Here are seven articles Becker's Hospital Review published in the last week, highlighting HHS nominee Alex Azar's stance on high drug prices and the American Red Cross' urgent call for blood donors, among other topics.
1. Why the NYT featured MedStar Health in its style section
MedStar Health, a 10-hospital system in Columbia, Md., stepped into the world of hospital fashion through a recent partnership with "healthwear" company Care+Wear to pilot a kimono-inspired hospital gown for patients to wear during their stay.
2. FDA: IV fluid shortage exacerbated by hurricane damage to Puerto Rico is expected to improve
The FDA expects IV fluid shortages to improve early this year after a leading manufacturer of IV saline bags — Baxter International — announced all of its facilities in Puerto Rico have returned to the commercial power grid.
3. Pfizer to cut 300 jobs, end drug research for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
Pfizer will end research into treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, resulting in the elimination of 300 positions at the company's Massachusetts facilities in Andover and Cambridge, and its Connecticut facility in Groton.
4. HHS nominee Alex Azar grilled on drug prices during Senate hearing: 4 things to know
High drug prices were a hot topic of discussion at HHS secretary nominee Alex Azar's Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.
5. Red Cross faces critical blood shortage after winter storms cancel blood drives
The American Red Cross is experiencing a critical shortage of blood donations after a winter storm ripped through much of the Northeast last week, forcing the organization to cancel numerous blood drives.
6. FDA Commissioner shares thoughts on landmark year, drug pricing & more: 6 takeaways
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, outlined the agency's efforts to reduce drug prices, reflected on 2017's medical innovations and drafted goals for policy in 2018 in a blog post published Jan. 9.
7. Cardinal Health CEO: Company's size, niche products will help protect against Amazon's foray into healthcare
Mike Kaufmann, who assumed leadership of Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health earlier this month, said the company's medical supply business will not become easily "commoditized" when brought toe-to-toe with other wholesale distributors, like Amazon, that aim to disrupt the business.