Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for October 2013. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
FDA Announces Moves to Avert Drug Shortages
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Drug makers would have to promptly notify the federal government of potential drug shortages under a new rule proposed Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The companies would be required to alert the FDA at least six months before a possible interruption in supply, or no later than five days after the interruption has occurred.
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Top 100 EHR Systems Sorted by Company Revenue
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The top 100 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been sorted, mainly by company revenue, in an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Active Lifestyle Beneficial, Even Without Regular Exercise
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, a generally active daily life is associated with cardiovascular benefits and reduced mortality, irrespective of regular exercise habits, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Exercise Programs Cut Fall-Related Injuries in Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise programs designed to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults can reduce fall-related injuries, including the most severe injuries, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Oct. 29 in BMJ.
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Sebelius: 'Hold Me Accountable' for Website 'Debacle'
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the failed rollout of HealthCare.gov and committed to fixing the website's many software and system problems.
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2013 Health Care Quality Report Shows Some Improvements
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Five key quality issues are showing some positive trends, according to the 2013 State of Health Care Quality Report published by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
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Record High in Medical School Applicants, Enrollment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In 2013, a record number of students applied to and enrolled in medical schools, according to a report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
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Expedited Review Speeds Approval of New Drugs by FDA
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In 2008, new drugs that received expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were approved more rapidly, but many questions about safety remain unresolved, according to research published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Health Agency Chief Apologizes for Federal Website Woes
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The head of the federal agency responsible for HealthCare.gov issued a public apology Tuesday for problems that have plagued the health insurance website since its Oct. 1 launch. "I want to apologize to you that the website has not worked as well as it should," Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told members of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee at a hearing on the Affordable Care Act.
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Consultant Offers Tips for Training Staff to Use EHR System
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Six tips can help educate staff to use new electronic health record (EHR) systems, according to an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Seniors Need Personalized Secondary Prevention of CVD
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) should be individualized, according to a scientific statement published online Oct. 28 in Circulation.
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Docs, Lawyers Join Forces to Allow Doctors to Apologize
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A new Senate bill allows health care professionals to make benevolent gestures without fear of these statements being used against them, according to a report published by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
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Clinical Pharmacists Can Aid Patients With Uncontrolled T2DM
MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical pharmacists can play a role in helping patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, according to a case study published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
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FDA Approves Extended-Release Hydrocodone Painkiller
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for severe pain that requires round-the-clock long-term treatment, the agency said Friday in a news release.
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FDA Approves Brain-Imaging Drug for Alzheimer's Detection
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Vizamyl (flutemetamol F 18 injection) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain to screen adults for signs of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
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Chronic Condition Prevention Urged for Better Life Quality
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, multiple chronic conditions are associated with worse health in terms of activities of daily living and health-related quality of life, according to a study published Sept. 26 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
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Smoking Cessation Ups Survival for Patients Undergoing PCI
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking cessation is associated with improved survival for patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The Journal of Cardiology.
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Coffee Consumption Linked to Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee consumption is associated with a 40 percent reduction in the risk of liver cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Many Interns Don't Practice Etiquette-Based Communication
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Internal medicine interns overestimate the extent to which they practice an etiquette-based communication approach, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Peer Intervention Program Reduces Patient Complaints
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A physician peer intervention program is effective in improving unsafe and dissatisfying physician behaviors identified through patient complaints, according to a study published in the October issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
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Most Negative Online Posts Aren't Defamation
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Few negative online posts about doctors reach the level of defamation, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
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FDA Urges Tighter Controls on Certain Prescription Painkillers
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for tighter controls on prescription painkillers containing the narcotic hydrocodone.
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Physicians Should Motivate and Retain Top Employees
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Even in a time of declining reimbursements, smart employers should know how to motivate and retain superstar employees in their practice, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Penalty Delayed As Federal Exchange Comes Under Fire
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. consumers who sign up for health insurance by March 31 won't face tax penalties for being uninsured during the first three months of 2014, the Obama administration said Thursday.
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Global Burden of Stroke Increased From 1990 to 2010
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- From 1990 to 2010 there was an increase in the global burden of stroke, and of incident ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to two studies published online Oct. 24 in The Lancet and The Lancet Global Health.
