In the News
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February 18, 2022
J. Alexander Navarro, assistant director of the Center for the History of Medicine, expects local governments to signal their version of the end of the pandemic by relaxing public health rules — much like what happened during the Spanish flu when most of the U.S. decided it was over in 1919 but half the country continued to see outbreaks. “It was way too premature to declare that pandemic over,” he said. “But there was a lot of social pressure to do so.”
Marketplace -
February 18, 2022
Misinformation about wind and solar projects can fuel restrictions that are more stringent than needed and sometimes act as outright bans on renewable energy, says Sarah Mills, lecturer in sustainability and environment: “Local officials are not necessarily experts in energy. And so when you have people … stating things as facts, it’s difficult. They’re certainly making decisions based on what they’re hearing.”
National Public Radio -
February 17, 2022
Only four in 10 older Americans use mobile health apps, says Pearl Lee, associate professor of geriatric medicine: “Now that most older adults have at least one mobile device, health-related apps can … support their health-related behaviors, manage their conditions and improve health outcomes.” U-M chief health officer Preeti Malani says “health providers should consider discussing the use of health apps with their patients, because one-third said they had never thought about using one.”
U.S. News & World Report -
February 17, 2022
“Congress and the administration should institute legislation with a meaningful ‘invent here, manufacture here’ policy. That would be the first step toward rebuilding our manufacturing-innovation ecosystem to rekindle American ingenuity, to create jobs and to strengthen military preparedness,” co-wrote Sridhar Kota, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering.
The Hill -
February 17, 2022
“On plantations, African Americans … began to blend in some aspects of Christianity with some aspects of traditional African religious traditions and practices,” said Earl Lewis, professor of history, public policy, and Afroamerican and African studies. “Sometimes religious leaders were also medical leaders, and may use the same kinds of roots and other herbs to cure disease as well as provide a spiritual outlet.”
MLive -
February 16, 2022
“This venture requires the patient to pay cash only, which is unusual in U.S. health care … (and) focuses only on the generically available medications and no brand name medications, so many patients will need to continue to use another pharmacy,” said John Clark, clinical associate professor of pharmacy, on billionaire Mark Cuban’s new online pharmacy that offers near-wholesale prices.
Washington Examiner -
February 16, 2022
Research by Mark Peterson, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and colleagues found that 59 percent of adults with spinal cord injuries have mental health disorders, compared with 31 percent of adults in the general population. “Improved clinical efforts are needed to facilitate screening of, and early treatment for, both chronic pain and psychological health in this higher-risk population,” he said.
U.S. News & World Report -
February 16, 2022
Precipitation amounts fluctuate over time and vary regionally, but as human activities continue to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, rising temperatures are making the air “more capable of pulling the water out of the soil, out of vegetation, out of crops, out of forests. And it makes for drought conditions to be much more extreme,” said Julia Cole, professor of earth and environmental sciences.
The New York Times -
February 15, 2022
Medicare has penalized more than 2,000 hospitals since 2014 for having high numbers of patient infections and potentially avoidable complications. Andrew Ryan, professor of health management and policy, said, “You’re asking hospitals to call out events that are going to have them lose money, so the incentives are really messed up for hospitals to fully disclose (patient injuries).”
Kaiser Health News -
February 15, 2022
“You have to do everything that an organization does on your own. You also get the beauty of making the personal choices. You can decide to do this consulting and not that, but if it doesn’t go well there’s no one to blame. It’s all you,” said Sue Ashford, professor of management and organizations, on the pros and cons of being a contract worker.
WXYZ/Detroit
