The international arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine has signed an agreement to help four public hospitals in Kuwait improve their standards and provide better treatment to patients.

The five-year agreement signed on Christmas Day with the Ministry of Health of Kuwait calls for Hopkins to provide the hospitals training and advice on patient safety, preventive medicine, nursing and health care policy. Focus areas will be trauma, orthopedics, rehabilitation, diabetes and obstetrics, pediatrics and telemedicine. 

The hospitals they will work with are Amiri, Farwaniya, Jahra and Adan. The hospitals account for more than 40 percent of the public-sector beds in the country.

 Kuwait officials said they hope to raise the standard of health care delivery and to increase the number and expertise of local doctors, hospital managers, administrators and nurses.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The cigar industry is preparing to fight a tobacco tax that health advocates hope to push through the General Assembly next year.

The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, which represents thousands of mostly mom-and-pop cigar stres, said it is organizing in hopes of preventing the proposed tax on cigars and others tobacco products other than cigarettes from passing.

“Maryland voters are sick of increased taxes disguised to obscure government over-spending and they are tired of being told what to do and how to behave," Bill Spann, CEO of the IPCPR said in a statement.

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative is pushing for the the new tax. They successfully pushed dime-a-drink tax on alcohol through the last General Assembly session.

The group published a recent telephone poll of more than 800 people that found that two-thirds of Maryland voters supported a cigar tax. The group said the poll by Opinion Works also found that about 72 percent of Maryland voters like the idea of taxing cigars and smokeless tobacco at the same rate as cigarettes.

The group believes increasing the tax will cut consumption and fund health care programs, especially among youth who have adopted the use of cigars, especially flavored ones.

As of 2010, 15.2 percent of adults and 14.1 percent of high school students in Maryland were smokers.

The cigar stores say the argument by health advocates is a misguided effort to prevent underage smoking. Youth can't afford cigars which cost $6 to $30 and they industry has strict policies against underage sales, Spann said.

He said a tax would hurt small businesses and kill jobs.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: General Health
        

Johns Hopkins Medicine International has signed a contract to help improve standards at seven hospitals in Peru.

The international arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine entered into the agreement with Lima, Peru-based Pacifico Salud, a subsidiary of Credicorp Ltd., the leading financial services holding company in the country. The company operates several health care facilities.

Under the terms of the agreement signed Dec. 2, Hopkins will help improve patient safety, management and the quality of health care delivery at the hospitals. Beginning in January, Johns Hopkins will assess the hospitals’ strengths and provide a gap analysis of Pacifico Salud’s health care facilities.

Pacifico Salud belongs to Pacifico Peruano Suiza, one of the largest insurance companies in Latin America and the largest health insurer in Peru, earning about 46 percent of the segment in 2010.

The company said in a statement that the memorandum of understanding is the first step for Pacifico Salud to consolidate its leadership in the Peruvian health care industry. It will allow the company to help raise the standards of care throughout the country and introduce a new vision for patient safety and quality of care in Peru, the statement said.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Welcome guest blogger Hanah Cho, a business reporter at The Sun. She attended the Gerontological Society of America conference as a 2011-2012 Metlife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, a project of GSA and New America Media.

As the country grows older, caregiving will become an even bigger issue for families. In Maryland alone, the 65-and-over population grew by more than 18 percent in the past decade, according to the U.S. Census.

While all families face difficult and a wide range of choices when it comes to caregiving options, the state’s growing immigrant and ethnic populations could encounter additional barriers in accessing available services.

To find such evidence, Banghwa Lee Casado, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, conducted a study of 146 Korean American caregivers in Maryland and northern Virginia to examine access barriers to using home- and community-based programs, such as respite care, adult day care, home health and transportation services.

Casado’s research found a good majority of her subjects had never used these services. A lack of awareness was the most cited reason for not accessing these services. For instance, more than eight out of 10 reported having no knowledge of respite care and caregiving support group.

 “We know anecdotally they have limited resources,” said Casado, who presented her findings at The Gerontological Society of America conference last month in Boston. “But without the data, we can’t show evidence there is unmeet need.”

Casado said her findings – which also could be broadly applied to other limited English populations – could help social agencies improve their education outreach and work with community groups focused on ethnic populations. In fact, Casado recently presented her findings to the Howard County Office of Aging and the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, and federal and state health officials are pushing the flu shots to keep people from getting sick.

The CDC is again recommending everyone older than 6 months get vaccinated to prevent infection. It takes two weeks for the vaccination to kick in and provide protection from the virus, so the officials say to get the shots early in the season.

“Our priority is keeping all Marylanders healthy and safe,” Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, health and mental hygiene secretary, said in a statement. “I urge all Maryland residents to get their flu vaccines before it's too late.”

The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is also recommending preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing and staying home if you’re sick. Other tips can be found at the CDC's flu page.

Flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache and muscle aches and extreme fatigue. Anti-viral medications can shorten the length of illness for some high-risk people.  But complications including death can occur, especially in seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

The CDC reports that just over 36 percent of adults and children have had vaccinations as of the first week of November, which is above the number of children and about the same number of adults who were vaccinated at the same time last year.

Among health care personnel, the number is up about 7 percent from last year to 63.4 percent.
And among pregnant women, about 43 percent were vaccinated, about the same as last year.

You have your flu shot yet?

Patuxent Publishing photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health, Swine flu/H1N1
        

Ray Lewis, the Raven’s linebacker, has already missed two games and hasn’t been coming to practice because of a hurt toe.

While it may be hard to believe a toe injury could sideline such a player, doctors say “turf toe” can end careers.

It’s called turf toe because it’s associated with American football players who get hurt on artificial turf. Often a player has his foot planted and another player lands on the back of his calf, driving the toe to hyper-extend.

Dr. Rebecca Cerrato, a surgeon in the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center, said the degree of injury matters. Turf toe is basically a sprain of the ligaments that line the bottom of the big toe joint and it’s graded like any other sprain.

Grade 1 is when the ligaments are partially stretched and it’s considered mild. Grade 2 is a partial tear but not fully ruptured. Grade 3 is usually a complete rupture and maybe some breaks in the little bones in the area.

“The grade has a lot to do with how quickly they can come back,” said Cerrato, adding the injury is typically diagnosed with an X-ray.

Players with a grade 1 sprain can often return by the end of the game if they have no pain. The vast majority with grade 2 sprains are out for weeks as the swelling and pain subside. The toes need to be without pain and have a range of motion. They are often protected with tape and shoes that don’t allow the toe to lift up, Cerrato said.

Grade 3 injuries often need surgery. They are season-ending and can affect a career, said Cerrato, who has not treated Lewis and does not know the extent of his injury. Though, she said, since he’s been out two weeks already, it’s not likely a mild injury.

“The reason it’s debilitating is because an athlete needs to accelerate and change directions quickly, which requires pushing off of the toe,” she said. “That is definitely extremely difficult and painful.”

Athletes who try and play through the pain can more severely injure themselves and develop chronic long-standing problems with the joint, she said.

Athletes that want to avoid turf toe should avoid hard, inflexible artificial turf – which isn’t always an option. Cleats with stiff soles may also help.

Baltimore Sun photo/Karl Merton Ferron

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Urgent care company Patient First is offering free X-ray imaging of Halloween candy.

Bags of candy corn and chocolate bars can be brought into any Patient first facility from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.

The company said it parents should check candy for objects like glass, metal or plastic themselves. The X-ray will just provide another layer of precaution.   

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: General Health
        

International health organization Jhpiego will lead a $24.9 million effort to develop inexpensive medical equipment and other technology it hopes will help save lives and improve health across the world.

The non-profit associated with The Johns Hopkins University says it will take these technologies from the lab to the village.

“We believe that bringing together the community of biomedical innovators to focus on global health needs and engaging with commercialization partners very early in the process has the best chance to fast-track urgently needed, low-cost solutions to save more lives,” Dr. Harshad Sanghvi, Jhpiego’s medical director and vice president for innovations, said in a statement.

The five-year project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, will involve creating, testing and bringing the technologies to market.

Jhpiego will partner with Johns Hopkins Engineering’s Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design, the Center for Global Health and Population Services International on the project.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

As people sign up for health insurance in the next few weeks during open enrollment, the state's doctor's group is offering some tips for what can seem like a complicated process.

MedChi, the state's medical society, said it is important that people are informed about their health benefits.

 “Understanding your insurance before you need it is a great way to prevent problems,” said MedChi CEO Gene Ransom.

For Medicare beneficiaries, open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. People who work for private companies should ask their human resources department about open enrollment dates.

Here are five tips from MedChi:

1. Make sure that your doctors are still covered. Check to see if your family’s current physicians and area hospitals are in the plan’s network. Using providers that are in-network will save money. Mistakenly seeing an out-of-network provider can leave you stuck paying medical bills out of pocket.

2. Check that your medications are covered. If you take prescription medications, check them against the list of approved drugs in each plan booklet.

3. Watch out for medication management policies like prior authorization and step therapy. Prior authorization policies require that doctors get insurer approval before the carrier will agree to cover certain medications or treatment, while step therapy policies require that cheaper options fail before the insurer will cover the preferred treatment.

4. Check your co-pyments and deductibles. In order to estimate the full cost of each plan, determine what co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses you will be responsible for paying.

5. Read the fine print. Make sure to read all of the plan materials thoroughly. Doing so will tell you what your rights and responsibilities are under each plan, and can prevent you from incurring unexpected medical costs later on. If any part of a plan is unclear to you, ask for help from your human resources department or the insurance carrier.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Join us Wednesday for another live health chat with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins.

We've tackled many pain topics on our live chats since December. Some have resonated more than others, so we decided to have an open forum on Oct. 19 at noon. Ask Christo about any pain condition, including back pain, neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy and more.

Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Send questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and return here to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Readers seem to be interested in the stories about the Legionnaire’s outbreak at an Ocean City hotel, see stories here and here. But state health officials say there’s no need to panic – cases are about average for the year and far below many other diseases.

There have been 93 confirmed cases of the disease, a form of pneumonia, in Maryland. About 100-130 is typical.

But Dr. David Blythe, an epidemiologist at the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said most cases are not investigated because they involve only one person and it’s difficult to determine where the individual came in contact with the Legionella bacteria.

