Shell Oil is attempting to wring oil from the rocks in the Green River Formation near Rangely. If successful, supporters say the oil shale could supply the nation’s energy for decades; detractors claim it’s expensive, inefficient and environmentally hazardous.
The United States’ dependence on foreign oil leaves it vunerable to the whims of OPEC, political unrest in Venezuela and Nigeria, and facing increasing competition from China for its oil needs.
Two Colorado Springs groups have embarked on an international journey to research and create nanotechnology for uses ranging from medicine to communications.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Atmel Corp. and Queens University in Belfast are working on research projects involving silicon germanium and other technologies.
Twenty grants, totaling nearly $4.5 million, have been awarded to health care organizations and health departments in Colorado to establish and expand programs for the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
El Paso County Department of Health and Environment received $495,600 to fund a one-year project to add disease management guidelines for five chronic diseases — including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — to the existing HealthTrack database system.
In light of a veto from Gov. Bill Owens, doctors at Colorado Medical Society say they have no choice but to continue fighting for more transparent contracts with health insurance plans.
“We were very disappointed,” said Dr. Rick May, president of the society. “We put in a lot of effort drafting this bill and getting broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate.”
Low insurance and vaccination rates and rising obesity led the Colorado Health Foundation to give the state a C+ in its first benchmark study of overall health.
The organization examined 20 indicators, said Deborah Thomas, vice president of programs for the foundation.
Memorial Health Systems has entered into a partnership with The Children’s Hospital in Denver to jointly manage Memorial Hospital for Children in Colorado Springs. The new facility will replace Memorial’s existing children’s hospital.
The two are the only National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions designated and nationally recognized children’s hospitals in Colorado.
Doctors seem to have won the battle over legislation that allows more negotiating power when signing contracts with large health insurance corporations. But leaders of Colorado’s health plans say that physicians have only won the first round.
Senate Bill 198 is awaiting Gov. Bill Owens’ signature, but is a watered-down version of the original legislation that the Colorado Medical Society helped create.
Dennis P. Bruens has been named director of the Penrose Cancer Center. He is replacing Deborah Hood, who will be leaving after 27 years with the health system.
Bruens was the former director of the San Juan Cancer Center at St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center in Grand Junction. He also served as director of planning and business development.
Attention bosses: if your workers are stressed, you could be the one paying for it.
Nearly half the country allows worker compensation claims for emotional disorders and disabilities because of stress on the job. Studies show health care costs are 50 percent higher for workers who report high levels of stress, according to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
Despite a unanimous vote to “suspend relocation” to New Mexico, the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association might still seek greener pastures.
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