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 March 1, 2010 | PAINKILLERS COULD INCREASE RISK OF HEARING LOSS - According to a new study published in the American Journal of Medicine, regularly taking aspirin, acetaminophen or other over-the-counter painkillers may increase the risk of hearing loss in men under age 60. The study involved researching 26,000 men every two years for 18 years. Men who regularly took aspirin and were within 50 to 59 years of age were 33 percent more likely to have hearing loss than those who didn't take it often. Men who regularly took aspirin that were under age 50, were found to be 32 percent more likely to develop hearing loss. Men who were 60 or older were 16 percent more likely to develop hearing loss. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 25, 2010 | RITUXAN APPROVED TO TREAT CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
- Rituxan (rituximab) has been approved by the FDA to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow cancer. Rituxan, an anti-cancer drug, is intended for patients with CLL who are beginning chemotherapy for the first time and for those who have not responded to other cancer drugs for CLL. Rituxan is administered with two other chemotherapy drugs, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. CLL primarily affects people older than 50 and arises from a group of white blood cells known as B-cells—part of the body’s immune system. Each year, about 16,000 people are diagnosed with and 4,400 die from CLL.
“Rituxan is the third drug approved for the treatment of CLL since 2008 and underscores FDA’s commitment to expediting the development and approval of drugs for patients with serious and life-threatening diseases,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director, Office of Oncology Drug Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
FDA approved Arzerra (ofatumumab) in October 2009 for patients whose cancer is no longer being controlled by other forms of chemotherapy and Treanda (bendamustine) in March 2008 for patients with CLL who had not received prior treatment. Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody. It is manufactured through biotechnology methods rather than by the human body’s own immune system. The drug binds to the surface of cancer cells, making it easier for the patient’s immune system to attack the cancer cell as if it were a foreign pathogen. The safety and effectiveness of Rituxan was evaluated in two studies that measured progression-free survival, defined as the time a patient in the study lived without the cancer progressing.
In one study of 817 patients who had not received any prior chemotherapy, progression-free survival was eight months longer for those receiving Rituxan plus chemotherapy than for those who received chemotherapy alone. In another study of 522 persons whose cancer had progressed following other chemotherapy drugs, progression-free survival was five months longer for those who received Rituxan plus chemotherapy.
The FDA analyzed the data on patients 70 years of age and older who had received Rituxan and found no evidence that adding the drug to chemotherapy benefitted elderly patients compared to receiving chemotherapy alone. However, there was also no evidence that Rituxan was harmful to elderly patients.
Rituxan carries a Boxed Warning for infusion reactions, which can occur during infusion or within 24 hours afterwards. Some 59 percent of patients treated with Rituxan for CLL experienced an infusion reaction that resembled an allergic reaction (e.g., hives, low blood pressure, chills, fever, and nausea). A decrease in infection-fighting, normal white blood cells was also commonly observed in patients enrolled in the Rituxan clinical trials. Other Boxed Warnings for Rituxan include rashes and sores in the skin and mouth; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a brain infection that is generally fatal; and tumor lysis syndrome, which results from the death of a large number of tumor cells in a short period of time. When the tumor cells are killed by the drug, they release toxins into the bloodstream that can cause acute kidney injury and increase the levels of potassium and phosphate in the blood.
Rituxan is manufactured by San Francisco based-Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 23, 2010 | OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE REFORM MODIFICATIONS - On Monday, Obama announced his healthcare reform proposal. The following are some key modifications:
Managed Care - a "Health Insurance Rate Authority" will allow the government ot review health-plan rate increases. Delay until 2014 the Senate's proposed $67 billion assessment (over 10 years) on health-insurance providers.
Medicare Advantage - A compromise between the House and Senate bills, while providing a greater certainty of cost savings by linking to current fee-for-service costs.
Medicare Part D - Phase down coinsurance to 25% by 2020 throughout the gap.
Coverage Requirements - Improves healthcare affordability by increasing tax credits and improving cost-sharing assistance for individuals and families. No public plan and no employer mandate.
Cadillac Plans - Delays implementation of excise tax on high-cost insurance plans from 2013 to 2018. Also raises the threshold that defines a Cadillac plan (from $8,500 to $10,200 for individuals and from $23,000 to $27,500 for families).
