- Senator Baldwin Introduces HSHS Act to Protect Communities from Hospital Closures
- What to Know about Smoke, Heat and Health
- Tribal Partnership With UW-Madison Combines Ag Research With Indigenous Food Knowledge
- The Rewards of Working as Rural Docs
- Request for Information (RFI): Evolving the Network of the National Library of Medicine
- Dental Therapists, Who Can Fill Cavities and Check Teeth, Get the OK in More States
- Colorectal Cancer Is Rising among Younger Adults. Some States Want to Boost Awareness.
- Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
- Food Stamps Go Further in Rural Areas — Until You Add Transportation Costs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in the State of Texas
- CMS Proposes New Payments for Digital Health Under CY2025 PFS Draft Rule
- Improving Public Health by Strengthening Community Infrastructure
- Biden Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
- Nearly Half of U.S. Counties Don't Have a Single Cardiologist
- Randolph County, Ill. Turns Unused Part of Nursing Home Into State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center
Pennsylvania Governor, Secretary of Health Present Latest Data, Ask Pennsylvanians to Unite Against COVID
As a fall resurgence of COVID-19 becomes more evident in Pennsylvania and across the country, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today presented an update on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard and case data, and asked Pennsylvanians to unite against COVID.
“The fall resurgence is here,” Gov. Wolf said. “And while we must always take this deadly virus seriously, now is the time for all of us to double down on our efforts to keep ourselves and those around us safe. We’ve seen what happens when masks aren’t worn and social distancing isn’t practiced – people get sick, so we need to stay vigilant and work together to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Last week, Dr. Levine introduced the team of public health experts leading the work to make sure all Pennsylvanians are as protected as possible from both COVID-19 and influenza. The team is prepared for the resurgence, is managing a robust testing plan, preparing for vaccine distribution when a vaccine is available, and working to track influenza (flu) cases across the state.
“Our data, including case counts, hospitalizations and percent positivity reflect the fall resurgence occurring,” Secretary Levine said. “The department and the Wolf Administration are working continuously to ensure we are prepared for this resurgence and to protect Pennsylvanians. We all must unite to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19 by washing our hands, wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and downloading the COVID Alert PA app.”
Dr. Levine also presented the latest data from the state’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, which tracks the level of community transmission as a basis for the recommendations for Pre-K to 12 schools to determine instructional models; data on cases among 5-18-year-olds; cases that reported visiting a business among potential locations where exposures may have occurred; and updated travel recommendations.
The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the early warning monitoring dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19.
This week’s update compares the period of October 9 – October 15 to the previous seven days, October 2 – October 8.
As of Thursday, October 15, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 8,723; the previous seven-day increase was 7,398, indicating a 1,325-case increase across the state over the past week. The statewide percent-positivity went up to 4.3% from 3.9% last week.
“COVID is tough, but together, Pennsylvanians are tougher,” Gov. Wolf said. “The last seven and a half months have shown us that when we unite, we can defeat this virus. Pennsylvanians came together to stop COVID in its tracks and we can do it again and stop this fall resurgence in its tracks if we stand united against COVID.
“You matter, and so do your actions. When we make good choices and follow health and safety measures, we see results. Let’s work together to stop the spread.
New Report Examines Gender Differences in Financial Outcomes
New report released from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Gender Disparities in Financial Well-Being from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking provides in-depth analysis of gender differences in banking, credit access, and retirement outcomes. This new report also explores whether financial literacy helps explain these gender differences.
Overall, the research finds significant gender differences in the majority of financial outcomes analyzed from the descriptive analysis. Men are more likely to experience better banking and retirement accounts outcomes than women. Women are more likely to own at least one credit card than men, but they are also more likely to report a recent credit denial and have lower credit confidence than men. Accounting for financial literacy, however, mitigates most of these gender differences.
The results from Gender Disparities in Financial Well-Being from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking illustrate that familiarity and frequent use of one type of financial product does not automatically guarantee the same for other financial products and outcomes.
Read the full report: Gender Disparities in Financial Well-Being from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking
Tool for Rural Grant Eligibility Updated
Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer tool to include the Office of Management and Budget-revised delineations for metropolitan, micropolitan and combined statistical areas.
Surgeon General Issues HTN Call to Action
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., issued a Call to Action urging Americans to recognize and address hypertension control as a national, public health priority. “It provides a roadmap for helping people, communities, health professionals and others improve the heart health of our nation by working together to eliminate differences in access to quality healthcare and addressing social factors that influence overall health,” stated Surgeon General Adams. “Communities can ensure that the places where people live, learn, work, play and pray support hypertension control by promoting access to and availability of physical activity opportunities, healthy food options and links between clinical services and community programs. Read the full news release.
Oral Health Education for Patients and the Chance to Win Prizes
Oral health education, be it in the classroom through school-based oral health or during the well-child visit that many families postponed, has been affected due to the current pandemic. DentaQuest and America’s ToothFairy have developed a program to help bridge that gap – just in time for Dental Hygiene Month. It is the Oral Health Action Hero Challenge that gives children a fun way to learn about good oral health habits – and win prizes – from home. Now until Nov. 9 children can complete three missions to defeat the new super-villain, BioFilm, and his gang of nasty bacteria. Finalists can win a variety of prizes, and the ultimate winner will take home a Nintendo Switch gaming console. Watch a quick video, read the press release and share the registration link with your patients!
Knock Out the Flu PA Video by Patient Safety Authority
With flu season arriving in the middle of a pandemic, it is more important than ever to encourage everyone to get their flu shot this year. Knock Out the Flu PA is a free resource provided by the PA Patient Safety Authority to share with patients, friends, family and social networks. This three-minute video explains influenza in a clear engaging way for any audience. Learn more. Watch the video.
Homeland Security Amending H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published an interim final rule amending regulations governing the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. The purpose of the changes is to better ensure that each H-1B worker will be working for a qualified employer in a position that meets the statutory definition of a “specialty occupation.” Comments on the interim final rule are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice in the Oct. 8, 2020 Federal Register.
AAPPR Releases Benchmarking Report
The Association for the Advancement of Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) reports that “primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, and hospitalist physicians are the most sought-after specialties, making them among the most competitive positions to fill.” This is a finding from AAPPR’s annual benchmarking survey, which comprises data gathered from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The 150 responses came mostly from large health systems, but some of the data is applicable to Community Health Centers. According to the survey, filling physician positions took less time last year, a five-year low for primary care placements. Purchase a copy of the benchmarking report.
Census Undercounts Could Have Big Impact on Funding
Modern Healthcare reported on Oct. 13, 2020, that 2020 Census undercounts would impact funding for more than 50 healthcare and healthcare-related programs, including Medicaid and Medicare Part B, according to an analysis by the George Washington Institute of Public Policy. The response rate for the 2020 census has declined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A one percent undercount, for example, could cost states up to one dollar in federal Medicaid funds on every $100 spent, according to a 2018 report by Reamer.
Dr. Fauci Says U.S. Faces “A Whole Lot Of Trouble”
The United States is “facing a whole lot of trouble” as coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country heading into the cold winter months, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told CNBC on Monday. The U.S. reported more than 44,600 new cases on Sunday and the seven-day average rose to over 49,200 new cases per day, up more than 14 percent compared with a week ago, according to an analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Average daily cases were up by more than five percent in 36 states and the District of Columbia.