Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Post

Behind the Counter: Pharmacists as Champions for Cardiovascular Wellness As a pharmacist, I can attest to the satisfaction that comes from helping patients save money on their prescriptions. It's one of the few times I felt like I provided real value. In fact, socioeconomic factors are a significant contributor to heart failure readmission rates. Patients who can't afford their medication are often forced to make difficult decisions that can negatively impact their health. That's why pharmacists have a critical role to play in helping patients access the medications they need. By seeking prior authorizations and searching for manufacturer coupons or vouchers, pharmacists can make a huge difference in this paradigm. In this article, you'll learn more about the ways that pharmacists can act as champions for cardiovascular wellness. I encourage you to give it a read and share your thoughts. Together, we can work towards a healthier future for all. Article Link: https://lnkd.in/emXQChuB

My new publication about low serum albumin is associated with poor prognosis in older adults both in community and hospital settings. The findings of this review hold crucial clinical implications for healthcare providers working with older adults. The consistent association between low serum albumin levels and increased mortality risk, particularly in the hospital setting, underscores the importance of routine serum albumin assessments as part of comprehensive geriatric evaluations. Identifying older adults with low serum albumin levels upon admission or during hospitalization can serve as an early warning sign, allowing healthcare providers to tailor interventions promptly. These interventions could include targeted nutritional support, multidisciplinary care involving geriatricians and nutritionists, and personalized care plans addressing medical and social determinants. The observed link between low serum albumin and adverse outcomes in community settings necessitates a heightened awareness among primary care providers. Routine monitoring of serum albumin levels during regular check-ups can aid in identifying older adults at risk for mortality, anemia, and limitations in activities of daily living. Health education campaigns can further empower older adults and their families to recognize the significance of serum albumin levels and encourage proactive measures to improve nutritional status. Implementing public health interventions based on the findings of this review can significantly improve outcomes for older adults. One key strategy involves integrating routine serum albumin level assessments into regular health check-ups for older adults, both in hospital and community settings. This proactive approach can aid in early identification of at-risk individuals and prompt intervention. Additionally, community-based nutrition programs tailored for older adults, with a focus on increasing protein intake and addressing specific nutritional deficiencies, can be instrumental. Collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, community organizations, and public health agencies can strengthen these initiatives, ensuring a holistic approach to older adult health. Full article: https://lnkd.in/gYVkPc7e

Do you remember what it was like in COVID-19 when family caregivers were locked out of hospitals, clinics, group homes, supportive living, and long-term care? It wasn't good for patients, caregivers, or healthcare teams! One caregiver told us about not being able to accompany her husband with dementia, diabetes, and a wound on his foot, "I am supposed to take care of this, but he doesn't remember what they told him." Today's shout-out is to Alberta Health Services and their Family Presence Policy, in which they recognized family caregivers' essential role. Weren't they one of the earliest health services to do so? Deanna Picklyk, EMBA On February 15, 2024 Alberta Health Services reinforced family caregivers essential role with this story: Designated family support persons improve patient experience and outcomes "Linda Chupka went into the University of Alberta Hospital for a liver transplant, she knew she would need as much support as possible during her recovery. Her husband, Michael, and best friend, Donalda Farwell, stepped into the role of Chupka’s designated family/support persons (DFSP)." Read about Linda, Michael and Donalda's experience thttps://lnkd.in/gW-uQ6sD Yes, Transplant patients are more likely to survive if they have family caregivers! See research report by Yaena Song Stephanie Chen Julia Roseman Eileen Scigliano William H. Redd @Gertraud Stadler "It Takes es a Team to Make It Through: The Role of Social Support for Survival and Self-Care After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant" https://bit.ly/4bK4iVh

