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Jessica Anderson
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Dean Jones Jr.
Chris Kaltenbach
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Ken Murray
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Mike Preston
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Tim Smith
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L'Oreal Thompson
Candus Thomson
Andrea Walker
Childs Walker
Tim Wheeler
John-John Williams IV
Michelle Deal-Zimmerman
Jeff Zrebiec
David Zurawik
2:52 PM EDT, September 22, 2012
Gene patent case could impact patients, research
Every time a woman is tested for gene mutations linked to significantly higher rates of breast and ovarian cancer, her blood is sent to a lab in Utah.
1:55 PM EDT, October 17, 2012
The basics of newborn skin care
First-time parents may not always know how to care for their newborn's skin or recognize common conditions. Most problems resolve themselves, and the basic rule of thumb for washing and choosing products is to go with what's simple, says Dr. Kate B. Puttgen, assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine departments of dermatology and pediatrics and assistant director of the division of pediatric dermatology and cutaneous laser center.
4:23 PM EDT, October 3, 2012
Understanding sports hernias
That chronic groin pain sometimes felt by athletes may be called a sports hernia, but it's not really a hernia at all, according to Dr. Katherine G. Lamond, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She said they are different from what's normally thought of as a hernia and sometimes tough to diagnose. But once doctors determine that this is the cause, there is effective treatment.
4:32 PM EDT, September 21, 2012
Hearing impaired get boost at Hopkins clinic
Hearing aids have improved the quality of many people's lives, but most users have learned they are less than ideal in noisy environments.
3:57 PM EDT, September 19, 2012
Group urges pregnant women to maintain good dental care
With so many things to think about, expectant mothers sometimes neglect their teeth, but this can have implications for their unborn babies. In response, the advocacy group Maryland Dental Action Coalition is educating women about proper oral hygiene and dietary habits through an effort called Healthy Teeth, Healthy Kids. The group's aim is to develop good habits by mothers and children and to reduce early childhood cavities, said Dr. Winifred J. Booker, an Owings Mills pediatric dentist who has served on several state committees and professional organizations and is currently a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
7:11 PM EDT, September 18, 2012
Ravens, MedStar tackle issue of concussions
Jameel McClain knows what it feels like to be "dinged," or hit so hard in the head that he felt dizzy.
5:18 PM EDT, September 16, 2012
Bariatric surgery to cure Type 2 diabetes better understood
Days after undergoing gastric bypass surgery, Brenda Maker's diabetes was gone — her body producing enough of the hormone insulin to turn sugar into fuel.
5:49 PM EDT, September 11, 2012
Listeria-tainted cheese sends three to hospital
Three people in Maryland have been hospitalized after consuming Listeria-tainted cheese, and state health officials are working to help contain the multi-state outbreak.
3:35 PM EDT, September 14, 2012
Baltimore County sprays for mosquitoes
Pikesville and Catonsville are the next area locations to be sprayed for mosquitoes in response to cases of West Nile Virus, Baltimore County Department of Health officials said Friday.
4:09 PM EDT, August 31, 2012
Charlie Kimball talks about racing with diabetes
Charlie Kimball was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2007, news that upended his personal and professional life. But the 27-year-old English-born, California-raised open-wheel racing veteran didn't just work to get his career back on track, he's worked to inspire others.
5:03 PM EDT, September 11, 2012
Johns Hopkins biology professor wins top research award
Johns Hopkins University adjunct biology professor Donald Brown has won the 2012 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science for his work in genetics, as well as mentoring young scientists. He is the sixth Hopkins faculty member to win the prestigious award for basic and clinical research.
7:21 PM EDT, August 23, 2012
Maryland wins big grant for its insurance marketplace
Maryland secured $123 million of federal funding to launch its health insurance exchange, the cornerstone of President Barack Obama's health care reform, state officials announced Thursday.
8:04 AM EDT, September 10, 2012
From Sun Magazine: Budging the bulge with CoolSculpting
It's a common refrain in Gia D'Anna's office: Extra inches that childbirth or time left around the middle are resisting diet and exercise.
7:15 PM EDT, August 15, 2012
Whooping cough making a comeback in Md., U.S.
Public health officials are warning adults and adolescents to get booster shots in the wake of an unusually large number of cases of whooping cough this year around the nation and in Maryland.
6:49 PM EDT, August 17, 2012
Swine flu cases found in Maryland
Six Queen Anne's County residents have been diagnosed with a strain of swine flu that has been infecting people across the country, including many who have been attending state and local agricultural fairs, according to state health officials.
6:48 PM EDT, August 8, 2012
Md. infant mortality rate at record low for second year
Maryland maintained a record low infant mortality rate for the second year in a row, statistics cheered by state leaders, though the rate continued to outpace the national average.
2:09 PM EDT, July 25, 2012
Tips for hydration during summer heat
With the extreme heat, and even in less extreme temperatures, those who spend any time outside must stay properly hydrated. Some drinks are better than others, and some people need more fluids than others, says Dr. Marc I. Leavey, an internist at Mercy Medical Center and Lutherville Personal Physicians.
8:02 PM EDT, August 21, 2012
EPA rule on air pollution struck down
A federal appeals court swept aside a key pillar of Maryland's plan to reduce soot and smog on Tuesday when it struck down a federal rule aimed at limiting air pollution crossing from one state to another.
11:29 AM EDT, July 27, 2012
RFID tags help University of Maryland Medical Center track emergency drugs
An average of twice a day, a patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center has a heart attack, dangerous allergic reaction or other emergency that requires supplies from a crash cart.
3:30 PM EDT, July 25, 2012
Getting older, getting fit
For people who want to live past 100, the first step is taking a whole bunch more steps.
1:52 PM EDT, July 18, 2012
Alcohol tax funds boost long-term care services in Maryland
About $14.3 million generated by the 2011 state alcohol tax will be used to expand long-term care services to frail seniors and adults with disabilities, officials said Wednesday.
9:39 PM EDT, July 20, 2012
Sixth case cited in nurse midwife's license suspension
The Maryland Board of Nursing has added a sixth case in its order suspending the license of an Ellicott City nurse midwife for her alleged actions during home births in recent years — including a case in which Johns Hopkins Hospital was ordered to pay one of the largest malpractice judgments in the state.
6:45 PM EDT, July 24, 2012
Catholic Relief Services denies funding contraception
Catholic Relief Services is defending a grant it shared with another aid group that separately funds contraception, which is a violation of church doctrine.
6:28 PM EDT, July 24, 2012
Board of Physicians to get reorganization advice
The Maryland Board of Physicians is expected to get some advice Wednesday on how to reform itself, eight months after a legislative review found the panel was not working fast or efficiently enough to protect the public from bad doctors.
8:51 PM EDT, July 17, 2012
New HIV prevention drug may not be for everyone
Sexual promiscuity fueled by alcohol and drug use led one 47-year-old Towson man to contract HIV.
6:17 PM EDT, July 14, 2012
Details on midwife unaired in Hopkins malpractice case
When a jury ordered Johns Hopkins Hospital to pay $55 million to a Baltimore family whose newborn was brain-damaged, the case hinged on what doctors and nurses did in the two hours before birth.
2:31 PM EDT, July 11, 2012
Considering bariatric surgery? Read this first
Often, those who are very overweight have tried dieting for years before giving up in frustration. But more obese people are turning to bariatric surgery to jump-start their weight-loss programs.
