Sick Profit: Investigating Private Equity’s Stealthy Takeover of Health Care Across Cities and Specialties
Two-year-old Zion Gastelum died just days after dentists performed root canals and put crowns on six baby teeth at a clinic affiliated with a private equity firm.
His parents sued the Kool Smiles dental clinic in Yuma, Arizona, and its private equity investor, FFL Partners. They argued the procedures were done needlessly, in keeping with a corporate strategy to maximize profits by overtreating kids from lower-income families enrolled in Medicaid. Zion died after being diagnosed with “brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen,” according to the lawsuit.
Kool Smiles “overtreats, underperforms and overbills,” the family alleged in the suit, which was settled last year under confidential terms. FFL Partners and Kool Smiles had no comment but denied liability in court filings.
Private equity is rapidly moving to reshape health care in America, coming off a banner year in 2021, when the deep-pocketed firms plowed $206 billion into more than 1,400 health care acquisitions, according to industry tracker PitchBook.
Seeking quick returns, these investors are buying into eye care clinics, dental management chains, physician practices, hospices, pet care providers, and thousands of other companies that render medical care nearly from cradle to grave. Private equity-backed groups have even set up special “obstetric emergency departments” at some hospitals, which can charge expectant mothers hundreds of dollars extra for routine perinatal care.
As private equity extends its reach into health care, evidence is mounting that the penetration has led to higher prices and diminished quality of care, a KHN investigation has found. KHN found that companies owned or managed by private equity firms have agreed to pay fines of more than $500 million since 2014 to settle at least 34 lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act, a federal law that punishes false billing submissions to the federal government with fines. Most of the time, the private equity owners have avoided liability.
New research by the University of California-Berkeley has identified “hot spots” where private equity firms have quietly moved from having a small foothold to controlling more than two-thirds of the market for physician services such as anesthesiology and gastroenterology in 2021. And KHN found that in San Antonio, more than two dozen gastroenterology offices are controlled by a private equity-backed group that billed a patient $1,100 for her share of a colonoscopy charge — about three times what she paid in another state.
It’s not just prices that are drawing scrutiny.
Whistleblowers and injured patients are turning to the courts to press allegations of misconduct or other improper business dealings. The lawsuits allege that some private equity firms, or companies they invested in, have boosted the bottom line by violating federal false claims and anti-kickback laws or through other profit-boosting strategies that could harm patients.
“Their model is to deliver short-term financial goals and in order to do that you have to cut corners,” said Mary Inman, an attorney who represents whistleblowers.
Federal regulators, meanwhile, are almost blind to the incursion, since private equity typically acquires practices and hospitals below the regulatory radar. KHN found that more than 90% of private equity takeovers or investments fall below the $101 million threshold that triggers an antitrust review by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Justice Department.
Spurring Growth
Private equity firms pool money from investors, ranging from wealthy people to college endowments and pension funds. They use that money to buy into businesses they hope to flip at a sizable profit, usually within three to seven years, by making them more efficient and lucrative.
Private equity has poured nearly $1 trillion into nearly 8,000 health care transactions during the past decade, according to PitchBook.
Fund managers who back the deals often say they have the expertise to reduce waste and turn around inefficient, or moribund, businesses, and they tout their role in helping to finance new drugs and technologies expected to benefit patients in years to come.
Critics see a far less rosy picture. They argue that private equity’s playbook, while it may work in some industries, is ill suited for health care, when people’s lives are on the line.
In the health care sphere, private equity has tended to find legal ways to bill more for medical services: trimming services that don’t turn a profit, cutting staff, or employing personnel with less training to perform skilled jobs — actions that may put patients at risk, critics say.
KHN, in a series of articles published this year, has examined a range of private equity forays into health care, from its marketing of America’s top-selling emergency contraception pill to buying up whole chains of ophthalmology and gastroenterology practices and investing in the booming hospice care industry and even funeral homes.
These deals happened on top of well-publicized takeovers of hospital emergency room staffing firms that led to outrageous “surprise” medical bills for some patients, as well as the buying up of entire rural hospital systems.
“Their only goal is to make outsize profits,” said Laura Olson, a political science professor at Lehigh University and a critic of the industry.
Hot Spots
When it comes to acquisitions, private equity firms have similar appetites, according to a KHN analysis of 600 deals by the 25 firms that PitchBook says have most frequently invested in health care.
Eighteen of the firms have dental companies listed in their portfolios, and 16 list centers that offer treatment of cataracts, eye surgery, or other vision care, KHN found.
Fourteen have bought stakes in animal hospitals or pet care clinics, a market in which rapid consolidation led to a recent antitrust action by the FTC. The agency reportedly also is investigating whether U.S. Anesthesia Partners, which operates anesthesia practices in nine states, has grown too dominant in some areas.
Private equity has flocked to companies that treat autism, drug addiction, and other behavioral health conditions. The firms have made inroads into ancillary services such as diagnostic and urine-testing and software for managing billing and other aspects of medical practice.
Private equity has done so much buying that it now dominates several specialized medical services, such as anesthesiology and gastroenterology, in a few metropolitan areas, according to new research made available to KHN by the Nicholas C. Petris Center at UC-Berkeley.
Although private equity plays a role in just 14% of gastroenterology practices nationwide, it controls nearly three-quarters of the market in at least five metropolitan areas across five states, including Texas and North Carolina, according to the Petris Center research.
Similarly, anesthesiology practices tied to private equity hold 12% of the market nationwide but have swallowed up more than two-thirds of it in parts of five states, including the Orlando, Florida, area, according to the data.
These expansions can lead to higher prices for patients, said Yashaswini Singh, a researcher at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.
In a study of 578 physician practices in dermatology, ophthalmology, and gastroenterology published in JAMA Health Forum in September, Singh and her team tied private equity takeovers to an average increase of $71 per medical claim filed and a 9% increase in lengthy, more costly, patient visits.
Singh said in an interview that private equity may develop protocols that bring patients back to see physicians more often than in the past, which can drive up costs, or order more lucrative medical services, whether needed or not, that boost profits.
“There are more questions than answers,” Singh said. “It really is a black hole.”
Jean Hemphill, a Philadelphia health care attorney, said that in some cases private equity has merely taken advantage of the realities of operating a modern medical practice amid growing administrative costs.
Physicians sometimes sell practices to private equity firms because they promise to take over things like billing, regulatory compliance, and scheduling — allowing doctors to focus on practicing medicine. (The physicians also might reap a big payout.)
“You can’t do it on a scale like Marcus Welby used to do it,” Hemphill said, referring to an early 1970s television drama about a kindly family doctor who made house calls. “That’s what leads to larger groups,” she said. “It is a more efficient way to do it.”
