Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women's Health

December 01, 2006

We've come a long way, baby. Yes, women in the workplace, in the board room, in political office-and in healthcare-have come a long way. A status report on Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures specifically targeting women is showing upward trends, or at least steady statistics. Private health plans showed improvement in 35 out of 42 effectiveness of care HEDIS measures in 2005.

July 01, 2006

Drug Manufacturers have introduced vaccines for meningococcal disease, shingles, pertussis, rotavirus, and cervical cancer, meanwhile even more vaccines are in the development pipeline. While each represents a major step forward for public health, the advances present an assortment of challenges from payment rates for physicians to moral issues for parents.

July 01, 2006

NATIONAL REPORTS-Medical tourism is a fast-growing movement in which American consumers are choosing to travel outside the country for a variety of healthcare procedures and treatments.

July 01, 2006

About two hours after a colleague and I lamented over breakfast about Americans' shortcomings in wellness, I heard the news that the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) had received the final nod from FDA. Now there was something Americans were actually doing pretty well: immunizing.

June 01, 2006

There is no question in anyone's mind that the increased use of high-tech diagnostic imaging has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of patients during the past decade.

June 01, 2006

Although any change in moving newly released over-the-counter (OTC)medications to benefit designs or formularies is currently beingdriven by health plans, other emerging market factors willinfluence how plans and employer groups think about coverage forOTCs. For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has hadnumerous inquiries about OTC coverage, usually from employer groupsthat know Medicaid and some Part D plans can cover OTCs. Inaddition, some states are evaluating their pharmacy practiceguidelines to determine how to revise them to accommodate changesin dispensing OTCs. This change is driven by the addition of OTCsto formularies and by the move to put pseudoephedrines behind thecounter. Another industry trend in some states, includingMinnesota, allows pharmacists to prescribe OTC products for publicprogram recipients.

June 01, 2006

Perhaps back when she was a graduate student at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), Dorothy Tarrant, LCSW, MPA, had an idea that someday she would end up in her current role as the healthcare ombudsman/mediator (HCOM) for Kaiser Permanente's Redwood City Medical Center in California.

June 01, 2006

There is no question in anyone's mind that the increased use of high-tech diagnostic imaging has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of patients during the past decade.

March 01, 2006

In the United States today, 10 million people have osteoporosis (bone density that's about 25% less than a healthy young adult). In addition, 34 million more people have low levels of bone mass, placing them at increased risk. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including 300,000 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 300,000 other fractures. About 68% of those affected by osteoporosis are women.

February 01, 2006

The best approach is to combine clinical therapy with strong support from behavioral health professionals.