Reform law ignores crucial problem of doctor pay, according to Gail Wilensky, PhD
June 1st 2011The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the new health care reform law, takes some "paltry steps" toward improving the quality of medical care, but it ignores the most fundamental problem that still begs for a solution-how to fairly compensate physicians who treat Medicare patients.
Oral abiraterone acetate PCa benefits affirmed by phase III data
June 1st 2011Updated phase III clinical trial results provide further evidence that oral abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA), which was recently approved by the FDA, is well tolerated and has significant clinical benefit in men failing previous intervention for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Simulation estimates thermotherapy damage in prostate cancer
June 1st 2011French researchers aiming to develop image-guided laser interstitial thermotherapy for prostate cancer have successfully created a 3-D numerical simulation method for accurately estimating the thermal effects and tissue damage caused by the procedure.
Health care is changing; what are you doing about it?
June 1st 2011If the trends currently in motion continue, you will see the beginning of accountable care organizations in 2012, with increasing numbers of them year by year, unless there is a repeal of the shared savings portion of the Affordable Care Act or the final rule restricts the potential savings that can be obtained by any ACO.
Prostate cancer patients have good survival outcomes with pelvic lymph node dissection
June 1st 2011Men with clinically localized prostate cancer who undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection show a higher than expected incidence of lymph node metastases, but men with nodal involvement have excellent 10-year clinical recurrence-free survival.
PVP more cost-effective than TURP in BPH, VA data indicate
May 26th 2011Even considering the weight of many unknown variables such as the costs of operating room nursing and equipment replacement, it appears that costs for photoselective vaprization of the prostate (PVP) for BPH are substantially less than those seen with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
HIFU shows 83% cancer-free rate in 10-year study of localized PCa
May 26th 2011Ten-year data from an international registry-based multicenter study showed that 83% of patients with localized prostate cancer had no biopsy evidence of disease after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Surgeon caseload, practice type affect kidney Ca treatment
May 26th 2011Patients with small kidney tumors are more likely to be offered treatment options based on surgeons? case volume and type of practice than on tumor characteristics, suggests a study by researchers from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Targeted prophylaxis shows promise in addressing post-TRUSP infections
May 19th 2011In men undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSP), targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis based on findings from rectal swab cultures significantly reduces the incidence of infectious complications and has implications for decreasing the overall cost of care, according to data reported by researchers from Northwestern University, Chicago.
Self-massage shows benefit in CP/CPPS patients with myofascial pain
May 19th 2011Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) can be do-it-yourselfers when it comes to treating the myofascial component of their pain. And that may mean that the men with a phenotype of muscle tenderness?which may be 60% of CP/CPPS patients?could get significant relief and save money.