Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Benefits Of Grapefruit

Outcome Of Children Born After Fertility Treatment, Embryo Freezing: Two Studies
Study 1 Twins born as a result of assisted reproductive technology (ART) are more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care and to be hospitalised in their first three years of life than spontaneously conceived twins, according to new research published online in Human Reproduction [1].
generic viagra online
Obama Says He Supports 'Robust' Protections For Health Workers With Moral, Religious Objections
President Obama on Friday said that although he intends to reverse the Bush administration"s provider "conscience" rule, he still favors a "robust" federal policy that would enhance the rights of health care workers to refuse to perform certain procedures because of moral or religious objections, the Washington Post reports. In a session with reporters one week before his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, Obama said that he is a "believer in conscience clauses." He added that a new policy from his administration "may not meet the criteria of every possible critic of our approach, but it certainly will not be weaker than what existed before the changes were made." According to the Post, Obama"s comments aimed to reassure Roman Catholic health care workers that they would still be able to refuse to perform abortions and other procedures that go against the Church"s teachings. Several federal laws in place since the 1970s protect the rights of health care workers with moral or religious objections (Salmon, Washington Post, 7/3). Nancy Berlinger, deputy director of the Hastings Center, said that conscience laws also "are on the books in almost every state." She added, "The idea was that when abortion moved from being an illegal procedure, therefore something that you did not offer in a hospital, to being a legal procedure, therefore something that you might offer in a hospital, there was a move to protect providers ... from having to participate in abortions." However, not all conscience laws are specific to abortion, NPR"s "Morning Edition" reports. For example, some allow providers to refuse to provide birth control, in vitro fertilization or end-of-life care (Rovner, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/6).The Bush administration said its 2008 policy was designed to ensure that the federal laws are enforced. The policy would cut off federal funding to health care facilities and other entities that did not accommodate workers who refused to participate in certain procedures (Washington Post, 7/3). Joxel Garcia, the assistant secretary for health in the Bush administration who helped write the policy, said that it is necessary because few health care workers are aware of the protections. He added that the policy gives health workers "a mechanism to seek help" through HHS.However, critics of the Bush administration"s policy contend that it would widely expand the scope of health care covered by the policy and the type of health care workers who could object to procedures. Berlinger said, "Words like belief, when you talk about them in the context of health care, aren"t just anything you might think of." She noted that a "false belief about science or the promotion of ambiguity where things can be disambiguated," such as the claim that birth control is equivalent to abortion, "is not ethical" ("Morning Edition," NPR, 7/6).Obama"s plan to replace the policy has stoked concern from Catholic health care providers that they would be forced to perform abortions, sterilizations and other procedures that go against Catholic teachings (Washington Post, 7/3). A recent survey conducted for the Christian Medical Association found that 90% of doctors surveyed said that "they will quit their practices before violating their conscience," according to David Stevens, executive director of CMA. Stevens said that repealing the Bush administration"s rule "sends a clear message: It"s open season on health care professionals of conscience -- discriminate at will" ("Morning Edition," NPR, 7/6).Obama on Friday also said that although he and the pope have areas of "deep agreement ... there are going to be some areas where we"ve got some disagreements," such as abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. The president will meet with the pope on July 10, while he is in Europe for a summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations. Obama Addresses Catholic Concerns on Pregnancy PreventionObama also discussed opposition to the inclusion of comprehensive sex education and contraception in any legislative pac
News of the day
RISPERDAL CONSTA (risperidone) Long-Acting Treatment May Improve Health Outcomes And Reduce Hospitalizations In Patients With Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling diseases, and frequent relapses and rehospitalization as a result of the disease place enormous burdens on patients, caregivers and society. According to two new studies, the use of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) Long-Acting Treatment (RLAT) may improve clinical and functional outcomes and reduce rates of rehospitalization among patients with schizophrenia. Results of the studies were presented this week at a major medical meeting.
Mental Health

American Cancer Society To Recognize Corporate Employers Changing The Course Of The Cancer Fight