But Laura Alexander, a former vice president of policy at the nonprofit American Antitrust Institute, which collaborated on the Petris Center research, said she is concerned about private equity’s growing dominance in some markets.
“We’re still at the stage of understanding the scope of the problem,” Alexander said. “One thing is clear: Much more transparency and scrutiny of these deals is needed.”
‘Revenue Maximization’
Private equity firms often bring a “hands-on” approach to management, taking steps such as placing their representatives on a company’s board of directors and influencing the hiring and firing of key staffers.
“Private equity exercises immense control over the operations of health care companies it buys an interest in,” said Jeanne Markey, a Philadelphia whistleblower attorney.
Markey represented physician assistant Michelle O’Connor in a 2015 whistleblower lawsuit filed against National Spine and Pain Centers and its private equity owner, Sentinel Capital Partners.
In just a year under private equity guidance, National Spine’s patient load quadrupled as it grew into one of the nation’s largest pain management chains, treating more than 160,000 people in about 40 offices across five East Coast states, according to the suit.
O’Connor, who worked at two National Spine clinics in Virginia, said the mega-growth strategy sprang from a “corporate culture in which money trumps the provision of appropriate patient care,” according to the suit.
She cited a “revenue maximization” policy that mandated medical staffers see at least 25 patients a day, up from 16 to 18 before the takeover.
The pain clinics also overcharged Medicare by billing up to $1,100 for “unnecessary and often worthless” back braces and charging up to $1,800 each for urine drug tests that were “medically unnecessary and often worthless,” according to the suit.
In April 2019, National Spine paid the Justice Department $3.3 million to settle the whistleblower’s civil case without admitting wrongdoing.
Sentinel Capital Partners, which by that time had sold the pain management chain to another private equity firm, paid no part of National Spine’s settlement, court records show. Sentinel Capital Partners had no comment.
In another whistleblower case, a South Florida pharmacy owned by RLH Equity Partners raked in what the lawsuit called an “extraordinarily high” profit on more than $68 million in painkilling and scar creams billed to the military health insurance plan Tricare.
The suit alleges that the pharmacy paid illegal kickbacks to telemarketers who drove the business. One doctor admitted prescribing the creams to scores of patients he had never seen, examined, or even spoken to, according to the suit.
RLH, based in Los Angeles, disputed the Justice Department’s claims. In 2019, RLH and the pharmacy paid a total of $21 million to settle the case. Neither admitted liability. RLH managing director Michel Glouchevitch told KHN that his company cooperated with the investigation and that “the individuals responsible for any problems have been terminated.”
In many fraud cases, however, private equity investors walk away scot-free because the companies they own pay the fines. Eileen O’Grady, a researcher at the nonprofit Private Equity Stakeholder Project, said government should require “added scrutiny” of private equity companies whose holdings run afoul of the law.
“Nothing like that exists,” she said.
Questions About Quality
Whether private equity influences the quality of medical care is tough to discern.
Robert Homchick, a Seattle health care regulatory attorney, said private equity firms “vary tremendously” in how conscientiously they manage health care holdings, which makes generalizing about their performance difficult.
“Private equity has some bad actors, but so does the rest of the [health care] industry,” he said. “I think it’s wrong to paint them all with the same brush.”
But incipient research paints a disturbing picture, which took center stage earlier this year.
On the eve of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech in March, the White House released a statement that accused private equity of "buying up struggling nursing homes” and putting “profits before people.”
The covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the “tragic impact” of staffing cuts and other moneysaving tactics in nursing homes, the statement said.
More than 200,000 nursing home residents and staffers had died from covid in the previous two years, according to the White House, and research had linked private equity to inflated nursing costs and elevated patient death rates.
Some injured patients are turning to the courts in hopes of holding the firms accountable for what the patients view as lapses in care or policies that favor profits over patients.
Dozens of lawsuits link patient harm to the sale of Florida medical device maker Exactech to TPG Capital, a Texas private equity firm. TPG acquired the device company in February 2018 for about $737 million.
In August 2021, Exactech recalled its Optetrak knee replacement system, warning that a defect in packaging might cause the implant to loosen or fracture and cause “pain, bone loss or recurrent swelling.” In the lawsuits, more than three dozen patients accuse Exactech of covering up the defects for years, including, some suits say, when “full disclosure of the magnitude of the problem … might have negatively impacted” Exactech’s sale to TPG.
Linda White is suing Exactech and TPG, which she asserts is “directly involved” in the device company’s affairs.
White had Optetrak implants inserted into both her knees at a Galesburg, Illinois, hospital in June 2012. The right one failed and was replaced with a second Optetrak implant in July 2015, according to her lawsuit. That one also failed, and she had it removed and replaced with a different company’s device in January 2019.
The Exactech implant in White’s left knee had to be removed in May 2019, according to the suit, which is pending in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois.
In a statement to KHN, Exactech said it conducted an “extensive investigation” when it received reports of “unexpected wear of our implants.”
Exactech said the problem dated to 2005 but was discovered only in July of last year. “Exactech disputes the allegations in these lawsuits and intends to vigorously defend itself,” the statement said. TPG declined to comment but has denied the allegations in court filings.
‘Invasive Procedures’
In the past, private equity business tactics have been linked to scandalously bad care at some dental clinics that treated children from low-income families.
In early 2008, a Washington, D.C., television station aired a shocking report about a local branch of the dental chain Small Smiles that included video of screaming children strapped to straightjacket-like “papoose boards” before being anesthetized to undergo needless operations like baby root canals.
Five years later, a U.S. Senate report cited the TV exposé in voicing alarm at the "corporate practice of dentistry in the Medicaid program.” The Senate report stressed that most dentists turned away kids enrolled in Medicaid because of low payments and posed the question: How could private equity make money providing that care when others could not?
“The answer is ‘volume,’” according to the report.
Small Smiles settled several whistleblower cases in 2010 by paying the government $24 million. At the time, it was providing “business management and administrative services” to 69 clinics nationwide, according to the Justice Department. It later declared bankruptcy.
But complaints that volume-driven dentistry mills have harmed disadvantaged children didn’t stop.
According to the 2018 lawsuit filed by his parents, Zion Gastelum was hooked up to an oxygen tank after questionable root canals and crowns “that was empty or not operating properly” and put under the watch of poorly trained staffers who didn’t recognize the blunder until it was too late.
Zion never regained consciousness and died four days later at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the suit states. The cause of death was “undetermined,” according to the Maricopa County medical examiner’s office. An Arizona state dental board investigation later concluded that the toddler’s care fell below standards, according to the suit.
