A hospital in Denver is notifying people who had spine or orthopedic surgery there between July 21, 2016, and Feb. 20 of this year, according to officials
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/porter-adventist-hospital-denver-breach-may-have-put-patients-at-risk-hepatitis-b-hepatitis-c-hiv/
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Addresses the AG Outlook Forum 2018
From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIheHS_UOp8
Car seats put to the test in rear-end crashes
Car seats are proven to protect a child during a front or side crash. Now researchers are looking at how well they perform when a driver is hit from the rear. Laura Podesta reports.
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/car-seats-put-to-the-test-in-rear-end-crashes/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/car-seats-put-to-the-test-in-rear-end-crashes/
Jim Collins COO DowDupont Adresses the USDA AG Outlook Forum 2018
From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51A4Re62EQ
Dr. Robert Johansson addresses the AG Outlook Forum 2018
From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LacjdXqOytA
Bill Lovette's-Pilgrim's-Speech at the USDA's AG Outlook Forum 2018
From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7E-4F1X_lY
Levels of Toxic Fire Retardants Declining in Kids
Blood levels of a flame retardant have fallen in American children since use of the chemicals was banned in consumer products, a new study finds.
From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20180404/blood-levels-of-toxic-fire-retardants-declining-in-kids?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Event at UCSF aims to attract dental students from underserved areas
Dozens of college students attended the third annual University of California San Francisco's Oral Health Alliance College Day, where organizers hope the students will be inspired to become a dentist and serve in disadvantaged areas.
From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/april/event-at-ucsf-aims-to-attract-dental-students-from-underserved-areas
From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/april/event-at-ucsf-aims-to-attract-dental-students-from-underserved-areas
'Fruitilicious' toothpaste, minty mouth rinse among ADA Seal-accepted products
Several oral health care products, including three power toothbrushes and a mouth rinse, earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance in the last quarter of 2017 and the first three months of 2018.
From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/april/fruitilicious-toothpaste-minty-mouth-rinse-among-ada-seal-accepted-products
From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/april/fruitilicious-toothpaste-minty-mouth-rinse-among-ada-seal-accepted-products
Super Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Coming to U.S.
Americans should expect that a super-resistant form of gonorrhea like that found in the United Kingdom will soon reach these shores, health experts say.
From: https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/news/20180404/super-drug-resistant-gonorrhea-coming-to-us-experts--say?src=RSS_PUBLIC
How do rear-facing car seats fare when vehicle is hit from behind?
Studies show rear-facing car seats can be highly effective in front and side collisions, but researchers decided to test how they perform when the child is facing the impact of the crash
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-tests-safety-of-rear-facing-car-seats/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-tests-safety-of-rear-facing-car-seats/
Hard to Swallow: Why Does Medicine Taste So Bad?
Making a medication taste better can interfere with its basic chemistry and, sometimes, raise the concerns of parents and caregivers that it’s too attractive to children.
From: https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20180403/hard-to-swallow-why-does-medicine-taste-so-bad?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Mayo Clinic Minute: Why social media is a bad place to measure your self-worth
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRBBuDnWsyQ
Twins battling OCD found dead in possible suicide pact
Sara and Amanda Eldritch, who were featured on an episode of "The Doctors," had received a pioneering surgery to treat their debilitating OCD
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/twin-sisters-battling-ocd-found-dead-in-possible-suicide-pact/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/twin-sisters-battling-ocd-found-dead-in-possible-suicide-pact/
Trauma-informed care: What it is, and why it’s important
Many years ago, when I was a trainee, I helped take care of patients at a family medicine clinic.* One day, a school-aged brother and sister came in for their annual physicals. They were due for vaccines. Neither wanted any shots, and they were both quite upset. “You’ll do what the doctor tells you, is that clear?” ordered the mother. She and the nurse worked together to hold the sister’s arm down. But just as the nurse was about to deliver the injection, the young girl jerked her arm away and ran to the opposite corner of the room, crying. The brother then ran over and stood in front of her, his arm outstretched, guarding, and yelled “Get away! Leave her alone!” At first, the focus was on forcing them to have their shots, which were required for school. But it only made things worse. The young girl screamed, the boy fought, no one could calm them, and everyone was annoyed.
One of the senior doctors finally conceded: Let them go, we’ll have to work on this. But that family never returned.
Months later, we learned that the children had been removed from the home by the Department of Children and Families, for parental abuse. I could only imagine what had been happening.
*This vignette is based on a composite of several cases I have been involved with over the years. All potentially identifying details have been changed to protect patient privacy.
The prevalence of trauma
The CDC statistics on abuse and violence in the United States are sobering. They report that one in four children experiences some sort of maltreatment (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse). One in four women has experienced domestic violence. In addition, one in five women and one in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives — 12% of these women and 30% of these men were younger than 10 years old when they were raped. This means a very large number of people have experienced serious trauma at some point in their lives.