The bacteria is found naturally in many water systems and affects only those with weakened immune systems, smokers and seniors. Investigators would need cultures from every water system the person came in contact with, as well as a culture from the diseased person, which are not generally produced. (It’s diagnosed through a urine test.)

Only when there is an outbreak, do officials step in. They try and notify others who might have been exposed because if the disease is caught early, antibiotics can be used for treatment. (If you have flu-like symptoms, fall in a high-risk group and believe you may have been exposed to the bacteria, call your doctor.)

A look at the state database shows that incidence of the disease is quite low when compared to other maladies related to pets, dinner and other extracurricular activities:

For example, Marylanders are much more likely to be bitten by an animal (9,733 cases in 2010) or come down with chlamydia (26,192 cases) gonorrhea (7,413 cases) Lyme disease (1,617 cases) or meningitis (650 cases), or get salmonella from their food (1,086 cases).

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Patient First will open an urgent and primary care facility in Catonsville next week.

The center, to open Oct. 19, will the be the 13th for the company in Maryland.

 Patient First physicians and other staff offer urgent care; work, school, camp, sports and travel physicals; occupational health; and primary care for patients who do not have a primary care physician.

 Patient First will also transmit a copy of the visit record to the patient’s primary care physician.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Your zip code might be making you sick.

A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that where people live plays more of a role in health disparities than was known before.

Researchers studied a racially mixed neighborhood in Baltimore and found that disparities commonly found among the races were less prevalant or didn't exist at all. Disparities in hypertension, diabetes, obesity among women and use of health services were less common.

The results of the study are published in this month's issue of Health Affairs.

“Most of the current health disparities literature fails to account for the fact that the nation is largely segregated, leaving racial groups exposed to different health risks and with variable access to health services based on where they live,” Thomas LaVeist, lead author of the study and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, said in a statement. “By comparing black and white Americans who are exposed to the same set of socioeconomic, social and environmental conditions we were better equipped to discern the impact of race on health-related outcomes and have concluded social factors are essentially equalized when racial disparities are minimized.”

LaVeist and colleagues identified communities in the U.S. containing a population of at least 35 percent African American and 35 percent white residents, and where the African Americans and white residents have similar income and education.

Two communities in Baltimore were selected as study sites and in-person interviews were conducted with adult residents. Blood pressure was also measured among a number of study participants.

The researchers used various national health databases for comparison.

They found that racial differences in social environments explained a significant portion of disparities typically found in national data.

“When whites are exposed to the health risks of an urban environment their health status is compromised similarly to that of blacks, who more commonly live in such communities,” said Darrell Gaskin, co-author of the study and deputy director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Department of Health Policy and Management."

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Hospital and medical providers who use electronic medical records could be eligible for federal money to help with implementation.

Providers who are eligible will receive $21,250 the first year to implement or upgrade medical record technology. An additional $8,500 is available each year after for those who meet certain "meaningful use" requirements.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced the incentive program Monday.

The money is being made available through the federal Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program. The program runs through 2021 and providers can participate for up to six years.

Physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, or physician assistants who participate in Medicaid and meet specified Medicaid patient volume thresholds are eligible for the program. Hospitals that are acute-care facilities with at least 10 percent Medicaid patient volume, as well as children’s hospitals, are also eligible to receive funds under the program.

Eligible hospitals would receive a $2 million base incentive, plus additional money reflecting Medicaid inpatient bed-days and other factors.

For more information, visit http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/ehr/index.html.

For questions, email MarylandEHR@dhmh.state.md.us.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

At the 2011 Natural Products Expo in Baltimore this week, a large trade show for store and food service buyers and distributors, there were many pitches being made about what foods contained, or didn't contain.

Coconut, yogurts from Australia and Greece and all forms of grains. There were also gluten free, sugar free and non-genetically modified foods.

But around the room, one theme seemed to be honey -- in chocolate, shampoo, cough drops and jars. It came raw, flavored, and of course, organic.

Mom always pitched honey in tea as soothing for sore throats. But it may have other health benefits. There's not a lot of scientific papers, but a few do note the antibacterial benefits,  potential for wound and scar care, and therapy for coughing children.

Anyone have unique uses for honey?

(For more about the expo and Maryland companies offering their wares, click here.)

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Free yoga, health screenings and a block party will be available to city residents later this month as Baltimore health officials promote healthy lifestyles.

The events are part of the second annual Healthy City Days - a week of free events designed to get Baltimore residents to exercise more, eat better and take control of their health.

Health officials announced the weeklong event, that runs Sept. 30 to October 7, at a press conference today with Ravens fullback Vonta Leach.

Officials acknowledge that the events won't solve all the health problems in a city with high rates of heart disease, infant mortality and colon cancer - just to name a few. But they hope to give residents the tools to begin living healthier lives.

Check here for the list of events.

 Ravens' fullback Vonta Leach and Molly Shattuck at Tuesday's kick-off event. Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

The Baltimore City Health Department is getting a $1.75 million federal grant to help prevent teen dating violence.

The grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be used to develop a program to stop teen dating violence before it happens.

It is part of CDC initiative called Dating Matters: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships. Three other cities will also participate in the five-year initiative.

The CDC will use the results from the cities to look at the cost, feasibility, sustainability, and effectiveness of a comprehensive approach to teen dating violence.

The federal agency wants the health department to become the primary agent for dating violence prevention programming in Baltimore.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The cost of a hospital stay in Maryland is on the rise, but not as much as that nationally, according to a report released today by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.

The average cost to stay in a Maryland hospital was $10,983 in fiscal year 2010, compared to $10,767 the previous year, according to the report. The 2 percent increase was lower than that nationally where the cost of a hospital stay increased 3 percent.

The markup - or difference between hospital costs and what hospitals ultimately charge patients - is also the lowest in the nation, the report found. The average markup was 24.5 percent for Maryland hospitals compared to 198 percent nationwide, according to the state report.

Maryland's rate setting system is different from the rest of the nation in that the commission sets the same rates for everybody. It allows for everyone to share in the cost of uncompensated care and makes it harder for hospitals to shift costs to the employers that pay insurance premiums.

The report released today also found that the state's uncompensated care dropped to $926 million in fiscal 2010 to $999 million the previous year.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Insomnia is costing the country 252.7 days of work, or 11.3 days per worker, according to a new study in the September issue of the journal Sleep.

The cost is $63.2 billion in lost productivity, or $2,280 per worker.

The results, funded by pharmaceutical companies, come from a national sampling of 7,428 employees and provide a clearer picture that existing estimates, which were derived from smaller samples or estimates based on those being treated for insomnia.

“We were shocked by the enormous impact insomnia has on the average person's life,” said lead author Ronald C. Kessler, a psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School’s department of health care policy, in a statement. “It's an underappreciated problem. Americans are not missing work because of insomnia. They are still going to their jobs but accomplishing less because they're tired. In an information-based economy, it's difficult to find a condition that has a greater effect on productivity.”

The costs, he said, may justify screening and treatment programs for workers. Now, employers mostly ignore insomnia because it’s not considered an illness.

Study authors said average cost of treating the condition ranges from $200 annually for a generic sleeping pill to $1,200 for behavior therapy.

They estimated just over 23 percent of workers have insomnia, and prevalence was lower among older workers and higher among women than men.

For more information, go to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine website’s sleep blog or the Associated Professional Sleep Society website.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Doctors in America make more money than those in other countries, which raises the questions about whether it is driving up healthcare costs.

Doctors in the United States charge sometimes twice as much for procedures than their counterparts overseas, according to a study by scientists at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia.

The pay gap is biggest for speciality procedures, such as hip replacements.

The study compared the cost of care in the United States to that in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The findings were published in the September issue of Health Affairs.

The higher fees in turn lead to higher incomes for US doctors and are the main driver of higher overall spending in the United States on physicians’ services, the researchers found.

The largest difference in fees paid to doctors was for hip replacements. U.S. physicians were paid 70 percent more for these procedures by public insurance such as Medicaid, and 120 percent more by private insurers, than the average fees paid to physicians in the other countries.

“For decades, policy makers and medical leaders in this country have debated financial incentives to spur more doctors to become primary care physicians," said lead author Miriam Laugesen. "Our work shows that continuing attention needs to be paid to the difference in payments across specialties, and how we can get better value for those expenditures.”

The study also further proved that the biggest disparities in U.S. pay to physicians are on the private side. Fees paid by large private national insurers in six markets in the United States were on average about one-third higher than Medicare rates for primary care and 50 percent higher than Medicare for hip replacements. Private insurers have been less successful in negotiating fees with orthopedic surgeons than with generalist physicians, the authors said.

Physicians in the United States also reported higher salaries in comparison to the other countries, despite the fact that there was little difference in the amount of services performed. The authors suggest that the differences may reflect the fact that US physicians are being paid more for their skill and time than are physicians in other countries.

The study did not look into whether the higher salaries were warranted.

US primary care physicians earned the highest average annual incomes at $186,582, while the French at $95,585 and Australian at $92,844 earned the lowest. US orthopedic surgeons earned the highest average annual incomes at $442,450, followed by $324,138 for orthopedic surgeons in the United Kingdom.

The finding that US health care fees and spending are higher than in other countries is nothing new. However, the study finds that the higher fees paid to physicians—rather than factors such as higher practice costs, volume of services, or medical school tuition expenses—are the main drivers of higher US spending on physicians, particularly in orthopedics.

The authors of the study said that as policy makers look for ways to restrain health care spending, findings from the new study could provide a reason to look at physician fees for savings.

So what do readers out there think. Are doctors paid too much in the United States?

Doctors, are you being paid your worth?

Chime in and let us know.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: General Health
        

Venus Williams has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because she’s has Sjogren’s syndrome, a hard-to-diagnose autoimmune disorder that can cause dry eyes and mouth and painful joints.

It’s not exactly clear what causes the disorder, but it probably has a genetic link – though that doesn’t mean Williams’ sister Serena has a greater risk, said Dr. Julius Birnbaum, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Jerome L. Greene Sjögren's Syndrome Center.

He said viral infections and other factors could play a role.

“Sjogren’s syndrome is emerging as among the most common autoimmune diseases affecting adults,” said Birnbaum. “Two to four million adults may be affected.

He said the body’s strategy for combating infections and tumors “essentially turns into a traitor and starts targeting different organs.” It targets the glands that produce tears in people’s eyes and saliva in their mouths. It also can affect a host of different organs.

It’s hard to diagnose because the dryness isn’t always considered a factor by doctors who are looking for causes of fatigue and joint pain.

