Page 3 - Improving Value News Today

The U.S. spends huge amounts of money on health care that does little or nothing to help patients, and may even harm them.

In Colorado, midwives are seeing the same rise in interest in their services, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Youth in Colorado are struggling with mental health. That is one of the findings of the Colorado Children’s Campaign’s 30th annual Kids Count in Colorado report, released Tuesday, which tracks both the state and county levels in the areas of family economic prosperity, child and family health, early childhood learning and development, and youth success. […]

Animal care specialists at the Denver Zoo noticed that an angelfish was acting weird, so they sedated it and gave it a CT scan.

Women from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative health care experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting quality of care and health outcomes. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found about 30% of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial women reported mistreatment, compared with 20% overall, while obtaining maternity care. ...

Researchers in Ohio are working on a new project looking at the health impacts of the February East Palestine train derailment. The Healthy Futures Research Project is seeking participants from the area who were subjected to chemical exposure in the aftermath of the train accident. The team from Case Western Reserve University will look at short and long term health issues, including screening for cancer, as well as metabolic and autoimmune diseases. ...

Coloradans received nearly 2 million potentially unnecessary health care services in 2021, at a cost of some $134 million for patients and health insurers, according to a new report. Dr. Lalit Bajaj, chief quality, equity and outcomes officer with Childrens Hospital Colorado explained, avoiding "low-value care" procedures - which can include certain tests and overprescribing drugs - is not about saving money. ...

An excessive heat warning and an air quality alert are making life challenging in Indiana and across the Midwest this week. For those who are unhoused, finding relief can be difficult, but a familiar organization is stepping up. The Wheeler Missions mens shelters in Bloomington and Indianapolis said they are prepared to help those who need water, food and a safe place to escape the heat. ...

Community groups in Massachusetts are calling for an end to armed police response to mental health-related 911 calls. The majority of calls are for nonviolent emergencies, yet the response of armed police can often make a behavioral or mental health-related crisis worse, particularly in marginalized communities. Corinne Espinoza, co-director of the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team, said civilian first responders are better trained to deescalate what is often someone havin...

A free 12-week program is aiming to help Hispanic youths and their families in the Vegas Valley achieve better mental health. Familia Adelante, or Family Forward, is helping families find useful and beneficial mental-health strategies to help their children grapple with mental distress. Margarita Romano, founder and head therapist of Fuente De Vida, said the program is centered on not only facilitating a safe space to talk, but being able to do so in Spanish or English. ...