Reliable electronic health systems and high levels of health IT adoption could play a key role in ensuring the success of future quality improvement initiatives, according to the 2009 National Healthcare Quality Report from HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Modern Healthcare reports (McKinney, Modern Healthcare, 4/14).
Overall Findings
The congressionally mandated analysis tracked the U.S. health care system's performance on more than 200 quality measures in 2007 (Preidt, HealthDay, 4/13).
Although researchers found that overall health care quality improved by 2.3%, they also found that rates for certain infections worsened across the previous year (McKinney, Modern Healthcare, 4/13).
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2010/4/15/ahrq-report-health-it-adoption-could-lead-to-gains-in-care-quality.aspx
Benjamin Franklin stated "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." To coin off that adage, health care attorney Nathan Kottcamp founded National Healthcare Decisions Day in 2008, celebrated on April 16. The purpose: to provide clear and concise information on health care decision making and to encourage people to plan for end-of-life decisions. NHDD is supported by over 60 organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Retired Persons.
In all 50 states, people are guaranteed the right to plan for a health care crisis (i.e. living will or advance directive) per 1991 federal law. However, data suggests: 95 percent of Americans say they have heard of advance-care planning - 71 percent say they have thought about it but only 29 percent say they have planned for a health care crisis.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20100416/EDIT02/100419767?Title=Make-Health-Care-Decisions
EXPERTS are monitoring the threat to human health posed by the volcanic ash in Irish air space -- but insisted yesterday there was no significant risk, writes Colin Gleeson.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said there was no danger to people on the ground because the plume was "currently at high altitude" and it was not expected to come to ground in Ireland "in the near future".
The ash is from a volcano on the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland, which began to erupt just after midnight yesterday.
A HSE spokeswoman said that even if the plume did drop towards the ground, the concentrations of particles at ground level were so small that they were not likely to cause significant effects on health.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ash-does-not-pose-health-risk-insist-experts-2140387.html
Lost in all the hubbub over deposed cabinet minister Helena Guergis and her fast-driving husband were three stories of much greater long-term significance to Canadians and their well being.
Together, what these stories show is that the governments of Canada's three largest provinces — Quebec, Ontario and B.C. — are taking dramatic steps to try to get rising health-care costs under control.
Moving from East to West, we saw Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government put forward a plan to have all patients pay a $25 fee for each visit to a doctor.
Then came Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's announcement to lower the cost of generic drugs and also eliminate the "professional allowances" paid pharmacists by drug manufacturers to push certain products.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/15/f-vp-newman.html#ixzz0lFqfgoNy
WASHINGTON — It's an eagerly awaited early benefit of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul: affordable coverage for Americans with medical problems who can't get a private insurer to even take a look.
Starting in July, a special high-risk pool will offer coverage to uninsured people with pre-existing health conditions at a cost similar to what everyone else pays. It's the first test of whether the administration can deliver on Obama's vision within the budget Congress set.
But some vulnerable patients are probably going to feel a little cheated. Consider this coverage wrinkle:
Suppose your cancer is in remission. You had to quit your job while you were having chemotherapy, and your employer coverage ran out. You can't find a private insurer who'll take you, but you're lucky to live in a state that has its own high-risk pool. Still, you have to struggle to pay the premiums, well above standard insurance because sicker people are in the group. Yet as the federal program is designed, you wouldn't be able to switch over and take advantage of significant savings.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxPQgG3FooEgj3TfE3fzZ-L6dNSQD9F410N00
Kevin Rudd now appears to have a fairly stark choice when it comes to his hospitals funding plan; either alter it before the COAG meeting on Monday or accept that he will not get the states on board.
New South Wales has dealt the latest and biggest blow to the Prime Minister's hospitals dream.
Premier Kristina Keneally is refusing to give up control of a third of the state's GST revenue to the Commonwealth.
New South Wales is demanding instead that state and federal funds be pooled and controlled by the states.
Ms Keneally is also demanding a lot more money immediately.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/16/2875285.htm
SHANE MCLEOD: The Northern Territory Chief Minister says he won't sign Monday's national health agreement until verbal assurances he's been given by the Prime Minister are reflected in the deal.Paul Henderson says he expects the Commonwealth will give the Territory more money because it has to contend with issues that other states don't, such as treating a high number of Indigenous people with complex chronic conditions.Yet the Prime Minister is saying today that he's already put his final offer.The Premiers and Territory leaders will have a phone hook-up later this afternoon for more negotiations ahead of next week's meeting.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2874759.htm
A controversy that is threatening to undermine public faith in the management of cricket – India’s national passion – deepened on Thursday as government authorities raided the headquarters of the Indian Premier League.
Tax officials raided the Mumbai offices of the IPL, the country’s multibillion-dollar cricket tournament, in a move that follows a dispute between one of the sport’s top officials and India’s deputy foreign minister.
The head of the IPL, Lalit Modi, has accused the minister, Shashi Tharoor, of trying to interfere in the recent auction of a team franchise that was won by a consortium involving a woman, who domestic media have claimed is Mr Tharoor’s girlfriend.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ff195582-491c-11df-8e4f-00144feab49a.html
JD Sports Fashion is looking for a boost to its sales from soccer’s World Cup this summer, having prepared ranges which focus on countries playing in the finals.
But chairman Peter Cowgill says that, unlike its competitors, the company would not be significantly harmed if England make an early exit.
“It’s always bad if England exit early because you lose the feelgood factor,” he said. “But unlike the others I would like to think we have been a little bit more subtle about this and are not going to get caught out.
