Health

Legionnaire's Disease in the VA Hospital system

John Lavanga — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:02:00 +0000

In a series of articles in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reporter Adam Smeltz has investigated on the prevalence of the Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaire's disease, in Pittsburgh's VA hospital in Oakland. His findings indicate that there may have been reason to fear an outbreak in the hospital prior to the one that occurred in 2011.

Study Finds Similar Abnormalities in the Brains of Concussion, Alzheimer's Patients

Erika Beras — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:26:10 +0000

A study out of the University of Pittsburgh has found similar brain abnormalities in concussion and Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Saaed Fakran, an assistant professor of neuroradiology at the University of Pittsburgh and author of the study, said it's too early to make any conclusions based on this research, but he hopes to follow up on it.

The study looked at concussion patients ranging in age from 12 to 28 who have had some sort of trauma, persistent abnormality but have a conventional CT and MRI.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Hires More Mental Health Professionals

Deanna Garcia — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

As part of a national mandate from President Obama to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals in the veterans’ health system, the VA Pittsburgh Health System has hired 30 new mental health professionals plus an additional 14 to fill existing vacancies.

“I think it’s obvious that if we have more people offering service, then more people could obtain services and obtain them quicker,” said Jeffrey Peters, associate chief of staff for behavior health at the VA Pittsburgh.

Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Marcus Charleston — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:33:25 +0000

A New York Times op-ed by Angelina Jolie disclosed her decision to have a double mastectomy after learning she carries a mutation of a gene that increases her risk of breast cancer.

Last week, researchers at Allegheny General Hospital, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic published important findings regarding breast cancer.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse are Public Health Issues, HHS Official Says

Erika Beras — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:40:38 +0000

A top administrator from the federal Department of Health and Human Services came to Pittsburgh on Friday to speak to leaders in the mental health community about the push to recognize mental health and substance abuse issues as a public health issue.

“I think a lot of people, especially in the public, have viewed mental health and substance abuse as sort of a social problem,” said Pamela Hyde, administrator of SAMSHA, the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.

City Councilman Lavelle Calls UPMC's Use of 14th Amendment in Lawsuit 'Offensive'

Erika Beras and Michael Lynch — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:15:07 +0000

A few dozen union members, civil rights activists, elected officials and others gathered at Freedom Corner in the Hill District Wednesday morning to protest UPMC’s use of the 14^th Amendment in its lawsuit against the City of Pittsburgh.

The lawsuit says it is unconstitutional for the city to challenge its tax-exempt status because of its due process and equal protection under the law.

Pittsburgh City Councilman Daniel Lavelle said he felt shocked and bewildered at UPMC’s legal technique.

When Violence Strikes, What About Mental Health?

Erika Beras — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

The last couple years have seen high profile mass shootings and terrorist attacks — Aurora, Newtown, Boston.

Here in Pittsburgh we’ve seen the same. Last year a gunman opened fire at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, killing one person and injuring seven. And in 2009, a man walked into an aerobics class at an L.A. Fitness and started shooting, killing three women and injuring nine.

There are also regular incidents of community and street violence. Last month a gunman injured two women and killed a 15-month-old in the East Hills.

Calls of Suspected Child Abuse Up Over 2,000 in the Last Year

Jessica Nath — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

An annual report from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare showed a record-breaking number of calls of suspected child abuse or neglect, but this might not be all bad news.

Department spokeswoman Anne Bale said officials think the increase in calls might not be because there are more cases of actual abuse happening.

Allegheny Co. Health Department to Add Pesticide to Water Basins to Combat Mosquitoes

Michael Lynch — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

The Allegheny County Health Department will start treating storm water catch basins in Pittsburgh Monday with pesticide to combat mosquito breeding.

The pesticide, which is nontoxic to humans, pets and aquatic life, does not kill mosquitoes directly, but stops their maturation process. The mosquito eggs become stuck in a larvae stage and are eaten by other organisms.

Dr. Ronald Voorhees, acting director of the health department, said treating the water catch basins makes a serious impact on the mosquito population.

Collaborative Effort Helps Seniors Avoid Nursing Homes, ERs

Erika Beras — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Prosopagnosia: When The Face Just Isn't Familiar

Marcus Charleston — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:41:10 +0000

At one time or another you’ll see someone and say, “the face is familiar but I can’t remember the name.” For people with prosopagnosia, known as “face blindness,” the face isn’t familiar. Actor Brad Pitt, in a recent interview with Esquire magazine reported having the condition. Dr. Marlene Behrmann of Carnegie-Mellon University is one of the leading researchers on this condition

Doctors Confirm Effectiveness of Less Invasive Procedure for Early Stage Breast Cancer

Kevin Gavin — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:58:22 +0000

Each year more than 200,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer, and now doctors in Pittsburgh have confirmed that a less-invasive surgical procedure for women with early stage breast cancer is as effective as traditional surgery.

According to Dr. Thomas Julian, associate director of the Breast Care Center at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), a 10-year follow up on a clinical trial involving 5,611 women with invasive breast cancer showed no significant difference in overall survival or disease-free survival.

