Assessment times for patients presenting with chest pains can be safely reduced, easing pressure on often overcrowded emergency departments. [ + ]

A research team has successfully located the source of recurring urinary tract infections in a female patient — a breakthrough that could lead to more effective treatments. [ + ]

In the 'Hope 4' trial, care was led by non-physician health workers using a computer tablet to help decision-making, working closely with physicians. [ + ]

Divorcees are about twice as likely as married people to develop dementia, a Michigan State University study has found. [ + ]

Australian men are living longer than any other group of males in the world, research from The Australian National University shows. [ + ]

With about $20 million a year spent on anti-dementia medications and almost 95,000 people with dementia hospitalised, more needs to be done to provide quality health care, advocates say. [ + ]

The high levels of sugar, saturated fat, salt and kilojoules in many favourite products on supermarket shelves are potentially making us sick, with a possible "tsunami of dietary ill health" coming our way, researchers say. [ + ]

Antibiotic use is linked to a heightened risk of bowel cancer, research published in the journal Gut has found. But the risk was lowered for rectal cancer. [ + ]

Understanding what good quality of life means to aged-care consumers could assist economic evaluation of services, researchers say. [ + ]

Nurses and midwives 'at the bedside' are being encouraged to take a lead role in research under a grants program developed by the Rosemary Bryant Foundation. [ + ]

One in four Australians with MS surveyed for a national research study report having unmet medical and allied health service needs. [ + ]

A national, profession-wide survey is seeking to provide a snapshot of medical training in Australia, through the eyes of doctors. [ + ]

Off-the-shelf quantum dot nanotechnology and a smartphone camera could soon allow doctors to identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria in just 40 minutes, potentially saving patient lives, Australian scientists believe. [ + ]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has launched the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights second edition. The Australian Digital Health Agency has launched a new My Health Record Mental Health toolkit. [ + ]

Robots could take on about 50% more laboratory tests and automate tasks that cause people repetitive strain injury, technology provider ABB said. [ + ]