“We’ve shared a
long-term, positive relationship with Alpha Systems and look forward to
continued growth of this relationship,” says
Maryellen McGowan, MS, RHIA, CPC, and Director of Health Information
Management for Winthrop-University Hospital. “We’re
excited to implement Alpha’s enterprise
electronic document management solution. Clinicians will now be able to
view previous visits and launch Read the rest of this entry »

Often the first thing to go in tough times is money spent on fitness.
So, I’ve decided to dedicate my 2009 New Year’s column to suggesting a few ways to keep your exercise resolution without having to ask for a government bailout.
The outdoors belong to everyone. So, getting your daily dose of aerobic exercise in the form of a ½ hour plus brisk walk is a solid zero dollars’ option. Walking to your favorite music adds Rocky-like inspiration.
Read the rest of this entry »

The decision last week to slow down construction of Columbia St. Mary’s new east side hospital has left about 160 tradespeople without work, according to the general contractor.
The number of construction workers at the site peaked at 500 about three months ago, but was reduced to about 375 tradespeople as the project advanced, said Pete Richards, the project administrator for general contractor
/Barton Malow JV.
After the layoffs last Read the rest of this entry »

With the holiday season upon us, I thought it would be
appropriate to talk grooming tips for guys.
Not to say that most of you aren’t the stylish
eye-candy we ladies do adore on a daily basis. However, as
one men’s health magazine editor recently wrote,
“there’s a beast inside most of you, an inner
Sasquatch that is impatient with the rigors of good
grooming.”
That beast sometimes stands between you guys and all the
goodies that come with looking Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers Find Breast Cancer Gene, Spur Hope for New Drugs
Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) — Researchers discovered a gene
involved in the spread of breast cancer, which may lead to new
treatments for a disease that kills about 1 in 35 women.
The gene, called metadherin, may be crucial to cancer’s
spread because it helps tumor cells stick to blood vessels in
distant organs, researchers at
found. The gene also makes
tumors more resistant to drugs used Read the rest of this entry »

“Low sodium,” “Natural,”  “FDA approved.”  
What do those terms mean?  In the case of sodium, the content can be easily measured. But “natural” could mean anything from nature, such as botulism.  It turns out “
” might hold little meaning as well.
The bulk of verification to the FDA for efficacy and safety is in the hands of the manufacturers.В  Most people are surprised to find Read the rest of this entry »

When is a unanimous vote for approval by an FDA panel not a unanimous vote for approval? When it’s the FDA’s advisory panel on
blood thinner.
. But a handful of doctors have expressed doubt about why
Dr. Sanjay Kaul of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, an expert in the field of vascular physiology,
. Kaul has previously said that the data presented on prasugrel
The exclusion threatens to undermine the credibility Read the rest of this entry »

Two Taiwanese mobile medical missions will depart Sunday for Haiti and Guatemala, respectively, in a bid to help the allied countries deal with the aftermath of recent natural disasters, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) said Thursday.
The mobile medical missions, each to consist of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists and nurses from the Taipei-based Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University Hospital, Read the rest of this entry »

Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.(R) (HMS) is a Nashville-based
healthcare company that develops, sells and supports integrated clinical and
financial hospital information systems and services. Founded in 1984, HMS
counts among its customers over 600 community hospitals; behavioral,
rehabilitation and long-term acute care facilities; and multi-entity
healthcare organizations nationwide. With the HMS system, caregivers are able
to increase Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – As layoffs loom and pensions plummet, more people are unrolling their yoga mats and polishing their poses to find flexibility and sanity amid the financial chaos.
Fitness experts say gym memberships are holding steady, or rising, and yoga classes are thriving.
“The economy may have taken a downturn, but attendance in our yoga classes has grown,” said Jess Gronholm, National Yoga Coordinator for the Crunch health club Read the rest of this entry »