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Popular Articles

Neighborhoods Affect Asthma Rates
Neighborhoods with restaurants, entertainment, cultural facilities and ethnic diversity have lower asthma rates in the city of Chicago than neighborhoods where residents are less likely to move, and where there are more churches and not-for-profit facilities.

Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust Goes Live With Horizon Enterprise Visibility From Mckesson, UK
Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust has "gone-live" with Horizon Enterprise Visibility; a visual control system designed specifically for hospitals, from healthcare IT solutions and services specialists, McKesson. Via real-time access to patient information, Walsall will be using Horizon Enterprise Visibility to improve re efficiency and bed utilisation to reduce costs and improve the quality of patient care.
News of the day
Obama Names Alabama Family Physician Benjamin To Be Surgeon General
President Obama on Monday nominated Alabama family physician Regina Benjamin, founder of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, to be the U.S. surgeon general, the AP/Detroit Free Press reports (Neergaard, AP/Detroit Free Press, 7/13). Benjamin"s clinic serves a low-income community of about 2,500 and has earned a national reputation treating all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Benjamin founded the clinic in 1990 and repeatedly rebuilt it after two hurricanes and a fire (Zhang, Wall Street Journal, 7/14). In 2008, she received one of the MacArthur Foundation"s $500,000 "genius grants" (Lloyd, USA Today, 7/14). In 1995, Benjamin became the first black woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. Benjamin also has served as associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Bellantoni, Washington Times, 7/13). In 2002, she became president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, making her the first black woman to be president of a state medical society (Mostrous/Shear, Washington Post, 7/14).Benjamin is a "devout Roman Catholic," according to the New York Times. The administration did not disclose her views on abortion. Benjamin routinely prescribes oral contraceptives, but the clinic does not have the facilities to perform abortions, according to nurse Audrey Bosarge, a colleague of Benjamin"s (Harris, New York Times, 7/14). In his announcement, Obama said Benjamin understands the needs of the low-income and uninsured U.S. residents, which makes her uniquely qualified to serve as surgeon general during health care overhaul negotiations (Wall Street Journal, 7/14). In accepting the nomination, Benjamin vowed to ensure that "no one falls through the cracks as we improve our health care system." Benjamin"s nomination requires Senate confirmation (AP/Detroit Free Press, 7/13).
Diagnostics

Tips For Older Adults To Combat Heat-Related Illnesses

As we age, our ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become a serious problem. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months. Hyperthermia can include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. The risk for hyperthermia is a combination of the outside temperature along with the general health and lifestyle of the individual. Health-related factors that may increase risk include: - Age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands - Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever - High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may increase their risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor. - The inability to perspire, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs - Taking several drugs for various conditions. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician. - Being substantially overweight or underweight - Drinking alcoholic beverages - Being dehydrated Lifestyle factors can also increase risk, including extremely hot living quarters, lack of transportation, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places and not understanding how to respond to weather conditions. Older people, particularly those at special risk, should stay indoors on particularly hot and humid days, especially when there is an air pollution alert in effect. People without fans or air conditioners should go to places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, libraries or cooling centers which are often provided by government agencies, religious groups, and social service organizations in many communities. Heat stroke is an advanced form of hyperthermia that occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature. Someone with a body temperature above 104 degrees is likely suffering from heat stroke and may have symptoms of confusion, combativeness, strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering, possible delirium or coma. Seek immediate medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult. If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness: - Get the person out of the sun and into an air-conditioned or other cool place. - Offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. - Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water. - Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin, places where blood passes close to the surface and the cold cloths can help cool the blood. - Urge the person to lie down and rest, preferably in a cool place. The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people. For more information on research and the aging, go to http://www.nia.nih.gov. The National Institutes of Health


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