7:31 PM EDT, July 16, 2012
FDA approves drug to prevent HIV infection
The federal government has approved for the first time a drug that can prevent an HIV infection, a significant development for Baltimore where transmission rates for the virus remain high and growing.
3:38 PM EDT, July 9, 2012
Medicare recipients to get more coordinated care
Four doctor groups across Maryland have been chosen by the federal Department of Health and Human Services for a program that aims to cut health costs and better coordinate care for Medicare recipients.
7:55 PM EDT, July 6, 2012
More hospitals allowing visits from patients' pets
Ask patients in some area hospitals which caregivers they most look forward to seeing, and they'll say the ones with hairy faces and bad breath.
8:26 PM EDT, June 28, 2012
Health care reform moves ahead in Maryland, nationally
States including Maryland can move with more certainty to insure their poor, and the federal government can require others to buy health coverage after the Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama's landmark health care law Thursday.
7:22 PM EDT, June 19, 2012
Maryland braces for Supreme Court decision on health care reform law
Miriam Brand just graduated from the University of Maryland and does not have a job, but she does have health insurance.
12:00 PM EDT, June 22, 2012
Microbe that lives in salt shows promise for salmonella vaccine
After years of complex research, a small team of University of Maryland scientists says it has developed a simple solution to a killer Third World disease using salt.
3:42 PM EDT, June 13, 2012
Strategies for dealing with migraines
The many people who suffer from migraine headaches often seek quiet, dark places to ride them out. But there are effective means of preventing them, shortening their duration and even stopping them. There are established medications and lifestyle changes sufferers can employ, and even some new ones to try, says Dr. Michael Sellman, chief of neurology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
12:24 AM EDT, June 18, 2012
Baltimore to strip some liquor stores of licenses in rezoning effort
City health officials want to strip the licenses of dozens of liquor stores in predominantly poor Baltimore neighborhoods, linking the outlets to higher levels of violent crime.
5:00 PM EDT, May 21, 2012
Implantable pain disk may help those with cancer
An estimated 3.5 million cancer patients around the globe are in severe pain from their disease, but many get no relief.
6:52 PM EDT, June 24, 2012
Diets suggested for more pregnant women
Before Aiesha Eddins got pregnant, she didn't give much thought to her diet.
3:42 PM EDT, May 7, 2012
Md. to get $1.8 million in Abbott settlement over drug marketing
Maryland is slated to receive $1.8 million for its part in a national settlement with Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories over allegations of illegal drug marketing, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler said Monday.
7:16 PM EDT, June 26, 2012
Burch resigns Hopkins board positions
Francis B. "Frank" Burch, Jr., co-chairman of the Baltimore-based law giant DLA Piper, resigned abruptly last week from Johns Hopkins' medicine and university boards.
9:56 PM EDT, June 18, 2012
Korean-American liquor store owners feel targeted by city
When Michelle Ha came to the United States in 1980, she dreamed of getting a college degree and returning to South Korea to become a politician.
9:53 PM EDT, May 22, 2012
Injury prevention laws save lives, report shows
Tens of thousands of lives have been saved over the years because Americans more routinely wear seat belts and don't drive drunk.
7:24 PM EDT, May 30, 2012
Doctors grapple with prostate cancer screening guidelines
For years, the PSA test has been the standard method for early detection of prostate cancer, which strikes one in six men.
8:10 PM EDT, May 8, 2012
350 jobs at stake as hospital changes programs
The University Specialty Hospital is expected to move its inpatient chronic care services to other hospitals in the University of Maryland Medical System in July, hospital and state officials said Tuesday.
3:44 PM EDT, May 6, 2012
Rare disorder nearly takes Baltimore woman's sight
When Tamika Morgan developed red irritated eyes in the fall of 2010, she wasted no time heading to an optometrist at a local retail store who gave her drops for pink eye.
5:04 PM EDT, May 8, 2012
Maryland Health Insurance Plan makes cost, benefit changes
The federal program that offers health insurance to Marylanders with pre-existing conditions has made changes recently that will make some costs go up and others go down.
8:44 PM EDT, May 2, 2012
Maryland hospital rates to tick upward
Patients and their insurers won't see much of a difference in hospital bills in the next year, as the state rate-setting panel decided to adopt a plan favored by the hospitals that holds payments "to a near-freeze level."
5:47 PM EDT, May 1, 2012
Health centers win funding to expand services
Maryland is slated to receive almost $15 million in the next round of funding from the federal health care reform law to upgrade and expand community health centers, mostly in the Baltimore area.
4:24 PM EDT, May 26, 2012
University of Maryland, Baltimore to revamp teaching on pain
As part of a federal project aimed at better treating pain, the University of Maryland, Baltimore will begin revamping the way it teaches future doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists.
7:30 PM EDT, May 17, 2012
Maryland doctors probe old cases for lead exposure
A day after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut in half the threshold for determining lead exposure in the nation's children, pediatricians faced the task of identifying new cases from thousands of their old files.
5:04 PM EDT, April 21, 2012
Forensic nurses taking the lead on rape cases in Maryland
Rape is a notoriously difficult crime to prosecute. Of every 100 rapes nationwide, 46 are reported, 12 lead to arrests and three result in prison sentences.
7:18 PM EDT, April 26, 2012
A new dress, and set of lungs, for prom
For the first time in the six years since Victoria Chakwin was diagnosed with a deadly lung disease, the gown she wears won't be hospital issue.
4:24 PM EDT, April 18, 2012
A guide to vasectomy reversal
Sometimes men are the ones to take care of birth control through a surgical procedure. But when those men and their partners have a change of heart about children for any number of reasons, they seek to reverse their vasectomies. And that's usually possible, even long after the original procedure, says Dr. Brad Lerner, co-director of the Vasectomy Reversal Center of America a division of Chesapeake Urology. Lerner answers questions about getting and reversing a vasectomy.
6:28 PM EDT, April 3, 2012
Komen hands out grants for breast cancer work
The Maryland affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded $2.2 million to 26 local health departments, hospitals and other programs to provide free mammograms, breast exams and diagnostic tests.
9:31 PM EDT, April 12, 2012
Bloomberg joins Johns Hopkins in dedicating new hospital
Michael Bloomberg's first donation to Johns Hopkins was $5, which he gave the year after he graduated in 1964 from the university with an engineering degree.
6:51 PM EDT, March 29, 2012
1 in 80 Maryland children diagnosed with autism, CDC says
One in 88 American children has an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new estimate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
8:10 PM EDT, March 30, 2012
Hopkins surgeon performs 2,000th Whipple
Early Friday in a small, brightly lit operating room in Johns Hopkins Hospital, a half-dozen doctors and nurses huddled over the gut of a cancer patient, quietly passing metal instruments and surgical sutures.
3:33 PM EDT, April 4, 2012
Understanding the new pap smear guidelines
Many women became used to having a Pap smear annually to check for cervical cancer, but recent recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have updated the timeline. Now, most women will need the test every five years. Cancer experts now agree that that this can fully protect women, while cutting down on costs, false positive test results and side effects, said Dr. Amanda Nickles Fader, assistant professor of gynecologic oncology at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
6:49 PM EDT, March 26, 2012
Supreme Court begins hearings on health care law
It was 1942 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Congress could influence wheat prices by telling farmers how much they could grow.
