Health care on agenda at the Democratic National Convention
Improvements to the U.S. health care system — including more widespread insurance coverage, a focus on prevention and nutrition, and stronger drug research and development efforts — will prove expensive, a panel of experts said. Mayo Clinic President Denis Cortese urged a focus on preventive care, while WellPoint Executive Vice President Samuel Nussbaum said the next president should create a “Marshall Plan” for health information technology to prevent medical mistakes. Click here for more.

Play helps hospitalized children overcome fears
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia gives its pediatric patients a chance to play doctor to reduce the stress and fear of their medical care. The American Academy of Pediatrics says some 400 similar programs are under way in the United States and Canada. Studies show medical play, such as pretend surgeries and puppet shows, can help reduce blood pressure and pulse rates among children and even allow for less sedation. Click here for more.

Local clinics tackle access to health care for the homeless
Homeless people often have trouble accessing medical care, with many turning to hospital emergency rooms or local clinics. The Greenville Community Shelter Clinic in North Carolina provides care by volunteer medical students, but finds it difficult to schedule a supervising physician to oversee the care, so the clinic is only open sporadically. Click here for more.

Editor’s Note: In scanning CE Program evaluations for Case In Point, this is a frequently requested topic. If you work with the homeless, please e-mail the editor in chief at allewellyn@contexomedia.com to discuss details for an upcoming article in Case In Point.

Merging the old and new to create better practice models
Many physicians are reinventing their practices, utilizing technology but returning to “old-school” medicine to make their careers more fulfilling and to provide better, more personalized care for patients. Donald Berwick, president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, calls it “practicing horse-and-buggy medicine in the space age.” Using e-mail and telehealth, reducing patient waits, and improving efficiency all give physicians more time with patients. Click here for more.

Technology improving care one advancement at a time
Continued growth is likely for digital health media, including sites like WebMD, as more people seek out their own healthcare information. The number of health information websites has doubled to around 2,265 since 2005, and almost 100 iPhone healthcare applications have been launched, including a body-fat calculator, a pregnancy timer and fitness programs. Click here for more.

Large universities set standards for support of medical education
Stanford University is unveiling a plan aimed at getting drug makers and device companies to contribute to a school-wide fund instead of allowing them to choose which courses to support. The move is part of the university’s plan to address concerns about the industry’s influence on medical education and may ease criticism that firms back only courses that advertise their products. Click here for more.