Medical News

Computer Outage at St. Louis Health System Affects EHR Access
On Tuesday, BJC HealthCare in St. Louis experienced a computer outage for 20 hours that affected operations across the health system, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Outage Details According to the Post-Dispatch, the outage occurred from 3 p.m. on Tuesday to about 11 a.m. on Wednesday (Liss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/30). The outage blocked access […]

Online Tool Analyzes Tweets To Determine States’ Caloric Balances
University of Vermont researchers used an online, interactive tool to study the number of calories U.S. residents consume, as well as how they expend those calories, the Washington Post‘s “Speaking of Science” reports. Study Details The researchers used the tool, called the Lexicocalorimeter, to analyze more than 50 million tweets from Twitter users across the […]

DoD: New EHR not about interoperability with VA
When Defense Department officials briefed reporters prior to announcing that the Cerner, Leidos and Accenture team won its EHR modernization contract, they were adamant that so much speculation about the DoD’s ability to share patient information with the Department of Veterans Affairs had been unfounded.  “There is not a big interoperability problem with the VA […]

CVS Health, IBM Partner To Develop Care Management Technology
On Thursday, CVS Health and IBM announced they are partnering to bring IBM’s Watson technology to CVS Health pharmacists and practitioners in an effort to improve health care management for patients with chronic diseases, USA Today reports.  Background on Watson Technology IBM’s Watson computing system can: Analyze large amounts of information; Develop knowledge over time; […]

Featured Stories

Medical News Today: What causes pale gums?
The gums can turn pale for several reasons. Pale gums around the teeth may indicate anemia, which is often caused by a lack of iron, folate, or vitamin B12. If the gums are painful and the paleness is patchy or web-like, the cause may be more severe. Here, learn about underlying conditions and when to see a doctor.

Medical News Today: Can saw palmetto reduce enlarged prostate?
Saw palmetto is an herbal remedy with many potential uses in healthcare. One such use is the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Although a popular remedy, research into the herb’s efficacy is still ongoing and the results to date are inconclusive. Here, we look at the other treatments also available.

Medical News Today: Can you have RA and PsA at the same time?
There are many types of arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is linked to the skin condition psoriasis, where the immune system overreacts, resulting in psoriasis rashes. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes the immune system to overreact, but results in stiffness in the joints. Learn about the difference between the two here.

Medical News Today: What are the health benefits of balsamic vinegar?
Balsamic vinegar is a food cupboard staple in many kitchens. It can be used on roasted vegetables, salads, and as a marinade. In this article, we look at the many health benefits of balsamic vinegar, including reducing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and aiding weight loss. We also cover the possible risks.