Print Salinas-based produce supplier Taylor Fresh Foods is facing lawsuits from nine victims of a November E coli outbreak that was not disclosed to the public The outbreak — which killed one person and sickened at least 88 more — was linked to romaine lettuce and spanned at least 15 states Federal investigators traced the cases back to a single grower, but the Food and the Drug Administration didn’t disclose the name. California It is yet another example of the state’s failing water systems, many of which are in rural parts of the state’s Central Valley, where water is drawn from wells that are contaminated. The details of the investigation came to light only after several affected parties, including the parents of a 10-year-old victim earlier this month, filed lawsuits alleging Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms California — referred to as “Taylor Farms” in court documents — originated the “defective and unreasonably dangerous” food products that caused the E. coli outbreak. Taylor Farms in a Thursday statement to The Times denied that it was the source of the E. coli outbreak and said it is “considering all legal action to defend itself.” “We perform extensive raw and finished product testing on all our product and there was no evidence of contamination,” the supplier said, adding that its produce is processed using USDA-verified wash systems. At least 90 people have been diagnosed with E. coli in a multistate outbreak that health officials say likely stems from onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. In a federal lawsuit against Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms California filed last week, Indiana residents Amber and Chris George alleged that their then 9-year-old son Colton George became severely ill and was hospitalized after eating romaine lettuce allegedly supplied by the California producer. He was later diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening kidney condition, from an E. coli strain that was confirmed by genetic testing to match other cases in the outbreak. The boy’s condition forced him to undergo dialysis for two weeks — including on his 10th birthday, the complaint said. The Georges demanded that Taylor Farms pay their son’s medical bills among other damages, including for “loss of enjoyment of life” and “emotional distress.” Business The safety of mass-produced food has improved dramatically in recent decades Taylor Farms’ products were previously linked to a separate E. coli outbreak in October The supplier voluntarily recalled the onion products at fault and the FDA cautioned the public about the contaminated yellow onions which were being served on McDonald’s hamburgers This time, the FDA said “there were no public communications related to this outbreak” because the contaminated lettuce was no longer being sold when its distributor was identified, according to an internal report obtained by NBC. The FDA also said in a statement to NBC that it names firms only “when there is enough evidence linking an outbreak to a firm and there is actionable advice for consumers, as long as naming the firm is not legally prohibited.” “By the time investigators had confirmed the likely source, the outbreak had already ended and there was no actionable advice for consumers,” the agency said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in a letter the previous month that the outbreak was over. Representatives for the FDA and CDC did not respond to requests for comment. Climate & Environment Salinas-based international food production giant Taylor Farms had announced a recall on four onion products ‘due to potential E. coli contamination.’ Bill Marler, the attorney representing the nine victims suing Taylor Farms, said he uncovered extensive evidence pointing to the supplier as the source of the outbreak. Marler said he obtained invoices from a St. Louis caterer listing Taylor Farms as its seller. “The whole thing could be very much cleared up if the FDA did what they normally do, which is name the entity when they have it nailed down to an entity, which they do,” Marler said. Science & Medicine The Food and Drug Administration plans to update its definition of “healthy” foods Marler said he was particularly disturbed by the FDA’s decision not to publicize this outbreak or its source because the specific strain of E coli O157:H7 — has been linked to several prior outbreaks “That tells you that there’s some sort of systemic problem in the growing environment,” the attorney said “what incentive is there for companies to stop growing there?” an adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health and a former senior advisor to the FDA commissioner said that even if a contaminated product is out of circulation by the time its source is identified consumers still have a right to know the contamination occurred “A company’s record in the past is indicative of what people might expect in the future as well and so consumers should have that information,” Mande said adding that what they do with that information is up to them Mande said that the FDA has not historically excelled at transparency, and he is concerned that recent cuts to the agency’s communications staff will make matters worse which has emphasized over and over again about radical transparency should certainly be doing more to let consumers know what’s going on in these cases,” he said a food safety expert and associate teaching professor at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies said that it’s crucial for not only consumers but also other companies to know when any contamination occurs Under the Food Safety Modernization Act, food facilities are required to have food safety plans outlining how they will combat any contamination risks or other food safety hazards. Detwiler said these plans typically include likelihood-severity models, which measure the likelihood of a hazard occurring with the severity of its potential consequences. “If a company is supposed to be putting together a likelihood-severity plan, and they don’t know that their competitors — their commodity, their industry — is having these problems, how are they supposed to adequately capture this idea of likelihood and severity and then act upon it?” Detwiler said. Hollywood Inc. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map * If you are experiencing a medical emergency The following form creates an appointment request only a representative will contact you within 48 hours to assist you with your appointment request you agree to receive health information through email from Orlando Health and its affiliates.* A representative will be in touch with you shortly to confirm your appointment You should also receive an email confirming your appointment.  so please have your insurance information ready Do you need to speak with someone regarding your appointment request? Call us at (321) 843-2584 Daniel Mora-Rivera is a board-certified family medicine physician with Orlando Health Physician Associates With more than 30 years of professional experience he is committed to providing compassionate patient-focused care with an emphasis on prevention He specializes in handling complex cases and has expertise in treating: Mora received his medical training at Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bogotá He spent a year after graduation volunteering as a rural general practitioner for the national healthcare system in Colombia before pursuing private practice for 17 years he relocated to the United States and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa Mora has received numerous patient choice awards and compassionate doctor recognitions He has given presentations on a variety of topics including natural supplements for insomnia He and his wife enjoy visiting their four grandchildren Mora is fluent in both English and Spanish This is a comprehensive list of insurances accepted at Orlando Health hospitals Be sure to contact your individual insurer to verify coverage Not all providers accept the same insurance check with your providers prior to your procedure or appointment to verify coverage ER Wait Times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only Vanessa Mora Molina learned about California’s doctor shortage the hard way a farming town of seven thousand people in California’s San Joaquin Valley A quick trip to the doctor and a prescription for antibiotics could have had her feeling better in a day or two there wasn’t really such a thing as a “quick trip to the doctor”: Mora sometimes waited weeks to get an appointment “Sometimes we’d go to the emergency room just so we could be seen by a doctor, and even that could entail an eight-hour wait,” Mora said Her parents were reluctant to ask for time off from their jobs at farm laborers for fear of getting fired Determined to make life easier for families like hers, Mora started the long journey to a career in medicine. She enrolled in UC San Francisco’s San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education in 2020 she will be one of more than 700 medical students earning their M.D The vast majority of these newly minted doctors — 73 percent — will stay in California for their residency training many of them have received specialized classwork and training through the UC PRIME program preparing them to provide care to medically underserved people across the state UC’s fourth-year medical students found out where they’ll complete the next phase of their education: Of the 728 students who will graduate from medical schools across UC this year 94 percent of them were admitted to residencies who will continue her training in general surgery at UCLA this fall UC PRIME exists to meet the needs of communities like the San Joaquin Valley The region has just 39 primary care providers per 100,000 people which has 64 primary care providers for every 100,000 people yet still just barely above the minimum recommended threshold of 60 providers per 100,000 people And for too many people in California’s “health care deserts,” getting an appointment is just the start of the struggle Many doctors don’t speak their patients’ languages or know enough about how the community’s culture and norms contribute to their patients’ health and well-being “We don’t just need more doctors in this community. We need doctors who understand it,” said Dr a family medicine physician who supervised Mora at a clinic in Fresno “We need students who come from the Valley who understand the challenges of poverty and the challenges of the community.” But for too many Californians, that kind of doctor is hard to find. Today, for instance, Latinos make up 39 percent of the state’s population, but just six percent of its physicians. This discrepancy has real consequences, and they’ve been clear for decades: as far back as 2001 researchers found that one in five Spanish speaking U.S residents delayed or refused medical care they needed because of language barriers A 2002 study found that when given a choice people of color are likelier to pick doctors with whom they share a racial or ethnic background and a 1999 report found that patients of color are more satisfied with the care they receive from doctors of color compared to white doctors And several studies published