Less than a month after Zion’s death in December 2017, the dental management company Benevis LLC and its affiliated Kool Smiles clinics agreed to pay the Justice Department $24 million to settle False Claims Act lawsuits. The government alleged that the chain performed “medically unnecessary” dental services, including baby root canals, from January 2009 through December 2011.
In their lawsuit, Zion’s parents blamed his death on corporate billing policies that enforced “production quotas for invasive procedures such as root canals and crowns” and threatened to fire or discipline dental staff “for generating less than a set dollar amount per patient.”
Kool Smiles billed Medicaid $2,604 for Zion’s care, according to the suit. FFL Partners did not respond to requests for comment. In court filings, it denied liability, arguing it did not provide “any medical services that harmed the patient.”
Covering Tracks
Under a 1976 federal law called the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, deal-makers must report proposed mergers to the FTC and the Justice Department antitrust division for review. The intent is to block deals that stifle competition, which can lead to higher prices and lower-quality services.
But there’s a huge blind spot, which stymies government oversight of more than 90% of private equity investments in health care companies: The current threshold for reporting deals is $101 million.
KHN’s analysis of PitchBook data found that just 423 out of 7,839 private equity health care deals from 2012 through 2021 were known to have exceeded the current threshold.
In some deals, private equity takes a controlling interest in medical practices, and doctors work for the company. In other cases, notably in states whose laws prohibit corporate ownership of physician practices, the private equity firm handles a range of management duties.
Thomas Wollmann, a University of Chicago researcher, said antitrust authorities may not learn of consequential transactions “until long after they have been completed” and “it's very hard to break them up after the fact.”
In August, the FTC took aim at what it called “a growing trend toward consolidation” by veterinary medicine chains.
The FTC ordered JAB Consumer Partners, a private equity firm based in Luxembourg, to divest from some clinics in the San Francisco Bay and Austin, Texas, areas as part of a proposed $1.1 billion takeover of a rival.
The FTC said the deal would eliminate “head-to-head” competition, “increasing the likelihood that customers are forced to pay higher prices or experience a degradation in quality of the relevant services.”
Under the order, JAB must obtain FTC approval before buying veterinary clinics within 25 miles of the sites it owns in Texas and California.
The FTC would not say how much market consolidation is too much or whether it plans to step up scrutiny of health care mergers and acquisitions.
“Every case is fact-specific,” Betsy Lordan, an FTC spokesperson, told KHN.
Lordan, who has since left the agency, said regulators are considering updates to regulations governing mergers and are reviewing about 1,900 responses to the January 2022 request for public comment. At least 300 of the comments were from doctors or other health care workers.
Few industry observers expect the concerns to abate; they might even increase.
Investors are flush with “dry powder,” industry parlance for money waiting to stoke a deal.
The Healthcare Private Equity Association, which boasts about 100 investment companies as members, says the firms have $3 trillion in assets and are pursuing a vision for "building the future of healthcare.”
That kind of talk alarms Cornell University professor Rosemary Batt, a longtime critic of private equity. She predicts that investors chasing outsize profits will achieve their goals by “sucking the wealth” out of more and more health care providers.
“They are constantly looking for new financial tricks and strategies,” Batt said.
KHN’s Megan Kalata contributed to this article.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
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2 years 4 months ago
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2 years 4 months ago
Is your home ready for you as you age?
IF we're all being honest, owning a home or having a roof over our heads is pretty high on our to-do list. How many times have you joking told your children — "You better not put me in a nursing home when I'm older" or "I want to live in my house until I die"? These are great thoughts — who wouldn't love being in the comfort of their own home, or as experts call it "age in place"?
Here's some food for thought: When was the last time you sat down and really thought about the space you're living in and how conducive it will be for you as you get older? My guess would be maybe once or twice, if at all. Don't worry, if you haven't given it much thought you aren't alone. One of the main objectives of this article is to get those wheels turning in your head.
We can never be too certain if any disease or illness will affect us as we get older. A good place to start is by taking a look at your family history. Are there any trends? Meaning, history of stroke, arthritis, dementia, etc. Or have you been diagnosed or put on watch for any chronic illnesses? You might be wondering — what does that have to do with my home environment? A lot! For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis may find it difficult to grip, making door knobs that much harder to open. A better alternative would be to use door handles with levers.
In this article I'll share with you an abbreviated checklist of things you may want to take into consideration as you analyse your living space, especially if your plan is to live in your home as you get older.
The overall floor plan
First things first. Having all the major or most used spaces on the same floor is definitely a plus in the event that climbing the stairs becomes difficult. You want to ensure that at least a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen are all on the main level. If you have a single-level home, then you won't have to worry about this.
Entryway
Does your entryway have good natural and or artificial lighting? A well-lit entry will lessen the likelihood of stumbles and/or falls because of poor judgement. Try to limit the amount of steps. Ramps make entering much more accessible whether you require a wheelchair or not.
Hallways
Hallways, if present, should be wide enough to facilitate a wheelchair. Again, try to get in as much natural light as possible. If the area still seems poorly lit, there are many artificial lighting options available. Keep in mind also that switches should be at a comfortable height making them more accessible to persons in a wheelchair. Using motion-censor lights are also another great option.
Counters
It is recommended that countertops be 36 inches or three feet from the floor, which will make it more accessible for everyone. Using contrasting colours for backsplash and or countertops will not only add some character to your space, but will also provide benefits for the visually impaired.
Flooring
Think non-slip, non-reflecting. Consider tiles that have a matte finish or other slip-resistant surfaces. Limit the number of rugs and mats throughout your space — these may become hazardous. Run cables and wires along the wall, keeping the floor free from obstructions.
Bathrooms
Showers are more convenient than bathtubs. Non-slip tiles are non-negotiable; install grab bars/rails. Removable shower heads with hose and high toilets are some things to keep in mind for this space.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and is very general in nature. Always consult with an expert who is equipped with the skill sets to make the right recommendations for you, your family and your space. Ageing in place is not impossible; it just takes a little help.
Dr Raejean Porter, DPT is a geriatric physiotherapist and geriatric home modification specialist. She can be contacted at: raejean323@hotmail.com
2 years 4 months ago
Telemedicine as a long-term tool for NCDs
IN Jamaica, an estimated seven out of 10 deaths are caused by the top five non-communicable diseases (NCDs). As such, being a leading cause of death in the island, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has prioritised resources to combat the prevalence of NCDs on the island. With adequate treatment, access to resources and knowledge, death from NCDs can be limited and those diagnosed can live long, healthy lives.
Well-trained doctors, access to medication and information are all key resources in the adequate treatment and diagnosis of NCDs. In a digital age, resources such as telemedicine are great tools for patients with NCDs or who are at risk of contracting them. Understanding the resources available in modern medicine can aid in changing the statistics of NCDs in our favour.