Birnbaum said the disease is chronic, but that it’s treatable. The first line of defense is a drug called Plaquenil, which originally was developed as an anti-malarial drug but is now used for Sjogren’s and Lupus. If that is ineffective, there are other drugs that can suppress the immune system.

Doctors will also have to look for hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency and other causes of fatigue that often surface in Sjogren’s patients.

“In the absence of other organ complications, Venus can hopefully return to tennis,” Birnbaum said, though he’s not treated the tennis star and is not familiar with the specifics of her case. “There will need to be a lifelong commitment to treatment.”

To read more, go to the Hopkins Sjogren's Syndrome Center website or this Los Angeles Times story.

AFP/Getty photo of Venus Williams

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, or COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to government data. It’s caused by smoking, secondhand smoke, chemicals and air pollutants. But many people don’t know they have it, according to Danica Patrick, the race car driver who has become a spokeswoman for DRIVE4COPD, a campaign aiming to raise awareness of the diseases. Ahead of her trip to Baltimore for the IndyCar Grand Prix races this weekend, she talked about her public health work.

Question: Why did you get involved with DRIVE4COPD?

Answer: My grandma had emphysema and she really suffered and died far too young at 61 years old. When the awareness campaign came along, it was a chance to turn a negative into a positive.

Q: Can you talk about COPD, how widespread it is and what people need to know?

A: Awareness is the goal. COPD kills more people than breast cancer and diabetes combined. Twenty four million people have it and only half know. There’s a definite need for awareness of the diseases and symptoms. At the DRIVE4COPD website, DRIVE4COPD.com, they make it pretty easy with five questions that give you an idea if you’re at risk.

Q: Air quality is important for people with these breathing problems, do you think about what we can do as a society to improve the situation?

A: Coming from a race car driver that’s tough. There are simple things, like not exercising or going out on busy streets, staying inside when there is smog. But many people don’t have this luxury. They can’t avoid going outside or moving from cities to less polluted areas.

Q: IndyCar has switched to 100 ethanol in its cars and taken other steps to be more green, right?

A: It’s what the world is doing — going green. We’re not only becoming more aware of our health, but we’re taking care of the world, trying to make it a little bit better too. Putting ethanol in the cars is one step.

Q: You’re switching from IndyCar to NASCAR. What’s NASCAR doing?

A: They’re taking steps too. They run on 85 percent ethanol now.

Q: What do we in Baltimore have to look forward to with the Grand Prix and urban car racing?

A: It’s something I’m very used to. We race on a lot of streets of a lot of cities. You don’t have to travel, you’re right there. It’s a great atmosphere. There’s a lot of energy. Any time IndyCar goes into a new venue, there tends to be a great turnout. There’s lots of entertainment. We do apologize for the road closings.

Continue reading "Danica Patrick raises awareness of COPD ahead of Baltimore Grand Prix race" »

Posted by Kim Walker at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Health officials say they are seeing an uptick in people being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after Hurricane Irene.

Massive power outages have caused people to use generators to provide electricity to their homes. But these generators aren't alway being used properly.

There were 13 reported cases of possible carbon monoxide poisoning from August 28 through 30, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. An Ellicott City man died this week from carbon monoxide poisoning after the use of a generator.

Health officials are reminding people to place generators outside and away from open windows, carports, garages, and other enclosed spaces. It is also important to have a working carbon monoxide detector.

Carbon monoxide gas is made when fuels burn improperly or the exhaust is not vented outdoors, according to state health officials.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu and include:

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

• Dizziness

Here are tips for using a generator:

• Never use a generator in garages, basements, crawl spaces and other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your generator.

• Install battery-operated or plug-in CO alarms with battery backup in your home.

• For maximum effectiveness during sleeping hours, CO alarms should be placed close to sleeping areas. Additional alarms on every level and in every bedroom of a home can provide extra protection.

• If your CO alarm goes off or you begin to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator immediately get outside and call 911.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Looks like marriage may be good for your lifespan.

Single people die a decade earlier than their married friends, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Yet another reason for singles to feel the pressure to tie the knot. Check out this story about the issue on MSNBC.com.

Here are excerpts from the article:

The researchers found the risk of death was 32 percent higher across a lifetime for single men compared to married men. Single women face a 23 percent higher mortality risk, compared to married women.

In real numbers, “under the worse-case scenario,” single men could die about eight to 17 years earlier than their married male friends, said the study's lead researcher David Roelfs, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Louisville, Ky., citing that nearly all of the data was gleaned from studies conducted in the last 60 years.

Women don't fare much better. They could die seven to 15 years earlier than their married female counterparts. The researchers speculate their longevity findings could be tied to poorer health benefits, meager public assistance and less income for singles. And some singles may not have the same social support that married couples have “by default,” Roelfs said.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: General Health
        

State health officials said Thursday they have identified the first case of West Nile virus this year.

It was contracted by an adult in the Baltimore metropolitan area, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Most people who come in contact with the disease show no symptoms, but in rare instances it can cause death.

The number of humans with the disease in Maryland has varied widely over the past several years. Seventy-three human cases were reported in the peak year of 2003. Only one confirmed case was identified in 2009 and last year 23 people contracted the disease.

The disease has also recently been detected in mosquitoes and birds in Maryland. Three pools of mosquitoes collected in Montgomery County by the U.S. Department of Defense tested positive for West Nile. A mosquito pool is a group of mosquitoes collected at sites across the state.

Three sick birds from a Montgomery County wildlife center also recently tested positive for the disease.

Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Symptoms generally appear three to 15 days after a mosquito bite.

Less than one percent of persons exposed to the virus will develop more severe infections with symptoms such as headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

People over age 50 and those who are immunocompromised have the highest risk of developing more severe disease.

State officials said people can take precautions to prevent the disease including, avoiding areas of high mosquito infestation and limiting outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Also, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats when concerned about mosquito exposure and use mosquito repellants according to directions.

Residents should also monitor their own yards and gardens for standing water that can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. As little as one-half inch of water in a discarded can or container will support dozens of mosquitoes.

Sick or injured birds can be reported to local wildlife rehabilitators.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Today is the first official World Health Organization World Hepatitis Day.

It was created to increase awareness about the viral infections and the diseases they cause – and call for more prevention, screening and control, according to WHO.

The viruses – A, B, C, D and E – cause inflammation of the liver, and in some cases can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hundreds of millions of people are living with the viral infections around the world and about a million people a year die from them, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The A and E viruses are spread by water and food contaminated with feces, while B, D and C are spread by blood and body fluids, through childbirth, injecting drugs or transfusions.

The federal and international agencies say there have been successes in treating hepatitis – notably a vaccine for hepatitis B offered to children in 178 countries. The vaccine is estimated to prevents 700,000 deaths a generation. The vaccine also eliminates the risk of contracting hepatitis D. And there’s a newer vaccine for hepatitis A and one is in development for E.

Tests for the viruses also make the blood supply safer. And access to screening and treatment is better for those who are infected, the groups say.

Now efforts are being made to make people aware that they may have hepatitis so they can be screened and treated. And in poorer countries, the focus in on getting people clean water and safe food. Perhaps by next World Hepatitis Day there will be some more progress.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Join us noon July 27 at baltimoresun.com/healthchat for a live chat on non-surgical treatments for sciatica with Dr. Steven Cohen of Johns Hopkins. Injury to the sciatic nerve will cause leg pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Treatments vary, depending on the underlying cause, but can include over-the-counter pain killers and physical therapy.

Cohen is an associate professor and researcher with Hopkins School of Medicine and professor of anesthesiology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and director of Pain Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Can't make the chat? Come back later to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Jennifer Aniston told Jon Stewart last night that her dentist plays the guitar for her while she gets treatment. While I suspect it's probably because she's a major movie star (plus "That's Hollywood" as Aniston put it), I wonder if there are local doctors or dentists who have special -- even quirky -- methods to either put a patient at ease or just make a routine visit stand out. Some gynecologists have funny posters on their ceilings. And I'm sure pediatricians have many tricks up their sleeves.

Have an interesting story about your doctor? Share it in the comments.

Getty Images photo of Jennifer Aniston

Posted by Kim Walker at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: General Health
        

The management of postoperative pain has been in the news recently. A study authored by Hopkins Drs. Christopher Wu and Srinivasa Raja found that pain management for patients after surgery remains inadequate. (Read more from ABC News.)

If you have a question about dealing with pain after surgery, join our live chat on Wednesday with Hopkins pain specialist Dr. Paul Christo.

Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Email questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com, and come back here to read the transcript.

Comments are for informational purposes only and do not represent or substitute as medical advice. Patients are advised to consult their own physician or pharmacist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

(Getty Images file photo)

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced today a state group to look at curbing racial health disparities.

It is no secret that disparities exist. Minorities suffer from more chronic diseases then whites. Brown said the group wasn't there to rehash statistics we all already know.

Instead, they hope to come up with subanstive policy changes that will address the problem. Financial incentives to hospitals, doctors and others in the industry is one thing the group will look at.

E. Albert Reece, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will head the group.

Read more here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Do you subscribe to our weekly health newsletter? This week, we launched our new version, which has a new look and comes out on Mondays instead of Thursdays. Check it out here.

If you don't subscribe yet, our newsletter offers the top local and national health news and trends every Monday. In addition you'll find links to upcoming web chats, local events and our health blogs. To subscribe, click here.

Posted by Kim Walker at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The steamy temperatures can be dangerous for everyone, but even more so for the elderly.

Exposure to extreme heat results in hundreds of deaths each year and those older than age 65 are most vulnerable. Six seniors died heat-related deaths in Maryland last year.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins say there are precautions seniors should take when it's extremely hot outside.

“The elderly can’t feel the heat or cool down as easily and they are less likely to feel thirsty even when they are almost dehydrated,” Alicia I. Arbaje, assistant professor and associate director of transitional care research in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a statement. “The chronic medical problems that most seniors face, in addition to the medicines used to treat them, can make it more difficult to be in the heat.” Arbaje’s advises the following safety tips for seniors:

• “Staying hydrated is key,” she explains, but “water is not enough when you are sweating. Replenish your body with sports drinks, because they contain the salt that your body is losing in sweat.”

• Avoid demanding or exhausting activities in the heat. But, if you must be outside, dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing.