in the mid-1990s found that doctors of color are more likely than their white peers to treat patients of color The University of California launched UC PRIME in 2004 expressly to chip away at these disparities More than 800 doctors have come out of UC PRIME equipped to take on the state’s most daunting and complex health care challenges their own life experiences served as motivation to grind through medical school and as information to provide the best possible care for their patients who’s graduating from the UC Davis School of Medicine in May and will begin his residency in adult neurology at UC San Francisco this summer when he experienced what he calls “an event that changed my life’s trajectory”: One afternoon the left side of his body was paralyzed from the neck down Over 200 UC medical students gathered at UC San Diego this winter for the UC PRIME statewide conference. The annual three-day event was a chance for students from all ten PRIME programs to present their original research connect over shared ambitions and hatch plans for future collaboration aimed at fixing the parts of California’s health care system that don’t work for the communities and cultures that made them who they are Read more Doctors eventually diagnosed Rodriguez with idiopathic transverse myelitis an unexplained inflammation of the spinal cord and three months in inpatient recovery relearning how to walk scary and destabilizing event for any family it was made worse by the fact that the nearest hospitals equipped to handle his case were in Oakland The family had to split up: his dad kept up the family business and cared for his brother back home while his mom moved into his hospital room staying by his side for the four months of treatment and recovery “All I wanted to do in life was play soccer,” Rodriguez says “But I came out the other side interested in what makes the body work and how something like this could happen.” That curiosity and perspective has motivated Rodriguez ever since. A first-generation college student, he majored in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior at UC Davis. He got into the UC Davis School of Medicine, where he enrolled in REACH a UC PRIME program for students interested in gaining knowledge and expertise in caring for communities in California’s Central Valley Javier Rodriguez graduates from the UC Davis School of Medicine this spring.  clinics and medical schools across California Explore the impact of UC Health. His training sent him to communities and clinics across the region providing care to people from diverse backgrounds and cultures He did stints in a clinic providing preventative screenings and wound care for people experiencing homelessness and vaccinated people against COVID-19 in Visalia he fielded questions from shoppers about managing their hypertension and reading their lab results to his next stage of training at UC San Francisco "Having a background in medically underserved areas has taught me the importance of recognizing a patient's cultural and personal history understanding one community doesn't mean you understand another," he explains "The complexities of both human culture and medical science are immense I fully understand what's happening.' The more you learn about medicine or someone’s life the more you realize how much there is yet to know." New study finds that obesity reduces a specific brain chemical lowering the desire to consume high-calorie foods UC Merced breaks ground on a new Medical Education Building The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 40 students the UC system has more than 295,000 students and 265,000 faculty and staff with 2.0 million alumni living and working around the world 2024) - Who knew that “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” could be part of someone’s journey to a career as a bilingual physical therapist (PT) that book and the entire “Goosebumps” series in Spanish was one of many important steps He did not read or write Spanish at the time but it was important to his parents that he learn They enrolled him in local Spanish immersion schools — and they bought the “Goosebumps” series in Spanish for him to learn to read and it came in very handy when he enrolled at the University of Kentucky Originally, Mora planned to be a dentist, but though an internship at Samaritan’s Touch, a physical therapy clinic led by Doctor of Physical Therapy students helping patients schedule appointments and interpreting for them “Samaritan’s Touch rocked my world,” Mora said he interpreted for a woman who came for an initial evaluation “She could not raise her arm even 45 degrees,” he said “She reported having great pain and an extremely tight chest.” she said her pain was gone and she could lift her arm for the full range of motion When she learned she was finished with physical therapy she went to every professional and thanked them And she personally thanked Mora for speaking for her she would not have received care because of the communication barrier,” he said a Spanish-speaking person can be an interpreter “I can see shoulders relax when patients hear their health care provider speaks their language,” he said Mora entered the UK College of Health Sciences Doctorate in Physical Therapy program in August 2021 and received a scholarship from the PT Class of 1970 He also received the Dwain Robert Rice Memorial Scholarship “I am thankful for the scholarship support,” he said “And I appreciate that UK PT alumni have each other’s back.”  Mora finished his last clinical rotation this summer and he plans to work in an outpatient physical therapy clinic “I feel so invested into my current program that I’ll be going to the staff for advice and clinical decision-making for years to come,” he said “I’m so grateful that I have professors that I can now call colleagues who also have my best interest in mind along with the patients that I get to treat in the future.” and now he says he is ready to serve the Spanish-speaking people in central Kentucky “I am grateful for Samaritan’s Touch,” he said “And I am thankful for the PT program and the clinical rotations I am going to do everything in my power to help you.’”  the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing It's all made possible by our people — visionaries disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center 2022By Darlene MuguiroUTEP College of Health Sciences the College of Health Sciences (CHS) is welcoming several new faculty members in Public Health Sciences Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology We are pleased to present the first profile featuring Dr visiting associate professor of Physical Therapy Solis comes to UTEP from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Brenau University in Gainesville He obtained his master’s degree in applied physiology and kinesiology and a PhD in rehabilitation sciences from the University of Florida His research focuses on how different levels of physical activity affect experimental and clinical pain as well as pain psychosocial factors in healthy people and people with chronic pain of different age groups Fredy Solis first came to UTEP in early spring to interview for his position he wasn’t sure what to expect about either El Paso or the university He admits that his lack of knowledge about the area left him a bit hesitant But he quickly realized how easily he would be able to fit in.  “Once I landed and was out and about I felt that I could easily become part of this community “I really loved the Hispanic culture I really hoped that I would get a job offer.” Solis’ first impression of UTEP was equally positive He said he was struck by the unique architecture and the welcoming nature of everyone he met and looks forward to working on a campus that values its employees “UTEP is a unique place to teach because of the people,” he said “It is easier when you work with people who see you as an equal and hear what you have to say I always wanted to be in a place where my voice as a minority would be heard Solis will be teaching test and measures and evidence-based practice this fall and a cardiopulmonary course in the spring He aims to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students throughout their time with him “There will be a lot of active learning in my classes meaning that they will be heavily involved in their own learning process,” he said “I will be teaching them a lot of things that will help them become amazing clinicians and we will have fun along the way.” Mora Claramita is a Professor in Medical and Health Professions Education at Universitas Gadjah Mada Her research activity focuses on building more data and observations about the relationship between health providers and patients in Asia as the cultural context can be very different from Western societies I am a Professor and currently the Head of the Department of Medical and Health Professions Education at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and an active general practitioner at the UGM family doctor clinic My studies generally focus on the relationship between doctor and patient While most evidence of patient-centered care comes from western contexts Indonesia and Asia are quite different in terms of the culture The wide power distance and collectivist culture are opposite to the western individualistic culture (with more equity in the relationships between people) in terms of decision making The wide power distance affects the social hierarchical gap in the health professional-patient relationships and influences the one-way explanation from the doctor to the patient the patient will likely respond with ‘yes’ while not being in actual agreement the doctor may not obtain an accurate history of the patient’s illness nor explore the patient’s perceptions of the illness and consequently therapy may be ineffective decision making in collectivist cultures will be influenced by the family members The doctors should be aware of limited patient’s contribution to the consultation and still hold on patient’s autonomy in decision making and ‘do no harm’ a two-way dialogue will be the key in approaching optimal health outcomes in hierarchical and collectivist cultures Working alongside Dr Astrid Pratidina Susilo our research is funded by the STUNED Grantee (Government of Netherlands) the NPT Project U to U (Maastricht University with Universitas Gadiah Mada) and the Ministry of Education (Republic of Indonesia) Some of my career highlights include winning the 2019 Lyn Clearihan ‘Best Paper’ Award in Asia Pacific Family Medicine Journal and the 2013-2014 Fulbright Senior Scholar Award participating in the 2014 FAIMER Institute Philadelphia and being Chair of Indonesian College of Health Professions Education My introduction to patient-centered care began with a role-play during my Master’s program in Maastricht University the simulated patient was out of town and unable to attend the next consultation I was unaware of this information and continued a one-way communication without listening to the patient’s concerns I thought the one ability that was missed during my study to become a medical doctor was patient-centered communication skills I was trained to obtain the patient history and conduct general physical examinations but never to deal with the patient’s own concerns the aim of my research is to ensure that healthcare services are delivered effectively and consider the culture when communicating with patients the long course of tuberculosis (TB) treatments will require patient commitment and therefore cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the patient’s background will be key factors for an optimum healing process Indonesia has free services and medication for TB patients and yet is ranked 2nd highest in the incidence of TB in the world Patients cannot just be diagnosed and provided with medication for TB Patients’ concerns should be carefully acknowledged and responded to health providers can address these concerns with help from the patients and their family the effects of the long course of medication should be well communicated and discussed if we want TB to be eradicated The impact of dialogue in the communication between patients and health providers does play a role in achieving the SDG3 target – specifically target 3.3: ‘By 2030 malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.’ The hierarchical culture – the social gap between the doctor and the patient – is the primary challenge towards effective communication that supports an alliance between doctor and patient Active listening is the most basic yet most promising communication skill training within this cultural context patients should be scheduled for appointments to ensure proper communication Researcher should explore more what and how to communicate with patients in this south-eastern regions of the world towards more partnership communication More researchers and practitioners should dig deeper in this area that impacts so much on people’s health When I graduated as a medical doctor and working at a university clinic I did not dream to continue my professional practice in this clinic and of course as many other young graduates I would continue to be a specialist in a hospital few opportunities to learn ‘communication skills’ (through role-play feedback) always stimulated me to learn better And (it is also a big surprise for me) while doing research I kept on my practice until today Apparently the ‘communication skills’ subject has been bridging my professional practice and health professions education that I study And I also joined a national development on family medicine specialist program that also requires lots of communication skills training In terms of hurdles – in a society that holds on a hierarchical culture and indirect conversational manners it is difficult to explain what I have been studying (the communication skills) to medical experts when I offer a communication skills training to medical residents the faculty board prefers other experts in social studies to do it a trainer without a professional background in healthcare may not offer an in-depth perspective on medical diagnosis and treatment and how this relates to communication skills Often a training on superficial etiquette of politeness is preferred as a result Some special influences and mentors throughout my career have been Prof Cees van der Vleutnen and Dr Jan van Dalen (my PhD supervisors) Dr Gerard Majoor (my Master’s thesis supervisor) and Prof Mark Alan Graber from the University of Iowa You can find other posts in this collection here. View the latest posts on the On Health homepage © 2024 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. Part of Springer Nature Incident Reporting Form HIPAA Professional Commendation Form FL 33199 Tel: 305-348-0570 Fax:  305-348-0123 Become a navigator of the tobacco cessation process through this free Read our simple and effective tips for protecting you and your family from the dangers of air pollution Our key findings add to the evidence that a changing climate is making it harder to protect human health Share your voice and advocate for policies that will save lives Step up for lung health by participating in a Fight For Air Climb event near you Matching gifts are a great way to stretch your donation As a part of recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month we are highlighting a local allergist and National Medical Spokesperson for the American Lung Association who saw her calling in helping the hard-hit Latino community navigate this pandemic To bring attention to the importance of masking up during the pandemic a predominately Mexican American community in Chicago to distribute 500 donated masks to essential workers “This Latino neighborhood has been one of the hardest hit neighborhoods during the COVID-19 spread,” Dr They began their distribution at the Pilsen Food Pantry where families in need Then they proceeded to local businesses and handed out masks to essential workers including waiters postal workers and even street vendors selling paletas they spontaneously offered masks to any families older adults and children that they ran into on the street “As a doctor who comes from this neighborhood I took great pride in educating my own community on decreasing the spread of COVID-19 and masking-up all these essential workers It truly reenergized me and reminded me of the love for my community and why I love doing advocacy work especially during hard times like this pandemic,” Dr “One of the most amazing moments was when we entered Casa del Pueblo Restaurant and everyone working there came out to greet us all who were wearing the American Lung Association masks At that moment you could just feel the love respect and the pride they felt in their work These essential workers have been the unsung heroes of this pandemic as they have held up the country and as such deserve to be recognized.” The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the healthcare disparities in the Latino and Black American communities Only 16% of Latinos can work from home which means they have been working in the community during this dangerous time Being employed in public roles such as grocery store attendants emergency maintenance workers and first responders or even in delivery services for UPS Fed Ex or Amazon means they are at higher risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19.  “The Hispanic community has been hard hit through this pandemic Even though they too were afraid and anxious they had to rise above that fear and continue working,” Dr Mora has opened her clinic doors to help and educate these essential workers who had nowhere to turn as outbreaks were happening at their job sites She started doing antibody testing in her office and treated those patients and their families with symptoms to help prevent them from being hospitalized “Many of the hard-working undocumented immigrant community were not offered PPE nor social distancing at their job sites because they feared losing their positions and being unable to feed their families they stayed on-site and of course got COVID-19.” She further explained that factors like Latinos being at higher risk for developing diabetes and hypertension as well as the common cultural practice of living in multi-generational homes has truly put many Latinos in a compromising position “Lack of Spanish-speaking healthcare workers or lack of access to healthcare are just a few other healthcare disparities that have become apparent during this time,” Dr She hopes to continue being an advocate for the Latino community at the local level and most recently participated in Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker's press conference on the importance of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic She plans to deliver more masks with the American Lung Association and asks everyone to consider donating to the cause.  Your gift will help people with asthma breathe easier—at school Donate now Join over 700,000 people who receive the latest news about lung health The American Lung Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization This website uses cookies to improve content delivery Talk to our lung health experts at the American Lung Association Our service is free and we are here to help you As someone who suffered from chronic strep throat infections Central Valley resident Vanessa Mora needed to go the doctor a lot as a kid In the rural agricultural community of Fowler “Sometimes we’d go to the emergency room just so we could get seen,” she said The shortage of medical care providers constitutes its own health care emergency a family medicine physician in Fresno.  Flores grew up in a family of migrant workers living in communal housing and traveling to follow the harvests.  it could take months to get an appointment,” Flores said.  financial and cultural barriers also limit patients’ quality of care.  When it comes to the day-to-day realities of her patients some conventional medical advice simply isn’t workable Those in communal farmworker housing cannot easily quarantine if they get infected with COVID-19 Those without paid time off or their own transportation cannot easily get to a health care provider “We don’t just need more doctors in this community who understand the challenges of poverty and the challenges of the community,” Flores said The San Joaquin Valley PRIME program is trying to do just that.  Started in 2011 as a collaboration among UC Merced SJV PRIME has 45 currently enrolled students More than 50 medical school graduates have completed the program many of whom are now working in the Valley as residents or fully licensed physicians Along with having grown up in the community a huge benefit in a community where Spanish is often the primary language.  “Being from this community brings patients a lot of comfort It helps them open up and discuss what’s on their mind,” Mora said Mora and a PRIME colleague take a patient's blood pressure at a Valley health clinic It also helps that Mora can relate to their concerns: Her own father was often injured on the job and never saw the doctor Her mother ignored a dental issue until she ended up in the hospital with a life-threatening systemic infection getting a diagnosis isn’t just about the treatment or what that means for their health,” Mora said Their families rely on them to continue working and pushing through to make ends meet.”  Part of the PRIME training is learning about the network of social programs and community organizations that can help patients access services and meet basic needs.  