When hospitalists use discharge communication software, patients and the outpatient doctors who carry out the care have better perceptions of the quality of the discharge process, according to new research published in the August issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Joined by nationally recognized medical providers, health-management device manufacturers and patient advocacy organizations, Microsoft Corp. today launched Microsoft® HealthVault, a software and services platform aimed at helping people better manage their health information.

The safety of medical devices such as surgical equipment or implants is to be significantly improved after the adoption of a proposal by the European Commission, today by the European Parliament. There will be stricter rules for the use of potentially toxic materials, for which adequate labelling will be required. Furthermore the safe single use of devices is enhanced.