• Dizziness, confusion, weakness, headache, muscle cramps, nausea/vomiting, a fast pulse, sweating, or passing out are warning signs that could signal dehydration or heat stroke.

• “Anyone who is taking medications should speak to their doctor if they are spending a great deal of time in the heat. The doctor may suggest lowering the dose or even advise you to stop taking the medicine until you can get out of the heat,” Arbaje says.

Along with these tips, the CDC suggests that “air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.” If an individual does not have access to air conditioning, they should spend their time at public facilities, such as the library, mall, or senior center that is air-conditioned.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

More than 1,000 Maryland doctors have signed up to adopt electronic medical records, state officials said today.

The primary care physicians are using records through a state network called the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP). They will receive state and federal incentives for using the computerized records.

Hundreds of other doctors are also using electronic records but may not have signed onto the state exchange.

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown made the announcement during a visit to the Charlestown Retirement Community in Cantonsville.

 Governor Martin O’Malley and Brown have a goal to create a a health information exchange by the end of 2012 and encourage widespread use of electronic medical records. The records are also being pushed under federal healthcare reform.

Maryland has received nearly $27 million in federal funds to assist in the expansion of electronic records.

Advocates of the records say that patients will get better care because phyisicans have better access to the drug and medical history of the patients. They also say it will cut down costs. There are some concerns over privcay in using the digitized systems.

 CRISP was formed as a not-for-profit collaborative in 2009 by Erickson Living, Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Health, and the University of Maryland. CRISP received a federal grant of $6.4 million in 2010 to help electronically connect at least 1,000 healthcare providers.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Wonder what geniuses think about?

Johns Hopkins is launching a free speaker series today with seven recipients of MacArthur “genius” fellowships from Maryland, Virginia and Washington.

The first annual event, open to the public, will center on communication, specifically how the geniuses get peers, policymakers and the public to pay attention to their work and ideas. Organizers at Hopkins say they aim to inspire lively exchange and creative collaboration.

No reservations or tickets are required for the panel discussion, question-and-answer session and reception this evening from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Anne and Mike Armstrong Medical Education Building of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1600 McElderry St. in Baltimore. Parking is available in the McElderry Street Garage. See a map.

On the panel, chaired by Atul Nakhasi, a first-year Johns Hopkins medical student, and moderated by Joann Rodgers, veteran science journalist and senior communications advisor at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics:

+Marin Alsop, conductor, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (MacArthur Fellow ’05)
+Dr. Lisa Cooper, internist and epidemiologist, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’07)
+Ruth DeFries, environmental geographer, University of Maryland (MacArthur Fellow ‘07)
+Janine Jagger, epidemiologist, University of Virginia (MacArthur Fellow ’02)
+Liz Lerman, choreographer and founder, Dance Exchange (MacArthur Fellow ’02)
+Dr. Peter Pronovost, patient safety expert, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’08)
+Adam Reiss, astrophysicist, the Johns Hopkins University (MacArthur Fellow ’08)

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health, Health care professionals
        

Join us June 1 at noon EST at baltimoresun.com/healthchat for a live chat on hand pain issues with Dr. Paul Christo a pain specialist at Johns Hopkins. Many people suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis of the wrist, ganglion cysts and other conditions. Recently, research out of The University College London said crossing your arms will confuse the brain and relieve pain. If you have questions on these or other topics, then mark your calendar.

Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Email questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Saint Agnes Hospital today celebrated the grand opening of its new patient tower.

The 200,000-square-foot "South Tower' building is part of a $200 million renovation at the West Baltimore hospital.

Other improvements include new main entrance with a custom Mary Ann Mears sculpture in the rotunda, five new state-of-the-art operating rooms and 120 private rooms.

The new tower will be open to patients May 22.

Key features of the new tower are:

• Private rooms designed by physicians and nurses to improve patient safety, privacy and staff efficiency

• An expansive new main lobby with floor to ceiling glass windows and a circular drive with a porte-cochere

• Five additional operating rooms

• A seven-story lighted cross, the largest of its kind in Maryland

• Three family waiting areas per floor

• Decentralized nurses stations, increasing efficiency and access

Saint Agnes also has plans for a new 60,000-square-foot medical office building and expanded Cancer Institute, a new parking garage and completion of the Hackerman-Patz House, which broke ground in March and is expected to be completed next spring.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Join us here May 18 at noon for a live chat on thoracic outlet syndrome with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins. The condition, which affects approximately 8 percent of the population, involves compression of nerves between the base of the neck and armpit, causing neck pain, headache, numbness and weakness down the arm. Meredith Cohn did an article last year about using botox to treat the condition. Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Send a question in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to read the transcript. We have an archive of all of our pain live chats at baltimoresun.com/healthchat.

Baltimore Sun file photo

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland Medical Center unveiled a new logo today that they hope shows a more visually unified front.

The two institutions have always been intertwined - sharing faculty and staff - but officials said there was a perception in the public that they weren't related. The new logo is part of an effort to rebrand the relationship between the two.

The logo is a modernized version of Davidge Hall, the historic building at Lombard and Greene Streets that was the institution's founding medical school building. It is also the oldest medical facility in the country continuously used for medical education.

Banners featuring the new logo were rolled down the front of Davidge Hall today for display. The new logo was a year in the making and replaces dozens of logos used by the individual schools within the university as well as by the medical system.

The medical system is a tax-exempt entity that is legally separate from the university. But the two share in many other ways.

UMB students and faculty conduct research and provide clinical care at UMMC facilities. UMMC doctors teach at the university. The two campuses are also physically connected through various buildings.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Calls to 911 can drive up medical costs, but a pilot program in Baltimore that targets the people who call the most seems to help save some money.

The program, Operation Care, assigned a case worker to the people who called 911 most often.

These callers often didn't have medical insurance and access to care or weren't able to navigate the complicated medical system. They often had chronic conditions or mental and substance abuse issues.

Caseworkers assigned to 10 callers under the pilot, created by non-profit Baltimore Healthcare Acess, put them in touch with primary care physicians and support programs and taught them only to dial 911 in case of a true emergency.They were referred to programs such as Meals on Wheels and support groups for alcoholism.

After the counseling, calls by these individuals were cut by nearly half. In the three months the program was implemented, it saved $14,300, with more than $6,300 in savings at the fire department.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

If you have an elderly or disabled person that needs long term care, you might not be happy about the results of a new survey.

The cost of assisted living facilities in the state is higher than the natural average and has risen in cost in recent years, according to a survey done by Genworth.

The median annual cost of a long term care assisted living facility was $39,135 nationally, an increase of 6 percent over the past six years. The cost is $39,600 in Maryland, an increase of 6.2 percent.

The median hourly rate for care at home was $20 an hour in Maryland, a 3.5 percent increase over the past six years. Nationally, it cost $19 an hour, a 1.4 percent increase.

The median cost of a private nursing home room in Maryland has risen 4.1 percent annually in the past six years to $89,972 per year. The national rate is $77,745, an increase of 4.4 percent.

Genworth offers these tips to help contain costs:

Fee waiver - Assisted living facilities may charge a one-time fee prior to move-in. They may waiver fees or offer other financial incentives such as free rent if there are many vacant units in the market. Don't be afraid to ask for a deal.

Room upgrade - Try for a more expensive room at a lower price if vacancies are high.

Special rates- See if there are discount rates for moving in at a certain time of the month.

Shop Around - Agencies may lower their rate if they know you are looking elsewhere.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Many patients experiencing chronic pain are concerned about the addictive nature of their medications. If you have questions or concerns, join us at noon ET for a live chat on the subject with Johns Hopkins pain specialist Dr. Paul Christo.

Can’t make the chat? Send questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to baltimoresun.com/healthchat to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

State health officials are planning on collecting some core health information to assess the state of the state and what can be done to improve it.

The officials collect all kind of health statistics now, but much of it gets lost “amid the sea of data,” said Dr. Josh Sharfstein, secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

He wanted to pick the most important measures and then work with the city and counties to come up with plans on how to improve public health. Many of the localities produce their own reports and plans, but Sharfstein said a statewide report can give them some context.

Before the state moves ahead with a final plan, it is seeking public input to make sure officials are looking at the right information.

Categories include reproductive health and birth outcomes, infectious disease control, safe indoor and community environments, chronic disease control and health care access.

No new resources or collections will need to be made – the state and federal government already collect all the data that the state is looking for.

Sharfstein said the reports are encouraged in the federal health care reform law and Maryland will collect new data and produce a report every three years or so. He doesn’t remember another such report in recent years.

To review the draft report or comment through May 12 on this Maryland State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2011-2014, go to http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ship/. A final report including strategies is expected in July. Local implementation plans are expected by December.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Donate Life Maryland is using the month of April to try and encourage more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

They are reminding people that they can sign up at Motor Vehicle Assocation offices. A heart will be placed on their license showing they are a donor.

People can also sign up online through the organization and get a registration card.

Organs that can be donated include: heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and small intestine.

Tissue that can be donated include: corneas, eyes, skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, vessels and heart valves.

More than two million Maryland residents are registered as donors, or 48 percent of those eligible.

About 4,000 people are waiting for donated organs in the Maryland/Washington area.

To read a story about efforts to overtun a ban transplanting HIV-infected organs into others who are already infected, click here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Don't judge a person by his or her appearance.

Especially, if you're intimate with them.

A new study on herpes found that your sexual partner may be free of symptoms such as genital lesions, but that doesn't mean he or she is not carrying the sexually transmitted disease.

And yes, they can pass it on to you even if it doesn't "look" like they have it, according to the study to be published in tomorrow's Journal of the American Medical Association. About 16 percent of adults in the United States have the herpes simplex type 2 virus, but only 10 to 25 percent with herpes show symptoms, the study said.

Scientists found that viral shedding on the genital skin that can't necessarily be seen could cause the disease to be passed on.

Many people are engaging in sexual activity not knowing they are  at risk of passing the virus on to their partners.

Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world with an estimated 536 million people infected with it.

The researchers said condom use, drug therapy and disclosure of the disease to partners can help curb the spread of herpes.

But these methods have had limited impact because so many people don't know they have herpes.

So get tested and make sure your partner does too.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The warmer weather can be difficult for knee pain sufferers who want to go outside and get active. If you are experiencing knee pain and have questions about treatment, check out our live chat today at noon with a pain specialist from Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Paul Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will be taking reader questions from noon-1 p.m. (ET) Not sure if you can make the chat? Send questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to the chat to read the transcript.