Medical exams by definition can feel invasive. They often involve asking sensitive questions, examining intimate body parts, and sometimes delivering uncomfortable — even painful — treatments. So, it is important that healthcare providers are mindful of the fact that so many people come to that healthcare interaction with a history of trauma.
Could the case I described have been handled differently?
There have been some recent news articles about a relatively new (and improved) way for health professionals to approach patients. This is called trauma-informed care. Dr L. Elizabeth Lincoln is a primary care physician at MGH who has trained medical professionals and students about approaching patient care with an understanding of trauma. She explains: “Trauma-informed care is defined as practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. A medical office or hospital can be a terrifying experience for someone who has experienced trauma, particularly for childhood sexual abuse survivors. The perceived power differential, being asked to remove clothing, and having invasive testing can remind someone of prior episodes of abuse. This can lead to anxiety about medical visits, flashbacks during the visit, or avoidance of medical care.”
What does trauma-informed care look like?
The first step is to recognize how common trauma is, and to understand that every patient may have experienced serious trauma. We don’t necessarily need to question people about their experiences; rather, we should just assume that they may have this history, and act accordingly.
This can mean many things: We should explain why we’re asking sensitive questions. I might say, “I need to ask you about your sexual history, so I know what tests you may need.” We should explain why we need to perform a physical exam, especially if it involves the breasts or genitals. If someone is nervous, we can let them bring a trusted friend or family member into the room with them. I’ve had many female patients hold someone’s hand during a pelvic exam. We can tell them that if they need us to stop at any time, they can say the word. If someone refuses outright to have a certain exam or test, or if they’re upset about something (like having vaccinations), we can respond with compassion and work with them, rather than attempting to force them or becoming annoyed.
For someone who has experienced trauma, the hospital or doctor’s office can be a scary place. Dr. Lincoln explains: “Patients often do not volunteer such information about prior experiences, because of guilt or shame. Medical professionals often ask about safety in a patient’s present relationships, but few ask about past experiences. A simple question such as, “Is there anything in your history that makes seeing a practitioner or having a physical examination difficult?” or, for those with a known history of sexual abuse, “Is there anything I can do to make your visit and exam easier?” can lead to more sensitive practices geared to developing a trusting relationship. Patients can advocate for themselves by explaining to physicians their anxiety about medical visits, why this is so, and what they have found helpful or harmful in prior healthcare encounters.”
Trauma comes in many forms
It is also important to note that there are many types of trauma. A colleague of mine has a child who survived a life-threatening illness. Prior to his ICU stay, he never flinched at vaccines; since his hospitalization, any needle sticks make him extremely anxious. Another colleague describes how after years of invasive infertility treatments, and despite becoming a mother, she sobbed uncontrollably at her simple routine gynecologic exam, because it touched such a nerve of helplessness and failure. Trauma-informed care is the open-mindedness and compassion that all patients deserve, because anyone can have a history that impacts their encounter with the medical system.
We as providers need to recognize that many, many patients have a history of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, as well as serious illnesses and negative experiences in the medical setting, and we need to learn to respond with empathy and understanding.
Sources
Sexual violence facts at a glance. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention.
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.
Child maltreatment facts at a glance. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention.
Child maltreatment 2012. US Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau.
Violence, Crime, and Abuse Exposure in a National Sample of Children and Youth: An Update. JAMA Pediatrics, July 2013.
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bringing trauma-informed care to children in need can ease toxic stress. StatNews, December 2017.
Understanding trauma-informed care. Mass General News, January 2014.
Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014.
The post Trauma-informed care: What it is, and why it’s important appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/trauma-informed-care-what-it-is-and-why-its-important-2018040413562
Essential health services - at least half the world still missing out
From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hanynbrATug
Veggies a Healthy Recipe for Older Women's Hearts
Eating lots of vegetables may help older women keep their blood vessels healthy, with the biggest benefit from cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli.
From: https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20180404/veggies-a-healthy-recipe-for-older-womens-hearts?src=RSS_PUBLIC
FDA issues mandatory recall for kratom products
The Food and Drug Administration is ordering a Las Vegas company to recall all of its dietary supplements containing the ingredient kratom. It is linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Anna Werner reports.
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/fda-issues-mandatory-recall-for-kratom-products/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/fda-issues-mandatory-recall-for-kratom-products/
Despite Cancer Warning, Experts Say Coffee Is Safe
Science says you can get your coffee buzz without fear of cancer, so experts say you can forget that recent controversial California law.
From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20180403/despite-californias-warning-signs-coffee-is-still-safe-experts-say?src=RSS_PUBLIC
'Nightmare Superbug' Crisis Could Come, CDC Warns
Health officials say these new bacteria must be contained quickly, lest they share their antibiotic-resistance genetics with other potentially more dangerous germs.
From: https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20180403/nightmare-superbug-crisis-could-come-cdc-warns?src=RSS_PUBLIC
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros message for World Health Day 2018
From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u9qZ3waZbw
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