health

There’s a new report that finds that overall Delaware ranks as the 30th healthiest state in the country similar to the previous two years.

The United Health Foundation report found that for drug-related deaths it came in 42nd for among the nation’s states.

In air pollution, it ranked 40th while for infant mortality it came in 47th.  

But the Wilmington New Journal reports that the America’s Health Rankings study did find a low percentage of uninsured and high rate of HPV immunization among young women.

Management of septic systems in Wicomico County has come in for criticism by industry professionals.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that the problems involve permit delays and inconsistent staff recommendations.

Frustration boiled over during a recent meeting of more than a hundred county residents and professionals.

The paper reports they complained about delays in getting septic permits.

BALTIMORE (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a Maryland lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration for what it portrayed as recurring efforts to dismantle the national health care law.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander writes in her Friday decision that there's no question about Trump's deep disdain for the Affordable Care Act. But she found the state's allegations "speculative."

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A report by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia says a record number of science, technology, engineering, math and health degrees were awarded last school year.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the Friday report says public and private colleges in Virginia issued nearly 120,000 graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates in the 2017-18 school year. That is an increase of roughly 1,000 awards.

Salisbury University is creating a new unit called the College of Health and Human Services.

It is meant to streamline and create more collaboration for its health programs.

Interim University Provost Karen Olmstead says, “It’s no surprise that health and social service programs are growing for the wellbeing of our citizens of our region, of our state, of our nation. And of course to our economy.”

It is combines the schools of Health Science, Nursing and Social Work.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Senate has passed a bill granting federal recognition to six American Indian tribes in Virginia, a move that makes the tribes eligible for federal money for education, housing and health care.

The bill will now be sent to the president's desk. It gives the Rappahannock, Monacan, Nansemond, Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy and Eastern Chickahominy tribes a status they have sought for two decades. Many of the members of the tribes are descendants of Pocahontas' Virginia Powhatan tribe.

Former Vice President Joe Biden told a gathering yesterday that a University of Delaware initiative could be a model for creating healthier and more equitable communities.

He gave his remarks the Vision Coalition of Delaware’s 10th Annual Conference which is focusing on improving partnerships in health and education.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that the coalition is a public-private partnership.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Premium costs for plans sold on Maryland's health exchanges are set to rise as state regulators approve increased rates. 

The Baltimore Sun reports regulators announced average rate increases ranging between about 23 percent to nearly 50 percent Tuesday. The rates will vary depending on the plan and carrier.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - State officials are teaming up with health care groups to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The Virginia Department of Health is collaborating with the Medical Society of Virginia, Health Quality Innovators and Virginia Hospital Association for the initiative.

The groups say that antibiotics have been used so widely that organisms have often adapted to become resistant to the drugs.

The groups hope to promote best practices among doctors and the public to prevent antibiotics from losing their effectiveness in treating infections.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Health officials say the first confirmed case of seasonal flu has been confirmed in Delaware.

Delaware's Division of Public Health announced Thursday that lab tests confirmed that a 27-year-old Kent County man had influenza A strain of the flu. The man was not hospitalized.

Health officials say in the last flu season, Delaware had 2,064 confirmed flu cases. Six were fatal.

DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay urged all Delawareans 6 months of age and older to get flu shots.

Shareholders will get their say in the proposed merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont next month.

There will be separate votes on July 20th.

DuPont will hold its meeting at the company’s Chestnut Run Plaza headquarters.

Dow’s will take place at its headquarters in Midland, Michigan.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that the $130 billion merger will bring together businesses ranging from agriculture and electronics to nutrition, health and plastics.

There was another public forum on the debate over the arrival of mega chicken houses in Wicomico County.

It was held at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center last night by local government leaders.

But WBOC reports that when it was over many critics walked away unsatisfied.

There were representatives from the state departments of health, agriculture and the environment to answer questions from the public.

An environmental consultant says that it would be okay for Wicomico County to allow the large chicken house operation slated for Naylor Mill Road.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that John D. Hynes and Associates found that the Maryland groundwater protection rules would be strong enough to protect such areas as the Paleo Channel and nearby waterways.

The paper says that Monica Brooks, a local resident and critic of the project, called the report “passing the buck” to justify going forward.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Members of Gov. Terry McAuliffe's "Children's Cabinet" are heading to Virginia Beach to discuss policies that impact the state's kids.

The group will meet Monday to tour the Brock Environmental Center and discuss their goals and priorities for the remainder of the Democratic governor's term. Among other things, the group has focused on trying to reduce the number of students being referred to law enforcement.

CATONSVILLE, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Insurance Administration wants to hear your views on long-term care insurance.

The agency is holding a public hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville.

