- Health Care Industry
Cedars-Sinai and Federal Agency Partner to Improve Maternal Care in Los Angeles
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has reached an agreement with the government to resolve allegations that it violated federal laws against discrimination when treating pregnant Black, Latina and other patients of color, officials said Thursday. The agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights comes two months after the agency told Cedars-Sinai its investigation “raises concerns that a lower standard of care is provided to Black patients compared to their white counterparts — especially leading up to and during obstetric hemorrhage.” (Alpert Reyes, 1/16)
Northern California Nurses Rally For Improved Staffing And Patient Safety Amid AI Concerns
Thousands of registered nurse members of National Nurses United, including many in Northern California, participated in marches and rallies on Thursday, demanding safe staffing levels and patient safeguards with the introduction of artificial intelligence, the NNU says. More than 100,000 NNU members are entering contract negotiations, saying they "plan to confront industry decisions that undermine patients' health and well-being and fail to address chronic RN recruitment and retention issues – in favor of increasing profits." (Downs, 1/16)
Gallup Poll Reveals Trust Rankings for Nurses and Doctors
Nurses once again earned the top spot as the most trusted profession in America, with pharmacists and physicians ranking fourth and fifth on Gallup's annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll. Of those surveyed, 76% rated nurses as having "high" or "very high" ethical standards. Grade-school teachers ranked second, with 61% of respondents saying they have high or very high ethical standards, followed by military officers (59%), pharmacists (57%), and physicians (53%). (Firth, 1/13)
Co-CEOs Share Vision for Newly Merged California Healthcare System
Following the merger of Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and Orange, Calif.-based Children's Hospital of Orange County to form Rady Children's Health, the three-hospital system's co-CEOs, Kimberly Cripe and Patrick Frias, MD, are ready to hit the ground running as a dynamic duo. ... Becker's connected with Ms. Cripe and Dr. Frias to learn more about their post-merger plans and how they plan to work hand-in-hand to ensure seamless integration. (Ashley, 1/10)
How Medical Schools Can Increase the Primary Care Physician Workforce
More medical schools say they will no longer charge tuition, in hopes that more students, graduating free of debt, will choose lower-paying primary care careers. But evidence suggests it will take a lot more than a free ride to replenish the primary care pipeline. (Felice J. Freyer, 1/13)
- Children’s Health
Zika Exposure in Utero Linked to Developmental Delays in Children, Even Without Congenital Syndrome
Two recent studies, including one published today in Pediatrics, show that exposure to the Zika virus (ZIKV) in utero can have affect children's development later in childhood, with today's study showing the finding holds true even when the children are born without signs of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The study in Pediatrics is based on outcomes seen in Brazil among mother-infant pairs from 2018 to 2022. The children were assessed for early (congenital anomalies) and long-term adverse outcomes (neurodevelopmental delay), and the study included children with and without CZS, which is a group of birth defects associated with the disease. (Soucheray, 1/16)
New Nasal Test Identifies Asthma Subtypes in Children
Asthma comes in different subtypes, but diagnosing those subtypes — also known as endotypes — has historically been difficult. Newly published research in JAMA presents an alternative: a nasal swab test that researchers say accurately diagnoses a child’s asthma subtype. ... Understanding a child’s asthma type can help target treatment, but precisely pinpointing asthma endotype has relied on an invasive procedure that can be difficult to perform on a child. (Blakemore, 1/12)
Childhood Vaccination Rates Were Dropping Prior to R.F.K. Jr.'s Rise
After years of holding steady, American vaccination rates against once-common childhood diseases have been dropping. Nationwide, the rate of kindergartners with complete records for the measles vaccine declined from around 95 percent before the pandemic to under 93 percent last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization rates against polio, whooping cough and chickenpox fell similarly. (Paris, 1/12)
Expanding 'Medical Freedom' Movement Challenges Public Health Efforts
The "medical freedom" movement that has gained traction in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic could continue to push public health statistics in a troubling direction, experts told MedPage Today. ... In 2024, the percentage of U.S. kindergartners with an exemption from at least one required vaccine increased to 3.3%, the highest percentage ever noted, according to the CDC. There also were more than 32,000 cases of pertussis, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and there were 16 measles outbreaks totaling 284 cases, up from 4 outbreaks with 59 cases the year prior, CDC said. (Henderson, 1/10)
Childhood Vaccination Rates, Once a Bright Spot in Struggling States, Are Now Declining
Jen Fisher can do only so much to keep her son safe from the types of infections that children can encounter at school. The rest, she said, is up to other students and parents in their hometown of Franklin, Tennessee. Fisher’s son Raleigh, 12, lives with a congenital heart condition, which has left him with a weakened immune system. For his protection, Raleigh has received all the recommended vaccines for a child his age. But even with his vaccinations, a virus that might only sideline another child could sicken him and land him in the emergency room, Fisher said. (Chang and Whitehead, 1/16)
