D CEO’s Post

Have you wondered about the impact of screening for ACEs? The 4th and final study of findings from the California ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative (CALQIC) was just published. The upshot of all 4 studies (links below): ACE screening is feasible, acceptable, perceived to be beneficial by patients, families, providers, and staff, has no evidence of harm, and is a catalyst for a trauma-informed systems change in clinics that participated. These results were clearer and more impactful than we ever anticipated. Huge gratitude to the staff and providers of the 48 participating clinics; to the patients and families who agreed to be interviewed; to my amazing co-principal investigators Marguerita Lightfoot and Anda Kuo, the CALQIC teams from UCSF, UCLA, CCI, CCHE, and RAND; and the visionary leader Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, who, as California’s first Surgeon General, elevated the public health crisis of childhood adversity and toxic stress to a statewide priority and started the ACEs Aware initiative to coordinate a response. Links to the 4 CALQIC published studies: Experiences of patients and caregivers: https://lnkd.in/gJvySn_b Expeience of providers and staff: https://lnkd.in/gCn6dmtW Responses to ACE screening: https://lnkd.in/gvAXUJuK ACE screening catalyzed trauma-informed systems change: https://lnkd.in/gpz-Qzt8

In this interview, Diane Mahoney, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, WHNP-BC, APRN, assistant professor, University of Kansas Medical Center Center, School of Nursing; nurse practitioner; and nurse scientist, discusses the inspiration behind her recent study on how social determinants of health impact the health perceptions of Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors, highlighting significant health disparities. #SDOH #OvarianCancer #CancerSurvivors #HealthDisparities Watch now!

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology has released a report titled "Excess Cardiovascular Mortality Among Black Americans 2000-2022: A Report Card." This report aims to shed light on the persistent disparities in cardiovascular care affecting Black communities, especially the higher death rates from cardiovascular diseases compared to white Americans. Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM, FACC, incoming Editor-in-Chief of JACC and senior author of the study, emphasized that nearly 800,000 excess deaths among Black Americans occurred due to these disparities, resulting in about 24 million additional years of life lost over the studied period. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to address these inequalities in cardiovascular health. Jennifer H. Mieres, MD , FACC, MASNC, FAHA, chair of the ACC Diversity and Inclusion Committee, highlighted in an editorial accompanying the report that while significant advancements have been made in cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention, these benefits have not been equally shared by all Americans. She stressed the importance of addressing social determinants of health and dismantling systemic barriers like structural racism to achieve equity in cardiovascular care. The ACC has launched initiatives such as the Internal Medicine Program to encourage underrepresented groups in cardiology and the Clinical Trials Research program to promote diversity in cardiovascular research leadership, aiming to broaden perspectives and improve healthcare outcomes for all. Medical Xpress #CardiovascularHealth #HealthEquity #ACC #SDOH https://lnkd.in/gCYyi9j8

Another historic milestone for sepsis advocacy today! Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance has brought sepsis to the attention of the #WHA77: the 5 million AMR deaths are only part of the 13 million sepsis deaths. Women and children are the most affected, and none of them should die of sepsis, if early diagnosed and timely treated, also with broad spectrum antibiotics. Sepsis is preventable and treatable. Medical Women's International Association "This Constituency Statement addresses agenda item 11.7 and is supported by the following 5 Non-State Actors: Humatem, International College of Surgeons (ICS), International Federation of Hospital Engineering (IFHE), International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), and the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA). The Non-State Actors supporting the statement call the UN Member States and the Secretariat to prioritize prevention, early detection and effective management of Sepsis. Despite progress, Sepsis affects 26.2 million women and 20.3 million children every year.   Sepsis widens inequality gaps, as women and children living in poverty are at higher risks. Without reinvigorated response to Sepsis, health-related Sustainable Development Goals for maternal, neonatal and child health cannot be achieved. Yet, Sepsis remains almost invisible in the global health architecture. Sepsis receives disproportionally low political attention and financial investments comparted to its human and economic burden. When we rightly prioritize Antimicrobial Resistance, we have to remember that the 5 million AMR-related deaths is part of 13 million Sepsis-related deaths. Therefore, we call the Member States to urgently prioritize Sepsis as recommended by the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA70.7. § We specifically call for development and implementation of national action plans and policies for Sepsis. § We urgently call for evidence-based Sepsis clinical pathways for pediatric and adult populations, with special focus on perinatal care services to ensure safe motherhood practices. § No mother and child should die due to lack of essential equipment and supplies to timely identify and timely treat Sepsis. Diagnostic devices, live-saving antibiotics, oxygen and treatment facilities for sepsis-related organ dysfunction should be universally accessible. § Sepsis literacy should be enhanced, and we shall further strengthen vaccination and water and sanitation practices as key elements of Sepsis prevention. § Finally, public and private stakeholders should prioritize research and development for better quantity and quality of data, and novel solutions for prevention, early detection and effective treatment of Sepsis."

Peadiatric Screening can prevent genetic diseases such as Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and improve immensely public health outcomes. #PERFECTO Preventing the Preventable, is an innovative #FH paediatric screening across Europe aiming to enable early diagnosis and management of this rare disease, with the hope that individuals with FH can reach normal life expectancy. #PERFECTO #FHScreening #PreventiveCare #GeneticScreening #SfRD #FH #CardiovascularDisease Referrals https://lnkd.in/eSBjhd8k

After 47 years of medical practice, I wrote my professional memoir to express gratitude for my career, and the patients, mentors, colleagues, and family members who made it possible, Different Drummer  A cardiologist’s memoir of imperfect heroes and care for the heart The themes of my memoir are - Every person is on his or her hero journey - the journey of one’s life. I am grateful for my journey. - The practice of medicine, or delivery of healthcare, is an alternative to war as a potential source of heroism (William James' concept from The Varieties of Religious Experience). - Don’t do to others, that which you do not want done to you, is a keystone moral idea for civilized human beings.  It is as essential to secular humanism, as to any religion. It is as close to a single universal Law of Human nature as I know (CS Lewis)... - The United States Veterans Affairs healthcare system provides care for America’s Veterans. It also trains doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technologists, and other healthcare providers. It is one of the largest, and most productive, sponsors of clinical research in the world. The people who work for Veterans Affairs Healthcare and the veterans they serve deserve respect and gratitude. - Doctors, nurses, and other providers have among the highest rates among professions of depression, burnout, substance abuse, divorce, and suicide. Individual and system efforts are needed to combat these occupational hazards. - Many of the advances in medical pathophysiology and medical care during the past century derive from advances in clinical research, especially prospective, randomized clinical trials. Taken together, as a discipline, this is clinical epidemiology. #books #reading #writing #memoir #autobiography #coronaryangioplasty #bypasssurgery #revascularization #clincaltrials #veterans #veteransaffairs #doctors #nurses #patients #care #healthcare #clinicalepidemiology #moralequivalentofwar My memoir is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I invite interested readers to check it out. douglassandrewmorrison.com

It’s National Minority Health Month: About National Minority Health Month Celebrated every year in April, National Minority Health Month: 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 Builds awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups. Encourages action through health education, early detection and control of disease complications. Not only should we continue to spread awareness but let us also highlight the work that is being done across our various industries to improve minority health! 🙋🏾♀️ Do you know someone who is working to advance the field of health equity? If so please let them know how impactful and appreciative you are of the work they do as it impacts us all. 🙋🏾♀️ I strive to ensure I share as much information and advocate for equitable access to care. 📚 I am sharing the article below regarding Kidney health. I’m stunned to learn that: “Black patients had to reach a higher creatinine level than white patients to be put on the kidney transplant waitlist, experienced delayed referral to nephrologists, and several other consequences,” said Keisha Gibson, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, chief of pediatric nephrology in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the UNC School of Medicine. “The observational studies that supported this notion that Black patients have higher creatinine levels than white patients were heavily flawed, biased, and non-generalizable. This explains A LOT! Please read as I hope it brings awareness.

