The Food and Drug Administration has reduced an obstacle from its compassionate-use policy, streamlining paperwork that physicians must submit to obtain experimental drugs for patients with life-threatening illnesses.
Month: June 2016
ER to replace full-service Ellijay hospital
North Georgia Medical Center in Ellijay has closed and will be replaced by an emergency department under an agreement that its owner recently signed with Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in nearby Jasper. Piedmont will lease the ER as well as a nearby medical official building and facilities that have physician offices and other services. The owner…
State senator says Georgia should ‘re-examine’ Medicaid expansion
The Republican head of the Georgia Senate’s Health and Human Services committee says the state needs to “re-examine” expanding Medicaid. Read the full article: WABE
Thousands no longer eligible for food stamps
Since the state instituted new regulations in January requiring able-bodied adults with no dependents to work, thousands fewer people are applying for food-stamp benefits. Read the full article: wsbtv.com
NIH gives Emory $35.6 million for HIV/AIDS research
The National Institutes of Health awarded a research consortium at Emory a five-year, $36.5 million grant to develop new strategies to prevent and cure HIV/AIDS, including vaccine research. Read the full article: Atlanta Business Chronicle
Hospital authority votes to search for Memorial Health partner
The Chatham County Hospital Authority unanimously voted to move forward in seeking a new financial partner for Memorial University Medical Center and invited hospital board members to join in a united effort. Read the full article: Savannah Morning News
Commentary: Make primary care a priority
Georgia ranks among the bottom 10 states in the number of primary care physicians per 100,000 population. And low payments for these doctors nationally led to a smaller percentage of general medicine residents choosing to practice primary care last year, notes Dr. Deep Shah, who’s about to begin a primary care practice here in his…
Support your local quarterback — the primary care physician
I grew up in Georgia and always dreamed of playing high school football. Unfortunately, neither my DNA nor my mom shared that vision. But now, I’ll finally have my chance to play quarterback. This month, I will complete my medical training and begin practicing as a primary care physician (PCP) in Gwinnett County. A good…
Report: Augusta water improperly tested for lead
The Augusta utilities director said Monday his agency properly tests for lead in drinking water after a newspaper reported that the East Georgia city, and 32 others, “cheats” to avoid reporting potentially dangerous levels of lead. Read the full article: ajc.com
Conyers pharmacies burglarized for drugs
Local pharmacies and the Conyers Police are seeking citizens’ help in stopping a rash of burglaries that have occurred recently. Read the full article: Rockdale Citizen