The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer to better address current variants ahead of the cold and flu season. These new boosters, recommended for all eligible individuals, aim to provide enhanced protection as COVID-19 cases rise.
Tag Archives: Healthcare
A small apartment community is reborn to continue serving people with mental disabilities
by Greg Childress, NC NewslineAugust 7, 2024 On a quiet morning in July, Riley Henderson sat at a cement table in the courtyard of the recently renovated 15-unit Driftwood Apartments in Wilmington to discuss how he landed in the permanent supportive housing complex for people with disabilities who have experienced homelessness. The bespectacled 20-year-old Henderson …
North Carolina ranks 33rd in new national scorecard on women’s health, reproductive care
North Carolina’s maternal and infant mortality rates exceed national averages, with significant health disparities worsening post-Roe v. Wade reversal.
Proposed first-ever federal standards for maternal care met with mixed response from hospitals
President Biden’s initiative to reduce maternal mortality rates includes new policy proposals requiring hospitals to meet stringent maternal care standards, potentially costing $4.5 billion over 10 years, with mixed reactions from healthcare organizations.
North Carolina Confronts Opioid Crisis with Comprehensive Strategy
North Carolina implements a comprehensive strategy led by Attorney General Josh Stein, utilizing legal settlements and federal funding to combat the opioid crisis through enhanced enforcement, treatment initiatives, and community support efforts.
Report finds long-term Investment in rural areas improves resources
A new report highlights the impact of investing $100 million in rural North Carolina through the Healthy Places initiative, improving access to health, food, and recreation resources over a decade. Adam Linker of the Reynolds trust emphasizes the importance of community-driven efforts, noting significant improvements and active engagement with local leaders to enhance services like snow removal in underserved areas.
NC doesn’t pay dentists enough to treat Medicaid beneficiaries, new report says
The report by the Oral Health Transformation Task Force, under the NC Institute of Medicine, emphasizes the integration of oral health with general health, particularly for Medicaid beneficiaries and low-income individuals. State Medicaid director Jay Ludlam highlights the critical importance of dental health and its broad impacts, including better job prospects and overall physical health.
NC mental health facilities plagued by big and chronic staffing shortages
In North Carolina, the dire state of mental health care is highlighted by a critical shortage of professionals and high vacancy rates in psychiatric hospitals, leading to prolonged waiting times for care. Efforts to address these issues include the need for competitive salaries for healthcare staff and streamlining state hiring practices to attract and retain the necessary workforce.
Groups Work to Empower Families with Financial Knowledge for Navigating Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when people unite in support of those impacted by this prevalent disease.
The CDC Works to Overhaul Lab Operations After Covid Test Flop
In early February 2020, Kirsten St. George and her team at New York state’s public health lab received a test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to diagnose people infected with the new, rapidly spreading coronavirus.