GE and Asklepios Hospital Group signed an agreement to create their first project in German healthcare to comprehensively address environmental issues. The renovation and expansion of one of the hospitals owned by Asklepios in Hamburg, Germany, known as the "Green Hospital" project, will be their pilot hospital in Europe entirely planned and designed on ecological principles.
The UK, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands already have it - an official obligation to report MRSA cases to their health authorities. Since 1 July 2009 German law has also required notification. Professor Herbert Hof, Director of the Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene at the University Hospital Mannheim, Germany, explained why such notification became essential.
The first strain of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was isolated in the 1960s, and its presence was reported worldwide in the late 1990s. A higher incidence of MRSA was noted in communities, at the dawn of the new millennium, leading to two basic MRSA strains being differentiated - CA-MRSA (community acquired MRSA) and HA-MRSA (healthcare associated MRSA). In clinical practice…
Following an international field trial of "Antimicrobial copper surfaces", Asklepios Clinic, in Hamburg, Germany, has fitted door handles and light switches made of special copper alloys combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Swanke Hayden Connell Architects (SHCA), an award-winning practice that specializes in workplace consulting, architecture and interior design, has eight offices in Europe, America and Russia and has designed healthcare environments throughout the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Among these is the £300 million King's Mill Hospital, a PFI institution now under construction in…
In many countries, simulation training is well-established as a core part of training for doctors and medical personnel.
The congress, held in tandem with this world famous medical fair, has traditionally been held in German. Now a new English language section is to be introduced to the Medica Congress 2009 programme. Speaking with Meike Lerner (EH), Dr Julia Rautenstrauch, Secretary General of Medica e.V. and head of congress, explained how the new concept will be integrated into the overall congress structure and…
Dr Jonathan Fielden, Chairman of the Consultants Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA), has called for private management consultants to be "ditched" from the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Reform of the French healthcare system was placed on a fast track for legislative approval that turned into a six-month marathon of debate punctuated by several street demonstrations. John Brosky reports
Coliquio, das Expertennetzwerk für Ärzte, stellt seinen rund 13.000 Mitgliedern 3 Monate vor der Bundestagswahl die Sonntagsfrage und bietet so interessante Einblicke in die politische Stimmungslage der rund 320.000 Ärztinnen und Ärzte.
Rosemary Bryant, outstanding nursing leader nationally and internationally, has been elected as the 26th President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
The Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology (IHB) at Hohenstein has developed the first textile that can release medically effective gasses. The textile was developed at the IHB under the auspices of a broader research project. The textile will be used in future therapeutic applications.
"Frauen kommen langsam - aber gewaltig" singt Liedermacherin Ina Deter, und das trifft inzwischen auch für den, lange Zeit ausschließlich Männern vorbehaltenen, Arztberuf zu. Fast 130 Jahre nach Hope Bridges Adams-Lehmann, der ersten Ärztin in Deutschland, erobern Frauen die Medizin.
Shields Health Care Group, New England's premiere independent provider of radiology imaging services, has chosen the Swedish IT and medical-technology company Sectra as their Radiology Information System (RIS) provider. Sectra will deliver its RIS products, integration services and direct support to Shields Health Care over a multi-year period.
Agfa HealthCare, a leading provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions, announced that it has signed an agreement with Segami Corporation to integrate the Oasis workstation software into the Agfa HealthCare's 6th generation Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) known as IMPAX 6. The solution permits nuclear medicine physicians to review, process and report studies…
Researchers from East Kilbride, Glasgow, UK, recently presented their results of a study saying that only one extra cleaner in a hospital working Monday to Friday can reduce the number of MRSA infections.
The medical tourism industry has enjoyed rapid growth over the past few years as more and more patients seek better facilities, particularly for surgical, dental and cosmetic procedures, outside their own countries. The Europe Business Assembly's Medical Tourism Summit, taking place from 12th to 14th July in Malta will focus on the key issues and concerns being raised for travelling patients.
German health insurance funds do not use their customer data sufficiently, according to a study by consultancy agency Kienbaum, which also found that health insurers do not `cultivate a client-oriented culture´. (Clients = the medically insured).
In den kommenden Wochen und Monaten werden die Krankenkassen mit der Ausgabe der neuen elektronischen Gesundheitskarte (eGK) an ihre Mitglieder starten. Damit der Basis-Rollout der elektronischen Gesundheitskarte auch in der Praxis reibungslos abläuft, kooperieren TeleCash GmbH & Co. KG, eine Tochtergesellschaft des weltweiten Anbieters von Zahlungsdienstleistungen First Data und einer…
Vom einstigen Förderprojekt und Bestandteil der Initiative eGesundheit.nrw hat sich das Informationsportal telemedizin24.de zur deutschlandweit führenden Anlaufstelle rund um die Telemedizin entwickelt. Die von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Telemedizin ideell unterstützte Plattform richtet sich an Ärzte und Patienten mit Interesse an neuen Behandlungsoptionen ebenso wie an Dienstleister in…
Respiratory protection for hospital staff is a critical issue. Surgical masks were at one time considered sufficient, but new evidence from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that they do almost nothing to protect the individual wearer. In response to the outbreak of Swine Origin Influenza Virus the CDC recommends all healthcare personnel to wear a fit-tested disposable…
The so-called 2 in 1 educational model is an interesting innovation in nurse training; it aims at an efficient synthesis of theory and practice. Following a course of seven semesters, participants achieve the academic baccalaureate qualification, as well as a licence (in the form of a diploma) to practice in general healthcare.
Flu preparations - Under the UK´s National Health Service (NHS) code of practice for nosocomial infections, the hospital Trusts and others are required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that healthcare workers are free of, and protected from, exposure to communicable infections.
A hospital outbreak not only causes severe illnesses or death, but also results in ward closures and disruption of care - not to mention potential legal action. What can be done to combat such infections?
