Health care

The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.

Aquatic exercise could benefit fibromyalgia sufferers

The addition of an aquatic exercise programme to the usual care for fibromyalgia in women, is cost-effective in terms of both health care costs and societal costs. – Patients suffering from fibromyalgia could benefit significantly from regular exercise in a heated swimming pool, a study published today in the open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy shows. The findings suggest a cost effective way of improving quality of life for patients with this often-debilitating disorder.

Insurers’ anti-patient practices won’t be tolerated

California Medical Association (CMA) says Los Angeles City Attorney Lawsuit against Health Net sends a strong message that insurers? anti-patient practices won?t be tolerated. – A Los Angeles City Attorney’s lawsuit accusing Health Net Inc. of promising medical coverage, then dropping patients if they needed expensive treatment, sends a strong message to insurers that such mistreatment of patients will not be tolerated.

UK government wasting money on private treatment centres

UK government continues to waste money on private treatment centres, says British Medical Association (BMA). – Researchers writing in the BMJ, argue that there is no good evidence that independent sector treatment centres provide value for money or high quality care. The involvement of private companies in the UK’s National Health Service always generates controversy.

MRSA among drug users increasing

Rates of MRSA infection in injection drug users in Vancouver have significantly increased over the last six years. – A new comparative study suggests that rates of MRSA infection in injection drug users in Vancouver have significantly increased over the last six years highlighting the need for interventional methods in high-risks groups.

Heart attack survival lower during nights and weekends

Occurrence of in-hospital cardiac arrest and survival patterns have not been characterized by time of day or day of week. This study reported that survival rates from in-hospital cardiac arrest are lower during nights and weekends. – Patients who have an in-hospital cardiac arrest at night or on the weekend have a substantially lower rate of survival to discharge than hospitalized patients who experience a cardiac arrest during day/evening times on weekdays, according to a study in the February 20 issue of JAMA.

US improving health care quality

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) takes next step to improve quality in nation’s nursing homes. This is latest in a series of actions to expand information to consumers. – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issuing more information on special focus facilities to better equip beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to make informed decisions and stimulate robust improvements in nursing homes having not improved their quality of care.

Baxter’s multiple-dose vial Heparin causing allergy

Baxter’s Multiple-dose Vial Heparin Linked to Severe Allergic Reactions. FDA advises health care practitioners to switch suppliers and limit use of drug until problem identified. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Baxter Healthcare Corporation has temporarily stopped manufacturing multiple-dose vials of the injectable blood-thinning drug heparin due to reports of serious allergic reactions and hypotension (low blood pressure) in patients who receive high “bolus” doses of the drug.

Adverse reactions linked to Botox use, warns FDA

Ongoing safety review of Botox, Botox Cosmetic and Myobloc taking place in US. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today notified the public that Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B) have been linked in some cases to adverse reactions, including respiratory failure and death, following treatment of a variety of conditions using a wide range of doses.

Pfizer’s anti smoking Chantix latest safety information

Pfizer’s anti smoking Chantix latest safety information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory to alert health care providers, patients, and caregivers to new safety warnings concerning Chantix (varenicline), a prescription medication used to help patients stop smoking. – Chantix (varenicline), a prescription medication used to help patients stop smoking reported to have certain adverse effects like changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and actual suicidal behavior. US FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to alert health care providers, patients, and caregivers.

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