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Blood Glucose, HbA1c Levels Linked to Memory Performance
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels are associated with better memory performance in healthy, older adults, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in Neurology.
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Carotid Stenting Tied to Higher Stroke Risk in Seniors
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing a carotid intervention, age influences outcomes, according to a review published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Surgery.
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>5 Percent Readmitted After Total Joint Arthroplasty
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- More than 5 percent of patients who undergo total hip and knee arthroplasty have unplanned readmission within 90 days, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Increased Use of IMRT for Self-Referring Urologists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Use of integrated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has increased more among urologists who have acquired ownership of IMRT services versus urologists who do not own such services, according to research published in the Oct. 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Mobile Device Use to Aid Rx Common in Nursing Homes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Nursing home physicians who use mobile devices with drug reference software believe they are helpful for preventing adverse drug events (ADEs), according to a study published online Oct. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
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Regular Internet Use Linked to Cancer Prevention Behaviors
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Regular Internet use among older adults is associated with greater cancer-preventative behaviors such as colorectal cancer screening, physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and not smoking, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Modest Survival Benefits Seen for Family Caregivers
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Being a caregiver to a family member may provide a small survival benefit to the caregiver, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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CDC: U.S. Flu Activity Remains Low Through Mid-October
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- During the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, flu activity remained low in the United States, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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BP Drugs Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, antihypertensive medications are associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, according to research published in the Sept. 3 issue of Neurology.
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Physical Symptoms From Prostate Biopsy Can Cause Anxiety
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Problematic symptoms of prostate biopsy can lead to increased anxiety in men, even when the biopsy results are negative for cancer, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Flu Vaccine Linked to Lower Cardiovascular Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Influenza vaccination is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events among those at high risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly among those with more active coronary disease, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Oct. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Research Backlog at NIH Due to Shutdown
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- It will take some time before research programs return to normal at the U.S. National Institutes of Health after the end of the federal government shutdown, officials say.
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Few Patients Told About Risks of Overdiagnosis Pre-Screening
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Few patients who are eligible for cancer screening are aware of the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to a research letter published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Short, Poor Quality Sleep Tied to Increased β-Amyloid Burden
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults, shorter sleep duration and poor sleep quality are associated with increased β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Neurology.
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Scribes Can Be Beneficial in Medical Practices
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Medical scribes can accurately document physician or independent practitioner dictation and activities, allowing providers to spend more time with patients, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Obama: 'No Excuse' for Troubled HealthCare.gov Website
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Saying he's confident the problems will get fixed, President Barack Obama admitted today that there is "no excuse" for the troubles plaguing the beleaguered HealthCare.gov website. "There's no sugar-coating it. The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck during the application process, and I think it's fair to say that nobody's more frustrated by that than I am," he said during the nearly 30-minute-long address in the White House Rose Garden.
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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Cognitive Impairment Testing
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Screening instruments can detect dementia but there is insufficient evidence to determine the clinical effect of screening and interventions, according to a review conducted for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Seniors Rarely Consider Switching Medicare Plan, Provider
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Most seniors report being satisfied with Medicare coverage and most would not consider switching plan or provider even though the Medicare annual open enrollment period, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, allows people the opportunity to make changes, according to a report from Allsup.
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7 Percent of Chinese Adults Have Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) seem to be common in the Chinese population with an overall prevalence of 7.0 percent, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Small Businesses Weigh Health Insurance Options
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Small businesses rated most features of the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) exchanges favorably, but reasonable prices for premiums are especially important to them, according to research published online Oct. 16 in Health Affairs.
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Eye Contact Affects Patients' Perception of Clinician Empathy
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who make direct eye contact and engage in a moderate amount of social touch are perceived by patients as being more empathetic, according to research published online Aug. 14 in the Journal of Participatory Medicine.
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Behavioral Therapy Effective for Health Anxiety
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing excessive health anxiety compared with standard care, with similar costs at two years, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in The Lancet.
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In Buying Exchange Insurance, It Helps to Have Help
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- You have to wade through a lot of insurance jargon and be a skilled number-cruncher to choose the right health insurance plan on the new health exchanges, health literacy and consumer decision-making experts say.
