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Broadband Gaps Significantly Limit Telehealth Access in Rural U.S. Healthcare Deserts

Broadband Gaps Significantly Limit Telehealth Access in Rural U.S. Healthcare Deserts

A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that significant broadband gaps are severely limiting the reach of telehealth services in rural areas of the United States, particularly in regions already designated as healthcare deserts. The study, which analyzed data across 41 states, found that approximately 11.9 million people, or 4.8% of the study population, live in areas without sufficient broadband speeds for telehealth. A substantial 10.5 million of these individuals, representing 88.1% of the total, reside in rural areas. Furthermore, over 649,000 rural residents face a triple barrier, living simultaneously in broadband, ambulance, and healthcare deserts. While nearly 946,300 rural residents have limited access to ambulance and healthcare services but possess adequate broadband, highlighting a potential for virtual care, the overall lack of reliable internet connectivity remains a critical impediment to expanding healthcare access in these underserved communities.
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Asian Health Coalition Addresses Breast Cancer Disparities in Underserved Communities

Asian Health Coalition Addresses Breast Cancer Disparities in Underserved Communities

The Asian Health Coalition (AHC), an organization with roots in Chicago, has been working for nearly 30 years to address health disparities in underserved communities, particularly among Asian American, Pacific Islander, and African American populations. Their SCREEN program provides vital breast cancer prevention and education to community members in need. According to Alia Southworth, Senior Program Director of Health Promotions at the AHC, a lack of preventative care and cancer education in these communities often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment, higher rates of cancer, and lower participation in health research. The AHC focuses on increasing cancer research for communities of color and expanding education and preventative care. They emphasize the need for disaggregated data to reveal disparities often hidden when grouping diverse Asian American ethnicities. The AHC's SCREEN program, an acronym for Screening Cancer, Reducing Inequality, and Engaging Our Neighborhoods, was developed through list...
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U.S. States Implement Varied Flu Vaccination Policies, Influencing Coverage Rates

U.S. States Implement Varied Flu Vaccination Policies, Influencing Coverage Rates

Flu vaccination rates across the U.S. exhibit significant variation, influenced by state-specific policies and healthcare infrastructure. New England and parts of the upper Midwest consistently show higher coverage compared to the Southeast and Mountain West. This geographical disparity is not primarily due to weather or flu severity but rather policy decisions, such as mandatory flu shots for children in licensed childcare in states like Connecticut and Rhode Island. These states require annual flu shots for children enrolled in state-licensed childcare and preschool programs, making proof of vaccination a condition for attendance. Rhode Island's rule, for instance, covers children from six months through 59 months of age, aligning with CDC recommendations that identify this age group as having a high risk of flu-related hospitalization. Additionally, the authority granted to pharmacists to vaccinate without a prescription, Medicare Advantage plans promoting preventive care for seniors, and public health ...
ReutersReuters
CDC sees low plague risk, monitors Siberia arrivals after worker death, director says

CDC sees low plague risk, monitors Siberia arrivals after worker death, director says

Oct 7 (Reuters) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Erica ‌Schwartz said on Wednesday the risk to the US from an unconfirmed pneumonic plague case in Siberia was extremely low, but the agency was prepared to monitor and screen travelers.
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Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley Expands Access to Breast Cancer Care and Community Health Services

Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley Expands Access to Breast Cancer Care and Community Health Services

Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley is actively working to enhance health and well-being in the Mahoning Valley by connecting local giving with local care. The foundation raises funds to support various Mercy Health initiatives, including breast cancer services, diagnostic equipment, prescription assistance, and community health programs. Paul Homick, president of the foundation, emphasizes that every dollar raised remains within the Mahoning Valley to ensure residents receive care regardless of their ability to pay. This support helps address barriers that might prevent individuals from accessing necessary medical services. A notable development is the introduction of the endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center by Dr. Nicole Reyes, a breast surgical oncologist. This procedure, which uses minimally invasive techniques to preserve the breast's skin and nipple, is relatively new to the United States and expands treatment options for patients in the region,...
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Researcher Advocates for Tailored Health Interventions for Forcibly Displaced Populations

Researcher Advocates for Tailored Health Interventions for Forcibly Displaced Populations