What are NCDs?
NCDs are not passed on from person to person. They tend to be long-term illnesses that occur from a combination of factors including genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural. The main types of NCDs include:
• Cardiovascular diseases (eg heart attack, stroke)
• Cancers
• Respiratory diseases (eg asthma)
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
Factors increasing the risk of NCDs
• Behavioural factors — smoking, excess alcohol use, poor diet and lack of exercise all increase your risk of contracting an NCD.
• Metabolic risk factors — having high blood pressure, being overweight and having high glucose levels can all increase your risk of developing an NCD.
• Socio-economic factors — NCDs are closely linked to areas of poverty. Low access to adequate health-care resources can cause a higher existence of NCDs.
How does telemedicine come in?
With such high levels of NCDs within Jamaica today, telemedicine can be a useful tool to combat the effects and limit the number of deaths of these patients. Telemedicine involves accessing health care via remote digital technology. Through telemedicine platforms like MDLink, you may speak directly to a health-care professional using audio, video call or even text alone — all from the comfort of your home, office, car, or wherever you feel most comfortable. You can speak to a GP or specialist to aid you through diagnosis, treatment and even if you simply want to access more information from a professional.
The following are direct ways in which telemedicine can aid in the long- and short-term treatment of NCDs.
• Prescriptions — Telemedicine eliminates the inconvenience of having to go to a doctor's office and sit in the waiting room every single time you need a prescription. If you are stable and not in an emergent condition, this may be frustrating and hard to fit into your busy schedule. Your life does not stop simply because you have been diagnosed with an NCD. If you are diabetic, for example, having access to insulin on a daily basis is crucial, but being able to go to the doctor every time you need it may not be a sustainable solution for your lifestyle. This is where telemedicine comes in. It serves as a less time-consuming, convenient means of treatment that allows you to see your doctor right away and have them send your prescription directly to your pharmacy without you having to set foot in their office.
• Routine check-ups — With long-term illness comes long-term treatment. You may have routine check-ups scheduled throughout the year to ensure that everything is fine and there are no negative advances to your illness. Telemedicine can work in place to help you be on top of all your check-ups without disrupting your everyday life.
• Referrals & lab forms — If during your telemedicine visit your doctor has determined that you need a second opinion, in-person specialist care or you need to get some lab tests done, all referral and lab forms can be done and sent to you immediately through telemedicine platforms. This allows you to be able to move forward with your treatment without any delays of having to visit in person to get these forms. This may include doing a lung function test for your asthma or getting blood work done to test your sugar levels. All you have to do is go to the relevant testing facility, such as the MDLink Drive-Thru with your referral form from your online visit, and you will be treated without issue.
• Specialist care to inaccessible areas — Research has determined that those who live in less advantaged areas are more prone to contracting NCDs, particularly because of a lack of resources. If you live in a rural area that has limited access to a GP or specialist, you can access both through telemedicine. This may include getting a consultation that may lead you towards the diagnosis of an NCD or simply making sure you get adequate follow-up treatment to manage your already-diagnosed illness. Additionally, if you may be travelling and not around your usual doctor, you can still receive care from your trusted provider wherever in the world you might be.
• Education — If you have an NCD such as cancer, it is important for you to be educated on your treatment options, how your loved ones can aid in taking care of you and how you can live a healthy life without making it worse. Using telemedicine as an aid in education through a professional health-care provider can help you on your journey living with an NCD.
NCDs should not be left untreated simply because you do not have time to follow up with check-ups, prescriptions or haven't had the chance to even get diagnosed. Reach out to your doctor today if you are at risk of contracting an NCD and see what options are available to you. As widespread as NCDs are, so widespread is telemedicine also. Once you have a device and the Internet you can gain full access to the benefits of telemedicine platforms such as MDLink.
Dr Ché Bowen, a digital health entrepreneur and family physician, is the CEO & founder of MDLink, a digital health company that provides telemedicine options. Check out the company's website at
www.theMDLink.com.
You can also contact him at
drchebowen@themdlink.com.
2 years 4 months ago
Impact of misinformation on access to care in COVID
SINCE the inception of the current pandemic, COVID-19-related misinformation has delayed containment of the pandemic especially in low resource nations.
This has been exacerbated by the relative ease of dissemination of unfounded and misleading theories through social media and other web-based communication outlets. It has perpetuated beliefs that led to interference with public health interventions resulting in vaccine avoidance or hesitancy, non-compliance with social distancing recommendations, mask mandate refusal, and utilisation of medications with insignificant scientific data and unproven efficacy, ultimately contributing to increased morbidity and mortality.
Several studies addressing misinformation in health care consistently show that false and misleading claims negatively influence people's attitudes towards vaccines.
A recent paper specifically looking at COVID vaccine presented findings from a global survey of 18,400 individuals from 40 countries and showed a strong association between perceived believability of COVID-19 misinformation and vaccination hesitancy. The study showed that only half of the online users exposed to rumours might have seen corresponding fact-checked information refuting the rumours. Moreover, depending on the country, between six per cent and 37 per cent of individuals considered these rumours believable.
A key finding of this research is that poorer regions were more susceptible to encountering and believing COVID-19 misinformation; countries with lower gross domestic product (GDP) per capita showed a substantially higher prevalence of misinformation.
Undoubtedly, misinformation is partly responsible for the relatively low vaccination rates in many countries which has slowed down the efforts to halt the pandemic. As at the end of October, about 13 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered around the world. While nearly 70 per cent of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, when you look at low-income countries which include many countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa, only 23 per cent of people have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. More booster doses have been administered in high income countries than total doses in low-income countries.
In the English-speaking Caribbean, Latam and Africa, the story is mixed. In Trinidad and Tobago, for example, only about 50 per cent got at least one dose of the vaccine or are fully vaccinated with only about 12 booster doses for 100 residents. In Belize and Guyana, about 60 per cent of the population received at least one vaccine dose or are fully vaccinated while only about 10 doses of booster vaccines are available per 100 citizens. In Jamaica and Nigeria, less than 30 per cent of the population got at least one dose and less than 25 per cent are fully vaccinated. In both countries, there are only about two booster doses for each 100 residents. About eight countries in the Caribbean have vaccination rates less than 50 per cent. Haiti and Burundi both have less than five per cent of the population fully vaccinated and virtually no booster doses for the population.
