For years, scientists hoped that the rapidly evolving field of genetics could transform medical diagnosis and treatment. But the vision of individualized treatment based on a patient's genetic makeup and other biological markers has yet to materialize. Now, however, the pursuit of "personalized medicine" is expected to get a major push from the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama.
Twenty-seven Iraqi medical doctors spent the past month learning about healthcare in the United States. Their time in the U.S. was devoted to observing patient care and attending lectures. The Iraqi doctors were spread out throughout the country. Some went to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, some to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, while others went to community health centers and Indian Health Service hospitals.
The Loudoun County (VA) Planning Commission has narrowly recommended approval of HCA Virginia's plan to build a 164-bed hospital in Broadlands. The final decision rests with the Board of Supervisors. In a 5 to 4 vote, the commission recommended that HCA be permitted to construct a 24-hour acute-care hospital, the Broadlands Regional Medical Center. Supervisors will weigh HCA's application for a zoning special exception at a Jan. 14 meeting.
Local and federal officials have announced plans for a 70-acre medical campus in the heart of New Orleans to replace two hospitals damaged during Hurricane Katrina. But the plan has drawn strong criticism from preservationists and neighborhood activists because it will lead to the destruction of dozens of old houses and buildings in the Mid-City National Register Historic District. They had urged the Veterans Affairs Department and the state to consider alternative locations.
Manchester Memorial Hospital has became the sixth hospital in Connecticut to agree to settle allegations of overcharging the federal government for some cancer treatments. The hospital will pay $712,166 to settle claims stemming from overbilling the Medicare program for intravenous treatments from 2000-04. Medicare allowed payment for one unit of infusion therapy and chemotherapy for each patient visit but the hospital often billed the program for two to nine units.
Nearly half of the New Jersey's hospitals posted overall losses at the end of 2007, according to new audited financial data released by the New Jersey Hospital Association. The report shows that New Jersey's hospitals were struggling well before the country's recent economic downturn. According to the study, the average total margin plunged to 0.9% last year from 3.1% in 2006. The 2007 figure was the lowest since 2002.