Preventive Healthcare
Uninsured Women Get Cancer Screening
Due to a far-reaching collaboration among 40 healthcare agencies in New York, uninsured women are reaping the benefits of early intervention treatments for breast and cervical cancer screenings. The Women's Health Partnership (WHP) has raised the awareness level of thousands of underserved women in New York through more than 70 community events and workshops a year, according to Dr. Nancy Bennett, deputy health director of the Monroe County Health Department (New York), one of WHP's founders.
The partnership has been targeting women who live in Monroe County with an emphasis on inner-city Latina and African-American women (high-risk groups for breast and cervical cancer) since 1993. More than 2,500 women take advantage of the preventive services annually. Since its founding in 1993, WHP boast these results:
- mammography rates for women age 50 to 74 in Monroe County shot up from 43% to 62% (this year).
- early stage breast cancer diagnosis increased 5%. (Contact the American Medical Association, Jim Michalski, 312/464-5785, http://www.ama.org)
Cholesterol Levels Remain High Despite Awareness Push
Widespread consumer education campaigns and increased availability of cholesterol-lowering drugs have yet to put a dent in the nation's high cholesterol levels, according to a new study released by the University of Rochester. Dubbed the L-TAP (Lipid Treatment Assessment Project) study, researchers concluded that providers need to punch up preventive treatment and maintenance programs for high-cholesterol patients.
The study surveyed 619 physicians throughout the country who were most likely to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs. The findings include:
- 62% of patients being treated for high cholesterol didn't bring down their levels to the recommended range;
- 18% of the patients with coronary heart disease reached the recommended cholesterol levels.
The study attributes the dismal results to four key factors: patients not following doctors' orders; confusion over which doctor should take the lead in treating cholesterol levels; disagreement among some physicians on the need for cholesterol-testing in certain low-risk groups; and low consumer awareness of the benefits of cholesterol-lowering drugs. (University of Rochester, 716/275-2121)
Employee Relations
Caregivers Are at High Risk of Violent Attacks
Healthcare workers bear the greatest risk of violence, according to new information released by the U.S. Department of Labor, triggering the need for more aggressive safety workplace programs. "When it comes to being assaulted on the job, health services workers hold some of the most dangerous jobs in America," said Beth Lindamood, a senior market analyst with the Great American Insurance Companies (GAIC), a Cincinnati-based organization that researches workplace violence issues.
The most dangerous healthcare setting is the nursing home - nearly 7% of aide and orderly lost-time injuries were the result of violence. And of the thousands of nursing home assaults studied by the government, more than 5,500 were serious enough to warrant employees missing successive workdays to recuperate. Most of the injuries were caused by being hit, kicked or beaten by patients.
GAIC outlines five key recommendations for violence prevention programs:
- securing management commitment;
- preparing and distributing a written policy;
- expanding pre-employment screening;
- re-training supervisors and employees; and
- reviewing existing safety measures. (GAIC, Mike Maul, 513/271-7222; http://www.gaic.com)