RSS Channels IndexProfNet Wire: Health & Medicine: Impact of Hurricane Katrina
ROUND-UP: IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA (continued)
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**1. MITCHELL D. COHEN, M.D., director of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER: “The aftermath of the tragedy in Louisiana and the surrounding Gulf Coast could lead to a cholera outbreak. Sewage and waste water contaminates drinking water and food, and could create a prime breeding ground for diseases such as cholera. Cholera continues to be a major public health threat in nearly all developing countries, but good sanitation in most developing countries normally prevents the spread of this endemic infection.� Cohen completed his pediatric training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and entered the public health service where he served at the Keams Canyon Indian Hospital on the Hopi Reservation in northeast Arizona.
**2. PATRICIA A. TRITES, MPA, CHBC, CPC, CHCC, CHCO of HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE RESOURCES: "After Katrina, thousands of people are searching hospitals for loved ones. Because of misunderstandings about HIPPA, they may be wrongly denied information about their loved ones. Because the USDHHS declared a public health emergency, health care organizations’ compliance with the HIPPA privacy regulations drastically change. HIPAA allows the disclosure of patient identification, condition and location during a crisis like Katrina. Hospitals are free to provide information about their patients to authorized individuals, including appropriate government agencies, disaster relief agencies and verified family members."
**3. CINDY BROWNSTEIN, CEO, SPINA BIFIDA FOUNDATION (SBA): "Even as the waters subside, children and adults with Spina Bifida are cut from life-saving medical supplies and critical services that are vital to their health and well-being. The special needs of those who live with Spina Bifida can only be met by an organization like SBA, who can understand the complexity and fragility of their health." Because as many as 10,000 people with Spina Bifida -- the most common, disabling birth defect -- in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast are in desperate need following Hurricane Katrina, SBA has responded to this critical need with SB HELP - Hurricane Emergency Life- support Program. This relief program will bring medical supplies and support to those with this serious birth defect who are living in the disaster's aftermath. "Without sterile catheters, these children and adults are at risk of life-threatening infections. Without wound treatment, abrasions can fester into sores that can lead to serious injury or even death," adds Brownstein.
**4. JEREMY FINKELSTEIN, M.D., emergency department physician at THE METHODIST HOSPITAL in Houston, can discuss the status of the ongoing relief efforts to provide medical treatment to the New Orleans evacuees brought to The Methodist Hospital in the wake of hurricane Katrina: "From last Wednesday night until the following Tuesday, approximately 300 evacuees from New Orleans have come through the Methodist emergency department. This includes assisted- living and skilled nursing patients, evacuees flown into Ellington Field and evacuees coming from the Astrodome. We anticipate more patients arriving over the coming days or weeks, and we will be ready for them."
**5. MEL PENCE, DVM, MS, PAS DIPLOMATE, ABVP (BEEF CATTLE), associate professor at the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA College of Veterinary Medicine: “Sanitation problems resulting from the contamination of surface water by dead animals and fecal contamination would be significant. Manure storage on dairies would be washed into the surface water. This would compound the problems related to human waste management facilities. Cattle that died as a result of Katrina would be additional contamination of the surface water. Further, veterinary facilities, practice vehicles, drugs and equipment could have all been destroyed. This would make the vets unable to respond to animal and producer needs."
**6. DR. SHEILA W. ALLEN, DVM, MS, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: “The tragedy along the Gulf Coast resulting from Hurricane Katrina is a serious threat to human and animal health. Like people, companion animals and farm animals are without clean water and food. Veterinarians and animal health professionals from the Southeast are working together to set up shelters for displaced companion and farm animals during the rescue and relief efforts taking place along the Gulf Coast.� Allen has expertise in veterinary surgery, oncology, reconstructive surgery and preoperative analgesia.
**7. MICHAEL HARBUT, M.D., MPH, FCCP, chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE/WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, is one of the nation's leading experts on environmental health, environmental toxins and infectious disease. He can speak on various aspects of the health threat posed by the aftermath of hurricane Katrina -- the immediate risk posed by disease and illness, and the long-term risks from exposure to mutagens and carcinogens as a result of leaking chemicals. Harbut can also comment on the best way(s) to clean up the area, which, he says, should be treated as a "toxic waste site."
**8. SHARON SISTI, assistant professor of human services at HILBERT COLLEGE, can respond to issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder, including the short- and long-term impact on hurricane victims, emergency responders and others dealing with the disaster, as well as what needs to be done now and in the future to assist those dealing with PTSD. She can also examine complications for hurricane victims who have mental-health issues but are unable to access medication and may be under extreme anxiety due to loss of safety and security, which may be critical to their well-being.
**9. MARK A. BORCHARDT, Ph.D., director of the Public Health Microbiology Laboratory at the MARSHFIELD CLINIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, can discuss pathogens in water and their health effects, the importance of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and vulnerable populations. Borchardt and his colleagues have published in the areas of pathogen detection methods, infectious diarrhea in children as related to rural drinking water and sanitation, antibiotic usage and bacterial resistance and human gastrointestinal viruses in groundwater.
