HEALTH DISPARITIES BLOG http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/ Information and Research on the topic of Health Disparities. en-us Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:51:26 EST Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:51:26 EST cydney.johnson@case.edu cydney.johnson@case.edu http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Movable Type v3.121 To Eat a Peep or Not Eat a Peep? That is the Question..... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/10/06/to_eat_a_peep_or_not_eat_a_peep_that_is_the_question This question may not be an issue for everyone but it can be problem for those who consider themselves vegetarian, vegan, kosher or on halal diets. It has been found... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/10/06/to_eat_a_peep_or_not_eat_a_peep_that_is_the_question case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:51:26 EST This question may not be an issue for everyone but it can be problem for those who consider themselves vegetarian, vegan, kosher or on halal diets. It has been found that Peeps marshmallow candies contain a pork-derived gelatin ingredient that is listed on the website of the Peeps manufactures but the average consumer may not recognize this just by reading the food label on the package.

A recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer discusses with MetroHealth Medical Center dietitian Janeen Leon on how labels on food products may not list all the ingredients that are contained within certain foods. When labeling, some manufactures use "hidden" terms/phrases such as "dietary fiber", "may contain soy" or "natural flavorings" to describe ingredients that may affect someone's choice in purchasing or consuming these products.


For more information, Please Read:
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/10/food_labels_may_not_tell_you_e.html

]]> links for 2011-09-27 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/28/links_for_20110927 USC Annenberg | Health journalism fellows gain reporting ... "We want people to come away with a different sense of what constitutes a health story,” says Michelle Levander, a... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/28/links_for_20110927 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:42:27 EST
  • USC Annenberg | Health journalism fellows gain reporting ...
    "We want people to come away with a different sense of what constitutes a health story,” says Michelle Levander, a veteran journalist and founding director of the fellowships. “We focus on health as it plays out in the community, as opposed to the medical research arena. We’re trying to broaden journalists’ perspective and encourage fellows to think critically about where ill health starts.”
    (tags: journalism, health disparities, community)
    • ]]>         West Side Youth Photovoice Exhibition on Health Disparities and Genetics http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/26/west_side_youth_photovoice_exhibition_on_health_disparities_and_genetics On Friday, November 18, 2011, Esperanza, Inc. and Case Western Reserve University Department of Bioethics are hosting an exhibit of photos taken by Cleveland youth on the topics of health... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/26/west_side_youth_photovoice_exhibition_on_health_disparities_and_genetics Disparities Genetics Health Photographs youth case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:04:06 EST On Friday, November 18, 2011, Esperanza, Inc. and Case Western Reserve University Department of Bioethics are hosting an exhibit of photos taken by Cleveland youth on the topics of health disparities and genetics. The exhibition will run from 5 - 9 p.m at 78th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78th Street, Cleveland, 44102.

    All the youth who participated in the project selected one photo to be exhibited in the show and will be there to meet and share their experiences with individuals who attend the event. For more information, please contact Laura Morello at (216) 368-5747 or lem14@case.edu. For more information on the gallery, please visit www.78streetstudios.com

    ]]>         links for 2011-09-16 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/16/links_for_20110916 Improved Screening Needed By Primary Care Providers For Suicidal Tendencies In Teens "Teen suicide is a very real issue today in the United States. Until now, we've known very... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/16/links_for_20110916 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:13:20 EST
  • Improved Screening Needed By Primary Care Providers For Suicidal Tendencies In Teens
    "Teen suicide is a very real issue today in the United States. Until now, we've known very little about how much or how little suicidal teens use healthcare services. We found it particularly striking to observe such low rates of healthcare service use among most teens in our study," said lead author Carolyn A. McCarty, PhD of Seattle Children's Research Institute, and research associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The study, "Adolescents With Suicidal Ideation: Health Care Use and Functioning," was recently published in Academic Pediatrics.
  • Campaign aims to sign up Americans for health insurance
    The new nonprofit group, called Enroll America, plans a state-by-state effort to publicize the expanded availability of health coverage and to help state leaders put in place procedures to simplify enrollment
    (tags: health insurance uninsured)
  • Does your child have a school nurse?
    Overall, there has been an increase in funded school nurse positions in the U.S. in the last decade. But the numbers vary significantly by state, and some districts have no school nurses at all.
    (tags: school nursing children health)
    • ]]>         The Next Step in Tackling Childhood Obesity? http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/15/the_next_step_in_tackling_childhood_obesity On September 15, 2011, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that Michigan would now be tracking the BMI of schoolchildren across the state through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry. The system... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/15/the_next_step_in_tackling_childhood_obesity Michigan children obesity case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:16:04 EST On September 15, 2011, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that Michigan would now be tracking the BMI of schoolchildren across the state through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry. The system is designed to encourage pediatricians to calculate patients' BMI and report back to the state through the registry, which currently tracks immunization records. The children's identities will not be entered, only BMI scores.