Generic Drugs - Provision preventing branded-drug manufacturers from compensating generic-drug manufacturers to delay the introduction of generic drugs.
Branded Drugs - Raise the Senate's $23 billion assessment on the drug industry (over 10 years) by $10 billion and delays implementation by one year to 2011.
Medicaid - Expand Medicaid by creating a nationwide Medicaid-eligibility floor at 133% of the Federal poverty level and provides financial support to the states to establish this threshold. It replaces the Senate's variable state-support structure to a standard 100% Federal support level from 2014 to 2017, declining to 95% in 2018 and 2019, and down to 90% in 2020 plus.
Medical Device - Replaces the device fee with an excise tax beginning in 2013 (same revenue projection of $20 billion). (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 22, 2010 | OBAMA PROPOSES GOVERNMENT POWER TO BLOCK EXCESSIVE RATES - As a effort to save his health care overhaul, Obama put forward a nearly nearly $1 trillion, 10-year compromise that would allow the government to deny or roll back egregious insurance premium increases that infuriated consumers. The plan would provide coverage to more than 31 million Americans now uninsured without adding to the federal deficit. The new White House plan would give the federal government the power to regulate the health insurance industry much like a public utility. The Health and Human Services Department in conjunction with state authorities to block excessive rate increases by health insurance companies. It woud set up a seven-member Health Insurance Rate Authority to monitor insurance industry practices and issue an annual report. States that beef up their consumer protection programs would be eligible for a share of $250 million in federal grants. This plan has wonderful timing - it comes just four days before Obama's televised health care summit with Democrats and Republicans. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 15, 2010 | CHOCOLATE COULD LOWER RISK OF STROKE - Good news for all us chocolate lovers: a Canadian study shows that one chocolate bar a week could reduce the risk of having a stroke. Several studies have been conducted, and one involving 44,000 individuals found that those with moderate amounts of chocolate intake were 22 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not eat chocolate. Still more evidence needs to be gathered since the direct relationship between cocoa and the risk of stroke has yet to be found. Chocolate does contain saturated fats, so be cautious on the amount of intake. If you are looking for a healthier option, you may want to try dark chocolate. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 12, 2010 | HOSPITALS INCREASING NURSE RATIO TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE & WORKING CONDITIONS - The biggest expense for a hospital is usually is labor, and the largest labor expense is for nurses. Therefore, to reduce costs, Tufts Medical Center states that they will be able to save around $3 million annually by increasing the nurse to patient ratio. The reason behind this move is not primarily due to cost - they state that they want to improve care and working conditions for nurses. In order to make this possible, they are having to free the nurses up from unskilled jobs. The hospital is hiring 35 technicians to transport patients, image testing, tracking down meals, and other unskilled tasks.
Many nurses are not taking the news well. Requiring nurses to care for so many patients who are in such ill health can be dangerous. The Massachusetts Nurses Association organized a protest at Boston Medical Center yesterday, which plans to increase the number of patients assigned to some nurses from two to three. Karen Nelson, a nurse and senior vice president of clinical affairs for the Massachusetts Hospital Association, said the deciding factor will be whether the hospital is able to maintain good results for patients. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 12, 2010 | UCONN LOOKS AT UPDATING JOHN DEMPSEY HOSPITAL - The University of Connecticut is looking at updating John Dempsey Hospital. The hospital has recently been having multimillion-dollar deficits. University President Michael Hogan and Vice President for Health Affairs Cato Laurencin feel that the hospital is too small and outdated to be financially viable. They offered several recommendations, such as updating John Dempsey Hospital and adding new clinical space, creating a downtown campus to collaborate with other area hospitals, transfer Dempsey's NICU to the children's hospital, and increasing the size of medical school class. The health center board of directors will be meeting soon to try an establish an effective long term solution for John Dempsey Hospital. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 10, 2010 | HONG KONG WEIGHT LOSS PLAN INVOLVES WORMS - According to Hong Kong health officials, Chinese websites are offering a weight-loss plan that contains the eggs of the Ascaris worm, which can live in humans. These worms can grow to be 15 inches long and can lay up to 200,000 eggs! This is a parasite that will definitely make you sick and depressed, and it is also potentially fatal. To treat the infestation, medication can be used to kill the parasite and the worms could also possibly require being surgically removed. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 9, 2010 | WORLD FAMOUS DESIGNER MAKEOVERS THE TRADITIONAL HOSPITAL GOWN - The traditional hospital gown is getting a makeover by one of the world's top designers. Ben de Lisi, a designer for stars such as Kate Winslet, has created a "aspirational" new design to preserve patient's modesty. The Design Council will unveil the design next month and the designer gowns would be introduced into NHS hospitals in England by early 2011. The gown is made from beautiful cotton shirting, which feels very smooth and cool. