‘Absolutely amazing’ Anthem LemonAid is next Friday, Saturday and Sunday
(BrightGram – July 13, 2024)

Anthem LemonAid, the annual event raising money to help children fight cancer at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU since 2000, is next Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21. “It started because there was just a real need there was a need to be able to provide resources for patients and families here in the Richmond area struggling with cancer and fighting, fighting, fighting cancer,” Vaughan Clark, the special events coordinator for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, said.

Beat the heat: How to stay safe and active in the summer heat
(WSLS – July 9, 2024)

As summer temperatures soar, staying active can be a challenge. Doctors said, if you need to be exercising outside, the best time to get moving is early in the morning or in the evening during the coolest parts of the day. Doctors recommend during the hottest parts of the day to exercise indoors by going on a mall walk, or using resources inside your home. To avoid getting heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion, you need to stay hydrated.

CEO of company that sought to reopen Patrick County hospital indicted on embezzlement charges in Chicago
(Cardinal News – July 15, 2024)

The president and CEO of Foresight Health, the company that more than two years ago pledged to reopen the long-shuttered hospital in Patrick County, has been indicted on federal charges of scheming to embezzle more than $15 million from a hospital in Chicago between 2018 and 2022. Sameer Suhail, 47, is charged with six counts of wire fraud, six counts of aiding and abetting embezzlement, and two counts of money laundering, court records show.

CHoR opens region’s first pediatric cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab
(Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU – July 12, 2024)

A cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab is now open in the Children’s Tower. The new lab is the first dedicated cardiac procedure suite of its kind in the region, allowing for minimally invasive testing and procedures in a pediatric-specific environment. Prior to its opening, CHoR shared cardiac procedure space with the teams caring for adults at VCU Medical Center. “Providing the best care for children and families is at the center of everything we do,” said Elias Neujahr, CHoR president. “We brought Drs. John Phillips and Samuel Casella, the leaders in pediatric cardiac electrophysiology and catheterization, to Richmond with the promise of providing them a fully-equipped space to deliver their expert testing and treatment. Families can take comfort in knowing that there’s no better place for their child’s heart care than right here, close to home at CHoR.”

Historic $25 million Gift to Advance Cancer Care
(Carilion Clinic – July 11, 2024)

Former U.S. Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman and his wife, Jenny, have given $25 million toward a new building and expanded cancer program at Carilion Clinic. To honor the donors, the building will be named the Carilion Taubman Cancer Center. “We are deeply grateful to the Taubmans for their extraordinary gift that will transform cancer care in our region for the growing number of patients who need it,” said Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion’s CEO. “A building bearing their name is a fitting tribute and reflects the Taubman’s deep commitment to southwest Virginia.”

Local immigrant students get behind-the-scenes look at UVA Health
(CBS 19 News – July 10, 2024)

A group of 20 high school students from area public schools are taking part in a summer school program for immigrant youth to explore career opportunities in the United States. They had the opportunity to visit UVA Health’s emergency department, family medicine clinic, and the School of Medicine’s simulation center. Dr. Fern Hauck, a professor at UVA Health, says the group was made up of immigrant students who have been in the United States for three years or less. She said they were from countries including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Afghanistan and Tanzania.

New addition to CHoR at VCU focuses on social, emotional well-being of pediatric patients
(BrightGram – July 10, 2024)

The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is getting bigger!. Through a partnership with the Teammates for Kids Foundation, 3,000 square feet are being added to the Sky Lobby Level of the Children’s Tower. The Child Life Zone will be dedicated to pediatric patients.

Newsweek Names UVA Health Spine Surgeons Among Nation’s Best
(UVA Health – July 10, 2024)

Francis Shen, MD, and Adam Shimer, MD, have been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Spine Surgeons 2024. “This is a well-earned honor for Dr. Shen and Dr. Shimer,” said Bobby Chhabra, MD, chair of UVA Health’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery. “Their skill and commitment – backed by our team at UVA Health – have helped thousands of patients from across Virginia and beyond with significant back conditions.”

Post Stroke Mental Health and the Benefits of Community Reintegration/Involvement
(Augusta Health – July 10, 2024)

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is also a leading cause of long-term disability. Stroke survivors are often left with physical, cognitive, social, and emotional deficits that limit their quality of life. Depression affects 25-40% of stroke survivors within the first year after the stroke and is most evident within the first two years post-stroke. Depression is the most common mental health issue after a stroke and has been linked to slower recovery and lower quality of life. Depression can manifest as any or a combination of the following: feelings of sadness, loneliness, irritability, worthlessness, hopelessness, agitation, and guilt. In turn, Post Stroke Depression begins to increase social withdrawal, which in turn worsens depression. Social withdrawal is common post-stroke and is recommended to be dealt with early in stroke recovery through community reintegration/involvement to limit its negative impact.