4:52 PM EDT, March 21, 2012
Parents, teens must weigh many factors in deciding on rhinoplasty
Many teens are unhappy with their appearance and ask their parents for a "nose job," or rhinoplasty. But there are a lot of factors to consider, such as the limits of surgery, the long-term effects and possible complications, according to Dr. Patrick J. Byrne, a facial plastic surgery specialist who practices at the Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center at Green Spring Station. Byrne, also an assistant professor at Hopkins School of Medicine, says there are better techniques to make the surgery successful, but this is still a big decision.
8:38 PM EDT, March 20, 2012
St. Joseph Medical Center board recommends buyer
St. Joseph Medical Centertook another step in choosing a buyer for its Towson campus.
7:12 PM EDT, March 29, 2012
Roads to close for Hopkins Bayview construction
Johns Hopkins Bayview campus plans to begin construction on a new $40 million emergency department annex on April 1, and some roads will be closed while work is being done.
9:53 PM EDT, March 27, 2012
Virginia man receives face transplant at Maryland Shock Trauma
When Richard Lee Norris opened his eyes after a marathon 36-hour surgery to give him a new face, he immediately wanted a mirror.
8:16 PM EDT, March 28, 2012
Good Samaritan Hospital settles claims it defrauded health programs
Good Samaritan Hospital agreed to pay $793,548 to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to federal health benefit programs for four years ending in December 2008, federal Department of Justice officials reported Wednesday.
4:40 PM EDT, March 14, 2012
Hopkins researchers aim to uncover which mobile health applications work
Those looking to lose weight, quit smoking or keep tabs on a malady have a lot of choices in the smartphone app stores. Choosing one that's beneficial is more of a problem.
7:04 PM EST, March 8, 2012
Black women in city infected with HIV at higher rate than national average
African-American women in Baltimore and five other U.S. cities are becoming infected with HIV at a rate five times the national average for black women, and closer to the rates of some African countries, according to a new study.
6:23 PM EDT, March 28, 2012
Weather helps, hurts Chesapeake Bay grasses
The protective underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay have dropped to their lowest levels since 2006, according to the latest report from Maryland and Virginia scientists.
7:23 PM EDT, March 20, 2012
University of Maryland doctors perform full face transplant
The University of Maryland said Tuesday that it had completed a rare full face transplant on a 37-year-old man, including a double jaw and tongue.
7:09 AM EDT, March 19, 2012
Campaign to highlight options for uninsured
For those who have heart disease, cancer, diabetes or another condition, buying health insurance can be impossible.
5:49 PM EST, February 24, 2012
'Cease and desist' order issued against autism doctor
Dr. Mark R. Geier, a Rockville doctor accused of improperly treating children with autism, has been ordered by the state Board of Physicians to stop practicing medicine while his license is suspended.
8:09 PM EDT, March 16, 2012
After slow start, flu season ramps up in Maryland
It's nearly spring, temperatures in the 70s, yet the flu waited until now to ramp up in Maryland, killing three members of a Calvert County family.
2:55 PM EST, March 4, 2012
Baltimore targets 'food deserts'
More than a third of Baltimore neighborhoods don't have ready access to healthy foods, leaving one in five residents to rely on high-fat, high-calorie meals from corner stores and carryout restaurants, a new assessment shows.
5:11 PM EST, February 19, 2012
Hopkins' medical students learn to use their stethoscopes
The stethoscope may be an icon of the medical profession to most patients. But it's more of a relic to many doctors.
9:03 PM EDT, March 14, 2012
Funeral held for Calvert County family stricken with flu
Lou Ruth Blake was the family's matriarch who sang in the church choir and organized gospel shows. Lowell Frederick Blake liked to make people laugh. Venessa Marie Blake was the ardent churchgoer with a contagious smile.
4:25 PM EST, February 9, 2012
Audit finds drug oversight, record-keeping problems at Springfield Hospital Center
A state legislative audit of Springfield Hospital Center found that the state psychiatric hospital in Sykesville was not keeping good records or controls of its $2.4 million stable of pharmaceuticals.
10:01 AM EST, February 12, 2012
High winds knocked out power to 6,000 overnight
About 6,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers lost power overnight as high winds pummeled the region, but their lights were back on by 6:30 a.m. Sunday, the utility said.
4:59 PM EST, February 9, 2012
Dava Pharmaceuticals settles accusations it overcharged Medicaid
Dava Pharmaceuticals Inc. will pay about $11 million to settle federal claims that it misreported drugs prices so it could charge more of the state-federal Medicaid program, according to U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and others in the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
9:00 PM EST, February 3, 2012
Tom Brady highlights need for kidney donations
When the Super Bowl ends Sunday, win or lose, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is likely to exchange texts with one man.
5:38 PM EST, February 11, 2012
Auto show in Baltimore draws shoppers, but mostly dreamers
They came to the Motor Trend International Auto Show in Baltimore with five cars on their list and a plan to narrow it down to three.
4:23 PM EST, February 5, 2012
Project seeks 1 million veterans to give blood, DNA for disease research
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a few good men and women to volunteer for a battle it's waging at home — against disease.
12:23 PM EST, March 5, 2012
Injection easier than IV in treating deadly epileptic seizures, study shows
Megan Elphage lives in fear of another big epileptic seizure.
9:41 PM EST, January 15, 2012
Ravens fans savor the moment
After enduring sub-freezing temperatures, layered in purple and clinging to cozies that were keeping their hands from sticking to the aluminum beer cans, Baltimore's football fans got their reward Sunday.
7:53 PM EST, February 1, 2012
St. Joseph Medical Center narrows field of suitors to three
St. Joseph Medical Center has narrowed its search for a strategic partner to three, the hospital said Wednesday.
10:56 PM EST, February 1, 2012
Maryland Board of Physicians gets new leader
The Maryland Board of Physicians, which has faced scrutiny in recent months because of its backlog of cases and other problems, is getting a new leader, state health officials said Wednesday.
7:44 PM EST, January 27, 2012
Health department links 6 illnesses to raw milk from Pa. dairy store
Six people were infected with Campylobacter by raw milk from the Family Cow dairy store in Chambersburg, Pa., including three in Maryland, the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Friday.
7:31 PM EST, December 28, 2011
St. Joseph Medical Center's future unclear
When a star cardiologist at St. Joseph Medical Center was accused of performing hundreds of unnecessary medical procedures in 2009, it changed the course of the Towson hospital and now raises questions about its future.
2:17 PM EST, February 8, 2012
Emergency preparation for dialysis patients
Dialysis is a lifesaving treatment for those with kidney disorders. But during emergencies, particularly bad weather, sometimes patients don't want to go — or can't get to — their usual dialysis center. There are some steps patients can take to prepare, says Brandon Eck at the DaVita dialysis centers, who volunteers with the company's emergency response team, DaVERT.
6:30 PM EST, January 27, 2012
St. Joseph Medical Center lays off 17 people
St. Joseph Medical Center plans to cut 17 positions at the troubled Towson hospital as part of a "performance improvement initiative."
8:11 PM EST, January 25, 2012
Federal birth control ruling upsets religious groups
Church officials and other religious-based groups are gearing up to fight an order by the Obama administration that they include birth control in employee health plans — a requirement some say could threaten the protection of other moral beliefs and practices.
9:40 PM EST, January 31, 2012
Cigna completes purchase of HealthSpring Inc.
