Wish you could find out about an impending flu outbreak in your area ahead of time? Use Google!
Google is tracking the ebb and flow of Web queries like “flu symptoms” in an effort to identify outbreaks, reports the New York Times.
PA Patient Safety Authority has released Sept. advisory
The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has released an advisory including information about medical errors.
Flu vaccine: There’s enough of it to go around
National health officials say that enough flu vaccinations are available, so that anybody who needs/wants one will be able to obtain protection from the flu, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
For the first time, gov’t recommends that all children get a flu shot
Motivated by research contending that children are big spreaders of the flu virus, the government is now recommending that virtually all children should get a flu shot.
New York Times: Doubts grow over flu vaccine in elderly
Health professionals are debating about new information on the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine on the elderly.
Tommy Thompson on Chronic Disease Costs to Businesses
Former Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers suggestions on how to manage costs associated with chronic disease to a group of state and business leaders in Philadelphia yesterday.
Initiative pushes preventative health care
An effort launched last month that aims to transform how medicine is practiced is the first phase of a statewide chronic care program, and part of Gov. Rendell’s Prescription for Pennsylvania health care reform.
SB 246 - Clean Indoor Act
Current Printer’s No. - 2099
Primary Sponsor: Senator Greenleaf (R - Montgomery)
SB 246 was introduced and first referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on January 29, 2007.
Summary: The Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits a person from smoking in a public place or a workplace and outlines what is considered a public place. The [...]
HB 1541 - The Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act
Current Printer’s No. - 1878
Primary Sponsor: Representative Gerber (D - Montgomery)
HB 1541 was introduced and first referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on June 11, 2007.
Summary: This act prohibits smoking in certain enclosed and substantially enclosed areas, including workplaces, bars, restaurants, youth facilities, colleges and universities. The act does not apply to certain [...]
Partnership to fight chronic disease
The Partnership to fight Chronic Disease(PFCD) is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business/labor groups and health policy experts, committed to raising awareness of policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.