Latest from Jack Orleans
Fiebre del valle afecta de manera desproporcionada a poblaciones minoritarias
TUCSON – La fiebre del valle es una enfermedad que proviene de las esporas de un hongo que se encuentra en los suelos de Arizona y de otros estados del país. La enfermedad afecta principalmente a comunidades de color.
Texas Tech Health El Paso program helps high school students go to medical school in state, aims to relieve statewide doctor shortage
EL PASO, Texas – As Texas faces a doctor shortage, a new program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso gives prospective medical students resources to encourage them to pursue their education and practice in state.
Inmigrantes de Salton Sea experimentan altas tasas de asma por inhalar polvo del lecho marino seco
NORTH SHORE, California – Los residentes que viven cerca de Salton Sea, una laguna en California sur, experimentan asma a menudo, especialmente asma en la niñez. Los problemas de salud que los residentes experimentan son por el polvo de pescados muertos.
Programa MedFuture de la Universidad Tecnológica de Texas tiene como objetivo aliviar la escasez de médicos en todo el estado
EL PASO, Texas – A medida que Texas se enfrenta a una escasez de médicos, un nuevo programa ofrece a los futuros estudiantes de medicina una recursos para continuar su educación en el estado.
Salton Sea immigrant community experiences high rates of asthma from inhaling dust from the drying sea bed
NORTH SHORE, California – Childhood asthma rates are disproportionately high for immigrant families who live and work near the Salton Sea in Southern California. Scientists say the alarming rate of respiratory problems comes from inhaling dust of decayed fish that ingested toxic materials flowing into the sea from nearby agricultural sites.
Tasa prolongada de COVID de Arizona es más alta que el promedio nacional y los hispanos experimentan síntomas a un ritmo más alto que otros grupos
PHOENIX – A medida que los Arizonenses experimentan tasas más altas de COVID prolongado, los nuevos programas de tratamiento trabajan para proporcionar respuestas a las disparidades persistentes.
The rise of Valley fever
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, Calif. – Valley fever has been infecting people in the Southwest U.S., Central America and South America for decades. Its name comes from early cases detected in the San Joaquin Valley, California.
Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the Southwest, disproportionately affects minority populations
TUCSON – Valley Fever, a disease caused by Coccidioides spores, can cause life-threatening illnesses, particularly in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. There is still a lack of awareness as to how serious this disease can get, and the scope of it, even in the medical community.
Valleywise Health opens a new medical center in Phoenix to “serve the underserved”
PHOENIX – Valleywise opens a new medical center in Phoenix to provide updated health services to Valley residents.
Organización sin fines de lucro y una nueva píldora para la depresión posparto ayudan a quienes luchan su batalla silenciosa
PHOENIX - Una organización sin fines de lucro, Mrs. Arizona International, y una nueva píldora de $16,000 busca ayudar a quienes sufren de depresión posparto.
Arizona’s long-COVID rate is higher than the national average and Hispanics experience symptoms at a higher rate than other groups
PHOENIX – As Arizonans experience higher rates of long COVID, new treatment programs work to provide answers to persisting disparities.
Behind the smile: How a nonprofit organization and a postpartum depression pill seek to help fight a silent battle
PHOENIX — A nonprofit organization, a Mrs. Arizona International, and a new $16,000 pill seek to help those suffering with postpartum depression.
Black people have the highest opioid fatality rate among all other races and ethnicities in Arizona
PHOENIX – African Americans have the highest opioid fatality rate among all other races and ethnicities in Arizona. As recently as 2015, Blacks were less likely to overdose than other races or ethnicities. Now, due to a steep rise in overdose deaths, Black people have the highest overdose fatality rate, followed closely by Native Americans.
Governor’s office partners with RIP Medical Debt to forgive billions in medical debt for some Arizonans
PHOENIX — Katie Hobbs announced that federal American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used to pay off medical debt of Arizonans who meet special criteria.
Cigarrillos mentolados, comercializados a la comunidad de la raza negra, afronta prohibiciones federales
PHOENIX – Desde la década de los sesenta, los cigarrillos mentolados ha sido muy comercializados a la comunidad de la raza negra y otras comunidades de color que han sufrido consecuencias a su salud. Ahora, un movimiento para prohibir los cigarrillos mentolados está en desarrollo.