Connecticut-based Cigna Corp. said Tuesday that it has closed on its $3.8 billion acquisition of HealthSpring Inc., a health care company that specializes in the Medicare Advantage market.
3:22 PM EST, January 17, 2012
Grant to fund referral system for rental housing for disabled in Md.
Maryland health officials won a $330,000 federal grant to create a system with state housing and disabilities officials that can refer those with disabilities to rental housing.
8:20 PM EST, January 16, 2012
Health Enterprise Zones to target disparities in state
Frustrated by Maryland's high rate of health disparities, state leaders are proposing a new attack — one more commonly associated with economic development.
8:00 PM EST, January 26, 2012
Johns Hopkins unveils new hospital
At the new $1.1 billion Johns Hopkins Hospital there will be Xboxes and a basketball court for kids, sleeper-sofas for families, single rooms for all patients, an improved dining menu and extensive soundproofing.
7:34 PM EST, January 12, 2012
Experts offer safety measures at Perkins hospital
A pair of expert consultants and leading officials from Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center told a state legislative panel Thursday what steps they think are necessary to make the facility safe after three patients were killed in 14 months and three other patients were charged in their deaths.
4:37 PM EST, January 8, 2012
Review shows alcohol companies reach youth online
A beer bottle was lit up like a Christmas tree on one Facebook page and flanked by stuffed animals in another.
December 14, 2011
Board of Physicians suspends Salisbury pain doctor's license
The state Board of Physicians Tuesday suspended the license of a Salisbury pain doctor, who the board said had not been using proper safeguards in prescribing opiates.
2:12 PM EST, December 31, 2011
Local hand experts treat the injured, deformed in Nepal
It wasn't long after Dr. James Higgins became chief of the Curtis National Hand Center at Union Memorial Hospital last January that he answered a call from Operation Smile, the Norfolk-based humanitarian group that provides free surgery for needy children with facial deformities.
3:41 PM EST, January 11, 2012
Treating menopause symptoms
Every woman will experience menopause, some in the normal course of aging and some before. It can bring on a host of symptoms in addition to hot flashes. But there are things that women can do, from improving their diet and exercising to finding the right treatment, explains Dr. Rakhi Gupta, a gynecologist at the Center for Women's Health at Good Samaritan Hospital. She answers some common questions about this life change.
3:35 PM EST, December 10, 2011
Police charge man in robberies of Goodwill discount stores
Baltimore County police say they have charged a former Goodwill employee with robbing three of the discount stores in November.
6:30 PM EST, January 4, 2012
CDC grants $12.5 million for HIV prevention in Maryland
Maryland will get $12.5 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund HIV prevention activities in the counties this year, down about $604,000 from last year, according to state health officials.
3:07 PM EST, December 28, 2011
Quitting smoking is tough, but not impossible
Many people pick quitting smoking as their New Year's resolution. But if quitting smoking was easy, most smokers would have already done it. Tobacco is highly addictive and the process isn't easy, but quitting is possible for those who really are ready and are linked to methods that work for them, says Christine Schutzman, a certified tobacco treatment specialist who leads a free Freshstart smoking cessation program at the Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center.
6:52 PM EST, December 15, 2011
Advisory panel calls for end to most experiments on chimpanzees
Medical experiments on chimpanzees are largely unnecessary and should be rare, concluded a report released Thursday from special panel of the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Science.
12:34 PM EST, January 5, 2012
$2 million in reimbursements awarded for electronic health records
Hospitals and other health care providers in Maryland are receiving a total of $2 million in federal money to reimburse them for investments they made in new electronic record systems, state officials said Thursday.
5:26 PM EST, December 9, 2011
New city data to help improve health in neighborhoods
More than half of the deaths in recent years in a quarter of Baltimore's neighborhoods were avoidable, according to a new set of assessments from city health officials that were released Friday.
11:30 AM EST, December 30, 2011
Season's first lab-confirmed case of flu recorded in Baltimore area
The first laboratory-confirmed case of seasonal flu was reported Friday by state health officials, who are using the milestone to remind residents to get vaccinated for the virus. The case involves an adult in the Baltimore region, and comes two months later than the first case reported last season.
7:24 PM EST, December 28, 2011
State panel urges tighter oversight of stent procedures
The Maryland Health Care Commission sent recommendations Wednesday to the General Assembly on stepping up oversight of coronary stent placements.
December 15, 2011
Taking care of diabetes during holidays
More than 20 million Americans are living with diabetes, and another 40 million are in the early stages of the disease. Managing diabetes can be a challenge all year long, but the holidays can pose special problems. All those extra treats, meals and drinks can add up to extra pounds and higher glucose levels. But a little planning, and will power, can keep diabetes in check, according to Susan Steinweg, a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She's also the coordinator of Carroll Hospital Center's Diabetes Center.
1:14 PM EST, December 10, 2011
Balto. Co. police charge Eastpoint man with Sept. killing
Baltimore County police have charged Jeremiah Ezekiel Edwards, 19, of the 7400 block of Berkshire Road in Eastpoint, with first-degree murder and use of a handgun in a crime.
7:47 PM EST, December 8, 2011
State suspends doctor's right to prescribe most pain killers
State health officials took the unusual step Thursday of suspending the authority of a Salisbury pain doctor to write prescriptions for opiates, narcotics and all other controlled dangerous substances commonly used to treat pain.
11:01 PM EST, December 10, 2011
Bird watchers get glimpse at city's offerings
It's just a spit of woods buffering a creek that winds through a cluster of apartments and houses in Northwest Baltimore. But it's a cozy winter home to the city's birds.
12:17 PM EST, December 8, 2011
Baltimore receives $499,929 for school-based health centers
Baltimore was awarded $499,929 Thursday as part of a $14 million grant for school-based health centers around the country.
3:49 PM EST, December 3, 2011
More suffer from hearing loss than expected, study shows
One in five Americans has significant hearing loss, far more than previously thought, according to new research that has scientists warning of an impending public health threat.
8:52 PM EST, December 7, 2011
State made Medicaid payments for dead people
The state may have erroneously paid up to $2.5 million on health care through the Medicaid program for more than 300 low-income residents after they died, according to a state legislative audit released Wednesday.
2:26 PM EST, November 30, 2011
Cubital tunnel syndrome causes numbness in some fingers
Most people have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, and likely even know someone who suffers from it. Cubital tunnel syndrome is less common but also can cause debilitating symptoms, such as numbness in the ring and little fingers and wasting of muscle in the hand. More men than women suffer from the disorder, which can be caused by repeatedly leaning on your elbow or bending your arm for long periods of time. Dr. Ryan Katz, attending hand surgeon at the Curtis National Hand Center at Union Memorial Hospital, answers questions about its cause and treatment.
8:23 PM EST, November 21, 2011
Audit criticizes state medical board for backlog of complaints
The state Board of Physicians has a serious backlog of complaints and a growing timeline for resolving it, according to a newly released legislative audit of the agency charged with protecting the public from bad doctors.
8:45 PM EST, November 30, 2011
Outside consultant considered for embattled Board of Physicians
The chairman of the state Board of Physicians, which was slammed in a recent legislative audit for its dysfunction, told a panel of lawmakers Wednesday that it could get on track in another year by hiring an outside consultant and instituting long-awaited fixes.