Twin County Regional Healthcare is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care
(Twin County Regional Healthcare – July 11, 2024)

Twin County Regional Healthcare (TCRH) has received the American Heart Association’s achievement awards: 2024 Get With the Guidelines Silver Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.  TCRH received four American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke and heart disease ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. Get With The Guidelines put the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, Twin County Regional Healthcare qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

Valley Health Receives Reaffirmation of its Credit Ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global
(Valley Health – July 12, 2024)

Valley Health has announced a reaffirmation of its credit ratings from S&P Global and Moody’s Investors Services. In a recent credit analysis, S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Valley Health’s financial stability and performance, issuing an A+ rating. In addition, Moody’s Investor Services has also reaffirmed its A1 rating, reflecting Valley Health’s consistently stable operating performance. In their analysis, S&P noted, “The rating reflects steady growth in volumes, which we expect will continue as the system plans to increase its physician base and invest in expanding key service lines.” Additionally, “the system benefits from a solid management team, focusing on maintaining high-quality standards, ambulatory and clinical growth, and investment in technological capability across a broad range of organizational functions.”

VCU Health appoints chief data and AI officer
(VCU Health – July 12, 2024)

As technology continues to shift our work and how we deliver care, VCU Health is committed to harnessing digital enhancements to positively impact patient care and team member experience. That’s why we evolved a leadership role to oversee advancements of data, analytics, artificial intelligence and emerging technology to enable VCU Health’s mission of helping every patient live their best life. Alok Chaudhary will serve as the vice president, chief data and AI officer for VCU Health System. He will begin in his new role on July 21.

Bird flu response in Michigan sparks COVID-era worry on farms
(Reuters – July 11, 2024)

Some dairy farmers are resisting Michigan’s nation-leading efforts to stop the spread of bird flu for fear their incomes will suffer from added costs and hurt rural America. The government’s restrictions, which include tracking who comes and goes from farms, are rekindling unwanted memories of COVID-19 in Martin and other small towns in central Michigan.

Colorado Dropped Medicaid Enrollees as Red States Have, Alarming Advocates for the Poor
(KFF Health News – July 11, 2024)

Colorado stands out among the 10 states that have disenrolled the highest share of Medicaid beneficiaries since the U.S. government lifted a pandemic-era restriction on removing people from the health insurance program. It’s the only blue state in a cluster of red states with high disenrollment rates — a group that includes Idaho, Montana, Texas, and Utah — in the Medicaid “unwinding” underway since spring 2023. Colorado also is the only state that had all the policy ingredients in place to cushion the fallout from the unwinding, according to Medicaid policy analysts at KFF.

Hack on Florida’s Vital Statistics is just the latest cyberattack on health-related systems
(Health News Florida – July 11, 2024)

The Florida Department of Health is working to recover systems that affect its efficiency in distributing birth and death certificates. The outages came after ransomware gang claimed it hacked into the network and stole 100 gigabytes of personal data. The department hasn’t confirmed the cyberattack but said its Vital Statistics system was going through a temporary outage.

6 tips for staying safe while exercising or playing in extreme heat
(PBS – July 9, 2024)

When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks for just about anyone who spends time outside, whether they’re runners, people who walk or cycle to work, outdoor workers or kids playing sports. Susan Yeargin, an expert on heat-related illnesses, explains what everyone should think about before spending time outside in a heat wave and how to keep yourself and vulnerable family members and friends safe.

As extreme heat bakes the West, emergency helicopters struggle to fly
(The Washington Post – July 10, 2024)

The call came at 2 p.m. Sunday: A driver suffered a brain injury in a traffic accident and needed to be flown to a different hospital as soon as possible. Lead helicopter pilot Douglas Evans noted the 116.6-degree temperature in Redding, Calif., where he would need to land. The tarmac was probably even hotter. In 27 years of operating medical helicopters around California, Evans had never had to cancel a flight because of excessive heat — until now. It was too hot to fly. Evans and other emergency responder pilots are used to factoring California’s wind, fog and fire smoke into their flight decisions. But extreme heat, like the intense wave blanketing the West right now, is affecting the way rescue helicopters can carry out their missions.

