Can a patient’s inbox provide a way out from the burdens of chronic heart failure? A clinical trial in Canada is testing whether an e-consulting strategy will help patients adhere to self-care protocols without taxing the healthcare system.

Researchers at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., go the extra yard to test a device that measures cardiac output in space. This video, published in Stanford’s Scope blog, shows the team aboard a fixed-wing airplane that simulates an astronaut’s feeling of weightlessness.

Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business and the new WMU School of Medicine have designed a dual-degree program allowing medical students to complete both a medical degree and master's in business administration with a concentration in healthcare in just five years of study.

Female physicians spend more time caring for their children than male physicians do, according to a study published in the March 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.  

Employed physicians and administrators appear to be equally satisfied with integration efforts in their healthcare systems, according to a survey by the American College of Physician Executives. But some employed physicians still see a shortfall with engagement and alignment.

A heavy nurse workload may place patients’ lives at risk. A study published online Feb. 26 in The Lancet found that assigning an extra patient to nurses increased the risk of inpatient death within 30 days by 7 percent. However, adding better-educated nurses to the mix may decrease this risk.

Carotid artery MR imaging may provide physicians with a tool for predicting cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic patients. A study published online March 4 in Radiology found that MRI identified vulnerable plaque features and significantly improved the reclassification of baseline cardiovascular risk.

An analysis of FDA adverse event reports concluded that apixaban had the safest drug profile among anticoagulants and prasugrel had the highest safety risk among antiplatelet drugs.