Clean sheet for Amnis and the Institute of Healthcare Management

The first masterclass in a series of five being run jointly by the specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis, and the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) has been hailed a resounding success, with all the delegates rating the programme as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.

Amnis reveals that teamwork is the key to effective coding

According to the specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis, although there has been an increase in the accuracy of clinical coding in the healthcare sector, some 33 per cent of hospital trusts continue to overcharge commissioners by up to six per cent, while a similar number of hospital trusts are undercharging.

Amnis’ advice on acute care: the transfer of care process is key

Patients who tie up acute care beds but who might be better treated in a community setting create an additional ‘organisational cork’ on the effective flow of patients through hospitals claims the specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis.

Amnis shows that transforming healthcare services involves more that just patients

Improvements in quality for patients, along with improvements in service productivity, can be achieved at the same time as improvements in staff morale. This has been the experience of the specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis.

Amnis urges pre-squeeze acceleration in Community Services development

The specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis, has outlined plans to transform the quality and productivity of Community Services.

Amnis advocates a strategic approach to ensuring NHS efficiency

According to the specialist healthcare quality, innovation and productivity improvement enabler, Amnis, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way healthcare organisations work, both internally and across health economies - if the opportunities identified recently for improvements in the efficiency of healthcare are to be realised.

New Service Set to Free Mental Health Patients From Secure Units

LIVERPOOL, England - Thousands of people who could be cared for in the community remain in secure mental hospitals often a long way from home due to insufficient community and step down support services according to Gray Healthcare.

Pfizer Statement on the Life Sciences Blueprint

LONDON - Pfizer welcomes today’s launch of the Life Sciences Blueprint by the Office for Life Sciences, and believes that the proposals, if implemented in full measure, will materially improve the UK environment for the life sciences sector, support the NHS in its drive for innovation, and deliver a higher standard of care for UK patients.

Knowledge Economy Programme - Second Phase Launched

LONDON - The Work Foundation today launches the second phase of its research programme on the future of Britain’s knowledge economy. In a new departure for the organisation, this major programme brings together key players from the public and private sector (including the UK’s creative industries), the NHS and government to develop a definitive plan showing how Britain can recover from recession and re-construct a knowledge economy by 2020.

Support Grows for New Home Based Service for Challenging Mental Patients

LIVERPOOL - A new national service which will provide comprehensive care and support for challenging mental health patients in their own homes following discharge from hospital is being welcomed by lead clinicians and patient advocates.

Bayer Unveils DIDGET(TM), the First and Only Blood Glucose Meter That Connects With the Nintendo DS(TM) or DS(TM) Lite

NEWBURY, England -

- New DIDGET Meter Transforms Kids Diabetes Experience by Tapping Into Their Passion for Video Games to Build Consistent Blood Glucose Testing Habits

Audio Visual Machines Certified as Platinum Partner and Accredited Service Provider for TANDBERG

STAINES, England - TANDBERG (OSL:TAA), the leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition video conferencing and mobile video products and services, today announced that Audio Visual Machines (AVM), a leading provider of video and audio communications, has been certified as a TANDBERG Platinum Partner. The Platinum Partner status awarded by TANDBERG is the highest level of partnership that AVM can receive.

LAP-BAND(TM) is First Obesity Intervention Device in Europe Indicated for Weight Loss That Improves or Leads to Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

LONDON -

- Medical Experts Call for Greater Consideration of Gastric Banding for Obese People With Type 2 Diabetes

UK Defence Sector Well Poised for Growth Despite Global Recession, Says Frost & Sullivan

LONDON -

The UK defence industry remains insulated from global recession compared to other market verticals, with government defence spending fixed into long-term programmes and immune from short-term economic cycles. Unlike small low-spending countries whose defence budgets will be severely impacted, the UK will sustain spending levels over the long term. Moreover, “because defence technology and product expertise have strong parallel opportunities in commercial aviation and homeland security, they are well positioned to offset decline in one segment by limiting exposure to a particular market,” according to Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst James Cooper.

A Supplement a Day May Help Keep Falls at Bay

BASINGSTOKE, England -

- Help is at Hand for the Frail Elderly at Risk of Falls and Fractures via a New Medication Support Programme

Simplyhealth Welcomes Recommendations for a Preventative Approach to Dentistry

ANDOVER, England - Raman Sankaran, Sales and Marketing Director for Simplyhealth comments on the Independent Review of NHS Dentistry in England.

Charities Voice Disgust at Government Compensation Decision

HAYWARDS HEATH, England - A charities action group today voiced its disgust at the Government’s decision to refuse compensation for charities caught up in the banking crisis.

