Sue Goldie and Ichiro Kawachi, two Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health faculty members, have been elected to the Institute of Medicine. Their work focuses on developing models that link disease biology to population outcomes, with a focus on women's health and social determinants of health.
The UCLA School of Public Health has received a grant to establish a center focused on strengthening public health agency preparedness for natural and human-induced disasters. The new center will explore interorganizational cooperation, community-based partnerships, and environmental health emergency resilience.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Kaiser Permanente over $54 million to conduct health research in various critical areas. The grants will utilize Kaiser Permanente's vast electronic health record database, doubling the number of individuals available for genome-wide association studies.
Lynne Holden, a NYC ER doctor, is honored for her work in creating a more diverse health care workforce. Her organization Mentoring in Medicine has inspired nearly 6,000 students to pursue careers in healthcare.
A RAND Corporation study reveals inadequate access to health care among D.C. children, particularly those with publicly insured plans. The study emphasizes the need for partnerships between private and public sectors to address health promotion efforts.
The new center will leverage expertise from diverse groups to develop innovative public health information tools, improving patient care and expanding data exchange between physicians and public health agencies. Initial work focuses on newborn screening, immunization data, and public health alert delivery.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has selected 16 researchers to receive funding for 10 new projects addressing key health policy issues. The projects aim to improve treatments for ADHD, assess Alzheimer's risk, and consumer understanding of food claims.
Healthcare organizations can benefit from a new framework of recommendations created by researchers to ensure safe and effective use of electronic health records. The guidelines, which cover key aspects such as hardware and software, content, user interface, personnel, work flow, organizational characteristics, state and federal rules,...
The new UIC Center of Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities aims to reduce health disparities in Chicago by conducting research, education, policy changes, and community partnerships. Researchers will focus on prostate and colorectal cancer, as well as breast cancer initiatives.
Janet Leigh, Chair of Oral Medicine and Radiology at LSUHSC New Orleans School of Dentistry, is a RWJF Health Policy Fellow. She will participate in the policy process at the federal level, accelerating her career as a leader in health policy.
Ten exceptional health professionals have been selected as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows for the 2009-2010 program. They will utilize their wide range of experience to provide health policy leadership on Capitol Hill, impacting health reform directly.
A study by University of Chicago sociologist Linda Waite found that divorce and widowhood have a detrimental impact on health, even after remarriage. Research based on 8,652 people aged 51 to 61 shows that those who have been divorced or widowed experience worse health outcomes compared to those who remain married.
A RAND Corporation study finds that industries with a larger percentage of workers receiving employer-sponsored health insurance experience lower employment growth and lower output compared to those without such benefits. This trend is driven by the need for employers to increase compensation due to rising health insurance premiums.
Danielle Varda, a Colorado professor, received the Article-of-the-Year Award for her article on public health collaborations, which analyzed data to advance understanding of health systems. The recognition highlights her contribution to the field of Public Health Systems Research (PHSR) and its potential to improve population health.
The University of Adelaide's new Centre of Clinical Research Excellence for Oral Health will investigate the interaction between systemic health and oral disease. The centre will focus on improving dental treatments to manage other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
A comprehensive review of studies on young offenders' health highlights the need for prioritizing mental and physical health for successful rehabilitation. The review found that young offenders often experience poor health due to factors such as substance abuse, trauma, and social disadvantage.
The new issue of Reproductive Health Matters highlights the need for comprehensive efforts to strengthen public health systems and create a well-trained workforce. Mid-level providers are willing to take on increased workloads, raising questions about quality of care and financial remuneration.
The USF-Moffitt Cancer Center has been awarded a $6 million grant to create a National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities Center of Excellence. The center will focus on reducing health disparities among minority and underserved communities in Florida through research, education, and community outreach.
Global health is defined as an area of study that prioritizes improving health globally, particularly in achieving equity among all people worldwide. The definition emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions, involving multiple disciplines and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Group Health has received a $1 million grant to study the effectiveness of treatments for depression. The project will use electronic medical records to track health outcomes and identify best matches for patients.
