Health & Wellness - baltimoresun.com

Cesarean section, induced labor not always best choice, studies say

By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Cesarean sections are often performed when a baby is going to be born early. Likewise, sometimes labor is induced when a woman's water breaks too early in the pregnancy. However, two new studies suggest that these common practices may, in fact, not benefit babies.

Seeing more than just blurred vision in your eye exam

By Karen Nitkin, Special to The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:08:00 EST

Increasingly, optometrists are the first to spot conditions like diabetes and hypertension

A recent study commissioned by a vision insurance company confirms what many optometrists already knew anecdotally: That eye exams can be valuable tools for detecting the chronic diseases that are taking an increasing toll on American health and health care dollars.

Sun Magazine: From a marriage to cancer diagnosis, Giuliana Rancic opens up

By Jean Marbella , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:57:00 EST

From a long-distance marriage to her cancer diagnosis, E! host Giuliana Rancic opens up for audience

Growing up in Bethesda, Giuliana Rancic thought there was nothing more glamorous than the news women she saw on TV. First at the University of Maryland, College Park, then at graduate school in Washington, she trained to join their ranks, heading with mike and camera to the White House, Pentagon and Capitol Hill.

Dava Pharmaceuticals settles accusations it overcharged Medicaid

By Meredith Cohn , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:59:00 EST

Dava Pharmaceuticals Inc. will pay about $11 million to settle federal claims that it misreported drugs prices so it could charge more of the state-federal Medicaid program, according to U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and others in the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Audit finds drug oversight, record-keeping problems at Springfield Hospital Center

By Meredith Cohn , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:25:00 EST

A state legislative audit of Springfield Hospital Center found that the state psychiatric hospital in Sykesville was not keeping good records or controls of its $2.4 million stable of pharmaceuticals.

Emergency preparation for dialysis patients

By Meredith Cohn , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:17:00 EST

In case of inclement weather, there are steps kidney patients can take to maintain their health

Dialysis is a lifesaving treatment for those with kidney disorders. But during emergencies, particularly bad weather, sometimes patients don't want to go — or can't get to — their usual dialysis center. There are some steps patients can take to prepare, says Brandon Eck at the DaVita dialysis centers, who volunteers with the company's emergency response team, DaVERT.

State workers to get new pharmacy plan

By Michael Dresser , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:02:00 EST

Board of Public Works awards contested $2.4 billion contract

More than 200,000 Maryland state employees, retirees and dependents will switch to a new pharmacy plan as a result of the Board of Public Works' decision Wednesday to award the $2.4 billion contract to a St. Louis-based company.

O'Brien says Archdiocese of Baltimore won't offer birth control coverage

By Andrea K. Walker, The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:04:00 EST

Health reform law requires coverage of contraception

Cardinal-designate Edwin F. O'Brien said in a strongly worded letter that the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not comply with federal law requiring churches to offer birth control coverage even it means dropping health insurance for its 3,500 employees.

Maryland native at center of Komen controversy steps down

By Yvonne Wenger, The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:10:08 EST

Analysts say Karen Handel's resignation a start, but not enough for full Komen recovery

The resignation of Maryland native Karen Handel from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation on Tuesday could be a first step toward the organization's recovery from a week of negative headlines, comments and tweets.

Project seeks 1 million veterans to give blood, DNA for disease research

By Meredith Cohn , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:23:00 EST

Department of Veterans Affairs working to uncover genetic mysteries

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a few good men and women to volunteer for a battle it's waging at home — against disease.