Bexar County (BC) needs to investigate Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Zip codes 78226 & 78237 with 49% End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). We can provide free kidney health screenings to zip codes with high counts & rates to identify early CKD & prevent ESRD. Tables by zip codes with counts & rates are needed for Population Health. Data is not enough, we need to translate data into action. Each Hospital system in San Antonio analyzed its internal data. I established a combined assessment using Texas Hospital Discharge around 2005. I tracked the prevalence of opioid-addicted infants, diabetes, diabetic amputation, ESRD & CKD by zip code, county & race. * I was the only source for BC Hospital Discharge by Diagnoses ICD-9 codes, Procedure codes, DRG codes, Race, Hospital, Payer, zip code, & county. * Using only admitting diagnosis, excludes secondary diagnoses which provide prevalence in Hospital admissions. * ICD-10 replaced ICD-9 In 2017 I mapped Obesity, Body Fat, and hypertension in adults by zip code. (Mobile Fit 5,406 adults BC 2014 to 2016) (Nurses measured heights & weights). * Academics are trained on CDC BRFSS data in a landline phone survey, a sample of 300 to 500 per year. * In 2018 San Antonio earned an RWJF Culture of Health Prize for the Witte Body Adventure. Obesity in children required I calculate BMI-for-age & gender percentile based on CDC growth charts for children & teens by zip code. * I calculated BC Life Expectancy by zip code but was excluded when data was presented from 2016 to 2018. Health Profiles were annual birth & death indicators, which I created in 1998 with guidance from Drs. Fernando Guerra & Donald Dudley. We were the only source for Obese mothers, Large for gestational age babies, Premature, Teen, low birth weight births, Infant deaths, Heart disease, Diabetes, Cancer, Homicide, & Suicide deaths for Total, Hispanics, Whites, Blacks, genders by age, zip code, Council, & School District. Dr. Guerra reviewed, edited, & presented PowerPoints, Walter Widish prepared Immunization, Cara Hausler STD, & Roger Sanchez Communicable Disease. https://lnkd.in/g5CNEY2g After Dr. Guerra retired in 2010, Health Profiles were discontinued in 2015 & experienced employees were replaced. * Academics are trained on the CDC Wonder portal which is limited to State or County & is years out of date. I used birth & death data from the Texas Electronic registry for timely analysis of zip code, School District, and Council District. I left the City of SA at the end of 2017 when my America Disability Act request for accommodation was rejected, ending what took over 25 years to build. Dr. Guerra trusted my data skills, giving me a chance to build a career, support my family & find meaning. Please contact me if you want to update Population Health data. We can apply for grants, target our efforts, measure outcomes & make an impact in the lives of people.

The Lifelong Cost of Surviving COVID: Scientists Uncover Long-Term Effects Many of the individuals released to long-term acute care facilities suffered from conditions that lasted for over a year. Researchers at UC San Francisco studied COVID-19 patients in the United States who survived some of the longest and most harrowing battles with the virus. They discovered that approximately two-thirds of these survivors continued to experience a range of physical, psychiatric, and cognitive issues up to a year afterward. The study, which was recently published in the journal Critical Care Medicine, reveals the life-altering impact of SARS-CoV-2 on these individuals, the majority of whom had to be placed on mechanical ventilators for an average of one month. Too sick to be discharged to a skilled nursing home or rehabilitation facility, these patients were transferred instead to special hospitals known as long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs). These hospitals specialize in weaning patients off ventilators and providing rehabilitation care, and they were a crucial part of the pandemic response. Among the 156 study participants, 64% reported having a persistent impairment after one year, including physical (57%), respiratory (49%), psychiatric (24%), and cognitive (15%). Nearly half, or 47%, had more than one type of problem. And 19% continued to need supplemental oxygen. The long-term follow-up helps to outline the extent of the medical problems experienced by those who became seriously ill with COVID early in the pandemic. “We have millions of survivors of the most severe and prolonged COVID illness globally,” said the study’s first author, Anil N. Makam, MD, MAS, an associate professor of medicine at UCSF. “Our study is important to understand their recovery and long-term impairments, and to provide a nuanced understanding of their life-changing experience.” Disabilities from long-term hospital stays ***Click on image below to access entire research paper. Posted by Larry Cole

"The era of preventive neurology has arrived." This statement from the American Academy of Neurology was quoted in a recent piece by CNN's Sandee LaMotte. You can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/duiv-irJ We couldn't agree more. With an aging population comes increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's. And while healthcare professionals may differ on the best treatment methods of these diseases, one point of unanimous agreement is the critical importance of early detection and preventive care for better patient outcomes. That's why many younger people are taking steps to do what they can now to maintain good brain health. But what is preventive care? In the article linked below we break it down, explain how providers can deliver it successfully, and highlight why now is the time to make it a priority in your practice. Link ➡ https://lnkd.in/e5RXcDAX #preventivehealthcare #dementia #brainhealth #primarycarephysician #neurology