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Sebelius: Exchange Launch 'Rockier Than We Would Have Liked'
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted Wednesday that the troubled launch of the federal government's new health insurance exchange hasn't gone as planned. However, she said technicians were working to fix the glitches that have plagued the HealthCare.gov website, and improvements should be evident shortly to consumers, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Wednesday.
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CDC: Number of Obese Adults in U.S. Holding Steady
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The number of obese adults remained constant at more than 78 million in the United States for 2011 to 2012, according to an October data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
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Risk Factors for VTE Post-Spine Surgery Identified
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- There are multiple independent risk factors for the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) after spine surgery, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.
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'Coverage Gap' Likely to Affect 5.2 Million Uninsured Adults
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- About 5.2 million uninsured adults are expected to fall into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 'coverage gap,' with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid programs but below the level eligible for federal subsidies to purchase private insurance, according to a report issued by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
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Adverse Drug Events More Likely to Present on Hospital Admission
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Adverse drug events (ADEs) were more likely to be present upon admission than to originate during the stay for U.S. hospitals in 2011, according to a statistical brief issued by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).
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Docs Should Discuss Out-of-Pocket Costs With Patients
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Given the high out-of-pocket costs associated with health care and their implications for patients, physicians should discuss these costs with patients during the clinical decision-making process, according to a perspective piece published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Steps Given to Minimize Burden of Prior Authorizations
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Prior authorizations are a time-consuming part of work, but the process can be simplified, according to an article published online Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Med Students Value 'Enjoying Work' in Specialty Selection
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- For first year medical students, enjoying work is the most important lifestyle domain in choosing a specialty, according to a study published in the October issue of Academic Medicine.
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Case Vignette: Calcium Supplements in Fracture Prevention
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The issues related to calcium supplementation in postmenopausal women are discussed in a clinical practice piece published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Arterial Stiffness Linked to β Amyloid Plaques in Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Arterial stiffness correlates with β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain of dementia-free older adults, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Neurology.
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Nurse Practitioners Report High Job Satisfaction
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Nurse practitioners report high job satisfaction and are positive about the future of their profession, according to an article published Oct. 7 in Medical Economics.
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Medicare, Medicaid Will Be Affected by Federal Debt Default
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Failure to raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17 will have a substantial effect on health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, according to a report published by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP).
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In Diabetes Patients, QOL Similar Two Years After CABG, PCI
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with diabetes undergoing revascularization for multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery provides better intermediate health status and quality of life (QOL) than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents, but the differences are small and transient, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Rates of PSA Screening in Older Men Vary Among Doctors
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening rates in older men vary considerably among primary care physicians (PCPs), according to a research letter published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Nonprofit U.S. Hospital CEO Compensation Varies Widely
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) Nonprofit hospital chief executive officer (CEO) compensation is associated with technology and patient satisfaction, but not with processes of care, patient outcomes, or community benefit, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Most Docs Monitor Online Reviews About Themselves
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Most health care providers monitor online reviews about themselves and find the reviews fair, according to the results of a survey published by ZocDoc.
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Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Hospitals Do Follow Guidelines
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-S) hospitals are more likely than Primary Stroke Center (PSC)-certified hospitals to provide all the recommended guideline-based care for patients, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Admin Data May Misclassify Hospital Complications
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Use of administrative data frequently misclassifies hospitals' rates of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs), compared to surveillance data, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Marathon Running Tied to Transient Myocardial Changes
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Marathon runners, particularly those who are less fit or less trained, may experience transient myocardial changes, according to a study published in the October issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
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Lifestyle Advice Should Be Similar With/Without Diabetes
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Lifestyle advice for patients with diabetes should be similar to that given to people without diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in Diabetologia.
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Review: Vitamin D Supplements Have Minimal Effect on BMD
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D supplementation has minimal effect on bone mineral density, according to a review published online Oct. 11 in The Lancet.
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Study Discusses How to Create Value in Insurance Marketplaces
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Based on experience from other markets, health insurance exchange marketplaces can create greater value for consumers, according to research published in the September issue of Health Management, Policy and Innovation.
