Perspectives on Health

Fertility specialists have developed a radical technique that can boost the chances of IVF couples having a healthy baby.

Doctors in Nottingham who devised the procedure say it could raise live birthrates at their clinic to 78%, around three times the national average for IVF treatment in the UK. Simon Fishel, director of the Care Fertility Group in Nottingham, said the £750 procedure was "probably the most exciting breakthrough we've had in 30 years".

 Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/17/ivf-revolutionised-new-technique-clinic

Having a good idea isn't enough to make a difference in the world. You also have to be able to sell that idea to everyone else.

On Friday, the four finalists for the Challenge's Technology Venture Competition presented their pitches: a bio-inspired catheter, a diabetes management app, a device that can diagnose head trauma by tracking users' eye movements and an app to help researchers organize their data. They had to prove that their projects were more than useful: They had to be profitable, too.

If you're looking to learn more about your genes, and are interested in having your DNA tested, there are several options you can pursue, that will ship direct-to-consumer. In addition to learning about your health, personal genetics services will often reveal things you didn't know about your ancestry. We've rounded up some online resources, so you can get your search started online. Keep in mind, direct-to-consumer genetic testing is illegal in New York and Maryland, meaning your results cannot be shipped to those states. Whether you chose to pursue testing or not, we recommend you consult a doctor or gentic counselor before making any medical decisions.

Read more at: http://mashable.com/2013/05/15/personal-genetics-resources/

Anna Brones: If you're still reeling from the horsemeat scandal, hold on to your hats – there may well be arsenic in your beer and rat hair in your chocolate

Since the horsemeat scandal, more of us than ever before are holding a microscope up to what we eat. But no matter how many labels you read, you could still be consuming things you'd rather put on your "do not eat" list. From human hair in our bread to fish bladder in our beer, there are a lot of additives and food processing techniques that employ ingredients and chemicals few would classify as "appetising". It's a reminder, frankly, that non-processed foods are your best bet.

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/may/13/10-gross-ingredients-food-horsemeat-scandal

Tiny, glowing robots could soon be injected into the eye to alert doctors of low oxygen levels that can lead to blindness.

Led by Bradley Nelson, a professor of robotics and intelligent systems at ETH-Zurich, researchers created devices 1 millimeter in length and one third of a millimeter in width that, once injected, can be steered through the eye’s vitreous fluid via external magnetic fields.

Read more at: http://mashable.com/2013/05/10/injectable-glowing-robots-blind/

An ergonomic case for tablets and e-readers aims to help users avoid the perils of Carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand-related ailments.

Called Wingo, the case has "wings" on either side, under which users place their hands to hold the device. According to its Kickstarter page, it aims to address problems that revolve around reading for long periods of time by reducing grip tension, filling the contours of users' fingers with grooves and allowing users to place their hands, wrists and forearms in a more "natural" reading position.

eHealth Initiative's 2nd Annual National Forum on Data and Analytics in Healthcare will occur August 1-2, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in the Washington, DC area and will bring together providers, payors, researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders focused on the use of analytics to improve clinical, financial and administrative decisions at critical points in the healthcare system.
This two-day event will feature a series of brief case studies and interactive multi-stakeholder panels on integrating different systems and transforming data into actionable healthcare intelligence. This conference will provide detailed and practical instruction on how to effectively manage and use data across healthcare, research, and surveillance.

If you want to work in the health care field but not in direct patient care, or if you are already working in the health care field (e.g., as a nurse or other health practitioner) and want to move into the managerial/administrative side of health care, then a health care administration masters degree will give you the required knowledge and skills.

This page gives you information about the masters degree in health care administration, where you can study it, the prospects after completion, and more ...

Read more at: http://onlineanddistancelearning.com/masters-degree-in-health-care-administration

A health unit brings many facets of health care work together to provide a one-stop shop for patients.  This takes a lot of organization, which is why more and more people are studying for certification as a health unit coordinator.

This page gives you information about obtaining health unit coordinator certification, where you can study it online, the job and salary prospects, and more ...

Read more at: http://onlineanddistancelearning.com/health-unit-coordinator-certification

The Re-Timer wearable light device can help you catch some z's by working to regulate your body's internal clock. The device emits a soft green light, which is supposed to mimic natural sunlight.

“Photoreceptors in our eyes detect sunlight, signal our brain to be awake, and set our rhythms accordingly,” Leon Lack, chief inventor and psychology professor at Flinders University in South Australia, said in a news release.

Read more at: http://mashable.com/2013/04/24/fight-jet-lag-re-timer/

Healthfundr is an equity-based crowdfunding platform for health startups. The site provides accredited investors with opportunities to invest in a selection of curated companies working on digital health, health IT, and diagnostic and medical devices.

The JOBS Act and the Affordable Care Act are dramatically changing regulations surrounding crowdfunding and healthcare. Crowdfunding has changed the venture capital landscape and startups in all sectors are using this method to raise  funding. The landscape for health investment is also changing. Funding soared for health IT and digital health companies in 2012, while money continued to lag for life sciences and medical device companies.

Read more at http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/09/healthfundr-launches-equity-based-crowdfunding-for-health-startups/#TqITKD8FUWBrrAZR.99

Find campus-based and online health care programs that will prepare you for careers in the many health care professions, and learn more about the prospects.