Morning Headlines 1/6/14

Biotech Firm: We Will 3D Print A Human Liver In 2014

Organovo, a San Diego-based biotech company, says it will produce functional 3D printed human livers by the end of 2014. The organs will be used for pharmaceutical testing, not implanting.

Online Doctor’s Notes a Hit with Patients, Study Shows

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine follows three hospitals as they go live with patient portals that include unedited physician notes. The year-long study found that 80 percent of participating patients had read their physician’s notes, and that "large majorities reported having better recall and understanding of their care plans and feeling more in control of their health care. Moreover, two thirds of patients who were taking medications reported improved adherence."

Computer failure adds to ambulance patients’ pain

In Australia, an ambulance service is seeking a government bailout after its electronic billing system malfunctioned and left it with $7.5 million in unbilled services.