Health News E-Clips

An electronic healthcare news link service provided by UHA,

Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association

 

Monday, November 10, 2008  

 

Utah Healthcare Headlines

Utah's bad air tough on weak hearts (Salt Lake Tribune, November 10, 2008) Add this to the pile of evidence that shows the Wasatch Front's dirty winter air should send you packing for mountain air: Moderate increases in pollution send more heart-failure patients to the hospital. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10945498

 

Rural hospitals worried about losing millions in federal dollars (Salt Lake Tribune, November 10, 2008) Seven hospitals in rural Utah may be in jeopardy of losing millions of federal dollars - a change that some say could force them to close, eliminating the only hospital in their county.  http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10939855

 

Crompton: CHIP is necessary safety net for kids (Opinion, Salt Lake Tribune, November 10, 2008) The election is over and soon leaders will be returning to the state capitol to address the pressing issues facing the state, including a looming budget deficit. http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10927431

 

Workplace Wellness (Logan Herald Journal, November 10, 2008) During the past year, James Geier has lost 20 pounds and cut his cholesterol by more than 60 points — improvements he made through Logan city’s employee health maintenance program. http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2008/11/09/news/news01-11-09-08.txt

 

Neonatal experts oppose elective preterm inductions (Deseret News, November 8, 2008) About one-third of premature births are induced, and there's not always a valid reason — either a problem with the fetus or with mom. Increasingly, women and doctors are opting for elective inductions to fit childbirth better into personal schedules. http://deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705261592,00.html

 

Task force aims to set 'compass' for reform (Salt Lake Tribune, November 9, 2008) Utah's health reformers are zeroing in on four goals: shaking up the private insurance market, pushing for innovative new plans, retooling malpractice laws and encouraging companies that seek state contracts to offer insurance to employees. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10934219

 

Help remember these forgotten patients (Salt Lake Tribune, November 8, 2008) The Forgotten Patient Christmas Project at the Utah State Hospital has provided Christmas for Utah's severely mentally ill for more than 50 years. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10936681

 

Telemedicine helps veterans avoid trips to Salt Lake City (Deseret Morning News, November 10, 2008) Bob Palmer took a deep breath and let it out slowly — and from 250 miles away, nurse practitioner Holly Martin listened and told him his lungs sounded good. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261983,00.html

 

Getting cancer for Christmas spurred woman to kick habit (Deseret News, November 10, 2008) It's just past noon Christmas Eve 2002, and Teri James isn't into the spirit of the occasion. The house is all merry and bright, but the colors have left the room, along with the air and every other thought except one: It's cancer. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705262001,00.html

 

 

National Healthcare Headlines

The Health Care Challenge: Sailing Into a Perfect Storm (Opinion, Uwe Reinhardt, November 7, 2008) Even if the financial markets had not gone into a tailspin and the economy had not slouched toward a prolonged recession, non-elderly Americans in lower-middle-income families – those with family incomes between $20,000 and $60,000 – would have sailed into a perfect storm brewing in health care. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/the-health-care-challenge-sailing-into-a-perfect-storm/?partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040

 

California moves closer to huge health reform (USA Today, November 10, 2008) The state Assembly on Monday approved a major health care reform plan that will expand coverage to nearly 70% of the state's uninsured and require most Californians to have health insurance. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-12-17-calif-health_N.htm

 

New U.S. Rule Pares Outpatient Medicaid Services (New York Times, November 8, 2008) In the first of an expected avalanche of post-election regulations, the Bush administration on Friday narrowed the scope of services that can be provided to poor people under Medicaid’s outpatient hospital benefit. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/washington/08regs.html?hp

 

Deported in a Coma, Saved Back in U.S. (New York Times, November 9, 2008) Soon after Antonio Torres, a husky 19-year-old farmworker, suffered catastrophic injuries in a car accident last June, a Phoenix hospital began making plans for his repatriation to Mexico. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/09deport.html?_r=1&partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040&oref=slogin

 

Website lets consumers compare prices for health care (USA Today, November 10, 2008) You can buy almost anything online these days, but try shopping the Internet for an MRI, strep throat test or even an annual physical exam, and you'll run into roadblocks. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2008-02-10-carol-com_N.htm

 

Wellness comes home with new Intel device (New York Times, November 10, 2008) Intel on Sunday launched a home health care device that helps patients manage chronic conditions and connect with their doctors. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/11/09/09idg-Wellness-comes.html

 

Some G.M. Retirees Are in a Health Care Squeeze (New York Times, November 10, 2008) General Motors is living on borrowed time, spending more than $2 billion in cash a month and lobbying for a government bailout to keep it out of bankruptcy. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/10gm.html?th&emc=th

 

General bucks culture of silence on mental health (Deseret News, November 9, 2008) It takes a brave soldier to do what Army Maj. Gen. David Blackledge did in Iraq. It takes as much bravery to do what he did when he got home. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261773,00.html Also found at http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Military-Mental-Health.html (New York Times, November 8, 2008)

