NIH recalls furloughed workers to reopen clinical trials registration website; Philips, Accenture to collaborate on Google Glass product;

New From Around the Web

> The National Institutes of Health received permission Thursday to recall a small number of furloughed employees to reopen its clinical trials registration website, which had been closed due to the government shutdown, the Boston Globe reported. The news means that patients in search of experimental treatments in new clinical trials won't be delayed from joining such studies. Article

> Philips and Accenture are partnering to develop a Google Glass patient data delivery proof-of-concept, MedCity News reported. The product being worked on, according to Philips, would enable a doctor to monitor a patient's vital signs during a surgical procedure without turning away from that patient. Article

Provider News

> California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) this week signed a bill declaring that pharmacists are healthcare providers and authorizing them to provide further services, according to a statement released by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). Senate Bill 493 addresses such services as preventative care, chronic disease management, medication therapy management, immunization delivery and wellness screenings. Article

> The National Labor Relations Board has charged UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) with harassing and intimidating workers who are trying to form a union at several of its hospitals, the Pittsburgh Business Times reports. In addition, it claims the hospital network fired four workers for their union-organizing efforts. Post

Health Finance News

> The vast majority of healthcare executives plan to pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by the end of the year, according to a recent survey from GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services. Eighty-eight percent of the 223 senior healthcare executives surveyed said M&A are on the horizon, while 43 percent reported they will pursue refinancing and 36 percent anticipated recapitalization as part of their growth strategies, the survey found. Article

And Finally... I'll bet he never forgets to flush the toilet again. Article