Healthcare

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.

3D printed device saved life of a baby with tracheobronchomalacia

Baby’s life saved with groundbreaking 3D printed device from University of Michigan that restored his breathing — Bioresorbable splint used for first time, successfully stopped life-threatening tracheobronchomalacia, case featured in New England Journal of Medicine – Every day, their baby stopped breathing, his collapsed bronchus blocking the crucial flow of air to his lungs. April and Bryan Gionfriddo watched helplessly, just praying that somehow the dire predictions weren’t true.

Americans could save $770 billion due to slowdown in health care spending

Saving money on medical costs — Slowdown in health care spending growth could save Americans $770 billion, study finds – A slowdown in the growth of U.S. health care costs could mean that Americans could save as much as $770 billion on Medicare spending over the next decade, Harvard economists say.

Medical interns spend little time at patient bedside

Doctors-in-training spend very little time at patient bedside, study finds — Time with patients seems ‘squeezed out’ of training, investigator says – Medical interns spend just 12 percent of their time examining and talking with patients, and more than 40 percent of their time behind a computer, according to a new Johns Hopkins study that closely followed first-year residents at Baltimore’s two large academic medical centers.

Green spaces have a positive impact on wellbeing

Green spaces may boost wellbeing for city dwellers — Researcers surprised by scale of effects of living in greener areas, compared to ‘big hitting’ life events, such as marriage – People living in urban areas with more green space tend to report greater wellbeing than city dwellers that don’t have parks, gardens, or other green space nearby, said research from the University of Exeter Medical School’s European Centre for Environment & Human Health.

8 of 29 in critical condition – Boston Marathon explosion

The MGH has seen 29 patients related to the Boston Marathon explosion today. Eight of the 29 are in critical condition. – The MGH has seen 29 patients related to the Boston Marathon explosion today. Eight of the 29 are in critical condition. None of the patients are pediatric (18 and younger). The injuries range from cuts and bruises to amputations.

BRAIN – $100m to find new ways to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders

Barack Obama launched a plan to map the human brain, in an attempt to find vital clues for treating diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. – US President Barack Obama unveiled a bold new research initiative designed to revolutionize understanding of the human brain. Launched with approximately $100 million in the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative ultimately aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Affordable Care Act highlighted by Kathleen Sebelius on National Public Health Week

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Statement on National Public Health Week – As US celebrate the start of National Public Health Week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius emphasised the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to advance the public’s health, which started 3 years ago in America under the leadership of US president Barack Obama.

Sugar sweetened sodas and drinks claim 180000 lives worldwide

Sugar-sweetened beverages may be linked to about 180,000 deaths in the world each year — American Heart Association Meeting Report – Sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180000 deaths around the world each year. Sugar-sweetened beverages are consumed throughout the world, and contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers.

Steps taken to meet increasing demand for doctors in India

Steps taken to meet increasing demand for doctors in India – Various steps have been taken to liberalise norms for opening new medical colleges, besides amending relevant MCI regulations to meet the increasing demand for doctors in India.

NYU Langone Medical Center and Hurricane Sandy impact

NYU Langone Medical Center – Updated Statement – Superstorm Sandy Tests Hospital Preparedness – After the onslaught of superstorm Sandy caused the back-up generator at New York University’s medical center to fail, hospital officials say at least 300 patients were successfully evacuated to other area hospitals overnight.

Health Newstrack