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Hospital Care Quality Varies by Insurance Coverage
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Examining hospital quality differences by various patient insurance groups would help reduce care disparities, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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'Cyberchondria' Worse in Those Troubled by Uncertainty
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In a vicious cycle, those who have trouble handling uncertainty turn to the Internet to search for medical information which in turn leads to greater health anxiety ("cyberchondria"), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
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Regional Variation Seen in Medicare ACO Formation
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Underlying provider integration in a given geographic region may drive the formation of Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs), according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Higher Magnesium Intake May Lower Diabetes Risk
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Higher magnesium intake may lower risk of incident diabetes, particularly among those at highest risk, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Diabetes Care.
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Home-Delivered Meals Could Lessen State Medicaid Costs
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Programs like meals-on-wheels that help older adults live independently in the community can also yield net savings to states on the costs of long-term supports and services provided under Medicaid, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Gene Variant Linked to Marital Satisfaction
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with two short alleles of the serotonin transport gene are more sensitive to positive and negative emotional behaviors that affect their marital satisfaction, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Emotion.
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Consumers Frustrated With First Days of ACA Exchanges
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new poll of consumer satisfaction with the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges confirms what headlines having been saying since the online marketplaces' launch: things have not gone smoothly.
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Addicted Physicians Say Rx Misuse Is for 'Self-Medication'
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who misuse prescription drugs report self-medication as a leading reason, according to research published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
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AAFP Issues Primary Care Workforce Projections by State
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) has issued primary care physician workforce projections for the next 25 years for each state, according to a statement from the association.
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Incidentally, Non-Incidentally Discovered Thyroid CA Compared
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with thyroid cancer, those with incidentally discovered (ID) versus non-incidentally discovered (NID) disease are older at presentation, have higher stage disease, and are more likely to be male, according to a review published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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Rate of Cardiovascular Disease Expected to Rise in the U.S.
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The combined effects of aging of the population and the obesity epidemic are expected to increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the United States, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Oral Pazopanib Improves Sight in Macular Degeneration Cases
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Oral pazopanib is well tolerated and improves mean best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal lesion thickness, and central retinal thickness at day 29 in a small, per-protocol, non-rescued population of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Levothyroxine May Be Overused for Borderline Thyroid Issues
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Levothyroxine sodium is increasingly prescribed for borderline thyroid hormone levels, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Fall History Predicts Increased Post-Op Complications in Seniors
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- A history of a fall in the six months prior to elective surgery predicts increased postoperative complications, the need for discharge institutionalization, and 30-day readmission, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in JAMA Surgery.
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State-Run Health Exchanges Off to Smoother Start
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Unlike the highly publicized problems that have plagued the federal health exchange website created to help Americans register for insurance coverage, many state-run exchanges are operating well, according to published reports.
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Quality-Adjusted Survival Low Five Years After Stroke
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Five years after stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), quality-adjusted survival is low, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Neurology.
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Greater Potential for Health Gains From Delayed Aging
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The most effective way to stall disease, extend years of life in good health, and enhance public health would be to delay aging, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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AAFP Urges Congress to End Federal Government Shutdown
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) is urging Congress to end the federal shutdown, according to a statement from the association.
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Provision of High-Quality Care Linked to Doc Job Satisfaction
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- For physicians, being able to provide high-quality health care is a driver of professional satisfaction, according to a study published online Oct. 9 by the RAND Corporation.
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Use of Single-Fraction Radiation for Pain Found Rare in Elderly
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Although single-fraction radiotherapy has been shown to be effective for pain relief of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer, only about 3 percent of elderly patients receive single-fraction compared with multiple-fraction radiotherapy, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Daytime Sleepiness Predicts Hypoglycemia in Diabetes
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who experience increased daytime sleepiness may be at increased risk for hypoglycemia, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Diabetes Care.
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Mortality Increases Among Elderly in Good Economic Times
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Mortality rates among the middle-aged and elderly rise during better economic times and fall during worse economic times in developed countries, which cannot be explained by traditional explanations such as work stress or traffic accidents, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
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Doctors Need to Focus on Treatment of Unhealthy Lifestyles
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians need to focus on preventing cardiovascular disease by addressing unhealthy lifestyles as much as treatment, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published online Oct. 7 in Circulation.
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PTSD Linked to Increased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Sept. 19 issue of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.