FDA considers updating pulse oximeter guidelines to make readings on dark skin more accurate
PHOENIX – The FDA is considering changing pulse oximeter clinical testing regulations after a series of events exposed inaccuracies for patients with dark skin
Phoenix evaluates downtown bike lanes on Fillmore Street
PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is currently working on a pre-design phase for a project that would add bike lanes, or a two-way protected bikeway, on Fillmore Street from Seventh to Central avenues. That project would connect to changes made in 2022 to Fillmore Street east of Central Avenue to Seventh Street.
Menthol cigarettes, heavily marketed to African American communities for years, face possible state and federal bans
PHOENIX – Since the 1960s, menthol cigarettes have been heavily marketed to African American and other minority communities, which have suffered lasting health effects. Now a movement to ban menthol tobacco products is mounting.
Arizona registra un aumento del 20% en los casos de VIH que afectan sobre todo a la comunidad hispana
PHOENIX — Los casos de VIH registrados en Arizona han aumentado un 20%, un aumento que afecta en gran medida a la comunidad hispana. Una organización asistencial de Phoenix describe cómo persisten las barreras económicas y culturales para convencer a la gente de que se haga la prueba.
Mobile maternity care clinics work to expand prenatal care accessibility
PHOENIX – One in six infants in Arizona was born to a woman receiving inadequate prenatal care in 2022. To tackle lack of accessibility, mobile maternity care units are bringing prenatal care to communities that need affordable prenatal resources.
Maricopa County, First Place hold mock election for disabled voters ahead of presidential primary
PHOENIX – Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and Elections Office is providing tools to help voters with disabilities cast their ballots and has teamed up with First Place, a residential center for people with disabilities.
Black Americans three times as likely to experience kidney failure as whites
PHOENIX — Black Americans are more likely to experience kidney failure than any other racial group in the United States, as the community has high rates of high blood pressure and diabetes.
The VA pioneered the use of telehealth for veterans who can’t easily access health care facilities
PHOENIX – Veterans Affairs has been using telehealth since the early 2000s, long before the surge in use brought on by COVID–19. Telehealth helps veterans who have mobility issues and gives them access to specialists even in remote areas.
Arizona reports 20% increase in HIV cases, predominantly affecting Hispanic communities
PHOENIX – Reported Arizona HIV cases have increased by 20%, an uptick largely affecting the Hispanic community. A Phoenix care organization describes how financial and cultural barriers persist to persuading people to get tested.
LGBTQ+ youth face increased risk for suicide and barriers to accessing mental health care
TUCSON – LGBTQ+ youth are facing a persistent mental health crisis and seek gender-affirming resources for support. Societal attitudes and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation create barriers to mental health care for the community.
New software tool takes on institutionalized racism in health care
PHOENIX – Mayo Clinic Arizona will integrate and enhance Truity, TruLite Health’s health equity software program, to address and potentially eliminate health disparities in patient care.
Arizona is in critical need of blood donations for sickle cell disease patients
PHOENIX — A lapse in blood donations has caused a critical blood shortage in Arizona and is affecting sickle cell disease patients. Maintaining a diverse blood supply is especially important for African Americans, who have a higher incidence of sickle cell.
Community 43 supplements Phoenix traditional mental health services with ‘clubhouse’ model focused on social and cognitive skills
PHOENIX — Community 43, a Phoenix mental health facility, uses a “clubhouse” model to provide recreational opportunities for members to improve quality of life and regain independence.
Inauguran máquina expendedora de naloxona en clínica Valle del Sol en el sur de Phoenix
PHOENIX — Valle del Sol, un servicio de salud comunitario con ubicaciones en todo Phoenix, ha instalado una máquina expendedora gratuita de naloxona en su clínica del sur de Phoenix.
Naloxone vending machine unveiled in Valle del Sol clinic in south Phoenix
PHOENIX –Valle del Sol, a community health service with locations all through Phoenix, has set up a free naloxone vending machine at its south Phoenix clinic.
Flight attendants demand better pay and working conditions during Sky Harbor Airport walkout
PHOENIX – Flight attendants at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport joined others across the country in an educational demonstration to shine a light on their struggle to make a deal with their airline employers.
Arizona projected to have largest nursing shortage in U.S. in 2025
PHOENIX — A national analysis predicts Arizona will have the largest nursing shortage in the country by 2025, with 28,100 fewer registered nurses than needed. As both rural and urban hospitals struggle to retain and recruit nurses, advocates look at solutions.
Phoenix urgent care workers treat an influx of respiratory illnesses
PHOENIX – Health professionals say it’s not as bad as during the pandemic, but people with respiratory illnesses are filling hospitals and clinics in Maricopa County. Here’s what to expect if you come down with flu-like symptoms and need care.