Landry Kalembo, a global health doctoral candidate at McMaster University, is conducting research focused on understanding how forced displacement impacts health outcomes. His work emphasizes the need for health interventions to be specifically tailored to the diverse experiences of displaced individuals, rather than treating all forcibly displaced people as a single group. Kalembo's research is informed by his personal experience of displacement from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda and then to Canada. He highlights that refugees and asylum-seekers crossing international borders, internally displaced people remaining within their own countries, and those repeatedly displaced face different challenges that profoundly shape their health trajectories and access to care. His studies also examine the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases in these contexts, considering factors like financial hardship, food insecurity, unstable housing, and strained health systems. Kalembo describes displacem...
The Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch
Hundreds in Ohio sickened by sexually transmitted diarrhea disease

Hundreds in Ohio sickened by sexually transmitted diarrhea disease

The sexually transmitted diarrhea disease shigellosis is becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Here's what Ohioans should know.
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Senator Gillibrand Reintroduces Bill to Expand Cancer Screenings for Low-Income Women

Senator Gillibrand Reintroduces Bill to Expand Cancer Screenings for Low-Income Women

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in reintroducing the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act. This legislation aims to broaden access to critical breast and gynecological cancer screenings, particularly for low-income women and women of color. The proposed bill seeks to establish new grant and pilot programs designed to enhance preventive services and cancer screenings at safety net healthcare providers, including organizations like Planned Parenthood. Additionally, the act would support training initiatives for healthcare professionals, focusing on improving the quality of cancer screening, early detection methods, and subsequent follow-up care. Senator Gillibrand emphasized that millions of women in the U.S. currently lack access to these preventative screenings, which are vital for early detection of life-threatening illnesses. The legislation is named in honor of Jeanette Acosta, a women's health advocate and former congressional staffer who passed awa...
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Life Insurers Label Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer as 'Untreated Cancer,' Impacting Coverage

Life Insurers Label Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer as 'Untreated Cancer,' Impacting Coverage

Individuals undergoing active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer are facing significant challenges in securing life insurance, as insurers often categorize their condition as 'untreated cancer.' This issue, highlighted by a medical journalist who experienced rejections from eight insurers in 2013, persists today. Despite medical recommendations for active surveillance—close monitoring with PSA blood tests, biopsies, and MRIs for low-risk cases like Gleason 6 (Grade Group 1)—insurance underwriters view this approach differently. A hypothetical case of a 64-year-old man with a new Gleason 6 diagnosis and a past heart attack, referred to as 'Young Howard,' revealed that insurers might postpone decisions for three to five years, requiring stable PSA results and no upgrading. This delay, coupled with potential higher rates due to age and other health factors like a heart attack, creates substantial financial penalties for patients following their doctors' advice.
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Dr. Bettina Drake Honored by Washington University for Reducing Cancer Disparities

Dr. Bettina Drake Honored by Washington University for Reducing Cancer Disparities

Dr. Bettina Drake, a cancer epidemiologist at Washington University (WashU) Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center, has been installed as the Michael F. Neidorff Professor. This recognition honors her extensive work in addressing cancer disparities and improving outcomes for underserved communities. Dr. Drake has led initiatives that have significantly reduced breast cancer disparities and improved outcomes for African American women in the region, lowered colon cancer fatality rates, and expanded smoking cessation programs. Her approach emphasizes community engagement, moving beyond merely identifying health problems to actively implementing interventions. She also co-leads the Prostate Cancer Community Partnership, which is part of the Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities, focusing on reducing prostate cancer disparities in the area. Dr. Drake developed 'Health on the Move,' a program that deploys community health workers with mobile mammography and lung cancer screening services across an 82-co...
Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Enquirer
Why Ohio is at risk for more measles cases as 2026 outbreak grows

Why Ohio is at risk for more measles cases as 2026 outbreak grows

Ohio is battling its third measles outbreak of 2026. The state is at risk to see the number of cases continue to rise.
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Lewis County Reports All 11 Measles Cases Confined to One Town

Lewis County Reports All 11 Measles Cases Confined to One Town

All 11 confirmed measles cases in Lewis County, New York, are concentrated within the town of Lowville, according to Ashley Waite, the county's public health director. The affected individuals include both children and adults, some of whom are related. Notably, all confirmed cases are among unvaccinated individuals, and none of the affected children attend public schools. This localized outbreak comes as Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over the increasing number of measles cases across rural areas of New York. Waite stated that the governor's declaration will provide more resources to both state and local health departments, aiding in faster case identification and increased vaccine availability. According to state data, there are currently no confirmed measles cases in neighboring Jefferson or St. Lawrence counties.