Healio Minute Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Edition: EHRs and care costs, spinal surgery complications, obesity and arteries

What just happened in medicine and why do you care?

EHRs save paper in more ways than one

Healio.com/Orthotics/Prosthetics: Use of electronic health records linked to a 3% drop in outpatient care costs. Read more.

Medicaid linked to spinal surgery complications

Healio.com/Orthopedics: Beneficiaries were more likely than those with private insurance to experience complications in a recent study. Read more.

Long-term obesity increases coronary artery calcification risk

Healio.com/Cardiology: Each additional year of overall and/or abdominal obesity raises the likelihood of developing this CHD predictor. Read more.

Lifetime substance abuse common among homeless youth

Healio.com/Psychiatry: Analysis of 50 studies reveals high prevalence but little research on physical, mental health outcomes. Read more.

Routine MRSA screening may benefit nursing homes

Healio.com/Infectious Disease: Nursing home residence was the strongest predictor of the infection in a recent study. Read more.