Twice a week, a retrofitted ambulance heads out into Macon neighborhoods. Instead of bringing emergency medical care, though, the recently launched Veggie Van carries fresh fruits and vegetables. And the intended customers for this nutritious fare are residents of areas known as “food deserts.’’ These areas lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables and other foods…
Here’s an update of recent developments in Georgia health care, plus some good news for certain health facilities in the state: ** Federal inspectors left Grady Memorial Hospital last week, concluding their “unannounced’’ visit to the Atlanta safety-net hospital. The inspection occurred after a patient fell to her death from an 11th-floor hospital window Sept….
Homicide and suicide outpace the more traditional causes of death for women during pregnancy or up to a year after birth, a new analysis has found. In a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Christie Palladino, an OB/GYN and researcher at Georgia Health Sciences University, used CDC data from 17 states (including…
Georgia counties with poor health statistics tend to lag on economic vitality as well, an analysis shows. Partner Up for Public Health, an advocacy campaign, has produced a comparison of data ranking counties on health outcomes and economic strength. The analysis “shows how intertwined they are,’’ said Charlie Hayslett, whose Hayslett Group firm manages the…
An interactive online map that gives a stark portrait of HIV and AIDS across the country now includes new data about the disease in Georgia. Last week, the AIDSVu map (www.aidsvu.org) added information on the age, sex and race of people with HIV in Georgia. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The map shows…
As a boomer who came of age before the dawn of the personal computer, I can barely do the basics on my smartphone. The idea of downloading apps is usually beyond my limited abilities. But thanks to the help of an app-savvy teenager, my smartphone now can provide real-time information about hazard and weather alerts…
A new type of person has been requesting food at the Decatur Cooperative Ministry: professionals. They include teachers, paralegals, even some of the nonprofit’s own former volunteers, says Cliff Richards, program manager of Project Take Charge, part of the Decatur organization. “In the last year and a half, I’ve seen a real demographic shift,’’ Richards…
Atlanta was tied for seventh among U.S. metro areas for its number of unhealthy air days in 2010, according to a report released Tuesday. This year, Atlanta’s smog ranking may be even worse. Metro Atlanta had 34 smog days as of August 21, second only to the notoriously smoggy Los Angeles area, says a report…
The state public health workforce has double-digit job vacancy and turnover rates. The recently created Department of Public Health, like other state agencies, is feeling the squeeze from 2 percent across-the-board budget cuts ordered by Gov. Nathan Deal. But despite the grim financial and personnel news, the department reported some successes Monday at its first…
New parents never lack for reasons to be afraid. And they have some justification: Unlike many animals, whose young can walk or swim within hours, children remain defenseless and vulnerable for years. Polio was the nightmare of parents for generations. But in the 1980s, parents were gripped by a new fear: An apparently healthy baby…