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The litany of new problems these glorified billing platforms have created (and old ones they never solved) is discussed often today, ranging from their role in medication errors to job dissatisfaction. But, the most basic, fundamental harm is largely ignored.

The prevalence of cigarette smoking among American adults is at an all-time low. Many media outlets decided to downplay or ignore this milestone public health achievement and instead scare people about vaping.

Rare diseases are becoming the focus of more and more biomedical research. And the cost of developing medicines to treat them takes center stage in the discussion. A new article in JAMA concludes that clinical trials for rare diseases should cost less than those that require a larger number of patients. But it's not that simple. Pfizer's Dr. Robert Popvian explains.

Winter is on the way and the hideous norovirus (stomach virus) always comes along for the ride. Are we still helpless against this little monster? What's going on out there? You may be surprised.

Did you know all falls are not alike, and why that is the case? Or why every rib fracture is not the same? Here are a few factors that influence prognosis.

It's ironic that a great science fiction story could be responsible for some of the science fiction passed off as health and science news today. The effect of that radio broadcast on our citizenry continues to be felt today.

Not only did Americans vote on members of Congress this week, but citizens of several states also voted on various science- and health-related policy issues. How did those turn out? On the upside, an anti-fracking law was defeated. On the downside, workplace vaping was banned and bogus medical marijuana laws passed.

In New Zealand, the Chief Censor adjusted the movie's rating due to "triggering" content. Is this a reasonable health-based decision to protect moviegoers?

One sure way to damage your wine business is to overdose the soil on chemicals. Yet that's what growers must do if they rely on copper sulfate, a heavy metal that accumulates in soil – and is certified by organic marketing groups.

Algal blooms are gross and bad for the environment. As the blooms die and decay, oxygen is consumed and then fish die. Worse, some algal blooms produce toxins, such as neurotoxins, that are harmful to humans and other animals. Now, we can add another to the list: Heart toxins.

Physicians have to apply population-based guidelines to individuals. How do they know which to use? P-values don't work and eminence is not evidence. Can a measure of a studies "fragility" be an answer?

As your mother probably told you, "It's better to give than to receive." While we know it to be true for surgery, a new study suggests it's true for advice, as well. Can it help explain the value to support groups?

Only about 37% of American adults bothered to get a flu shot this past flu season. That's actually a decrease from the previous season, when about 43% got one. Partially as a result, 80,000 Americans died from the flu. On the flip side, we did buy more organic food than ever before.

Is there a way to crowd-source funding medical research in a way that allows more people to share the risk, as well as the possible profit? A group of patients – Bio-Bonds – thinks there is.

In an ill-advised Twitter ad, the candidate offers a teachable moment on the importance of not driving while distracted.

Triclosan has garnered a bad reputation due to its overuse. But it may still serve a purpose in treating cystic fibrosis infections.

Ours is a culture that prioritizes instant gratification, and is instinctually reflexive about taking a pill or other fix immediately to end pain. When, actually, it is pain that can in a number of conditions be our greatest gift.

The DEA, an arm of the Department of Justice, released a 184-page report claiming that prescription opioid analgesics is the drug class that's killing the most Americans. Huh? This sure seems strange. But a closer look suggests that the only thing strange is the manner in which that data is used in the report. The DEA spins and wins. Pain patients lose.

The FDA and 23andMe announced a newly approved report on consumer's individual ability to metabolize commonly used medications. What a treat! But the trick was that it has, at this point, no clinical value.

The CDC reports that last year four states experienced outbreaks of hepatitis A, mostly among homeless people and/or intravenous drug users. Overall, 1,521 people got sick and 41 died. This is the predictable outcome of societal negligence and our collective unwillingness to adequately address the homelessness crisis.

The Environmental Protection Agency has extended registration for Dicamba – an herbicide commonly used to remove growing weeds, as well as Dicamba-tolerant crops – out to the end of 2020. Here's what that means.

After years, countless hours and dollars spent you'd think doctors could readily share a patient's records. However, you would be wrong. The latest excuse: sharing patient data may be an anti-trust violation, since after all, patient data is valuable. But when did we lose ownership of our most personal of information?

There aren't many things today that unite both sides of the political aisle, but leave it to some environmental activists to achieve the impossible. There's bipartisan opposition to a proposed Colorado law that would severely curtail fracking in the state.

Did you know if you had a cardiac arrest, the decision to give you a potentially life-saving medication or placebo – in the fleeting moment where seconds matter – might be made at random by those coordinating a study? A little-known FDA exemption allows for it.

A new study finds that more than 15 percent of blood donations often don't make it to shooting victims or other hospital patients at a later time, and must be poured out. In addition, when local officials announce a well-meaning call for donations after such a tragedy, many times it's unnecessary. But we have a suggestion that can address these issues.