Featured Content
 |
| Your feedback is important to us. Click here to email us your feedback. |
| AAP SmartBrief |
| September 7, 2012 |
Target rates met for many childhood vaccines, CDC says
Vaccination coverage for several recommended routine vaccines exceeded the Healthy People 2020 target of 90% or more among children aged 19 months to 35 months in the U.S. in 2011, CDC researchers wrote in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. However, measles vaccination rates were below 90% in 15 states. HealthDay News (9/6)
22% of children are food insecure, USDA says
Nationwide in 2011, about 22% of children lived in a home that could not provide "adequate, nutritious" food, according to a report by the USDA Economic Research Service. "While the majority of Americans have consistent, dependable access to nutritious food, food insecurity ... continues to be a challenge among certain low-income households at times during the year," said Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. The Washington Post/All We Can Eat blog (9/5)
Study looks at incidence of PTSD among young cancer patients
Swiss researchers interviewed 48 mothers of babies and young children with cancer and found that many of the young patients showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following diagnosis or when undergoing treatment. They also reported in the journal Psycho-Oncology that toddlers were more prone to PTSD than babies. Medical News Today (9/6)
Cranberry juice may prevent recurrence of pediatric UTIs
Children with a history of urinary tract infections who drank cranberry juice rich in proanthocyanidins were less likely to experience recurrent UTIs than those who consumed noncranberry juices, a Canadian study found. The findings appear in the Journal of Urology. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model)/Reuters (9/6)
Omega-3 supplements boost children's reading skills in study
Daily supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids improved the reading skills of children with lowest literacy levels, according to a U.K. study published in the journal PloS One. Although parents saw improvements in their children's behavior, teachers reported no difference on behavioral scores in the supplement group. The Guardian (London) (9/6)
Popular teens more likely to smoke
Data on more than 1,950 high-school students in the Los Angeles area showed that popular teens were more likely to take up smoking than less popular students. The study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Booster Shots blog (9/6)
IOM report: Technology can improve health care quality
An Institute of Medicine report lays out strategies to address inefficiencies in the health care system that the authors say have far-reaching effects. Changes such as boosting information access, patient engagement and care equity; increasing use of health IT; improving connectivity; and better assessment of provider performance to limit errors were among the changes the panel said would bolster care quality. Healthcare IT News (9/6) Modern Healthcare (free registration) (9/6) Nurse.com (9/6)
Eye tracking shows promise for detecting ADHD, FASD
Monitoring eye movements while watching TV can identify children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and seniors with Parkinson's disease, a study in the Journal of Neurology found. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (9/6)
Hospitalist programs draw more specialist physicians
Hospitalist programs are attracting more specialists and physicians say it is important for all doctors in a community to be involved in structuring programs that help improve care but don't hurt office-based practitioners. Specialist-hospitalists are seen as a way to help hospitals reduce readmission rates, but experts say communication and payment issues must be carefully considered. American Medical News (free content) (9/3)
Incentive payments for EHR use hit nearly $6.6B in July
Some 3,884 hospitals and 267,221 physicians and other eligible providers are enrolled in electronic health record incentive initiatives, according to a CMS report. As of July, the programs had distributed nearly $6.6 billion in EHR payments, and officials say that figure is now approaching $7 billion. Modern Healthcare (free registration) (9/6) Government Health IT online (9/6)
Featured Content
|
Health advisory issued on HPS in California
The CDC has issued a health advisory concerning six confirmed cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome associated with staying at Yosemite National Park in California. Two of the affected people died and additional suspected cases are being investigated. The purpose of the HAN Advisory is to inform state health departments and health care providers to be alert to the possibility of HPS in patients who may have had recent exposure to rodents or a history of travel to Yosemite National Park during the period of June through August 2012. Visit the AAP website for recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of HPS.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day
Sept. 9 is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FASDs, which include a wide range of physical and mental disabilities and lasting emotional and behavioral problems. Learn more about FASD by visiting the AAP Medical Home Web page or the CDC website.
|
--Antony Jay, |
Email: aap@smartbrief.com
Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004
Legal and Privacy information at
http://www.smartbrief.com/legal.jsp
Unsubscribe
The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions."