Medscape Business of Medicine Headlines

Health Care Reform May Hurt Hospital Credit

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:01:41 EST

High-cost urban U.S. hospitals may face debt rating downgrades if large cuts to Medicare funding are implemented as part of U.S. health care reform, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday.

Malpractice Litigation Continues to Be of Concern to Nurse Practitioners

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:12:49 EST

Malpractice claims continue to rise, but there is much that NPs can do proactively to reduce the risk of being sued.

FDA Expands Use of Maraviroc to Include Treatment-Naive HIV Patients

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:58:47 EST

Clinical data suggest maraviroc- and efavirenz-based therapies are similarly effective for treating CCR5-tropic HIV-1 infection.

Take-Back Programs and In-House Filtration Systems Reduce Pharmaceutical Pollutants and Improve Municipal Drinking Water Quality

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:29:04 EST

Take-back programs, where pharmacies accept unused pharmaceuticals, and a pilot program involving the use of in-home water filtration systems, have been successful at improving drinking water quality.

Postmarketing Lessons to Learn From Vioxx Debacle

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:08:29 EST

Data now required by US law could have been put to good use in the Vioxx debacle, helping researchers confirm the cardiovascular risk with the drug much earlier than it was eventually pinpointed, say the authors of a new analysis.

No Hospital Savings With Electronic Records: U.S. Study

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:59:02 EST

New electronic record systems installed in thousands of U.S. hospitals have done little to rein in skyrocketing healthcare costs, Harvard University researchers said in a study released on Friday.

Norway Finds H1N1 Mutation in Flu Fatalities

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

Norwegian health authorities said on Friday they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain that could be responsible for causing the severest symptoms among those infected.

U.S. Losing Ground to Europe in New Drug Approvals

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

When it comes to getting new medicines, Americans are no longer automatically first in line.

Did US Make Mistake in Leaving Adjuvants out of H1N1 Vaccines?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

As US health officials struggle to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against the pandemic of swine flu, some are looking regretfully at one easy way to instantly double or triple the number of doses available: using an adjuvant.

FDA Approves Intravenous Sildenafil for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:09:23 EST

Sildenafil injection allows continued treatment of patients unable to take the oral formulation.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine May Cut Swine Flu Risk

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:06:49 EST

Researchers say seasonal flu provides some cross-immunity against H1N1 swine flu.

FDA Approves Ziprasidone for Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:01:23 EST

Ziprasidone capsules are approved with lithium or valproate as maintenance therapy for bipolar disorder.

FDA Expert Panel Declines to Endorse New Influenza Vaccine

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:09 EST

An advisory committee said more efficacy and safety data are needed before it can back FluBlock, which is made using a new technology.

H1N1 Flu Wave Peaking in US?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:39:54 EST

New cases of the H1N1 flu have declined, but deaths and hospitalizations are still rising.

Retaining an Aging Nurse Workforce: Perceptions of Human Resource Practices

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:05:03 EST

Retaining aging nurses is key to providing care for an aging population, and there are specific management practices that can support this goal.

Sen Grassley Questions Top Medical Schools About Ghostwriting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:39 EST

As part of his mission to see more financial transparency in medicine, Sen Grassley has asked eight top US medical schools about their policies on ghostwriting.

Patients Happier When Doctors Discuss What Went Wrong

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:58:27 EST

Hospital patients who suffer a side effect from treatment are more likely to give high ratings to their quality of care when hospital staff are up front about what went wrong, a new study suggests.

Unique Malpractice Risks of Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:06:52 EST

More physicians are setting up ambulatory surgery centers, but there are many malpractice risks that come with having a center. Here is what to watch out for.

Nurse Practitioner Role Development

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:02:36 EST

In some countries, NPs are still taking baby steps, but in the United States, NPs may have advanced beyond early practice regulations.

Physician Impairment due to Substance Use Disorders

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:13 EST

A family physician starts self-prescribing narcotics abuse after a bike accident.