Two NC regional health centers to receive grants, 6-6-12, WCNC/The Associated Press
The Associated Press reports that Vidant Health’s Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation and Ocracoke Health Center will receive Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants from the US Department of Agriculture.
NC Medical Board reacts after Rowan Co. doctor loses license, 6-6-12, WCNC
Reporter and News Anchor Amy Cowman writes that the North Carolina Medical Board announced that a Rowan County physician had his medical license revoked following accusations that he prescribed patients dangerous amounts of narcotics for the past six years.
Local doctor’s office closing, draws community concern, 6-6-12, WNCT
Digital Journalist Andrea Blanford reports that ECU’s Brody School of Medicine is closing Bethel Family Medicine due to financial hardships.
Seven nurse midwives lose physician supervision; expecting moms left looking for birthing care, 6-3-12, The News and Observer
Reporter Karen Garloch writes that seven nurse midwives abruptly closed their practices last week when Henry Dorn, MD, told them the North Carolina Medical Board will no longer allow him to oversee nurse midwives outside his own practice.
Doctors test new approach for stubborn hypertension, 5-28-12, Myrtle Beach Online/The Associated Press
Reporters Lauran Neergaard and Matthew Perrone write that several hospitals and scientists are testing a dramatically different approach to treat patients who are unable to regulate their blood pressure to safe levels.
New survey ranks safety at Charlotte-area hospitals, 6-6-12, WCNC/The Charlotte Observer
Reporter Karen Garloch writes that patients can now evaluate hospital safety by letter grades through the Hospital Safety Score, which has already graded 2,600 US hospitals, including those in Charlotte.
UNC trial targets drug-resistant breast cancer, 6-5-12, WRAL
WRAL reports that breast cancer patients who develop a resistance to cancer-fighting drugs could be helped by a new technique being pioneered by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers.
House rejects bill penalizing doctors for sex-selective abortions, 5-31-12, The Hill’s Floor Action Blog
Blog writer Pete Kasperowicz reports that the US House of Representatives rejected a Republican bill that would impose fines and prison terms on doctors who perform abortions for the sole purpose of controlling the gender of a child, a practice known as sex-selective abortion.
Quintiles deals give it access to patient data, 6-5-12, The News and Observer
Reporter David Ranii writes that Quintiles, a Durham-based clinical research organization, announced it has signed new licensing deals with medical practices and hospital systems that will give access to “de-identified” electronic medical records data involving a total of 40 million patients.
Sugar: The New Tobacco?, 6-5-12, Fox Charlotte
Reporter Audrina Bigos writes that Disney will no longer allow junk food ads to run on its children’s networks, radio stations and websites, adding to the latest health craze of cutting out sugary products.
NC DHHS kicks off annual Operation Fan/Heat Relief program, 6-7-12, WNCT
Reporter Phillip Sayblack reports that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) annual Operation Fan/Heat Relief program is officially in action across all one hundred North Carolina counties.
