The number of hospitals in the U.S. has dropped to fewer than 6,000 for the first time in nearly 80 years, according to the American Hospital Association. Of the 5,890 hospitals, 4,956 are
community hospitals (which also showed a 1.7% increase in admissions and 4.5% increase in outpatient visits, from 1998). More information is at http://www.ahanews.com.
A razor-thin majority of Americans (54%) are satisfied with the quality of healthcare in the U.S., and when it gets personal, an overwhelming majority (82%) are satisfied with the quality of
healthcare they receive, according to a new Gallup poll. Americans were most satisfied with the doctors and nurses they deal with and least satisfied with, no surprise, the cost of healthcare. Other
stats:
88% of Americans have healthcare coverage
34% use HMOs for their coverage
31% use PPOs
25% use traditional health plans
The risks of developing high blood pressure are higher for African Americans than whites, according to an Indiana study investigating the relationship between heart rate and future blood pressure
in children. For more, visit http://www.cardiosource.com.
Women, adolescents and whites are particularly vulnerable to developing nicotine-dependence symptoms, according to data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Lowest rates are among
adults over 50. For more info, visit http://www.drugabuse.gov or call 301/443-6245.
More than 85% of Internet users use the Web to find health and medical information, yet only 28% find the information "extremely useful," according to research by Decision Analyst.
33.6 million consumers would like to contact their doctor or doctor's office via email but only 3.7 million have actually been able to do so, according to Cyber Dialogue (http://www.cyberdialogue.com).
Online
For the 28 million Americans who suffer with migraines, Dynamic Health Resources (DHR) launched a virtual migraine prevention program at http://www.DynamicHealthResources.com. The program includes pharmacist phone consultations, dispension of dietary supplements and an eight-week
headache-reduction training course. DHR, a Web-based marketing and distribution company, holds the patent to Neurobiology Formula 12397.
In case you were wondering, there are at least 22,500 health sites online, according to Cyber Dialogue's Health Practice. The most visited health-related sites (by share of e-health customers)
are:
Yahoo (30%)
AOL (21%)
WebMD (19%)
CBS Healthwatch/Medscape (19%)
Discovery Health (12%)
Mother Nature (11%)
Dr. Koop (9%)
WebFamily Ventures, Inc. signed on 50 U.S. hospitals to its new service, WebFamilies.com, which offers a free automated system for maternity patients to chronicle their children's births. The
service includes a laptop, a digital camera and wireless technology that lets patients send photos and text over the Internet. For more info, call Mallory Kates at [email protected].
People Moves
Josephine Martin was named SVP for public affairs for the Health Insurance Association of America. Martin, most recently a consultant, served in public affairs roles at the National Cable TV
Association.
Recently joining the American Heart Association are Eric Bolton, director of Media Advocacy; Kelly Kennai, communications manager for Advocacy; and Eric Webb, communications manager.
Winners
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Keystone Health Plan West received first place
in the American Association of Health Plans' national Innovation in Immunization
Awards program for its Birthday Card Initiative. The program is targeted to
kids turning 11 years old and via a birthday card encourages parents to immunize
their child by age 13 and continue annual well care visits. Visit http://www.highmark.com for more info.
The Health Information Resource Center awarded health Ink & Vitality Communications of Moorestown, N.J., seven World Wide Web Health Awards. The company won honors for Children's Medical
Center of Dallas' Your Child's Health Web site; for Inova Health System's Inova Health Online; and for Independence Blue Cross's Health and You Web site. Visit http://www.healthlink.com for more info.
