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Midwifery 101: Options for pregnant women
May 21, 2013
When a woman is having a baby, planning begins long before the baby is due. For many women, part of the planning process includes deciding whether to use a physician or a midwife. In Lawrence, women have the option to use certified nurse midwives or lay midwives, and to have an at-home birth or hospital birth. By Meagan Thomas
Mortality rates down at KU trauma, burn centers
May 20, 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 firefighters collecting for MDA this weekend
May 18, 2013
This weekend, Lawrence firefighters will hit the streets to fill their boots — with money.
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.
Well: Aging: Fewer Elderly Deaths in Flu Pandemics
May 22, 2013
Age has its privileges, and a new study suggests that one of them may be immunity to some flu pandemics.
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The New Old Age Blog: DNR by Another Name
May 22, 2013
A small experiment finds that family members are more comfortable with the phrase “allow a natural death.”
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Phys Ed: Can Cholesterol Drugs Undo Exercise Benefits?
May 22, 2013
An important new study suggests that statins, the cholesterol-lowering medications that are the most prescribed drugs in the world, may block some of the fitness benefits of exercise, one of the surest ways to improve health.
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World Briefing | Asia: China: New Bird Flu Virus Is Controlled, Officials Say
May 22, 2013
The H7N9 virus appears under control in China largely through restrictions at bird markets, but it caused $6.5 billion in losses, United Nations experts said Tuesday.
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Well: No Quick or Easy Choices
May 22, 2013
While a recent article by Angelina Jolie about her mastectomy and reconstruction raised awareness, it may have left the impression that the surgeries are quick and easy procedures, some doctors fear.
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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.
Telemedicine shows ROI at ATA
May 7, 2013
Ironically, Andrew Watson's first telemedicine procedure was with a rural patient who was a Mennonite. At first, the patient and physician looked at each other warily.
"He didn't have a TV," said Watson, a colorectal surgeon and vice president at Pittsburgh-based UPMC, with a wry laugh. "And I'd never done this."
Care Management for Medicaid Enrollees Through Community Health Teams
May 21, 2013
To provide more effective and efficient care for beneficiaries with complex health needs, Medicaid programs in some states have turned to local community health teams to augment the capacity of physician practices. A new report examines multidisciplinary community health team programs in eight states.
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.
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