Surgeon General: More Minority Doctors Needed

ATLANTA (AP) — The new U.S. Surgeon General on Dec. 3 called for stepped-up efforts in increasing the number of minority physicians.

In what was one of her first speeches to a large crowd since she was sworn in Nov. 3, Dr. Regina Benjamin noted that the proportion of U.S. physicians who are minorities is only 6 percent—the same proportion as a century ago.

“There’s something wrong with that,” said Benjamin, speaking at a conference on health disparities at a hotel in downtown Atlanta.

The numbers come from a 2004 estimate of the percentage of U.S. physicians that are black or Hispanic. Blacks and Hispanics account for roughly 28 percent of the U.S. population, according to 2008 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Benjamin, 53, was the first black woman to head a state medical society.

Benjamin has not said what her priorities will be during her four-year term. Some health policy experts have predicted she might become a leading voice on national health care reform, but she made only a brief reference to the topic in her Dec. 3 speech.

Unilever Recalls All Slim Fast Canned Drinks

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. (AP) — Unilever PLC’s U.S. subsidiary says it has recalled all canned Slim Fast drinks because of the possibility of bacterial contamination that could cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

The company says the probability of serious health problems is remote.

Unilever’s U.S. arm, based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., says the products were sold nationwide. They came in cartons of four, six or 12 steel cans, 11 ounces in size, and they were also sold individually. The recall, issued Dec. 3, covers all Slim-Fast products in cans, regardless of flavor, best-by date, lot code or UPC number.

The company said it is working to determine the production issue that caused the contamination. It has halted production.

Pediatricians Offer Advice for Holiday Toy Safety

CHICAGO (AP) — If children are on your holiday gift list, beware. More than two dozen toys have been recalled this year for safety reasons.

With safety in mind, the American Academy of Pediatrics has prepared a tips list. Some are common sense, but that often gets lost in the holiday bustle.

Above all, pick toys that suit kids’ age, abilities and interest level. Also, to prevent electric shocks, choose battery-operated instead of plug-in toys for kids under 10.

Keep young children away from toys with button batteries and magnets. These can cause serious and even fatal intestinal problems if swallowed.

The academy also warns that pull toys with strings longer than 12 inches can be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Obama Says Health Care Reform Means Jobs

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — He’s been spending a lot of time on health care, but President Barack Obama says that doesn’t mean he’s been neglecting the nation’s unemployment troubles.

He says the two issues are closely related.

Obama told a town hall gathering in Allentown, Pa., on Dec. 4 that health care reform is “part and parcel” of what has to be done to help the economy. He says when small business owners face steep increases in health premiums, that’s money they can’t invest in their businesses or use to hire more workers.

Obama says controlling health care costs is part of creating jobs.

CDC: Swine Flu Is Widespread Only in 25 States

ATLANTA (AP) — Swine flu infections continue to wane, just as vaccines are becoming plentiful enough that some communities are allowing everyone to get it, not just those in priority groups.

Swine flu was widespread in only 25 states last week—mostly in the Northeast and Southwest, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Dec. 4.

In late October, 48 states were reporting widespread cases of swine flu. But since then, there’s been a decline across the country, and it appears that a fall wave of swine flu infections has peaked.

Meanwhile, a shortage of swine flu vaccine is easing, with 73 million doses now available, roughly twice as much as there was a month ago. And another 10 million doses are expected in the next week, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC’s director.

Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

The swine flu pandemic has so far hit in two waves in the United States: First in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

Kaiser to Pay $3.75 Million in False Billing Case

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four Kaiser health care companies have agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle allegations they improperly billed for teaching physicians’ services.

Federal prosecutors said from 1996 through 2002 Kaiser falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid for services the companies said had been provided by teaching physicians.

The government alleges the services were actually provided by resident physicians without a teaching physician’s supervision.

Kaiser voluntarily disclosed the misconduct to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office. The settlement was announced Dec. 3.

The Kaiser companies involved are Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., The Permanente Medical Group and Southern California Permanente Medical Group.