Cuba is a remarkable Caribbean vaccination success story with nearly 400 vaccine doses per 100 people with an impressive 95 per cent of citizens receiving at least one dose and almost 90 per cent of the population fully vaccinated. About 75 doses of booster doses are available in Cuba per 100 citizens. Peru and Ecuador are also successful examples in the Latin American region with about 90 per cent of the population receiving at least one dose and about 85 per cent fully vaccinated. In Ecuador, about 90 per cent received at least one dose and about 80 per cent fully vaccinated. In Africa, Mauritius and Rwanda are breakout stories with Mauritius having about 90 per cent of the population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine and another 90 per cent being fully vaccinated while in Rwanda, 72 per cent receiving at least one dose and 70 per cent being fully vaccinated.
Despite enormous public spending and engagement, the US has just about 80 per cent receiving one dose of coronavirus vaccine and 67.5 per cent being fully vaccinated. The poor vaccination rates in many poorer countries and the relatively unimpressive vaccination rates in the USA can at least be partly attributed to misinformation.
COVID and cardiovascular risk
There is very little reliable data specific to Jamaica or the Caribbean as a region. However, as has been widely reported in the literature, novel coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted cardiovascular health care globally. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has directly caused significant excess mortality on a global scale. There is emerging evidence that cardiovascular (CV) mortality has increased during the pandemic, independent of COVID infection. This has been attributed to several factors, including patients avoiding health-care environments to avoid exposure to SARS-CoV2, redeployment of specialist health-care staff to support COVID-19 services, and reduced availability of routine investigations and procedures
Patients with pre-existing comorbidities are thought to be at an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV2 virus and tend to have worse clinical outcomes. Specifically, patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension are thought to have a high complication rate with mortality rate of 10.5 per cent reported in cardiac patients and mortality rates of 7.3 per cent and 6.0 per cent for diabetes and hypertension patients, respectively. COVID-19 is believed to have contributed to 15 million new cases of heart disease worldwide.
A study published in Nature Medicine (Feb 2022) by a group from Washington University looked at data on more than 150,000 patients with COVID-19 and showed that people who have had COVID-19 are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications within the first month to a year after infection. Such complications include arrhythmias, myocarditis, myocardial infarction or ACS, heart failure, stroke, or death. Overall, they found that those infected with the virus were 55 per cent more likely than those without COVID-19 to suffer a major adverse cardiovascular event, which includes heart attack, stroke, and death. An earlier study by a Swedish group found strong evidence that heart attacks and strokes risk rise sharply in the weeks following a COVID-19 diagnosis. The findings were published on August 14, 2021, in The Lancet, and included about 87,000 people with a median age of 48. In that study, the week after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the risk of a first myocardial infarction increased by three to eight times. The risk of a first ischemic stroke multiplied by three to six times. In the following weeks, both risks decreased steadily, but stayed elevated for at least a month
Impact of COVID on access to cardiovascular care
Regarding access and availability of cardiovascular services, significant disruptions to access were noted globally and in the Caribbean region. At the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) and Heart Hospital, we were part of the INCAPS COVID Investigators Group that looked at the International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease. Our research study which was published in in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) in January 2021 sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practice. The study looked at data from nearly 1000 facilities in 108 countries and found that cardiovascular diagnostic services declined by 40-78 per cent depending on the procedure. In multi-variable regression analysis, significantly greater reduction in services occurred for centres in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and services. The decline in elective procedures and services was thought to be mainly because individuals chose to defer elective cases out of fear of exposure, economic impact from the pandemic and government mandated lock downs that made it difficult for individuals to attend to elective needs.
The panel noted that as the world learns to live with COVID and brace for other potential future pandemics, it is imperative that we learn these lessons from COVID and put measures in place to mitigate the outcomes and be better prepared function within the context of the new normal.
Dr Ernest Madu, MD, FACC and Dr Paul Edwards, MD, FACC are consultant cardiologists for Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) and HIC Heart Hospital. HIC is the regional centre of excellence for cardiovascular care in the English-speaking Caribbean and has pioneered a transformation in the way cardiovascular care is delivered in the region. HIC Heart Hospital is registered by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and is the only heart hospital in Jamaica. Correspondence to info@caribbeanheart.com or call 876-906-2107
2 years 4 months ago
Breathing May Measurably Modulate Neural Responses Across Brain - Neuroscience News
- Breathing May Measurably Modulate Neural Responses Across Brain Neuroscience News
- Why we breathe: Everything from thoughts, emotions, and way we experience the world influenced by the breath Study Finds
- Breathing – bridge between the body and mind | News Jamaica Gleaner
- View Full Coverage on Google News
2 years 4 months ago
Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 9 November 2022
2 new positive cases; 18 active cases
0 new deaths; 0 new recoveries
38,975 fully vaccinated
View the full post Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 9 November 2022 on NOW Grenada.
2 new positive cases; 18 active cases
0 new deaths; 0 new recoveries
38,975 fully vaccinated
View the full post Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 9 November 2022 on NOW Grenada.
2 years 4 months ago
Health, PRESS RELEASE, coronavirus, COVID-19, dashboard, gis, Ministry of Health, vaccine
Early peanut introduction can prevent allergy for infants across risk categories
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
— The medical community should ask two questions about preventive peanut allergy interventions among infants, according to a presentation at the American College of Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.“First, is it worthwhile targeting the whole population of infants if only a fragment of the population is at risk for peanut allergy?” Gideon Lack, MD, professor of pediatric allergy at King’s College London and head of the children’s allergy service at Guys’ and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said in his presentation.“But
2 years 4 months ago
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
The number of people with diabetes in the Americas has more than tripled in three decades, PAHO report says
The number of people with diabetes in the Americas has more than tripled in three decades, PAHO report says
Cristina Mitchell
11 Nov 2022
The number of people with diabetes in the Americas has more than tripled in three decades, PAHO report says
Cristina Mitchell
11 Nov 2022
2 years 4 months ago
CNN.com - RSS Channel - Health
Flu season already hitting hard across half of the US and children's hospitals are still feeling the pressure from respiratory illnesses
About half of the US -- 22 states, along with Washington, DC, New York City and Puerto Rico -- is reporting high or very high respiratory illness activity, as flu season sweeps through the country weeks earlier than usual.
About half of the US -- 22 states, along with Washington, DC, New York City and Puerto Rico -- is reporting high or very high respiratory illness activity, as flu season sweeps through the country weeks earlier than usual.
2 years 5 months ago
Could having lots of friends give us a healthier gut?
A team from the University of Oxford collected a total of 50 uncontaminated stool samples from rhesus macaques - a species of monkey - living on an island off the coast of Puerto Rico.
A team from the University of Oxford collected a total of 50 uncontaminated stool samples from rhesus macaques - a species of monkey - living on an island off the coast of Puerto Rico.