Extreme heat has killed at least 28 in the past week — and the toll is rising
(The Washington Post – July 10, 2024)

A searing heat wave that has gripped much of the United States in recent days is suspected of killing at least 28 people in the last week, according to reports from state officials, medical examiners and news outlets. The number, which is based on preliminary reports from California, Oregon and Arizona, is likely to grow as authorities assess the death toll of a heat wave that began last week, delivering record-breaking temperatures throughout the West and scorching East Coast cities. As of Wednesday, more than 135 million people across the Lower 48 were under heat alerts, many of which are expected to continue until the weekend. Most of the deaths have been reported in California, where the heat broke daily records late last week in a handful of major cities, including San Jose, Fresno and Oakland. In Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, Chief Medical Examiner Michelle Jorden said her office is investigating 14 cases where people appear to have died from heat-related causes.

Nearly half of adult cancer deaths in the US could be prevented by making lifestyle changes, study finds
(CNN Health – July 11, 2024)

About 40% of new cancer cases among adults ages 30 and older in the United States — and nearly half of deaths — could be attributed to preventable risk factors, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society. “These are things that people can practically change how they live every single day to reduce their risk of cancer,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer with the American Cancer Society. Smoking was the leading risk factor by far, the study found, contributing to nearly 1 in 5 cancer cases and nearly a third of cancer deaths. Other key risk factors included excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet and infections such as HPV.

Scientists say they have identified a root cause of lupus — one that could pave the way for new treatments
(NBC News – July 10, 2024)

A key mystery behind one of the most common autoimmune diseases may finally have an answer. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital say they’ve discovered a root cause of lupus, a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. Scientists have long suspected that a person’s genetics or hormones may predispose them to lupus, and that the disease may be triggered by environmental factors like a previous viral infection or exposure to certain chemicals. Now, a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature outlines a clear pathway for how the disease likely develops, pointing to abnormalities in the immune systems of people with lupus.

Study: Long-term post-COVID altered sense of smell in healthcare workers common
(CIDRAP – July 9, 2024)

A new study based on 2,149 healthcare workers (HCWs) employed at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, shows that a significant proportion of those who contracted COVID-19 experienced lasting changes to taste and smell, with 45% reporting olfactory disorders 15 months after infection, and 24% still experiencing symptoms 2.5 years after infection. The study began in April 2020 and involved testing the HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies every 4 months. HCWs infected during the first wave of the pandemic were compared to healthy controls. All participants were asked “How has your sense of smell been during the last three days?” and to respond “always,” “often,” or “rarely” to the statement, “The biggest problem is not that I do not or weakly perceive odors, but that they smell different than they should,” which assesses for the presence of parosmia, or altered sense of smell.

Biden plan requires hospitals to improve maternal care
(Axios – July 11, 2024)

The Biden administration on Wednesday rolled out its latest election-year initiative on women’s health, proposing standards that would require the hospital industry to invest billions in maternity care improvements to remain in Medicare. Maternal health has proven to be a winning issue for Democrats as restrictive abortion laws and insufficient care draw attention to poor access and outcomes. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Wednesday proposed the first-ever federal maternal health and safety requirements for hospitals.

CMS’ proposed 2.8% physician pay decrease for CY2025 earns quick condemnation from docs
(Fierce Healthcare – July 10, 2024)

The Biden administration is proposing a 2.8% decrease to physician payments in its newly released pay proposal for physicians, drawing near-immediate protest from the industry. Unveiled Wednesday afternoon, the calendar year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule outlines new policies focused on primary care, preserved telehealth flexibilities and a strengthened Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). However, the release is headlined by a proposal to decrease average base payment rates by 2.93% from calendar year 2024.

Judge pauses CMS rule capping compensation for Medicare Advantage brokers
(Healthcare Dive – July 10, 2024)

A federal judge has paused a CMS rule capping compensation for brokers that sell Medicare Advantage plans as lawsuits challenging the regulation work their way through the courts. Americans for Beneficiary Choice, an association that represents brokers and the organizations that employ them, and one of its members sued to stop the rule earlier this year. The order staying the government’s rule joined ABC’s case with a similar action brought by the Council for Medicare Choice and two Texas broker groups also seeking to overturn the compensation caps. Though U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s stay is temporary, his decision published July 3 suggests the judge will overturn at least part of the rule. In it, O’Connor argues the CMS didn’t properly substantiate their caps on broker payments and restrictions to the terms of contracts between health plans and brokers and agents.