News from other sources...

Information technology

Survey: 70% of caregivers say tech plays no role or a minor role in their work | Mobihealthnews

Less than a third of nonprofessional family caregivers surveyed by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute said technology plays a large role in their caregiving.

FTC drops probe of Texas Medical Board on telehealth | Health Data Management

The Federal Trade Commission has ended its investigation of the Texas Medical Board for potentially violating antitrust law by restricting how telemedicine is practiced in the state. Texas recently passed a new law rescinding a requirement for patients to have in-person consultations with providers before they could receive care virtually.

Safety, quality and clinical practice

Hospitals ramp up hyperbaric therapy for diabetics, despite concerns | Kaiser Health News

Almost 1,300 hospitals in the U.S. have installed hyberbaric oxygen therapy facilities for treating diabetes despite the American Diabetes Association's saying there is not enough evidence of the treatment's efficacy. Medicare reimburses hospitals about $450 for each two-hour session.

Medical devices

Philips to buy medical device maker Spectranetics for 1.9 billion euros | Reuters

Spectranetics makes devices for heart disease therapy. Philips chief executive Frans van Houten said the acquisition, which comes two years after the company's acquisition of vascular imaging company Volcano, will further bolster Philips' presence in the market.

Pharmaceuticals

Why can't Shkreli's judge find jurors? Prospects blame 'pharma bro' for every drug pricing scandal | Fierce Pharma

No jurors were chosen on the first day of jury selection for the trial of Martin Shkreli, who is being charged with securities fraud while at Retrophin, a company he founded. Potential jurors have said they cannot be impartial because of how Shkreli increased the price of parasitic disease drug Daraprim from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill.

In other news

Night shifts may hinder body's ability to repair DNA damage | Science Daily

Suppressed melatonin may be to blame for night shift workers' impaired ability to repair DNA damage, according to new research.