More news from
Lawrence firefighters collecting for MDA this weekend
May 18, 2013
This weekend, Lawrence firefighters will hit the streets to fill their boots — with money.
Mortality rates down at KU trauma, burn centers
May 16, 2013
Mortality rates at the Kansas University Hospital trauma and burn units are among the lowest in the country, according to figures released this week. The Burnett Burn Center's mortality index is 0.58, indicating that 42 percent of patients who would normally have died from their injuries are surviving. The KU Trauma Center, meanwhile, has a mortality index of 0.72. By Giles Bruce
Lawrence social worker helps patients live their own lives
May 14, 2013
Felicia Shockey isn't your average social worker. She has arranged for a patient to ride on a Harley Davidson alongside the Patriot Guard. She helped another fly in a hot-air balloon, checking an item off the top of his bucket list. She lets patients drink alcohol or eat steak — if that's what they want. The director of social services at Brandon Woods at Alvamar in Lawrence is the inaugural winner of the Crossroads Hospice Caring More Award, which will be presented at The Oread on Wednesday. By Giles Bruce
Doctor finds 'A Healthier Wei' to treat kids
May 14, 2013
Julie Wei was a pediatric Otolaryngologist, or ear, nose and throat specialist, at the University of Kansas Medical Center for more than ten years when she began to see a trend that she didn’t like: a large number of children with chronic congestion. Wei’s book, “A Healthier Wei” is an explanation of why she believes children are being misdiagnosed and wrongly medicated and her theory, with proven success, on how to fix these problems.
American Cancer Society to host volunteer open house
May 14, 2013
As a celebration of the 100th birthday of the American Cancer Society, the organization is encouraging people to raise awareness and join the fight against cancer.
Abortion Law in Arkansas Is Blocked by U.S. Judge
May 18, 2013
A ban on abortion at the 12th week of pregnancy is likely to be declared unconstitutional, a federal district judge said.
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Well: Focaccia Recipes for Health
May 17, 2013
This week, the Recipes for Health columnist Martha Rose Shulman experiments with focaccia, an alternative to pizza that makes a great lunch, snack or sandwich.
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For Gay Men, a Fear That Feels Familiar
May 17, 2013
One doctor is going to the front lines in the battle against a new strain of bacterial meningitis affecting New York’s gay community.
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World Briefing | Health: Single Yellow Fever Shot Offers Lifetime Protection, W.H.O. Says
May 17, 2013
One shot confers lifetime protection and the “booster shot” given at 10 years is no longer necessary, the World Health Organization said.
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The New Old Age Blog: After the Denial Letter Arrives
May 17, 2013
What families can do if the V.A. rejects a veteran’s claim for caregiving benefits.
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Benchmarks: Changes are afoot for clinical and business intelligence
April 22, 2013
A study earlier this year from the University of Missouri showed that most patients took a dim view of doctors who make use of clinical decision support technology.
Researchers found that patients saw physicians who use CDS as somehow less capable than those who don't. They saw the IT tools as impersonal, and thought the systems were a barrier between them and their caregivers.
EHR part of MaineHealth's financial woes
May 2, 2013
In a memo to its employees last week, Maine Medical Center, part of the MaineHealth system, said it has suffered an operating loss of $13.4 million in the first half of its fiscal year. The rollout of MaineHealth's estimated $160 million electronic health record system, which has resulted in charge capture issues that are being fixed, was among several reasons Maine Med's CEO cited for the shortfall.
Women promise new tide for health IT
April 24, 2013
In health IT, it's a man's world. Although women account for more than 47 percent of the U.S. labor force, they hold a paltry 25 percent of senior health IT roles nationwide. Don't get used to this trend, however, say female industry leaders who are working to make the realm of information technology more accessible to women.
Putting Aside Preconceptions—Time for Dialogue Among Primary Care Clinicians
May 16, 2013
An editorial by The Commonwealth Fund's David Blumenthal and Melinda Abrams explores one approach to addressing the primary care workforce shortage: using nurse practitioners to provide a wide range of primary care services.
Improving the Medicaid Primary Care Rate Increase
May 16, 2013
Since January 2013, Medicaid agencies and health plans have been required to pay for primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries at the generally higher rates paid to providers by Medicare. The Center for Health Care Strategies' David Bricklin-Small and Tricia McGinnis say that to ensure continued access to primary care, the increase should be maintained beyond its two-year timeframe.
The Value of Strong Primary Care
May 10, 2013
The Fund's Jordan Kiszla and Rachel Nuzum discuss a recent policy briefing on the potential of patient-centered medical homes to transform primary care.
Making Sense of the Change in How Medicare Advantage Plans Are Paid
May 7, 2013
Under the Affordable Care Act, overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans are gradually being pared back. But will private plans be able to cope with the reduced payments? Using newly available government data, this brief examines average costs among Medicare Advantage plans and variation in costs among plan types.
Medicare Essential: An Option to Promote Better Care and Curb Spending Growth
May 6, 2013
Combining Medicare's hospital, physician, and prescription drug coverage with commonly purchased private supplemental coverage into one health plan could produce national savings of $180 billion over a decade while improving care for beneficiaries, a new Health Affairs study finds.
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