 

Bullish over healthcare companies (Boston Globe, November 10, 2008) Healthcare stocks were all but forgotten for years as investors focused their attention on industries that offered more action, up or down. The neglect hurt returns for a while, but in a market like this, being ignored can lead to an outperformance. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2008/11/09/bullish_over_healthcare_companies/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Business Also found at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/business/08values.html?partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040 (New York Times, November 7, 2008)

 

Extortion Used in Prescription Data Breach (New York Times, November 8, 2008) One of the nation's largest processors of pharmacy prescriptions said this week that extortionists are threatening to disclose personal and medical information about millions of Americans if the company fails to meet payment demands. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703434.html?wpisrc=newsletter

 

Research: Green areas lower health inequities between rich, poor (USA Today, November 10, 2008) Health inequalities between rich and poor people are much lower in areas that have lots of green space, such as parks, forests and playing fields, a large British study finds. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-08-green-inequality_N.htm

 

Statins cut risk of stroke, heart attack in study (Boston Globe, November 10, 2008) Boston researchers reported yesterday they have developed a strategy that dramatically reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even death among older adults who don't have the traditional warning signs of perilously clogged arteries. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/11/10/statins_cut_risk_of_stroke_heart_attack_in_study/

  • Blood Test, Statin Afford Potent Shield, Study Says (Washington Post, November 10, 2008) A highly anticipated study has produced powerful evidence that a simple blood test can spot seemingly healthy people who are at increased risk for a heart attack or stroke and that giving them a widely used drug offers potent protection against the nation's leading killers. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/09/AR2008110900852.html?wpisrc=newsletter
  • Cholesterol-Fighting Drugs Show Wider Benefit (New York Times, November 10, 2008) A large new study suggests that millions more people could benefit from taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, even if they have low cholesterol, because the drugs can significantly lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes and death. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/health/10heart.html?th&emc=th
  • Cholesterol Drug Cuts Heart Risk in Healthy Patients (Wall Street Journal, November 10, 2008) AstraZeneca PLC's cholesterol drug Crestor sharply lowered risk of heart attacks among apparently healthy patients in a major study that challenges longstanding heart-disease prevention strategies. The findings could substantially broaden the market for statins, the world's best-selling class of medicines. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122623863454811545.html
  • Cholesterol drug may be big lifesaver, study says (Deseret News, November 10, 2008) People with low cholesterol and no big risk for heart disease had dramatically lower rates of heart attacks, death and stroke if they took the cholesterol pill Crestor, a large study found. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261974,00.html

 

Health Care Can't Wait (Opinion, Edward Kennedy, Washington Post, November 10, 2008) The story of America has been a journey toward being a fairer and more just nation. We have encountered many barriers along the way, and at times we have stumbled. But again and again, we have come together to surmount the obstacles in our path and realize more fully the promise of America. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703145.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

 

Written Instructions Cut Bleeding Risk for Blood Thinner Use (Washington Post, November 8, 2008) Giving patients written and verbal instructions on proper use of the blood thinner warfarin significantly reduces the risk of serious gastrointestinal and brain bleeding problems, according to a University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110801127.html

 

18-year-old abandoned under Neb. safe-haven law (Salt Lake Tribune, November 10, 2008) Police say a woman has abandoned her 18-year-old daughter at a hospital, saying she can't control the girl, in what may be the latest use of Nebraska's unique safe-haven law. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SAFE_HAVEN?SITE=UTSAC&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

 

Study links mental health, stillbirths (USA Today, November 10, 2008) A new report suggests that women with serious mental problems are more likely to have stillborn babies.http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/11/study-links-men.html

 

Music headphones can interfere with heart devices (USA Today, November 10, 2008) Have a pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator? Don't keep your iPod earbuds in your shirt pocket or draped around your neck — even when they're disconnected. A study finds that some headphones can interfere with heart devices if held very close to them. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-10-headphones-heart_N.htm

  • Earbuds bad for pacemaker (Deseret News, November 10, 2008) Have a pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator? Don't keep your iPod earbuds in your shirt pocket or draped around your neck — even when they're disconnected. A study finds that some headphones can interfere with heart devices if held very close to them. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261973,00.html

 

Study: Vitamin E doesn't prevent heart 'events' (USA Today, November 10, 2008) An eight-year study of more than 14,000 male physicians found that taking vitamin C and vitamin E did not prevent cardiovascular disease. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-09-supplements-study_N.htm Also found at Vitamin E doesn't help heart (Deseret News, November 10, 2008) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261972,00.html

 

Something, anything to stop the pain (Boston Globe, November 10, 2008) He was a star in his little hometown of Sperry, Okla., and in the big Boston hospital where he was a gifted anesthesiologist. But Brent Cambron was falling. For him, as for some of his peers, drugs meant to comfort patients became his refuge and his undoing. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/09/something_anything_to_stop_the_pain/