The American Cancer Society - the nation"s leading voluntary health organization and largest non-governmental funder of cancer research and discovery - will present its Corporate Impact Awards June 19 during the Society-hosted Corporate Impact Conference in Chicago. The awards will recognize companies" engagement in targeted efforts to significantly impact cancer"s effect on the workplace, where disease-related expenditures and lost productivity costs annually surpass $228 billion; in contributing funds to the American Cancer Society to fight the disease; and in addressing responsible community involvement. The following five companies will be honored with the 2009 Corporate Impact Awards for their leadership in addressing cancer in the workplace, improving the health of their workforces, and encouraging employee engagement in the fight against the disease: Walgreens (award of excellence), Abbott (employee giving), Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (employee engagement), Archer Daniels Midland (tobacco control), and GE Energy (cancer control). "These five companies have distinguished themselves in aligning with the American Cancer Society"s mission of saving lives. With their commitment to lessening the effect of cancer on their workforces, improving workplace productivity and investing in the fight against cancer through contributions and responsible investment in their communities, these companies are substantially invested in changing the course of cancer," said American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John R. Seffrin, Ph.D. "The commitment these companies have made toward reducing the cancer burden will help us to achieve our vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays." Walgreens will receive the Corporate Impact: Award of Excellence - the award of distinction among the five presented - for its leadership in corporate and employee giving, customer engagement and volunteerism. Walgreens demonstrates a significant commitment to employee health and wellness benefits, policies, programs and promotion. Its leadership has been paramount in the founding of the American Cancer Society"s CEOs Against Cancer, which works with the Society to provide businesses with information about cancer-related programs and services as well as initiatives that promote healthy employee lifestyles. Walgreens encourages healthy employee behavior through its smoke-free worksites and by making available the American Cancer Society Quitline, through which employees may obtain counseling to help with their tobacco cessation attempt. Company employees receive access to cancer screenings that provide opportunities for early detection, and any employee diagnosed with cancer also receives access to quality treatment and clinical trials, if applicable. The company encourages its employees to volunteer for numerous Society fundraising initiatives, including the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®, where more than 600 teams now participate nationwide. Walgreens includes the Society as a highlighted strategic employee giving choice within the company"s "Charity Choice Campaign." Additionally, Walgreens is active in a variety of initiatives that directly connect the company and its customers with the opportunities for involvement with the American Cancer Society. The Corporate Impact: Employee Giving Award will be presented to Abbott for its leadership in providing an integrated giving platform that empowers employee choice, enabled by the company"s comprehensive support, marketing and measurement program to encourage employee giving and to recognize them for their generosity. Abbott also incorporates best practices to drive charity giving and campaign growth, which now involves 75 percent of employees. Over the last five years, employee giving to the American Cancer Society has increased by 160 percent. Abbott also provides multi-level access to American Cancer Society information regarding its mission and numerous patient/caregiver services. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., will receive the Corporate Impact: Employee Engagement Award for its work in developing substantial employee volunteerism with a number of American Cancer Society initiatives, including Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The award also addresses how Wal-Mart"s corporate culture supports and encourages volunteerism through activities that unite the company, employees and retirees in ways that integrate with the company"s overall goals for corporate philanthropy and corporate citizenship. Wal-Mart also enables employees to help determine where its corporate contributions are channeled, based upon eligible organizations for which employees volunteer. The Corporate Impact: Excellence in Tobacco Control Award will be presented to Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) for its implementation of a global smoke-free worksite policy and its offering of cost-free, domestic employee access to Quitline. The company hosts an annual summit for all ADM human res vendors, including the American Cancer Society, to address service offerings and vendor cross promotion. All ADM employees complete a Health Risk Assessment and partner with a health coach to address specific actions, including tobacco cessation. Many ADM locations offer fitness facilities and other health maintenance options for employees. Additionally, ADM provides health benefits to its independent contractors, with Quitline access under consideration. GE Energy will receive the Corporate Impact: Excellence in Cancer Control Award, for its effectiveness in providing employees with information about the health benefits of four cancer prevention behaviors: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco and cancer screening. The company offers its employees a variety of physical fitness options, including onsite fitness centers and employee reimbursement for use of offsite facilities, as well as programs that track employee progress; healthy food choices for onsite dining and a free weight reduction program offering; a smoke-free environment in all buildings and free access to Quitline; and cost incentives for employees to engage in cancer screenings, ranging from no out-of-pocket expense to capped expense, dependent upon the employee choice of GE Energy health insurance plans. American Cancer Society


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009