environmental and economic determinants of health in the Valley They receive training in public advocacy to push for reforms that could improve health outcomes for residents They also learn about the broad range of social services and community-based organizations that can help patients meet their basic needs Growing up as one of four children of Mexican immigrants Mora was always taught the value of hard work and education She went to UC Santa Barbara to study biology While many of the classmates in her biology classes had their sights set on a career in medicine “I felt medical school wasn’t in the cards for me I just didn’t think that was possible,” she said He convinced her that fear was not a reason to give up on her dream While she worked full-time as a medical assistant she applied to medical school twice without success Then she was accepted into the UCSF Postbaccalaureate Program present herself as someone uniquely suited to help the community she wished to serve “I was trying to make myself into what I thought was the ideal pre-med student when the reality is that wasn’t who I was,” she said especially in her community in the San Joaquin Valley that she’s exactly the doctor her patients need “I have been able to find strength in my own story and my ability to bring something important to the field.” A new UC Berkeley study finds that tampons used during menstruation can contain toxic metals The breakthrough makes photodynamic therapy safer We live in the Information Age. Nowadays, however, it can be information overload with an abundance of inaccuracies regularly masquerading as facts. Dr. Juanita Mora joins us to bust several myths about asthma and COPD management that have been circulating in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) the spread of myths can lead to dangerous decision-making that may affect you and your family inhaled and/or intranasal corticosteroids due to increased COVID-19 risk since they immunosuppress patients Control is the most important thing for your asthma and allergic rhinitis there’s probably not a risk to developing a weakened immune system there’s a slight increase of a suppressed immune system your healthcare provider can help you decide which medications are the right choice to help you breathe Do not stop or avoid taking your medication without discussing with your healthcare provider Children with asthma are not at risk because COVID-19 only affects older people We must remember that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease Children (and adults) with moderate to severe persistent asthma or any underlying chronic lung disease may be at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 individuals with asthma or other lung diseases are not at higher risk of contracting the virus you should wear a disposable mask when in public areas to help limit COVID-19 exposure Current guidance from the CDC says that commercially-available masks – like N-95s and surgical masks – should be reserved for people who are already sick and healthcare workers that interact with those patients But up to one in four individuals infected with COVID-19 might have no symptoms or very mild symptoms and may be unknowingly spreading the virus  The use of a cloth face covering – whether that is a handmade cloth mask bandana or scarf – can help slow the spread of COVID-19  These types of masks are not intended to protect the wearer but to protect against the unintended transmission – in case you are an asymptomatic carrier of the coronavirus you should stay home unless directed by your healthcare provider to see medical care and then you should wear a mask to prevent spreading your droplets to others Smoking and/or vaping does not increase your risk of getting sick with COVID-19 Cigarette smoking and vaping are linked to lung inflammation and lowered immune function Both potentially heighten the risk for a more severe response if exposed to COVID-19 Albuterol or quick relief rescue inhalers can cause the immune system to be suppressed and result in patients with asthma being more susceptible to COVID-19 These medications are bronchodilators and not corticosteroids They relax the muscles in your airways when you’re having symptoms You can and should continue to use your rescue inhaler as needed for asthma symptoms The most important thing is to have your asthma well-controlled so that if infection does occur your lungs are better able to handle the virus Anti-inflammatory medications (other than inhaled corticosteroids and controller medications) worsen COVID-19 symptoms The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement regarding the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for patients with COVID-19 there’s not enough scientific evidence to link the use of NSAIDs to worsening symptoms of COVID-19 NSAIDs can still be used even for patients with COVID-19 to treat symptoms discuss options with your healthcare provider Using nasal sprays may push the COVID-19 virus further up your nose Nasal sprays are often used to treat symptoms related to common colds/viruses Spring allergy season has begun in many parts of the country – these medications can assist in control of symptoms and Continue to take your prescribed medications and contact your healthcare provider to discuss before discontinuing or avoiding Exercise puts patients with asthma and COPD at higher risk of COVID-19 Healthy habits that help decrease COVID-19 infection risk include exercising smoking cessation (electronic cigarettes or vaping as well) Air Pollution can increase susceptibility to COVID-19 infection An emerging body of research is showing that people exposed to air pollution may be more vulnerable to severe symptoms of COVID-19 A study from Harvard found that even small long-term exposures to particle pollution can increase an individual’s risk of death from COVID-19 by 8% This is especially hard hitting in communities of color who are more likely to live in counties with higher levels of air pollution –including particle pollution Severe illness and death from COVID-19 is equally affecting all populations Numerous states and cities have reported higher rates of severe complications and death from COVID-19 among African Americans and Latino Communities These alarming headlines reflect the persistent inequalities in resource allocation access to healthcare and other health stressors that communities of color experience It also highlights the underlying racial disparity in the burden of lung disease among African Americans who experience higher rates of asthma and lung cancer Individuals with these chronic medical conditions – while not more likely to contract COVID-19 – could have more severe symptoms if they do become sick Children/Adults with asthma or underlying chronic lung disease should not return to the classroom or work environment until a vaccine is released If your asthma or chronic lung disease is well-controlled and safety measures are in place for social distancing masks and frequent hand-washing stations along with temperature checks- parents may consider sending their kids back to school and adults returning to work I recommend you follow the guidance from your local health experts and in consultation with your doctor and come up with a plan to address concerns and recommendations for your family Juanita Mora, M.D., is an allergist/immunologist in Chicago with a strong interest in asthma care and breaking down barriers to asthma care in underserved communities. Dr. Mora's work with the American Lung Association deals closely with patient management and relations as well as doing asthma education in the community and to healthcare workers through American Lung Association workshops and health fairs. Read More By Noel Gonzalez The "secrets" to healthy aging are anything but secret They're the conventional medical recommendations most people will hear from their doctor at a typical checkup: exercise eat a healthy diet and keep up-to-date with your doctors' visits and vaccinations.  more evidence emerges to help us determine what that healthy diet should look like and how much exercise is enough to age better and live longer.   "You need to do more exercise than you think," says Dr director of geriatric medical education at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.    Thirty minutes of exercise five days a week has traditionally been the recommendation for adults But Mora said many people don't realize their daily walks are probably not enough.    "Exercise has to be more intense than a walk," he said A moderate-intensity, brisk 30-minute walk five days a week, plus a muscle-strengthening workout twice a week meets the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations Mora recommends moving toward more plant-based meals getting more of your daily nutrition from fruits and vegetables and less of it from meat.   Adopting a plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, according to a 2020 article published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.   Mora notes that people who live in "Blue Zones," the parts of the world where people live longest tend to eat diets rich in plant-based foods These people have a much higher-than-average number of centenarians — people who live to 100 years or more Why not borrow a bit of their wisdom and incorporate more vegetarian meals into your diet?   As we observe Healthy Aging Month this September Receive daily FIU stories and updates directly to your inbox Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAXVZz1HgcE Jacques Jiha to direct the Department of Finance Feniosky Peña-Mora to lead the Department of Design and Construction and Lisette Camilo to spearhead the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services David Ehrenberg reappointed as president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today named four key appointments to his administration building on his commitment to a progressive Feniosky Peña-Mora as Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction Jacques Jiha as Commissioner of the Department of Finance Lisette Camilo as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services with David Ehrenberg reappointed as the president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation “These are leaders who understand the communities they work for They have the skills to keep the machinery of these agencies running and take them in a progressive direction that delivers for the people of this city,” said Mayor de Blasio “This is a group of leaders committed to lifting up and investing in New Yorkers in every community a dynamic leader with more than 25 years of experience in public finance brings deep expertise in budget and debt management as well as years spent working in the New York City and state pension systems Jiha will be tasked with ensuring the city’s treasury transparent and accountable processes for New Yorkers when they engage with the department to pay or contest a fine “This agency is really part of the bedrock of city government That’s an obligation I take very seriously,” said incoming Department of Finance Commissioner Jacques Jiha “We are going to put in place practices that give people confidence in their city New Yorkers probably hope they don’t have many interactions with our agency an accomplished engineer with more than two decades of cutting-edge research and industry work experience As commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction Peña-Mora will be charged with building public works big and small ranging from making streets safer as part of the Vision Zero initiative to renovating and constructing municipal facilities.  “Our standards will continue to be high efficiency and safety in every project we oversee We hope to build a new generation of streets public works and buildings that weave our diverse communities closer together and enrich the fabric of this city,” said incoming Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Dr an experienced New York City government attorney who brings deep legal skills and procurement expertise has demonstrated a commitment to using the city’s purchasing power to create local jobs and deliver opportunity for Minority and Women-Owned Enterprises in every borough As director at the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services she will be tasked with protecting taxpayers and simultaneously increasing the local impact of city procurement “Our procurement is vital to keeping this government functioning well but it is also a tremendous opportunity to simultaneously invest in our own people I am committed to keeping this system performing to the highest standards and opening the doors of opportunity to more New Yorkers especially our minority and women-owned businesses,” said incoming Mayor’s Office of Contract Services Director Lisette Camilo currently the president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation with deep experience managing the city’s economic development projects will continue to overseeing the Yard’s diverse tenant base and 1.8 million square-foot expansion Ehrenberg will work closely with the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development and the Economic Development Corporation to spur on workforce development and training that directly links the Navy Yard’s employers with local education and career pipelines “The Navy Yard is one of the great New York success stories I’m honored to serve this mayor and his administration and build on the foundation we’ve laid in recent years,” said David Ehrenberg president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation “We are going to deepen our connections with employers schools and workforce programs to help more New Yorkers be a part of this success story and get the skills they need to secure good-paying jobs in our fastest growing sectors.” Jiha was Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Earl G Jiha spent the better part of a decade in the New York City Comptroller’s Office as well as time in the State Comptroller’s Office he worked for the Nassau County Office of the Comptroller was the executive director of the New York State Legislative Tax Study Commission and served as the Principal Economist to the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee Brooklyn from Haiti in 1979 to attend Fordham University and later earned his master’s and Ph.D in Economics from the New School for Social Research He has been the recipient of the Manhattan Borough President Special Recognition Award the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Haitian American Alliance and the Haitian American United for Progress Achievement Award Feniosky Peña-Mora is a leading engineer with vast experience managing infrastructure and construction projects in New York He is currently the Edwin Howard Armstrong Professor of Civil Engineering Mechanics Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering and Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) He is also the founding partner of Peña-Alcántara Consultants a firm specializing in the use of information technology and construction management techniques in infrastructure projects he was Associate Provost and the Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Peña-Mora moved to Washington Heights from the Dominican Republic in 1988 joining his mother who had emigrated 10 years earlier and was working on a factory line He received a Doctor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from M.I.T from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña in Santo Domingo Peña-Mora is married to Minosca Alcántara with whom he founded Peña-Alcántara Consultants Lisette Camilo brings an extensive background in procurement having served most recently as the Office’s Acting General Counsel Prior to being named Acting General Counsel in January 2014 Camilo served as MOCS’s Deputy General Counsel and as Special Counsel and Assistant Director of the Vendor Programs Unit prior to that Camilo was Counsel to the Committees on Contracts and General Welfare at the New York City Council Before beginning her career in public service Camilo was an associate at the law firm Pollack and also served as General Counsel of UNITE HERE Born and raised in Washington Heights by parents from the Dominican Republic Camilo was the first in her family graduate from college Camilo received her law degree from The George Washington University Law School and her undergraduate degree from Columbia College serves as a board member of the Double Discovery Center at Columbia College which works with low-income and first-generation college-bound Manhattan youth to ensure success beyond high school David Ehrenberg has served as the president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation since 2013 overseeing the Yard’s diverse tenant base and 1.8 million square-foot expansion Ehrenberg spent seven years at the New York City Economic Development Corporation he was a senior manager on many of the city’s priority economic development projects including: the Applied Sciences initiative that resulted in Cornell’s new campus on Roosevelt Island; the redevelopment of six acres of vacant land on the Lower East Side known as Seward Park; and the Atlantic Yards project he supervised dozens of industrial and manufacturing projects across the city and supervised the operations of the city’s Industrial Development Agency Ehrenberg worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services as the coordinator for a microenterprise program He is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School and Wesleyan University where he majored in government and urban studies Ehrenberg was a Fulbright Fellow in Zimbabwe and received dual Masters Degrees from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in Public Policy and Urban Planning pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov(212) 788-2958 : [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: The audio version of this story mistakenly refers to Michael Granovetter as a "Doctor" NPR reserves the honorific "Doctor" for Medical Doctors.]AILSA CHANG As part of an occasional series on brain plasticity NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on an extreme example - children who lose an entire side of their brain.JON HAMILTON speech and language live in the brain's left hemisphere has grown up without the left side of her brain getting her nails done and jokes.MORA: How do you make a hot dog stand?HAMILTON: I don't know How do you?MORA: Take away its chair.HAMILTON: Somehow Mora's right hemisphere has taken on jobs usually done on the left side - functions like speaking and reading Mora describes her right-brained life this way.MORA: Personally I am - can be described as a glass-half-full girl.HAMILTON: A glass-half-full girl who shows just how plastic the brain can be Scientists hope that by studying people like Mora they can help others recover from less severe brain injuries says her daughter seemed like a typical baby at first She rolled over.ANN LEEB: And then in the holiday season of 2007 all of these milestones sort of stopped.HAMILTON: Leeb says Mora was just 3 months old when she began having epileptic seizures.LEEB: These seizures started to cluster and then there were hundreds of them a day.HAMILTON: Doctors ordered an MRI of Mora's brain They showed the image to Ann and her husband Seth.LEEB: Seth and I have no background in medicine but you just didn't need it to read that MRI Half of her brain was lit up and the other half her brain was basically gray.HAMILTON: Most of the cells were damaged or dead So surgeons removed most of the left side of Mora's brain including areas that were still controlling movement on one side.LEEB: Basically It was almost like a restart.HAMILTON: Ann and Seth Leeb focused on getting their daughter the best physical and cognitive therapies available she finally walked.HAMILTON: When Mora was 6 1/2 Researchers say one key to Mora's recovery is that her brain injury occurred very early in life a period when the wiring is still a work in progress words are generally processed in the left brain Michael Granovetter of the University of Pittsburgh says that's not true in infants.MICHAEL GRANOVETTER: Your brain doesn't start out having word recognition completely on the left and face recognition completely on the right.HAMILTON: Early on these two functions are competing for space so the brain pushes them to opposite sides But what happens in people like Mora?GRANOVETTER: If this competition between word recognition and face recognition in the brain plays out over development Can one hemisphere actually take on the burden of two?HAMILTON: To find out Granovetter and a team of researchers studied face and word recognition in 40 people They'd all lost either the right or left hemisphere as children ‪Marlene Behrmann of the University of Pittsburgh says in grown-up brains a stroke on the left side can permanently affect skills like reading.‪MARLENE BEHRMANN: Even if it is really a focal and circumscribed injury they will be profoundly impaired at word recognition.HAMILTON: A right brain stroke can permanently impair the ability to recognize faces So Behrmann says the team expected to see big deficits in people who'd lost an entire hemisphere.BEHRMANN: Much to our surprise Irrespective of whether the left or the right hemisphere is preserved these kids can recognize both faces and words.HAMILTON: With about 80% accuracy compared with greater than 90% in typical people but far less than people who experience brain injuries later in life when the brain's wiring is less malleable Lisa Shulman is a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Montefiore in New York She says Mora's brain does have limitations.LISA SHULMAN: She speaks and processes very slowly She has almost a telegraphic quality to her speech - one word at a time.HAMILTON: Shulman says that's common among people with damage to the left brain.SHULMAN: When you lose that left side which is controlling a lot of motor functioning how all those things come into play.HAMILTON: Even so Shulman says Mora's progress has been remarkable.SHULMAN: Every time I see her she's done something I could not have imagined when I first met her.HAMILTON: Ann Leeb says her daughter who didn't use sentences until she was 6 1/2 now loves to watch game shows involving words and phrases.LEEB: Do not call our house between 7 and 8 in the evening because we are devoted "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel Of Fortune" fans.HAMILTON: Mora also understands language concepts like...MORA: ...Idioms.HAMILTON: Idioms Do you have a favorite idiom?MORA: Glass half full and rose-colored glasses.HAMILTON: But other cognitive tasks can be a challenge sometimes Mora has trouble understanding what she's reading and she could be thrown by an unfamiliar concept or a sneaky punch line.MORA: So can you tell me a joke?HAMILTON: OK And you've got to know that termites like to munch on softer wood.LEEB: OK But I'm not the one who's good at telling jokes here.Even so Ann Leeb says a termite in a bar is exactly the kind of idea that's still hard for her daughter to process on the fly The right side of her body will never be as strong as the left She'll never see things in the visual field to the right of her nose Yet Ann says when it comes to cognitive functions her daughter's brain is still rewiring and adapting.LEEB: She's met so many expectations and gone beyond and we'll be telling you more.HAMILTON: In the meantime Mora's 15-year-old brain has clearly reached another developmental milestone.LEEB: I have challenges of being the mother of a teenager in the morning she doesn't want to get out of bed she doesn't want to go to bed.HAMILTON: And when she's awake Mora likes to chat - a lot.MORA: Goodbye.HAMILTON: It is great to talk to you Bye-bye.MORA: Can I keep talking to you?HAMILTON: Jon Hamilton Copyright © 2023 NPR. 