2 years 5 months ago
Early emollient therapy may reduce eczema, related food allergies, but data are mixed
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Eczema and food allergy are linked, but children with severe, early-onset eczema before age 3 months are at highest risk, a speaker said at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.Genetic and environmental factors also play a role, but there are mixed results on the value of preventive emollient therapy, Helen A.
Brough, MA, MSc, PhD, consultant in pediatric allergy and head of service for Children’s Allergy Service at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said
2 years 5 months ago
Minor increase in Coxsackie Virus (Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease)
“Take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus by engaging in the frequent sanitisation of surfaces, hand hygiene, and by keeping affected (sick) children at home”
View the full post Minor increase in Coxsackie Virus (Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease) on NOW Grenada.
2 years 5 months ago
After the age of 40, 52% of men suffer from sexual impotence
Over 40 males experience sexual impotence or erectile dysfunction in 52% of cases, according to the Dominican Society of Urology president. According to Dr. Miguel Sánchez Caba, the statistics are from a global context, but they apply to men in the Dominican Republic. He explained that the causes are vascular damage in hypertensive patients and age.
He stated that men in the country do not seek help or do so in secret to combat this problem. He stated on the radio program El Poder de la Tarde that it is a typical problem that should not alarm men, but should draw attention to the issue. In another order, he noted that November is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and that the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) reported 4,808 new diagnoses of this disease in the Dominican Republic in 2020.
He urged men over 40 to have their prostates checked to avoid this cancer, which is fatal if not treated in time. He also stated that on the 19th, beginning at 7:00 a.m., the Urology Society will hold a walk in the Botanical Garden to draw attention to the focus on prostate cancer.
2 years 5 months ago
Por qué algunos estados quieren garantizar Medicaid para los niños desde que nacen hasta los 6 años
Antes de que comenzara la emergencia de salud pública por covid-19 en 2020, millones de niños entraban y salían de Medicaid cada año, un indicio de que muchos perdían la cobertura por problemas administrativos, y no porque sus familias ganaran más y ya no fueran elegibles.
Ahora, varios estados del oeste del país, como California, buscan cambiar esta situación con nuevas políticas de inscripción continua para los miembros más jóvenes de Medicaid. La posibilidad de cambiar estas normas, vigentes por décadas, surge cuando los estados valoran los cambios causados por la pandemia.
Los legisladores de California han aprobado una propuesta —pendiente de la autorización federal— para que los niños que cumplan los requisitos para recibir Medicaid se inscriban al nacer y permanezcan inscritos hasta los 5 años, a partir de 2025.
Oregon ya ha conseguido la aprobación de una política similar. En 2023, cuando se espera que termine la emergencia de salud pública, Oregon se convertirá en el primer estado en permitir que los niños elegibles para recibir Medicaid se inscriban al nacer y permanezcan en el programa hasta que cumplan 6 años, independientemente de los cambios en los ingresos familiares y sin tener que volver a solicitarlo.
“Se trata de una medida obvia en términos de apoyo a los niños”, dijo Jenifer Wagley, directora ejecutiva de la organización Our Children Oregon. Según Wagley, mantener a los niños con cobertura —sobre todo temprano en su desarrollo— garantizará que no pierdan importantes chequeos y cuidados debido a las brechas en la cobertura.
En julio, el estado de Washington pidió permiso al gobierno de Biden para ofrecer cobertura continua a los niños hasta los 6 años, y se aguarda una decisión en las próximas semanas. Por su parte, Nuevo México ha solicitado comentarios públicos sobre un plan para mantener a los niños inscritos hasta los 6 años y se espera que solicite el consentimiento federal a finales de este año.
La inscripción en Medicaid ha alcanzado niveles récord después que el gobierno federal prohibiera a los estados dar de baja a sus miembros durante la emergencia de salud pública, a menos que murieran o se trasladaran fuera del estado. Esta norma ha contribuido a que la tasa de no asegurados del país alcance un mínimo histórico.
De las casi 90 millones de personas que reciben Medicaid y el Programa de Seguro de Salud Infantil (CHIP), unos 41 millones son niños. CHIP es un programa federal-estatal que cubre a los niños de hogares con ingresos superiores a los que se pueden acoger a Medicaid.
Joan Alker, directora ejecutiva del Centro para la Infancia y la Familia de la Universidad de Georgetown, calificó el hecho de que los estados pasen a tener períodos más largos de cobertura continua para los menores como “una consecuencia positiva de la pandemia”.
Señaló que desde el cuarto trimestre de 2020 hasta el primero de 2022, la proporción de niños sin seguro en Estados Unidos se redujo del 6,7% al 3,7%, en gran parte debido a la norma de emergencia que ha impedido a los estados dejar sin cobertura a los inscritos en Medicaid.
“Los estados tendrán que hacer mucha divulgación sobre esta nueva política para que todos los bebés salgan del hospital con seguro médico y los padres no tengan que preocuparse por la cobertura hasta que el niño vaya al jardín”, señaló Alker.
Si la emergencia de salud pública finaliza el año que viene, casi 5,3 millones de niños podrían perder la cobertura de Medicaid, según un análisis federal publicado en agosto. De ellos, alrededor de 1,4 millones saldrían de las listas porque ya no cumplen los requisitos, pero casi 4 millones de niños que reúnen los requisitos perderían la cobertura por motivos administrativos, como no haber presentado la documentación a tiempo.
Dado que los umbrales de ingresos familiares de Medicaid suelen ser más altos para los niños que para los adultos, es menos probable que los niños pierdan la cobertura por pequeños cambios en los ingresos. Pero pueden perder su derecho a la cobertura si los padres no la renuevan cada año, o no responden cuando el estado busca información para confirmar que los ingresos de la familia se han mantenido lo suficientemente bajos pra mantener la elegibilidad.
Por lo general, los inscritos en Medicaid deben informar de cualquier cambio en los ingresos de la familia u otros criterios que puedan afectar a su elegibilidad durante el año, y los estados deben actuar sobre estos cambios.
Esto supone un reto para los beneficiarios de Medicaid y las agencias estatales, ya que los ingresos de las personas suelen fluctuar. Como resultado, los inscritos pueden perder la cobertura, verse obligados a cambiar entre Medicaid y la cobertura subvencionada del mercado de seguros de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA), o experimentar brechas de cobertura si el papeleo resulta difícil de completar.
Para solucionar este problema, casi la mitad de los estados dan a los niños un año de elegibilidad continua de Medicaid, independientemente de los cambios en los ingresos familiares. Ese grupo incluye estados controlados tanto por republicanos como por demócratas, y estados como Alabama y Mississippi, que no han ampliado Medicaid bajo ACA.
