Jackie Zheleznyak

Very exciting news from HHS, CDC and OCCHE! Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) and HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary (OASH), have released the Heat and Health Index (HHI) as the latest in a set of tools and resources intended to improve the nation’s ability to stay safe during heat events.  The HHI combines historic temperature data and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data on heat-related emergency responses from the past three years, as well as data on community characteristics, including pre-existing health conditions, socio-demographic information, and characteristics of the natural and built environment, to provide a final heat and health index ranking by ZIP code, which can be used to empower strategic, data-informed decision-making. Access the HHI and explore its capabilities at https://lnkd.in/git_9mMa. This link will guide you to the landing page of the Heat and Health Tracker; please click on “Heat and Health Index” in the left navigation pane of this landing page to access the HHI.

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The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) kicked off 2024 by celebrating the implementation of continuous eligibility for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in all states. Now, a report from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation - HHS shows more than 17 million children could have more consistent access to health coverage because of these protections.   It is hard to overstate just how big of a deal this is for kids and families. Consistent access to health care in childhood is linked to better outcomes later in life not just in health but in education, employment, and overall wellbeing. This is an encouraging step forward for the health care safety net, and ACAP looks forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure families have coverage they can count on.   Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3UjuEa6

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Digital whiteboards offer unique advantages: Data Accuracy: Integrate with EHRs for accurate, complete displays, eliminating errors common with manual updates. Time Savings: Save hours of staff time daily by automating updates, allowing more direct patient care. Patient Satisfaction: Enhance patient experience with easy-to-read, customizable displays. Financially, digital whiteboards provide a cost-effective solution with long-term returns, low maintenance costs, and the potential for improved outcomes. Great work from Fivebase

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Our revised Operational Policy Manual 16-02-11 on gastrointestinal cancer and asbestos exposure is now in effect. This policy sets clear entitlement guidelines for claims involving occupational exposure to asbestos and GI cancers like esophagus, stomach, and colon cancer. I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and collaboration by staff in our policy and occupational hygiene teams. Special thanks to the external experts behind the comprehensive, Occupational Asbestos Exposure and Gastrointestinal Cancers: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, and the invaluable support of our Scientific Advisory Table on Occupational Disease in understanding the findings. Together, these efforts underscore our commitment to a transparent and evidence-informed policy process. The updated policy will: ● Enable consistent entitlement decisions in GI cancer claims. ● Clarify when GI cancer will be considered work-related, in part, by using occupational asbestos exposure histories unique to the province. ● Ensure affected workers and their survivors receive timely benefits. https://lnkd.in/eS-twUa6 https://lnkd.in/eYK4zgDu

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"Despite the stakes, physicians vote at rates nearly 20% lower than the general population, which is concerning given our unique role in influencing health policy." Grateful to Forbes for highlighting the importance of civic health on the precipice of this critical election night. What I'm most proud of is the impact our team at Vot-ER made in the 2024 election cycle so far. With time still left on the clock, our team has helped over 168,000 clinicians, patients, and their families make their voices heard through voter registration, mail-in ballots, and other readiness actions. But its more than the impact in numbers. Amid declining trust and disillusionment, one thing remains clear: healthcare professionals have the opportunity to embrace their role not only as healers but as champions of civic engagement. We don't merely treat symptoms; we combat the roots of inequity when we help our patients vote. And Vot-ER is doing its small part helping to change the culture of medicine so it can embrace this opportunity. This is the heart of creating A Healthier Democracy. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gK5jXdN8

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It is time for a transparent robust scientific evaluation of the health risks of cell phone radiation and an assessment of the adequacy of the FCCs 1996 human exposure limits. Common sense public health policies are needed to inform the public and mitigate risk. Industrial solutions exist that can allow internet connections without RF radiation exposure. In a recent meta-analysis published in Environmental Health, researchers found a statistically significant increased risk of brain cancer in people who used cell phones for over 10 years.  As Dr. Joel Moskowitz shared on his blog www.saferemr.com, this is one of seven meta-analyses that has linked higher cell phone use to tumors. They found an increased risk of brain tumors in studies where individuals had cumulative call times of 896 hours or more. Relative Risk 2.89 People who typically held the phone against one side of their head during calls had a higher risk of developing cancer on that side. Relative Risk 3.53 https://lnkd.in/erVpMNXy

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🌍 **Weekly Public Health Recap & Upcoming Weekend Concerns** This past week, we saw significant public health challenges: - **COVID-19**: Variants continue to drive localized spikes, especially in high-density areas. Although vaccination efforts have slowed severe cases, outbreaks remain, particularly in populations with low vaccine uptake. Continued emphasis on updated boosters and masking indoors has proven effective in mitigating spread. - **Flu and RSV**: Pediatric cases surged, impacting schools and healthcare facilities. Hospitals have been stretched due to overlapping seasonal illnesses, highlighting the importance of timely flu shots and RSV precautions, especially for children and the elderly. **Looking Ahead to the Weekend**: - **West Nile Virus**: Mosquito activity is projected to increase in several regions with warmer temperatures persisting. Public health officials recommend using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, and eliminating standing water to curb mosquito breeding. - **Foodborne Illnesses**: With more outdoor gatherings expected, there is a heightened risk of **salmonella** and **E. coli** from improperly stored or cooked food. Safe food handling practices such as keeping food at proper temperatures and avoiding cross-contamination are essential for prevention. **Projected Progression**: Without preventive measures, these concerns are likely to grow, particularly with more social activities on the weekend. Public health solutions include expanding vaccination drives, continued public health messaging, and encouraging individuals to follow safety protocols. By staying informed and proactive, we can collectively reduce the impact of these ongoing health concerns. Take precautions and help protect your community as we move into the weekend. #PublicHealth #COVID19 #FluSeason #RSV #WestNileVirus #Salmonella #HealthAwareness #Vaccination #Prevention #WeekendSafety