**10. DR. NATHAN WEIDERHOLD, professor at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’s College of Pharmacy, can speak to the second life-threatening wave facing survivors of this week's hurricane, including the threat of disease outbreaks brought about by flood waters and the diseases born there, the threat of illness due to living in very close proximity to others such as relief shelters, and the vulnerable aspects that survivors face by going for an untold period of time without access to healthy drinking water and nourishing foods. He serves as one of the College of Pharmacy faculty who are housed at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
**11. DR. ROBERT TALBERT, professor at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’s College of Pharmacy, can address the threat to cardiovascular patients as they face added stress in surviving the hurricane only to see their homes and communities devastated. He can also discuss the threat to the health of these individuals when the supply of needed medications is no longer available. Talbert leads the Division of Pharmacotherapy for the College of Pharmacy at its facilities at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
**12. DR. STEPHEN SAKLAD, professor at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’s College of Pharmacy, can speak to the mental trauma facing survivors of the hurricane, as well as to the long-term health care concerns for these individuals. He can also address issues related to mental-health patients who will find themselves unable to secure their medications in the stricken areas. He serves as one of the College of Pharmacy faculty who are housed at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
**13. DR. JAMES KARBOSKI, professor at UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’s College of Pharmacy, can discuss individuals on long-term medications that treat chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. He can speak to the unique problems faced by these patients when their supply of medications run out and their local pharmacy is inaccessible. He can speak to a potential second wave of crisis for these patients and the timeline that will follow before their individual medical situations become life threatening.
**14. KATY LEBBING, manager of the CENTER FOR BREASTFEEDING INFORMATION and IBCLC, can discuss breastfeeding in emergency situations, what to do and how to find help. As the International Baby Food Action Network states, "In emergency and relief situations, breastfeeding is of critical importance: it saves babies’ lives."
**15. WILLIAM BESTER, professor at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT Austin’s School of Nursing, led the nursing staff on the USNS Mercy, the hospital ship that went to the tsunami-stricken area in Indonesia. He can discuss the issues that will be faced by people living in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
**16. MICHAEL ADDIS, assistant professor of psychology at CLARK UNIVERSITY, can talk about the incidence of depression amongst trauma survivors, and what people can do to cope with depression when they can't find mental health services. He can also talk about gender differences in reacting to trauma.
ROUND-UP: COMBATING OBESITY (continued)
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**1. KEVIN WANDLER, M.D., medical director of the REMUDA TREATMENT CENTERS: "The medical community has been placing too much emphasis on surgical treatment for obesity. Instead, we should invest in developing lifestyle centers that would deal with the bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects of health for all people. This year, the U.S. government rolled out the 'new and improved' food guide pyramid. I saw one article in the newspaper, and that was all. We have spent millions of dollars developing this tool, and it could be the cornerstone for nutrition education for the public."
**2. RICHARD DAYNARD, J.D., Ph.D., professor at the NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY School of Law: "One of the next battlefields in the childhood obesity field will be in the courts. Just as litigation forced the tobacco industry to curtail marketing efforts targeted to children, the same approach will be used to stop the food industry from promoting unhealthy food and drinks in the schools." Leading experts from the legal community, the food industry, government, and advocacy organizations will discuss legal approaches at a conference Sept. 23-25 at Northeastern University's School of Law in Boston. The conference is sponsored by the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI).
**3. JILL FLEMING, M.S., R.D., is an expert in nutrition and weight loss and author of "Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates." She is also a professional speaker who teaches audiences how easy it is to lose weight and improve health by making a few simple lifestyle choices, and has been teaching successful weight-loss and wellness classes for the past 12 years: "I am very passionate about combating the obesity crisis in the U.S. The reason that I get so excited about this topic is that losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is really quite easy once you understand how to feed and move your body. I feel the U.S. government needs to direct funds to the fruit and vegetable campaigns, as well as hiring motivational registered dietitians to lead free public seminars around the U.S. We are competing with the fast-food industry during a time when our country is moving at an unbelievably fast pace in their lives. Consumers need to be educated to understand that, with just a little planning, they can eat just as quickly and healthy without patronizing fast-food vendors daily."
**4. JULIET ZUERCHER, RD, director of nutrition services at REMUDA TREATMENT CENTERS: "Statistics on obesity are misleading. Some people who are 'overweight' based on American cultural standards can run a marathon, but some thin people smoke and have rarely exercised in their lives. Who is more fit? Research indicates that people can be fit and fat. 'Obese' people need not be shamed and coerced into changing eating and exercise patterns until there is actual evidence of health issues. And many never have health problems. People do not need a new Food Guide Pyramid, cure-all diet or surgical procedure. People need to be told less what to eat and more how to eat intuitively, less what exercise to do and, more simply, just to move the body."
**5. MARIAN C. EBERLY, R.N., L.C.S.W, D.A.P.A, vice president of patient care services at REMUDA TREATMENT CENTERS: "Legislation is needed to ensure that insurance companies do not exclude obesity from policy coverage. Many states now have parity laws for anorexia and bulimia, but not for obesity. Requiring insurance companies to cover obesity treatment from both a medical and psychiatric standpoint will insure that overweight Americans are able to obtain the care they need and are no longer discriminated against in health care."