Research by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that early childhood health interventions can significantly reduce future healthcare costs, estimated at $50,000 per child. Interventions targeting tobacco exposure, unintentional injury, obesity, and mental health can lead to cost savings of up to $65 billion.
Two special peer-reviewed journals feature articles from a transatlantic meeting on strengthening global health promotion practice, including eight domains of core competency. The journals promote international collaboration in health education and health promotion.
A new study found that job loss can lead to an increased risk of developing new health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, even after finding a new job. Job churning, or high rates of job loss with low unemployment, also has negative health consequences for workers.
A literature review suggests that global health initiatives and agencies claim to support health system strengthening but often fail to deliver. The study examines the claims made by major global health actors, such as WHO and UNAIDS, and finds a gap between their language and actual activities.
UC Davis establishes Mountain Gorilla One Health Program to conserve gorillas & address human health, livestock, and agricultural issues. The program aims to improve gorilla health & prevent disease from affecting human populations.
Researchers from Regenstrief Institute have developed a technology that allows public health officials to send instant alerts to doctors and hospitals using an existing clinical messaging service. This approach minimizes delays in notification, which can be critical in disease outbreak response.
Research suggests that global warming will worsen health problems like heat-related mortality and diarrheal diseases due to climate change. The US needs an estimated $200 million in annual funding to study these impacts and develop protective measures.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars Program has selected 17 new scholars to work on reducing health disparities and improving the nation's healthcare system. The scholars will receive a stipend and be trained to investigate the connections between biological, genetic, behavioral, environmental, economic, and so...
A study of over 3,000 women found that physical abuse from intimate partners results in significantly higher healthcare costs, with a 42% increase in annual spending compared to non-abused women. Women who experienced ongoing physical abuse had the highest health care costs.
A recent study by Research Australia found that simple cooperation between agencies and local governments is crucial for good health care aid in the Solomon Islands. The research suggests that longer-term commitment and alignment of priorities are necessary to improve the health landscape in the region.
A study by UCSF researchers identifies critical barriers hindering the adoption of electronic personal health records, including cost, privacy concerns, and design shortcomings. The authors propose solutions such as improving interoperability and using mobile phones as an entry point for consumers to access their records.
A sovereign Palestinian state is crucial for developing the ailing health system in the occupied Palestinian territory. The best-case scenario includes creating a self-governing entity that can provide core public services and funding for vulnerable groups.
The Lancet Series on Trade and Health highlights the need for health professionals to engage in trade debates due to their impact on global health. The series proposes reforming trade regimes to enhance health outcomes, including compulsory licensing of essential medicines in resource-poor countries.
The Lancet Series on Trade and Health emphasizes the need for stronger evidence to link trade and health outcomes. Building capacity to analyze these links and ensuring public health representation in negotiations are crucial. The series advocates for policy responses to mitigate negative effects and optimize health benefits.
The G8's commitment to strengthening health systems and delivering on existing global health commitments is crucial during the current financial crisis. Experts argue that a balance should be struck between fighting specific diseases and strengthening health systems to support each other effectively.
A new study published in PLoS Medicine found that removing user fees for primary health care changed health utilization behavior but did not improve health outcomes among children under 5 years old in Ghana. The study's findings challenge the assumption that free healthcare leads to better health outcomes.
A new study found that when the price of mental health services is equivalent to primary care co-payments, more people will seek follow-up care after an initial hospitalization for a mental illness. This leads to improved quality of care and reduced costs.
A study found that psychiatric patients in Medicare plans with equal cost sharing for mental health services had higher use of those services compared to those in plans with greater cost sharing. Individuals in full-parity plans were more likely to visit a mental health practitioner within 7 and 30 days after a hospitalization.
The Lancet report identifies key right-to-health features and indicators, highlighting gaps in data and progress towards universal access to healthcare. The study emphasizes the importance of non-discrimination, mental health allocation, and health information availability.
A study by the American Society of Nephrology found that patients with poor health literacy are less likely to receive kidney transplants. Roughly one-third of dialysis patients had inadequate health literacy, which hindered their ability to navigate healthcare systems and follow transplant instructions.