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Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information Become an NPR sponsor she had a stroke that destroyed the left side of her brain wins at Uno – and lives a life of possibility Mastitis: What to do when your breasts are painfully inflamed How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection Some adults may need a measles booster shot Counting steps is good — is combining steps and heart rate better Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate it's especially important to track the numbers in perimenopause and the early years after menopause as LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol tend to increase," she says To continue reading this article, you must log in Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month Already a member? 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Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Mora Leeb, now 16, was 9 months old when she underwent a hemispherectomy. Her doctors explain why such a drastic operation was her best chance for a full life Mora is working on an important fundraiser hosted by Queen Latifah to help Black and brown communities impacted by COVID-19. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker "To take 10 to 15 minutes out of my day to help someone, I'm always going to do that," says Dr. Patricia DeLaMora of her lifesaving actions Copyright © 2022 ALM Media Properties, LLC. A Laredo eye doctor alleges that his former lawyer overbilled him, and convinced him to file extra litigation that didn't advance his interests. The lawyer denies the allegations. A Laredo attorney has denied ex-clients' allegations that he grossly overbilled for more than $1.9 million and that he convinced the clients to file litigation that didn't advance their interests But the ex-clients' new lawyer—Jeff Lehrman who represents plaintiffs David Mora and Mora Eye Clinic—called it a "classic fee-churning case." The Recorder The Legal Intelligencer New York Law Journal The American Lawyer National Law Journal Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc Read More Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment Read More Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls Read More a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement Read More Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase Read More Already have an account? Sign In Washington lawmakers have enacted some of the country’s most progressive policies to protect reproductive health care But these measures have run up against the state’s high concentration of religious facilities a picturesque coastal city 20 miles from the Canadian border in Washington So when a Bellingham mental health counselor named Alison started bleeding three months into her pregnancy in 2013 Alison had first gone to her OB-GYN’s private practice diagnosed her with a possible case of placenta previa a serious condition where the placenta blocks the cervix He told her to go to the hospital if she started bleeding again After an ultrasound showed the fetus was viable Providers recorded a clinical impression of “threatened abortion,” meaning Alison was at risk of miscarrying They told her to return if she bled more heavily or ran a fever Alison started soaking through a menstrual pad an hour and returned to the ER Her medical records show she was again discharged with plans to see Dr she woke up in the middle of the night bleeding she passed a blood clot the size of a jawbreaker she described her pain as a seven out of ten She was running a fever of 100.4 with an elevated white blood cell count “Appears anxious,” staff noted in her medical records this time telling her that her pain might be the result of appendicitis because it meant the pregnancy might be safe did anyone at the hospital mention that Alison had the option of ending her pregnancy with surgery to address the brewing infection that would end up putting her life at risk Alison’s records at the time of her third discharge still show a working diagnosis of threatened abortion Alison was in significant pain and her fever wasn’t responding to medication a doctor ordered an abdominal MRI to rule out appendicitis and a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia just like flailing from the pain,” she said Bennett remembers Alison screaming when the doctor pressed on her abdomen who recalls having refused pain medication out of fear it might harm the pregnancy told Rewire.News that the agony radiating from her infected uterus was worse than non-medicated childbirth Medical records show her fever had spiked to 101.1 sliding toward the floor and putting her hands over her head He explained to Alison that she had an infection and needed surgery to end the pregnancy Bennett asked whether there was any way to save the baby a potentially deadly condition caused by the body’s response to infection But Mora explained that he couldn’t proceed until the hospital’s ethics committee approved the surgery PeaceHealth bans abortion unless its “direct purpose” is the “cure of a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman” and it “cannot be safely postponed until the unborn child is viable.” In other words the hospital would permit the life-saving surgery only if the committee considered Alison sick enough Skavdahl remembers Mora saying that if he couldn’t secure the approval he planned to send Alison in an ambulance 90 miles south to Seattle a drive that can take well over two hours on the congested highway You have to get a bunch of people together?’” Skavdahl recalled but I don’t know how long it will take.’” It’s unclear from the records how long the committee deliberated but Alison said it felt like around an hour “I remember being scared about that,” Alison said “You’re telling me this is really serious and that my life is in danger and these people have to say it’s OK for you to have this procedure you absolutely need.” Mora’s notes show that the ethics committee approved the surgery because of the risk to Alison’s health records indicate she was given misoprostol to soften her cervix But before she made it to the operating room She felt so sick that she thought she might be hallucinating when she saw the white form in the water “I didn’t have to suffer like that,” Alison said through tears during an interview in June “Everyone deserves adequate medical attention Alison and her husband said that besides Mora Joseph mentioned the possibility of surgery to end Alison’s pregnancy She said providers “ignored that whole area,” and neglected to do a vaginal exam even as they ran tests on her abdomen and chest having searched online for possible causes of her pain said she asked a doctor if it might be a uterine infection; she said the doctor wouldn’t make eye contact and told her to talk with her OB-GYN Mora and PeaceHealth declined to comment on Alison’s case The Catholic health system directed Rewire.News to its statement of common values which says it “strives to promote the sanctity of all human life.” “Our care embraces women and their children both during and after pregnancy,” the statement reads “Because we believe in the sacredness of life’s journey from conception until natural death direct abortion is not performed in any PeaceHealth-owned But Alison believes her life was put at risk “If I had been in an ambulance in traffic for hours But these measures have run up against the state’s high concentration of religious facilities like PeaceHealth which are unwilling to carry out the legislature’s mandates Washington state has the third-highest concentration of Catholic hospital beds in the country according to the most recent MergerWatch report from 2016 Doctors and advocates told Rewire.News that it’s not uncommon for miscarrying patients to have their care dangerously delayed or be forced to travel because of the ban on abortion in Catholic facilities 72 of the state’s 95 hospitals had submitted their forms in compliance with a September 1 deadline a department spokesperson told Rewire.News “We will begin citing hospitals during our routine on-site compliance surveys if the new reproductive health services form has not been submitted,” the spokesperson said But these progressive laws have so far not stopped Catholic hospitals from denying care to patients like Alison And mergers and affiliations have expanded the influence of Catholic health systems in a state known for its relatively progressive politics I didn’t even fully understand or essentially believe—because it’s such a progressive and liberal state—that there could be such restrictions on care when it came to things like miscarriage management,” Leah Rutman health care and liberty counsel at the ACLU of Washington “As I started to hear story after story after story I was horrified by the fact that all these great laws can exist on the books and there can be such a feeling of access to care … but people and women can still be in emergency situations and not get the care they need.” was working at her outpatient consultation clinic in Everett the patient’s cervix was open; her amniotic sac and parts of the umbilical cord were in the vagina She was testifying in favor of a bill—which failed to pass amid opposition from hospitals—that would have prohibited health-care entities from limiting the ability of a provider to give patients comprehensive information and to provide services when the failure to do so would put the patient at risk (A weakened version of the bill failed to pass again this year.) The patient needed to be hospitalized immediately So she and her colleagues sent her to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett a Catholic hospital attached to Brock’s outpatient clinic But the labor and delivery nurse told the patient and her husband that the Catholic hospital didn’t participate in abortions “She’s in pain and this is a devastating thing for them to go through and they were not allowed even to step onto the labor and delivery floor,” Brock said When the patient returned to the outpatient clinic Brock knew that if she called an ambulance it might take some time to arrive and would likely take the woman back to Providence So she told the patient’s husband to drive her to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle the former chief of obstetrics at Providence Everett said in an interview that he didn’t remember the specific case Brock described although Brock recalled that he was involved in a case where a patient showed up with those symptoms the protocol would be to transfer the patient to Swedish for more advanced care than Providence Everett can offer the hospital declined to comment on specific cases “Each patient’s unique