With healthcare reform on the horizon, healthcare companies and providers are positioning themselves for a new environment in which cost-effective medical treatment is the Holy Grail. Not only will providers be required to measure the efficiency of their treatments, but all parties in the medical-care delivery system will need to share financial risk. In the following pages Modern Healthcare staff members look at how specific industry segments are preparing to face the changes expected during the rest of the 1990s. Industry experts also express their views.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed1994

Inhibitors of ATP-sensitive potassium channels stimulate intestinal cholecystokinin secretion.

Recently, a role for adenosine 5'-triphosphate(ATP)-sensitive potassium channels in the regulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion has been described in STC-1 cells, an intestinal CCK-secreting cell line. To examine whether a similar mechanism might participate in the regulation of hormone secretion from native CCK cells, the effects of two established inhibitors of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (e.g. glucose, disopyramide) were examined on CCK release from dispersed murine intestinal cells. Both glucose and disopyramide were found to stimulate CCK secretion. Furthermore, CCK release induced by glucose was inhibited by the calcium channel blocker diltiazem. It is concluded that, ATP-sensitive potassium channels may play a role in the regulation of intestinal CCK secretion.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1994

A Model for Psychosocial Care in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Among cancer patients, those with disease of the head and neck area carry the highest psychiatric morbidity. Over 50% may be depressed even before treatment. Recognition and care of these problems is best done on a multidisciplinary basis with psychosocial care coordinated by a social worker. The concept of quality of life, a relatively new concept for head and neck cancer, may become an important tool to assist patients with initial decisions about care and to better define the success of management. In this paper we will review the psychiatric, behavioral and psychosocial problems related to the patient with otolaryngological cancer, discuss interventions to reduce patient and family distress, and describe a model for identifying those patients who need more intensive psychosocial care.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

FTC OKs Calif. radiology network.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antitrust Laws↗