Health Highlights: July 1, 2008

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008; 12:00 AM

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Drug Store, Pharmacy Benefit Managers Combine Info Systems

In an effort to increase electronic prescribing by doctors, the drug store and pharmacy benefit management industries will combine their information systems, theAssociated Pressreported.

The union will make electronic prescribing more convenient and efficient for doctors, according to executives with the two industries.

"This merger sets aside historic economic and political differences to do what is necessary to advance paperless prescribing and the secure exchange of critical information," said John Driscoll, president for new markets at MedcoHealth Solutions Inc., theAPreported.

Along with MedcoHealth Solutions, the merger will include the RxHub network, operated by CVS Caremark Corp., Express Scripts Inc., and Surescripts, which is run by the drug store industry's two main trade groups.

Last year, only about 2 percent of all medicines dispensed in the United States were prescribed electronically, according to Surescripts, theAPreported.

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Babies Need Stomach Time to Develop Back and Neck Muscles

While having babies sleep on their backs reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it can impair development of their back and neck muscles, according to U.S. experts.

When babies sleep on their backs, it means they miss out on 12 hours of time they used to get on their stomachs while sleeping. This means they don't get much-needed stretching and strengthening of their back and neck muscles, which can lead to early motor delay, according to the Pathways Awareness Medical Round Table,United Press Internationalreported.

The round table -- a group of pediatricians, surgeons, physical therapists, nurses and researchers -- developed a set of standards for stomach time that specifies when to start, how much infants need, and the best ways to encourage the activity.