North Carolina Health Link Weekly – February 20, 2015
The health care industry is one that begs discussion — it’s personal, it’s social, and it impacts us all. Every week we come across hundreds of articles, tweets, updates, and briefs. We thought you’d like to read some of what we’re seeing right now, and start a conversation. Tune in Fridays for your weekly dose of all things North Carolina health care news related.
Got a link to share? Tweet us at @bcbsnc with #NCHealthLinkWeekly, and we could feature your story in an upcoming Friday edition.
North Carolina Health Link Weekly – February 20, 2015
Innovation and Trends
- Nano-sized ‘drones’ deliver targeted drugs and repair arteries (Medical News Today, 02-19-2014)
Scientists have developed nanomedicines that can deliver drug packets directly to lesions in diseased arteries, acting like nano-sized ‘drones’. - Molecule shows ability to block AIDS virus (Wall Street Journal, 02-18-15)
Approach has yet to be tested in humans but could lead to new treatments and a vaccine.
Healthcare Technology
- Twitter can boost health research (MedCity News, 02-18-15)
Twitter may be a useful tool in gauging both feedback from consumers and for furthering research. - Your best weight loss tool may already be in your pocket (CNN, 02-15-15)
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that smartphone applications and wearable devices are actually quite accurate in tracking step counts.
Health and Fitness
- Superbug warning (Reuters, 02-20-15)
Los Angeles hospital warns 179 patients possibly exposed to ‘superbug’ - Every minute of activity may benefit heart health for mobility-limited older adults (MedCity News, 02-19-15)
For older adults with limited mobility, each minute of physical activity may contribute toward reduced risk of heart attack and death from heart-related problems. - New report: cholesterol in food not a concern (CNN, 02-19-15)
Cholesterol has been a part of dietary warnings since the American Heart Association put the compound in its crosshairs. But not anymore.. - Partnering for growth via wellness (Health Leader, 02-18-15)
With a focus on prevention, some health systems are looking to organizations that have an existing foundation in wellness as partners to keep or get patients healthy.
Industry News
- What will states do if court kills health insurance subsidies? (Insurance Journal, 02-19-15)
Five Republican state governors say they will not rescue a crucial part of Obamacare if it is struck down by the Supreme Court, underlining the prospect for a chaotic aftermath to a ruling that could force millions of Americans to pay much more for coverage or lose their health insurance. - IRS delays penalties on businesses that reimburse workers for health insurance (Triangle Business Journal, 02-18-15)
The Internal Revenue Service will delay imposing excise taxes on small businesses that reimburse their employees for the cost of buying individual health insurance policies. - Employers increase offerings to improve heart health (WMAR, 02-17-15)
“When we noticed this, we decided to make some changes; many healthier ones,” he said. “It’s working…our health care costs are now under the national average.
Video
Eric Dishman: Health care should be a team sport
When Eric Dishman was in college, doctors told him he had 2 to 3 years to live. That was a long time ago. Now, Dishman puts his experience and his expertise as a medical tech specialist together to suggest a bold idea for reinventing health care — by putting the patient at the center of a treatment team.
