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L.A. County, Calif., Offers Home Delivery Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea Test Kits
Los Angeles County health officials on Wednesday announced a program that will offer young women home delivery of chlamydia and gonorrhea testing kits and send them a text message when the results are available, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. The $450,000 program aims to curb the rapid spread of sexually transmitted infections in the county while also reducing clinic wait times and costs.According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, Los Angeles County in 2007 led the nation in reported chlamydia cases with 44,030 and ranked second for reported gonorrhea cases with 10,063. CDC has labeled chlamydia a hidden epidemic because women often display no symptoms. It is estimated that three million men and women contract the infection annually. Although chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, women with untreated cases can experience infertility, higher risk for ectopic pregnancy and other problems. Peter Kerndt, director of the county"s STI program, said that the number of reported cases is expected to rise after the program"s implementation. According to county Health Director Jonathan Fielding, more than 50% of reported cases involve women younger than age 25, many of whom are black and Hispanic teens. It is recommended that women younger than age 25 receive annual testing.Under the program, 10,000 chlamydia and gonorrhea testing kits will be immediately available, with more offered as needed, according to county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. To request a kit, women can visit a Web site or call a toll-free number to have the kits mailed to them. Women can administer the tests at home by inserting a vaginal swab for 10 seconds, sealing the swab in a plastic tube and mailing it to the testing center. They can opt to have a text message sent to their phone alerting them when their results are ready, which can be checked by phone or online. Women will then be referred to a local health clinic if needed. Similar programs have been implemented in Denver, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and some Illinois counties. The Los Angeles County program is modeled on a Baltimore pilot program led by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Mohajer, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/11).
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FDA Warns Web Sites Against Marketing Fraudulent H1N1 Flu Virus Claims
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is enforcing the laws that protect consumers from illegal products marketed through the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.
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American Nurses Association Now On Facebook, Linkedin
The American Nurses Association (ANA) announced the launch of its new Facebook and LinkedIn online community groups, providing nurses with access to two popular social networking sites that offer fast, free, and convenient new ways to share information and make professional connections online. By signing up to become a "fan" of ANA at http://www.nursingworld.org/facebook, users will be able to post news, share photos, download ANA video clips and join in on discussion boards on timely nursing issues. By joining LinkedIn, http://www.nursingworld.org/linkedin, users will be able to connect with a vast network of professional contacts within the nursing field.
Endocrinology

Why Is It Important To Get A Second Opinion For A Total Knee Replacement?

While total knee surgery is a common procedure with a high success rate in the US, getting a second opinion is still recommended. Each surgeon has had a specific training and education, and more experience with certain procedures over others. Some surgeons embrace new technologies and methods while others are more traditional in their practice. Furthermore, you want to feel comfortable with your surgeon. Taking the additional steps to research, interview, and visit more than one doctor can pay off in the long run. Here are three scenarios that illustrate why getting a second opinion for a total knee replacement can save you time, money, and medical complications. The surgeon recommends something not appropriate for the current condition of your arthritic knee. For example, the surgeon will recommend a total knee replacement but only a partial knee replacement is necessary (or vice versa). Total knee surgery is far more common than partial knee surgery, but in some cases the damage to the joint is confined to a limited area and a less invasive surgery is more appropriate. By getting a second opinion, you will discover whether another doctor thinks a total knee surgery is necessary. The surgeon installs the prosthesis poorly and it needs to be removed. Revision is quite common in total knee surgery. Revision can be due to misalignment of the prosthesis or a loose artificial joint. You can find out how many joint procedures your surgeon does each year by simply asking. On average, surgeons in the US do about 7-10 joint procedures each year. Anything higher is desirable in a surgeon; for example, 1-2 procedures in a week is good. The surgeon has financial ties to the company that manufactures the artificial joints they recommend. There have been reports of surgeons receiving "consulting fees" from leading artificial joint manufacturers. A surgeon"s decision to use a certain joint for total knee replacement should not be dictated by monetary gain. A surgeon is required by law to declare any such relationships. For these reasons, it is a good idea to bring a list of questions with you to the doctor"s office. At the top of your list, you want to ask your surgeon why they recommend this procedure over others and how many they do of this procedure each year. In addition, have the surgeon give you a simple explanation of the surgery and the technique involved. Don"t be afraid to ask your surgeon what their experience is with the procedure they recommend. This includes good and poor outcomes, infection rate, and information about the setting where the operation will take place. You also want to ask the surgeon about alternatives to the procedure, nonsurgical or otherwise. Lastly, you can ask your surgeon about the anticipated outcome of the procedure. Different surgeons will have different ideas on how to treat your condition. There may be more than one procedure suitable for your knee and getting a second or third opinion will most likely reveal what"s best for you.longevity and suitability for various applications. With this information the potential patient may be better informed when discussing options with his or her surgeon. BoneSmart®


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