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 8, 2010 | STUDY LINKS SUGARY SOFT DRINKS TO PANCREATIC CANCER - Soft drink lovers be cautioned: according to a study of 60,000 people in Singapore, people who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a 87 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer. High levels of sugar in soft drinks cause the level of insulin to rise in the body; however, it is more likely thought that the cause of a higher risk is due to the fact that people who drink sweetened sodas regularly have other unhealthy habits. Other past studies have found that pancreatic cancer may be linked to red meat and burned or charred meat. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and the American Cancer Society reports that the survival rate is about 5 percent. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 3, 2010 | IBM BUYS HEALTHCARE SOFTWARE COMPANY - IBM Corp. announced today that it is buying Initiate Systems, a software company for the health care industry. Initiate Systems helps clients such as CVS/Caremark, government health agencies, and hospital networks organize and manage data across computer systems. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 3, 2010 | NEW HAND DRUG REPLACES THE NEED FOR SURGERY - Great news: Dupuytren's contracture, a connective tissue disease of the hands, will soon be treatable without surgery! Auxilium Pharmaceuticals' drug called Xiaflex has been approved by the FDA. The drug can be injected by a healthcare professional into the patient’s hand where the “cord” or thick tissue can be felt. Side effects include potential tendon or ligament damage, nerve injuries, and allergic reactions resulting in hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, or chest pain. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 1, 2010 | SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH HIV DRUG - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on January 29 that non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, a rare, but serious, liver disorder, has been reported in some HIV patients taking Videx/Videx EC (didanosine). Videx is an antiretroviral medicine first approved by the FDA in 1991. Videx EC is a delayed-release version of Videx approved in 2000. Videx/Videx EC is used in combination with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV infection in children and adults.
During an 18-year period, 42 cases of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension were reported to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System for patients taking Videx/Videx EC. Four patients died from bleeding or liver failure after developing the condition. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension occurs when blood flow in the portal vein – a major vein in the liver – slows down and leads to severely enlarged veins in the esophagus. These enlarged veins, called esophageal varices, are thin and can break open, resulting in serious, and potentially fatal, bleeding.
The Videx and Videx EC product labels have been revised to help ensure that health care professionals and patients are aware of the risk and the signs and symptoms of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The FDA evaluation concluded that the clinical benefits of Videx/Videx EC in certain patients with HIV continue to outweigh potential safety risks. Videx/Videx EC does not cure HIV infection, may not prevent development of HIV-related illnesses, and may not prevent the spread of HIV to other people (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| February 1, 2010 | OBAMA'S 2011 BUDGET FOR GLOBAL-HEALTH FUNDING - In the fiscal 2011 budget, the Obama administration has proposed a 9% increase in funding for global health needs. Such needs include fighting against preventable diseases and reducing deaths among women and children. The budget request totals $9.6 billion, while the fiscal budget for 2010 was $8.8 billion. Other goals include more treatment for HIV/AIDS and reducing malaria. It also includes the elimination or partial elimination of leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocersiasis - all which are neglected tropical diseases. In order to strengthen health systems, they are aiming to integrate health efforts, which they feel is key in order to achieve such goals. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 28, 2010 | OBAMA REVISITS HEALTHCARE - With his focus on jobs and economy, Obama's State of the Union address barely touched on healthcare reform. However, he did ask Congress to not walk away from reform. Instead, to "come together and finish the job for the American people." He also challenged members of Congress to bring up an alternative, and House Minority Leader John Boehner then suggested listing to GOP for health care reform. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 26, 2010 | JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S NAVISTAR THERMOCOOL A SUCCESS FOR IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS - A study reports that Johnson & Johnson's Navistar ThermoCool catheter was more effective in controlling irregular heartbeats than drugs. With Johnson & Johnson's device, 66 percent of patients were free of irregular heart beats. Only 16 percent of patients treated with drugs were free of irregular heart beats. Johnson & Johnson's Navistar ThermoCool catheter burns away heart tissue to block the electrical pulses causing the irregular beats and can cause blood clots and strokes. The new findings show that Johnson & Johnson's product is the best alterative for those who have not had success with the drug. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 25, 2010 | FIRST HEART VALVE NOT REQUIRING OPEN-HEART SURGERY - The Medtronic Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve and Ensemble Delivery System is the first heart valve to be implanted through a catheter, or tube, in a leg vein and guided up to the heart. This new approach to the treatment of adults and children with previously implanted, poorly functioning pulmonary valve conduits can delay the need for open-heart surgery.
