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Lenalidomide is highly effective for low risk MDS associated with a deletion(5q). Raza and colleagues report on lenalidomide for low to intermediate-1 (int-1) risk MDS who were transfusion dependent but without a deletion(5q). Patients received 10 mg daily of lenalidomide either continuously or 21 out of 28 days. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 25 and 20% respectively. Among the 214 patients, 43% responded of which 26% became transfusion independent and the hemoglobin exceeded 10 g/dL. Lenalidomide is an option for red blood cell transfusion dependent low risk MDS, even in patients without a 5q-deletion.
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The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has called for the creation of a voluntary patient-controlled system of unique patient identifiers to ensure privacy and accuracy when exchanging medical information through an electronic health network.
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Remote monitoring by trained telehealth care coordinators has improved the outcomes and saved costs for high-risk chronically ill patients in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
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Environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP), also known as green purchasing, means buying products that have a reduced environmental impact while maintaining the same quality and performance.
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Health care spending growth in the United States accelerated slightly in 2006, increasing 6.7% compared to 6.5% in 2005, which was the slowest rate of growth since 1999, according to data recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing guidance to home health agencies (HHAs) on two issues related to the implementation of the refined HH PPS, which became effective Jan. 1:
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By collaborating with hospitals, schools, and members of the community, UPMC Health Plan is providing health care services to a population that has traditionally been underserved.
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In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health assessed the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens among non-hospital based registered nurses (RNs), and found that nearly one out of 10 of the more than 1,100 nurse participants reported at least one needle stick injury in the previous 12 months. Findings of the study are published in the December issue of Industrial Health.
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The following guidelines are recommended by the Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) for disposal of medications.