    Physician training on obesity and how to address obesity with patients and their families is not part of the program, but rather up to the discretion of the physician. Further discussion centers around whether or not BMI is truly an accurate measure of obesity. Would this be enough of an impetus for patient/pediatrician/parent discussion or, ultimately, lifestyle change?

    For more information about this story, please visit abcNEWS/Health.

    ]]>         links for 2011-09-14 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/14/links_for_20110914 Poverty Level is Highest It's Been Since 1993 The portion of Americans living in poverty last year rose to the highest level since 1993, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday,... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/14/links_for_20110914 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:01:42 EST
  • Poverty Level is Highest It's Been Since 1993
    The portion of Americans living in poverty last year rose to the highest level since 1993, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday, fresh evidence that the sluggish economic recovery has done nothing for the country’s poorest citizens.
    (tags: poverty)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-09-13 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/13/links_for_20110913 Attacking the Obesity Epidemic By First Figuring Out Its Cause Is the key to turning around the obesity epidemic as simple as determining what caused it in the first... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/13/links_for_20110913 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:01:32 EST
  • Attacking the Obesity Epidemic By First Figuring Out Its Cause
    Is the key to turning around the obesity epidemic as simple as determining what caused it in the first place? This article goes into the potential effects that policy could have on influencing better food and lifestyle choices to combat the obesity epidemic.
    (tags: obesity,)
  • Should the ban on HIV-positive organ ...
    Should the ban on HIV/AIDS organ donation be lifted to provide those with existing HIV increased access to organs?
    (tags: HIV/AIDS organ transplants transplantation)
    • ]]>         Public Health and Biomedical Science WANTS YOU!! http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/07/public_health_and_biomedical_science_wants_you The Department of Health and Human Services has devised a plan to end racial and ethnic disparities throughout the United States. The new plan will focus on recruiting undergraduates from... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/07/public_health_and_biomedical_science_wants_you case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:44:54 EST The Department of Health and Human Services has devised a plan to end racial and ethnic disparities throughout the United States. The new plan will focus on recruiting undergraduates from underserved communities and steer them towards a careers in public health and biomedical science.

    The strategy tackles a long-acknowledged and persistent problem in the U.S. healthcare system: racial and ethnic minorities are more likely than whites to experience poorer quality care; more likely to suffer from serious illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease; and less likely to get preventive care.

    This plan was created due to many factors. One being the racial and ethnic disparities within the workforce in these sectors. This approach is to attempt to diminish these disparities by creating grounds for all to become apart of the ever growing field of public health and biomedical sciences and be able to relate to the populations in which the racial and ethnic occur and provide better care while doing so.

    See article below for further details.

    http://www.medpagetoday.com/Washington-Watch/Washington-Watch/25825

    ]]>         links for 2011-09-06 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/06/links_for_20110906 Nation's Jails Struggle With Mentally Ill ... - npr Three hundred and fifty thousand: That's a conservative estimate for the number of offenders with mental illness confined in America's... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/06/links_for_20110906 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:31:10 EST
  • Nation's Jails Struggle With Mentally Ill ... - npr
    Three hundred and fifty thousand: That's a conservative estimate for the number of offenders with mental illness confined in America's prisons and jails. In fact, the three largest inpatient psychiatric facilities in the country are jails: Los Angeles County Jail, Rikers Island Jail in New York City and Cook County Jail in Illinois. What can be done?
    (tags: mental illness)
  • U.S. Still Lags in Slowing of Neonatal Deaths
    According to a new analysis, the United States now ranks 41st in the world in terms of neonatal mortality, the death rate of infants less than one month old. The rate is higher in the United States than in, among others, Cuba, Slovakia, Croatia and all of Western Europe and Scandinavia.
    (tags: neonates neonatal death infant)
    • ]]>         24-Year Old, Uninsured Cincinnati Father Dies of a Toothache http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/06/24year_old_uninsured_cincinnati_father_dies_of_a_toothache Last week, a 24-year old father died of a tooth infection because he had no insurance and could not afford the antibiotic medications prescribed to treat that infection. This story... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/06/24year_old_uninsured_cincinnati_father_dies_of_a_toothache Disparities Health Uninsured care communication dental patient-physician case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:44:33 EST Last week, a 24-year old father died of a tooth infection because he had no insurance and could not afford the antibiotic medications prescribed to treat that infection.