5:12 PM EST, November 16, 2011
More Marylanders treated for substance abuse
State health officials have leveraged federal funds to offer more people substance abuse treatment, according to a report sent to state lawmakers by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
1:15 PM EST, November 22, 2011
UnitedHealthcare to buy local firm for undisclosed amount
The health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare plans to acquire Baltimore-based XLHealth Corp., bolstering the company's portfolio of Medicare Advantage plans. The plans focus on Medicare recipients with chronic illnesses or other special needs. XLHealth's Care Improvement Plus plan focuses on the underserved.
12:48 PM EST, November 16, 2011
Eyelid inflammation becoming more common
Blepharitis, usually identified by a sufferer's red, irritated eyelids, is becoming more common. And while doctors aren't sure why, it can be controlled with vigilance, according to Dr. Laura K. Green, residency program director of cornea, cataract and refractive surgery at the Krieger Eye Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. She said there are some simple things sufferers can do at home, such as keeping the eyelids clean, that can help ease the irritation.
6:14 AM EST, November 29, 2011
New city plan aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS infections by 25%
A group of Baltimore's health care leaders has crafted a plan to cut new cases of HIV infection by 25 percent by 2015, as part of an overall strategy to cope with a disease that has plagued the city for decades.
7:54 PM EST, November 22, 2011
Health officials alarmed over silicone injections for fuller buttocks
Some women who want rounder, fuller buttocks are turning to a dangerous cosmetic procedure: illegal injections of silicone offered by people who lack medical training and may buy their supplies in home improvement stores.
6:01 PM EST, November 20, 2011
Perkins patients can be the toughest to treat
As a new chief executive at Clifton T. Perkins investigates what led to two recent slayings at the state's maximum security mental hospital, he will confront a facility full of patients who have become increasingly hardened and troubled.
8:36 PM EDT, November 2, 2011
O'Malley names new Perkins hospital CEO
State officials tapped a veteran psychiatric hospital administrator Wednesday to take over leadership of Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, where two recent killings have sparked questions about the safety and therapy provided at Maryland's maximum-security mental facility.
6:40 PM EST, November 14, 2011
Developmental Disabilities Administration looks into unspent money
Officials at the Developmental Disabilities Administration have launched an investigation into why $25 million was left unspent by the agency, and the new executive director says he expects answers by the end of the year.
9:19 PM EST, November 11, 2011
Stolen mummy to return home to UM medical school
The 200-year-old mummified remains of a small child are making their way back to the University of Maryland School of Medicine after an absence in which they were posted for sale on eBay and languished for almost five years in a Michigan police evidence room.
9:49 PM EDT, October 28, 2011
Patient killed at Perkins mental hospital, police say
State health officials moved Friday to bolster security and reassess patients at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, after the second patient slaying in a week at the state mental facility.
6:50 PM EST, November 10, 2011
Runner who collapsed in half-marathon meets with rescuers
Baltimore Running Festival organizers draped a finisher's medal on Bob Pohl's neck Thursday, nearly four weeks after he collapsed at the finish line of the half marathon and was saved by bystanders and medical personnel.
5:40 PM EDT, October 19, 2011
Understanding the new prostate cancer screening recommendations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent advisory panel, recently recommended that healthy men not be given PSA blood tests to detect prostate cancer. But that won't mean the end of diagnosis and treatment of the disease, the most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in American men.
6:02 PM EST, November 7, 2011
Treatment problems, fear found in state's high-security mental hospital, workers say
Workers at Maryland's maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Jessup, where two patients were slain recently, are calling on the state to address what they describe as problems in treatment and a pervasive climate of fear.
9:27 AM EST, November 9, 2011
Team effort saves Baltimore half-marathon runner in cardiac arrest
Like many veteran marathoners, Bob Pohl always had an eye on the clock.
1:21 PM EDT, October 20, 2011
University of Maryland, others work to improve drug manufacturing process
At the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, scientists are working on a database that will help drug makers decide which of 1,000 or so materials are safest and most effective to deliver specific medications.
5:13 PM EDT, November 2, 2011
Early treatment key to foot injuries
We've all stubbed a toe, stepped down on our foot awkwardly or hurt our feet in an accident. Sometimes there's no damage. But other times, there's pain, swelling and bruising. Dr. Gary A. Pichney, from the Mercy Medical Center Institute for Foot & Ankle Reconstruction, answers questions about proper steps to take after an injury to the toe or foot, when to see the doctor and how long the healing may take.
6:48 PM EDT, October 11, 2011
Health advocates seek increase in tobacco tax
After successfully pushing a new dime-a-drink alcohol tax, health care advocates are advocating for a new $1 levy on tobacco.
7:38 PM EDT, October 5, 2011
Cummings looks into prescription drug shortages
University of Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese said she was heartbroken that a chemotherapy drug used to treat her 3-year-old son, Tyler, for leukemia was in short supply and possibly unavailable.
7:09 PM EDT, October 20, 2011
Foreclosure crisis may lead to health concerns nationwide
The devastation of losing a house to foreclosure can lead to depression and a host of other conditions, according to the authors of new study who warn of a looming national health crisis. They are advocating for a new unified approach by financial and mental health advisers to provide homeowners with aid.
6:07 PM EDT, October 18, 2011
'Bath salts' listed as Controlled Dangerous Substance
Five substances known as "bath salts" were added to the list of Schedule 1 Controlled Dangerous Substances list in Maryland through emergency regulations Tuesday.
12:00 PM EDT, October 13, 2011
Researchers turn attention to breast cancer prevention
Cheryl Corbin's mother and grandmother had breast cancer, so an oncologist suggested she be tested for an inherited gene mutation linked to the disease. But when the results came in, she didn't show up to hear them.
7:01 PM EDT, October 2, 2011
Local youngsters audition for 'The Nutcracker'
Plenty of young girls dream of performing with a prestigious ballet company, and for about 50 of them from the greater Baltimore area the first step was Sunday.
8:43 PM EDT, October 24, 2011
Advocates, union call for changes at mental hospital
Mental health advocates and labor union officials are calling for increased staffing and policy changes at the state's maximum security mental hospital — including a reassessment of how patients are paired as roommates — after one patient killed another at the Jessup facility last week.
4:14 PM EDT, October 15, 2011
Scuba diving may hold promise for paraplegics
Outfitted in scuba gear and 100 feet underwater, Cody Unser noticed a weird tingling in her legs. She dived a second and a third time, and again felt tingling. It was subtle, but it was the first new sensation that she had felt in three years, since becoming paralyzed from the chest down at age 12.
6:30 PM EDT, October 5, 2011
Tips and advice for runners training for Baltimore Marathon
There is more to training for a marathon than running a few laps around the track. Finishing 26.2 miles, or even getting to the starting line, takes attention to some details about eating and hydrating, miles covered, and aches and pains. Dr. John Senatore, avid runner and chief of podiatry in Union Memorial Hospital's sports medicine department, talks about what to do — and what not to do — as next week's Baltimore Running Festival approaches.
10:52 AM EDT, September 30, 2011
Cancer patients turn to acupuncture to cope with symptoms, side effects
Acupuncture, the traditional Chinese medicine that uses needles for treatment, is increasingly being used with cancer patients. Dr. Ting Bao, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and faculty at Maryland's Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center and Center for Integrative Medicine, regularly used acupuncture to alleviate pain and treat side effects.
10:27 AM EDT, September 28, 2011
Maryland proposes ban on crib bumpers
Maryland health officials proposed Tuesday a ban on the sale of crib bumpers, which have been linked to the asphyxiation of at least two dozen infants across the country — a move that would make it the first state to prohibit the bumpers.
