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What you should know about hepatitis

More than 4 million Americans have viral hepatitis and an estimated 85,000 become infected each year. Some forms go away on their own, but others, like Hepatitis B and C, can go on to become chronic infections that can lead serious liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. But most people with chronic hepatitis do not know they are infected.

U.S. launches plan to prevent Alzheimer’s and improve care

The Obama administration is moving forward with an ambitious agenda to improve the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and unlock a method to prevent it by 2025. The plan also sets up a wide-ranging effort to improve the care that Alzheimer’s patients receive and support families.

Music for Medicine benefit – Wednesday, May 23rd

The fifth annual Music for Medicine benefit will take place on Wednesday, May 23 at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Funds raised at last year’s event made it possible to provide more than $150,000 worth of medications for low-income or uninsured Polyclinic patients.

The Polyclinic completes move to new Madison Center

The move consolidates many of The Polyclinic’s services, allowing patients to obtain both primary and specialty care under one roof, says Polyclinic Executive Director Lloyd David.

How much do top-ranked hospitals cost Medicare?

Can you cut health spending without undermining the quality? A look at the cost to Medicare for patients treated at the nation’s top-ranked hospitals finds the costs run just about in the middle. Care a UW was even a bit cheaper.

Doctors and insurers are key to fighting obesity

Doctors assess patients’ breathing, heart rate and blood pressure routinely at office visits. Soon, they may be adding body mass index to that list too.

American Pain Foundation shuts down as senators launch investigation of prescription narcotics

The group received 90 percent of its $5 million in funding in 2010 from the drug and medical-device industry, and its guides for patients, journalists and policymakers had played down the risks associated with opioid painkillers while exaggerating the benefits.

Weekend Reading: Why we’re losing the fight against obesity, the big profits of non-profit hospitals . . .

Selected articles on health: Care of the elderly falling on shoulders of the young. Why we’re losing the battle against obesity? Whither the AMA? The big profits of non-profit hospitals.

Shellfish and shellfish products from Korea should not be eaten – FDA

The Washington State Department of Health is advising consumers not to eat any fresh or frozen shellfish that comes from Korea: all fresh and frozen shellfish, and many products made from these shellfish, shipped from Korea to the United States may be contaminated.

‘Choosing Wisely’ initiative may be a tipping point for costs and ethics – Viewpoint

Eliminating six major categories of waste (overtreatment, failures in care coordination and in execution of care processes, excess administrative costs and prices, and fraud and abuse) could free up at least one fifth of our nation’s total health care spending.