After the jump is a startling infograph (via the Dish) about the dangers associated with hospital stay. Hospitals improve far, far more lives than they harm, of course, and every system has its flaws, but the following stat is cause for deep concern: Number of hospital-acquired infections that lead to death: Europe: 1 in 122 [...]
The state Agency for Health Care Administration on Wednesday asked for another two-week extension in talks with the federal government about continuing a Medicaid managed-care pilot program, reports the News Service of Florida. The controversial program, which requires most beneficiaries in five counties to enroll in managed-care plans, was scheduled to expire June 30. But [...]
U.S. Rep. Allen West said Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann made “an incredible faux pas,” when she suggested over the weekend that drilling for gas or oil in the Everglades might be worth considering if it can be done without environmental damage, reports the News Service of Florida. “When I see her next week, I’ll [...]
John Wolfe, St. Petersburg City Attorney, was named Florida’s municipal attorney of the year and awarded the Paul S. Buchman Award during the 30th FMAA Annual Seminar, held recently in Palm Beach. “There is no greater honor than to be recognized by your colleagues,” Wolfe said. “I have been very fortunate to have known and [...]
John Ellis explains why Mitt Romney may not be much of an obstacle to Rick Perry winning the GOP presidential nomination. “Romney’s problem is four-fold: he’s politically ‘fungible’ (to put it politely), he’s from the wrong region of the country (New England), he’s of the wrong religion (Mormonism) and he’s too closely identified with Wall Street [...]
The Political Wire: Allan Lichtman, author of The Keys to the White House, a forecasting model that has correctly called every president since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election, says President Obama will win in 2012, Washington Whispers reports. Said Lichtman: “Even if I am being conservative, I don’t see how Obama can lose.” “Lichtman developed his 13 Keys in [...]
A public employees watchdog group said Monday that state enforcement of environmental violations was better under Gov. Charlie Crist than his predecessor, Gov. Jeb Bush, but the group said enforcement still was disappointing, writes Bruce Ritchie. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility also said there were some gains from 2009 to 2010 but pollution “varies widely” among Department of Environmental [...]
Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida reports that the Legislature could consider a constitutional amendment to change the timeline for redistricting votes in an effort to address a barrage of criticism lawmakers have heard as they have traveled across Florida, Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz said Tuesday. The idea floated by Gaetz, R-Niceville, [...]
Michael Peltier of the News Service of Floria reports that mounting fear over the nation’s economic health both in the short run and the long term dragged down consumer confidence in Florida, which in August fell to the near record low posted at the bottom of the housing bust, a University of Florida report indicated [...]
Florida’s long-debated prescription drug database will start taking effect Thursday, with pharmacies and other providers required to report information about dispensing controlled substances such as OxyContin and Xanax, reports the News Service of Florida. Providers will be required to submit information within seven days of dispensing the targeted drugs. Ultimately, the database will be used [...]