    This story brings to light a number of issues, most importantly, the choices people must make when it comes to finding affordable health and dental care. But what cannot be ignored was the potential for intervention, mainly the fact that this young man went to an emergency department after the swelling became worse and he was prescribed antiobiotics and pain killers. Being limited of funds, he chose the pain killers. A conversation with a health care provider on the importance of the antiobiotics may have, at the very least, bought this young man more time to save money to have a procedure done.

    Another issue raised here is that our society undervalues oral health care. This young man's condition was completely treatable and there is no reason he should have died from a toothache. There are a number of systems that failed here, and perhaps this incident should be a reminder that dental care is still a critical component of overall health.

    For more on this story, visit ABC news.

    ]]>         links for 2011-09-01 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/01/links_for_20110901 Consumption of sugar drinks in the U.S. remains high ... Do you know how much sugar is in your favorite drink? About half of Americans drink sugary drinks daily... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/09/01/links_for_20110901 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:01:51 EST
  • Consumption of sugar drinks in the U.S. remains high ...
    Do you know how much sugar is in your favorite drink? About half of Americans drink sugary drinks daily -- and low-income people consume more of them than people with higher income.
    (tags: soda nutrition diabetes obesity,)
  • A simple idea promoting health care catches on in Hispanic ...
    Highlights of a Philadelphia community-based program aimed at educating Spanish-speaking residents on health issues.
    (tags: Promotoras Philadelphia Hispanic)
    • ]]>         What is the take home message? http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/25/what_is_the_take_home_message For years, doctors have been trying to meet the informational needs of their patients. There has been much attention paid to patient/physician communication, but with shorter appointment times, physicians are... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/25/what_is_the_take_home_message case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:34:45 EST For years, doctors have been trying to meet the informational needs of their patients. There has been much attention paid to patient/physician communication, but with shorter appointment times, physicians are pressed with finding what works with their particular patient population. Are they sure that their message is getting across to their patients?

    This article in the New Yok Times by Jane E. Brody discusses the ongoing pursuit of better communication between patient and physician, particularly in the case of kidney disease. She sites a study published by a team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center this past March in The American Journal of Kidney Disease which found that most people with kidney disease are unaware of their diagnosis.

    And among those who do know, a previous study of 676 patients with moderate to advanced kidney disease had found that more than a third knew little or nothing about it and nearly half knew nothing about treatment options should their kidneys fail completely.

    These people were, for the most part, middle-aged white men with at least a high school degree. This study pointed out many issues in patient understanding of kidney disease and the importance of medical “compliance”.

    To read more, visit this article at the New York Times website.

    ]]>         links for 2011-08-12 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/12/links_for_20110812 Eliminating health disparities: What works?—August 2011 As best practices and evidence-based practice continue to gather attention, data collection is increasingly seen as a key element in improving care. (tags:... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/12/links_for_20110812 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:04:39 EST
  • Eliminating health disparities: What works?—August 2011
    As best practices and evidence-based practice continue to gather attention, data collection is increasingly seen as a key element in improving care.
    (tags: data Collection health disparities,)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-08-09 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/09/links_for_20110809 Healthy Restaurant Eating: Is The Tide Turning In Fast Foods? This article looks at some trends in eating out, particularly in the fast food sector in the US, which... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/08/09/links_for_20110809 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:04:56 EST
  • Healthy Restaurant Eating: Is The Tide Turning In Fast Foods?
    This article looks at some trends in eating out, particularly in the fast food sector in the US, which seems poised for change, following the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling this year
    (tags: nutrition, health, calories, fast-food, dining, trends)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-07-02 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/07/02/links_for_20110702 Reasons for Racial Disparities In Stroke Treatment "Our study not only demonstrates that there is a racial disparity in acute stroke treatment rates in this predominantly African-American urban population,... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/07/02/links_for_20110702 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:02:02 EST
  • Reasons for Racial Disparities In Stroke Treatment
    "Our study not only demonstrates that there is a racial disparity in acute stroke treatment rates in this predominantly African-American urban population, but identifies two important underlying reasons: African-Americans do not get to the hospital early enough for treatment and they have a greater number of medical reasons for not receiving treatment," says Chelsea Kidwell, MD, director of the Georgetown University Stroke Center.
    (tags: stroke treatment racial dispariites)
    • ]]>         Another Resource for Northeast Ohio Underserved http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/07/01/another_resource_for_northeast_ohio_underserved MedWorks will be hosting a vision clinic at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. This is a vision-only clinic and appointments are... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/07/01/another_resource_for_northeast_ohio_underserved case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:17:53 EST MedWorks will be hosting a vision clinic at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. This is a vision-only clinic and appointments are not necessary. In addition to exams, each patient who needs glasses will receive a free pair, made on site that day and at different locations throughout the state of Ohio after the event.

