> More than 3 million Americans went to the hospital ED for headaches, according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Hospital treatment for those patients seeking relief from headaches cost $408 million in 2008. Report (.pdf)
> Many dialysis patients have low health literacy and may not understand important medical information, concludes a study to be published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The researchers are conducting further analysis to determine if low health literacy affects how patients adhere to dialysis treatment, whether they undergo kidney transplantation, and whether they die prematurely, notes Renal & Urolgy News. Article
> The House of Representatives passed a bill to block mandatory funding for school-based health center construction that was included in health reform. The bill moves on to the Senate for debate and a vote. Press Release
> A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that 30 percent of drugs are approved and released for use without any comparative data. This hurts a doctor's ability to make the best treatment decisions, note researchers. Study abstract
> Hospitals and doctors need to become successful collaborators, advises PricewaterhouseCoopers. And in order to do that, both parties must create a structure with "fair market value compensation and clear governance that has both equitable and fair physician representation," reports Healthcare Finance News. Article
And Finally... When sleeping on the job will help you do your job better. Article