The Best Cure for Black Friday: A Massage

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Nov 24,2010

Before you hit the malls or stand in line starting at 2 a.m. at a big box store, consider a gift that will pay off in many ways.  Consider a massage at one of Cortiva Institute’s student massage clinics, located nationwide.

“What better way to avoid standing in line or waking up earlier than you need to than to purchase a gift certificate for a massage by contacting a Cortiva Institute,” said Ted Havelka, Vice President for Cortiva Institute. “Many people think that a massage is a luxury they can’t afford — so why not give it as a gift?  And by using Cortiva’s student clinics, you’ll get a discount on the treatment as well. With all the stress in our everyday lives, a good massage may be the best investment you can make.”

In fact, the student clinics at Cortiva Institute offer one-hour massages for as little as $30.

Even if Black Friday is like a national holiday for you and you must shop ’til you drop, scheduling a massage after that shopping marathon might be just the ticket to keep you going through the holiday season. Read the rest of this entry »


Five Important Facts about Homecare

Thanks to home medical equipment and service providers, millions of seniors and people with disabilities will share holidays with their families in the comfort of their homes.  Home-based care is the most cost-effective setting for post-acute care.

Homecare provides value to more than eight million Americans who require some type of medical care in the home. A cost-effective alternative to institutional care, home medical equipment can be provided and maintained for just dollars a day, which is why homecare is an important part of the solution to our nation’s healthcare spending challenge.

Over recent years, however, the homecare sector has been the target of a long series of deep and disproportionate cuts by Congress.  These cuts have a negative effect on the ability of homecare providers to furnish high-quality equipment and services to the people who require them.   The latest cut will take place January 1, 2011 in nine of the largest metropolitan areas where reimbursements will drop steeply and most of the home medical providers will be artificially removed from the Medicare marketplace, as a result of a highly flawed bidding process. Read the rest of this entry »


New Study Questions Value of Expanded Genetic Testing for Cystic Fibrosis

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Nov 23,2010

Eight-year study in Genetics in Medicine shows core mutation panel reliably detects carriers

Testing for genetic mutations beyond those medically recommended is unlikely to prevent the birth of children with classic cystic fibrosis and may detect mutations causing only mild disease, according to a study published online in Genetics in Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG). The findings raise the possibility that expanded panels may promote ill-informed decisions and anxiety for physicians and couples seeking testing to determine their risk of passing the disease to their children.

The study, performed by scientists at Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), is believed to be the largest on an ethnically diverse American population. It involved analyses of more than three million de-identified test results performed by the company’s laboratories over an eight-year period ending in April 2010.

“This outstanding study should finally put to rest the continuing debates and misinformation that suggest more mutations are always better when it comes to cystic fibrosis carrier screening,” said Wayne W. Grody, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Grody led one of the influential NIH-funded pilot studies on CF carrier screening and co-chaired the ACMG committee that developed the recommended core mutation screening panel. He is not affiliated with the study or with Quest Diagnostics. Read the rest of this entry »


The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  announced the awarding of nearly $8 million for existing Community Health Center Cooperative Agreements.

These agreements will provide additional training and technical assistance on a national, regional and state basis to community-based organizations that support community health centers. Funding for the grants is made available by the Affordable Care Act.

Health Center Cooperative Agreements support the development and operation of health centers.  Cooperative agreement organizations use training and technical assistance funds to support the following core functions related to supporting health centers:  community development, expansion planning, patient-centered medical home development, meaningful use health information technology adoption and workforce development.

“These Health Center Cooperative Agreements help build on the Affordable Care Act’s investments in community health centers,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These funds will provide assistance to community health centers to help them improve access to health care services, especially for those who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.”

Community health centers serve nearly 19 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,900 service delivery sites around the country to patients, regardless of their ability to pay.  Charges for services are set according to income.

“The funding the Secretary announced today will ensure that health centers who need it have the ability to plan for their futures,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “Community health centers provide high quality health care to anyone who needs it, these funds make continuing that care possible.” Read the rest of this entry »


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