News From Around the Web
> Computer-assisted and cell-based screening compounds helped researchers from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the University of Turku and the University of Eastern Finland discover a new anticancer compound, according to research published recently in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Announcement
> Health-related quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients improved when the patients participated in a pedometer-based walking program supported by Internet-based instructions, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Diego this past week. For the study, 238 veterans with COPD were recruited, 45 percent of whom lived in rural areas. Announcement
Provider News
> Emergency department use is up since the beginning of the year, when expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act took effect, according to a new survey from the American College of Emergency Physicians. Nearly half of emergency room doctors report an increase in visits since Jan. 1, according to the survey, while 86 percent expect visits to increase in the next three years. Article
> The role of the medical director is evolving, giving these individuals more responsibility for meeting quality-of-care metrics and leading organizational change. Evidence of this shift is found in a recent Medical Group Management Association survey, which reveals that 44 percent of responding medical directors said that their duties were tied to quality metrics. Article
Health Insurance News
> While it's rare to find companies in the business industry where women chair the boards, two of the biggest health insurers in Massachusetts have a Madam Chair. Overall, healthcare has seen an increase in female executives--half of hospital chief operating officers and a third of chief financial officers are women. Moreover, at Blue Cross Blue Shield and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care--both of which have female board chairs--women hold five of the 14 seats on the Blue Cross board and five of 12 for Harvard Pilgrim. Article
And Finally... Wow, that was easy. Article