Muscle mass should be a new vital sign, study says
Just as clinicians check patients’ vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature, they should be checking muscle mass as a key factor in evaluating health status, especially if a person is living with a chronic disease, according to a new study.
The review, published in Annals of Medicine, said people with less muscle had more surgical and postoperative complications, longer hospital stays, lower physical function, poorer quality of life and overall shorter survival. "Muscle mass should be looked at as a new vital sign," said Carla Prado, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Alberta and principal author of the paper. (Annals of Medicine study)
Tennesee health system plans to close two hospitals
Tennova Healthcare plans to close two of its hospitals by the end of the year, it was announced Thursday.
Those hospitals, Physicians Regional and Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, will cease operations on Dec. 28, officials said. Already, Tennova had reduced services at the two facilities earlier this year. The health system has said it is seeking to consolidate services in the region. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
University of Maryland Medical Center receives $25M gift
The University of Maryland Medical Center received a $25 million donation from a Baltimore auto dealer to help fund a new cancer building.
The gift, which is the largest in the health center's history, will go toward the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and accommodating massive growth in that region, officials said. (The Baltimore Sun)
Chicago research group finds most Americans believe sexual assault a widespread problem
Nearly two out of every three Americans believe sexual assault is a widespread problem in society, according to a new AmeriSpeak Spotlight on Health Survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.
The survey was conducted in mid-October following coverage of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation which prompted many women to share their own stories of sexual assault. According to the survey, 39% indicated they have changed their view and now say sexual assault is more common than they previously thought. (Survey)