> The Department of Health and Human Services said it will collect and monitor data on hospitals, clinics and doctors offices in the areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama struck by Hurricane Katrina. Article
> Dramatic evidence to support public smoking bans: A study that examined the effects of a ban in Pueblo, CO, restaurants and bars finds a sharp drop in heart attacks after only 18 months. Article
> The families of three patients at UCI Medical Center who died of liver failure have sued the hospital for not telling them of problems at its organ transplant program. Article
> Chutes & Ladders: Picis named former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to its board of directors. Release
> Scott Gottleib, FDA commissioner for medical and scientific affairs, said he will not take part in some meetings involving preparations for a possible avian flu pandemic due to conflicts involving his past consulting work. Article
> Children's Hospital of Milwaukee is among the hospitals experimenting with services that allow patients to blog about their experiences. Article
> Rite Aid said it will launch a pilot program to test in-store clinics at pharmacies in Portland, OR. The experiment will include personal health records for customers. Article
> Highmark said it will give a $26.5 million grant to the Pittsburgh Foundation to establish the Highmark e-Health Collaborative, an organization which will study the impact of e-prescribing and EMR systems. Release
> Orthopedic device-maker Encore Medical will acquire Compex Technologies, which manufactures electro-therapy devices for rehabilitation and pain management, for $109 million. Report
> Medical devices giant Philips released a new line of cardiac ultrasound and assessment devices and new portable defibrillators. Release
> Not to be outdone, rival devices giant GE has developed two new algorithms which can be used with its portable devices to predict whether a patient is at risk for sudden cardiac death. Release
And Finally... After more than 20 years, the number of "test-tube babies" is starting to decline. Report