Webhealth
Webhealth has been specifically developed to provide access for people to
connect with Health and Social Services. This web-based approach builds on
the strengths of people and families to determine their support needs. Within the Webhealth website is Linkage. Linkage is a
partnership between an NGO, Pathways; primary health care, Pinnacle; and a
secondary provider/hospital, Health Waikato. It offers early intervention
services with a “one stop shop” in central Hamilton and New Plymouth.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Drug Courts, Treatment Programs Seek Trust, Understanding
An excellent September 5 feature story at JoinTogether that was somehow overlooked earlier - "Drug courts and treatment programs have a symbiotic relationship: These days, with so much treatment funding flowing through the criminal-justice system, it's fair to say that neither can long survive without the other. But as a recent conference shows, the relationship between the courts and treatment programs remains uneasy. Experts at the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals annual meeting, held in July in Bristol, R.I., indicated that trust and understanding -- or a lack thereof -- remains a critical issue for both sides." See also the web site of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (though be forewarned about the audio welcome...), which has a number of publications, among them the NADCP's Training & Technical Assistance brochure, Research on Drug Courts: A Critical Review 2001 Update (both in Adobe Acrobat format), including a resource and funding guide (in Word format).
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An excellent September 5 feature story at JoinTogether that was somehow overlooked earlier - "Drug courts and treatment programs have a symbiotic relationship: These days, with so much treatment funding flowing through the criminal-justice system, it's fair to say that neither can long survive without the other. But as a recent conference shows, the relationship between the courts and treatment programs remains uneasy. Experts at the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals annual meeting, held in July in Bristol, R.I., indicated that trust and understanding -- or a lack thereof -- remains a critical issue for both sides." See also the web site of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (though be forewarned about the audio welcome...), which has a number of publications, among them the NADCP's Training & Technical Assistance brochure, Research on Drug Courts: A Critical Review 2001 Update (both in Adobe Acrobat format), including a resource and funding guide (in Word format).
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U.S. Health Officials Warn of Potential Payment "Train Wreck"
September 11 Reuters Health story at Medscape - "With just over a month to go before the deadline for healthcare payers and providers in the U.S. to meet uniform federal standards for the transmission of electronic medical information, too much of the health system remains unprepared, federal health officials told reporters Tuesday. In August, said Leslie Norwalk, acting deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), fewer than 11% of Medicare claims were submitted in compliance with the "transaction and code set" rules under the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The codes are intended to provide a uniform way for computers that handle healthcare information to talk to each other, a goal of the "administrative simplification" sections of the 1996 law." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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September 11 Reuters Health story at Medscape - "With just over a month to go before the deadline for healthcare payers and providers in the U.S. to meet uniform federal standards for the transmission of electronic medical information, too much of the health system remains unprepared, federal health officials told reporters Tuesday. In August, said Leslie Norwalk, acting deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), fewer than 11% of Medicare claims were submitted in compliance with the "transaction and code set" rules under the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The codes are intended to provide a uniform way for computers that handle healthcare information to talk to each other, a goal of the "administrative simplification" sections of the 1996 law." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Study Links Older Bipolar Drug to Fewer Suicides
New York Times feature story - "Lithium, an old and inexpensive drug that has fallen out of favor with many psychiatrists, is better than the most commonly prescribed drug, Depakote, at preventing suicide in people who have manic-depressive illness, researchers are reporting. ... The new study, published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that patients taking Depakote were 2.7 times as likely to kill themselves as those taking lithium. Earlier studies by others had also found that lithium could prevent suicide, but today's report is the first to compare suicide and attempted suicide rates in lithium and Depakote users. The study was based on medical records of 20,638 patients aged 14 and older in Washington State and California who were treated from 1994 to 2001." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
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New York Times feature story - "Lithium, an old and inexpensive drug that has fallen out of favor with many psychiatrists, is better than the most commonly prescribed drug, Depakote, at preventing suicide in people who have manic-depressive illness, researchers are reporting. ... The new study, published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that patients taking Depakote were 2.7 times as likely to kill themselves as those taking lithium. Earlier studies by others had also found that lithium could prevent suicide, but today's report is the first to compare suicide and attempted suicide rates in lithium and Depakote users. The study was based on medical records of 20,638 patients aged 14 and older in Washington State and California who were treated from 1994 to 2001." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
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New Antipsychotic Appears Safe and Effective for Acute Bipolar Mania
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Aripiprazole, a novel antipsychotic agent, seems to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for the acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder, according to a report published in the September issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Although lithium, divalproex sodium, and olanzapine are known to be effective treatments for acute mania, nonresponse rates with each can be as high as 50%, lead author Dr. Paul E. Keck and colleagues, from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, note." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Aripiprazole, a novel antipsychotic agent, seems to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for the acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder, according to a report published in the September issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Although lithium, divalproex sodium, and olanzapine are known to be effective treatments for acute mania, nonresponse rates with each can be as high as 50%, lead author Dr. Paul E. Keck and colleagues, from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, note." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Vancouver Opens Safe-Injection Facility for Addicts (Canada)
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Vancouver opened North America's first government-sanctioned injection site for addicts on Monday, saying it will save lives but won't solve the Canadian city's drug problems.The facility in Vancouver's poor Downtown Eastside neighborhood has been criticized by U.S. officials, who say it is an example of Canada becoming lax in the battle against illegal drugs." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free]. See also Vancouver injection clinic opens for addicts and A radical approach to aid drug addicts (both in the Globe and Mail, Toronto), U.S., Canada spar over anti-drug policies (UPI, US), and Fear over nearby police could limit safe-injection site's use:study (Canada.com).
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Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Vancouver opened North America's first government-sanctioned injection site for addicts on Monday, saying it will save lives but won't solve the Canadian city's drug problems.The facility in Vancouver's poor Downtown Eastside neighborhood has been criticized by U.S. officials, who say it is an example of Canada becoming lax in the battle against illegal drugs." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free]. See also Vancouver injection clinic opens for addicts and A radical approach to aid drug addicts (both in the Globe and Mail, Toronto), U.S., Canada spar over anti-drug policies (UPI, US), and Fear over nearby police could limit safe-injection site's use:study (Canada.com).
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FDA Seeks Diabetes Warning on Antipsychotic Drugs
Brief Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Eli Lilly and Co. on Wednesday said U.S. regulators have requested that six of the most widely used antipsychotic drugs carry a warning that they can increase the risk of elevated blood sugar and diabetes." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Brief Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Eli Lilly and Co. on Wednesday said U.S. regulators have requested that six of the most widely used antipsychotic drugs carry a warning that they can increase the risk of elevated blood sugar and diabetes." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
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Copyright 2003 © Bill Davis.
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