Commissioner Al Redmer says the agency wants to hear about the state of long-term care insurance and appropriate regulatory guidelines. He says he's particularly interested in issues surrounding premium rate increases and policyholder protection.

There will be no moratorium on large chicken houses in Wicomico County.

Council president John Cannon told a meeting last night, that the council does not have enough information to impose one. 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Suffolk resident is pushing for rules that would require cameras in nursing facilities so families could watch their relatives being cared for.

Virginia lawmakers created a workgroup to make recommendations on rules governing long-term care facilities. The Virginian Pilot reports that Suffolk resident Jane Casey has been working since 2013 to mandate that nursing homes have cameras.

Trade groups representing nursing homes have pushed for cameras to be voluntary, rather than mandatory. The work group must have its recommendations made before Dec. 1.

A conversation last night at Theatre N in Wilmington found a panel examining the health impacts of racism.

At the gathering Marlene Saunders, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Delaware Chapter, said that racism has a physical impact.

She said there were studies that showed the ramifications included high blood pressure and other heart related problems.

Meanwhile, Dr. Camara Jones, president of the American Public Health Association, said that racism also had an impact on the kind of health care people receive.

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - Leaders in the faith community are forming a new network to help people get health care in their communities.

State and local leaders are scheduled to join them on Monday to launch the Maryland Faith Community Health Network.

It's a partnership between the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, LifeBridge Health and dozens of local houses of faith to connect hospital navigators and faith-based liaisons. They will coordinate community resources to support people who need medical care.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Employment Commission says the state's jobless rate fell in January to 4.7 percent, the lowest rate in more than six years.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down from 4.8 percent in December 2014 and down from 5.3 percent a year ago.

The commission says January's rate was the lowest rate since October 2008.

Industries seeing employment increases included private education and health services, construction and manufacturing.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Supporters of a bill that would allow employees in Maryland to earn paid sick leave say the benefits of healthy employees outweigh the cost to employers.
 
A cost-benefit analysis conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research found that providing employees with an opportunity to earn paid sick leave would save Maryland businesses $13 million annually.
 
The figure was provided Tuesday during a press conference in Annapolis, ahead of a hearing on the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act.
 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The State Board of Health has voted to revisit Virginia's hotly debated abortion clinic regulations.

The board voted 13-2 at a Thursday meeting attended by hundreds of opponents and proponents of the regulations established under the McDonnell administration.

Dr. Marissa Levine, the new state health commissioner appointed by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, has recommended that the board amend the regulations.

The affirmative vote would start a regulatory process that could take up to two years.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware health officials have confirmed two new cases of influenza.

Influenza B was confirmed in a pre-school-aged boy from Newark and in a pre-school-aged girl from Dover on Oct. 20. Neither child was hospitalized.

The Delaware Division of Public Health announced the state's first confirmed case of influenza on Oct. 14. That case involved a 2-year-old from Sussex County who also did not need to be hospitalized.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland state employees will now be required to participate in a wellness program as part of their health insurance or pay a $50 annual penalty.

The Daily Record of Baltimore reports that the wellness-program requirement begins Jan. 1 for Maryland state employees, retirees, and covered spouses, affecting more than 250,000 people.

The wellness-program requirements will be relatively easy to fulfill in 2015, but the requirements become more stringent in future years, as will the penalties.

FROSTBURG, Md. (AP) - University of Maryland researchers say there's a high likelihood that shale gas production in far western Maryland would negatively affect air quality in the region.

The report released Monday also found a high likelihood of negative impacts on occupational health and local medical systems due to surging employment in an industry with relatively high risks for respiratory ailments and truck accidents.

The report says there's a moderately high risk that water pollution from hydraulic fracturing would have public health consequences.

The House gave preliminary approval Wednesday to sticking with a plan already approved by the Senate to avoid cuts to education, health and other programs. The plan calls for using $200 million that had been planned to strengthen the long-term financing of the state's pension system.

Supporters say the state will gradually restore the full $300 million paid annually beyond the required payment to fully fund the state's pension system by 2039. But opponents say using the money now will cost the state more in the long run.

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden has skipped public events since late summer but told the Wilmington News Journal that his doctors have given him a clean bill of health.

He said that his health has not limited his ability to work full time.

He talked with the paper by ;hone this week from the Modern Maturity Center in Dover when he went to visit a workshop for homeowners facing foreclosure organized by the Justice Department.

A new report finds that the population of Worcester County is aging…and facing serious health problems. 

The 2012 Community Health Assessment for Worcester County found that the top causes of death range from heart disease and malignant tumors to non-cardiac vascular diseases and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

Worcester is still considered to be medically underserved with a shortage of doctors and other medical personnel.

Health insurance is also a problem with 16 percent of adults reporting they have no coverage.