The initiative aims to develop an institution-building relationship between the two universities, focusing on aligning educational and research capacity with national health goals. The project will also test effective teaching, research, and practice strategies, translating research into policy implementation.
A cross-sectional survey in northern Uganda found that IDPs experience negative effects on physical and mental health due to factors like gender, age, income, distance from home areas, food security, and sense of safety. The study also highlights the importance of emotional support using family ties for better mental health.
Seven in ten registered voters say major changes are needed in the U.S. health care system, according to a Kaiser/Harvard survey of registered voters in September. The public's perceptions of the state of American health care and the role of health care as an election issue are also explored.
Researchers aim to advance tailored communication and health public relations to improve health outcomes through a new news service, Informing Smart Health Decisions (I-SHD). The project will provide locally relevant cancer news stories to minority newspapers nationwide.
The University of Missouri Health Communication Research Center has received an $8.6 million grant to improve health literacy and outcomes for at-risk populations. The grant will fund the continuation of Ozioma, a bi-weekly news service that produces localized cancer-related news releases for black communities.
The Center for Minority Health (CMH) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health has developed innovative programs to improve the health and well-being of racial and ethnic minorities, including a prostate cancer prevention program that trains barbers to deliver accurate health information. The organization also partnered w...
Norhealth is a web-based system monitoring health trends and risk factors in Norway, creating a knowledge base for health strategies. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has developed this leading public health information system in Europe.
A proposed value-added tax for universal health insurance vouchers would create incentives for cost-containment and health care quality. The plan aims to overhaul the U.S. tax system to achieve fundamental reform of health care, with significant decreases in other taxes.
States can play a critical role in health care reform by creating insurance exchanges, regulating health insurance plans, and innovating through novel programs. The federal government must also take initiative to achieve sustainable and successful reform, as states alone cannot overcome the substantial barriers to change.
The Lancet Series on Health System Reform in China brings together scientific evidence on China's major health challenges and its health strategies. The series aims to foster collaboration between China, the World Health Organization, and international partners to strengthen the Chinese people's healthcare.
The Movement for Global Mental Health aims to scale up mental health services globally through citizen advocacy and action. Key findings include the establishment of national taskforces in Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as progress in Brazil.
Research highlights the importance of including incarcerated populations in health studies to improve community health outcomes. The Journal of Correctional Health Care publishes original research on correctional health care topics, featuring findings on primary care, infectious disease, and mental health.
A recent study by UC Irvine reveals that older Vietnamese Americans are more likely to experience mental health issues, including depression and PTSD, stemming from their experiences as political refugees. The findings highlight the need for improved community mental health services to address these long-standing problems.
Researchers found that 52% of respondents reported poor mental health, while 48% reported poor physical health, with some issues tripling after the hurricane. The study highlights the need for continued support and interventions to address long-term health problems in disaster survivors.
A national survey found that the majority of health journalists lack specialized training in health reporting and struggle to communicate complex medical science developments. Journalists reported quoting experts, avoiding technical terms, and providing data as key elements to making health information understandable.
A new study reveals that most US health department directors view climate change as a significant public health issue, with threats such as heat waves and reduced air quality expected to increase in severity. However, few departments have implemented activities to detect, prevent, or adapt to these health threats.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is providing $4.4 million in funding to support three research teams investigating ways to improve the application of mental health research in Canada.
Leaders from 26 countries agree on eight domains of core competency for effective health promotion practice, including Catalyzing change and Partnerships. The consensus statement aims to strengthen global capacity in health promotion and education by establishing standards and quality assurance mechanisms.
The six regional directors of WHO express their unequivocal support for revitalizing the Alma-Ata Declaration, acknowledging its importance in strengthening health systems. They emphasize the need for a long-term commitment to primary health care and call for alignment with WHO's strategic objectives.
Researchers found that actively engaging in health control strategies can prevent chronic health problems and functional limitations in older adults. The study, published in Psychological Science, suggests that these strategies may be particularly effective in preventing decline during the early stages of physical aging.