Conduits are surgically implanted valves used to treat congenital heart defects of the pulmonary valve. Patients with congenital heart defects have narrowed, leaky, or missing pulmonary valves that impede the proper flow of blood from the heart’s right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, which then sends the blood on to the lungs for oxygenation. Conduits can have a limited lifespan and often require replacement. The Melody is intended to provide another option to conduit replacement.
"The FDA's approval of Melody allows patients to undergo a much less invasive procedure to treat their heart condition," said Jeffrey Shuren, J.D., M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "Congenital heart defects represent the number one birth defect worldwide and this approval represents a new, first-of-a-kind treatment option for some of those patients."
Like other valves, the Melody does not cure the heart condition and over time, the Melody may wear and require replacement. However, it is implanted without open heart surgery, can prop open the poorly functioning conduit, and can keep blood flowing in the proper direction because of the tissue valve in the Melody. These characteristics will allow a patient’s conduit to function longer than usual, which can delay the need for more invasive open-heart surgery.
Approval of the Melody valve should be especially beneficial to pediatric patients with right-sided valvular heart disease who may face several surgeries over their lifetimes.
Clinical studies of 99 participants in the United States and 68 participants in Europe showed that the device improved function of the heart, and the majority of participants have noted improvements in their clinical symptoms. The device showed similar, limited durability compared with existing alternative treatments; 21 percent of U.S. participants experienced a stent fracture, a rate consistent with stent fractures reported for the bare metal stents presently used to treat congenital heart defects of the pulmonary valve.
As a condition of the FDA’s approval, the system’s manufacturer, Medtronic Inc. of Minneapolis, will conduct two post-approval studies to assess long-term risks and benefits as well as to evaluate the physician specialization needed to perform the implantation procedure, also called generalizability. One study will continue to follow 150 participants from the initial clinical trial for five years, and the second study will enroll more than 100 new participants to be evaluated over five years, in order to evaluate and assess the training program. Safety and benefit assessments will be part of both studies. The FDA also requires that Medtronic maintain a database of Melody recipients.
The FDA approved the Melody under the Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) program, which supports the development of medical devices intended to benefit patients in the treatment or diagnosis of diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 4,000 people in the United States per year. Under an HDE, the FDA can approve a device for limited use if there is a reasonable assurance that the device is safe and if the probable benefit to health outweighs the risk of injury or illness. Such products can only be used at medical institutions with an overseeing Institutional Review Board.
Manufacturers of most HDE devices are prohibited from selling their device for an amount that exceeds the costs of research and development, fabrication and distribution of the device. However, this prohibition does not apply to an agency-specified number of Melody devices sold each year and intended for the treatment or diagnosis of a disease or condition that occurs in pediatric patients, due to a provision in the Pediatric medical Device Safety and Improvement Act of 2007. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 22, 2010 | AMPYRA FOUND TO IMPROVE WALKING IN ADULTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS - Ampyra (dalfampridine) extended release tablets were approved today by the FDA to help improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In clinical trials, patients treated with Ampyra had faster walking speeds than those treated with an inactive pill (placebo). This is the first drug approved for this use.
MS is a chronic, often disabling, disease that affects the central nervous system—the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. There are about 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people world-wide with MS.
The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Symptoms can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. About half of all people with MS experience cognitive impairments like difficulties in concentration, attention, memory, and judgment, although these symptoms are usually mild and are frequently overlooked. Depression also is common among MS patients.
