Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

Next Year's Rising Health Costs May Not Be Slowed By Reform
"Employers who offer health insurance coverage could see a 9 percent cost increase next year, and their workers may face an even bigger hit, according to a report Thursday from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers," the Associated Press reports. Workers concerned about losing their jobs" and their insurance, while it lasts - are using more health care than usual, contributing to rising costs, the report says. As the costs increase, employers are also likely to shift more of the burden to employees. "A total of 42% of employers surveyed said they would increase employees" share of costs," the AP reports.

Check Your Eyes Before It's Too Late
People have the opportunity to have their eyes checked with one-of-a-kind equipment for free, while helping to solve the mystery behind the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Even people with healthy eyes, aged 50 and over, are being encouraged to participate in the Queensland University of Technology study. Eye specialist and QUT researcher Dr Beatrix Feigl is embarking on the study to detect the early signs of age-related macular degeneration, a disease that progressively causes vision loss.
News of the day
Oregon Hospital Building Boom Slows Down
"Oregon"s hospital spending boom is winding to a close," as hospitals cut back on projects, Portland Business Journal reports. "Portland-area hospitals have opened, started construction on, or announced expansions costing at least $1.3 billion in the past 18 months. Projects include cancer treatment centers, cardiac units and pediatric care facilities. Now, spurred by economic concerns, health organizations are cutting back. ... It doesn"t make financial sense to embark on major new projects until the economy improves and hospital administrators know how health care reforms may affect their operations, said Providence Chief Operating Officer Terry Smith."
Endocrinology

Nationwide Launch Campaign Of Centralized Diagnostic Tests In Key Disease Areas

Roche Diagnostics launches campaign to promote widest panel of assays on an automated serum work area platform As concerns are raised about the expense of treatments for chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and kidney disease and for infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV, Roche Diagnostics launches a nationwide promotion of its 183-strong panel of high sensitivity assays, designed to provide the best possible test accuracy and efficiency for improved patient care. The campaign focuses on three key disease areas: Osteoporosis According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), osteoporosis is second only to cardiovascular disease as a global health problem. The incidence of osteoporosis is set to increase with the ageing of the population and in the UK one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone mainly because of poor bone health. The new and comprehensive range of Roche Elecsys ® bone marker assays are set to help make a major impact on the way in which osteoporosis is treated in the UK. Now with this detailed test, the consultant can gain an holistic overview of a patient"s bone status giving clear guidance on the most appropriate treatment with the lowest level of side-effects. Chronic Kidney Disorder Chronic kidney disorder effects one in 10 people aged 55-64, and one in two of those aged 75 or over. Having chronic kidney disorder puts the individual at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and therefore rapid diagnosis and treatment is critical. The Roche Creatinine Plus enzymatic creatinine assay, is a highly reliable test used on patients with chronic kidney disease. It is designed to give extreme test accuracy in the monitoring of pre- and post-transplant patients. Amongst the many users are St Thomas" Hospital London, and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust. With each hospital performing over 30,000 tests every month, the assay provides a more accurate assessment of renal function and has already enabled improved patient care. Infectious Disease Infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV remain at higher levels than the 1990s. The Roche Serology portfolio offers the widest range of assays for detecting infectious diseases including Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV. The latest components in this portfolio are the cobas Anti HCV, a rapid and sensitive screening assay for detecting antibodies of the Hepatitis C virus. This allows for diagnosis in early stages of HCV, and other assays in the portfolio are used in the detection of Rubella and Syphilis. Roche"s ground-breaking 183- strong assay portfolio which is available on an automated serum work area platform represents state-of-the-art laboratory testing in the UK. The tests provide consultants with the most accurate information available for making treatment decisions whilst increasing consolidation opportunities and improving testing efficiencies. Ian Parfrement, Roche Diagnostics HIVD Director UK, and Ireland said: "The release of these new assays to the Hospital in vitro diagnostic market demonstrates Roche"s continued commitment to innovation and is an integral part of Roche"s overall strategy in diagnostics for providing information of real value to healthcare professionals. Not only are we aiming to push test accuracy to its boundaries, we aim to help managers in hospitals make the most effective use of limited diagnostic budgets. We have had huge interest in the campaign from customers all over the UK." Roche


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009