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Lifetime Societal Net Benefit From Total Knee Arthroplasty
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee, total knee arthroplasty is associated with a lifetime societal net benefit, according to a study published in the Aug. 21 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Confusion Still Surrounds ACA Health Insurance Exchanges
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Much confusion still exists surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care insurance exchanges, which opened on Oct. 1, according to an article published online Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.
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Patient Satisfaction Is Poor Measure of Hospital Quality
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The Pridit approach can be used to predict hospital quality and health outcomes, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Risk Management and Insurance Review.
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Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage Vary by State
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Patterns of health insurance coverage among adults vary by state, and these differences may be used to guide efforts to expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to research published online Sept. 25 in Health Affairs.
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Both Patients and Doctors Tend to Be Creatures of Habit
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors often struggle with their patients' reluctance or inability to modify behaviors for the sake of their health, but physicians themselves are prone to stay the path they're on even if it isn't working or recommended, according to an opinion piece published Oct. 5 in The New York Times.
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Design and Software Problems Plague Health Exchanges
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Problems signing up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov, the federal website serving health exchanges in 36 states, are the result of design and software problems, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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U.S. Health Exchange Website Faced Intermittent Shutdowns
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced late Friday that the healthcare.gov site -- a key to the launch of the new health care insurance exchanges -- would be unavailable during "off-peak" hours over the weekend for repairs.
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Senators Request Delay in Transition to Meaningful Use 2
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A group of U.S. senators has requested that the transition to meaningful use 2 be delayed by one year, according to an article published Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.
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Prostate Cancer Screening Cost $447 Million in 2009
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The cost to Medicare of screening elderly men in the United States for prostate cancer was $447 million in 2009, with about three-quarters of the cost associated with biopsy-related procedures, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in Cancer.
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Smokers With Diabetes More Likely to Attempt Quitting
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers with diabetes have higher smoking quit attempts than smokers without diagnosed diabetes, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
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Majority of Physicians Concerned About Future of Medicine
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians are concerned about the future of medicine, the majority are satisfied with practicing medicine and feel financial incentives could provide a way to motivate patients to change behavior, according to a survey conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
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Flu Vaccine Recommendations Updated for Egg-Allergic
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with egg allergy face no increased danger from receiving injectable inactivated influenza vaccine as a single dose, according to a letter published in the October issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Patient Portal Market Earned $279.8 Million in 2012
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The total U.S. patient portal market for hospitals and physicians earned $279.8 million in 2012, and this is expected to increase in the coming years, mainly due to stage 2 meaningful use requirements, according to a report published by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
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Number of EMR Functions Linked to Physician Stress
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For primary care physicians, the number of electronic medical record (EMR) functions is associated with stress and satisfaction, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
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Walking Linked to Reduced Breast Cancer Risk
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Walking for as little as an hour per day can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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ICU Strain Leads to Earlier Patient Discharge
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- When intensive care units (ICUs) are capacity strained, patients are discharged more quickly and have slightly greater odds of being readmitted, but short-term patient outcomes are unaffected, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Glitches Still Dog Online Health Exchanges
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Problems navigating the new federal and state computer-based health insurance exchanges spilled into a third day Thursday.
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Impact of Shutdown on Docs, Patients Discussed
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The shutdown of non-essential government services as of midnight Oct. 1 has led to questions about what the shutdown means for primary care physicians and their patients; answers have been issued in an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
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High Statin Dose Reduces Gum Inflammation
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- High doses of statins may reduce gum inflammation in heart disease patients, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Elderly Blacks, Hispanics Have More Post-Op Complications
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly blacks and Hispanics have a greater risk of postoperative complications, which are largely explained by procedure type and health care status and differ between men and women, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Government Shutdown Impacting Health Care Agencies
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The government shutdown is having a serious impact on health care agencies, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
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Expanding Scope of Nurse Practitioners Practice Discussed
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Non-physician practitioners could ease the anticipated increased demand for physicians, but broadening their scope of practice is controversial, according to an article published Sept. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Demand for Doctors Remained High in 2012
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Demand for physicians, particularly primary care physicians remains high, according to a report published by the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR).
