Hospital emergency departments can be risky places for nurses. A survey from the Emergency Nurses Association finds a high percentage of its members have been physically assaulted at work, and verbal abuse is also common.

UC San Diego Medical Center has a new CEO. Thomas Jackiewicz takes the helm of the organization, which includes two hospitals and the Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

The local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is holding a Cigarette Butt Awareness Day tomorrow. Activists will be at three busy intersections in beach communities to urge people to throw their butts away.

A new federal report shows the adult smoking rate in the U.S. has been virtually unchanged since 2004. California has fared much better than the national average.

A new report places San Diego on the list of the nation's 50 most dangerous areas to take a walk. Over the past 15 years, nearly two-thousand San Diegans have been killed while crossing a street or walking in their neighborhood.

A free phone service designed to help Californians quit smoking has received its 500,000 call. The UCSD-based help line has been in operation since 1992.

A new study reveals that, since 2003, marijuana arrests in California have risen faster than the national average. The report finds marijuana usage during that time has remained largely unchanged.

The American College of Emergency Physicians has issued a new set of guidelines for the public about the H1N1 virus. People who have flu-like symptoms are encouraged to look at the guidelines before going to an emergency room.

About two dozen protesters demonstrated in front of the Mission Valley offices of Blue Shield today. Three people were arrested after they marched into the building and refused to leave.

The Senate Health Committee will hold a hearing in Los Angeles this week on the relationship between soft drinks and obesity. A recent report from UCLA suggests there's a strong link between the two.

More than 12,000 people are expected to take part in a breast cancer race for the cure in Balboa Park this Sunday. Organizers of the event say it should raise more than a million dollars for breast cancer treatment and research.

San Diego County has become the new home for thousands of Iraqi refugees. Many settle in El Cajon and nearby parts of East County, where they confront a new language and a new culture. And many of them carry deep emotional scars caused by years of war.

The California Department of Public Health has been ordered to continue issuing quarterly reports on its oversight of nursing homes. A Superior Court judge says the agency must demonstrate it is investigating complaints in a timely manner.

A Superior Court judge has ruled California regulators have illegally allowed insurers to deny care to children with autism. The case involved Kaiser Permanente's refusal to pay for a particular type of autism treatment.

La Jolla's Scripps Research Institute has been awarded $10 million to fund a new oncology center. Institute officials hope the five-year grant will help the center develop a better understanding of the behavior of cancer cells.

A number of hospitals in California have formed a coalition aimed at lobbying lawmakers to delay a deadline to make their facilities earthquake proof. San Diego's Scripps Health is among those asking the state for more time.

Health and law enforcement officials say prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in San Diego. Tomorrow, the County Sheriff's Department is inviting people to drop off their unused and expired prescription drugs, no questions asked.

The federal government is taking public comment on a rule regarding notification when electronic medical records are breached. The rule says consumers should be notified only if substantial harm has occurred. Critics say that's too high a standard.

A new study finds 93 percent of Californians under the age of 65 will have access to health insurance if Congress approves national health reform. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research produced the report.

Domestic violence shelters throughout California have gotten a reprieve. Governor Schwarzenegger says he'll sign a bill that restores $16 million of state funding to the shelters.

Mesa College is celebrating the opening of a brand new building dedicated to training students in six different healthcare fields. All of the disciplines are in high demand.

A new study reveals African-Americans in California who are enrolled in HMOs are much more likely to use ERs than other ethnic groups. Staff at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research say they can't explain the phenomenon.

Most women who give birth in the U.S. do so with the help of pain medication and other medical interventions. A program at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest is devoted to helping women have an all-natural, drug-free birth. This month, the program celebrates its tenth anniversary.

About three dozen people protested in front of the San Diego offices of Anthem Blue Cross today. Protesters demanded the insurance company stop lobbying against healthcare reform.

The Senate Finance Committee has rejected the idea of a public plan in its version of health reform. But the committee has approved the concept of allowing states to offer their own public insurance option.

A variety of cuts to California's safety net programs for seniors take effect today. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows 500,000 seniors will be adversely affected.

Consumer advocates say Governor Schwarzenegger can help reform California's health care system by signing two bills on his desk. One measure would prohibit insurers from charging women more for policies. The other would require all health plans to cover maternity care.

A group of cancer patients from Rady Children's Hospital were given a special treat today. They got to play with dolphins at SeaWorld. The kids were outfitted in special SeaWorld wetsuits as they waded in the dolphin tank. They were guided by two trainers, one of them a cancer survivor herself.

A federal appeals court has rejected a move by the state of California to cut the rates Medi-Cal pays doctors by 10 percent. The legislature approved the Medi-Cal rate cuts last year.

The state has fined two hospitals in San Diego County for conditions that put patients at risk of serious injury or death. Sharp Chula Vista and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside were each penalized $25,000.

One of the world's largest conferences on family violence and sexual assault is taking place in San Diego this week.

A new forecast predicts San Diego County will need more than 200,000 nurses, aides and other allied health workers by 2030. The California Wellness Foundation report says the region doesn't have the capacity to train that many people.

Marines have been at the forefront of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the stress has taken its toll on their families back home. Marine Corp. officials say they're aware of the burden that repeated deployments place on families. The Corps has a lot of services to help families cope.

California regulators say they're getting close to setting rules about how long-managed care patients have to wait to get doctor appointments. About 20 million Californians will be affected by the new regulations

The link between soda and obesity is getting more attention in California. A state senator from Los Angeles says he plans to hold hearings on the connection soon.

California's Poison Control system is on life support. The 24-7 operation lost half of its funding in the new state budget. Poison control officials say if they don't find an additional $6 million soon, the system will have to close.

A new study shows about six out of 10 San Diego adolescents drink at least one soda or sugary soft drink a day.

The state legislature has approved a bill that would require insurers that cover cervical cancer treatments and to also pay for a vaccine designed to prevent the disease.

Hundreds of doctors, nurses and hospital officials will meet in Sacramento this week to talk about disaster planning. It's the third annual statewide conference on disaster preparedness for hospitals.

A federal judge has blocked the state of California from making cuts to adult day health care programs. The temporary injunction means thousands of disabled seniors and adults with mental illnesses can get care five days a week.

California's tattoo and body piercing artists would be subject to new regulations under a bill approved by the state legislature. The measure would impose tighter safety rules and more training.

The California Legislature has approved a bill that will make it tougher for health insurers to cancel a policy after a person becomes sick. Supporters say it addresses a practice that's all too common.

The state assembly will vote Wednesday on a measure that would ban the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) from products designed for young children. Supporters say BPA may cause serious health problems.

The Food and Drug Administration will start enforcing a ban on flavored cigarettes next month. But a California based importer of clove-flavored cigarettes has found a way around the new law.

Healthcare providers are applauding California lawmakers for striking a deal that saves the Healthy Families program. The arrangement means nearly 700,000 children who would have lost their health insurance will hold onto it.

Two of America's biggest health insurers have been asking their employees to lobby members of Congress about health reform. The non-profit group Consumer Watchdog is asking California's attorney general to investigate.

The California State Senate is considering a measure that would require all health insurance plans to include maternity coverage. The assembly has already approved the bill.

California hospitals are looking to bypass a 2013 deadline to make their facilities earthquake-safe. The California Hospital Association says most of its members can't afford the construction costs.

One in ten adults in San Diego County is saddled with medical debt. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research reveals medical debt is a problem statewide.

Despite state budget cuts, one community health provider in North County is expanding. The Vista Community Clinic has just opened a new facility to treat the under-served.