“Trouble with walking is one of the most debilitating problems people with MS face,” said Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Ampyra, when given at doses greater than that recommended (10 milligrams twice a day), can cause seizures. The most common adverse reactions reported by patients taking Ampyra in clinical trials include urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, back pain, balance disorder, swelling in the nose or throat, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, throat pain, and burning, tingling or itching of skin.
Ampyra should not be used in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease. In these patients, blood levels with the drug approach those associated with the occurrence of seizures.
Ampyra will be manufactured under licenses from Elan of Dublin, Ireland, and distributed by Acorda Therapeutics Inc. of Hawthorne, N.Y. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 20, 2010 | HEALTH CARE REFORM & THE MASSACHUSETTS VOTE - Yesterday, the Massachusetts vote went to Republican Scott Brown to the Senate taking over the seat previously held by Edward Kennedy. A Republican polling firm conducted an exit poll and found out that the most important factor to Brown's win seems to be his opposition to congressional health care legislation. A small band of single-payer supporters have tried to inform elected officials for months now that the state's much hailed heath reform law was not working - stating insurance premiums that residents are required to buy are too high and unaffordable. In addition, small businesses were struggling with facing increases of 20 to 45 percent. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 18, 2010 | HOSPITAL STOPS HIRING TOBACCO USERS - Due to the hospital's commitment to health, Chattanooga hospital in Tennessee has decided to stop hiring tobacco users. Testing for nicotine will be added to the drug screen. Any applicants who test positive for nicotine will be disqualified for employment - even if it is due to nicotine gum or a patch. The new rule will not affect the current employees of Memorial. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 11, 2010 | NEW DRUG APPROVED FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Actemra (tocilizumab) on Friday to treat adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not adequately responded to or cannot tolerate other approved drug classes for rheumatoid arthritis. Actemra recommended use is limited to patients who have failed other approved therapies because of serious safety concerns that were noted in clinical studies. These safety concerns include elevated liver enzymes, elevated Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol, hypertension, and gastrointestinal perforations.
“Physicians and patients need to be aware of the risk of serious adverse effects of Actemra and make informed decisions regarding its benefits and risks in the treatment of individual patients,” said Bob Rappaport, M.D., director of the Division of Analgesics, Anesthetics and Rheumatology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The FDA is requiring the sponsor to conduct a post-marketing clinical trial to further evaluate the long-term safety of Actemra. Specifically, the FDA wants to evaluate the impact of elevated LDL cholesterol and blood pressure seen in some patients in shorter-term trials on the cardiovascular health of patients treated with Actemra.
In addition, a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) will require the drug sponsor to implement a Communication Plan for physicians informing them how to appropriately monitor their patients for liver and/or gastrointestinal side effects. The REMS will include a Medication Guide to ensure that patients are informed of the benefits and risks of Actemra.
Actemra works by blocking the action of interleukin-6, an immune system protein that is overabundant in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
The effectiveness and safety of Actemra was determined in five clinical trials in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. In all of the trials, patients treated with Actemra experienced greater improvement in their tender or swollen joints than patients treated with a placebo.
The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials were upper respiratory tract infections, headache, inflammation of the nose or nasal passage, high blood pressure and increased liver enzymes. Elevations in the LDL or bad cholesterol were also seen in some patients, some of whom required the addition of lipid lowering agents.
Patients treated with Actemra are at increased risk for developing serious infections. Most patients who developed these infections in clinical trials were also taking other drugs that suppress the immune system such as methotrexate or corticosteroids.
