Information technology
Study slams hospitals for lax use of passwords | The HillNew research is raising serious questions about the cybersecurity practices of hospitals. The study, conducted by Ross Koppel of The University of Pennsylvania, found that sticky notes with passwords were prevalent in hospitals; that employees shared passwords; that keypad-protected doors to medical supply rooms often had passwords written on them; and that clinicians left computers logged on as a courtesy to whoever needed to use them next.
Pharmaceuticals
FDA panel to vote whether diabetes drug reduces cardiac death | ReutersAn advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be asked to vote next week on whether a diabetes drug made by Eli Lilly & Co. and Boehringer Ingelheim reduces the risk of cardiovascular death. The FDA approved Jardiance in 2014 to help lower blood sugar in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Filling a prescription? You might be better off paying cash | Kaiser Health News
For some consumers who use health insurance copays to buy prescription drugs are paying more than they should be and would be better off paying with cash, especially for generic medications. Pharmacists say the added cost runs as high as $30 or more per prescription.
Pfizer to close Hospira plant in Colorado, 100 jobs lost | FiercePharma
New York-based Pfizer said the drug maker will close its facility in Boulder, Colo., due to underutilization. The plant will likely close by 2019 and 100 jobs will be lost.
Safety, quality and clinical practice
The challenges of making health apps beyond the wealthy | NPRA growing effort is underway to use digital technology like smartphones to improve the health of Americans who live on the margins. Current digital health products like the Fitbit are made for wealthy people who already monitor their health, experts argue.
After Orlando, doctors debate value of tourniquets | STAT
The shooting at Pulse has already spurred discussion among regional EMS staff about the need for more public education about tourniquets. But some doctors caution special training is key.
