risk of death in Alzheimer's-prone patients, researchers report today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-15-vioxx-drug-conflicts_N.htm
  • Merck's Publishing Ethics Are Questioned by Studies (Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2008) Two medical-journal studies suggest Merck & Co. violated scientific-publishing ethics by ghostwriting dozens of academic articles, and minimized the impact of patient deaths in its analyses of some human trials of a top-selling drug later linked to cardiac problems. (You must have an online subscription to view this story) www.wsj.com

 

U.S. Cites Fears on Chemical In Plastics (Washington Post, April 16, 2008) A federal health agency acknowledged for the first time yesterday concerns that a chemical found in thousands of everyday products such as baby bottles and compact discs may cause cancer and other serious disorders. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041501753.html?wpisrc=newsletter

  • Study: Bisphenol A concern 'cannot be dismissed' (USA Today, April 16, 2008) A report by the National Toxicology Program, released Tuesday, expressed concern that a controversial chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, poses a risk to children and unborn babies. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-15-plastic-safety_N.htm
  • Plastics Chemical Spurs Concern (Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2008) A new draft report by the government links a chemical used in such common products as plastic baby bottles to potential long-term risks of breast and prostate cancer. (You must have an online subscription to view this story) www.wsj.com

 

In Blacksburg, An ER Physician Still Tries to Heal (Washington Post, April 16, 2008) Forceful winds whipped down from the Appalachian Mountains on the evening of April 15, 2007, gusts lashing through Blacksburg. I slept poorly. The wailing winds unsettled me. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041503632.html?wpisrc=newsletter

 

Panel’s Bipartisan View: F.D.A. Is Underfinanced (New York Times, April 16, 2008) The Food and Drug Administration needs far more money than the White House has proposed for next year, senators of both parties said Tuesday. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/washington/16fda.html?th&emc=th

 

Action speaks of health louder than weight (USA Today, April 16, 2008) Exercise can shrink your waistline and reduce the belly fat shown in recent studies to be so toxic, even if you don't lose much weight. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-04-15-move-yourself_N.htm

 

Threadbare safety net for aging boomers (Daily Herald, April 16, 2008) There it is, baby boomers -- another dire report about the prospects of a health care system unready to care for you as you begin turning 65. http://www.heraldextra.com/component/option,com_contentwire/task,view/id,38974/Itemid,53/

 

Patient-Controlled Health Records Could Change Future of Research (Washington Post, April 17, 2008) Increasing patient control of health records could dramatically change how medical research is conducted, say Children's Hospital Boston researchers. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041602853.html

 

Study: Gender, other factors guide preemies' survival (Daily Herald, April 17, 2008) Doctors now have a better way of helping parents make an agonizing decision -- whether to take heroic steps to save a critically premature baby. http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/263012/3/  Also found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041602786.html?wpisrc=newsletter (Washington Post, April 17, 2008)

 

Former senators tackle health issues (KSL-Radio/TV, April 17, 2008) Between them, they helped negotiate peace in Northern Ireland, investigated the extent of steroid use in baseball and instigated broad changes in veterans' health care. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=201&sid=3097017

 

Researchers Chart Flu's Global Journey (Washington Post, April 17, 2008) New strains of seasonal influenza virus all arise in East or Southeast Asia and take a largely predictable route around the world before dying out for good in South America, the global glue-trap for the pathogen. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603484.html?wpisrc=newsletter

 

Vaccine blamed for worst flu season in years (USA Today, April 17, 2008) This year's flu season has shaped up to be the worst in four years, partly because the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that made most people sick, health officials said Thursday. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-17-flu-season_N.htm

 

Universal Health Care to Cost Massachusetts More Than Was Budgeted (New York Times, April 17, 2008) n its first full year, universal health coverage in Massachusetts will cost the state $153.1 million more than was budgeted, according to a supplemental budget request released Monday by Gov. Deval Patrick. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/17brfs-UNIVERSALHEA_BRF.html?ref=us

 

Study: Nearly 1 in 5 vets reports mental problems (USA Today, April 17, 2008) Roughly one in five U.S. troops is suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress from serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an equal number have suffered brain injuries, a new study estimates. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-17-vets-study_N.htm

 

High chemical levels found in dogs and cats (USA Today, April 17, 2008) An environmental group has tested dogs and cats for chemical exposure and found some levels much higher than in humans. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-16-pets-chemicals_N.htm

 

Incontinence drugs linked to memory problems (USA Today, April 17, 2008) Commonly used incontinence drugs may cause memory problems in some older people, a study has found. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-17-incontinence-memory_N.htm

 

Study shows Alzheimer's hits earlier in smokers, drinkers (USA Today, April 17, 2008) Heavy smokers and drinkers develop Alzheimer's years before people who don't drink or smoke as much, a new report says. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-16-alzheimers-smoke-drink_N.htm

 

Economic Fraud Suspected In Heparin Contamination (Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2008) The Food and Drug Administration's top official told a Senate panel he believes batches of Baxter International Inc.'s blood-thinner heparin sourced from China were likely tainted for economic reasons. (You must have an online subscription to view this link) www.wsj.com

 

J&J Thrives Due to Diverse Exposure (Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2008) Johnson & Johnson's solid first-quarter earnings, boosted by the launch of over-the-counter allergy drug Zyrtec, exceeded analyst expectations and offered hope that diversified health-care companies may better weather economic uncertainty than some big drug makers. (You must have an online subscription to view this link) www.wsj.com

 

Glaxo Becomes Master of Reinventing Drugs (Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2008) GlaxoSmithKline PLC's vast research labs haven't been able to deliver many major innovations to the market in recent years, but they have become experts at another science: reinventing old drugs. (You must have an online subscription to view this link) www.wsj.com

 

Cancer patients try untested drugs in Britain (New York Times, April 18, 2008) When Jill Bracey Cowley was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer eight years ago, doctors told her she had two years to live. So she decided to take a gamble and try new drugs that hadn't yet been approved. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Britain-Cancer-Drugs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Also found at Cancer patients try untested drugs in Britain (KSL.com) http://www.ksl.com/?nid=235&sid=3104188