Antes de pasar a la cobertura continua para los niños hasta los 6 años, Oregon les ofrecía 12 meses de elegibilidad continua. Sin embargo, los funcionarios estatales de Medicaid estiman que en 2019, antes del comienzo de la pandemia, más de 70,000 menores de 6 años —un tercio de los inscritos— entraron y salieron de Medicaid. Alrededor de 29,000 de esos niños tuvieron lagunas de cobertura que superaron los seis meses, según dijeron funcionarios estatales a KHN.
Los funcionarios de Oregon estiman que, tras cuatro años de aplicación, la nueva política de inscripción beneficiará a más de 51,000 niños en 2027, a un costo de $177 millones.
“La emergencia de salud pública ha demostrado claramente el valor de tener un seguro de salud continuo, particularmente para las poblaciones que experimentan disparidades de salud y han tenido barreras históricas para el acceso a la atención médica”, afirmó Elizabeth Gharst, vocera de la Autoridad de Salud de Oregon, que supervisa el programa estatal de Medicaid.
La garantía de seis años también reducirá los costos administrativos de Oregon, ya que no tendrá que tramitar algunas solicitudes cada año. Y los funcionarios esperan que reduzca los gastos médicos del programa, ya que los niños que permanezcan en Medicaid tendrán acceso a servicios de atención primaria y preventiva que pueden reducir la necesidad de tratamientos relacionados con los atrasos en la búsqueda de atención.
Oregon ofrece cobertura de Medicaid y CHIP a los niños de familias con ingresos de hasta el 300% del nivel federal de pobreza, que es de $83,250 para una familia de cuatro miembros.
Lori Coyner, asesora principal de políticas de Medicaid en Oregon, dijo que el cambio reducirá las desigualdades en materia de salud porque ayudará a los niños de color a conservar la cobertura y el acceso a la atención médica.
Además de mantener a los niños en Medicaid durante más tiempo, Oregon obtuvo la aprobación federal en octubre para convertirse en el primer estado en dar a los niños de 6 años o más y a los adultos dos años de elegibilidad continua, independientemente de los cambios en los ingresos de su hogar.
A nivel nacional, KFF estima que alrededor del 11% de los niños inscritos en Medicaid perdieron su cobertura durante al menos un día en 2019. El estado de Washington también reporta un 11%.
En California, funcionarios de Medicaid estiman que unos 64,000 —el 6%— de los inscritos menores de 5 años fueron retirados de las listas y luego volvieron a inscribirse en el mismo año.
Mike Odeh, director de salud del grupo Children Now de California, espera que el estado se sume pronto. “Preferiríamos que el estado pagara para que los niños recibieran atención en lugar de pagar por el papeleo”, señaló, y añadió que tener que volver a inscribirse cada año puede ser un obstáculo para las familias de bajos ingresos. “Queremos que estén sanos y preparados para la escuela”, afirmó Odeh.
El Departamento de Servicios de Atención Sanitaria de California, que supervisa Medi-Cal, calcula que el cambio de política costaría $39,1 millones en 2025, suponiendo que se aplique en enero, y $68 millones para el año fiscal 2025-26. El estado todavía está sopesando cuándo buscar la aprobación federal.
Los funcionarios de Medicaid en el estado de Washington aseguraron que hace tiempo que consideran la posibilidad de dar a los niños elegibilidad continua durante varios años. “Las familias de Medicaid están muy ocupadas, y lo último en lo que pueden pensar es en renovar su cobertura, por lo que esto queda relegado al final de su lista de prioridades”, explicó Amy Dobbins, directora de sección en la Oficina de Elegibilidad y Política de Medicaid.
Dobbins señaló que la emergencia de salud pública por covid, durante la cual más niños han tenido cobertura y han recibido servicios de salud, fortaleció la idea de la elegibilidad continua.
Dianne Hasselman, directora ejecutiva interina de la Asociación Nacional de Directores de Medicaid, piensa que algunos estados serían cautelosos a la hora de seguir el ejemplo de Oregon. “A los legisladores estatales también les podría preocupar el aumento de las inscripciones en el programa Medicaid, especialmente en un momento en el que las inscripciones ya han crecido significativamente”, expresó.
Además, los legisladores no verían con buenos ojos ampliar la cobertura a personas con otras opciones de seguro, como el del lugar de trabajo de los padres, agregó Hasselman.
Aunque se alegra de que algunos estados mantengan a los niños en Medicaid hasta los 6 años, Alker, de Georgetown, subrayó que la nueva política de Oregon entrará en vigor —al final de la emergencia sanitaria— justo cuando millones de niños pierdan la cobertura.
“Los estados que no presten atención a las necesidades de los niños cuando termine la emergencia de salud pública probablemente verán un aumento masivo de niños sin seguro”, señaló Alker. “Así que se avecinan situaciones muy diferentes”.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
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2 years 5 months ago
Insurance, Medicaid, Noticias En Español, States, Children's Health, Legislation, Oregon
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
No more casual wear on campus: Delhi's RML Hospital issues dress code for doctors, other staff
New Delhi: Employees, including doctors working at the government-run Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute Of Medical Science (ABVIMS) in New Delhi, would now have to face action if they are not seen wearing 'appropriate attire' within the hospital campus, as per a recent hospital order.
A circular was issued by the hospital authorities, critiquing the attire of the employees, and stating that they would take corrective action against such employees.
Also Read:RML hospital to take action against officials for sharing hospital information with media
The circular, issued by additional medical superintendent Dheeraj Bahl, read, "The ABVIMS and RML Hospital strives to maintain a workplace environment that is well functioning and maintain a high standard of conduct and decorum. As part of that effort, the department requires employees to maintain a neat, clean, and formal appearance that is appropriate for the workplace setting."
The order criticized the employees, particularly the young employees, for dressing casually to the office, saying that it is unexpected of them, as per a media report in the Indian Express.
It further stated, "All the officers, senior residents, junior residents, and staff members should be attired in appropriate, formal, clean, modest, and decent clothes. Casual and party attire should be strictly avoided during appearance in the hospital."
Staff members not wearing appropriate attire would be subjected to corrective action and might be asked to leave the premises to change their clothes, reads the circular.
Stating that employees supplied with uniform allowance are required to be on duty in their uniforms, the circular warned of disciplinary proceedings against those who fail to wear them. The circular added, "If an employee is found to be attending to duty without wearing uniform regularly, further supply of uniforms, as well as washing allowance, may be discontinued in addition to suitable disciplinary proceedings."
Also Read:Do Not Leave Station: Rajindra Hospital authorities warns Doctors
2 years 5 months ago
Volunteers needed for diabetes research
JAMAICANS are being urged to participate in diabetes research, to assist with the further developments in the treatment, care, and management of the condition, which could result in better outcomes for persons living with the metabolic disease.