9:00 PM EDT, September 29, 2011
Local growers, retailers try to reassure cantaloupe eaters after listeria outbreak
Local melon growers and retailers are trying to reassure consumers after listeria linked to cantaloupe from a Colorado farm killed 13 people across the country, including one in Maryland — the deadliest foodborne outbreak in more than a decade.
7:11 PM EDT, October 5, 2011
Baltimore aims to stop smoking around pregnant women and babies
In the continued effort to reduce infant mortality in Baltimore, health officials and the Family League of Baltimore City have launched an effort to reduce secondhand smoke near babies and pregnant women.
3:21 PM EDT, October 12, 2011
Legionella bacteria confirmed at Ocean City hotel
State health officials confirmed Wednesday the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water at Plim Plaza Hotel in Ocean City. Officials have also announced three new cases of Legionnaire's disease among hotel guests, in addition to the three cases announced last week. One elderly out-of-state resident has died.
6:33 PM EDT, September 21, 2011
Maryland companies show off wares at Natural Products Expo
Organic products and those without preservatives and harsh processing remain big business in the United States — with $81 billion in sales last year — despite a tough economy.
6:54 AM EDT, September 23, 2011
From Sun Magazine: Botox 2.0
When Sandy Rosenblatt looked in the mirror, the striking brunette could see nothing but one big flaw — her eyes, which were sunken and seemed a little dark. So at 34 she had a plastic surgeon smooth them over. While she was there, she decided to have her long oval face made a little cheekier and her brows a little less creased.
7:55 PM EDT, September 19, 2011
Grand Prix backers look to raise an extra $1.5 million
Organizers of the Baltimore Grand Prix have sought to raise an additional $1.5 million from investors to pay bills including salaries, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
September 8, 2011
Progress in Hepatitis C research
Hepatitis C has long been a problem with a low rate of cure. But new drug therapies are in use and others are on the horizon, according to Dr. Paul J. Thuluvath, chief of gastroenterology at Mercy Medical Center and the medical director of the Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy. That has meant better liver health for millions in this country and around the globe.
September 22, 2011
A look at Maryland's emergency medical system
The state of Maryland created one of the nation's first statewide emergency medical systems to ensure that patients got consistent and timely care no matter where they were. The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems now oversees and coordinates the providers from the field to the emergency department, according to James W. Brown, director of educational support services, from headquarters in Baltimore.
10:11 AM EDT, September 17, 2011
Companies that cheat government are rarely disbarred
When Maxim Healthcare Services settled one of the government's largest-ever medical fraud cases last week, the Medicaid and Veterans Affairs contractor agreed to pay $150 million and implement a host of corporate reforms.
9:04 PM EDT, September 1, 2011
Grand Prix aims to be green, but challenges remain
When race fans roll into town for the Baltimore Grand Prix this weekend, they can expect to find the Inner Harbor course lined with more than 1,200 recycling bins, and their drinks will be served in cups made of biodegradable corn instead of plastic.
5:49 PM EDT, September 14, 2011
Delayed HIV funding restored to local agencies
Millions in federal funds used to provide services to those living with HIV are again flowing to local programs after a months-long delay.
7:14 PM EDT, September 13, 2011
Methadone clinic considers offering cash to addicts
A Northeast Baltimore clinic that once pitched on-demand methadone to desperate addicts during the late-night hours is focusing on a new idea — paying addicts to come in for treatment.
September 5, 2011
Americans still scarred by Sept. 11 attacks
When an earthquake hit the Baltimore area recently, a familiar anxiety crept over Kimberly Anthony — not unlike her feelings after the terrorist attacks a decade ago.
11:03 AM EDT, August 23, 2011
Body thought that of former Dulaney student found in N.J. river
Police believe they've discovered the body of a popular former Dulaney High School athlete who went missing last week after going on a jog near his home close to Temple University in Philadelphia.
11:30 PM EDT, August 23, 2011
Maryland's infant mortality rate drops to lowest level on record
After moving aggressively in recent years to make a dent in Maryland's stubbornly high infant mortality rate, city and state officials plan to announce Wednesday a significant drop, to the lowest level on record.
August 25, 2011
Back-to-school checkup
Going back to school, particularly if it's a new school, can be a daunting time for kids and their parents. There's a lot to consider, from sleep schedules to proper nutrition and immunizations. Much can be accomplished by establishing good habits, says Dr. Julie Yeh, a pediatrician at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, who answered questions about handling the coming school year.
6:52 PM EDT, August 22, 2011
Hopkins gets $30 million to study personalized cancer medicine
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center announced Monday that it has established a Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine with a $30 million gift from the Richmond, Va.-based Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research.
6:59 PM EDT, August 18, 2011
Audit finds vital records not properly protected
The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is not properly securing birth, death and marriage certificates, leaving the vital records vulnerable to criminals, according to a new legislative audit.
6:01 PM EDT, August 22, 2011
Arrest made in weekend stabbing death in Parkville
Baltimore County police have charged a man with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man during an argument over the weekend.
August 11, 2011
Life-threatening sepsis appears to be on rise
Every year, some 750,000 Americans develop sepsis, an extreme immune system response to infection. It kills a quarter to half of them, more than the combined number of people who die of prostate and breast cancer and AIDS, according to the National Institutes of Health.
7:27 PM EDT, August 25, 2011
Money delayed to local health organizations for HIV care
Federal dollars that localities use to fund care for those living with HIV have been cut off for months, leaving some who can't afford their own care without services.
6:04 PM EDT, July 27, 2011
Total disc replacement helps with range of motion, expert says
Knee and hip replacements have been common for decades, offering patients who suffered from degeneration a full range of pain-free movement. But spines and backs have been more problematic. Spinal fusions, the gold standard, have meant a limited range of motion for patients and even future procedures on adjoining discs. But a newer procedure that involves inserting an artificial disc, called total disc replacement, means patients can get that range of motion and pain relief without the drawbacks of fusion. Once other therapies have been exhausted, Dr. Amiel Bethel, a neurosurgeon at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, performs the procedure through a small incision, minimizing tissue disruption.
6:36 PM EDT, August 12, 2011
St. Joseph Medical Center replaces chief executive
St. Joseph Medical Center tapped a veteran health care manager Friday to replace its president and chief executive, who resigned two weeks ago without explanation.
12:16 PM EDT, August 11, 2011
Cambridge country club fined $500,000 for pollution violations
A Cambridge country club was ordered to pay an "extraordinary penalty" of $500,000 by a Dorchester County Circuit Court for discharging raw sewage into wetlands along the Choptank River that eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay, according to a Thursday announcement from the state attorney general's office.
8:44 PM EDT, August 11, 2011
Flu vaccinations pushed for Maryland hospitals
Maryland hospitals have become more aggressive in recent years about vaccinating workers for the flu, but public health officials are pushing for even stricter programs to halt the spread of a virus that kills thousands each year.
8:16 PM EDT, July 29, 2011
St. Joseph Medical Center's CEO resigns
The executive brought in to lead St. Joseph Medical Center as a crisis manager after a doctor was accused of placing unnecessary stents in hundreds of patients resigned Friday without explanation.
