US health care: It’s officially a mess, institute says, 9-6-12, NBC News
Reporter Maggie Fox writes that a report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) finds that the US health care system wasted $750 billion in 2009, about 30 percent of all health spending, on unnecessary services, excessive administrative costs, fraud, and other problems.
Politics a Path to Health Reform for ‘Doc’ Delegates, 9-5-12, MedPage Today
Washington Correspondent David Pittman reports that many doctors become involved in local politics to foster change in care offered to patients.
Studying healthcare, 9-4-12, WBRC
Writer Cecelia Hanley reports that University of North Carolina Charlotte professors who teach health communications surveyed the DNC in regards to the perceptions of women’s health care.
$18.5 million grant to develop self-powered health devices, 9-7-12, Energy Harvesting Journal
The Energy Harvesting Journal reports that Penn State, North Carolina State University, the University of Virginia, and Florida International University will collaborate on a national nanotechnology research effort to create self-powered devices to help people monitor and understand how the surrounding environment affects their health.
NC recoups nearly $32 million as part of GSK fraud settlement, 9-7-12, The News and Observer/Associated Press
The Associated Press reports that North Carolina recovered nearly $32 million from drug maker GlaxoSmithKline as part of the largest health care fraud settlement in US history.
Novant Health to appeal ruling on Wake County facility, 9-5-12, Triangle Business Journal
Writer Jason deBruyn reports that Novant Health will likely appeal the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (NC DHHS) decision to deny their request to build a 50-bed hospital in Holly Springs.
West Nile cases spike in NC, nationwide, 9-5-12, The Daily Tarheel
Reporter Kathryn Trogdon writes that according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), North Carolina has only reported five cases of the virus in 2012 so far, two resulting in death. Texas has reporter over 1,000 cases with 40 resulting in death.
Mission Health Heart Services recognized nationally, 9-6-12, Mountain Xpress
Reporter Caitlin Byrd writes that Mission Health’s Heart Services is one of 164 hospitals to receive the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) ACTION Registry – Get with the Guidelines (GWTC) Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2012.
NC Eye Bank helps restore sight to people around the world, 9-2-12, Winston-Salem Journal
Writer Richard Craver reports that the North Carolina Eye Bank Inc., provides corneas for more than 3,000 transplants, with additional tissues being provided for research and training.
Bubonic plague in Colorado: 7-year-old contracts disease while camping, 9-6-12, Alaska Dispatch
Writer Allison Jackson reports that a seven-year-old girl contracted the bubonic plague during a family camping trip in southwest Colorado, which is the first confirmed case of the deadly disease in Colorado since 2006.