needs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and all treatment decisions are made privately between our patients and their care teams.” But Brock said it’s not the only time she’s seen this kind of case This happens frequently,” she told lawmakers Brock often works at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle where she told Rewire.News she sometimes “rescues” patients from Catholic hospitals in surrounding communities by pulling them into the Swedish system Swedish is partly subject to the Catholic rules That’s because it affiliated with Providence in 2012 and agreed to stop performing abortions unless there is a threat to the patient’s life Swedish typically trusts doctors to make this call this is life-threatening,’ we don’t get a lot of pushback,” she told Rewire.News It’s not always easy for staff in Catholic hospitals to decide when a pregnancy is life-threatening enough to merit action—as Meghan Eagen-Torkko’s story shows Eagen-Torkko’s only option when she was bleeding and needed urgent care was a Catholic facility Eagen-Torkko knew she needed a procedure called an aspiration to remove the remaining tissue from her uterus and stop her bleeding But care providers at Providence were worried that her fetus might still have a heartbeat they performed ultrasound after ultrasound searching for a heartbeat that wasn’t there afraid to get in trouble if they missed it Eagen-Torkko lost enough blood to require a transfusion The consequences of this transfusion would become apparent later She had been transfused with blood containing an antigen called Kell her ex-husband was Kell positive—as were her pregnancies Because she was sensitized to Kell by the transfusion her body produced antibodies that put her next pregnancy at risk of sudden fetal demise Doctors told her that her fetus could die with no warning and no way to predict it “It’s a very hard position to be put in knowing that your body could essentially kill your baby which is what happens with Kell,” Eagen-Torkko told Rewire.News Eagen-Torkko dissociated from the pregnancy declining to buy anything for her daughter until she was about 30 weeks pregnant when her daughter started showing signs of stress once she was far enough along to deliver her Kell status made Eagen-Torkko more inclined to accept her doctor’s recommendation for a C-section who might have been afraid to get in trouble or lose their admitting privileges But she said her case shows how hard it is to apply religious doctrine to real-life crises “I don’t think people understand how gray this is and how everybody is cobbling things together sort of on the fly,” Eagen-Torkko said “I think we’re setting up this idea that there is some sort of a clear bright line between life-threatening and non-life-threatening and it just doesn’t exist.” “A Very Narrow Definition of Protecting Life” There are 39 hospitals in Washington that are federally designated critical access facilities which typically means the nearest alternative is more than 35 miles away At least six of those hospitals are Catholic PeaceHealth runs the island’s only hospital meaning patients have to travel by boat or air to get to another option there is no accessible option not restricted by religion Joseph to deliver her son two years after her ordeal because it remains Bellingham’s only hospital Even more of the state would likely be under Catholic health-system control if not for grassroots efforts over the years to fend off mergers between Alison’s hometown of Bellingham and Seattle activists formed People for Health Care Freedom and helped defeat a series of affiliations that threatened to leave Washington with only Catholic hospitals from Seattle to the Canadian border Their concern was well founded: The Church sees mergers with secular systems as a way to spread its religious message “New partnerships can be viewed as opportunities for Catholic health care institutions and services to witness to their religious and ethical commitments and so influence the healing profession,” the Catholic Bishops wrote in the 2009 edition of the Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives new partnerships can help to implement the Church’s social teaching.” Buckling down on their enforcement of this teaching in their latest version of the directives, the Bishops tightened the rules for mergers and partnerships emphasizing that a Catholic institution must “ensure that neither its administrators nor its employees will manage or benefit from the revenue generated by immoral procedures.” That means even institutions that are secular may be required to adopt Catholic restrictions But Washington’s policies intended to address this wave of Catholic mergers have inadvertently revealed concerns about secular facilities too Jay Inslee (D) mandated that all Washington hospitals disclose their reproductive health-care policies on their websites and the health department website an associate professor at Western Washington University she found very little concrete information “Most hospital reproductive health policies provided more confusion than clarity in terms of abortion and contraception service provision,” Schwandt and her colleagues wrote in a report only 13 percent said they provided both medically and non-medically indicated abortions One non-Catholic hospital had an approval process for abortion that required “at least six individuals from the hospital paperwork on behalf of the patient and the provider and a social service referral,” researchers found Another required 11 hospital personnel and 13 hospital procedures before it would allow a medically indicated abortion Schwandt attributed these restrictions to the pervasive stigma against abortion and reproductive health-care across all medical facilities the state designed a checklist of services like abortion and emergency contraception that should make it harder for hospitals to release only vaguely worded policies The law doesn’t outline specific penalties leaving enforcement up to the health department this transparency is only a first step toward preventing what happened to Alison from happening again “I want PeaceHealth and other Catholic hospitals to have to disclose what their policies are and make available appropriate care for women who might want to make different choices,” Raynes told Rewire.News “I don’t want anybody to have to die because of a very narrow definition protecting life.” A doctor and a pizzeria owner were sentenced by a Costa Rican court Monday for recruiting poor people to sell their kidneys for transplants to foreigners The Costa Rican doctor found guilty of conducting illegal transplants was sentenced to 12 years under the verdict reached by a panel of three judges in San José was sentenced to eight years for locating would-be organ donors and offering them between $3,000 and $6,000 for one of their kidneys Three other doctors charged with being part of a ring led by Mora Palma were acquitted for lack of evidence Mora Palma was the head of the nephrology unit that deals with kidney diseases at a public hospital in San Jose Police arrested the five suspects in 2013 after determining they had carried out 14 kidney transplants that mainly went to Israelis but also to European clients willing to pay as much as $100,000 each OIJ arrests 3 doctors and pizzeria owner in organ trafficking sting in Costa Rican capital If you’ve received medical treatment recently you’ve probably noticed some new ways care is being provided Maybe you were surprised by a follow-up call from a nurse checking to make sure you’re taking your medicine Perhaps you’ve been asked if you want telehealth monitoring at home “A lot of these changes are about aligning for future success of managing patients System Director of Practice Operations for Lee Physician Group The focus of population health is providing the right care in the doctor’s office or outpatient center “Given the dynamics and complexities patients face healthcare is now more personalized,” says Mora “This includes making arrangements with other qualified professionals family and caregivers - ensuring care is coordinated and integrated across the system LPG physicians also have access to EPIC - an electronic records system providing one seamless medical history which reduces errors and discrepancies in care.” Home is a place in which we turn for comfort and peace of mind – these same attributes are the foundation of a new approach to health care called patient-centered medical home (PCMH) Lee Physician Group (LPG) primary care offices have achieved this national designation where the physician’s office becomes the hub for all of the patient’s health care needs Krill for more than 16 years,” says Gail Balesky “My diabetes wasn’t a big issue back then but as you age it gets more challenging to manage I face other issues too now and the team approach is helpful because each has a special skill.” LPG is being very deliberate in establishing a comprehensive approach to care management that will help patients overcome challenges to better health and overall quality of life “You could think of primary care as a team sport,” says Kris Fay Chief Administrative Officer of Lee Physician Group literally coming together before the day gets started to discuss the best game plan for meeting the patients’ needs before their office visit.” and what are their roles and responsibilities in your care Patients who participate in managing their health tend to have better outcomes Being a part of this process gives patients control over their options also making them more likely to comply with treatment and follow up “While physicians lead the management of these health challenges the care is truly enhanced when supported by the entire team a registered dietician (RD) can help the patient take a good look at their lifestyle But it’s up to the patient to make those lifestyle changes.” sometimes I need more information on what foods to eat and those kinds of things are taken care of with a diabetic nutritionist,” says Balesky and sometimes it’s me making the decision whether I want to participate but I’m grateful for all the help that I’ve had.” “We found that patients are more likely to attend consultations when coming back to a place they know,” says Fay “So that familiarity and the team based approach are working very well.” “Though I’ve never felt rushed if I had an issue I understand the doctor doesn’t have time to go over every little detail,” says Balesky “So the dieticians are very good at providing the information and it’s helped me a lot.” Balesky says she’s put into practice many tips she’s learned “Diabetes educators have put many of these things in front of me to be able to manage my blood sugar They are ingrained as every day habits as Dr Krill is the overall seer of my progress,” says Balesky Patients who participate in managing their health are less likely to seek emergency care or be hospitalized patients require assistance once they leave the hospital LPG has embedded registered nurse (RN) case managers in its practices to provide this extra support “I am responsible for making sure the patient’s needs are being met by coordinating care providing education and developing a self-management plan with the care team,” says Jennifer Turza “Case