CareFirst invests $1 million to train nurses

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is investing another $1 million in a program it launched six years ago to help train the next generation of nurse educators.

Recalled frozen berries sold in Maryland

Harris Teeter and Costco have pulled an antioxidant berry blend from stores because it has been linked to an outbreak of hepatitis A.

Colonoscopies cheaper in Baltimore than other parts of the country

The New York Times looked at the varying costs of a colonoscopy at hospitals around the country to illustrate how simple medical procedures are driving up health care costs.

Michael Douglas said oral sex caused his throat cancer

Michael Douglas told the Guardian newspaper recently that his throat cancer was caused by the HPV virus that he contracted performing oral sex over the years.

Maryland Proton Treatment Center getting some competition

The competition for medical dollars within the Baltimore-Washington area got a national radio audience this morning, when NPR aired a story about plans for two proton beam therapy facilities in the District of Columbia.

Mallard babies hatch at MedStar Harbor Hospital

 MedStar Harbor Hospital is the new home to a family of Mallards.

Glaxo anti-cancer cocktail gets regulatory approval

After her melanoma, Cheryl Stratos is mostly back to a normal life, running a business and driving her teenage son to weekend events, but there are reminders that it could all come back: The sores all over her body, the high fevers, the hair loss -- even the possibility of a suddenly shortened life. For Stratos, of Virginia, and others who have benefitted from a class of revolutionary anti-cancer drugs known as BRAF mutation inhibitors, another tool in the fight against relapse has just been sharpened: Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline received FDA approval Wednesday for a new cocktail that includes a BRAF-targeting component.

Maintain walkers, wheelchairs like you would a car

Owning a cane, wheelchair or walker is a little bit like owning a car, said Brad Barnhart, a physical therapist at North Oaks, a senior living community in Pikesville. Skip maintenance, and it could lead to unsafe conditions. Barnhart, with more than 25 years of experience in senior living settings, provides some tips on keeping medical devices in good shape.

HealthSpring changes its name

 HealthSpring, an arm of Cigna that manages Medicare plans, said Wednesday it is rebranding and changing its name to Cigna-HealthSpring.

Baltimore 17th fittest metropolitan area

 Baltimore is the 17th fittest metropolitan area in the country, according to the latest survey by the American College of Sport Medicine’s American Fitness Index.

13 insurers want to offer plans on state exchange

Thirteen insurers have submitted plans to offer health insurance on the state exchange, or marketplace where individuals can buy insurance under health care reform, that begins open enrollment in October.

Maryland General will no longer deliver babies

Update: Carver said this afternoon that 50 total employees would lose their jobs, including 10 to 15 doctors and midwives. They could get jobs at other UMMS facilities, including other positions at Maryland General.

HPV-related throat cancers multiplying

It is well known that HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to deadly cervical cancer in women, but the virus is causing cancer in men as well. Throat cancers caused by HPV are showing up typically in men with little or no history of smoking, said Dr. Kevin J. Cullen, an oncologist who specializes in treating head and neck cancers. Cullen, the director of the University of Maryland's Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, talks about the growing cases of HPV-related throat cancers.

Angelina Jolie will also get ovaries removed

Actress Angelina Jolie, who got a double mastectomy to lower her chances of breast cancer, will also have her ovaries removed, according to People magazine.

Attorney general wants warning about affect of opiates on babies

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has joined 42 other attorneys general asking the FDA to put a warning label on opiod pain killers explaining the health consequences babies face when their mothers take the drugs while pregnant.

Teenagers and tanning beds: State health officials push to revise consent form

The consent forms teenagers must get signed by their parents before using a tanning bed could soon change.

Maryland health centers get $1.7 million in federal funding

Sixteen health centers in Maryland will share in $1.7 million in federal funding to help enroll uninsured residents in health plans under health care reform.

Spring is the perfect time to taste the rainbow

Nutritionists from the University of Maryland Medical Center regularly contribute a guest post. The latest post is from Catherine Schroeder, dietetic intern.

MVA launches online vision screening program for license renewal

The state has launched a program to streamline the eye exam process for people over 40 who are renewing their driver's licenses.

Should doctors get random drug tests?

What if you're doctor smoked marijuana and then performed surgery on you?

Hopkins announces $4.5 billion fundraising goal

Johns Hopkins announced Saturday a $4.5 billion fundraising goal — among the largest in the country — to help the university and health system address some of the world's most challenging issues, including water scarcity, education quality and city revitalization.

STI havens within galloping distance of Preakness

If indecent exposure laws aren't enough to give adventurous Pimlico infield visitors pause, here's another disincentive: The famous race course lies inside of one of Baltimore's statistical hot spots for gonorrhea.

Enlarged prostate can cause urination problems in men

Many men will experience prostate enlargement as they get older, some to the point that it will cause urination problems. Dr. Michael Naslund, director of the Maryland Prostate Center at the University Maryland Medical Center, said there are many options for treatment, including surgery, drugs and lifestyle changes.

Boston Marathon victims to get free prosthetics

A Linthicum firm is among several orthotics and prosthetics companies that will offer victims of the Boston Marathon bombing artificial limbs at no charge if their insurance doesn't cover all or some of the costs of the devices.

Hopkins professor to replace Ben Carson as commencement speaker

John Hopkins professor Jon Lorsch will replace neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as commencement speaker at the institution's School of Medicine.