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Editor's Picks
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To explain longevity gap, look past health system
During the ongoing healthcare reform debate in the U.S., much has been made of the United States' low life expectancy ranking when compared to other industrialized nations. But researcher Samuel H. Preston, PhD, has found no evidence that America's healthcare system is to blame for the longevity gap between it and other industrialized countries. Instead, the American system in many ways provides superior treatment even when uninsured Americans are included in the analysis, according to the findings. The longevity gap, Preston says, is primarily due to the relatively high rates of sickness and death among middle-aged Americans, chiefly from heart disease and cancer that results from culture norms that are seen in the United States. Preston calculated, for example, that if smoking-related deaths alone were excluded the United States would rise to the top half of longevity rankings for developed countries. [Read More]
Northern Ireland invests millions in health IT
Northern Ireland's Department of Health is set to embark on a multi-million pound investment in new IT systems. Hewlett-Packard has been awarded the contract to modernize technology controlling hospital patient administration in the country. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey told BBC News that health and social care relied on information technology "to provide an efficient and effective business." [Read More]
Five States Not Prepared for Possible Pandemic
Despite six years of funding and planning, health systems in 10 localities in five sampled U.S. states still aren't ready for a pandemic flu, according to a pair of reports issued by the Office of Inspector General. The first report looked at how well systems can gear up to add beds, medical equipment, trained volunteers, find alternate sites, and triage patient care. It found that all 10 localities had committees to plan for a pandemic and had coalitions to coordinate care. The second report looked at eight planning areas and 89 preparedness items for vaccine and antiviral drug distribution in the event of a pandemic. None of the 10 localities had started planning for distribution or dispensing. [Read More]
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Global Health Headlines
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Vaccine for swine flu is ahead of expectations
New York Times - September 21, 2009
U.S. to donate 10% of swine flu vaccine to WHO
Washington Post - September 18, 2009
Obama takes heat from other side of immigrant healthcare debate
Los Angeles Times - September 16, 2009
GlaxoSmithKline to change training-payment practices
Philadelphia Inquirer - September 22, 2009
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From HealthLeaders Magazine |
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The Patient of the Future
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Physicians suggest. Patients ignore. Technology alone won't bring them together. But a new relationship just might. [Read More] |
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Service Line Management |
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Certifiable Stroke Care
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With a growing emphasis on stroke center certification, hospitals must demonstrate that they have the teams in place to treat stroke patients quickly and effectively, or risk losing patients to a competitor down the road. [Read More] |
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Audio Feature
Get Rid of the Paper Trail: Why should you go fully electronic when it comes to credentialing? For one, you could see as much as a 50% reduction in costs, says Matthew Haddad, president and CEO of Merversant, a company that offers Web-based credentialing to health plans. [Listen Now]
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Intelligence Unit
