Special Report

Frontier Institute takes on abnormal movement study

Mental health nonprofit's research arm tests remedy to serious drug side effect

July 3, 2013

Frontier Institute, the Spokane-based nonprofit research arm of Frontier Behavioral Health, formerly Spokane Mental Health, is participating in an early phase of research on an experimental drug intended to treat a serious side effect of Hampton, a

Outpatient care limited in ability to lower costs, data show

For big-bill patients, just 10 percent of acute care expenses found avoidable

July 3, 2013

News Wise

In an analysis that included a sample of patients in the top portion of Medicare spending, only a small percentage of patients' costs appeared to be related to preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, limiting the ability to in

Extended pediatric office hours said to trim ER visits

Around-the-clock phone advice, other options curb hospital trips, study says

July 3, 2013

News Wise

Children had half as many emergency department visits if their primary care office had evening office hours on five or more days a week, says new research from child health experts at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, in a

Health sciences group works to boost recruiting, grants

HSSA, GSI joint outreach to draw biomedical firms part of economic stimulus

July 3, 2013

Treva Lind

Representatives of three Pacific Northwest biomedical companies toured Spokane this spring to consider relocating operations here, under a joint recruitment effort by the Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County and Greater Spokane is

Air pollution might speed artery hardening, research finds

Data suggest long-term exposure causes carotid layers to thicken faster

July 3, 2013

News Wise

Long-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to a University of Michigan public health researcher and colleagues from across the U.S. Sara

Too few primary care doctors being trained, study says

Less than 25 percent of all new physicians enter in-demand field

July 3, 2013

News Wise

Despite a critical shortage of primary care in the United States, less than 25 percent of newly minted doctors go into this field and only a small fraction, 4.8 percent, set up shop in rural areas, says a study by researchers at the George School a

Ankle replacement interest grows

Procedure less common than those for knee, hip, but offers similar relief

July 3, 2013

Kim Crompton

Ankle replacement surgery, though far less common than knee and hip replacement procedures, gradually is gaining favor as baby boomers age, people become more aware of it as a medical option, and medical technology improves, orthopedic surgeons is

Washington ranks high in imaging jobs

More than 2,500 people work in specialized sector statewide, analysis says

July 3, 2013

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance says a newly released national employment analysis it commissioned shows that the medical imaging technology sector employs 2,510 people in Washington state, ranking it ninth among states nationwide.The

WSU College of Pharmacy starts the big move

School leaders expect research funding to rise sharply over next seven years

July 3, 2013

Jessica Valencia

As the newest academic building addition to the University District nears completion, Washington State University is gearing up for the College of Pharmacy to start its move to Spokane from Pullman next month.Gary Pollack, dean of the pharmacy &

Banks are boosting small-business focus, adviser says

SBDC expert helps clients here prepare loan requests, strengthen financial goals

June 20, 2013

Treva Lind

After working nearly four decades as a commercial banker, Alan Stanford has spent the last few years as an adviser with a Small Business Development Center office in Spokane, showing business owners how to strengthen loan applications, among other