CDC: Disease prevention needed to bring down the health costs of aging

With the cost of caring for aging Americans expected to increase 25 percent by 2030, people need to take preventive action to stay healthy, the CDC says. As many as 80 percent of Americans aged 65 and older have at least one chronic disease that could lead to premature death, and the report calls on people to adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent such diseases. MSNBC/Reuters

HCA to tell hospital patients cost in advance

The hospital chain will be telling its patients in advance how much they will pay for procedures, under a new program that began as a trial in October. The program is due to be in operation at most of HCA’s 165 U.S. hospitals by midsummer. The Tennessean (Nashville)

Editor’s Note: This is an interesting trend that will set the pace toward transparency of costs. It is hopeful that case managers are involved in the disclosure of information and can be available to assist patients and family members understand the information they receive. I would like to hear from any case managers who are part of the organizations mentioned in the article so that you can share your experience with this trend-setting process. Please email me at allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com

Cultural Diversity

Editor’s Note: Case managers have an obligation to stay up to date on cultural issues and their impact on healthcare. The following three stories are interesting articles involving three different cultures that you may want to share with your colleagues.

Study: Cardiac risk factors develop earlier in Hispanic women

Hispanic women often exhibit signs of heart problems much earlier than white women, according to a new study. Researchers found that Hispanic women may exhibit the type of heart health seen in white women 10 years older, and they suggest that being Hispanic may be an independent risk factor for heart disease. The Washington Post/HealthDay News

Report: Black men at much greater risk than whites for HIV

Black men represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, but they make up nearly half of Americans who have HIV, according to a new report from the CDC. Researchers say black men are seven times more likely than white men to be diagnosed with HIV, and 40 percent of AIDS deaths among people aged 13 to 24 are black people. The Washington Post/Reuters

Report: Some turned away from tribal health clinics

Some tribal health clinics in the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recently have stopped admitting patients who can’t document their federal tribal status, according to the Associated Press. Federal officials deny that qualified patients are being turned away, but some clinic officials report receiving instructions from the BIA to stop offering free services to patients from unrecognized tribes or who don’t have a bureau identification card. Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)/AP

Editor’s Request: What is your organization doing to address culture and the effects on healthcare? The August 2007 issue of Case in Point will look at this topic, so if your organization has a specific program that you would like to share with your colleagues, email me at allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com to discuss.

Genetic test change cancer care

New tests such as the Oncotype DX and the MammaPrint are changing the course of breast cancer treatment and helping doctors personalize care. Experts say more study is necessary before clinicians base their recommended treatment solely on genetics testing. The Philadelphia Inquirer/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Editor’s Note: Genetic testing will change the face of care in the near future. As this article explains, more study is needed, but we are getting close to a time when we will be able to use genetic testing to prevent and prepare treatment plans on various disease states.

Study: Ibuprofen best painkiller for children

A Canadian study showed ibuprofen was more effective than acetaminophen or codeine in treating children for pain in emergency room situations. The hospital study was the first head-to-head comparison of the three drugs. The Washington Post/AP

Editor’s Note: Fast relief of pain for children is important in the emergency department. Read about this study from Canada that details a study and shows the outcome of a head to head trial that compared three common drugs used today to treat pain.

Presidential campaigns already see healthcare as major issue

Presidential campaigns already are aware the healthcare issue will be a major factor, showing any candidate will have to confront it. But some analysts are concerned campaigns will focus on coverage availability and miss the main concern of the voters — curbing cost. “Every candidate is going to have to have a health-care plan, because it is the number-one domestic policy issue on the minds of voters,” America’s Health Insurance Plans President Karen Ignagni said. The Washington Post

Editor’s Note: It is not too early for healthcare professionals to begin to formulate questions they want to ask as the race for the upcoming presidential campaign gets underway. These early months are good times to talk to candidates and share your expertise on the state of healthcare with them as they visit your region. Case in Point ran an article in the February/March 2007 issue that explains how the Case Management Society of America is encouraging professionals to get involved.

Study: Eating-disorder prevention program helps at-risk women

An internet-based eating disorder prevention program helped women improve their perceptions of their weight and shape, according to a new study. The program, called Student Bodies, was developed for at-risk young women to adopt healthy eating habits, and researchers said it was most effective in helping women who were at the highest risk for developing the disorders. Yahoo!/Reuters