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Let's talk about the just released Biden-Harris strategy to strengthen global health security ( 3 impacts and 3 challenges) : 3 Strategic Priorities 📌 ********************* ✅ Expanding Partnerships → The strategy aims to extend formal global health security partnerships to 50 countries, focusing on building and sustaining capacity in critical health areas. 🤝 → This priority strategically ensures a more extensive network capable of comprehensive disease surveillance and response. ✅ Driving Leadership and Financing → This strategy seeks to catalyze global political commitment and financing. → Advocate for robust global health policies and reliable institutions. → Key efforts include negotiations on a Pandemic Accord and reforms to International Health Regulations. 💼📈 → These efforts are critical in establishing a more resilient global health framework. ✅ Enhancing Program Synergies → Integrate health security with other health and development programs → Emphasize a One Health approach. → This strategy aims to create a more unified and effective response to health emergencies. 🌐 The One Health approach is encouraging. ****************** Anticipated Impacts 📌 ****************** ✅ The strategy could significantly enhance global capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats. ✅ By leading initiatives to revise the International Health Regulations and develop a Pandemic Accord, the U.S. could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global health governance. → This could lead to more robust and equitable global health security systems. ✅ The emphasis on a One Health approach could foster more sustainable health practices worldwide. *********** Potential Challenges 📌 *********** ❌Implementation Complexity → The broad scope of the strategy might lead to challenges in prioritization, coordination, and execution. → Diverse health systems and political environments across partner countries can complicate standardized implementation. ❌Dependence on International Cooperation → The strategy’s success is inherently tied to international cooperation. → The emergence of nationalism and isolationism are rising post covid 19, and consistent international collaboration and support may be challenging to maintain. ❌Equity and Access → While the strategy aims to be inclusive and gender-responsive, operationalizing these principles into tangible outcomes for marginalized populations will be a significant challenge. → Ensuring that these populations benefit equitably from global health security initiatives requires explicit mechanisms that are often challenging to enforce globally. I am hopeful. What's your take on this strategy ❓ End ******** #globalhealth #healthsecurity #healthresilience

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Epic Systems’ recent move to back the TEFCA medical records exchange is interesting. On the surface, it’s all about creating a seamless flow of patient data across hospitals, QHINs, and all relevant stakeholders. But let’s be real—data is the oil of the new economy, and interoperability is the pipeline that delivers this precious resource to all the right stakeholders. By aligning with TEFCA, Epic might just be positioning itself as the refinery. All in all, this is a welcoming move by Epic Systems—especially if it really is as straightforward as they make it sound. But given the lack of details, one has to wonder if there are any hidden catches. After all, when it comes to something as valuable as healthcare data, it’s wise to look out for the fine print. Let’s hope this is genuinely about improving patient care. https://lnkd.in/gDdDCcmj

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There are some excellent recommendations in this thoughtful article focused on advancing state based Medicaid innovations (particularly CMS speeding up the 1115 review and approval process) yet would be strengthend by recommendations for support for fundamental research on the ROI from managed care 15% cost ($72 billion in 2023) of administrative services focused on MCO/State redundancies, rate impact on non-participating providers, and value based payment model(s) impact on the SPMI, SED, Child Welfare, and other high needs/cost populations. #pushingthemargin

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  The U.S. public health system relies depends on the legal infrastructure providing authority for federal, state and local actions. During COVID-19, federal, state and local officials took actions to mitigate disease spread and to protect the public’s health. Many of the actions were subject to legal challenges. This study by Michelle Mello of Stanford Law is the first study to examine how COVID-19-era decisions may constrain public health legal powers going forward. To learn more tune in on June 5th for a Health Affairs webinar on reimagining #publichealth! Register below. https://lnkd.in/eepQGhJN 

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"The current landscape of crisis centers is complex and varied." What should a crisis center do, and how it should be done? These questions are best answered only after looking at the continuum of crisis services in the context of your own community. #988 #crisiscenter #mobilecrisis #peerrespite #coresponder

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I had the privilege of taking part in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) HHS Office of the Secretary's Chief of Staff Sean M. to discuss key #AANHPI #AAPI #health and pressing #technology policy matters. The conversation highlighted the Department's #data and #consumerprotection priorities, including the need improve and expand #digitaltransformation and strengthen #cybersecurity. With a spiking 128% increase of #cyberattacks in just one year, #ChangeHealthcare spotlights the vulnerabilities of current #supplychains and the weaknesses of third-party partners and vendors in the healthcare sector. The recent SecurityScorecard-McKinsey & Company report noted that 75% of third-party beaches targeted the software and technology supply chain. More alarming trends and opportunities to combat these challenges can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eZ9yJkjD Thank you to White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Executive Director Krystal Kaai, Director Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Counselor Stephen Cha, Jocelyn Hong, Irene Bueno, and H Street Group - a community of leading AANPI #publicpolicy advocates - for investing in such a thoughtful dialogue.

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