Health News Florida: "A federal agency that tracks measures of health-care quality lists Florida's as 'average,' but barely. The arrow hovers right on the line above 'weak.' It could be worse; Florida scores are much better than Louisiana and Texas. As usual, the northeastern states hog the glory. Florida's strongest measures were in keeping home-health patients from needing urgent care; diagnosing breast cancer before the advanced stage; and avoiding obstetrical trauma. The weakest measures were in getting flu vaccinations to high-risk populations, such as those in nursing homes and diabetes patients; deaths from HIV infection and among dialysis patients; and urinary-tract infection among nursing home patients" (7/27).

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