Physician | Page 28 of 77 | SpiritIndia.com

Health Plan :: Little differentiation between insurers in utilization and quality measures

Today, the Director of Health and the Health Insurance Commissioner jointly released the eighth annual publication of the Rhode Island Health Plans? Performance Report . This Report, based on 2005 submissions to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), provides information on 29 separate measures covering 7 dimensions of performance (i.e., enrollment, utilization, prevention, screening, treatment, access, and satisfaction). Health plan performance is both trended over time and compared to regional and national averages.

Stress :: Improving communication with families of dying patients reduces stress, anxiety and depression

Hospitals that use a simple strategy of enhancing communication with family members of patients dying in the intensive care unit can greatly reduce post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression after their loved one dies, according to a study to be presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Francisco on Monday, May 21.

Prostate Cancer :: Genetic marker linked to aggressive prostate cancer

Northwestern University researchers have discovered that a recently identified genetic marker for prostate cancer is linked to a highly aggressive form of the disease.

West Nile virus :: UT Southwestern joins national clinical trial to uncover long-term effects of West Nile virus

UT Southwestern Medical Center has joined a national clinical trial to identify the long-term health effects of West Nile virus infection and to learn more about the disease’s progression, symptoms and mortality.

Lincoln :: Why Lincoln fell gravely ill after delivering his Gettysburg Address

Many school children in the United States memorize President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, considered one of history’s most brilliant speeches and a model of brevity and persuasive rhetoric.

Emphysema :: Researchers begin randomized double-blind trial of airway bypass treatment for emphysema

Broncus Technologies, Inc., announced the start of its EASE (Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema) Trial to explore an investigational procedure that may offer a new, minimally-invasive treatment option for millions of emphysema sufferers.

Stroke :: Lowering body temperature could aid standard stroke treatment

University of Cincinnati scientists have developed a model that could help physicians combine current clot-busting medication with below-normal body temperatures (hypothermia) to improve the treatment of ischemic stroke patients.

Ulcerative Colitis :: Ulcerative colitis sufferers find UC quite disruptive to many aspects of daily life

Nearly three out of four ulcerative colitis sufferers (73 percent) responding to a new nationwide survey say not feeling well has become a normal part of life. Furthermore, they describe UC as disruptive when it comes to their relationship with a spouse (64 percent), their sexual relations (75 percent) and their emotional state (82 percent).

Prostate Cancer :: Antioxidant Lycopene in tomatoes does not prevent prostate cancer

Tomatoes might be nutritious and tasty, but don?t count on them to prevent prostate cancer. In the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers based at the National Cancer Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center report that lycopene, an antioxidant predominately found in tomatoes, does not effectively prevent prostate cancer.

Pulmonary Embolism :: Ruling out pulmonary embolism with a simple bedside protocol

Although clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism or PE) are the second-leading cause of sudden death in the United States, blood tests and ultrafast CT scanning to detect PE are being used on so many patients that over 90% of these tests are negative.