Smoke-free policies associated with lower blood pressure

Health Problems

Smoke-free policies have been associated with lower systolic (top number) blood pressure readings among non-smokers, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. While smoke-free policies—laws that prohibit smoking in public places like bars and restaurants—have been associated with reduced rates of hospitalization for heart disease, […]

Continue reading »

GI bleeding research points to need for updated Medicare policies

Health Problems

Penn Medicine researchers are calling for greater precision in Medicare performance reporting for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding following an evaluation of patients with the condition. GI bleeding results in significant complications, deaths, and healthcare costs in the United States. This year, a new Medicare inpatient reporting program was implemented to assess patients with GI bleeding to better address quality […]

Continue reading »