News From Around the Web
> Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT isn't associated with long-term distress among patients, according to an article in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. The authors, in looking at studies reporting on patient-centered outcomes, found that while low-dose CT screening may cause short-term anxiety, screening was not associated with health-related quality of life. In addition, any distress caused by false-positives decreased over time to levels similar to those of person who received negative results. Announcement
> New research suggests the use of ultrasound could possibly help detect autism spectrum disorder in utero, according to Medscape Medical News. Researchers found that children who went on to develop autism had greater head and abdominal sizes at around 20 weeks in the womb compared to other children. Article
> The United Kingdom has fewer MRI machines per capita than most developed countries, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That situation is reflected in waiting lists for MRI exams, the Daily Mail reports. Despite the fact that the National Health Services recommends no one should wait longer than six weeks for an MRI exam, in April almost 17,000 patients in the U.K. had been waiting longer than the NHS-recommended time. Article
Health IT News
> Lygeia Ricciardi, who since May 2012 has served as director of the Office of Consumer eHealth at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, will leave her post July 25, according to National Coordinator Karen DeSalvo. In a June 26 memo to ONC staffers emailed to FierceHealthIT, DeSalvo praised Ricciardi for "integrating the consumer perspective" into standards and policy-making efforts. Article
Health Finance News
> There is an often significant price difference between common procedures performed at hospitals versus at a physician's office or in outpatient surgery centers, according to two new studies. Article
And Finally... Town for sale. Article