Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services put out a new rating system to help rate nursing homes in the U.S. and non-profit homes did very well.

The new rating system is a five-star system, looking at health inspections, quality measures, staffing, among other things. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - There are only a few more shopping days until Christmas, and before you buy a new gift, be sure to remember toy safety to keep your children protected!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has put out some 2007 statistics, stating that over 170,000 children had to be rushed to the emergency room due to injuries related to unsafe toys. On top of that, 18 children died in 2007 due to a lack of toy safety. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that a common influenza strain is resistant to the drug Tamiflu.

Tamiflu made by Roche AG and Gilead Sciences and is commonly used to prevent and treat the flu. Continue Reading

..."align="left" />Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - The Bush administration has passed a new form of protection from health care workers in the form of the “right of conscience” rule.

Under this new rule, health care workers with a “reasonable” connection to procedures such as abortions, birth control pills, etc. have the right to say that they do not want to take part in them. Continue Reading

Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - The California Supreme Court has ruled that a woman who saved her co-worker from a car crash is liable for damages caused to her friend.

The California Supreme Court ruled that an emergency rescue such as this should be done by a trained professional. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - Once President-elect Barack Obama takes office, it has been confirmed that the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Andrew von Eschenbach will resign.

The FDA chief put out a memo this week stating that he expects to resign on January 20th.

This happens to be the exact day that Obama will be sworn in as president of the United States.

The reason for his resignation is to go back home to Texas to be with his family.

President George W. Bush appointed him as acting chief back in September 2005, and was later given the position permanently.

Nothing has been confirmed as to who will replace him once he resigns.

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - A new study has found that high levels of two particular enzymes increase survival rates for ovarian cancer patients.

The new study focused on 111 patients and was led by K. Sood of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Continue Reading

Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that they now require data on heart risks associated with new diabetes drugs.

In the past, the FDA only required drug makers to show that these diabetes drugs could help lower blood sugar levels. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - Researchers have found that HIV has the ability to infect women, even if they have healthy genital tissue.

It was thought by researchers that HIV could only infect women with damaged skin in genital area. Continue Reading

Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - Taiwan is being accused of trying to cover up a bird flu outbreak.

There have been media reports out of Taiwan that the southern part of the country has been hit with a bird flu outbreak. Continue Reading