**6. EDWARD CUMELLA, PH.D., licensed psychologist and director of research and education at REMUDA TREATMENT CENTERS: “In addition to the Food Guide Pyramid, the U.S. government should develop a 'Healthy Movement Pyramid' letting people know about the many ways they can easily add movement or exercise into their day and benefit from it.�
**7. BRENDA DAVY, assistant professor at VIRGINIA TECH's Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, researches two overlapping areas in human clinical nutrition: obesity and cardiovascular diseases, in particular, hypertension: "We are studying the impact of weight loss and weight gain, particularly abdominal fat loss and gain, on cardiovascular disease risk factors. A second project involves determining whether or not physical activity can attenuate age-related impairments in the ability to appropriately regulate food intake. We are comparing the ability to appropriately regulate food intake while young as compared to older adults, and within those age groupings, comparing sedentary and physically active individuals. Weight gain is common with advancing age, and one factor may be an inability to properly regulate food intake."
**8. PAUL FLAKOLL, nutritional physiologist and director of the Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition at IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, is a nutrition consultant to the U.S. Marines, NBA, MLB and the NHL: "The reason for obesity is rather simple -- more energy is consumed than burned. But the mechanisms in the development of obesity are truly complex and need to be understood within a multidisciplinary context. Research to understand the basic mechanisms are necessary to develop effective treatment and prevention strategies."
**9. ADDIE SWARTZ, CEO of THE BEACON STREET GIRLS and the mother of tween girls, is the publisher of the upcoming novel "Lake Rescue," which models healthy eating behaviors, provides guidelines for healthy living, and presents positive role models as an integral part of the story: "One of the most effective strategies in reaching adolescent girls dealing with obesity and body image issues is by modeling healthy behaviors through pop culture. The approach and the book have been endorsed by health care professionals as a 'novel' and important approach in dealing with the obesity epidemic."
**10. DR. ABBY ARONOWITZ, psychologist, go-to expert for WEIGHT WATCHERS, EDIETS.COM and WEBMD, author of "Your Final Diet," endorsed by Senator H. Clinton, and winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award for Independent Publishing: “1) Stick to one low- calorie carbohydrate when binge eating, i.e., Pirate's Booty or caramel-covered popcorn cakes. They raise serotonin levels and calm people down. Abusing only one food might assure healthy eating with all other foods. Eliminates self-hatred typically following binges, since calories are minimal. 2) We must stop talking to each other about food, weight, diets and cellulite to begin eroding the unrealistically thin cultural ideal for women and girls. 3) Weekly calorie counts offer flexibility with control. Therefore, eating whatever you want will assure success."
ROUND-UP: BIRD FLU (continued)
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**1. ROBERT BELSHE, M.D., director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY School of Medicine, will conduct new research this fall with an investigational vaccine to prevent Avian flu. His flu research has appeared in major journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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LEADS
**1. HEALTH: BACKPACK SHOPPING A PAIN IN THE BACK FOR MANY. MARY ANN WILMARTH, director of the transitional doctor of physical therapy degree at NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: "Back-to-school shopping has commenced and, for many kids, backpacks are the first item on their lists. Choose wisely, because the health of your child’s back could depend on it. The problems that develop from incorrectly wearing a backpack are chronic in nature. Students are setting themselves up for a lifetime of pain. If they don’t change their behavior when they are young, it becomes much more difficult to correct. College students can make good changes by watching their posture and using backpacks properly.�
**2. HEALTH: IS YOUR DOCTOR LEGALLY DRUNK? LEANA S. WEN, national president for the AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION, the organization at the forefront of the Residency Work Hours movement, which is active at every level of the debate to protect resident physicians from overwork and promote patient safety: "Evidence continues to build that physicians working extended hours are putting themselves, as well as their patients, at risk. Physicians are being forced to work more consecutive hours than deemed safe -- almost the entire workweek of another profession -- then drive. It's time to demand an improved working environment that ensures patient and physician safety."
**3. VETERINARY: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY BRIDGES GAP BETWEEN HUMAN AND VETERINARY MEDICINE. DR. LIESA STONE, technical services veterinarian at THE IAMS COMPANY: "MRI is changing the way veterinarians can practice medicine, making diagnosis not just faster, but more accurate, which leads to better treatment, better outcomes and better pet health. MRI is a quick, easy and pain-free process for our pets, and enables us to immediately identify tumors, soft tissue injuries, strokes, and muscle and joint inflammation that were difficult or impossible to detect with traditional X-ray technology -- impacting the lives of thousands of dogs and cats nationwide."
**4. VETERINARY: SMART TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR PET FOOD BOWL. DR. DAN CAREY, veterinarian and head of research and development with THE IAMS COMPANY: "One way pets can lose weight and maintain muscle mass is by increasing the level of protein in diets, somewhat mimicking the Atkins idea recently popular with humans. I think what we're going to see is more understanding of how the actual DNA makeup of a cat or a dog influences it, and how nutrition affects that."
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