Latest California Healthline Stories
Governor Supports Reopening of King-Harbor Hospital
In a statement released yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger pledged support for efforts by Los Angeles County to re-open Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital and said that he had asked UC officials to discuss a role for the university in re-opening the facility. Office of the Governor release.
CMS Takes Next Step on Pilot for Electronic Medical Records
Medicare officials announced the 12 areas that will participate in a project aimed at helping small physician practices adopt electronic health records. No California community was chosen to participate in the initiative, which is part of a larger effort to meet President Bush’s goal of giving most Americans access to EHRs by 2014. CQ Today et al.
Study Finds Information at End of Life Often Incomplete
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that doctors often provide inadequate information about treatment options to cancer patients in the end stages of the disease. USA Today.
Electronic Health Records Could Cut Costs, Boost Safety
“Studies show that doctors and hospitals with access to electronic records have significantly fewer deaths attributed to medical error,” according to an editorial. It adds that electronic health records are “one of the few medical cost-containment ideas that don’t involve rationing care.” San Jose Mercury News.
Prison Health Receiver Goes to Schwarzenegger With Funding Request
The receiver for California’s prison medical system is requesting that Gov. Schwarzenegger use his authority under a prison overcrowding emergency to provide $7 billion for new prison medical centers. The Senate has twice rejected the receiver’s funding plan. AP/Contra Costa Times et al.
Disparities Could Stem From Failure To Tailor Treatment
Physicians’ lack of attention to cultural differences among patients might contribute to racial health care disparities, according to a study published on Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study’s authors urged health care providers to learn more about minority communities to tackle these disparities. New York Times.
Field Poll Finds Wide Opposition to Budget Cuts for Health Care
A recent Field Poll found that 63% of voters said they would like to see the budget deficit closed mostly by cutting spending, but 81% also said the deficit will not be solved without a tax hike. Strong majorities of respondents said that health care funding should be preserved by raising taxes on alcohol and tobacco or by increasing taxes on high-income Californians. San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News.
UC-San Francisco Enters Deal for Drug, Biomedical Research With Pfizer
Pfizer intends to use the research collaborative with UC-San Francisco as a way to expand its drug pipeline, especially for biotechnology treatments. UCSF will hold the patent on any discoveries, but Pfizer will have a right to negotiate licenses. San Francisco Chronicle.
Kaiser, Microsoft Partner on Online Health Records Pilot
Yesterday, Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft announced a pilot project in which Kaiser employees will be able to link their health records with Microsoft’s Web-based personal health record service. Kaiser will consider expanding the program to its members by the end of the year, according to a health system official. San Francisco Chronicle.
Physician Diversion Program Set To End at End of Month
The Medical Board of California will scrap its mental health and substance abuse diversion program for California physicians at the end of this month. A coalition of physician groups is working on a replacement diversion program, but there likely will be a significant gap in services. Sacramento Business Journal.