“After all, we are now a sport- and athletically-inclined leisurewear retailer rather than a straight sportswear retailer.”
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1215261_golden_future_in_store_for_jd_sports
The actress and owner of IPL team Kings XI Punjab, Preity Zinta, has denied rumours that she and cricketer Brett Lee are more than just good friends.
Heylooooo! Sher Lock Holmes texted me that Preity Zinta’s visit to Haridwar and her victory havan have borne fruit. Her IPL team Kings XI Punjab has begun to win matches and beat the finest teams in the tournament… But even she realises that it’s a little late in the day for that!
Never mind, Holmes says, she’s a sport and doesn’t take victories to her head and loses to her heart. So true! She’s been tweeting that she loves the wins and is really kicked about the way her boys are performing. She’s even tweeted that she’s slept with a grin on her face. That’s sweet!
http://www.hindustantimes.com/pg3/Preity-s-a-sport/531596/H1-Article1-531163.aspx
MANITOBA'S newest sports facility marked its grand opening Thursday by honouring the province's oldest active athlete.
At the grand opening of Sport Manitoba's new Sport for Life Centre, Premier Greg Selinger awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt to Jaring Timmerman.
Timmerman is the 100-year-old swimmer who broke several world records over the last year. He now holds records for 50- and 100-metre backstroke and freestyle categories in his age group.
Also on hand were Eric Robinson, Manitoba's minister responsible for sport, Paul Robson, chairman of Sport Manitoba's board of directors, Olympic champion Jennifer Botterill and Sport Manitoba president and CEO Jeff Hnatiuk.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/multi-use-sport-centre-opens-doors-91013874.html
Keith Richards says he is like Mozart. Damien Hirst makes the comparison with Picasso or Van Gogh, while Steve Davis simply describes him as "the best genius any sport has ever had".
The man himself winces at such descriptions.
"A genius? Cor, I don't know about that," says Ronnie O'Sullivan. "I've been semi-successful. I've done all right but I'm not the player I was. Who do I think will win the world championship? John Higgins. Have I been good for snooker? I don't know."
Such self-deprecation has long been an O'Sullivan trademark.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-best-genius-any-sport-has-ever-had-20100416-sjw7.html
The Premier League is to mount a challenge to the decision by regulator Ofcom to make Sky sell sports channels to its competitors at a discount.
Ofcom told Sky it must cut the price it charges rival cable, terrestrial and internet broadcasters to show its premium sports channels.
The broadcaster will have to sell Sky Sports 1 and 2 for up to 23% less than the current wholesale price.
Premier League boss Richard Scudamore said the league had "no other option".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8623114.stm
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Vice President Biden on Thursday visited a technology center that broke ground on an expansion partly funded by federal stimulus money.
The $17 million Ben Franklin TechVentures received a $6 million grant under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act in September. The technology business incubator is on the Lehigh University campus.
Biden lauded the project as helping to create high-tech jobs for the 21st century. The grant will help fund a 47,000-square-foot expansion and create 200 technology jobs, the company said. - AP
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20100416_Biden_attends__tech_center_groundbreaking.html
Three years ago to the day, 23-year-old Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho went on a killing spree at the school, taking 32 lives before turning a gun on himself.
Time heals all wounds — or so it is said — but the violence that day that reverberated across the globe won’t be forgotten anytime soon, according to three members of the Augusta County Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.“It’s a sad time of year for us,” said Billie Smith, a 1979 graduate of Virginia Tech. “It’s hard to believe it has been three years now.”While April 16 will always be a gloomy reminder of the inexplicable bloodbath that took place at the school, it also is used to point to the strength of the “Hokie Nation,” which bonded together even stronger in the aftermath.“I’ve never been more proud to be a Hokie,” Smith said.
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100416/NEWS01/100415008
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tech stocks took some tentative steps forward Thursday in advance of quarterly earnings reports from Google Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!goog/quotes/nls/goog (GOOG 595.30, +6.30, +1.07%) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!amd/quotes/nls/amd (AMD 10.16, +0.27, +2.73%) . Google shares rose 68 cents to $589.68, while AMD was up 2 cents a share at $9.92. Small gains also came from Microsoft Corp. /quotes/comstock/15*!msft/quotes/nls/msft (MSFT 30.87, +0.05, +0.16%) , Dell Inc.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-amd-lead-mild-tech-gains-2010-04-15?reflink=MW_news_stmp
KAMPALA, Uganda -- Losing Internet access is a Web geek's worst nightmare. So when 19-year-old Felix Kitaka ran out of money to pay for the pricey dialup connection at his Kampala home last year, the young software developer was distraught. Without Web access he wasn't going to be able to finish the Facebook application he was working on -- and even if he were able to raise the money to pay his overdue bills, he wouldn't be reconnected for weeks.
So Kitaka contacted Jon Gosier, an American who had just launched Appfrica Labs, a technology incubator in Kampala. After a brief meeting, Gosier invited Kitaka to work on his Facebook application at Appfrica's offices. Starting immediately.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/16/smallbusiness/appfrica/
Internet giant Google today reported a 37 per cent rise in first quarter net profit - beating Wall Street expectations and boosting hopes of a revival in the technology sector. In the first three months of the year the search giant saw profits rise to $1.96bn (£1.3bn) - up from the $1.42bn it made in the same period in 2009. Revenues rose 23 per cent to $6.78bn US dollars (£4.4bn) as more people clicked on internet ads powered by the company's search engine.Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1266410/Google-profit-increase-points-tech-sector-recovery.html#ixzz0lFnNsF8s
