When today’s older adults were growing up, the only way to get information to your doctor or their clinic was a phone call. And getting more than a simple answer probably meant going in for an appointment.
Exposure to wildfire smoke linked to worsening mental health conditions
Exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke was associated with increased visits to emergency departments (ED) for mental health conditions, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Medicaid expansion protected Americans during COVID-19 pandemic
Americans received some protection against death during the COVID-19 pandemic if they lived in a state that had expanded its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new study says.
Molecular stool test could improve detection of tuberculosis in adults with HIV
The Xpert MTB/Ultra molecular diagnostic test for stool samples, until now recommended only for children, could be established as an additional test for diagnosing tuberculosis in adults living with HIV.
Study reveals that bedsores are more likely in short-staffed hospitals leaning on nurse OT, travel nurses
Hospitals could be short-changing patients if they lean too heavily on nurse staffing agencies or overtime hours, a new study says.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in children may be underestimated, study indicates
Out of 206 fourth-grade students, 19 met criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This was found in a pilot study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. The results indicate that birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy may be as common in Sweden as in several other European countries.
Trump whacks tiny agency that works to make the nation’s health care safer
Sue Sheridan’s baby boy, Cal, suffered brain damage from undetected jaundice in 1995. Helen Haskell’s 15-year-old son, Lewis, died after surgery in 2000 because weekend hospital staffers didn’t realize he was in shock. The episodes turned both women into advocates for patients and spurred research that made American health care safer.
Cluster of Massachusetts nurses reportedly diagnosed with brain tumors
A cluster of nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have reportedly been diagnosed with brain tumors, according to hospital officials who are assuring staff and patients that there’s “no environmental risk” at the facility.
Marriage linked to higher dementia risk in older adults, 18-year study finds
Florida State University College of Medicine and University of Montpellier researchers found that older adults who were divorced or never married had a lower risk of developing dementia over an 18-year period compared to their married peers. Findings suggest that being unmarried may not increase vulnerability to cognitive decline, contrary to long-held beliefs in public health and aging research.
AI-driven clinical recommendations may aid physician decision making to improve quality of care
A study comparing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven clinical recommendations to physician decision-making for common acute complaints in a virtual primary care setting found that AI support has the potential to improve quality of care when implemented responsibly.