    This clinic is reserved for those most in need and its purpose is to help improve access to care for the under and uninsured of Ohio. For more information about MedWorks, please visit www.medworkusa.org or by phone at 216-231-5350.

    ]]>         links for 2011-06-28 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/28/links_for_20110628 U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors Alarmed by a shortage of primary care doctors, Obama administration officials are recruiting a team of “mystery shoppers” to pose as... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/28/links_for_20110628 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:05:10 EST
  • U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors
    Alarmed by a shortage of primary care doctors, Obama administration officials are recruiting a team of “mystery shoppers” to pose as patients, call doctors’ offices and request appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care when they need it.
    (tags: access, health care)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-06-10 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/10/links_for_20110610 Ohio Senate budget amendment would block 'Healthy Cleveland ... The Ohio Senate has added an amendment to the proposed state budget at the request of the Ohio Restaurant Association... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/10/links_for_20110610 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:05:32 EST
  • Ohio Senate budget amendment would block 'Healthy Cleveland ...
    The Ohio Senate has added an amendment to the proposed state budget at the request of the Ohio Restaurant Association that would ban local municipalities from regulating the ingredients fast food-type eateries can use to prepare foods. "With what the Cleveland City Council did, it just made us think that this might be the beginning of a trend in Ohio and we knew that would be bad for the restaurant industry," Mason said.
    (tags: Ohio Healthy eating)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-06-07 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/07/links_for_20110607 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Community-Level Determinants of Tobacco Use Disparities in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth This study documents an association between an objective measure of the... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/07/links_for_20110607 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:05:08 EST
  • Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Community-Level Determinants of Tobacco Use Disparities in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth
    This study documents an association between an objective measure of the social environment and sexual orientation–related disparities in tobacco use. These results highlight the need for structural-level interventions that reduce smoking behaviors in LGB youth.
    (tags: LGBT youth tobacco)
  • Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: A Randomized Controlled trial of Parental Asthma Coaching to Improve Outcomes Among Urban Minority Children
    The results of this study of 241 parents found that parental asthma coaching intervention increased outpatient asthma monitoring visits (although infrequent) but did not decrease ED visits.
    (tags: asthma parental coaching)
  • Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Effects of a Peer-Led Asthma Self-Management Program for Adolescents
    An asthma self-management program led by peer leaders is a developmentally appropriate approach that can be effective in assisting adolescents with asthma in improving their attitudes and quality of life, particularly for males and those of low socioeconomic status.
    (tags: asthma adolescents)
    • ]]>         links for 2011-06-06 http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/06/links_for_20110606 Free-meal program serves kids | The Columbus Dispatch To find the free-meal programs in your area, go to the clickable map at https://oh.cnpcares.com/summer/SfspFoodServByCnty.asp A Disabled Boy’s Death, and a... http://blog.case.edu/ccrhd/2011/06/06/links_for_20110606 Lunch Break Reading case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:02:34 EST
  • Free-meal program serves kids | The Columbus Dispatch
    To find the free-meal programs in your area, go to the clickable map at https://oh.cnpcares.com/summer/SfspFoodServByCnty.asp
  • A Disabled Boy’s Death, and a System in Disarray - New York Times
    Typically when we think of disparities, we think racial or gender, perhaps economic, but an article in today's New York Times point to the disparities in care that affect people with disabilities. A disturbing look into how the most defenseless in our society are often treated by those who are hired and paid to care for them.
    (tags: disabilities disabled)
    • ]]>