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Fallout From Increase in High-Deductible Plans Examined
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The expected increase in high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) highlights the need for more research into the health impact of HDHPs, according to a perspective piece published online Oct. 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Technical Problems Still Vex Day 2 of ACA Exchange Rollout
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Computer troubles continued to plague the launch of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges on Wednesday. But Obama administration officials said Wednesday that the computer glitches were a reflection of heavy consumer interest in the exchanges, not flaws with the online registration system.
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Cognitive Impairment Common After Critical Illness
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive impairment after critical illness is very common and can persist, according to a study published in the Oct. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Depression Linked to Higher Risk of Parkinson's Disease
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with depression have a three-fold higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Neurology.
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Technical Glitches Mar Affordable Care Act Exchange Debut
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges rollout did not run smoothly on Tuesday as many consumers were frustrated by long delays and computer system failures.
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AMA: More Than Half of Doctors Self-Employed in 2012
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of physicians are self-employed, and 60 percent work in practices that are fully owned by physicians, according to the results of the 2012 Physician Practice Benchmark Survey.
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Early IV Metoprolol May Reduce Infarct Size in MI Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention within six hours of symptom onset, the early administration of intravenous (IV) metoprolol reduces infarct size, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of Circulation.
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Technological Advances in Health Care for Google, Apple
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Google and Apple have launched developments in health care technology, according to a report published Sept. 20 in Medical Economics.
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Acupuncture, Counseling Improve Depression Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Acupuncture and counseling both significantly reduce depression symptoms, compared to usual care alone, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in PLOS Medicine.
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Exercise May Be As Effective As Drugs for Some Conditions
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise and drug interventions may be similar regarding their effect on mortality in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke rehabilitation, and prevention of diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 1 in BMJ.
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Midlife Stress May Up Risk of Later Dementia for Women
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Common psychosocial stressors may increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease for women later in life, according to research published online Sept. 30 in BMJ Open.
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FDA Approves Brintellix for Major Depressive Disorder
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Brintellix (vortioxetine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with major depressive disorder.
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Bystander CPR Linked to Improved Survival
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade in Denmark, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) doubled and survival significantly improved for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Hormone Therapy Not Useful for Chronic Disease Prevention
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- An extended follow-up of two hormone therapy trials in postmenopausal women has shown that the benefits of hormone therapy do not outweigh the risks, although it may be useful for symptom management, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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More Primary Care Visits, Less Colorectal Cancer Incidence
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Higher utilization of primary care among Medicare beneficiaries reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Recreational Physical Activity Inversely Linked to HTN Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Recreational physical activity, at moderate and high levels, is associated with a significantly decreased risk of hypertension, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 30 in Hypertension.
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Many Primary Care Malpractice Claims Relate to Misdiagnosis
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- From 2005 through 2009, most primary care malpractice claims in Massachusetts related to alleged misdiagnosis, according to a review published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Affordable Care Act Exchanges Are Up and Running
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the first federal government shutdown in 17 years and a push by Republicans in the House of Representatives to delay further implementation of "Obamacare," the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges opened for business today.
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Many Health Care Professionals Oppose ACA Proposals
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of health care professionals are concerned about negative outcomes relating to enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although they recognize the benefits, according to a survey conducted by Coupa Software.
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In the Doctor's Lounge With Dr. Cindy Haines
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Please allow me to introduce myself: I am HealthDay's chief medical officer and the managing editor of Physician's Briefing, HealthDay's news service for health care professionals. This service is intended to provide busy physicians, nurses, and pharmacists with easily accessible, digestible health news that can keep them up-to-date and not missing a beat in their busy days providing care for those in need (and navigating the headaches and heartaches the business of medicine can too often bring). In short, this service is intended to make your professional life flow more smoothly in the way that helpful, useable, relevant, and timely information can.
Exchanges Will Be Cornerstone for Coverage Choices
Young Adults May Be Key to Making It All Work
Expect Pluses, Minuses for Those With Job-Based Coverage
If You're an Uninsured Worker, It's Your Chance to Get Covered
Medicaid Expansion Will Allow More to Get More
Many on Medicare Already Enjoying Benefits
AMA Presents: The National Journal
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Poor Performance Triggering EMR Switch for Small Practices
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Small physician practices are leaving electronic medical record (EMR) vendors as software systems have failed to meet growing expectations, according to a report from KLAS research.
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