Abbott Accused of Misleading Parents About Potentially Harmful Toddler Formula
A year after the American Academy of Pediatrics flagged what it described as "questionable marketing practices" by makers of formulas for older infants and toddlers, Abbott Laboratories is being sued over how it pitches such products. Abbott, a health care products conglomerate based in Illinois, is misleading parents and other caregivers about the nutritional value of its sugar-laden toddler milks, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) against the maker of Similac formulas. (Gibson, 1/15)
Newsom Proposes Three-Month Diaper Supply for California Families
Families welcoming new babies could soon be coming home from the hospital with free diapers if an initiative within Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal, unveiled on Friday, passes. The diaper initiative would set aside up to $7.4 million in this year’s budget and $12.5 million the following year to provide a three-month supply of diapers to families of newborns, regardless of income. The program aims to provide an estimated 40 million diapers this year and 80 million next year. (Burke, 1/14)
Adults May Soon Be Vulnerable to 'Childhood' Diseases, Experts Warn
There were more than 32,000 cases of whooping cough in 2024, the highest tally in a decade. In California alone, the disease struck 2,000 people between January and October last year. More than 60 infants younger than 4 months were hospitalized in the state. One died. ... If immunizations continue to fall over the next few years — because of rising distrust, or more restrictive federal policies — preventable infectious diseases will resurface in all age groups, experts say. (Mandavilli, 1/13)
Study Shows Most Children with Severe MIS-C Fully Recover Within 6 Months
A study yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that even the kids who get most sick from an uncommon but serious condition that affects multiple organ systems after COVID-19 infections recover fully by 6 months after infection. The retrospective cohort study followed outcomes seen among pediatric patients diagnosed as having multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 infection, one of the most severe outcomes seen during the pandemic. (Soucheray, 1/14)
- Women’s Health
New Report Finds Young Women Are Nearly Twice As Likely To Be Diagnosed With Cancer As Young Men
Charmella Roark remembers the shock that stopped her in her tracks when she learned about her younger sister’s cancer diagnosis. In 2018, Kiki Roark wrote in their family’s group text that she had been diagnosed with stage I breast cancer – the same disease that had taken their aunt’s life just a few years prior. (Howard, 1/16)
- Wildfires
California Teens Report Mental Health Struggles Amid Covid And Wildfire Crises: The disaster has again disrupted the education and nutrition of thousands of children. In Pasadena alone, five school sites have been destroyed or severely damaged. “The pandemic took a really hard toll on my mental health, and getting back into a regular schedule and going to a campus ... was really healing,” said Kira Weibel, a senior at Aveson Global Leadership Academy. “And now all of it’s gone.” Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Scroll down for more news about the wildfires.
The Long-Term Health Impacts of L.A. County Wildfire Smoke
The explosion of smoke and ash that erupted from two wildfires was beyond belief. In the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, as the Eaton fire engulfed homes and businesses, a thick blanket of smoke rolled over the horizon, blocking out the sun. The wildfires produced the heaviest smoke and soot the region has seen in recent memory. (Briscoe, 1/16)
Palisades Firefighters Participate in Pioneering Cancer Study
The Wildfire Conservancy is conducting a first-of-a-kind cancer study on firefighters battling the Palisades Fire. The goal is to track how the extreme conditions increase firefighters’ risk of cancer. The study comes after the International Agency for Research on Cancer officially classified firefighting as a carcinogenic profession. (Smith, 1/15)
How Wildfires Tested and Highlighted City of Hope's Resilience
The Eaton fire broke out in Altadena on the morning of Jan. 8, just eight miles from City of Hope's main campus in Duarte, where about 230 cancer patients were hospitalized. As the fire spread, multiple staff members, including faculty and physician leaders, arrived in the middle of the night to care for patients, some even after being evacuated from their homes. "That combination of how scary the moment was, combined with the inspiration of people truly putting patients first and living that value, was in full effect in the middle of the night," CEO Robert Stone told Becker's on Jan. 13. (Kuchno, 1/15)
HHS Declares Public Health Emergency Due to California Wildfires
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for California on Friday to address the health impacts of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. The declaration provides greater flexibility for Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers, enabling them to address emergency health needs, officials said. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra made the announcement, following President Biden’s major disaster declaration. (Schlepp, 1/10)
The Psychological Impact of California's Devastating Fires
Entire neighborhoods in Southern California have been destroyed by deadly wildfires, displacing communities that don't know what — if anything — they'll have to return to. Researchers have linked wildfires to long-lasting anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors, in addition to the well-documented physical toll. (Rubin, 1/12)
List of Free and Discounted Resources for Los Angeles-Area Fire Victims