The recent discussions at #WHA77 have shed light on the pressing issue of sepsis and its impact on global health. #Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, has underlined the urgency of addressing sepsis, particularly in light of the 13 million sepsis-related deaths and 5 million attributed to antimicrobial resistance. It's disheartening to acknowledge that many of these affected individuals are women and children. The preventable nature of sepsis, with timely detection and treatment, including broad-spectrum antibiotics, underscores the need for immediate action. The joint statement presented for agenda item 11.7, backed by 5 Non-State Actors, including the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), advocates for a prioritized approach to prevention, early detection, and effective management of sepsis by the UN Member States and the Secretariat. It's crucial to recognize that sepsis disproportionately affects 26.2 million women and 20.3 million children annually, exacerbating existing inequalities, especially among those living in poverty. Without a concerted effort to address sepsis, the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for maternal, neonatal, and child health will remain unattainable. Despite its significant impact, sepsis remains overlooked in global health, with inadequate political attention and insufficient financial investments relative to its human and economic burden. The 5 million antimicrobial resistance-related deaths, out of the 13 million sepsis-related deaths, underscore the immediate need to prioritize sepsis, as recommended by the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA70.7. We are explicitly advocating for the development and implementation of national action plans and policies for sepsis, along with evidence-based clinical pathways for both pediatric and adult populations, with a specific focus on perinatal care services to safeguard the well-being of mothers. Access to diagnostic devices, life-saving antibiotics, oxygen, and treatment facilities for sepsis-related organ dysfunction should be universal. Crucial and robust research on sepsis is essential for clinical healthcare challenges by providing more grants and scholarship specifically for new-borne Sepsis and Adult Sepsis. Boosting sepsis literacy and reinforcing vaccination, water, and sanitation practices are pivotal in sepsis prevention. Additionally, public and private stakeholders must prioritize research and development efforts to enhance data quality and quantity and devise innovative solutions for the prevention, early detection, and effective treatment of sepsis.

"Long COVID" means long term, chronic disease management and seeking to thrive with disability. Let's be mindful of the whole picture of care: biology, communication, and team care that's person-centered and accounts for the activities of daily living. That intersection is where nursing research lives. We have a long way to go to understand COVID-19 fallout, but a 50% increase in funding is a step in the right direction. We (nurses) look forward to being part of the solution. #NurseReseach #ChronicDisease #LongCOVID #COVID19 https://bit.ly/3T0Onuh

I’m in #Winnipeg today, and this morning I joined Dr. Brandy Wicklow, pediatric endocrinologist and co-chair of Diabetes Canada’s National Research Council, for a tour of her lab to hear updates on the research she’s doing there, supported by the generosity of Diabetes Canada’s donors. Dr. Wicklow is working to find solutions to a relatively recent and startling health challenge. Did you know that First Nations children in Canada experience the highest rates of #type2diabetes and early #kidneydisease worldwide? That’s right – not #type1diabetes (sometimes known as juvenile diabetes) but type 2 diabetes. Dr. Brandy Wicklow is working in partnership with First Nations communities to better understand what the cause of such early onset of type 2 diabetes and kidney disease in First Nations children might be. It is clear that developing diabetes is a consequence of health, social and systemic inequities, discrimination, racism, geographic isolation, and the continued impacts of colonization. But what role might genetics and physiological changes be playing? With the support of a Diabetes Canada research grant, Dr. Wicklow’s team has set out to: 1.     Determine the impact of type 2 diabetes in First Nations pregnant women on the genes of their babies, and the likelihood their babies will have type 2 diabetes. 2.     Determine whether a specific gene called HNF-1a increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes and early kidney disease in First Nations babies. 3.     Work on earlier detection and interventions for First Nations children at risk of type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. Hearing first-hand about the progress of research from Dr. Wicklow this morning has only reinforced the importance of Diabetes Canada’s new research strategy, announced earlier this year. Directed by this strategy and with the continued generosity of many donors, we aim to increase investments for researchers like Dr. Wicklow over the coming years so we can truly improve the lives of all those diagnosed with diabetes, including First Nations children in Canada. Read more about our new strategy here: https://lnkd.in/gAVm2eym Learn more about Dr. Wicklow’s research: https://lnkd.in/g3KvFJ6v #diabetesresearch #healthresearch