Professor of epidemiology and endocrinology and director of the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) Marshall Tulloch Reid says researchers are trying to be more deliberate, in communicating to participants the purpose and practicality of gathering their data.
"...Another thing that turns them off is when they participate in research studies and they don't know what it means, it has to be a two-way street, they have to get a benefit from participating and they can help us decide what is of priority — that's important too, because sometimes we are thinking one way. The research isn't just something up in the air, it's really something that's supposed to be practical and helpful," the endocrinologist outlined, while speaking on developments in diabetes research this week at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange.
He was among a panel of guests from the Ministry of Health and the medical profession addressing the issue in observance of diabetes awareness month.
Professor Tulloch Reid advised that researchers are working on new guidelines for diabetes management, making recommendations for treatment, and that it is important to do so within the Jamaican context.
He noted that CAIHR is conducting a significant follow-up study, based on surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health: "The idea is that you can follow people over time and figure out what's driving the risk factors and understanding what happens to people with certain complications over time, and that requires people to volunteer."
Professor Tulloch Reid said the recruitment drive for volunteers has been slowed by the novel coronavirus pandemic, as persons prioritise other life issues. "It's a very tense time for a lot of patients, balancing a lot of things. We know that it is a bit of a hard sell, we know there are a lot of things competing at this time, but it's the only way we can understand what our story is for Jamaica is for people to volunteer and share with us their experiences and participate in these kinds of studies. This is one of the things that will help us to really make a difference when it comes to diabetes, that we can generate the evidence to make the right decisions, the right recommendations, and to guide in a number of ways that we sometimes don't think about at the beginning of a process."
He said the pandemic changed the way research is carried out, making information gathering more difficult, due to the absence of or limited face-to-face interaction with responds, who prefer this kind of interface.
"It meant a lot more telephone interviewing, which is more challenging both to the interviewer and the patient. It has taken a bit of a hit, there are also a lot of other things happening to people, economic issues, working less, earning less [but] I am hoping that as the pandemic has begun to wane and we begin to move back to some sort of normalcy, we might see people being more willing," he said.
At the same time, he said ongoing research has detected a number of gaps in the knowledge database, such as the speed at which diabetes is developing among the population.
"We know how many people have it but we don't know the rate at which it's increasing [and] that's important. We don't know how many of those who have diabetes have specific complications, that has a lot of implications for a number of areas, because diabetes affects almost every organ, so it's important to know how many of these people could have issues with their eyes, their kidneys, then heart, the feet, which may put them at risk for further complication," he explained.
Professor Tulloch Reid further pointed out that there are also some gaps in understanding best practices in diabetes patient care, and how to assist patients with better managing their condition. He said it is important in drawing from other models of diabetes management, to consider the local resources and determine how best to use these to effect as beneficial a change as obtains elsewhere.
Diabetes Awareness Month is observed in November, with the 14th marked as World Diabetes Day.
2 years 5 months ago
Cancer care boost
MORE than 5,000 bottles of cancer medication have been donated to the University Hospital of the West Indies pharmacy through a partnership involving the Value Added Services (VAS) Foundation, Malloy University in the United States of America and PNR Relief International.
Through that partnership, scores of Jamaicans in Kingston and St Andrew and St Ann have also received free health care.
According to Fabian Brown, chief executive officer of Value Added Services, the donation of medication and the free health care was motivated by the philosophy of giving people a hand up instead of a hand out.
The drugs, which Brown said has good shelf life, were brought into the country by Malloy University and PNR Relief International.
"We donated quite a bit of cancer drugs to support the need across the public sector. It was really a beautiful opportunity for us to be able to support the health sector. Whilst the need for the particular cancer medication was not extensive, it means that we would have been able to fulfil the need that exists through the donations.
"As it relates to these drugs, there is a comprehensive process where we have to submit expiry dates and quantities prior to them arriving in the island and the relevant personnel from the Ministry of Health met with the team at the airport so that customs could do their reference checks and due diligence to ensure there are no drugs coming in that are not approved for Jamaica and no drugs that are expired or near expired," Brown told the Jamaica Observer.
Malloy and PNR Relief International brought in other drugs as well, which they distributed to Government health facilities at recent health fairs.
"Community clinics were able to stock up with what may be considered run of the mill cough and cold medication. When the medical team comes to Jamaica, they come with approved drugs, sufficient to allow them to offer a full service," Brown said.
He noted that the medical teams have been coming to Jamaica for roughly 10 years to offer free health services.
As part of the health mission, the teams conducted screening to identify speech and hearing challenges, with a focus on children.
"We forged a partnership with the Hoolebury Primary School in Scarlet Hall in St Ann and the idea was to reach children especially, even though we catered to adults and the elderly. We sought to identify speech and hearing challenges and made the diagnosis and the necessary recommendations.
"As Jamaicans, often times speech and hearing challenges may exist at a very young age and we may reference them as just being stubborn or hard of hearing. What we are seeking to do is continue to partner with Malloy University to clinically diagnose where they are real issues and see how best we can treat with them."
Brown explained that sustainability has been at the centre of all its outreach programmes and shared that more partnerships with international organisations will be forged to continue impacting the lives of the less fortunate.
"We want to make sure that it is not just about feeling good and handing out some stuff and moving on. The relationship we've had with Malloy University and PRN Relief International was built over many years. There are partnerships with the Holy Cross Secondary School in Canada, what we call the Kingston to Kingston partnership.
"We absolutely will be continuing this partnership. We recognise that the impact we have made is significant but we also recognise that there is more work to be done. We are prepared. In March of next year, PRN and Malloy will be back in Jamaica for diagnosis, primary care and for surgical procedures. The Caribbean Footsteps partnership continues and we are also going to be expected to welcome the team from Canada again next year," added Brown.
2 years 5 months ago
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
Collaboration essential to make promise of health a reality for everyone across the Americas
Collaboration essential to make promise of health a reality for everyone across the Americas
Cristina Mitchell
9 Nov 2022
Collaboration essential to make promise of health a reality for everyone across the Americas
Cristina Mitchell
9 Nov 2022
2 years 5 months ago
Three myths diabetics (and everyone) should know | Loop Jamaica - Loop News Jamaica
- Three myths diabetics (and everyone) should know | Loop Jamaica Loop News Jamaica
- November is Diabetes Awareness Month CBS 17
- Forum: Heed health advice on diabetes, as the consequences are not worth it The Straits Times
- DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH: EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON THE EYE 09/11/22 UTV Ghana Online
- Weld County raises awareness for National Diabetes Month Greeley Tribune
- View Full Coverage on Google News
2 years 5 months ago