APMA News Brief

Chronic wounds are a significant burden to patients, health care professionals and health care systems worldwide.

Visit http://www.medgadget.com/2014/09/new-autofluorescence-imaging-platform-detects-and-tracks-bacteria-in-chronic-wounds.html to view the full article online.

The U.S. health care system is gradually migrating from paper to electronic health records. But is the move endangering the safety of your patient information? Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Review APMA’s EHR resources for more information on purchasing an EHR system.

Stem cells are being used to study a plethora of diseases. For the past several years, scientists have explored how to use stem cells to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Visit http://www.mndaily.com/opinion/columns/2014/09/07/stem-cell-therapy-can%E2%80%99t-yet-treat-diabetes to view the full article online.

Researchers have identified a novel family of chemical mediators that restore the reparative functions of macrophages so they can resolve inflammation and heal wounds.

Visit http://www.healio.com/orthotics-prosthetics/health-care-updates/news/online/%7B61dcb6ee-d96c-48e6-aa82-ee4c67263bba%7D/chemical-mediators-that-restore-reparative-functions-of-macrophages-identified-in-wound-healing to view the full article online.

For data and systems interoperability to become widespread, both government and private stakeholders must clear roadblocks.

Visit http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/electronic-health-records/health-it-interoperability-requires-industry-collaboration/a/d-id/1306999 to view the full article online.

Do you know what minimum essential coverage means or the 10 essential health benefits of the Affordable Care Act? The next open enrollment doesn’t begin until November 15, but it couldn’t hurt to brush up on the basics now.

Visit http://www.care2.com/greenliving/22-health-insurance-words-you-should-know.html?utm_source=feedburner to view the full article online.

Healthy feet are important for all of us, but for people with diabetes, special attention needs to be kept to maintain healthy feet.

Visit http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/keeping_your_feet_healthy to view the full article online.

While not all infections are preventable, there are 10 things a customer can do to guard against them at the nail salon.

Visit https://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-on/avoid-a-pedicure-nightmare-how-to-stay-safe-at-the-182454815.html to view the full article online.

What you eat and not just the number of calories is a significant factor in diabetes risk, a new study suggests.

Visit http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/you-dont-have-to-be-overweight-to-suffer-from-diabetes/ to view the full article online.

Silicon Valley has its eye on the multi-billion dollar glucose monitoring market. Apple Inc. and Google are actively developing wearable devices that would allow diabetics to avoid having to prick their fingers multiple times per day.

Visit http://www.nasdaq.com/article/diabetes-wearables-fact-or-fiction-cm387744 to view the full article online.

Researchers in London may have uncovered a key to understanding the role genetics plays in diabetes.

Visit http://london.ctvnews.ca/research-could-lead-to-new-treatment-of-diabetes-1.1993630 to view the full article online.

Diabetes: It's one of the most widespread chronic diseases in the United States, yet is also one of the most ignored and underdiagnosed. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Studies prove care by a podiatrist helps prevent diabetes complications and saves healthcare dollars.

From capital expenses to operational expenses, everywhere we look another technology bill is eating into profits -- and it still seems like we're always a step behind the times.

Visit http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/leadership/healthcare-it-stop-sending-pcs-to-landfills/a/d-id/1306991 to view the full article online.

The term 'HIPAA' is discussed so often that it can be easy to lose track of what it was created to do. Learn exactly what HIPAA is and how to stay on the right side of it. Click here to continue reading.

Editor's note: Check out APMA’s HIPAA Privacy and Security Manuals, including customizable appendices.

The government has "cried ICD-10" twice already. In 2013 and 2014, many of us (the "townspeople," so to speak) raced to implement the new coding set only to have either the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or Congress back down on the conversion deadline. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s ICD-10 Resources to help you prepare for the transition.

ICD-10 may have been delayed until 2015, but many payers are continuing with their original testing schedules. That means providers can’t wait either, because if they do, they risk missing out on opportunities that may not come around again.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/item/1266-encouraging-results-and-important-lessons-from-icd-10-end-to-end-testing to view the full article online.

In order to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs, health care providers must, among other things, comply with fire safety rules and regulations adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Visit http://www.natlawreview.com/article/proposed-changes-to-medicare-and-medicaid-fire-safety-regulations to view the full article online.

President Barack Obama's top health adviser called for an end to partisan bickering over Obamacare, saying the public and businesses are sending a clear message to Washington that it is time to move on with implementing the law. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Learn more about health insurance exchanges and read APMA’s policy briefs at APMA's healthcare reform page.