EMR use inches up in physician offices; Maalox trouble spurs Novartis to rename, relabel;

> On Wednesday--the first anniversary of the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--Irvine, Calif.-based research firm SK&A published a report saying that 36.1 percent of physician offices have some form of electronic medical record. That's 3.2 percentage points greater than the 32.9 percent adoption rate reported in February 2009. FierceEMR

> FDA is keeping close watch on OTC drugs as well as prescription meds. The agency has ordered Novartis to rename and relabel one of its Maalox products, saying that the use of the Maalox name on meds with different active ingredients creates a health hazard. In the meantime, Novartis announced that it would publicize the differences between the two products. FiercePharma

> Some surgeons at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital in Racine, Wisc., have said they will not work with new nurse anesthetists who do not have medical degrees, despite officials at the facility claiming the practice is safe and a common one throughout the nation. Article

And Finally... Looks like the honeymoon period for this couple ended sooner than anyone could have predicted. Article