Indiana hospitals restrict visits to limit flu spread
Hospitals across Indiana announced restrictions on visitors Wednesday in hopes of preventing the spread of flu, which has claimed the lives of 27 people in the state this season.
Public Health
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Report ranks Indiana among unhealthiest states
America's Health Rankings lists Indiana 41st in its annual review, which was released Tuesday. Obesity, sedentary habits, high smoking rates, low public health funding and air pollution contributed to Indiana’s low rank.
Small charity to use NBC show to boost visibility, vie for $1M prize
The efforts of Indianapolis-based Timmy Global Health to improve health in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa while exposing hundreds of students to the realities of the medical industry have earned it an appearance on network TV and a shot at a $1 million unrestricted grant.
Will Medicaid expansion actually work?
It would be “absurd” and a “travesty” for Indiana not to expand its Medicaid program, according to two local hospital officials. And yet other health care leaders do not expect expanded Medicaid coverage to provide nearly as much help to uninsured Hoosiers as hoped.
New IU public health schools reach milestone
Indiana University says an accrediting agency has approved its request to begin the accreditation process for the Schools of Public Health proposed for its Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses.
Indiana smoking ban brings new sign rules
To comply with the statewide smoking ban that begins July 1, there's more for businesses to do than stop patrons and employees from smoking indoors. The same law compels businesses to post an array of signs that announce the ban.
Indiana measles outbreak illustrates disease risk
Indiana is battling its second measles outbreak in two years, even though its vaccination rate exceeds the national average. Health officials say the cases, traced to a Super Bowl event, illustrate just how vulnerable the public is to exposure from sources at home and abroad.
Carmel free clinic drawing jobless professionals
Trinity Free Clinic in Carmel began in 2000 to serve a growing Hispanic immigrant population. Since the latest recession, so many people—including unemployed professionals—have found their way to the clinic that the portion of white patients has grown from one-third in 2008 to 47 percent last year.
Wishard to use $8.3M grant to stem substance abuse
At three community health centers, all patients will be asked about their alcohol and drug usage confidentially, as part of an early-intervention approach designed to cut down addictions and reduce hospitalization.
Will ACOs really get off the ground?
The hype over accountable care organizations—something every major hospital in Indianapolis is moving to become—is increasingly being laced with skepticism as the economics behind the idea get more scrutiny.
Study spoils common wisdom on health spending
The Thomson Reuters study that showed Anderson as the highest-spending health care market in the nation also concluded that treatment and spending vary widely from one locale to another with no clear reason based on demographics or health outcomes.
Daniels says smoking ban has chance to pass next year
The governor says he wants to see the percentage of adult Hoosiers who smoke drop to 20 percent by the end of his term. A recent report put the state's smoking rate at a historic low of 21.1 percent.
Q&A
The adult smoking rate in Indiana dropped to 21.2 percent last year, a major reduction from the 27 percent rate logged five years ago. Karla Sneegas, assistant commissioner of the State Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission, discussed the progress, as well as her agency’s efforts to help employers help their workers quit smoking.
Obesity, tobacco use among targets of state’s health priorities
Indiana health officials are targeting infant mortality, obesity, tobacco use and other health priorities in a new five-year plan aimed at improving the health of Hoosiers.
Study: Medicaid better than nothing
Health care reform will add roughly 500,000 Hoosiers to the Medicaid program and, in spite of great criticism of that expansion, a new study suggests Medicaid coverage does help consumers get more care, have fewer unpaid bills and feel better.
Hamilton, Boone counties among Indiana’s healthiest
A new report says Hamilton and Boone counties are among the healthiest in Indiana, while Marion ranks among the worst.
Peru immigrant built career on helping local Hispanics
Aida McCammon has spent 20 years helping Hispanics improve their lives and succeed in the United States.
Carmel firm gets FDA approval for lice treatment
ParaPRO LLC’s treatment, called Natroba, has a potential U.S. market of 6 million to 12 million infected children annually.
Bill would let Indiana pharmacies collect old meds
A bill authored by Republican Rep. Kevin Mahan of Hartford City would revise state law so that pharmacies could accept unused prescription drugs from customers and dispose of them securely and safely.
Q&A
Les Zwirn, executive director of Better Healthcare for Indiana, talked about his group’s progress on promoting community collaborations to improve health and reduce the cost of care in cities around Indiana. BHI is hosting its third health care summit of Indiana community leaders today at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.