Robear: the bear-shaped nursing robot who'll look after you when you get old.
"Japanese robot can lift patients from beds into wheelchairs or help them to stand up, promising ‘powerful yet gentle care’ for the elderly"
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/27/robear-bear-shaped-nursing-care-robot
Hospitals participating in ACS NSQIP significantly improve surgical outcomes over time.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-02/acos-hpi022715.php
"ACS NSQIP is a nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program designed to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in participating hospitals. The program employs prospective, peer-controlled, validated clinical data collection to quantify 30-day surgical outcomes and allows comparisons of outcomes among all participating hospitals.
The new study by the American College of Surgeons research team found that among hospitals currently participating in the program for at least three years, 69 percent reduced the rate of death; 79 percent reduced the rate of complications; and 71 percent reduced the rate of surgical site infections. It was estimated that, on average, these hospitals reduced their rate of death by 0.8 percent per year; reduced their rate of complications by 3.1 percent per year; and reduced their rate of surgical site infection by 2.6 percent per year (with respect to the prior year's rates)."
... is about as useful as hoping that water will run uphill ahead of the general election.
The Guardian view on the Welsh NHS: all in it together | Editorial
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/18/guardian-view-welsh-nhs-all-in-it-together
Do these ingestible sensors
http://www.proteus.com/technology/digital-health-feedback-system/
spell the end of wearables?
http://healthcare-economist.com/2015/02/24/the-end-of-wearables/
Unearthing Fraud In Medical Trials
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/YtZBkunzaFI/story01.htm
Effect of Corticosteroids on Treatment Failure Among Hospitalized Patients With Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia and High Inflammatory Response A Randomized Clinical Trial http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=2110967
New Scientist review of recent research on psychosis and cannabis use.
You'll end up buying more.
http://m.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/02/never-shop-hungry/385556/
A reanalysis of the Diabetes Prevention Program.
http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h454
Metformin seems to be of benefit only in those at greatest risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Mike Broad of Hospital Doctor reports on how hospitals have objected to the proposed NHS pricing plans for 2015-16.
"the pricing authorities must either refer their proposals to the Competition and Markets Authority for review, or consult the health service again on revised prices taking into account the objections."
Data from Australian photovoltaic installations displayed in various ways including a live feed.
