Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA To Announce Guidelines for Early Stages of Drug Development
FDA as early as Thursday is expected to announce new guidelines for the early stages of drug development, including eased restrictions on the production of small batches of experimental drugs and modified regulations for the number of animal studies required before certain drugs are tested in humans, the Wall Street Journal reports.
New York Times Examines Diabetes in Four-Part Series
The New York Times this week published a four-part series that examined diabetes, “a global crisis” that is “emerging as the biggest health problem menacing New York City.”
California Healthline Highlights Recent Hospital News
Inglewood facility consolidates obstetrics services; Monterey County supervisors votes to consider options for Natividad Medical Center
Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments to Several State Boards, Offices
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday announced several appointments to state boards and offices, including two health-related positions.
Governors Proposing Health Care, Other Spending in 2006
Many state governments are finding themselves “[f]lush with cash” in early 2006, and state lawmakers “aiming to survive the 2006 elections … are eyeing voter-friendly ways to spend the extra cash” and “make states healthier in the long run,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Business Venture Raises Ethical, Legal Concerns for San Diego Doctors
Some medical experts say a business venture soliciting San Diego-area physicians to refer patients to an independent Canadian firm for prescription medications raises ethical and legal concerns, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
More Than Half of Extra Compensation for UC Employees Went to Hospital, Clinic Faculty, Audit Finds
More than half of $871 million in extra compensation the University of California paid to employees in the last fiscal year went to faculty at university hospitals and clinics, according to an analysis released this week by UC, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Increased Nurse Staffing Could Improve Patient Care
An increase in the proportion of registered nurses to patients could help save lives, decrease the length of hospitals stays and prevent more medical complications without an increase in cost, according to a study published in the January/February issue of Health Affairs, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Fewer Employers Cover Full Cost of Health Care Benefits
The number of U.S. employers that offer health benefits at no cost to employees decreased from 1998 to 2003, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Bloomberg/Houston Chronicle reports.
FDA Warns Against Confusion Over Foreign Drug Brand Names
FDA on Wednesday warned U.S. consumers and health care professionals that confusion over the brand names of prescription drugs purchased from other nations could prompt consumers to take improper medications, the Wall Street Journal reports.