COVID-19 Leaves Lasting Impact on Heart Health: As the threat of COVID-19 continues, doctors and patients are considering the long-term impact of the pandemic on public health, especially heart health. The American Heart Association’s annual publication on Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics for 2021 emphasizes that heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide.”COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on human life worldwide and is on track to become one of the top three to five causes of death in 2020. But its influence will directly and indirectly impact rates of cardiovascular disease prevalence and deaths for years to come,” says Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., ScM, FAHA, president of the American Heart Association and chair of the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Not only does research show that COVID-19 itself can cause heart damage, the indirect effects of the pandemic will likely generate an increase in heart health problems, he says. “Unhealthy eating habits, increased consumption of alcohol, lack of physical activity and the mental toll of quarantine isolation and even fear of contracting the virus all can adversely impact a person’s risk for cardiovascular health, he emphasizes. “We’ll need to watch and address these trends as the full ramifications will likely be felt for many years to come.”COVID-19 will impact the risk of experiencing or dying from heart disease or stroke for many years for several reasons.- Unhealthy habits: During extended periods of quarantine or lock down, many people developed or returned to behaviors related to poor eating, changes in work/sleep habits, lack of regular exercise and the mental stress of social isolation and excessive screen time that could contribute to heart disease and stroke. Missed medical visits: Many patients postponed regular doctor visits to manage chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol, resulting in an epidemic of poorly controlled disease that can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.- Fear of hospitals: Data from the American Heart Association show that many individuals experienced a heart attack or stroke during the pandemic and did not seek urgent care out of fear of contracting COVID-19 in a hospital setting. Unfortunately, some people may have experienced medical events with lasting consequences that may have been lessened with prompt treatment. Heart-related risks for COVID-19 patients: Although studies of the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing medical conditions are ongoing, the data show that individuals with cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure are at increased risk for more severe disease – even death – if they become ill with COVID-19. It’s important for everyone eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit heart to view the complete 2021… #healthcarenews #DoctorsBusinessNetwork #medicalnews

🔦 Focus this week on #diabetes and #seniors...in advance of my presentation at California Assisted Living Association  📲 How well can seniors handle technology?  🎮 Better control is confirmed with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). *One recent study documented those ages 65 and older who used CGM had a significant decrease in their hemoglobin A1C (from 8.9% to 7.5%) maintained over two years. *Furthermore, participants older than age 75 had similar A1C reductions for the same period. These A1C reductions were achieved without any severe hypoglycemia. Do not stigmatize the elderly population and think they cannot handle technology,” said Professor Bernhard Kulzer. “CGM technology gives elderly people more security and protection against hypoglycemia, which comes with even higher risks compared to younger people with diabetes, and helps them maintain better quality of life. CGM is a very powerful tool for elderly people, especially those on insulin therapy.” #diabetes #geriatrics #seniorhealth #mobilemedicine #housecalls Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD)

🔬 New Study on Socioeconomic Status and Heart Disease Outcomes in Canadian Infants A study led by Oluwayomi Olugbuyi, Chris S., Padma Kaul, C. Douglas Simmons, OTR/L, PhD, FAOTA, FNAP, Andrew S Mackie, Sunjidatul Islam, Luke Eckersley, Lisa Hornberger provides critical insights into the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and residence distance on congenital heart disease (CHD) outcomes in infants in Canada. 📊 Study Highlights: ⇨Moderate vs. Severe CHD: Higher mortality rates in severe CHD (sCHD) compared to moderate CHD (mCHD). ⇨SES and Residence Distance: SES and distance from cardiac surgical programs did not impact sCHD outcomes. However, infants with mCHD living farther away faced higher mortality risks. ⇨Combined Impact: Infants with mCHD in the lowest SES and living the farthest showed the highest mortality risk. 📖 Earn 1.0 CME Credit: Engaging with this study enhances healthcare professionals' understanding of CHD management and offers the opportunity to earn CME credit. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dx2fq4pK #PediatricCardiology #PublicHealth #MedicalResearch #HealthcareEquity #CME