5:29 PM EDT, July 28, 2011
State seeks to streamline health care regulations
While health care regulations are in place to provide consistent and high-quality care, as well as to protect the vulnerable, some rules are outdated, expensive and not particularly useful, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
7:50 PM EDT, July 21, 2011
Triple-digit heat wave continues in Maryland
Maryland really began to turn in the roaster Thursday, joining much of the rest of the country, now deep in the summer's worst heat wave.
8:30 PM EDT, July 19, 2011
City landlord pleads guilty in lead paint case
A Baltimore landlord with a history of violations of lead paint abatement laws agreed to plead guilty Tuesday to three misdemeanor violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
6:51 PM EDT, July 27, 2011
Maryland researchers helped crack genomic code of bacteria in E.coli outbreak
Within days of the E.coli outbreak in Germany that officially ended this week, scientists at the University of Maryland Institute for Genome Sciences began cracking the genomic code of the bacteria responsible for infecting thousands and killing dozens.
6:02 PM EDT, July 27, 2011
Gyms try and take the work out of workout
Go ahead and bang a drum, hang from the curtains and spin that hula hoop. Area gym instructors say it's good for you, even if you don't realize it.
6:22 PM EDT, July 26, 2011
New Maryland plan targets cancer deaths
State health officials released an ambitious plan Tuesday to reduce cancer deaths, using the latest strategies to prevent, detect and treat the disease — and save the lives of an additional 1,200 Marylanders a year.
6:16 PM EDT, July 20, 2011
Cracking the calories in rich crab favorites
Marylanders love their crabs — especially when the meat is picked and mixed with cream, cheese, mayo and Old Bay.
3:56 PM EDT, July 17, 2011
Doctors aim to stop pancreatic cancer before it forms
Seeing a chance to stop one of the most deadly kinds of cancer before it forms, doctors at Johns Hopkins and at other hospitals around the nation are focusing on the common pancreatic cyst.
6:04 PM EDT, July 17, 2011
Anna Iris Ray Meyer, a 'Rosie the Riveter,' dies
Anna Iris Ray Meyer, who joined the war effort in the 1940s by working on bomber planes as a "Rosie the Riveter," died July 14 at her daughter's home in Fallston. She was 92.
4:28 PM EDT, July 13, 2011
Ask the Expert: Early-onset dementia and Alzheimer's
Everyone forgets a name or a date from time to time. But how do you know when it's something serious?
7:05 PM EDT, July 15, 2011
Hopkins home care group charged with discrimination in lawsuit
A home health care service operated by Johns Hopkins failed to accommodate an employee with breast cancer and later fired her, the U.S. agency that enforces job discrimination laws charged in a suit announced Friday.
4:56 PM EDT, July 13, 2011
MTA worker dies of infection
A Maryland Transit Administration bus driver has died of a blood infection caused by the bacteria that also causes meningitis, health officials said Wednesday, but they played down the public health risk.
11:31 AM EDT, July 17, 2011
21-year-old shot, killed Sunday in Southwest Baltimore
Baltimore police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man early Sunday in Southwest Baltimore, officials said. Police were called to the 1200 block of Ward Street at 5:51 a.m. and discovered the victim, who police have not named. The victim died at the scene. Police are seeking witnesses.
5:16 PM EDT, July 4, 2011
Chantix may cause more heart attacks than previously thought
A new study led by a Johns Hopkins researcher says the popular anti-smoking drug Chantix significantly increases the risk for a heart attack or other serious heart problem in healthy, middle-aged smokers.
7:01 PM EDT, June 30, 2011
Controversial Baltimore methadone clinic delays opening
The operators of a proposed "open access" methadone clinic for heroin addicts, which promised treatment within 15 minutes, say they will delay the launch by 30 days to work out differences with state regulators.
8:46 PM EDT, June 28, 2011
Woman, daughter, 4, found dead in Baltimore Co. apartment
Baltimore County police continued on Tuesday to investigate the suspicious deaths of a mother and her 4-year-old daughter whose bodies were found in their Parkville apartment.
7:48 AM EDT, July 18, 2011
21-year-old man fatally shot in S.W. Baltimore identified
Baltimore police have identified the 21-year-old victim who was fatally shot early Sunday in Southwest Baltimore, officials said.
July 4, 2011
More homeless veterans getting dental care in Maryland
Kenneth Mumford smiled into the mirror and saw a full set of pearly white teeth for the first time in years.
7:49 PM EDT, June 27, 2011
Body of man found in park identified
The body of a man found in Patapsco State Park in April was identified Monday through his knee replacements, according to Maryland State Police. State medical examiner ruled John H. Hagegeorge, died of natural causes and exposure but they could not identify the 55 year old through conventional means. Officials used the serial numbers to track down the hospital that had used them. Hagegeorge, whose last known address was on Redcliffe Road in Catonsville, appeared to be living at a makeshift campsite where his body was found. His estranged wife told police that she didn't report him missing because she didn't know he was missing. Hagegeorge's body was found by searchers who were in the park looking for Phylicia Barnes, the teenager who had disappeared from Northwest Baltimore in December and was the subject of a nationwide search. Her body was found later in April in the Susquehanna River, and her death ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made.
4:51 PM EDT, June 29, 2011
GBMC doctor talks about food safety for the Fourth of July
With the Fourth of July approaching, many people are contemplating cookouts and picnics. But all that celebratory food and drink can pose a threat to your health. There are steps to take to ensure there aren't any unwelcome fireworks in your belly, according to Dr. Niraj Jani, division chief in gastroenterology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
6:16 PM EDT, June 30, 2011
Hopkins clerical workers to lose jobs
About 160 clerical associates will lose their jobs by the end of this year at Johns Hopkins Hospital as it transitions to an electronic medical support system, including patient records and order entry.
8:25 PM EDT, July 6, 2011
New study scrutinizes heart stent procedures
A new study of more than 500,000 cardiac patients who underwent recent cardiac stent or angioplasty procedures in the United States has found that up to 15 percent were either unnecessary or appeared to be of uncertain medical benefit.
10:12 PM EDT, June 27, 2011
Woman and young daughter found dead in their Baltimore Co. home
A woman and her daughter were found dead by Baltimore County police Monday afternoon in their apartment in the 8700 block of Loch Bend Drive, police said Monday night.
9:39 PM EDT, June 27, 2011
More than 1,000 protest proposed toll increase for Hatem bridge
More than 1,000 people from the northeast corner of the state came out Monday evening to tell state officials not to raise the toll on the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, which they say connects them to their churches, shopping centers, doctors and friends on the other side of the Susquehanna River.
8:13 PM EDT, June 23, 2011
Baltimore pastor to open on-demand methadone clinic
Tired of the heroin and crime surrounding his Northeast Baltimore church and treatment center, the Rev. Milton Williams said Thursday that he plans to open the city's first "open access" clinic, which will hand out methadone within 15 minutes to any addict who walks through the door.
7:14 PM EDT, July 14, 2011
Hospital employee and three others accused of stealing patients' identities
A federal grand jury has indicted four people, including a former employee of the University of Maryland Medical Center, in what prosecutors said was a scheme to steal patients' identities.
3:56 PM EDT, June 15, 2011
Week of Father's Day puts spotlight on men's health
It's Men's Health Week, and public health officials are encouraging men to pay more attention to their bodies. Not only should they be paying more attention to little changes that don't seem right, they should be getting annual checkups. Diseases common in older men such as prostate cancer can be treated when found early, and other conditions can be prevented from getting worse, says Mercy Medical Center urologist Dr. Ira Hantman.
