Lara Dugas, PhD, will present "Patterns and Intensity of
Physical Activity on Week and Weekend Days in 3 African Countries, U.S. and
Jamaica" Monday, Nov 25th at 11:00 in conf room 3340.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Health care reform conference
Please join us for the
next MacLean Center Faculty Seminar in this year's series on "Ethical Issues in
Health Care Reform."
Linda Rae Murray, MD,
MPH
Chief Medical Officer,
Cook County Department of Public Health
"One Step Forward? The
Health and Well Being of Chicagoland"
December 4,
2013
12:00 pm-1:30 pm, P-117
(Billings Auditorium)
Please
RSVP to
assist us in tracking attendance and ordering lunches:
For special assistance
or help with registering for the event,
please contact
cbrander@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Trans Fat coverage: low-hanging fruit, and a spineless media
The recently proposed ban on trans fat has been heralded by healthcare providers and media outlets alike as another landmark victory for public health. This measure is uncontroversial and sustains a troublesome trend in our public discourse on public health that refuses to engage issues rooted in our social structure.
Banning trans fat is low hanging fruit because of public perception and the potential threat posed by any level of consumption. You don’t have a bottle of trans fat next to the salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table, or when you go out to a restaurant. So it doesn’t offer the kind of tangible indulgence as say, a candy bar, a cigarette, or even a drink. And while none of these items are good for you, experts would agree that they are particularly harmful when they are not done in moderation. And while trans fat isn't toxic, consuming any amount of trans fat can increase your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), and even diabetes. Once implemented, the CDC estimates up to 20,000 fewer heart attacks and 7,000 fewer deaths annually. And economic benefits up to $242 billion. By any measure, it’s a non-controversial area with the only outstanding issue being the direct cost on small businesses; and the FDA has requested that figure before issuing its final rule.
But context matters, especially when we cite the number of incidents averted and lives saved. And tough choices are not based on these numbers alone, but implicate a host of political, economic, legal, and ethical issues. Increased gun violence and dips in vaccination rates are excellent examples, amplifying why media coverage of these issues in the context of public health problems has been woefully inadequate.
Let’s assume the 7,000 lives saved by the trans fat ban is equally distributed across the states, then we would have 7000/50 or 140 fewer deaths in Illinois. That’s less than one-third of the 506 deaths attributable to gun violence in Chicago during 2012. Yet we haven’t seen the political will or courage to make real progress on these fronts. And although injury prevention and control has been a public health prerogative for decades, our media has shamelessly preferred to cover these issues reflexively in the aftermath of tragedy instead of engaging policymakers and experts to contextualize these problems in the social determinants that allow negative outcomes to sustain.
So while the ban is a welcome measure to promote health generally, I am troubled by coverage that continues to limit reporting on public health issues to these non-controversial areas, allowing pressing issues—with comparable or greater severity and magnitude—to remain inadequately covered.
Banning trans fat is low hanging fruit because of public perception and the potential threat posed by any level of consumption. You don’t have a bottle of trans fat next to the salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table, or when you go out to a restaurant. So it doesn’t offer the kind of tangible indulgence as say, a candy bar, a cigarette, or even a drink. And while none of these items are good for you, experts would agree that they are particularly harmful when they are not done in moderation. And while trans fat isn't toxic, consuming any amount of trans fat can increase your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), and even diabetes. Once implemented, the CDC estimates up to 20,000 fewer heart attacks and 7,000 fewer deaths annually. And economic benefits up to $242 billion. By any measure, it’s a non-controversial area with the only outstanding issue being the direct cost on small businesses; and the FDA has requested that figure before issuing its final rule.
But context matters, especially when we cite the number of incidents averted and lives saved. And tough choices are not based on these numbers alone, but implicate a host of political, economic, legal, and ethical issues. Increased gun violence and dips in vaccination rates are excellent examples, amplifying why media coverage of these issues in the context of public health problems has been woefully inadequate.
Let’s assume the 7,000 lives saved by the trans fat ban is equally distributed across the states, then we would have 7000/50 or 140 fewer deaths in Illinois. That’s less than one-third of the 506 deaths attributable to gun violence in Chicago during 2012. Yet we haven’t seen the political will or courage to make real progress on these fronts. And although injury prevention and control has been a public health prerogative for decades, our media has shamelessly preferred to cover these issues reflexively in the aftermath of tragedy instead of engaging policymakers and experts to contextualize these problems in the social determinants that allow negative outcomes to sustain.
So while the ban is a welcome measure to promote health generally, I am troubled by coverage that continues to limit reporting on public health issues to these non-controversial areas, allowing pressing issues—with comparable or greater severity and magnitude—to remain inadequately covered.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Job posting Refugee Healthcare specialist
Refugee Healthcare
Specialist
World Relief - Wheaton, IL
Part-time
World Relief - Wheaton, IL
Part-time
| This position has the responsibility of
facilitating the day to day operations of the healthcare team at World Relief
DuPage. The position ensures that all aspects of refugee health care are
provided for in collaboration with community providers and internal World Relief
DuPage departments. It will be directly responsible for carrying out the
assessment and case management responsibilities for clients with intensive
medical concerns. This position will supervise the Medical Services Coordinator
and healthcare interns. Responsibilities: Client Services · Create and provide updated orientation materials to clients on the U.S. health care system, in coordination with the new arrivals orientation · Assess cases for enrollment into Intensive Medical Case Management program, establish case plans for clients enrolled, and support IMCM clients to reach their program goals and improve in self-care · Educate clients regarding western medical practices and preventative care · Assist IMCM clients without access to personal and/or public transportation to identify methods of transportation to/from providers · Develop and maintain relationships with healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, and transportation providers, and distribute this information to clients through the resource binder and/or other means · As time/resources permit, continue to develop and implement the community health promoter program Planning, Reporting, and Coordination · Coordinate the day-to-day healthcare services for refugees to fulfill WR program and funder requirements · As needed, establish operational policies and develop/maintain best practices in refugee healthcare service provision · Ensure monthly reporting information is submitted in a timely manner, and monitor grant outcomes · Assist with healthcare program planning and grant writing Supervision · Provide supervision for Medical Services Coordinator, including performance management and troubleshooting systemic issues · Develop internship roles and provide supportive supervision for healthcare interns · Assist in the screening and hiring of healthcare staff and interns Qualifications:
|
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