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Maryland Hospital Opens Emergency Room For Seniors
Here is something new. It is about a special Emergency Department for Seniors over 65. I have heard of special Pediatric Emergency Departments (my hospital has just opened one) because children are not just "little adults". But now there is an Emergency Department that treats only senior citizens over age 65. Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the ED has staff trained in geriatrics and utilizes an approach to care that is structured around the needs of older people.
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New California Data Helps Patients Evaluate Hospital Quality
California is breaking new ground by publishing eight hospital mortality rates as a start so patients can determine which hospitals have the best quality outcomes. The state is using "risk adjusted" measures to better compare how "sick" a patient is and how likely they would be to die from the condition.
The eight measures include death from three medical conditions; acute stroke, hip fracture and gastrointestinal bleeding as well as five surgical procedures: coronary angioplasty, carotid endarterectomy, craniotomy, esophageal resection and pancreatic resection.
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Where Will Obama Go With Stem Cell Research
There is speculation on the Hill about whether President Obama will immediately reverse the ban on stem cell research by executive order, or wait until Congress submits a bill to him that he would sign. I think it is about 50/50.
Either way, these are significant steps in the right direction after 8 years of "anti-science" and suppression of expert research under the Bush administration. Former Surgeon-General under Bush, Dr. Richard Carmona complained he was muzzled in attempts to speak out on stem cell science and other issues.
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Hunger Control Is Easier for Men and It’s All in the Brain
A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed women have more trouble resisting food than equally hungry men. Dr. Gene-Jack Wang, the lead researcher and a nuclear medicine specialist, used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to observe brain activity in 13 women and 10 men. After not eating for 17-19 hours, the volunteers underwent brain scans while they looked at images of their favorite foods. The researchers even wafted food smells throughout the room and subjects were given a taste of food with a cotton swab placed on their tongue.
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Cabbage Makes A A Great Snack
Someday I am going to write a "healthy recipe" cookbook. Until that time, I want to share the healthiest and easiest snack I know. Believe it or not it is just simmered cabbage. You are going to have to trust me on this one. You can use it as a side dish or just cook it up for hungry snacking.
Cabbage Snack Recipe
One head of green cabbage
Cut it into large chunks
Place it in a large pan with butter (1-2 oz) and olive oil
Add 1/4 cup of water to keep moist.
Just braise it on the cooktop and put a lid on it and let it simmer. -
Early Planned C-Sections Cause Infant Complications
Caesarean section deliveries have been increasing throughout the decade and one in every 14 births in the United States is now delivered surgically through the abdomen. The New England Journal of Medicine has published a new study that shows a third of scheduled c-sections were performed before 39 weeks of gestation. The study revealed that babies delivered earlier than 39 weeks had a higher rate of complications, including respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia and newborn sepsis.
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California: Big State, Many Without Health Insurance
The California HealthCare Foundation has released it's data about the health of California and it is not good. Over the past 20 years the number of people without health insurance coverage continues to rise and we have the highest number of all the states - 6.6 million uninsured citizens.
Here are some surprising findings about the uninsured in California.
* More than a third come from families with incomes over $50K
* Nearly 60% are Latino
* More than 70% of children without health insurance come from families where a parent works FULL TIME.
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Steve Jobs Weight Loss
When fifty-three year old Steve Jobs lost a large amount of weight and did not show up for the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, shares of Apple stock plummeted. Since he was treated for pancreatic cancer four years ago, his weight loss has made investors nervous that the creative head of Apple was facing another serious medical crisis.
Now Mr. Jobs has released a public letter that states he is suffering from a hormonal imbalance that caused the weight loss and it can be treated with simple medication. He assured the stockholders that he is well and will continue to lead the company.
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Are Americans Too Soft When It Comes To Treatment?
Sometimes I think Americans are too soft. How many could survive traveling almost a year in a covered wagon? How many women could give birth without an epidural? What about experiencing "restless legs syndrome" without medication or "social anxiety disorder" (shyness?) without medication? How about suffering a common cold without needing antibiotics .
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John Travolta's Son: A Tragedy
John Travolta and Kelly Preston are grieving the loss of their 16 year old son today. While on vacation at their Bahama retreat, the 16 year old went to the bathroom on Jan 1 and was found by his attendant, Jeff Kathrein the next day at 10 AM, after suffering an apparent seizure and hitting his head as he fell. An autopsy is planned.
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