Learn about other pain topics in Pain: Time to Take Charge.

Posted by Kim Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Johns Hopkins Health System announced this morning it has completed its merger with All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg Fla.

It is the first time Hopkins has joined with a hospital outside of the Washington Baltimore area.

Industry experts have said the non-cash transaction would bolster the prestigious Baltimore health system's visibility in the highly specialized pediatric field.

It could also give Hopkins a new revenue source as it and other healthcare providers try to contain rising health costs. Hospital officials have said they would combine resources to apply for medical research funding and build on each institution's strengths.

Hopkins already operates a children's division, but the merger is expected to further enhance a well-established pediatric branch.

Plans for the merger were first announced in July.

All Children's Hospital retains its name under the deal. Donations made to the hospital's foundation remain for the benefit of All Children's and leadership and the day-to-day operations of the 259-bed freestanding pediatric hospital and outreach facilities in eight west Florida counties are not expected to change.

All Children's will also maintain its voluntary medical staff and physician organizations, including the University of South Florida physicians who are practicing at the hospital. The university and All Children's plan to continue the residency program with the university through 2014. They are discussing whether to extend the program beyond that.

Local community leaders will continue to have majority voting rights on the board of All Children's. The chairman of the board of All Children's Hospital will become a member of the board of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Board members at All Children's Hospital will also have the opportunities to serve on various Hopkins boards.

All Children's will operate under the direction of the Hopkins health system governance structure much like its other hospitals, including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Howard County General Hospital, Suburban Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Our next live chat will be today at noon about nerve pain. Dr. Steven Cohen of Johns Hopkins will be taking question about nerve pain, including neuralgia, nerve damage, sciatica, diabetic neuropathy and other neuropathic pain.

Cohen is an associate professor and researcher with Hopkins School of Medicine and professor of anesthesiology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and director of Pain Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Ask question about treatments and managing nerve pain.

Click here for the chat. If you can't make the chat, send questions to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and read the transcript later.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Baltimore trial lawyer Francis B. Burch Jr. has been elected chairman of the board of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Burch, who holds several executive roles at DLA Piper law firm in Baltimore, will take on his new position July 1.

Burch will  succeed C. Michael Armstrong at Hopkins, who has been chairman since 2005.

Burch has a long relationship with Hopkins Medicine, having served as a member of its board of trustees since its inception in 1996. He also has ties to The Johns Hopkins University, where he was a trustee and also served on the board of overseers of its Carey Business School. He recently served on the search committee that selected the current university president, Ronald J. Daniels.

At Piper, Burch has helped expand the company from a regional law firm with 250 employees to one with more than 3,500 lawyesr working in 71 offices in 29 countries. He is chairman of Piper's global board and co-chairman of its U.S. board.

“We are extremely honored during these times of tremendous growth and change in our health care system, both locally and abroad, to have the wisdom and guidance of such an experienced global leader,” Edward D. Miller, dean of the medical faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, said in a statement.

Miller said Burch "highly respects and understands our commitment to patient care, education and research, and holds a deep understanding of our history in Baltimore and the United States."

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

"American Idol" contestant Casey Abrams missed the show last night because he was in the hospital. Several media outlets are reporting he is suffering from ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

Last September, we did an article on how the disease is striking more children. Read about it here.

The story said "the number of children afflicted by colitis and another inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, has increased 50 percent in the past decade, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. About 1.5 million Americans suffer from colitis and Crohn's, about 10 percent of them under the age of 18."

Abrams, age 20, is by no means a child, but if you're curious about what people go through with the disease, the article will give you a good idea.

(Photo by Reuters)

Posted by Kim Walker at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Our next live chat on pain issues will be at noon EST today on the common pains that senior citizens experience, including (but not limited to) arthritis, spinal fractures, low back pain and pain after surgery. Dr. Paul Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, returns to answer reader questions on problems and treatments. The link for the chat is here.

Can't make the live chat? Send a question in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to this page later to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

At noon Feb. 23  Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins will participate in a live chat on fibromyalgia here. The disorder, which causes muscle pain throughout the body and fatigue, affects 5 million Americans 18 or older, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. We'll talk about the latest and common treatments such as medications and lifestyle changes.

Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will take reader questions on the nature of the disease and the latest treatments. Can't make the chat? Send us questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to baltimoresun.com/healthchat at a later time to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

About one in four Americans don't spend any of their free time being active, and people who live in Appalachia and the South are least likely to get out and move, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC data provides county-level stats on physical activity and levels of diabetes and obesity nationwide. Physical activity was defined as doing any form of exercise outside of one's job, such as walking,  running or even gardening.

Counties in Maryland varied widely. Somerset County had the highest percentage of adults who are physically inactive -- 31 percent. Baltimore wasn't far behind with 30 percent of adults being physically inactive. Meanwhile counties with the lowest percentage were Montgomery (18 percent) Howard (19 percent) and Anne Arundel (21 percent).

Not surprisingly, the areas where people did the least activity were also those where rates of diabetes and obesity were high. Even modest exercise -- taking a brisk walk every day for 20 minutes -- can help people with diabetes improve their health, the CDC suggests. 

The agency hopes community groups and policy makers use the data to promote communities with sidewalks and access to parks and recreation areas that encourage people to get out and exercise.

So, have you left your desk today?

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: General Health
        

Join us at baltimoresun.com/healthchat noon Feb. 9 with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins to discuss Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). The chronic pain condition is characterized by intense or burning pain, usually in the arms, hands, legs or feet. Doctors do not know the cause, but it can be related to an injury or even surgery.

Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will take reader questions on the nature of the disease and the latest treatments. Can't make the chat? Email questions in advance to healtcalendar@baltsun.com and visit baltimoresun.com/healthchat to read the transcript.

(Chicago Tribune file photo)

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Sen. Mike Miller has already made it loud and clear that no increase in alcohol taxes will pass under his watch.

But that is not stopping proponents of the dime a drink tax increase to push ahead with their fight.

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative held a press conference this morning with a Baltimore wine store owner who said he supports the tax.

David Wells, of The Wine Source in Hampden, said he is in favor of Senate Bill 168 sponsored by Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell and House Bill 121 sponsored by Delegate James Hubbard.

“I will sleep better at night,” Mr. Wells, said in a statement. “knowing that this dime a drink alcohol tax increase is reducing underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Supporters of the tax want the $215 million it will raise to be used for health care, to fund programs for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs, and for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment.

"It is time for our industry to do its fair share to reduce the deaths and societal problems caused by the misuse of our product,” Wells said in the statement.

Take our poll and tell us whether you think an alcohol tax is needed.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: General Health
        

I came across a post the other day on the excellent Roni’s Weigh  blog that asked readers “What are your UNhealthy Habits?” It was interesting to see that a lot of readers picked the same things, and that many of the habits centered on a person’s bedtime routine, such as not flossing at night, not removing makeup and/or washing your face.

I shouldn’t be surprised, though, given that I’m guilty of the same things. I’ve tried to trick myself into doing these things more consistently such as brushing/flossing right after dinner or putting face moisturizer on the nightstand, but after long days at work, good intentions go by the wayside.

So, I was curious what doctors thought about nighttime habits. Dr. Richard Lamson, a family medicine physician with Greater Baltimore Medical Center, offered his tips.

Continue reading "A healthy bedtime routine" »

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

A growing number of Maryland smokers are seeking help to quit through the state health department's tobacco Quitline, which offers counseling, support services and coaching sessions over the phone.

The free, confidential service received 1,429 calls as of January 25, up from 900 calls last November, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Ads for the service feature Baltimore native and actress Nicole Ari Parker, who lost her grandmother to smoking-related cancer.

The Maryland Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) provides coaches who work with callers over four telephone sessions to devise a plan to help them break the addiction. Coaches follow up with printed materials to help you stay on track and while supplies last, callers can get free nicotine replacement therapy such as the patch or gum, mailed to their homes. The Quitline, which launched in June 2006 and has had about 64,000 calls, is manned 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. seven days a week.

For more information, check out www.smokingstopshere.com

I wonder if the spike in calls is due to folks making New Year's resolutions to quit. Have you? How are you doing so far? 

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Still digging out from last night's nasty storm? We are too. My husband recently came in complaining that the storm dumped plenty of that wet, heavy kind of snow that makes shoveling safely extra challenging.

With that in mind, here are some good tips from the American Physical Therapy Association that came in handy during last February's Snowpocalypse.

Continue reading "How to dig out from the snow -- safely" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes -- 7 million of whom don't even know it -- according to new data out today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new figures mark an increase from 2008, when the agency found 23.6 million Americans with diabetes, nearly 8 percent of the population. The disease, characterized by high blood sugar, puts people at risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and kidney failure. It's the seventh leading cause of death in the nation.

The CDC also found an increase for what can be a precursor to diabetes, known as prediabetes. Some 79 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes in which blood sugar is elevated, just not to the threshold considered for a diabetes diagnosis, the CDC reports. Prediabetes increases a person's risk for not only diabetes, but also stroke and heart disease.

The findings suggest a real increase in cases as well as more people living longer with the disease. Changes in how testing is recorded could also play a role, the report stated.

Continue reading "CDC: Diabetes on the rise" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Join us noon Jan. 26 for a live chat on shingles, a viral infection that affects more than 1 million people a year. Anyone who's had the chicken pox can get the painful rash, though senior citizens are more at risk. A recent study says the vaccine for the infection reduced the incidence of shingles outbreaks by 55%.

Dr. Paul Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will take reader questions on how to protect yourself against shingles and how to cope with the pain. Go to baltimoresun.com/healthchat.

Can't make the chat? E-mail questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com. A transcript of the chat will be available on this page after it's finished.

(Los Angeles Times file photo)

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Life expectancy in the U.S. lags behind other prosperous nations and smoking and obesity are to blame, explains a new report from the National Research Council.

While over the last 25 years, U.S. life expectancy at age 50 has been on the rise, it's still behind such nations as Australia and Japan, despite outspending them on health care, the report explains. Concerned about the trend, the National Institute on Aging asked a global team of researchers for answers. The result is a massive report that delves into the differences and blames much of the disparities on Americans' past smoking habit and the nation's obesity epidemic.

That smoking is to blame in the states may sound odd, considering smoking bans are all the rage in the U.S. while Europe is just catching on. Well, Americans' smoking habit goes back some fifty years when smoking rates were higher here than in Europe or Japan. The consequences of that unhealthy behavior are playing out now, explains a summary of the report.