managers have been very useful in calling the patients within 24 hours after discharge to see if they need anything,” says Gregory Krill “We find this can eliminate readmissions because we pick up lab abnormalities “We’re trying to help keep patients healthy at home by teaching them self-care or helping get them to where they need to be for appropriate care to better manage their health and maintain their independence,” says Mora “To do that we must focus on what happens outside of hospitals.” “I pick up on any issues that might interfere with the patient’s well-being that need follow up especially in cases where there are multiple medical conditions,” says Turza “We start within the office and do a more formal referral to outside sources if it’s necessary.” “Community services can be coordinated by the LPG case managers and social workers and that’s a big help for the patient,” says Dr “Having their assistance lets me focus on immediate medical issues as they help the patient with what happens at home.” “We want to improve their quality of life rather than just remedy symptoms,” says Mora Advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) can perform advanced level nursing and medical acts under an approved protocol including diagnosing and treating patients ordering tests and initiating appropriate therapies for certain conditions as they greatly improve access to care when physicians’ schedules are full Another way LPG is opening access is by expanding hours Established LPG primary care patients can be seen Saturdays from 9 a.m at two locations: Sanctuary (near 75 and Colonial in Fort Myers) “Everybody has choices when it comes to providers; simply administering care is not enough We view every point of contact - from appointment making to follow-ups and everything in between – as opportunities to strengthen relationships between patients and their providers,” says Fay “Everyone has a dedicated focus but the center of that focus is the patient.” “I’ve lived with diabetes for at least 20 years,” says Balesky At my age a lot of people succumb to that and I feel like I’ve had such good care that it’s prolonged my life.” rushing their toddler to hospital has become the norm for Daniela Mora-Fisher and her husband A wheeze would become a crisis,” Mora-Fisher said has been "struggling with respiratory distress since probably he was 18 months," she said Mora-Fisher, a foreign-trained physician who now works as a researcher at a Toronto doctor's office, suspects a combination of allergies and viruses might be triggering what could be asthma Specialists at her local hospital have seen Julian in their asthma clinic but they've told her they need to wait until he's old enough to do the breathing tests required to confirm it Mora-Fisher and her husband have tried everything they can to reduce potential allergens —including moving out of an old house to try to get away from mould and from busy bus traffic she thought might have been polluting the air Allergies in both children and adults have definitely been on the rise over the last several years division director of clinical immunology and allergy at McMaster University in Hamilton "We've been seeing this now for decades," Waserman said Much of the rise in allergies and asthma "can be directly linked to climate change,” said Dr a family physician in Vancouver and president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Research has shown that over the last few decades in North America "the average pollen season has extended about three weeks and that now plants release about 20 per cent more pollen than they used to," Lem said That's consistent with data gathered by Aerobiology a Canadian company that monitors airborne allergens such as pollen and mould spores "We are seeing a lot more pollen and higher concentrations of pollen overall in the air year over year," said Aerobiology spokesperson Daniel Coates the more pollen you're generally going to have in the air And so there seems to be a correlation between the amount of pollen that we see in the air and the warmer weather that we're having due to climate change." Waserman said she's seeing more allergies in younger children than ever before "We used to think that pollen allergy wouldn't make an appearance 'till the age of five or so I see a lot of environmental allergy a couple of years earlier than that now," she said "It’s a higher number of people and (they're) starting earlier." Pollen isn't the only allergy worsened by climate change can lead to more mould in people's homes and more moisture and people who have allergies to moulds can experience more indoor allergies," she said “We also know that the very thing that's driving climate change also increases allergies," Lem said Burning fossil fuels releases more inhalable particles into the air In addition to directly irritating people's respiratory systems the pollutants may trigger the release of immunoglobulin E which is associated with allergic responses in the body Climate change is directly linked to an increasing number of wildfires in Canada "In clinical practice myself as a family doctor I've seen many more patients in the last few years just anecdotally saying 'I'd never had allergies before and now I do' And also I tend to see more flares in those respiratory symptoms during smoke season," she said are coming together to create this storm of allergies," Lem said a research associate studying environmental health and children's allergies and asthma at Simon Fraser University "The hypothesis is that this is a double exposure that kids are growing up with," she said more pollution that's inflaming the airways and then kind of priming their respiratory tissues and their immune systems to develop allergies and asthma." Sierra-Heredia noted that a "genetic predisposition" may be another factor Daniela Mora-Fisher said she's surprised to see how many other toddlers besides Julian are suffering from breathing issues ”Almost every single parent I know has puffers with their kids,” she said She also thinks the air quality around her home has triggered allergic reactions among family members when they've visited from Ecuador "They have no allergies or anything" when they're back home In addition to taking steps to reduce climate change overall there are more immediate measures that people suffering from allergies and their health-care providers can take to provide some relief Air purifiers in the home can help allergy sufferers people should consider changing their clothes when they come inside and even shower if they've spent a lot of time outside in a park Allergy medications have improved over the years Waserman said — including allergy tablets that "are now able to desensitize you to trees Many people dismiss allergies and "suffer in silence" when they don't have to when your kid's exam performance is impacted .. all of these things are important quality-of-life measures This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26 Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association The Kenyan medical fraternity is mourning the loss of one of their own an intern at Gatundu County Referral Hospital in Kiambu County The Chairman of the Internship Liaison Committee blamed financial hardships and a toxic work environment for the death The deceased is reported to have been struggling to make ends meet on house rent and utilities due to relentless pressure from supervisors and consultants “Her untimely death highlights a dire situation that has persisted within our ranks one marked by overwhelming financial constraints and a toxic work environment,” Dr Nthusi said Dr Moraa’s experience underlines a bigger systemic breakdown that has left many medical interns feeling unsupported and alone “This tragic incident is not a standalone incident; it points out how the Ministry of Health urgently needs to take care of negligence and inhumane handling of medical interns,” he added the medical interns say they are working for 36 unending hours characterized by minimal rest or time for meals which worsens the mental pressures from their critical work It also expressed condemnation of the treatment faced by some interns at the hands of senior doctors and consultants which it described as “inhumane” To honour Dr Moraa’s memory and raise awareness about these critical issues medical interns across the country are currently observing a 36-hour period of mourning and pharmacists—will withdraw their services in a symbolic act of remembrance “We stand in solidarity with Dr Moraa’s memory and all those who have faced similar struggles chief executive officers of major referral hospitals and county executive committee members of health to join us in this solemn remembrance,” Dr Nthusi said They also appealed to management to ensure that health services will not grind to a halt as they withdraw their services The fraternity hopes this observance will be an eye-opener on the need for urgent reforms to assist in creating a much healthier and supportive environment for healthcare workers throughout Kenya We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Eye surgeon joins team of volunteers training local doctors for paediatric work Justin Mora says the help given to preserve Cambodian children's sight will benefit them for the rest of their lives The volunteer work of a Kiwi eye surgeon will change the lives of Cambodian children who will go blind without treatment for their eye conditions Auckland paediatric opthalmologist Dr Justin Mora will be the first of 12 Australasian surgeons to set up a children's eye clinic and train local doctors in Phnom Penh during the next year - a service that is virtually non-existent in the third world country "There's no paediatric opthalmology in Southeast Asia," he said "The training is very much in general adult stuff there is no specific training for looking after children's problems and the programme is trying to get that established in that part of the world." Dr Mora's voluntary contribution is funded by the Australian-based Sight for All Foundation He will work with the Cambodia Ministry of Health and local doctors to establish a specialist clinic there A clinic with one doctor could treat up to 200 children a week "The key thing about working in paediatrics is you're making a difference that's going to last a lifetime Taking a child that would potentially not have sight and giving them sight is more important in places like that because support services are pretty limited." who has worked at Auckland Eye for 17 years said each doctor will spend a week in the country in a "teach a man to fish "By helping the local surgeons to set up a service focused on children's eye health we will leave a long-term legacy which could improve the daily lives of thousands of children "The lack of the right eye care equipment and knowledge in highly-populated poorer countries means that over half of the world's blind live in the Asia-Pacific region this means that an eye problem has not been diagnosed at its infancy." By establishing a group of core professionals who specialise in paediatrics these impairments can be tackled before they infiltrate into individuals' adult lives No one knew he'd fallen after a guard rail gave way while he was loading containers.