The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued two Health Advisories on emerging substances in the illicit drug supply in Pennsylvania
· Health Advisory – 762 – ADV – Medetomidine, a Potent Non-opioid Veterinary Sedative, Has Been Detected in the Illicit Drug Supply
· Health Advisory – 763 – ADV – Emerging Substances in the Illicit Drug Supply
View a complete list of health advisories on the DOH’s website.
From Becker’s Hospital Notes
Researchers from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah, both based in Salt Lake City, found that 34% of rural patients said they have easy access to medical specialists.
The Community Health Assessment Survey is the first to focus on patients in rural and frontier areas, according to an Aug. 8 news release from the organizations. Rural counties have fewer than 100 people per square mile while frontier areas have seven people or fewer per square mile. More than 1,700 rural residents across five states participated in the survey.
Here are seven findings:
Led by HRSA’s Office of Special Health Initiatives, raises awareness about the connection between oral health and overall health. HRSA now has new content on oral health and nutrition, emphasizing the importance of healthy eating as a foundation for good oral health. Additionally, new resources highlight the critical role of oral health during pregnancy, including the importance of maintaining dental care for the well-being of both pregnant people and baby. Discover the latest content and resources to support oral health in the community.
Key findings from this study suggest that the RCORP initiative may have played an important role in expanding the supply of buprenorphine prescribers nationally. While the impacts of the removal of the DEA-waiver since 2023 have not yet been identified, counties where RCORP grantees operated showed larger increases in the number of DEA-waivered clinicians over the study period compared to non-RCORP counties, amounting to an average of almost four more clinicians per 100,000 than non-RCORP counties.
The night before her chemotherapy, Herlinda Sanchez sets out her clothes and checks that she has everything she needs: a blanket, medications, an iPad and chargers, a small Bible and rosary, fuzzy socks, and snacks for the road.
After the 36-year-old was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in December, she learned that there weren’t any cancer services in her community of Del Rio, a town of 35,000 near the Texas-Mexico border.
To get treatment, she and her husband, Manuel, must drive nearly three hours east to San Antonio. So they set an alarm for 4 a.m., which allows for just enough time to roll out of bed, brush their teeth, and begin the long drive navigating dark roads while watching for deer.
About an hour before they arrive at the cancer clinic, the couple pulls over to quickly eat fast food in the car. The break gives Herlinda time to apply ointment on the port where the needle for her chemotherapy will be inserted.
“It numbs the area, so when I get to the infusion room the needle won’t hurt,” she said.
For rural patients, getting cancer treatment close to home has always been difficult. But in recent years, chemotherapy deserts have expanded across the United States, with 382 rural hospitals halting services from 2014 to 2022, according to a report published this year by Chartis, a health analytics and consulting firm.
The Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement released “Selected Quality Measures of Oral Health Care for Children.” The new brief provides a national summary of selected oral health care quality measures for children including oral evaluation, dental services, topical fluoride for children, and sealant receipt on permanent first molars.
HRSA-Funded Health Centers Served 2.7 Million More Patients Over Past Four Years, Reaching High of More than 31 Million Patients
Today, to mark National Health Center Week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released new data showing over 31 million total patients served at HRSA-funded health centers in 2023—an increase of 2.7 million since 2020.
“Community health centers play a pivotal, and growing, role in America’s health care system. They are especially important in our effort to reduce health care disparities in underserved communities,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “More than 31 million people across the country – in every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia – depend on health centers, making them a vital resource. The Biden-Harris Administration wants all Americans to have access to high-quality primary health care services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, and community health centers help make that possible.”
“HRSA-funded community health centers make it possible for anyone in the community to access high-quality primary health care, regardless of income,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “We are proud to serve millions more people and expand the community health workforce in rural and underserved areas all across the country.”
HRSA-funded health centers are required to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay, and in 2023 more than 90 percent of health center patients had incomes less than 200 percent of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Health centers are now serving one in eight children across the country, more than 9.7 million patients in rural areas, over 6.4 million patients who live in or near public housing, and over 1.4 million people experiencing homelessness. Health centers have also expanded their preventive services, screening hundreds of thousands more people for cancer and infectious diseases and caring for patients with substance use disorders.
Health centers continue to be leaders in quality of care, increasing access and improving clinical quality across the board. Quality improvements since 2020 include:
For more details on these and other Health Center Program outcomes see Four Years of Health Center Outcomes.
HRSA’s Health Center Program is a cornerstone of our nation’s health care system, especially for those who are uninsured; enrolled in Medicaid; living in rural, remote, or underserved areas; struggling to afford their health insurance co-pays; experiencing homelessness; residing in public housing; or otherwise having trouble finding a doctor or paying for the cost of care.
Take a dip in facts and figures about the Appalachian Region!
ARC’s Chartbook has over 300K data points to explore, including statistics on population (see one map above). 📍 Though much of the region has experienced population decline, Appalachian South Carolina and Georgia have grown since 2010. Some counties in Georgia experienced population growth of over 18%.
Whether you’re interested in population data, education and employment, or how rural Appalachia compares to the rest of rural America, you’ll find an endless sea of interesting facts—all presented at regional, subregional, state and county levels.
The American Academy of Pediatrics published “Oral Health Care for Children and Youth With Developmental Disabilities.” This clinical report highlights the oral health needs of children and youth with developmental disabilities and calls for coordinated care.
In 2023-2024, the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) conducted an environmental scan of racial, ethnic, and language data disaggregation practices at health centers. They sent out a questionnaire and held interviews. Their new report compiles their findings, including promising practices and lessons learned.
