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Private clinics may cost the same as ER

But a new study claims this protocol may not actually save hospitals money.

A University School of Public Health study, published in the March 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that a visit to a private clinic costs about the same as a trip to the emergency room.

The marginal cost, or cost to the hospital of caring for one more patient while the hospital is already open, is $24, researchers found.

This is more reasonable than going to a private clinic at night, where most often the cost is above $25, said Dr. Robert Williams, lecturer and research fellow at the School of Public Health. Weekends and holidays also increase the price of care, he said.

Researchers found that the average cost of a non-urgent visit is $62, while patients are usually charged around $124.

The reason for the overcharging is that many patients never end up paying their bills, the study found.

Study examines ethics of gene technology

The long-reaching ethical effects of new genome technology is the topic of a new joint project launched by the University and Michigan State University.

The three-year study will develop policy recommendations from a wide range of focus groups. The members of the groups discuss values and personal ethics in genetic and reproductive dilemmas.

This fall, the study will hold community dialogues in six locations across the state. Later, a national survey will be conducted on attitudes relating to gene technology.

The Genome Technology and Reproduction: Values and Public Policy project is being funded by a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Papyrus becomes electronic paper

From ancient Egypt to the World Wide Web -- University researchers have collaborated with six other schools to develop the Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS), a project that turns centuries-old documents into easily accessible paragraphs on the Internet.

The University's papyrus collection has 10,000 pieces. It has led to interest in transferring papyrus collections at other universitites.

Papyrus comes from a plant and was used in ancient Egypt as writing material.

Each papyrus will be meticulously classified through digital imaging.

Physicists design new conductor simulator

University physicists have developed a new computer simulation program that could give new insight into how magnetic field lines and electrical currents flow through superconducting materials.

Associate physics Prof. Franco Nori discussed the concept at a meeting of the American Physical Society this week. A number of University physicists are currently using the simulation process to learn more about how the magnetic field lines, called vortices, move.

Laboratory measurements based on magnetic fields passing through superconducting materials were used to develop the simulations.

-- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Alice Robinson.