Category: Public Health

Health disparities across states: 6 new findings

The Commonwealth Fund released a new report April 18 examining racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access, quality and outcomes across the U.S.

How Mercy accelerated rare disease diagnoses in rural areas

Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.) researchers found a way to reduce the time to diagnosis for rare disease by 5.5 months.

The rise of 'social prescribing'

Nature walks. Dance classes. Volunteering. These are among the social activities being prescribed across at least 30 programs in the U.S. Social prescribing — or the practice of connecting people with nonclinical activities that target underlying conce…

Americans getting less sleep than ever before: Gallup

For the first time, the majority of U.S. adults say they are not getting enough sleep, a recent Gallup poll found.

Medicare’s Push To Improve Chronic Care Attracts Businesses, but Not Many Doctors

Most Medicare enrollees have two or more chronic health conditions, making them eligible for a federal program that rewards physicians for doing more to manage their care. It shows promise in reducing costs. But not many doctors have joined.

The Path to a Better Tuberculosis Vaccine Runs Through Montana

Researchers at the University of Montana have pitched in to develop a more effective vaccine in the fight against an ancient disease that still kills an estimated 1.6 million people a year worldwide.

Adults may need whooping cough booster as cases rise: CDC

In recent months, parts of the U.S. have reported outbreaks of pertussis, or whooping cough. While some regional outbreaks are expected each year, health officials are underscoring the importance of boosters in adults to protect infants from severe ill…

White House unveils new strategy to prevent future pandemics

The Biden administration launched a new global health security strategy April 16 to prepare for future outbreaks, pandemics or biological threats. 

GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are effective metabolic health tools for teens with insulin resistance

Lizzie is a 13-year-old with a great sense of humor. She tells it like it is, especially to her Mom, Jackie, who admits to being a bit of an Almond Mom (the parent who is stuck in a weight-focused diet culture). Jackie leads a very healthy lifestyle an…

To Stop Fentanyl Deaths in Philadelphia, Knocking on Doors and Handing Out Overdose Kits

Facing widening racial disparities in overdose deaths, Philadelphia officials are sending workers and volunteers to knock on doors across the city, aiming to equip households with naloxone and other drug overdose prevention supplies. City officials hope a proactive approach will normalize naloxone as an everyday item in people’s medicine cabinets and prevent overdoses, especially among Black residents.