Category: NPR

Avoid Medical Jargon To Shrink COVID Health Disparities, Say Patient Advocates

There’s a lot of room for dangerous misunderstanding when doctors and public health officials talk to diverse groups about COVID-19. Health literacy projects aim to dispel confusion in all languages.

Sick But Hate Hospitals? In-Home Medical Care Is A Growing Option

COVID-19 and dozens of other acute illnesses now qualify for home treatment thanks to a new federal effort aimed at freeing up hospital beds.

Hospitals Serving The Poor Struggled During COVID. Wealthy Hospitals Made Millions

The financial gap between wealthy hospitals and safety-net hospitals, which take everyone who walks through their doors, has widened during the pandemic, an NPR and PBS Frontline investigation found.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Should Start At Age 45, Experts Recommend

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says the age that routine screening begins for colorectal cancer should drop from 50 to 45. Colorectal is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

Confused By CDC’s Latest Mask Guidance? Here’s What We’ve Learned

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shifted its stance this week on the need to wear masks if you’re vaccinated. What’s that mean for kids? For travel? For work? Experts weigh in.

PHOTOS: Vaccine History Repeats Itself — Sometimes

From the first vaccine (for smallpox) the questions have been the same. How do we transport it? Who’s next to get it? Why so much hesitancy? The answers can be similar — or dramatically different.

A Principal And His Tape Measure: Schools Are Helping Do COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Struggling to keep up with a COVID-19 surge in Michigan, overwhelmed local health departments turned to schools, and recruited principals and teachers as supplemental contact tracers.

Missouri Will Not Expand Medicaid Despite Voters’ Wishes, Governor Says

Last year, Missouri voters approved a ballot measure to expand Medicaid. But Republican lawmakers refused to appropriate money to fund it. Now, a legal battle is all but certain.

Painful Endometriosis Could Hold Clues To Tissue Regeneration, Scientist Says

MIT bioengineer Linda Griffith spent years in debilitating pain before she was diagnosed with a condition often neglected in research. Her focus on the basic biology could lead to better treatments.

Painful Endometriosis Could Hold Clues To Tissue Regeneration, Scientist Says

MIT bioengineer Linda Griffith spent years in debilitating pain before she was diagnosed with a condition often neglected in research. Her focus on the basic biology could lead to better treatments.