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Editor's Picks
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Poverty increases flu deaths in Mexico
All but one of the confirmed deaths from swine flu have occurred in Mexico, and this article from the Washington Post examines why. Several theories have emerged, the article states: that Mexico City's 7,300-foot elevation exacerbates respiratory illnesses, that there may be a slight variation between the viral strain prevalent in Mexico and swine flu elsewhere, and that Mexico is further along in disease transmission. But experts say a critical factor is that flu victims have delayed checking into hospitals until their condition has deteriorated so much that they cannot be saved. "Delaying medical care is a characteristic of poverty. For people living close to the edge, taking off a day to visit a doctor or staying home sick is literally taking food out of their mouths," said Paul J. Gertler, a professor of economics at the School of Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley, told the Post. [Read More]
Abu Dhabi to get two state-of-the-art hospitals
Al Mafraq Hospital and Al Ain Hospital, two of the oldest government hospitals in Abu Dhabi, will be replaced with state-of-the-art facilities that will have almost 1,400 beds between them. The plans to replace the facilities, both of which are more than 25 years old, were revealed by the health services company Seha. The hospitals, which currently have a total of 843 beds between them, will be replaced by facilities that "redefine the level of medical services in Abu Dhabi" and will include the first dedicated stroke unit in the country, said Seha Chief Executive Carl Stanifer in a statement. [Read More]
Hospital death rates to be posted on government Web site in England
Death rates of every National Health Service hospital in England will be published on a government Web site, officials have announced. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said patients will gain access to information about mortality rates to help compare the risks of treatment in different hospitals. The Web site will also display "hospital standardized mortality ratios"—figures comparing how much the facility's death rates differ from the norm after making adjustments to reflect the risk and complexity of its caseload. [Read More]
Rich Indonesians spend big on overseas medical expenses
Every year, rich Indonesians spend far more than $1 billion for their medical expenses overseas, according to findings by the research and consulting firm Frost and Sullivan. The overseas spending creates a huge potential loss for the domestic healthcare business, with Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and the United States being the main healthcare destinations. Indonesians in total shell out $12 billion per year for healthcare, with more higher-income people seeking the convenience of better healthcare services at top hospitals in neighboring countries, the firm found. [Read More]
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Global Health Headlines
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Rwandan doctors visiting Spokane, WA
AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer - April 30, 2009
Recession leaves health agencies weakened in swine flu defense
New York Times - April 30, 2009
Junior doctors in India call off strike
The Deccan Herald - May 5, 2009
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From HealthLeaders Magazine |
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Jump . . . or Get Pushed
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The tough decisions you don't want to make now—but may have to. [Read More] |
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Service Line Management |
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Redefining Cardio
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The cardiovascular service line remains a dependable revenue generator for many hospitals across the country. But a shifting market full of new options for patients means organizations must find ways to differentiate themselves to keep it that way. [Read More] |
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Audio Feature
CEO Survey: Cheryl Herbert, president of Dublin Methodist Hospital in central Ohio offers insights on the HealthLeaders Media Industry Survey 2009, discussing CEOs' view of the quality of their organizations' information technology and how the federal stimulus package may affect healthcare IT. [Listen Now]
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