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Over the past week or so, the mainstream news media have crackled with the news of staph infections (including MRSA) found in community schools. Prompted by this, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) has filed a Read more...

All signs seem to suggest that California is poised to move ahead with substantial health system reforms, some of which hit providers in the pocketbook. However, the role of doctors in the proposed Read more...

> Ohio's medical association is calling for legislation that would require everyone in the state to buy health insurance. Read more...

> Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY, will spend $100 million over the next five years to beef up its clinical cancer care. Report

> NBC News examines online personal health records. Video

> Medicare Part D a boon for Pharma, managed care companies.  …

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In a bid to reduce hospital-acquired infections, Senator Richard T. Moore (D) of Massachusetts has filed legislation that would require all state hospitals to publicly report hospital-acquired infection rates as early as next year. According to the Boston Globe, the law calls for "mandatory education for healthcare workers and penalties for employees and facilities that don't comply with infection prevention measures, which health officials are developing." Regulators hope to …

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San Diego is considering a new system that would require ambulances to take patients experiencing serious heart attacks only to hospitals that have catheterization labs on site to insure that potentially-life saving treatment is given quickly. Currently, all but two of San Diego County's hospitals are failing to get patients into the cath lab within 90 minutes, which considered the standard by most experts.

"The way it is now, it's a free-for-all. Anybody goes anywhere, and …

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> It's hardly the same thing as the Wall Street Journal's editorial board taking a strong position, but columnist Dr. Benjamin Brewer's call for government run healthcare is raising eyebrows nonetheless. Article

> IBM Healthcare blog HealthNex is leading a community effort to develop a clinical informatics Wiki this week. Today's topic: Biobanking.  …

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> The Doctors Company says it is lowering malpractice insurance rates by 18 percent in Texas. The insurer says a 2003 state law that put caps on jury awards has "stabilized" the environment. Article

> Critics say "McMedicine" is dangerous. MinuteClinic says its on-site clinics at drug stores lighten the load on doctors and ERs. …

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Standard and Poors warned that a proposed Illinois law that would require not-for-profit hospitals to spend a fixed percentage of their operating costs on charity care would probably have a negative impact on hospital credit ratings if the legislation passes. The Tax-Exempt Hospital Responsibility Act is sponsored by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The Illinois Hospital Association has argued that the new law could put as many as 24 hospitals in the state out of business.

- see this article from Crain's Chicago Business

> In North Carolina, WakeMed comes up with an innovative solution to purchasing expensive imaging equipment. The hospital system has formed a limited liability company and is selling shares to doctors. Article

> Maryland became the latest state to weigh a bill that would require public reporting of hospital-acquired infections. …

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