Nevertheless, the report predicts good news could be down the pike. Since major efforts to reduce smoking are underway now, life expectancy likely will improve 20 to 30 years from now. 

Rising obesity rates, however, paint a gloomier picture. Obesity alone accounts for between a fifth and a third of the shortfall in American's lifespans. And if that problem doesn't improve, it could offset the gains in life expectancy expected from people quitting smoking.

Continue reading "Smoking, obesity causes U.S. life expectancy to lag behind" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health, Medical studies
        

The state of Maryland received a grade of "F" from the American Lung Association for its efforts at stopping smoking and other uses of tobacco products.

Maryland wasn't alone though.

The American Lung Association said most states "failed miserably" at passing laws that would protect citizens from the ailments that come with tobacco use.

Maryland continues to inadequately fund tobacco use prevention and cessation programs, the lung association's Maryland chapter found. In 2011, $4.3 million was allocated for the programs, compared to $19.6 million two years ago.

The association also noted failed legislation that would have redefined the definition of cigarettes to include what they called "little cigars." Little cigars are wrapped in paper and contain tobacco, but weigh less. The lung association believes they are more likely to be bought because they resemble cigarettes. A bill regarding little cigars passed in the Senate of the General Assembly, but failed in the House.

Maryland got an "A" for its efforts at creating smokefree air, a "C" for its cigarette tax and an "F" for its cessation programs.

(photo courtesy of AFP/Getty)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: General Health
        

The number of Marylanders without insurance has stayed pretty much the same for the last five years, according to a report by state health officials.

About 14.5 percent, or an average of 720,000, non-elderly Marylanders were uninsured from 2008 to 2009, according to the Maryland Healthcare Commission. Like most other years, that is below the national average of 18 percent. Maryland has a higher rate of employment-based coverage than the rest of the country, which contributes to the lower number of uninsured, state officials said.

Young people and those who dropped out of school are more likely to be uninsured, according to the report. For instance, 26 percent of people age 16 to 19 didn't have insurance and 42 percent of people in families where the adults didn't have a high school diploma also didn't have insurance.

Low-income families were also less likely to have insurance coverage. People living at or below 200 percent of the poverty line accounted for 48 percent of Maryland's uninsured, but are just 23 percent of the nonelderly population.

Hispanics make up just 9 percent of the nonelderly population, but 24 percent of the uninsured.

The report also indicated that small businessed may have a hard time providing insurance for their employees. Adults who work for firms with fewer than 100 workers make up 38 percent of all workers, but 62 percent of uninsured adult workers.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Maryland scored an "A" from the Center for Science in the Public Interest in a nationwide ranking of states' efforts to detect, investigate and report food-borne illnesses.

The report, All Over the Map, offers a 10-year review of food safety measures in the states based on data gleaned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maryland was one of seven states that received top marks for its investigating and reporting systems. States that scored As reported eight and nine outbreaks per million people each year, the report found.

The more food-borne outbreaks states reported the higher their grade. Huh? You ask? Well, more reporting means more attention to safety, according to the folks at CSPI.

 “States that aggressively investigate outbreaks and report them to CDC can help nail down the foods that are responsible for making people sick,” said CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal in a statement.  “But when states aren’t detecting outbreaks, interviewing victims, identifying suspect food sources, or connecting with federal officials, outbreaks can grow larger and more frequent, putting more people at risk.”

In Maryland, the health department examines outbreaks through its Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration, the Laboratories Administration and local health departments. The system helps identify threats, evaluate strategies to evaluate and prevent outbreaks, according to a statement by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The CDC released today a first of its kind analysis of racial disparities in health with the hope of drawing attention to some persistent gaps and shedding light on unexpected ones.

While race was the primary focus of the report, it also delved into differences in health outcomes by income, gender and geography. The report is huge and has plenty of interesting -- and disturbing -- findings. Among the biggest disparities:

     + Black babies are 1.5 to 3 times more likely to die than infants born to women of other races

     + Heart disease and stroke, the nation's leading causes of death, account for the largest proportion of inequality in life expectancy between whites and blacks, despite the existence of low-cost treatment.

     + Men of all races are nearly four times more likely to commit suicide than women. American Indians and whites have nearly twice the rate of suicide as that of blacks, Asians and Hispanics.

     + Prescription drugs kill more people than illegal drugs, a reversal from 15 to 20 years ago. Drug deaths increased from 2003 to 2007 among men and women of all races except Hispanics. Whites have the highest rates of drug-related deaths.

Many of the national statistics are mirrored here in Baltimore, where officials have been trying to combat similar disparities, notably between whites and blacks and rich and poor. This afternoon, in fact, Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot is giving a presentation to the city council on strategies to do so.

“Access to healthy foods, healthy housing, healthcare, safe neighborhoods, education and employment opportunities, and transportation – often collectively referred to as social determinants of health – play as important a role in keeping us healthy as they do in making us sick,” Barbot said in a statement. “Eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity in Baltimore City will only be possible through bringing together multiple public, private and community partners to address these issues collaboratively.”

Continue reading "CDC report sheds light on racial health disparities" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

According to the Mayo Clinic, 1 of out 3 people undergoing cancer treatment experiences some level of pain. If you are one of those patients or know someone who is, visit baltimoresun.com/healthchat at noon Wednesday for our latest health live chat. Dr. Paul Christo, director, Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will be taking reader questions.

Can't make it? A transcript of the chat will be available at the same link after the session ends. Send questions for consideration in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com.

Posted by Kim Walker at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

It’s the time of year when we like to look back before we look forward.

So here’s my list of the Top 10 health stories of the year that touched us locally. Please tell me if you disagree with my picks and if I missed any big stories.

10. The beloved state dessert, the Smith Island Cake, is declared one of the nation’s least healthy foods by Health magazine.

9. Baltimore hires a food czar, Holly Freishtat, to help the city figure out how to better feed itself and cut down on obesity-related illnesses.

8. Four Loko, the caffeinated alcohol drink, is pulled off national and local store shelves.

7. Everyone is told to get a flu shot by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the first time.

6. A 12-year-old article in prestigious British medical journal that scared parents everywhere by making a link between autism and the mercury in childhood immunizations is retracted.

5. Haiti’s earthquake devastates a city and mobilizes many people to offer their time, skills and money to help the needy.

4. A federal judge blocks funding for embryonic stem cell research, and scientists fear potentially life-saving discoveries are jeopardized.

3. A doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital is shot by the distraught son of a patient, who later killed himself and his mother.

2. St. Joseph Medical Center tells heart patients their stents may not have been necessary.

1. The health care reform law passes and begins to offer protections for consumers and the promise of coverage to the uninsured.

I got pretty close to this year-in-review list, compiled by the health editor here at The Sun. She also included bed bugs, doctor shortages, Mercy Medical Center's new hospital buidling and a record grant to the University of Maryland for celiac research, among other stories.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: General Health
        

Young Kayla Murphy suffers from a debilitating cell disease that her family knows will one day take her life.

I first wrote about 6-year-old Kayla, who suffers from mitochondrial disease, in August as part of a story about a shortage in hospice care for children. The story received numerous responses from readers wanting to know how Kayla is doing.

Kayla is still in a home-based children's hospice at Gilchrist Kids and her condition hasn't changed much since the summer, said her hospice social worker Betsy Schindler. The disease causes Kayla to stop breathing and heart to stop beating for several seconds at a time. The most notable difference is that the amount of time she stops breathing has grown longer.

"She's pretty much been doing the same, so I was happy about that," said Kayla's mom Dawn. Last year, the family took Kayla to Disney because they didn't expect she would live that long.

"This is a disease that is hard to give a prognosis for," Dawn Murphy said. "Last year, they told us this might be our last chance to take her to Disney. I can't believe it's already been a year."

But things have taken a turn for the worse for Dawn Murphy, who was also recently diagnosed with mitochondrial disease. She is also in Hospice in Gilchrist's adult program as some of her symptoms have started to worsen in recent weeks. 

Dawn, 36, has had several digestive issues that make it hard for her to eat, among other ailments. Her cognitive ability has slowed as well. She has lost weight and keeps getting reoccuring respiratory infections. The infections make her weak.

Schindler said it is unusual to treat a mother and daughter at the same time. While it is hard for dad and husband Stephen to cope, Schindler and Dawn Murphy said he deals with it by turning the pain into laughter and jokes and keeping the mood around his family positive.

Dawn Murphy said the family is struggling financially because of all the medical bills. She used to work full-time but now has part-time job at home doing human resources.

Gilchrist wants the Murphy family to have a good holiday and will bring gifts for them later this week as part of its adopt-a-family program. Dawn's parents will also come to spend the holidays with the family.

Despite the family's health problems, Dawn Murphy said her daughter has seemed at peace lately.

"She has been very happy the last couple of months," Dawn Murphy said.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: General Health
        

Between winter cold and sinus problems and the effects of holiday stress, now is a good time to talk about headaches. And that's what we'll be doing today at noon with Dr. Paul Christo, director, Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

You can send your questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com or go to baltimoresun.com/healthchat at noon to participate. Can't make it? A transcript of the chat will be at the same link afterward. 

Please note: Comments made during the chat are for informational purposes only and do not represent or substitute as medical advice. Patients are advised to consult their own physician or pharmacist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Maryland scored a nine out of 10 in a new report aimed at gauging the emergency health preparedness of the states.

The states in general got their highest scores in the eighth annual report, by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. But the groups said the gains are under threat of budget cuts.

The report is called Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disaster and Bioterrorism. And the groups looked at key indicators of public health preparedness. Fourteen states scored nine or higher. Three scored a 10 – Arkansas, North Dakota and Washington state.

Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored seven or eight. No state scored lower than five.

The groups said since the Sept. 11, 2001 and anthrax attacks, there has been a lot of progress and the nation is now better able to prevent, identify and contain disease outbreak and bioterrorism threats. And responses are quicker to natural disasters and outbreaks. The H1N1 flu pandemic is an example.

But public health staffing and budget cuts may become a problem, the groups say. Thirty three states have already made cuts.

 “There is an emergency for emergency health preparedness in the United States,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, in a statement. “This year, the Great Recession is taking its toll on emergency health preparedness. Unfortunately, the recent and continued budget cuts will exacerbate the vulnerable areas in U.S. crisis response capabilities and have the potential to reverse the progress we have made over the last decade.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health, Health care professionals
        

State officials said today that 200 medical professionals have signed up to participate in Maryland's electronic medical records system.