ICON Announces Collaboration to Develop New Translational Medicine Unit at Purpose-built Hospital Facility in Manchester

DUBLIN - New Facility Part of Ambitious Expansion Plans at Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust Campus

Audio Visual Machines Partners With Polycom to Promote Immersive Telepresence

LONDON - With Photo

Audio Visual Machines (AVM), the leading audio visual and video conferencing system integrator in the UK has been successfully certified to install and maintain Polycom’s immersive telepresence solutions. Polycom is the global leader in telepresence, video and voice communications solutions.

Union TV Goes Global

LONDON - In a feature to be screened on The Community Channel Sky 539, Union TV will highlight how British, American and Canadian workers are joining forces to create the first global union - Workers Uniting.

NICE Acknowledge Alzheimer’s Model Faulty but do not Plan to Change Recommendations

LONDON - Mild Alzheimer’s Patients Continue to be Denied Treatment

Eisai Limited, the licence holder of Aricept(R) (donepezil hydrochloride) and Pfizer Limited, its co-promotion partner, have been notified by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of their decision to continue to deny vulnerable patients the use of anti-cholinergic medicines in the treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease.

New NICE Guideline for Type 2 Diabetes Recognises Benefits From Newer Agents for Blood Glucose Control

LONDON - For Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Correspondents Only

- NICE Recommends Considering DPP-4 Inhibitors as a Second Line Treatment Option in Appropriate Patients

Ambe Medical Group Revolutionises Diabetes Strategy

KEMSING, England - Price of Blood Glucose Test Strips to the NHS to be cut by 50%

- “My Lords, I Cannot say why They are so Expensive” (Baroness Thornton House of Lords June 23 2008)

SPUC Condemns Scandal of Government Backed Abortions

LONDON - The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has commented on last year’s abortion statistics for England and Wales, which have just been published.

Glivec(R) is the First Adjuvant Treatment Approved in the UK to Delay Return of Gastrointestinal Cancer After Surgery

FRIMLEY, England - Glivec(R) (imatinib) Now Approved in the UK for Post-Surgery Treatment of Patients With KIT (CD117)-Positive Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST), who are at Significant Risk of the Cancer Returning After Surgery(1)

New Hand Sanitiser Proven to be Effective Against H1N1 Flu Virus

LONDON - A new alcohol-free hand sanitiser, SOAPOPULAR, which has been recently launched in the UK may be the first line of defence against the spread of swine flu claims its Canadian manufacturers. Says Steven Orrett, CEO of SOAPOPULAR inc, based in Toronto, Canada, “the best defense is proper hand hygiene and hand washing - where water is not present or available, using SOAPOPULAR is the best option for not only killing germs that you come in contact with, but stopping the spread of viruses and infectious diseases.”

Bosses fed up to the Back Teeth With Staff Dental Appointments

ANDOVER, England - Almost 1 in 8 managers in the UK has a problem trusting their staff when it comes to taking time off to visit the dentist, research released today reveals.

RPSGB Warns Against Counterfeit Drugs for Swine Flu

LONDON - The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) today issued a warning to the public about the risks of buying online medicines for swine influenza, such as Tamiflu or Relenza.

ASA Concludes Pfizer’s Hard Hitting Counterfeit Medicines Advert ‘Did Not Breach Code’

LONDON - The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today ruled that Pfizer’s groundbreaking cinema advertising in which a man is seen coughing-up a dead rat did not breach the industry advertising code.(1)

Saebo United Kingdom Posts Record 2008; Sees Continued Growth in UK for 2009

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - National Health Service hospitals’ usage by stroke rehab patients dictates increase in staff and Saebo-trained therapists

Secular Attack on NHS Chaplaincy ‘Simplistic’, Says Unite

LONDON - An attack by the National Secular Society (NSS) on the NHS chaplaincy service has been described as ‘erroneous and simplistic’ by Unite, the largest union in the country.

World-First Launch of New Heart Drug

LONDON - Britons First to Benefit From Latest Heart Tablet Prasugrel (Efient(R) Black Triangle Drug)

King’s College Hospital Awards NCR the Largest Self-Service Healthcare Deal in Europe

LONDON - Patients at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (www.kch.nhs.uk/) in London are to benefit from a groundbreaking new patient automated arrival system from NCR Corporation (www.ncr.com/) (NYSE: NCR). The solution is designed to reduce queuing, increase the immediacy and privacy of patient communications and cut down on paperwork allowing staff to focus on providing the highest standards of clinical care.

Carefx Expands International Presence with New Office in London

CHICAGO - Carefx’s Fusionfx allows UK hospital clinicians to experience clinically relevant views of patient information from across disparate information systems

BMJ Award for NHS Choices Guide to the Medical Science in the News

LONDON - The national NHS website, NHS Choices, has scooped the prestigious BMJ award for innovation in medical communications, for its evidence-based Behind the headlines service.