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Foreign Aid Donors Should Prioritize Maternal Mortality In Developing Countries, NYT Opinion Piece Says
One of the "most lethal forms of sex discrimination" is the "systematic inattention to reproductive health care, from family planning to childbirth" in developing countries, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes. According to Kristof, a woman dies every minute somewhere in the world from pregnancy or childbirth complications, and 20 times that number suffer childbirth injuries. Providers of foreign aid, including the U.S., "have never shown much interest in maternal mortality, and impoverished women are typically the most voiceless, neglected people in their own countries -- so they die at astonishing rates," Kristof writes.Kristof highlights the childbirth experience of a 19-year-old Pakistani woman named Shazia Allahdita whose infant died in childbirth after her relatives refused to take her to the hospital because they did not want to pay for the taxi fare. Kristof writes that "[i]f men had uteruses, "paternity wards" would get res, ambulances would transport pregnant men to hospitals free of charge, deliveries would be free, and the Group of Eight industrialized nations would make paternal mortality a top priority." Kristof notes that there is "the dawn of a global movement against maternal mortality," with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon working with the U.S. and other countries to plan a "landmark global health session" on Sept. 23. The session will focus, in part, on maternal health, which Kristof terms a "milestone." He concludes, "My dream is that Barack and Michelle Obama will leap forward and adopt this cause -- and transform the prospects for so many young women like Shazia" (Kristof, New York Times, 7/29).

Rush University Medical Center Studies Program To Help Older Adults Transition From Hospital To Home
In light of health care reform measures, Rush University Medical Center has launched a study of its program to help older adults transition from hospital to home.
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Shire Selects SAS(R) Drug Development To Handle Clinical Trials Data
SAS, the leader in business analytics, announced that Shire, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has selected SAS® Drug Development as the platform for its clinical trials data.
Mental Health

Survey Of Independent Imaging Centers Reveals That Diagnostic Radiology Networks Play A Critical Role In Channeling Patients

A survey of 140 independent imaging centers across the United States reveals that diagnostic radiology specialty networks play a critical role in channeling patients to imaging centers for both workers" compensation and health insurance patients. The survey, conducted by Lead Generation Solutions and commissioned by One Call Medical, the nation"s leader in diagnostic radiology, found that these specialty networks are responsible for directing 44 percent of workers" compensation patients seen by the imaging centers, and for 18 percent of patients with health insurance. Without the specialized intervention that these networks provide, workers" compensation patients may end up at a more costly uncredentialed facility that is not part of a managed network. "The survey reveals a new and important trend-that diagnostic radiology specialty networks are now referring a significant and growing portion of the patients who require advanced radiology services," said Don Duford, President and COO of One Call Medical. "Our providers also receive significant value in terms of a higher volume of referrals, and prompt payment." The study surveyed imaging centers on their level of awareness of the various diagnostic radiology networks. One Call Medical was identified as having the highest level of awareness in the workers" compensation arena, by a factor of more than three times that of the nearest competitor. In the group health space, a segment recently entered by One Call Medical, its awareness is equivalent to one of the largest firms already established in this sector. The study also polled imaging centers on the most valued attributes of a scheduling center, and asked respondents to rank the specialty networks according to these criteria: - Clear contract and service requirements - Good provider service, which made the network easy to work with - Timely and accurate payments - Delivering increased patient volume In every service category, One Call Medical received the highest ratings. "One Call Medical strives to provide our radiologists with outstanding benefits, including more patients, prompt payment, and ongoing marketing opportunities," noted Duford. "As a result, we"re gratified to see strong and positive perceptions of the value we deliver to the provider community. One especially critical perception that providers appreciate is prompt and accurate payments: we pay our providers within contractual terms without fail, even if we have not received payment from the payer. In the few instances where there is a question on payment, we aggressively respond to ensure clarity and satisfaction. These positive relationships with our providers enable us to deliver high quality, cost-effective services to payers. Imaging centers not only experience an increased number of referrals, but they also eliminate collection problems that occur with other claims, a significant benefit in these economic times." One Call Medical, Inc.


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