public health

Officials Believe More Study Needed on Health Effects of Coal Trains

Both Multnomah County and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility say coal dust is likely to affect community health, but urge more research
  March 12, 2013 – The precautionary principle states that in the absence of scientific consensus that an action is harmful, it's the job of the government or other entity proposing such action to prove it won't cause harm.
 
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Early Childhood Education and Healthcare Dominate Multnomah County Stage

Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen introduced the speakers at the Wednesday night forum
March 8, 2013 – Calling early childhood and healthcare “two areas that make a big difference, but need a lot of work,” Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen introduced a panel of speakers at the Multnomah Building Wednesday night, to discuss what the state and county are doing about both – and avenues for citizen engagement. Read More >>

Smoking Cessation Benefits Improve in Oregon

Collaborative leads the way in establishing an effective standard of care
March 7, 2013 -- Oregonians save $400 million in healthcare costs every time the smoking rate drops by 1 percent, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. To help people quit, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 734 in 2009, requiring health insurers to spend at least $500 per person on tobacco cessation programs. By enacting that law, 70 percent of Oregonians -- 15 and older -- had such coverage. Yet, advocates recognized the gap between having benefit coverage and having benefits that actually made a difference. Read More >>

Actor Gary Busey Celebrates the 35 th Anniversary of The Buddy Holly Story at Oregon Brain Injury Fundraiser

March 1, 2013 ---   Academy Award nominated actor Gary Busey, who survived a traumatic brain injury in 1988, will deliver a talk focusing on his experience with the healing properties of music and art in honor of the 35th anniversary of the film, The Buddy Holly Story on Friday, March 8, 2013, at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. Dinner highlights include award presentations made to honorees that have made significant contributions to BIAOR and the greater Oregon brain injury community.   Read More >>

Tackling Tobacco: What Some CCOs are Doing to Break the Habit

The Lund Report spoke with several CCOs recently to find out how they’re planning to help their members stop smoking
February 26, 2013 -- The coordinated care organizations have been tasked with a daunting challenge – reducing the growth in Medicaid expenditures while also improving healthcare quality and access. Burden of Tobacco Among Medicaid Clients in Oregon. Read More >>

Children's Institute Focuses on Reaching Kids Earlier

While research suggests the first three years of life are the most critical for brain development, the policy prescription has not yet been written
February 21, 2013 – Last week, President Barack Obama called for increased investment in universal early childhood education – a proposition that, despite being backed by mountains of research on the brain development of children remains a political hot potato. Read More >>

House Health Committee Votes to Make Bedbug Reports Voluntary and Private

Multnomah County Health wants to better chart information about outbreaks with confidential information from exterminators
  February 7, 2013 -- A bill that would allow exterminators to keep secret information about bedbug outbreaks passed the House Health Committee Wednesday without opposition. The Multnomah County Health Department pushed for the new exceptions to public records law to set up a voluntary reporting system where pest control companies will feel more free to report bedbugs without fear of public backlash against their clients. Read More >>

Data on Kaiser 'Exercise as a Vital Sign' Still Preliminary

Physicians hope that by talking to patients about their physical activity levels they can get information about barriers, and advocate for changes in the community
February 7, 2013 – Despite numerous correlations between exercise and long-term health, doctors don't necessarily ask patients how often they work out and what they do – unless the patient is being seen for a sports injury, heart problem or other issue directly related to exercise. Read More >>

County's Annual Homeless Count Wraps Up

The results of the count drive will actually determine funding for social services
February 4, 2013 – It will be months before local officials have compiled all the data from Multnomah County's biennial homeless count, which wrapped up Saturday – but the results of the count will have implications for social services throughout the area for the next two years or longer. Conducting the count is a necessary condition to receiving $12 million for services in the area, including federal funds for homeless services, said Kristina Smock, an independent consultant who was hired on behalf of 211 info and the city of Portland to coordinate the street count. On top of that, specific information gathered during the count will affect how local social services agencies are funded and how policy decisions are made, Smock said. Read More >>

Oregon Midwives Face New Regulation

Meanwhile, they continue to push for broader Oregon Health Plan coverage
January 30, 2013 -- Practitioners of one of medicine’s oldest professions could face new regulation in Oregon after this coming legislative session. And implementation of the Affordable Care Act could bring even more changes – though that remains far from clear. What is certain is that many midwives across the state are worried. Read More >>
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