A survey in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that most hospitals agree that public reporting on performance measures stimulates quality improvement at their hospital, but quality officers and others are less like to agree with this than are CEOs. Those most involved and most knowledgeable seem the least impressed by the value of quality reporting.
Identity management and data security firm Exostar has received a $5 million investment from Merck Ventures as it expands its services for life sciences companies.
Oct102014
TowersWatson says that users of its private health insurance exchange can expect total health spending growth of just 1.8% in 2015, but don't provide adjustments for benefit design changes or differences in the population using exchanges.
Yet another study suggests that not only does robotic surgery cost more than other methods, it has more complications, in this case in regard to gynecologic surgery.
California's workers' comp costs could drop by over $120 million annually if it used a closed formulary for drugs, according to a California Workers' Compensation Institute study.
MedBox, which is developing an automated dispensing machine for marijuana, has raised $2.5 million, hitting a high in financing, with individuals jointly putting in the money for this stone-cool product.
Physicians near the end of their work days are more likely to write inappropriate prescriptions, according to research in JAMA Internal Medicine, an example of what is referred to as "decision fatigue."
EpharmaSolutions, which offers software to help with clinical trial data gathering and analysis, is being acquired by WIRB-Copernicus Group, a provider of regulatory and ethical review services.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.