Johnson & Johnson's halt of U.S. sales of a new heart-rhythm device due to safety concerns is hobbling a major strategic push by the company into one of the industry's fastest-growing markets. The healthcare company paused use of the device, known as Varipulse, last month after receiving reports of neurovascular events in several patients. The company didn't explain what the events were, but several strokes have been reported to a federal device-safety database, and doctors' concerns are centered on strokes. J&J has been racing to catch up to competitors in the fast-growing market for medical devices treating irregular heart rhythms, and to revive the company's medical-device business generally.
The vote was 52 to 48. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Republican majority leader and a polio survivor, was the sole Republican joining Democrats to vote against Kennedy. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch swore Kennedy in Thursday afternoon at a ceremony in the Oval Office attended by President Trump and members of Kennedy's family, including his wife, the actress Cheryl Hines, and his children. Later on Thursday, Trump issued an executive order to establish a Make America Healthy Again Commission, with representation from the departments of Agriculture, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
The layoffs, which are slated to save over $200 million from MGB’s $10.3 billion salary and benefits expenses, are part of a broader joining of services across the sprawling 12-hospital network. To many, the consolidation is a critical, albeit challenging, step the system has put off since Mass. General came together with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1994. But much as many might agree on the necessity of the work, opinions differ on whether the specific decisions that executives are making are the right ones.
Walgreens Boots Alliance is getting closer to selling its stake in doctor-staffed clinic operator VillageMD, which has already cost the drugstore giant billions of dollars.
More and more wealthy New Yorkers are spending big for concierge medical care that goes way above and beyond annual check-ups. “I’m 70% doctor, 15% psychologist, 10% rabbi, 4% hairdresser and 1% friend,” Dr. Jordan Shlain told NYNext. His team is also on call pretty much 24/7, with clients able to reach them via email, text or phone at all hours.