Right time for health-care overhaul
WASHINGTON -- When President-elect Barack Obama steps into the Oval Office in January, health-care reform will join a list of priorities crowded with two wars, a ballooning budget deficit and an economy mired in one of the worst slowdowns since the Great Depression.

Rell Calls Out Critics Of Charter Oak Health Plan
With the health care of 345,000 vulnerable children and their parents at stake, Gov. M. Jodi Rell is engaged in an extraordinary showdown with legislators and health care advocates.

Former surgeon general calls for universal health care
Universal health care is a basic human right that needs to be adopted in the United States, former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders said in Louisville last night. Elders called on President-elect Barack Obama and Congress to overhaul the health-care system to provide coverage for all, despite the potential cost to taxpayers.

Scandal follows mental-health pick
Maryland's new deputy secretary of behavioral health and disabilities compiled a record of patient scandals and a whistle-blower lawsuit at a similar position in Delaware over the past nine years.

Sacramento homicide spotlights gap in mental health care
In Sacramento, he punched a 76-year-old woman in the face and kicked her in the head, twice. In Burlingame, he broke another woman's jaw and knocked out three of her teeth. In San Bruno, he smashed in the windows of a house with a shovel and threatened to kill everybody inside. He also told staff at the Sacramento Mental Health Treatment Center "voices from the TV were telling him to kill." ...

Health
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHEAST INDIANA: Following Health and Safety Community courses at 1212 E. California Road; prepayment required at least two business days prior; 484-9336 or 1-800-513-2599, ext. 240.

By the numbers: Medicare drug and health care plan choices
140: Medicare prescription drug plans and health care plans offered to Broward County residents for 2008.

Concerns mount that budget cuts could worsen public health crisis
On a recent morning, the public health department here gave immunizations, examined obstetrical patients, checked the health and teeth of children, screened for sexually transmitted diseases and taught new mothers about portion size. The stream of patients included Gainesville resident Samantha Romero, 22, who received birth control. She and her husband were both out of work, and she said they ...

Light To Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Exploring The Health And Protective Benefits
While the physiological damage and social havoc created by alcohol abuse and dependency are well-known, it is also true that light-to-moderate drinking has certain health benefits. This mini-review summarizes a roundtable discussion held at the July 2007 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Chicago, Illinois.

Mich. lawmakers still get health care perk
Michigan lawmakers seem likely to finish the year without halting or scaling back a perk that's the envy of most workers - full health care coverage in retirement after six years of service.

Union believes Northwest teachers still covered under district health plan
By Heidi Ruckno Northwest Area teachers met with Pennsylvania State Education Association officials on Friday to discuss the school board?s decision to suspend their health coverage while they are on strike.

Health Ratings
The following businesses were inspected by the Alabama Department of Public Health before Nov. 14. Scores are based on a 100-point system.

Television shows also can send health message
The television medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" apparently has more to offer than Patrick Dempsey's rakish smile and a good cry. A new survey reports watching the show also may increase a viewer's health smarts.

Burlco Health Dept. sponsors AIDS events
The Burlington County Health Department will sponsor several events in recognition of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

Dover seniors to view mental health program
DOVER -- Dover Recreation for Seniors will present the Mental Health Players at their Dec. 9 meeting at the Moose Lodge.

Open source and health care reform
The product meets a specific need that has not been met before, but the underlying solution addresses "a problem that exists across all health care," the capture and guiding of data toward a common result. by Dana Blankenhorn

Team administers important health science program grant at San Jac
A group of San Jacinto College allied health faculty and staff members are working together to coordinate and manage a grant that will fund resources to help keep the College?s health science programs in step with current trends and developments.

Mental health patients strain hospital ERs
Six mental health patients spent Labor Day weekend in Trident Medical Center's emergency department. As hospital staff struggled to funnel the patients into an overloaded and shrinking mental health care network, they filled nearly half of the department's rooms. According to Trident's protocol, four camera-equipped rooms are filled first, with a staff member constantly watching patients on a ...

Public health group angered by alcopop tax loophole
The head of the Public Health Association says he is appalled alcoholic drink makers are using a loophole to avoid paying the 70 per cent tax hike on pre-mixed drinks.

County health board re-elects president
JOLIET -- The Will County Board of Health re-elected John J. Hines Jr. as president.