Actemra is marketed by San Francisco-based Genentech Inc., a subsidiary of the Roche Group. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 8, 2010 | SODA FOUNTAINS CONTAIN BACTERIA - Soda fountain machines in restaurants may contain contaminated fecal bacteria. A study of 30 machines in Roanoke Valley, Virginia reported that 70 percent of the machines had bacteria and 40 of them had coliform bacteria, which has been banned in drinking water because it can possibly contain fecal bacteria. The tap water and ice machines did not test positive for bacteria, it seems that it was the machine that was growing the bacteria. Even though they are not sure what exactly is causing the bacteria, there should be better cleaning of the instruments, and the public should not have access to dispensing their own sodas. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 8, 2010 | NUTRITIONAL DRINK SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE ALZHEIMER'S SYMPTOMS - Scientists have developed a drink research has proven to significantly improve people with Alzheimer's. The drink, called Souvenaid, is a "medical food" that can be picked up at a pharmacy. When taken under the guidance of a physician, this drink can help restore synapses. A low number of synapses causes Alzheimer's symptoms. The drink is composed of uridine, choline, and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. These components all work together restoring the synapses. However, taking a supplement of any one of them will not have the same effect. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 6, 2010 | NURSING PROVIDES POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON EMPLOYMENT - More nursing jobs will be created in the next decade than in any other single profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 600,000 new jobs for registered nurses will be created by 2018. An entry-level registered nurse job can be obtained with just three years of college, and you can usually work any hours you want. The median wage for a registered nurse is $62,450, making it one of the highest wage-earning professions. On the downside, you have to deal with some difficult patients, which can be physically and emotionally draining. Not to mention that you also have to work night shifts and holidays. Based on numbers, a career in nursing is a pretty good choice. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| January 5, 2010 | FDA, HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO STUDY SAFETY OF MEDICATIONS TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY - A new research program called the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program (MEPREP) will fund research to study the effects of prescription medications used during pregnancy. The program is a collaboration among the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and researchers at the HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERT), Kaiser Permanente’s multiple research centers and Vanderbilt University.
About two-thirds of women who deliver a baby have taken at least one prescription medication during pregnancy according to a journal article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. There are very few clinical trials that test the safety of medications in pregnancy due to concerns about the health of the mother and child.
“This program is a great example of FDA and the private sector working together to improve the health of pregnant women and their children,” said Margaret Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "These data will guide regulatory policy and influence medical practice."
To overcome the challenges presented by the lack of clinical trial data about the use of medications during pregnancy, the research program will link health care information for mothers and their babies in each of the participating research sites. Collectively, the 11 participating sites have health care information for about 1 million births over the past seven years (2001-2007). Many of the mothers associated with these births likely used medication during their pregnancies and now, with the program in place, the FDA and participating researchers have a systematic and timely way of retrieving information from this network.
“This collaborative effort creates a unique resource to study the effects of medication in pregnant women and their children,” said Gerald Dal Pan, M.D., director of the Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Results of these studies will provide valuable information for patients and physicians when making decisions about medication during pregnancy.”
The program blends clinical and research expertise and population-based databases from 11 health plan-affiliated research sites including Kaiser Permanente (Northern California, Southern California, Georgia,, Pacific Northwest, and Colorado regions); Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Group Health Research Institute, HealthPartners, Lovelace Clinic Foundation, the Meyers Primary Care Institute, and Tennessee State Medicaid, and the FDA. The HMO Research Network CERT Data Center at the Department of Population Medicine of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, led by Richard Platt, M.D., M.S., is the coordinating center for the program.
Lead researchers include Susan Andrade, Sc.D. HMO Research Network William Cooper, M.D., M.P.H. (Vanderbilt); Robert Davis, M.D., M.P.H. (Kaiser Permanente Georgia); Craig Cheetham, Pharm.D.; (Kaiser Permanente Southern California); and De-Kun Li, M.D., Ph.D. (Kaiser Permanente Northern California). The investigators have collaborated on numerous studies related to medication use during pregnancy and birth outcomes, as well as studies on the effects of anti-depressant medications, antibiotics, and cardiovascular medications on birth defects and perinatal outcomes.
A Steering Committee composed of representatives from each participating site and the FDA will oversee MEPREP activities and provide overall scientific leadership. FDA epidemiologist, Pamela E. Scott, Ph.D., is the FDA project lead and chair of the Steering Committee (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |
| December 31, 2009 | TRANS FAT BAN IN CA EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2010 - Effective January 1, 2010, the state of California will be the first in the country to ban the use of trans fat in restaurants. Bakeries will have another year to transition - their effective date of the ban is January 1, 2011. Tiburon was the first city in the country to voluntarily ban trans fats, and other cities such as New York and Philadelphia also have permanent bans. Trans fats have been considered unhealthy for quite some time and have been known to increase the levels of bad cholesterol. In addition, the substance causes higher rates in obesity and coronary artery disease. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in North and South Carolina) |