The state hopes to eventually recruit 1,000 primary care doctors to transition to the digitized system.

Maryland and its partners have received $25 million in federal funds to help implement health information technology. It was one of the first three states in early 2009 to have its State Health IT plan approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The University of Maryland Medical Center has been designated by the Leapfrog Group as a Top Hospital of the Decade for patient safety and quality of care.

The medical center shares the honor with Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

The awards were presented at a ceromony Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

The Leapfrog Group, which promotes hospital safety, used a survey that measured hospital performance in a range of areas including patient care outcomes, use of best practices and patient safety initiatives.  It is the only national, public comparison of hospitals on key issues including preventing medication errors and infections and standards for performing high-risk procedures.

Leapfrog adds new, more stringent performance measures and expands the criteria for hospitals to meet its standards each year.

 “It is a tremendous honor to be one of only two hospitals in the nation recognized as a Leapfrog Top Hospital of the Decade for safety and quality. It demonstrates that our entire staff— including clinical leaders, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and support staff—is focused on providing the best patient care every day,”  Jeffrey A. Rivest, president and chief executive officer of UMMC said in a statement.

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage formed a decade ago to work for improvements (or “leaps”) in health care safety, quality and affordability. Initially organized by the Business Roundtable, it is now an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Did you throw your back out this weekend while getting the holiday decorations from the attic or basement? Or do you have lower back pain in general? Back pain is the second only to headaches as the most common neurological ailment in the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Wednesday at noon, The Baltimore Sun will be hosting a live chat on lower back pain with Dr. Paul Christo, director, Pain Training Program, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. You can email questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com or just post them on Wednesday here. Can't make it? We'll send you a link to the transcript.

(Los Angeles Times file photo)

Posted by Kim Walker at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Kennedy Krieger Institute said today that it has opened a 5,000-square-foot clinic in Columbia, it's first clinical care facility outside of Baltimore.

The center will provide pediatric behavioral psychology services. The company said the location was selected to better serve families in Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties, as well as the military families at Fort Meade.

The new outpatient clinic opens today and will provide assessment and treatment of children ages 2-18 with a variety of behavior problems, including sleep difficulties, tantrums, toileting issues, aggression, parent-child interaction issues, poor social skills and conduct-related problems in school-age youth.

The clinic will specialize in serving both typically-developing children, as well as those with developmental delays and disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability.

“This is an important expansion for Kennedy Krieger because it allows us to respond directly to the needs of the community,” Gary Goldstein, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute, said in a statement. “Although the clinic will serve children from all backgrounds, I’m pleased that we’re able to improve our ability to help children of military personnel, whose families make tremendous sacrifices for this country.”

Kennedy Krieger has ten sites in Baltimore City and a special education school in Montgomery County. The new clinic is located at 9810 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite C, in Columbia. Referrals and appointments can be made by calling 443-923-7508.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Johns Hopkins Medicine is hosting a community forum to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of the Sickle Cell Disease.

The painful blood disease is the most common genetic condition affecting African-Americans in the United States. The forum, scheduled for Wednesday, will address the challenges facing those living with sickle cell.

Participants will learn how to advocate for resources, address barriers to care and promote participation in research. Sickle Cell Disease researcher Michael DeBaun, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and medicine and vice chair of clinical research in pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Baltimore County delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam will be among the featured speakers.

The event begins with a reception at 6:15 p.m. with forum to follow at 7 p.m. It is being held at the Johns Hopkins Cancer Research Building, Albert Owens Auditorium, 1551 E. Jefferson St. Baltimore, MD 21231

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: ODCC@jhmi.edu or 410.502.6568

Posted by Andrea Walker at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Companies that provide access to flu shots for their employees may be helping their bottom line too.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh said the earlier companies get their employees vaccinated the better.

Workers who get vaccinated are less likely to call out sick.

The researchers found that getting an employee immunized in November instead of December can save an employer between $63 and $95 per person. Vaccinating an entire firm of 150 employees earlier could save a business between $9,450 and $14,250.

Data to support the findings came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Labor. The findings were presented at the American Public Health Association's 138th meeting in Denver this week.

"Employers have huge incentives to solve this widespread public health problem with timely vaccination," Rachel Bailey, the study's lead researcher said in a statement. "Even though workplace vaccination may appear expensive, the cost savings provided by preventing influenza-associated absenteeism with vaccination programs early in the influenza season more than compensates."

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The University of Maryland plans to announce today that its Celiac Research Center is getting a $45 million donation from the family of a grateful patient.

The disease has been notoriously hard to diagnose because its symptoms are not always gastrointestinal. And even when they are, doctors sometimes believe it's an allergy or other malady.

But awareness is up, and this money ought to help more, says Dr. Alessio Fasano, the director of the center, and the doctor who diagnosed Shelia Cafferty, whose family is making the donation. The money, though, will mostly be used to develop new treatments -- and maybe a cure -- for celiac disase and other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

That should be good news to those with the disease -- an estimated 1 in 133 people.

Research is expensive, and Maryland isn't stopping with the $45 million. Officials are selling awareness bracelets. (see above) You can buy one at www.celiaccenter.org.  And read the full story about celiac disease at baltimoresun.com.

So, think the bands will catch on? You have celiac disease or know someone who does? How long until you were diagnosed?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

It’s Respiratory Care Week, and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center is hosting a high-tech mobile motion simulator to show people the effects of smoking and pollutants on the lungs.

The COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Shuttle will be open to the public on Tuesday  from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. offering a 5-minute virtual journey inside the human body. Afterward, there will be free screenings for lung disease, sponsored by the COPD Foundation.

The goal is to raise awareness and try and prevent COPD, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the only chronic disease growing in mortality. COPD, affecting 24 million around the country – half of whom are undiagnosed -- includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and adult onset (refractory) asthma. Symptoms include breathlessness, wheezing and chronic coughing.

“Millions of Americans suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease so it is important to educate people about its causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention,” said Dr. Robert Wise, professor of medicine and director of the pulmonary laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, in a statement. “The Johns Hopkins Bayview respiratory department is proud to host the COPD Shuttle during Respiratory Care Week, so that we can inform more people in Baltimore about this disease.”

The shuttle will be parked outside of the Asthma and Allergy Center at Hopkins Bayview. Parking will be available in the Mid-Campus lot and parking garage. For more information go to copdfoundatio.org or call 866-316-COPD (2673).

Photo courtesy of the COPD Foundation

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Maryland health officials said they have opened the first connections in the statewide health information exchange - a system that gives doctors and other medical professionals computerized access to patients' records.

The initial connections are among hospitals and other medical facilities in Montgomery County. But it is expected to spread rapidly through the state with 48 hospitals having signed up to join the system.

The system allows doctors immediate access to patient records. Advocates hope it will help cut down on medical mistakes, particularly during an emergency.

It links physicians, hospitals, medical laboratories and pharmacies.

Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients built the exchange. The organization is a nonprofit collaboration among Erickson Retirement Communities, Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Health and the University of Maryland Medical System.

The Montgomery County hospitals and other medical facilities wired into the system are: Holy Cross Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, Quest Diagnostics, Laboratory Corporation of America, American Radiology Services and Community Radiology and Advanced Radiology.

Several other providers and services will connect in the next few weeks.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The West Cecil Health Center is getting a $3.3 million federal grant as part of an effort to improve community health centers under health care reform.

The money is part of $727 million the department of Health and Human Resources said today it is giving to 143 community health centers for upgrades and expansions.

Community health centers serve 19 million patients, about 40 percent of those people don't have health insurance, HHS said. They are often a life line for people who have lost coverage or are in between jobs. The expanded center will provide care to about 745,000 more patients.

The money is the first in a series of awards that will be made to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act. About $11 billion will go to health centers in the next five years under health care reform.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Scientists from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Morgan State University have joined forces to increase diversity in reproductive research using a $3.2 million federal grant.

The grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow five researchers from the institutions to partner on research projects. It will also be used to recruit and train minority students with interest in reproductive science research.

Race and ethnicity can play a crucial role in how people's bodies develop diseases and respond to treatment. Diversifying those who do the research will help strengthen the science, the researchers believe. And ultimately it could help better treat patients.

"Ultimately, diversity in research talent will help eliminate health disparities, whether they stem from socioeconomic gaps, from differences in access to healthcare or from purely biologic factors," Andrew Wolfe, director of research training in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Hopkins Children's Center, said in a statement.

The grant will allow undergraduates to train alongside graduate and medical students and postdoctoral trainees in endocrinology.

Hopkins has already begun recruiting minority freshman and sophomores interested in careers in the field. Email Michael Summa at msumma1@jhmi.edu or Gloria Hoffman at Gloria.Hoffman@morgan.edu for applications.

The partnership between Hopkins and Morgan is one of two pairings between a major hospital and a historically black institution on this subject. Emory University and the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta have a simliar partnership.

(Baltimore Sun file photo)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy today celebrated the opening of a new teaching and lab building.

The $62 million Pharmacy Hall building is located adjacent to Martin Luther King J. Blvd. on Baltimore's West side.

The seven-story building has lecture halls equipped with technology for distance learning, experiential learning facilities and research laboratories. The facility also includes a dispensing laboratory that uses robotics -- allowing pharmacists to spend more time on critical care patient duties such as medication management.

Four floors of the building will be dedicated to clinical and translational research in pharmacogenetics, nanomedicine and drug discovery.

The Maryland General Assembly approved funding for the building in 2008. The pharmacy school was looking to educate more pharmacists and "carry out more cutting-edge research."

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Maryland’s hospitals have already endeavored to get more doctors to wash their hands, and now they are moving onto another means of passing infection. The hospitals are joining a nationwide initiative to eliminate bloodstream infections.

Called On the CUSP (Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program), the program is voluntary. It was developed by Johns Hopkins safety guru Dr. Peter Pronovost, and is administered in the state by the Maryland Hospital Association and the Maryland Patient Safety Center.

It’s based on checklists, staff education and expert consultation. The goal is to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections. There are now some 250,000 of them occurring every year across the country.

“The program works,” said Pronovost, director for the Quality and Safety Research Group at Hopkins, in a statement. “On the CUSP will help ensure that Maryland patients received safer hospital care.”

