Independence Health System sees shrinking losses, but looks ahead to further improvement
Independence Health System cut operating losses by nearly half from Jan. 1 to March 31 compared to the same time last year, continuing a steady trend of financial improvement for the merged health system. According to the system’s most recent financial reports, Independence saw a little more than $12.6 million...
‘Quiet Epidemic’ delves into chronic Lyme disease
Pennsylvania has had the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in Lyme disease cases for 11 of the past 13 years. The tick-borne illness can be difficult to diagnose, and the vice president for the PA Lyme Disease Network said multiple mild winters are not going to help. “We continue...
HPV vaccines prevent cancer in men as well as women, new research suggests
New research suggests the HPV vaccine is preventing cancer in men, as well as in women, but fewer boys than girls are getting the shots in the United States. The HPV vaccine was developed to prevent cervical cancer in women and experts give it credit, along with screening, for lowering...
Louisiana Legislature approves bill classifying abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances
BATON ROUGE — Two abortion-inducing drugs could soon be reclassified as controlled and dangerous substances in Louisiana under a first-of-its-kind bill that received final legislative passage Thursday and is expected to be signed into law by the governor. Supporters of the reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly known as “abortion...
Michigan farmworker diagnosed with bird flu, becoming 2nd U.S. case tied to dairy cows
NEW YORK — A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows. The patient had mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday. The worker had been...
Use of Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs soars among kids and young adults
At 17, Israel McKenzie was so burdened by obesity that he stopped going to high school in person and was embarrassed to speak to people at his restaurant job. “I was in a really dark place,” says McKenzie, whose weight had climbed to 335 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame, despite...
Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the U.S., a new study says
Millions of people in the U.S. report using marijuana daily or nearly every day, according to an analysis of national survey data, and those people now outnumber those who say they are daily or nearly-daily drinkers of alcohol. Alcohol is still more widely used, but 2022 was the first time...
After the only hospital in town closed, a North Carolina city directs its ire at politicians
WILLIAMSTON, N.C. — Weeds have punctured through the vacant parking lot of Martin General Hospital’s emergency room. A makeshift blue tarp covering the hospital’s sign is worn down from flapping in the wind. The hospital doors are locked, many in this county of 22,000 fear permanently. Some residents worry the...
U.S. pediatricians reverse decades-old advice against HIV-positive mothers breastfeeding
People with HIV can breastfeed their babies, as long as they are taking medications that effectively suppress the virus that causes AIDS, a top U.S. pediatricians’ group said Monday in a sharp policy change. The new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics reverses recommendations it had in place since...
High tea presented by Make-A-Wish brings Murrysville girl’s dream to life
Alejandra “Ale” Guerrero of Murrysville was radiant Sunday, and not just because she had on a flowing, princess-blue ballgown. The 13-year-old seventh grader at Franklin Regional Middle School, who fought her way through cancer last year, always wanted to attend a masquerade ball. She’d wear a fancy gown, the idea...
Nurses, administrators, advocates have varied opinions on new federal nursing home rule
When certified nursing assistant Helen Noel arrives for work each day at The Grove at Irwin nursing home, her attention is pulled in multiple directions. “When I go in, there might be four or five (patient) lights going off,” she said. “Who do I answer — your mother, your sister?...
‘She fought until the very last day’: Youngwood organ donor helps save 3 after overdose death
From the printer to the sweeper to the decorations on the wall, almost everything in Anna Vukovich’s Youngwood home reminds her of her daughter Jennifer. Jennifer’s comforter is still on the bed in her childhood bedroom, her purse still hangs on a hook on the wall. “Everytime I pull something...
Tick season has arrived. Protect yourself with these tips
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Tick season is starting across the U.S., and experts are warning the bloodsuckers might be as plentiful as ever. Another mild winter and other favorable factors likely means the 2024 tick population will be equal to last year or larger, some researchers say. “It’s very bad...
Former patients reunite as professionals at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Dr. Matt Kocher was setting up an operating room during his anesthesia fellowship at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Lawrenceville when nurse Alexis Mamros asked if he had ever received anesthesia. He replied that he had, during his cancer treatment. Curious, Mamros asked for details. Kocher mentioned he remembered another patient...
Teen who ate spicy tortilla chip died of high chile consumption and had a heart defect, autopsy says
BOSTON — A Massachusetts teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract and also had a congenital heart defect, according to autopsy results obtained by The Associated Press. Harris Wolobah, a 10th grader from the city...
Deadly overdoses fell in the U.S. for the 1st time in 5 years, new estimates show
Deaths from drug overdoses fell last year in the United States as fewer people lost their lives to fentanyl and other opioids, marking the first time the death toll had dropped in five years, according to newly released estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal officials said...
Immune therapy drugs show promise in treating esophageal cancer
Gary Hines didn’t want to lose his hair. The Harrison resident, diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021, worried about looking his best for his son’s wedding. “I was all worked up,” said Hines, 60, retired after 30 years with the Harrison Township Water Authority. “Turns out, I never lost one...
There’s bird flu in U.S. dairy cows. Raw milk drinkers aren’t deterred
Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking the unpasteurized products — and an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows. Since March 25, when the bird flu virus was confirmed in U.S. cattle for the first time,...
Online dashboard helps track tickborne illnesses
The Pennsylvania Department of Health this week announced a new online dashboard that will provide people with information about tickborne illnesses. The dashboard will show people where ticks are prevalent so they can take appropriate precautions while outdoors, officials said. It also will display the latest tickborne disease activity, tracking...
Westmoreland students explore health care career paths at Independence fair
Tenth grade Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center student Zoey Wilders carefully stuffed gauze into a simulated wound to staunch the bleeding. A few feet away, nurse and emergency room educator Kelly Bedner cheered her on. “You’re saving that life,” Bedner said, ushering more students to try their hand at...
Healthy Athlete program aims to prevent tragedies from happening
Last summer, Bronny James, son of NBA star LeBron James, went into sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of California Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and back on the court five months later. But not all situations end up with the...
Some older Americans splurge to keep homes accessible while others struggle to make safety upgrades
NEW YORK — Brenda Edwards considers the four-bedroom, ranch-style house where she has lived for 20 years her forever home. It’s where the 70-year-old retired nurse and her 79-year-old husband want to stay as their mobility becomes more limited. So she hired an interior designer for $20,000 and spent another...
UPMC settles whistleblower case for $38 million
UPMC has agreed to pay $38 million to settle a long-running whistleblower lawsuit filed by former employees that alleged violations of the federal False Claims Act. The parties agreed to settle the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in September but did not finalize the deal until this week, according to...
RFK Jr. says he had a dead worm in his brain. What are these parasites and how common are they?Video
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made various claims about his health over the years, but the most shocking came Wednesday when it was revealed that Kennedy once insisted that a worm died in his brain over a decade ago. Kennedy’s assertion, which was reported by The New York...
‘Oh, Baby!’: Millie’s ice cream flavor celebrates Mother’s Day, women’s health
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream has unveiled a new flavor just in time for Mother’s Day. Partnering with Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, a portion of sales from the “Oh, Baby!” flavor will fund women’s health research. This collaboration celebrates motherhood and highlights the need for advancements in women’s healthcare. It...
