Public health leaders, frustrated with the slow progress in stemming America’s obesity epidemic, say something more ambitious is needed — something more like the anti-tobacco movement.
It may sound counterintuitive, but a panel of experts from the Institute of Medicine has concluded that the best way to slow the nation’s breakneck spending on medical care is to impose a tax on every health care transaction.
Because of this sudden increase in deaths, health officials are issuing a public alert about the overdose danger and are working with partners to analyze the heroin and identify possible reasons for the sudden increase in deaths.
The recognition is part of Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative, which seeks to join community organizations, local cities, schools districts and public health agencies in efforts to reduce the leading causes of preventable death, such as obesity and tobacco use.
Plan seeks to preserve the school’s core strengths while developing new initiatives to address emerging challenges to local, regional and global health.
Signs that read, “Burn Calories, Not Electricity” posted in lobbies of New York City buildings, motivated more people to take the stairs and continue to use them even months later.
Among the trends that drove down the state’s rankings this year were rises in the rates of obesity, diabetes, and smoking — and a decline in high school graduation rates.
Public Health – Seattle & King County will mark World AIDS Day with a free showing of the film “Still Around” on Thurs., Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre.
Federal funding for medical research, disease prevention and a host of public health initiatives could be sharply reduced if the congressional super committee fails to agree on a deficit-reduction package, triggering automatic cuts.
“If you live in a high-poverty area, your risk of early death rises substantially,” one expert said. “In many cases your ZIP code is more important than your genetic code.”
If the cuts in Medicaid reimbursements rates are not reversed by the Legislature, additional lay-offs will occur and more than 100,000 patients may lose access to care, officials say.
Public Health – Seattle and King County’s Dr. Jeff Duchin has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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