April 4-8

Well, its been awhile since I have posted....busy time in the semester and I'm sure you know what I mean!
 New research validates that children's pain is under treated in the hospital. A little history on this: it has been insinuated for years (by actions) that infants don't have pain. When baby boys were circumcised, there was little to no pre-procedure pain control. But,with studies like this http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/cmaj.101341v1
there is a changing approach (yeah!). Health care providers are starting to realize that although the infants can't verbally tell us 'it hurts' --but they cry!!!!! and any parent knows the pain cry. The article goes on to recommend non pharmacological actions (giving a pacifier, toy) for specific activities like a prick for blood or IV insertion. (For  long term - Cancer- or surgical pain, there isn't as much of an issue --they are medicated). Read more about the issue and recommendations - use the link above.
Think about how you would feel as the parent....how can health care providers educate themselves to meet the needs of those who are the most vulnerable and totally dependent on us?

Feb 7-13

This week will focus on one article from the Bakersfield Californian on Health Care reform: Latinos have the biggest stake. I'm not writing to focus on the specifics of The Affordable Health Care Act (aka the HC reform bill) but the article points out staggering statistics. Approximately 2.1 million of the 3.9 million uninsured in California are Latino according to a study by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network in Nov 2010.--this does not include undocumented immigrants. WOW!! Currently many Latinos do not qualify for Medi-Cal because they exceed the poverty level income requirement.  Based on those stats alone--here's what's going on: this population has no insurance, so if there is a chronic or acute illness, there is often no medical attention. Then when necessary the Emergency Department is used as the primary source of health care. This results in no continuity of care for the chronic illnesses. Other issues that may arise-- can they afford the medications? will they follow up as needed? how does this affect their life expectancy? their family earnings?
Think about the impact (potential and real) on public health: think about what this means for you as a health care provider and as a consumer. Does this affect your health care? your insurance? your access?
This was only one point of the article but you should read the entire story and THINK ABOUT  IT.
To read the entire article go to http://www.bakersfield.com/, search Health care Reform.The article date is Feb 4,  2011.
Other useful links http://www.healthcare.gov/ and http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform

January 31-Feb 6

 Well this has been a busy week in health news but for now I'll focus on just a few topics. Next week, I hope to get topic contributions for you!

#1-- here is a link to a CNN report regarding post mastectomy breast reconstruction.  The startling statistic is that for every 10 women who qualify for breast reconstruction only 3 are informed. WOW! As a health care provider, this is the take away...nurses are actively involved in educating their patients at different access to assist the patient so they are completely and accurately informed. 
                 Listen for yourself and think about it! breast reconstruction
#2 latest and greatest  use of technology in health care (maybe). Read all about it and think how this could impact the practice of medicine- if you were a patient would you want to know if your physician used his phone to evaluate your CT? Cool or creepy?
                                           ct's on mobile devices

                Keep reading and listening to stories of interest and always think about the potential effect    on health care  --now or  later.

Welcome to Spring 2011- January 17-24

Well, the semester is underway... and moving right along.
For my Success class (Nurs B100), here is a link about Dick Cheney's heart device.
Heart pump device.
stay tuned for more news you can use!

October News

Gearing up for elections has meant lean pickings for most any kind of non political news!
What we did see in October was:

• Obesity rates are up in adolescents - some states are worse than others.. but think about the impact on their health over time....joint issues, lack of ability to exercise, heart disease risk, diabetes risk, etc...
• Whooping cough is resurging: Do you know why? who is recommended to be immunized against this? 
• There are new recommendations for meningitis immunizations - who is targeted? what is the health risk to the general public if there is an outbreak?

Think about how you can be impact someone's life by knowing about the above issues and telling someone about it!  Don't just think about this one, do something about it!

September news

Hot topics that were on the burner during the month of September included bedbugs, identity theft (with a twist) mobile medical apps and yes--bed bugs!!

The first topic (9/23/10) 'bugs found in similac' eeeewwww!! but for real, what is the impact on the baby's health? Probably no serious health concern except maybe an upset stomach. They did recall the formula. side bar: there was a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  (March, 2005) identifying a relationship between asthma and roaches...jus sayin...

Twisted identity theft (Sept 15,2010): Well...now identity thieves are stealing your medical information. You might say, so what, I'll just ask for another ID card. Not so fast...It was reported that the thieves, use the stolen medical ID to have procedures and obtain prescriptions. then when you need services, you are DENIED!!! Can you imagine being told "I'm sorry, you can't have your appendix out because we took it out last month" as you lay moaning and groaning in pain.. or you get the bill for the MRI you didn't have...being stuck with convincing your insurance it wasn't you AND being sent to collections for the bill you won't pay because it wasn't you!!!! To top it all off, you have reached your cap for the year and it isn't even June!Yikes!!!  What's the impact to the general public as a result of this fraud

The bed bugs bite again...and again...and again...What is the potential complication for the patient with bed bug bites???

September also gave us a new iPhone app allowing electronic prescriptions...only doctors can subscribe -it's encrypted using the same technology that the military uses (not sure if that's good or bad)!! As a consumer of health care, what would this mean to you? As a health care provider, it could mean no more deciphering unrecognizable prescriptions!!! Gotta love itunes

Maybe most importantly, HEALTH CARE REFORM IS HERE! Starting Sept 23, one provision is that children are covered under  their parents health insurance until 26. More changes can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform
Think about how insurances will address these changes...check your mail box for notifications!!!
What are the checks and balances regarding health care costs?....
Think about it!

News from August 23-Sept. 2

Michael Douglas is diagnosed with throat cancer. (8/31/10)

• What are the effects of chemo and radiation on his health..on his life?
• What do you know about stage 4 throat cancer?
• What are the contributing factors for throat cancer?
• How does this news impact you - if at all -? Will you educate others?

A diplomat's daughter falls to her death from an apartment window . She had a history of binge drinking. (8/27/10)

• What are the long term effects of binge drinking?
• What are potential consequences on the individual? on society? on the health care system?
• What can you do to educate others?