November 2012
1 post
September 2012
1 post
NNT can be TNT for blowing up pharma marketing... →
Bill Heisel’s popular “number needed to treat” post is highlighted in this emergency physician’s blog.
August 2012
1 post
Chocolate makes you thin, or, How to critically... →
Yoni Freedhoff’s post picked up by UC Berkeley Library blog.
May 2012
38 posts
“The 3% reduction in health care spending came almost entirely from utilization....”
– Also check out their really neat chart.
Health Care Prices Outpace Inflation In A Weak Economy - Forbes
Press Announcements > FDA warns consumers about... →
This is not surprising considering the shortage of real Adderrall in the market.
“From President Barack Obama’s overhaul law to GOP Rep. Paul Ryan’s...”
– This is why it’s so hard for any significant improvements to be made.
The Associated Press: SPIN METER: Political ads stir health care horror
“Unknown to most consumers, many hospitals and physicians offer steep discounts...”
– What purpose is this serving? Why do hospitals and physicians do this? and why do insurance companies allow it?
Many hospitals, doctors offer cash discount for medical bills - latimes.com
“Nearly 250 cases have been reported this year to poison control centers. Though...”
– Should these products be banned? Or should it be up to the parents to decide wether they are a risk to their children?
Doctors report rise in kids eating detergent packets - Chicago Sun-Times
“This study is the first to quantify resident surgeon fatigue and its predicted...”
– What are the implication for patients? What are the implications for the community?
Sleepy Surgeons: New Study Shines Light On Risks Of Surgeon Fatigue
Daily Briefing: Marion Nestle on Pom Wonderful's... →
5 health stories to follow today, brought to you by Reportingonhealth.org
“This is terrific information and certainly will be useful,” said Moyer of...”
– This seems to be the issue with many tests. Are we testing too much?
Screening finds skin cancer, but does it save lives? | Reuters
“The catch is that to make universal coverage work at the state level,...”
– Can this bill pass into law?
Legislation may enable states to offer universal healthcare - latimes.com
Employment News, Consumer Tips and Job Advice -... →
Check out the really neat info graphic about health care costs available in this article.
Health secretary urges contraception compromise -... →
And causes a lot of controversy in the Catholic Georgetown University.
“Population estimates show that 50.4 percent of children younger than 1 last year...”
– Really good graphics.
Census: Minority babies are now majority in United States - The Washington Post
“This whole episode really bothered me. He was so used to being lectured about...”
– Particularly relevant this week with the airing of “Weight of the Nation.”
Shame | The Health Care Blog
“The government says it all depends on how you measure the price. If you compare...”
– Does the way the price of food is measured make any difference? The fact is that many people are still choosing less healthy options.
Healthy eating can cost less, study finds - US News and World Report
Mrs. Obama and Team USA Commit to Helping Kids Get... →
Also relevant, is the program BOKS as explained in “Moving in the Morning.”
“The $100 million study will run for five years, but results on sophisticated...”
– An interesting approach: a study that focuses on people who don’t have the disease, yet.
Testing a Drug That May Stop Alzheimer’s Before It Starts - NYTimes.com
“‘What the iPad has done has given her a sense of control that she never...”
– Special apps have been developed for children with autism.
iPad gives voice to kids with autism - CNN.com
Facebook Offers Suicide Prevention Lifeline for... →
For many members of military families, social media serve as a lifeline, connecting them to various supportive communities to help them cope with their specific strains and stresses. So, in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the nonprofit organization Blue Star Families, Facebook has unveiled a literal lifeline within the site, with informational and response tools...
“A total of 2 million new cancer cases in 2008 were linked to infections, the...”
– Can vaccines play a role in cancer prevention?
Infections cause one in six cancer cases – - CNN.com Blogs
Seattle Children's music video goes viral |... →
Great video, very inspiring.
“Whatever debate may linger about the government’s harsh early tactics — until...”
– Interesting overview of the way Cuba has dealt with AIDS.
A Regime’s Tight Grip - Lessons From Cuba in AIDS Control - NYTimes.com
“Obesity in the United States is projected to continue its rise over the next 18...”
– Obesity in U.S. projected to grow, though pace slows: CDC study - latimes.com
“Healthcare added 19,000 jobs in April—of which, hospitals saw 4,100 more...”
– Rising healthcare costs are a problem, but the demand for service remains.
Healthcare job growth outpaces other industries - FierceHealthcare
“At one point, the hospital CEO sent an e-mail to 785 people – virtually everyone...”
– A story to keep an eye on.
Prime hospital cited for violating patient confidentiality | California Watch
“Who Are the Members in Congress to Watch Regarding Medicare Fraud?”
– A very useful list for all health care journalists writing about medicare fraud.
Individual FAQ
“A pilot program in Los Angeles is promising to provide health coverage for...”
– It’ll be interesting to see how this plays through.
Some healthcare relief for restaurant workers, many of whom are undocumented | Multi-American
“A recent nationwide report confirmed the widely-held concern that small,...”
– An interesting piece by Reporting on Health member Eve Harris.
Rural California Hospitals Slow to Digitize | State of Health Blog from KQED News
“Organ Donation: In yet another example of the power of social media, Facebook’s...”
– This and other hot topics in health today on ReportingonHealth.org’s daily briefing.
Daily Briefing: New Facebook Option Sends Organ Donor Registrations Soaring | Reporting on Health
“A report released by the White House said 20 million Americans now receive...”
– The number of people who have lost their jobs in the last 4 years has become a huge burden on U.S. community health centers.
U.S. health centers for poor, uninsured see ranks swell
“The U.S. government invested $12.7 billion over the past decade in the creation...”
– These investments help millions of lives in developing countries.
U.S. is world’s largest funder of global health research and development | Science Speaks: HIV & TB News
April 2012
71 posts
“Many of those costs have dollar signs in front of them, such as the higher...”
– Yet another indication that obesity needs to be addressed.
True cost of obesity in America: $190 billion - TODAY Health - TODAY.com
“Parents either watch in terror as their children are strapped inside ambulances...”
– An heart-breaking, yet eye-opening story by California Endowment Fellow Barbara Anderson.
Fresno County parents must travel far to save their mentally-ill children - Updates - fresnobee.com
“In contrast, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, widely regarded as...”
– According to this article, the food industry is using tactics similar to those used by the Tobacco industry to fight strict regulations.
Special Report: How Washington went soft on childhood obesity | Reuters
120 reports of child abuse a day in South LA,... →
José Martinez at OnCentral covers the big health story about a study on the DNA of children who experience violence from a local angle. Also read Laurie Udesky’s essay Reporting Ethically on Children’s Physical and Mental Health and Jane Stevens’ post See no evil: How child trauma research helps us understand the Penn State tragedy.
“But note that this study, published in Annals of Neurology, received funding...”
– Does the fact that this study was funded by the California Strawberry Commission take away the legitimacy of its findings?
Berries may delay memory decline – - CNN.com Blogs
“Journalism and science are moving toward each other. They won’t merge, of...”
– Jerry Michalski at Forbes gives his take on the future of news in Sorting Out the Truth. Gideon Lichfiled of The Economist and NPR’s Matt Thompson gave their version of what journalists can learn from scientists at SXSW Interactive.
“Experts believe that having to report the results pushed hospitals to work...”
– Can mandatory reporting be a way to improve health care in other areas as well.
A really interesting article by California Endowment Health Journalism Fellow Victoria Colliver.
Heart bypass deaths fall as care, reporting improve
