What’s new in health care, April 24

Health care updates for you on this lovely spring weekend.

What’s being reformed?

The Struggle for Reform – Challenges and Hopes for Comprehensive Health Care Legislation
This article in the April 23 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reviews the recent developments in legislation towards a comprehensive health care system in the US. Currently, there are five congressional committees (two in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives) busily working on reforms on tight timelines. The whole article is available for free.

What’s new and dangerous?

New Strain of Swine Flu in Two Children in California
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports two cases of swine flu in California. The patients were children who never had any contact with pigs. The source of infection is unknown but because the two patients were children who never had any contact with pigs, the possibility of human-to-human transmission is likely.

What’s being undervalued?

Health undervalued in reproductive rights debate
The issue of reproductive rights is a very controversial one. Abortion, assisted reproduction, and religious beliefs of both patient and health care provider are just a few of the most debated topics. University of Illinois legal expert Beth Burkstrand-Reid looked at court cases on reproductive rights and concluded that many court rulings considered religious freedom and conscience but undervalued the effect on women’s health.

What’s being improved?

Decision support service offers assistance in diagnosing paediatric mental health issues
Check out these figures: one out of five children in the US is suffering from a treatable mental condition. There are only 8 child psychiatrists for every 100,000 children. There are therefore concerns that the mental health of American children is being taken care of. To address this problem, doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are partnering with paediatricians and family doctors to make sure kids suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental disorders are receiving the care they need – and quickly. Last month, health experts issued guidelines recommending that young people be routinely screened for clinical depression.

What’s being recalled?

FDA: Expanded recall
Aside from the pistachios, some more products are being recalled due to Salmonells, The US FDA announced. These include Uncle Chen and Lian How Brand sauces, oils and oil blends,

What’s being translated?

NY pharmacies agree to translate drug instructions
Five companies have announced that they will provide translations of prescription drugs instructions in other languages to help consumers who are non-English speakers. The companies Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, Duane Reade  and A&P have agreed with the New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to provide written translations in Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Russian and French. The agreement covers only the state of New York.

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