July 2008 - Posts

AACC/ASCLS Meeting in Full Swing
July 31, 2008 12:08 AM by Matthew Patton

We're in Washington, DC for the annual confab of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry and American Society for Clnical Laboratory Science. And the meeting is moving along great according to its organizers. On Wednesday morning, the ASCLS awards Read More...

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ER-TAT Survey
July 28, 2008 11:14 AM by Amanda Koehler

Florida Hospital, Orlando, is running a survey on emergency room turnaround time (ER-TAT). Participants are needed up until Sept. 15. See information below if interested: The purpose of this survey is to build a comprehensive database with quality information Read More...

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New Guidelines
July 21, 2008 9:36 AM by Kerri Penno

In response to a disastrous mix-up wherein 400 breast cancer patients in Newfoundland were given inaccurate test results between 1997-2005, the Canadian Association of Pathologists has announced new guidelines for the country's laboratory services. CTV.ca Read More...

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Breaking News
July 17, 2008 8:39 AM by Kerri Penno

Competitive bidding has been repealed. Congress has voted to override President Bush's veto of H.R.6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This effectively ends the San Diego competitive bidding demonstration and prevents all future Read More...

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A Reliable Source?
July 14, 2008 9:07 AM by Amanda Koehler

Today I read an article from The San Francisco Chronicle on researchers' attempt to create an online library of human genetics on Wikipedia . There have already been 7,500 Wikipedia entries on different genes. The researchers are hoping the popular online Read More...

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Immunity and the Avian Flu
July 9, 2008 5:55 PM by Kerri Penno

"Bring out your dead." That was the call heard through the streets during the 1918 flu pandemic, when the deaths surpassed modern resources and casket shortages forced families to surrender their loved ones to a wagon piled with bodies. Not a pretty image. Read More...

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Living the Truth
July 8, 2008 2:22 PM by Kerri Penno

The AMT 70th Annual Educational Program and National Meeting began with a flourish befitting the week following Independence Day, with a color guard presenting the flag and the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Following a welcome from Christopher Read More...

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Familiar Surroundings
July 7, 2008 5:00 PM by Kerri Penno

I just arrived in Providence, RI, for the 2008 American Medical Technologists Annual Meeting. While usually a travel day to a conference is the perfect time to explore the area and find out where I am, I'm pretty familiar with Providence, as I grew up Read More...

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Too Much Control?
July 2, 2008 8:55 AM by Amanda Koehler

Recently, CNN ran an article about company wellness programs. It discusses the benefits of having health coaches at work, encouraging employees to go to a gym and to eat right, and offering weight-loss and smoking cessation programs. The article's author Read More...

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