Free Meals Available to Children on Summer Vacation

Charlee Song — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:48:49 +0000

Many students rely on free and reduced price meals during the school year and still need help over the summer.

In 2012, the Department of Agriculture served 2.3 million children at 38,800 sites on a typical summer day through the Summer Food Service Program.

Free meals are available at sites all over the country to anyone 18 and under, or 21 and under if disabled, according to Cindy Moore of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. People can go to any location — no registration or documentation is necessary.

West Nile Virus Found in 2 Pennsylvania Counties

Michael Lynch — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

The infected blood suckers are back.

The first two West Nile virus-carrying mosquitos of the season were detected last week in Erie and Adams counties, signaling the start of what could be a long summer.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are advising people to take steps toward mosquito prevention.

Allegheny County Names Karen Hacker New Health Department Director

WESA Staff — Fri, 31 May 2013 20:48:22 +0000

After a national search, Allegheny County officials announced Friday that Dr. Karen Hacker has been chosen as the new director of the Allegheny County Department of Health.

Community Health Centers Spared Sequester Cuts, But Worries Persist

Erika Beras — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:32:23 +0000

Pittsburgh Under Code Orange Air Quality Alert

Michael Lynch — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:40:25 +0000

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is warning children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues to limit outdoor activities in the Pittsburgh area Thursday.

The DEP issued a code orange air pollution alert for five Pennsylvania regions.

The pollution comes from an overabundance of ground-level ozone, a fundamental element of smog. The ozone forms during hot, sunny days when pollution from cars, factories, homes and power plants mix with nitrogen oxides in the air, causing people to breathe in the volatile organic compounds.

University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Research

Marcus Charleston and Heather McClain — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:24:27 +0000

Millions of Americans suffer from Alzheimer's Disease and the number is expected to increase. Researchers at Pitt have recently confirmed a cancer drug that improves brain function in mice. Could this be a breakthrough in helping humans?

New Drug Explored at Pitt Could Stomp Out Asthma

Mark Nootbaar — Tue, 28 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

A new study out of the University of Pittsburgh may have found a way to treat asthma in patients that were not responding well to any other form of treatment.

“This is perhaps the most remarkable efficacy study in asthma in the last 20 years,” said the study’s senior author and University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute Director, Sally Wenzel.

The study used the injectable drug dupilumab, which blocks part of the immune system. For 12 weeks, 100 patients were randomized to either take the drug or a placebo.

Could Drug Treatment Before Diabetes Slow the Disease?

Mark Nootbaar — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

A researcher at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh is hoping to slow the progression of Type 2 diabetes by treating children before they get sick. The hospital will serve as one of six sites in a study that looks to be more proactive in the treatment of the illness.

“Give them medications to see if we can rest the pancreas and preserve the beta cell function and prevent the progression to full-blown or severe diabetes,” said principal investigator and University of Pittsburgh Pediatric Endocrinologist Silva Arslanian.

Pennsylvania Hikers Trek the Trails for Hiking Week

Jessica Nath — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wants you to slip on your hiking boots and trek the trails of Pennsylvania.

The department hopes Hiking Week 2013 will showcase Pennsylvania’s many trails and walkways.

Through June 2, DCNR and the Keystone Trails Association will offer outdoors adventurers more than 70 organized hikes, and they hope to make that number grow to 100 organized hikes by the end of the week.

Hospitals and Health Care Providers Switch to Electronic Records

Michael Lynch — Sun, 26 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Doctors, hospitals and patients are now more connected than ever as the majority of health care providers in the United States are making the switch to electronic health records.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced recently that it already exceeded its goal for 50 percent of doctor’s offices and 80 percent of eligible hospitals to use EHRs by the end of 2013.

According to a 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, 17 percent of physicians and 9 percent of hospitals were using EHRs in 2008.

Legionnaire's Bacteria Found at Pittsburgh-Area VA Clinic

The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:46:18 +0000

A Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs clinic in a suburban mall has been closed so crews can superheat its tap water to kill bacteria that cause Legionnaire's disease.

Officials don't believe anyone has become ill from water at the clinic in the Washington Crown Center mall in North Franklin Township, about 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh in Washington County.

That's according to Brandon Blatt, a vice president of Sterling Medical Corp. of Cincinnati, which leases and runs the clinic under a contract with the VA.

Hospital Income Slips in PA, But Most Are in the Black

Mark Nootbaar — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:22:13 +0000

The average hospital in Pennsylvania made money in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012, but not as much as they did the year before and not enough to make the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) confident about the future.

The PHC4 released its annual study Wednesday, which found the 171 General Acute Care hospitals in the state realized on average a 5.82 percent operating margin in 2011-2012. That was down from 7.04 percent the year before but above the industry benchmark of 4 percent for a healthy hospital.

DPW Initiative Aimed at Reducing Mental Health Stigma

WESA Staff — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:05:59 +0000

The state Department of Public Welfare wants to reduce mental health stigma.

A new initiative, "Mental Health Matters," is being funded by a reduction in Community Hospital Integration Program Project, or CHIPP, funding to a county that was unable to move clients into the community in the time frame that was originally planned and from money set aside for litigation needs that wasn’t used, according to department spokeswoman Donna Morgan.