Pennsylvania’s 157 hospitals showed improvements in overall safety and survival rates, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council released today.
Consumers can get results on their local hospital’s success rate for 31 of the most common treatments and conditions including pneumonia, stroke and congestive heart failure. The report includes mortality rate, [...]
Sep 24
PA Hospital Safety and Survival Rates Improve
Sep 18
Bill to Ban Smoking on NJ Beaches, in Public Parks
A top New Jersey lawmaker is proposing a law to ban smoking on beaches and in public parks, and it could take effect by the end of this year.
Already, some beaches in New Jersey prohibit smoking and nearly all enclosed public places have banned smoking, but the proposal would tighten the restrictions in an effort [...]
Sep 18
Solution Side: Seasonal Flu Shots
Some local governments and pharmacies are already offering seasonal flu shots- not the shot for H1N1- the regular seasonal flu shots. Some government locations are free, and some pharmacies take insurance. If you don’t have insurance, call around for the best prices because they can range by as much as $10 or $15.You can get [...]
Sep 15
Solution Side: Help for Struggling Pennsylvanians
If you live in Pennsylvania and you’re really struggling, whether you’ve lost your job or you’re adjusting to a lower income, there are a lot of resources that could help. You may be eligible for food stamps, help with your heating bills, or even aid for your prescription drug costs. Check out www.connect211.org for a list [...]
Sep 14
Beware of Attorney General Impostors
In the past year complaints of financial scams have more than doubled, as scam artists continue to craft “too good to be true” offers, phony employment schemes, fraudulent internet auctions, and bogus sweepstakes scenarios.
In a recent report from the Attorney General, someone posing as PA’s Attorney General Tom Corbett, tried to convince a senior citizen [...]
Sep 10
A New Tool To Keep Track of Your Medications
If you’re taking a number of medications, you know that remembering when and how much to take of each can be quite a juggling act, but a new tool by Consumer Reports makes keeping track of your medications much easier.
My Medication Tracker is a free, downloadable tool that can help you prevent drug dosage errors [...]
Sep 09
FDA Enforces Faster Food Safety Reporting
A new rule now requires food manufacturers to notify government officials of potentially contaminated products within 24 hours to help federal regulators keep tainted items out of consumers’ hands. The FDA revealed a new electronic database that will enable food makers to notify the government and help the FDA prevent widespread illness. In addition to [...]
Sep 07
NJ Alert System Sends Emergency Texts, Emails
New Jersey residents can now sign up for a free system, NJ Alert, which allows State Emergency Management officials to send out text messages or email alerts with warnings and instructions in the event of a major emergency. For more information and to sign up, visit: www.ready.nj.gov
Sep 07
Dangers of Falling Furniture and TVs Spur NJ Bill
In response to the increasing number of children across the nation who have been injured or killed by falling televisions and furniture, lawmakers in New Jersey are urging manufacturers to do more to prevent these horrible tragedies. The Assembly has already given its approval to a measure that requires manufacturers to give consumers written notice [...]
Sep 04
NJ to Offer Free Swine Flu Vaccines to Uninsured
New Jersey has announced a plan to offer swine flu vaccines for free to uninsured residents, and possibly waive the cost for those with insurance. Vaccines are expected to become available in mid to late October and will be geared toward those most vulnerable including pregnant women, the elderly, healthcare workers and those under 24. [...]
