Democrats lose vote to stop steep physician payment cuts

From CNN: Senate Democrats lost a key vote Wednesday on a controversial $247 billion measure designed to ensure that doctors experience no cut in Medicare reimbursement payments over the next 10 years. The proposal was blocked in a 47-to-53 vote. Thirteen Democrats broke with their party’s leadership to join a unanimous Republican opposition. The measure, [...]

New malpractice idea in health care debate

From the AP, hosted by Google: President Barack Obama’s willingness to consider alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits is providing a boost for taking such cases out of the courtroom and letting experts, not juries, decide their merits. The idea of appointing neutral experts to sift malpractice facts from allegations appeals to conservatives in both political [...]

New Emergency Medical Service Dispatch System May Predict Caller’s Fate

From Science Daily: Japanese researchers have developed a computer program which may be able tell from an emergency call if you are about to die. Research published in the open access journal BMC Emergency Medicine shows that a computer algorithm is able to predict the patient’s risk of dying at the time of the emergency [...]

GE’s New Ultra Small Ultrasound May Become as Ubiquitous as Stethoscopes

From Medgadget: Yesterday at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, GE showed off their new handheld ultrasound device. The Vscan looks like a cross between an iPod and a cell phone, making it possibly the world’s smallest ultrasound. Later today we’ll be attending GE’s healthymagination technology showcase in New York where further details and [...]

CDC concedes vaccine production behind schedule

From the AP, via Google: A top-ranking official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says production of a vaccine for swine flu virus is behind schedule and people should take precautionary steps to prevent its spread. Dr. Anne Schuchat (SHU’-kit) said “more vaccine is coming out every day” but production isn’t where it [...]

Nursing Students Use Simulation Lab

From the Journal Express: Des Moines Area Community College’s (DMACC’s) nursing program now offers students a unique opportunity to participate in inter-disciplinary team training with other medical and healthcare students at Des Moines University (DMU). DMACC Ankeny and Boone Campus Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students travel to the DMU campus to participate in simulated emergency [...]

House unlikely to back Stabenow bill

From Modern Healthcare: The House is unlikely to approve stand-alone legislation being considered in the Senate to revamp the Medicare doctor payment formula as it is currently written, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters. Hoyer’s cautionary message makes good on a letter he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote in April indicating [...]