Wednesday, November 26, 2008

President Bush last week signed the Safety of Seniors Act into law. The measure aims to raise awareness about falls among the elderly and expands research into identifying at-risk populations. The law comes at a critical time: 1 in 3 Americans age 65 and older falls each year, and about 30% percent of those who fall require medical treatment. Nationally, 42% of all nursing home admissions can be linked to geriatric falls, according to Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who sponsored the House version of the legislation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it costs more than $19 billion annually to treat the elderly for the effects of falls.

Honda has developed a device that helps people with weak leg muscles walk. The elderly are expected to be the device's primary beneficiaries. Honda will unveil a prototype of the new product this week, according to the company.

RMS will soon begin selling the Care Clean 3000 in America. The device is the only existing automatic urine collector with a bidet, according to the firm. The product cuts caregiver and diaper costs, eliminates offensive odors, and gives residents greater dignity.

3M Company took 22nd place in Business Week magazine's list of the world's most innovative companies. The magazine noted that CEO George Buckley has "been on a mission to kick-start growth." He plans to increase spending on research and development to $1.4 billion, or almost 6% of sales. The publication's selections were based on three-year revenues, margin growth, stock returns and other variables, according to the publication.

VeriChip Corp. this week will begin its first direct-to-consumer marketing campaign for its patient identification microchip. The chip, which contains a 16-digit identification number, is implanted underneath the patient's skin, between the elbow and shoulder.

Woodhaven Health Services, a provider of pharmacy services for senior healthcare facilities, announced that it is changing its name to Remedi SeniorCare. The new identify will help the firm better position itself as a multi-regional provider of comprehensive pharmacy services, according to company officials.

Consulting and management firm Health Workforce Solutions has launched a Web site profiling two dozen innovative healthcare delivery models. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the site is designed to serve as a resource for healthcare leaders, quality and patient safety experts, consumer advocates, and others to learn about strategies used to cut costs, improve quality and safety, manage chronic disease, increase patient satisfaction, and cope with nursing shortages. The Web site divides models into three categories of care delivery: acute care, bridging the continuum, and comprehensive care. Site visitors can access a description of each model, the outcomes of the effort, strategies for replication, challenges and lessons learned, and other tools.