CVD Newswatch, September 4

It’s Semptember and autumn is almost upon us. What have you been doing all summer? Some CVD news for you this weekend.

CVD obesity watch

Ten Professional Societies Join Forces to Develop Obesity Medicine Certification Examination
The Obesity Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Heart Association, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society for Nutrition and the Endocrine Society have joined forces to develop an Obesity Medicine Physician Certification (OMPC) Examination. The certification is aimed to train and recognize doctors who are specialized in the management and  prevention of obesity and obesity-related health problems.

CVD wellness watch

Small Business Solutions – Chief Wellness Officer
60% of bankruptcies in the US in 2007 were supposedly related to health care costs. That is why corporate America is supposedly willing to embrace wellness at the workplace. In fact, the celebrity doctor said, companies should hire full-time CWOs or chief wellness officers.
However, if health care costs are badly affecting the bottom line, do you think employers will be firing/hiring people based on their health status? Do you think the smokers and the overweight will have lower chances in finding jobs?

CVD aging watch

Healthy Aging Month – AHRQ’s Checklists for 50+
In observance of the Healthy Aging Month, checklists for staying health at 50+ are now available at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website. There are checklists for 50+ men and 50+ women. And of course cardiovascular health is on top of the list. Check them out!

CVD baby watch

Baby’s mp3 heart monitor
Here’s a new type of fetal heart monitor that is simple and safe, yet effective. Called Baby’s MP3 Heart Monitor, the gadget is based on a 2-microphone system. One microphone is attached to the mother’s tummy to pick up the sound of the fetal heartbeat. The other is attached in another part of the body and records ambient and bodily noise. The noise is substracted from the fetal sound and the remaining sound is then analyzed for medical anomalies. The advantage of the device is that it can continually asses the fetal heartrate even outside the clinic. Unlike the ultrasound, the device is “passive”,  meaning no energy or radiation penetrates the womb.

CVD health care watch

Justice department announces largest health care fraud settlement in its history
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. has pledged  guilty to fraud in violation of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The case concerned the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra whose distribution and promotion supposedly violated the said act. The drug was pulled off the market in 2005. Pharmaci and its parent company Pfizer have agreed to be$ 2.3 billion, said to be the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice.