Public Health Practice | The Pump Handle

Government Disease outbreak guarantees: A proposal to build public health capacity in developing nations (rerun)

December 28, 2016 The Pump Handle

While The Pump Handle is on holiday break, we are republishing some of our favorite posts from the past year. This one is from July 2016: In 2005, the World Health Assembly adopted a revised version of its International Health Regulations, a legally binding treaty among 196 nations to boost global health security and strengthen the world’s capacity to confront serious disease threats such as Ebola and SARS. A decade later, just one-third of countries have the ability to respond to a public health emergency. That’s why Rebecca Katz thinks it’s time to get creative.

Public Health Practice Public health ROI: Fluoridation prevents tooth decay and saves a ton of money

December 22, 2016 Kim Krisberg 12Comment

As 2016 comes to a close — and 2017 looms with enormous uncertainty — let’s end the year with some encouraging public health news. This time it’s a study on one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century: fluoridation.

Environmental Health Occupational Health News Roundup

December 20, 2016 Kim Krisberg

The Center for Public Integrity investigates working conditions inside the nation’s oil refineries; mine safety advocates worry about changes under a Trump administration; garment workers in Bangladesh continue to face abusive conditions; and workers chronicle sexual harassment and retaliation within the National Park Service.

Public Health Practice Worth reading: Zika, Agent Orange, and Obamacare enrollees who voted for Trump

December 19, 2016 Liz Borkowski, MPH

Recent pieces address the potential impacts of ACA repeal, the latest Zika research, and an investigation into whether Agent Orange might have increased the risk of birth defects in veterans’ children.

Government Study: Preventable death rates drop when multiple sectors partner for better health

December 16, 2016 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

If you work in public health, you’ve probably heard about the new era of practice — an era being dubbed Public Health 3.0. Among the components that define this new phase is an emphasis on building cross-sector collaborations to affect the social determinants of health. In other words, public and private sectors have a role — and a stake — in improving community health. And now there’s evidence that such collaborations can save people’s lives.

Infectious Diseases & Vaccines CDC: U.S. life expectancy declines, death rates up for heart disease, diabetes, unintentional injury

December 9, 2016 Kim Krisberg 4Comment

For the first time in more than two decades, U.S. life expectancy has dropped.

Affordable Care Act Occupational Health News Roundup

December 6, 2016 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

If the ACA is repealed, miners could lose out on critical compensation for workplace illness; New York farm owner indicted in death of teen worker; possible contender for U.S. labor secretary opposes minimum wage hike; and in good news, Ikea expands paid parental leave for its U.S. workers.

Environmental Health CDC: Health care workers report highest rates of asthma

December 2, 2016 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

More than 2 million U.S. adults may be living with workplace-related asthma, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Environmental Health EPA beats Congress’ deadline, names first 10 chemicals for action under new law

November 30, 2016 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 3Comment

EPA met its first major milestone under the new chemical safety law passed by Congress this past June. It announced its list for the first 10 chemicals for which it will prepare risk evaluations. Those evaluations could lead to restrictions on use or phase-outs of chemicals that presents an unreasonable risk to humans and the environment.

Affordable Care Act Study: U.S. still lags behind on health care affordability and access

November 29, 2016 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

The percentage of Americans who reported cost-related barriers to health care dropped from 37 percent in 2013 to 33 percent in 2016 — a change that directly corresponds to insurance expansions under the Affordable Care Act, a new study reports. On the flip side, Americans are still more likely than peers in other high-income nations to face financial obstacles to health care.