Latest California Healthline Stories
CDC Issues Guide on Averting Infections in Outpatient Care
On Wednesday, CDC released a set of recommendations on preventing infections in outpatient care settings. According to CDC, the guide endorses standardized precautions as the basis for avoiding the spread of infectious agents during patient care and offers links to more detailed background information and documents. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Tense Exchange Between Obama, Cantor Abruptly Ends Budget Meeting
A meeting to discuss the federal budget and debt limit ended yesterday after a heated exchange between President Obama and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Meanwhile, lawmakers are split over a GOP-sponsored “last-choice option” to resolve budget talks. Politico et al.
Sebelius Stands Up for Medicare Cost-Cutting Panel at House Hearing
During a House committee hearing yesterday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius defended the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was created by the federal health reform law to make recommendations to reduce Medicare spending growth. CQ HealthBeat et al.
UCSF Program Reduces Hospital Readmissions for Heart Failure Patients
UC-San Francisco says its Heart Failure Program has reduced certain hospital readmissions by nearly one-third. The program aims to help hospitals transition patients to their homes by emphasizing patient education and follow-up care. Fierce Healthcare, UCSF release.
Restaurants Roll Out Healthy Food Promotion Campaign
On Wednesday, the National Restaurant Association is scheduled to announce its Kids Live Well campaign, a nationwide initiative to promote healthy food options among 19 restaurant companies. Participating restaurants — which include Burger King, Chili’s, Denny’s, Friendly’s and IHOP — must offer a children’s meal that includes fewer than 600 calories, no soft drinks, and choices of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean proteins. Los Angeles Times, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Anthem, Google Partner To Encourage ED Alternatives
Anthem Blue Cross has partnered with Google to launch the California ER Alternative Finder, an online mapping tool that provides users with locations of urgent care centers and retail health clinics. The goal of the system is to discourage use of costly emergency department care for treatment of non-emergency conditions. The program lets users input addresses or ZIP codes through Google Maps to find nearby health care providers and also features automated calls to patients whose ED visits potentially were unnecessary. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Company.”
Opinion: Cuts to Physician Training Would Affect Care
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are considering reducing Medicare reimbursements for physician training, which “could dramatically limit the ability of patients to see physicians, even for critical illnesses,” Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and Edward Miller, dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, write in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. Pardes and Miller write that “Congress must increase the number of doctors hospitals can train and not reduce the funding available for the training. The short-term budgetary savings of graduate medical education cuts are not worth the long-term negative impact on patients.” Wall Street Journal.
Survey: More Than 99% of Hospitals Report Recent Drug Shortages
A survey by the American Hospital Association finds that more than 99% of hospitals reported drug shortages during the past six months. According to AHA, the shortages have led facilities to delay treatments or administer less-effective medications. Wall Street Journal et al.
Democrat Janice Hahn Wins California Congressional Seat
On Tuesday, Janice Hahn — a Democratic Los Angeles city council member — defeated GOP businessman Craig Huey for California’s 36th congressional district seat. Hahn secured 55% of the vote to Huey’s 45%, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. The seat was vacated by Rep. Jane Harman, who retired in February to lead a think tank. Hahn said one of the issues she will focus on will be ensuring veterans receive medical benefits. Torrance Daily Breeze et al.
Two San Francisco Hospitals Report Cases of C. Difficile
Two San Francisco hospitals — California Pacific Medical Center and San Francisco General Hospital — recently reported outbreaks of Clostridium difficile, a drug-resistant bacterial infection that typically affects patients receiving antibiotics. CPMC has relocated patients with the infection and disinfected patient rooms. San Francisco General Hospital is encouraging health care providers and visitors to wear gloves when seeing patients and is considering stricter guidelines on the prescription of antibiotics. San Francisco Examiner.