4:04 PM EDT, July 1, 2011
Mid-Atlantic Health Care buys 5 Philadelphia nursing homes
Timonium-based Mid-Atlantic Health Care LLC, which owns and operates six senior care facilities in Maryland and one in Delaware, said Friday that it bought five skilled nursing centers in Philadelphia from the NewCourtland Network for $75 million.
5:22 PM EDT, June 28, 2011
Suspect in killing of dentist convicted in unrelated murder
A 34-year-old man charged with killing a well-known dentist in his Glen Burnie office was convicted on Monday in a separate murder — the fatal shooting of a man in Baltimore over a $150 debt, according to the city state's attorney's office.
8:03 PM EDT, June 27, 2011
Body of man found in park identified
The body of a man found in Patapsco State Park in April was identified Monday through his knee replacements, according to Maryland State Police.
7:37 PM EDT, June 16, 2011
Lupron therapy for autism at center of embattled doctor's case
Since Sam Wessels was diagnosed with autism at age 2, doctors have offered his mother a litany of drugs for the boy from Prozac and Ritalin to Metadate CD and Strattera, commonly used to treat ADHD. Other "alternative" medicine pitches have included special diets and even nicotine.
3:28 PM EST, February 23, 2011
Deciding when seniors should give up driving
Driving can become a challenge as people age. Jan Crye, an occupational therapist and certified driving rehabilitation specialist at the Driving Evaluation and Training Program at Sinai Hospital, called it a delicate balance between the need for independence and the need for safety. She pointed to an 83-year-old man who recently drove the wrong way on a California freeway, causing a pileup. There are many factors that should be considered before elders get behind the wheel, she said.
February 16, 2010
Birds, squirrels weather the storm
Winter weather might be bad for backs and spirits, but birds and squirrels are most likely doing just fine, according to wildlife specialists.
9:38 PM EDT, June 25, 2011
Many drugs in short supply at hospitals, pharmacies
For a time this year, a psychiatric hospital run by the state of Maryland didn't have enough injectable drugs for schizophrenia patients who refused to take pills.
6:20 PM EDT, June 22, 2011
Cardiologist defends himself at license hearing
The Towson cardiologist accused of placing cardiac stents into patients who didn't need them had a chance to defend himself Wednesday before the Maryland Board of Physicians, which is deciding whether the doctor should retain his license.
4:27 PM EDT, June 1, 2011
Ask the Expert: MRSA in children
Staph infections didn't used to cause much of a fuss. They would irritate skin but could easily be treated with antibiotics. Recently, however, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have been surfacing. Dr. Robert Ancona, St. Joseph Medical Center's chief of pediatrics and an infectious disease specialist, have been noticing more concerning MRSA infections in children lately.
5:55 PM EDT, May 19, 2011
Son of autism doctor charged with practicing without a license
The Maryland panel that oversees doctors in the state has charged a man with practicing medicine without a license just weeks after his father's license was suspended for putting autistic children at risk.
8:49 PM EDT, May 11, 2011
Alternative autism treatments can be appealing to desperate parents
After her daughter Jodie was diagnosed with autism, Alison Singer went online, searching desperately for anything that looked like it might help her little girl.
9:24 AM EDT, May 8, 2011
Moms who planned C-sections report high satisfaction, study says
Dawn Cofiell was adamantly opposed to delivering her son Donovan by cesarean section three years ago, but a complication made it unavoidable.
January 27, 2011
The difference between sudden cardiac arrest and heart attacks
The new year brings a lot of resolutions to exercise. And sometimes the cold weather also means more snow shoveling. All that exertion can be harmful to people with abnormal hearts by leading to sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, director of cardiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about the difference between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack and what those at risk can do.
March 24, 2011
How to treat minor animal bites, scratches
Animal bites can be serious. They can injure the skin and bones and joints, and the damage could have lasting impacts. Dr. Tanveer Giaibi, chief of emergency medicine at Northwest Hospitals, answers questions about the dangers of and treatments for all kinds of bites.
February 18, 2010
Wealthy suburbs healthiest areas of state, study says
A new study that showed wealthier suburban areas such as Howard County are healthier than urban and rural parts of the state came as no surprise to public health officials, who point to disparities such as access to preventive care and good food.
February 10, 2010
Area braces for new snowstorm
With another snowstorm bearing down on Baltimore, officials called on local contractors and out-of-state equipment for help, warned that stretches of some highways could be shut down today and implored area residents to stay home.
11:42 AM EDT, May 6, 2011
State looks to remove autism panelist with links to suspended doctor
A day after Dr. Mark Geier's medical license was suspended in Maryland over allegations of putting children with autism at risk, state officials were seeking to remove his son from a state commission that advises the governor on the disorder.
March 10, 2011
Tommy John injuries an epidemic in Little League
The injury that St. Louis Cardinals star pitcher Adam Wainwright suffered in the bullpen during spring training isn't just a big league problem. As baseball season approaches, Little Leaguers and other school-age players should be aware that they can damage their elbows. Dr. Anand M. Murthi, attending orthopedic surgeon and chief of shoulder and elbow surgery at Union Memorial Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, explains the surgery that is sometimes necessary for repairs. It's called ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, better known as Tommy John surgery, named after the former pitcher who was one of the first professional athletes to successfully undergo the procedure.
February 9, 2010
Snow still blocked, slowed ways to work
As crews continued to clear roads, train tracks and runways of packed snow and ice from the weekend blizzard, another storm was expected to pummel the region today, causing headaches for those returning to work.
4:26 PM EST, February 9, 2011
Clearing up confusion on wisdom teeth removal
It seems just about everyone has to have his wisdom teeth extracted. For most, it's an easy procedure and an easy recovery. But many people don't understand why we have those third molars to begin with — or if there are alternatives to removal. We asked Dr. Robert E. Williams, a clinical associate professor at the University of Maryland Dental School who also practices in Baltimore and Bel Air.
12:27 AM EST, November 9, 2010
Kids make up largest group with traumatic brain injuries
Austin Story doesn't remember the late-summer outing at a friend's lakefront home in New Jersey, or the rocks he climbed near a waterfall. Or how he lost his footing and, as his horrified mother looked on, fell about 50 feet.
3:37 PM EDT, May 4, 2011
'You're never going to believe what just happened …'
So many items in the home and office are potential poisoning risks, from cleaners to medications to personal care items. Kids are particularly at risk of ingesting poisons because they don't always know the difference between what's safe and what's not. Bruce D. Anderson, director of operations at the Maryland Poison Center, has heard it all. He answers questions about who calls the center and what help they can get.
7:50 PM EDT, September 23, 2010
Commission to review Hopkins Hospital security after shooting
The panel that accredits U.S. hospitals has asked Johns Hopkins Hospital to review its security measures — and potential improvements — in the wake of the shooting of a doctor by the distraught son of a patient last week.
February 15, 2010
Study sounds alarm on healers' health risks
In laparoscopic surgery, gall bladders are removed, stomachs are constricted and tumors are excised through small incisions that mean less pain and shorter hospital stays. But while the patients are benefiting, the procedures are causing injuries in surgeons themselves.
7:57 PM EDT, September 17, 2010
Patients praise Hopkins surgeon as calm, forthright
Elizabeth Coxe's back pain was flaring up again. She'd been thrown from a horse about 35 years ago, and a new knee injury was aggravating the old hurt.
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