KNX 1070 Investigation: More Calif. Doctors Illegally Charging Insured Patients Extra Fees April 10, 2014 4:45 AM Full Story Charles Feldman LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A growing number of California doctors are charging their insured patients extra fees to cover everyday office expenses — a practice that’s illegal under most health care policies, according to […]
Published: Apr 8, 2014 By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Journal Full Text Article Action Points Use of NSAIDs for 15 to 30 days was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared with never-use. Additionally, recent use (within the prior 30 days but no current use) was associated with […]
Published: Apr 7, 2014 | Updated: Apr 8, 2014 By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Journal Reference Action Points Many strokes are potentially missed in emergency departments (EDs) in the days before the problems become obvious, a retrospective study found. Note that about one in every 10 of those potential misses […]
Many with dizziness and headaches sent home with missed diagnoses Release Date: April 3, 2014 FAST FACTS: Doctors overlook or discount early signs of potentially disabling strokes in tens of thousands of American each year. A large number of missed strokes occur in visitors to ERs who complain of dizziness or headaches but are sent […]
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR MARCH 27, 2014, 3:57 PM A large study has linked several common anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills to an increased risk of death, although it’s not certain the drugs were the cause. For more than seven years, researchers followed 34,727 people who filled prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax, or […]
The remains of more than 15,000 babies were incinerated as ‘clinical waste’ by hospitals in Britain with some used in ‘waste to energy’ plants By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent7:00AM GMT 24 Mar 2014 Full Story The bodies of thousands of aborted and miscarried babies were incinerated as clinical waste, with some even used to heat […]
Steve Stiles March 07, 2014 NEW YORK, NY — A Bloomberg news report digs into the world of a top New York City hospital’s drive for revenue and a competitive edge in a rough urban market, raising questions about practices that contribute to an image of the center as what is called a “heart-surgery factory”[1]. […]
Published: Mar 10, 2014 By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Action Points Azithromycin and levofloxacin were both associated with elevated risks of death and serious cardiac arrhythmias during standard lengths of prescription. Point out that although the risk of death was higher with azithromycin (through 5 days) and levofloxacin (through 10 […]
Larry Hand March 07, 2014 Irreversible vision loss should be added to the list of potential complications associated with injection of cosmetic facial fillers. Michelle V. Carle, MD, from Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Los Angeles, California, and colleagues report 3 such cases of blindness or near-complete vision loss in an article published online March 6 […]
Published: Feb 27, 2014 By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Stethoscopes carried more methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacteria after a physical exam than most areas of the physician’s hand, a study showed. MRSA contamination on the stethoscope diaphragm after a single physical exam was higher than that of all areas of the hand except […]
by Todd Neale Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today February 24, 2014 Older adults with multiple chronic health conditions — including hypertension — appear to be at greater risk for sustaining serious fall injuries when treated for high blood pressure, an observational study showed. During 3 years of follow-up, 9% of adults with an average age […]
Wayne J. Guglielmo, MA February 20, 2014 For Drug-Dealing Doctor, Up to 200 Years in Jail? In late 2013, patient Courtney Canter brought a medical malpractice suit against California family physician Julio Gabriel Diaz, 64, known in some circles as the “Candy Man” for his willingness to supply his patients with a seemingly endless stream […]
By Carole Alison Chrvala, PhD Reviewed by Philip Green, MD, Assistant in Clinical Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, NY Take Note Results from case-control studies suggest that nonselective NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, with the highest risk evident for new and […]
by Melissa Healy February 15, 2014 A team of researchers from the City of Hope in Duarte has developed a speedy way to identify drugs and chemicals that can disrupt the balance of sex hormones in human beings and influence the development and progress of diseases such as breast cancer. In a trial screening of […]
Neil Osterweil February 13, 2014 Clinicians may be missing the chance to diagnose early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the vast majority of cases, investigators suggest. A retrospective review of data on nearly 39,000 patients seen by general practitioners and specialists in the United Kingdom showed that in the 5 years immediately before a diagnosis of […]
Date: February 12, 2014 Source: Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Summary: New research shows that well-child doctor appointments for annual exams and vaccinations are associated with an increased risk of flu-like illnesses in children and family members within two weeks of the visit. This risk translates to more than 700,000 potentially avoidable illnesses each […]
Published: Feb 9, 2014 | Updated: Feb 9, 2014 By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Two FDA advisory committees will meet Monday and Tuesday to consider the significance of recent evidence surrounding the cardiovascular risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including studies pointing to lower risks with naproxen. The FDA put […]
Results of a large population-based study in randomly selected Dutch inhabitants Tielemans MM, et al. Int J Clin Pract. 2014 Feb 6. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12346. [Epub ahead of print] Affiliation Abstract AIM: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use is widespread and associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and complications. The aims of this study were to assess (i) gastrointestinal […]
IMNG Medical Media, 2014 Jan 30, A Gallegos February 03, 2014 Full Story Primary care physicians are sued more often than physicians from any other specialty for failing to diagnose coronary heart disease in women. An analysis by medical liability insurer The Doctors Company found primary care doctors are the defendants in half of such […]