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Today's Alert
UMC's savior: Howard, partner to take over hospital
Medical mysteries: Cancer patient was given no hope, but fought anyway
How Medicare can join the war on drugs
iPads, tablets, smartphones disrupt good sleep, study finds
Baby thrives once 3-D-printed windpipe helps him breathe
Which jobs have the highest rates of depression?
Sen. Chris Coons sees progress against Ebola in Liberia
JOB POSTINGS
 
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Whitman-Walker Health

 

Staff Accountant,

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District of Columbia Office on Aging 
 

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Whitman-Walker Health

Whitman-Walker Health

Whitman-Walker Health

 

Client Services Representative,

Whitman-Walker Health

 

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Green Door

 

Mental Health Therapist,
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Family Physician,
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Specialty Care Program Manager,

Primary Care Coalition 

 

Family Practitioner, Mary's Center

Unity Health Care

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UMC's savior: Howard, partner to take over hospital

By Tina Reed, Washington Business Journal, December 19, 2014

Howard University and partner organization, Paladin Healthcare Capital, are working to take over the United Medical Center to help with its turnaround. During a press conference on December 16, Mayor Vincent Gray and UMC Board Chairman C. Matthew Hudson Jr. joined Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick and Paladin President Joel Freedman to sign letter of intent to forge a collaborative agreement to run the organization. Problems have continued to plague the hospital including a weak reputation, aging infrastructure, emergency room overuse, a lack of primary and specialty care as well as too few surgeons willing to conduct procedures at UMC.

Medical mysteries: Cancer patient was given no hope, but fought anyway 

By Sandra G. Boodman, The Washington Post, December 22, 2014

Dana Deighton, the picture of health, was shocked to receive diagnoses of lupus and esophageal cancer a few years ago. Her own advocacy for her health motivated her to fight for the appropriate treatments, and she sought doctors who would listen to her. She took risks along the way and is doing well now.

How Medicare can join the war on drugs

By Devon Herrick, Washington Examiner, December 19, 2014

Some Medicare recipients abuse prescription drugs for recreation or profit. Prescription drug fraud costs insurers almost $75 billion per year. Around 16,000 people die annually from abusing pain relievers. Those who abuse drugs tend to use different pharmacies for prescriptions. Under a drug Lock-In program through Medicare, anyone who is enrolled would be asked to select one physician for pain management and use one pharmacy so their behavior can be managed.   



iPads, tablets, smartphones disrupt good sleep, study finds

By Brady Dennis, The Washington Post, December 22, 2014 

 

According to a new study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the blue light emitted from smartphones and iPads can cause profound biological effects which disrupt the user's sleep patterns. Researchers found that participants had lowered levels of melatonin, thereby reducing sleepiness. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation found in a poll that nearly 90 percent of adults and 75 percent of children have at least one electronic device in their bedrooms.

Baby thrives once 3-D-printed windpipe helps him breathe 

By Rob Stein, NPR, December 23, 2014 

Over the last few years, 3-D printing has enabled significant changes in medical care. For example, Garrett Peterson, son of Natalie Peterson and Jake Peterson, was born with a defective windpipe and often had trouble breathing. Doctors at the University of Michigan were able to develop custom splints using a 3-D printer to open up Garrett's windpipe, and this has worked well for him. 

Which jobs have the highest rates of depression?

By Joe Pinsker, The Atlantic, December 22, 2014 

A study published last month in the journal of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epistemology found that certain jobs have higher rates of depression than others. The study used data representing about 214,000 Western Pennsylvanians. Bus drivers had the highest rate of depression, and the lowest rate was found in people who worked in amusement and recreation services. An in-depth examination of the data showed that jobs which require frequent interaction with the public or clients and have low levels of activity had higher levels of depression.

Sen. Chris Coons sees progress against Ebola in Liberia

By Tom Howell Jr.,The Washington Times, December 22, 2014

Senator Chris Coons, the first member of the U.S. Congress to visit West Africa and examine the state of the Ebola virus, has returned to report that the U.S. government aid has helped to slow the spread of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 7, 400 people have died in Africa from the virus. Around 2,000 U.S. troops have been sent to Africa to help combat the virus.  

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