In the face of the unprecedented disaster, national companies, local businesses, nonprofits, individuals and communities are coming together to provide resources, supplies and services for free or at discounted rates for victims of the emergency. Here is a list of offerings for fire victims in and around Los Angeles County. (Garcia, 1/10)
Los Angeles Wildfire Smoke Contributes Billions to Healthcare Costs
Los Angeles has experienced some of the world’s worst air quality this week as smoke from massive wildfires blankets the region and threatens the health of far more people than the fires themselves. And that will end up adding to the economic toll. Almost 180,000 have been forced to flee their homes and at least 10,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged. The fires are projected to cause $20 billion in insured losses, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts. That damage projection doesn’t even factor in the likely high health impacts of the smoke, which cause an estimated billions in hidden health-linked costs in the US annually. (Hirji, 1/10)
- LGBTQ+ Health
Republican Bill Seeks to Ban Transgender Girls from High School Sports in California
On the first day of the California Legislature’s new session, Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, an Orange County Republican, introduced a bill that would ban transgender high school students from competing on girls’ sports teams. ... Sanchez’s proposed law, called the Protect Girls’ Sports Act, is almost certain to fail in a Legislature controlled by a Democratic supermajority with a record of embracing inclusion for LGBTQ+ Californians. (Branson-Potts, 1/16)
Medical Experts Discuss Meta Policy Allowing 'Mentally Ill' Label for LGBTQ+ Individuals
Alongside the announcement that Meta was ending its relationship with independent fact-checkers, the social media company outlined new "hateful conduct" policies. Those policies explicitly permit users to call LGBTQ+ people "mentally ill" or "abnormal" without violating platform rules. These changes are part of a larger shift in how Meta plans to moderate content and speech on its platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. But these carve-outs could also allow the spread of misinformation. (Abels, 1/14)
House Passes Bill to Ban Transgender Women from Women's Sports
The House on Tuesday voted 218-206 to ban transgender girls and women from girls’ sports in federally-funded schools by amending Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions. This bill, the first federal anti-trans law brought to a vote in a newly GOP-controlled Congress, is Democrats’ first test on whether they will fight an expected wave of proposed anti-trans laws under President-elect Donald Trump. (Rummler, 1/14)
- Red Dye #3
FDA Bans Use of Red Dye No. 3, Linked to Cancer Risks, in Foods
The Food and Drug Administration banned the use of red dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs on Wednesday, more than 30 years after the additive was found to cause cancer in rats. (Lawrence and Todd, 1/15)
Food Safety Advocates Anticipate Smooth Transition Away from Red Dye No. 3
Food safety advocates cheered the news that U.S. regulators are banning Red No. 3 — and said they don’t anticipate any hiccups in quickly removing the artificial dye from America’s grocery shelves. ... Those who petitioned to have Red No. 3 prohibited said there’s no reason why it can’t be taken out of products sooner. It has long been banned in the European Union and some other countries, meaning many companies that sell foods and beverages overseas already have recipes that they can easily swap in for American consumers. (Chuck, 1/15)
- Nutrition
FDA Proposes New 'Nutrition Info' Label for Front of Food Packages
The FDA issued a proposed rule Tuesday that would require food manufacturers to put "Nutrition Info" labels on the front of their packages stating whether the food inside contains a high, medium, or low level of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. ... For labeling purposes, a food would be defined as having a "high" level of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars if the amount was equal to or greater than 20% of that nutrient's recommended daily value (RDV). A "medium" level would be between 5% and 20% of the RDV, and a "low" level would be 5% or less of the RDV. (Frieden, 1/14)
Scientists Propose New Method for Defining Obesity Beyond BMI, NPR Reports
An international committee of scientists has proposed a change to the way obesity is defined and diagnosed. The goal is to offer a more nuanced and objective way to assess body composition, by adding more metrics, such as waist circumference, to the criteria. For years, the method physicians have used to determine whether a person has obesity is to calculate their BMI — or body mass index. BMI is a quick and inexpensive estimate based on weight and height. (Aubrey, 1/15)
- Mental Health
Studies Reveal Online Therapy Boom Has Primarily Benefited Privileged Groups
The number of Americans receiving psychotherapy increased by 30 percent during the pandemic, as virtual sessions replaced in-person appointments — but new research dampens the hope that technology will make mental health care more available to the neediest populations. In fact, the researchers found, the shift to teletherapy has exacerbated existing disparities. (Barry, 1/15)
How to Avoid Toxic Positivity in Times of Tragedy, According to Experts
Toxic positivity is the tendency to put a ceaselessly positive spin on everything, even when it’s not called for. For example, telling someone who has just lost their home, “At least you’re alive,” can feel dismissive and invalidate their pain. Similarly, assuring someone who has lost a home or a loved one that “everything happens for a reason” can make them feel pressured to suppress their grief rather than process it naturally, mental health experts say. (Williams, 1/10)