Latest California Healthline Stories
Offering Syringes Along With Prayers, Churches Help IV Drug Users
Some churches and other faith-based organizations are offering clean syringes to IV drug users, while still others are voicing their support for comprehensive treatment, testing and education programs that also help stem transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.
Mumps Cases Spike, Raising Questions About Need For Vaccine Boosters
Mumps is back and is having its worst year in a decade, fueled in part by its spread on college campuses.
Latest Hospital Injury Penalties Include Crackdown On Antibiotic Resistant Germs
Medicare reduced payments to 769 hospitals in the program, punishing facilities that have high rates of patient injuries, including infections, blood clots, falls and bed sores. This year, federal officials also added the prevalence of two dangerous bacteria.
In Battle Against Ovarian Cancer, A New Focus on Fallopian Tubes
Removing them during already-planned hysterectomies poses little risk and can help prevent a deadly cancer, researchers find.
Aging And Addicted: The Opioid Epidemic Affects Older Adults, Too
Using opioids to treat pain in seniors has been common, and that has led some to dependence disorders in later life.
More Prisoners Die Of Old Age Behind Bars
New data show 4,980 inmate deaths in 2014, the most since counting began in 2001.
California Hospitals Improve Infection Rates But Threat Remains
Hospital-acquired infections kill 100,000 U.S. patients every year and cost $20 billion.
Women Doctors May be Better for Patients’ Health
Older patients who were treated in the hospital by women physicians were less likely to be die or be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, according to a new study.
Grilled About Deadly Superbug Outbreaks, Execs At Scope Maker Olympus Take Fifth
Lawyers who deposed top company officials in a civil case say they declined to answer questions about their failure to warn American hospitals of infection risks. Industry giant Olympus also is the subject of a criminal probe.
California Hopes $3 Billion Experiment Will Improve Health Of Neediest
Pilot projects are being launched in 18 counties to reduce ER visits among Medi-Cal’s most costly patients.