By Holly Fletcher: The juncture where patients are discharged from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation is pinpointed by a new study as a place where greater focus could prolong lives and reduce costs. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology analyzed claims data from more than 1.5 million Medicare patients across every zip code in the country who needed emergency hospital care for injuries such as hip or femur fractures or intercerebral hemorrhage stroke.

By Janice Neumann (Reuters Health) - The rate at which infants are suffering withdrawal after being born to mothers on opioid pain killers has increased five-fold since 2000, according to a new U.S. study. "I think the scope of the problem is staggering," said Dr. Stephen Patrick, a neonatologist who led the research. "It really calls into question, are we using these opioid prescriptions too much and should we be using them more appropriately in pregnant women."

The recent earthquakes (7.8 Richter scale on April 25 and 7.3 Richter scale on May 11) have been deemed the worst natural disaster in Nepal’s history in more than 80 years. The catastrophe has resulted in upwards of 8,000 deaths and over 14,000 injuries. Eight million people have been affected by this disaster and its effects have been dramatic and far reaching.  Upwards of 60 aftershocks, landslides and an avalanche in Mt.

Newswise — A nationwide study, “Uncovering Waste in U.S. Healthcare,” from authors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, finds that spending on post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival. The Department's John Graves is a co-author and is quoted. 

by Christina Echegaray | Thursday, May. 7, 2015, 10:32 AM Surgically treating “tongue tie” in infants may be associated with improved breast-feeding and reduced nipple pain, as reported by mothers, but much more research is needed on best practices for treating the condition, according to a newly published systematic review.

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May 1, 2015:  Hospital costs for treating drug-exposed newborns doubled between 2009 and 2012 to a staggering $1.5 billion every year, 80 percent of which is paid for by taxpayers, according to a government-funded study released yesterday — a spike researchers and lawmakers are attributing to the deepening opioid crisis. “We are seeing not only that opioid addiction is taking a human toll, but a financial toll as well,” Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark said. “This is a huge cost to the taxpayers.” Stephen Patrick is quoted. 

A nationwide study, “Uncovering Waste in U.S. Healthcare,” from authors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, finds that spending on post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival. It’s not yet entirely clear whether mortality for patients in this study was hastened by poor initial hospital care leading to the need for SNF care, or by poor quality SNF care.