The infections often result from a central line or central vascular catheter, which is the tube used to provide sick patients with medicine, fluids, nutrients or blood.

The Hospital Association points to a recent CDC report that shows Maryland had 222 preventable infections in the first six months of 2009 – an unacceptable number, officials say.

During a pilot program in Michigan, infections dropped by 60 percent. Maryland is among 30 states that have since signed on.

So, think a voluntary program is enough?

Continue reading "Hospitals find new ways to cut down on infections" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

As part of a national effort to get more people health care, the University of Maryland Medical System is bringing doctors to the community for a “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day.”

Today, there will be free health screening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University Plaza, across from the University of Maryland Medical Center at 22 S. Greene St. 

There will be screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, among others. Doctors will also use an ultrasound machine to look for signs of blockages in the veins. There will be the chance to talk one-on-one with a doctor from University Family Medicine.

Along Paca Street, health care providers will offer flu shots, HIV testing and interactive fitness activities.  And urologists will also offer free prostate screenings inside the medical center.

The national Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day aims to encourage people to take charge of their own health and then to encourage their loved ones to do the same, Maryland officials say. It’s a message of prevention.

Sponsors include five of the 11 hospitals in the University of Maryland Medical System -- the University of Maryland Medical Center, Maryland General Hospital, Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital, University Specialty Hospital and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. Other sponsors include Maryland Physicians Care, the Baltimore City Health Department, Coppin State University Helene Fuld School of Nursing and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African History and Culture.

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Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

The rate of tuberculosis infection in the United States has been going down because of prevention and treatment efforts, but the country may now be more susceptible to new nastier drug-resistant form, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.

The researchers used computer modeling to show an increased risk for epidemics of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, or MDR-TB. The model also showed that without proper treatment of TB cases, there is also an increased risk.

The results were published in the Sept. 22 journal PLoS ONE.

MDR-TB is a kind resistant to at least two of the primary antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis. It affects 500,000 to 2 million people a year, according to the World Health Organization. There were 111 cases in the United States in 2006.

“The ability of MDR-TB to spread depends on the prevalence of drug-susceptible TB,” said Dr. David Bishai, senior author of the study and associate professor in the departments of Population, Family and Reproductive Health and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a statement. “The most successful approach to reduce this risk for MDR-TB epidemics in the U.S. would be to ensure that populations around the world combine high rates of case findings that are tightly coupled to high compliance with directly observed drug therapy.”

David Bishai conducted the research with his brother Dr. William Bishai, professor with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Tuberculosis Research, and David Bishai’s son Jason D. Bishai, an undergraduate student at Stanford University.

The research was funded with an award to Jason Bishai from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Epidemiology Scholars Contest and by the National Institutes of Health.

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Mercy Hospital is located in the heart of downtown Baltimore, but despite its urban location will have a green oasis for patients to relax while recovering.

 That's because the new Mary Catherine Bunting Center to open on Calvert Street in Dec. will include three rooftop gardens.

Studies have shown that when patients have visual or physical access to nature the therapeutic value helps them heal better, hospital officials said.

The Bunting building will replace the 50-year-old, outdated facilty where the main hospital is now located. The hospital was also outgrowing the old building.

"It was not in the cards to continue renovating the old building," said Thomas R. Mullen, Mercy President and CEO.

The media got a preview of the building, which is nearly complete, today.

The 20-story building will have 259 private patient rooms - no sharing with people you don't know. Single rooms also cut down on the spread of infectious diseases, hospital officials said. There are sofa sleepers for patient families to stay the night.

The building will also have a computerized system where patients can order a meal or talk to their nurse using their television remote. The information technology staff was installing the new computer system today.

Hospital staff will begin wheeling patients into the new building on Dec. 19. It's a Sunday, which is the slowest day for the hospital. It becomes fully operational that Monday.

The Bunting building will initially house the main surgical operations and the intensive care unit and have 190 beds available. Anything related to maternity, transitional care and detox will remain in the old building. Maternity will eventually move from the old building, which will be used primarily for ambulatory services in the future.

Mullen said the new facility will allow the hospital to see more patients. While plans for the new building were put in place before healthcare reform, Mullen said the new building will help with the changes reform will bring.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

The largest health workers union said today it is endorsting Governor Martin O'Malley in the upcoming election.

The group, 1199 SEIU, made the announcement at the Eubie Blake Jazz Center in Baltimore.

In endorsing O'Malley, union representatives cited his commitment to creating middle class jobs, advocating for free and fair union elections and ensuring affordable, quality healthcare care for Maryland.

The union said its members will hit the streets to canvas neighborhoods as well as organize a direct mail and paid media campaign. The group will focus on key races in Prince George’s County, including county executive, and several Maryland State Senate seats.

Issues of importance for health care workers include the union’s “Heart of Baltimore” campaign, an effort to improve jobs and care through ensuring free and fair union elections in the city’s health care institutions; access to quality, affordable health care; expanding coverage for uninsured Marylanders; increasing Medicaid reimbursements to the state’s nursing homes and hospitals; remediating Medicaid fraud; and keeping the Prince George’s hospitals open and expanding.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a University of Maryland scientist an $11.4 million, five-year grant to study whether anti-platelet drugs that prevent blood clots based on a patient's genetic makeup can be used to treat cardiac arrest.

The grant was given to Alan R. Shuldiner, a professor of medicine and director of the Program in Genetics and Genome Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The study of the 2,400 cardiac patients at 5 sites will build on previous research by Shuldiner. The research found that the anti-platelet drug Plavix is not effective for people who have a certain variant of gene. The variant appears to affect a person's ability to activate the drug.

Plavix prevents platelets from clumping together and causing blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

People with the gene variant who take Plavix after angioplasty or having a stent implanted have more than twice the risk of dying or having cardiac problems from a blocked artery, Shuldiner said.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to physicians and patients in March about the reduced effectiveness of the drug in patients with the gene variant.

Shuldiner will use the grant money to look at whether treatments geared to a patient's genetic makeup are more effective in treating cardiac ailments.

The grant is funded by the National Institute of Health National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The agency is is expanding its focus on understanding how a person's genes respond to certain medicines.

Shuldiner will work with other institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

About 85 percent of workers rate workplace safety first among labor standards they care about, above maternity leave, overtime pay and paid sick days, according to a study by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The study aimed to see what workers think about workplace safety issues. It looked at dozens of other studies from 2001 to 2010 done by the center and was conducted for the Public Welfare Foundation, which has a workers’ rights program.

The study found that workers’ concern about safety was, not surprisingly, heightened after an accident such as the BP oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, the interest also often quickly waned among workers and the media.

But given the level of concern about safety in general, officials at the foundation said that it should be a higher priority for government and employers.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported last month that the number of workers who died on the job last year fell 17 percent from 2008 but workers also put in fewer hours during the recession. And workplace injuries are still high. Another study for the foundation found about 12 percent of workers reported an injury while on the job in the past year and 37 percent said they have needed medical care at while working.

And while the new study found most workers say they are satisfied with safety conditions at work, they report a lot of stress, which could contribute to injury. A separate 2006 study for the foundation showed 13 percent of workers find their jobs always stressful, and 21 percent find it often stressful.

So, is your work more dangerous than it should be? Have you been hurt? You think safety is the highest concern?

Associated Press photo of Deepwater Horizon oil rig burning

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Categories: General Health
        

A father and son team are spending the next 14 days hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Arusha, Tanzania to raise money for juvenile diabetes.

Matthew R. Weir, director of the division of nephrology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and his son, M. Ryan Weir, a business banking officer for M&T Bank in Towson, began their journey Thursday and plan to finish on Sept. 16.

The pair became interested in diabetes research after a close family friend was diagnosed with Type 1 of the disease and almost went into a coma.

"It was an eye-opening experience," M. Ryan Weir said. The Weirs hope to raise a dollar for every foot of the 19,341-foot ascent they climb. The money will go towards research for the Maryland chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa and is challenging because of varying weather conditions.

Dad, 57, claims his son coerced him into taking on the adventure.

"Either it's a midlife crisis or stupidity, but I allowed him to convince me to do it," said Matthew Weir.

The Weirs are both athletic and used activities such as running and skiing to train for the climb.

"There is certainly some nervousness," said M. Ryan Weir, 25. "As much as you train and run it is as much about how your metabolism handles the altitude."

When asked if he thought this would be harder than a marathon, dad Matthew said, "If I'm alive when we get back, ask me the question."

The Weirs plan to give updates about their climb at http://twitter.com/cureatopkili. To donate visit http://jdrfevents.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=569

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Returning to work after having a baby can be a challenge in general, but what about breastfeeding?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least a year. And the state says a few area hospitals are making it easier for new moms to stay on schedule.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is honoring Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Anne Arundel Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital for programs and policies that support the practice after the moms return to work.

Their “Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace” provides short breaks and a private space for the mothers to pump and store breast milk among other programs. (Those two provisions are now required by the new health care reform law, though employers don’t have to pay for the time and small companies are exempt if it would cause an undue hardship.)

Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers said there are benefits to companies to aid new moms: Parental absenteeism is lower and so are healthcare costs because breastfed infants are sick less often. He said studies estimate a $400 savings on health care in baby’s first year. It’s not bad for morale and productivity, too, he said.

Colmers points to a U.S. Department of Labor stat: nearly three-quarters of all mothers are in the work force, including 60 percent of mothers of very young children.

The state health department can offer guidance. Find more information on setting up support programs at work or an application for the workplace award at www.marylandbreastfeeding.org.

So, what's the situation in your office?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Chiaki Kawajiri

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Categories: Business of health, General Health, Health care reform
        

With open enrollment just around the corner, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is launching a line of health plans that will reward patients with cash for living healthy lifestyles and keeping in touch with their primary care physicians.

Maryland's largest insurer will begin offering the plans - called HealthyBlue - tomorrow for people to use beginning Oct. 1.

The plans are meant to promote preventive care. The hope is that it will result in healthier people and help drive down healthcare costs.

"If we are to keep health care affordable, it is essential that more focus be placed on keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they are sick," Chett Burrell, CareFirst president and CEO, said in a statement.

Once members enroll they choose a primary care physician and complete an online health assessment. They then have their primary care physician perform a health and wellness evaluation.

Patients who meet certain health criteria will get up to $300 for an individual or $700 for a family. The money will be paid as a gift card to be used toward a heal