Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the University of Michigan looked at 10 modifiable health risks (conditions or behaviors that can be improved or eliminated by making healthier choices) in roughly 223,500 people across seven industries. The research found that one out of every four dollars employers spent for health care is tied to unhealthy lifestyle choices: smoking, stress, and obesity. This is despite the fact that most large employers have workplace wellness programs. “There are hundreds of well-designed programs, but thousands of programs are too superficial to have an impact, said the study’s author and director of the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center at the School of Kinesiology, Michael O’Donnell. “The best programs increase ...
ChangeLab Solutions and the Nuestras Voces Network will be hosting a free webinar on January 6 to discuss comprehensive tobacco control policies for the Hispanic community. Administered by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, this is the second of a three part webinar series on sustainable policy approaches to improving public health. Speakers include individuals who have worked on tobacco control policy adoption in Hispanic communities around the country. The seminar will provide evidence-based approaches to creating sustainable, comprehensive tobacco control policies. Tobacco control is an essential component to prevent cancer and chronic diseases. It is also a key strategy for advancing health equity, as communities can work to implement policies that reduce tobacco-related ...
According to a recent study, 21% of American children over the age of 5 have some form of “abnormal” blood cholesterol reading that leaves them at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke in adulthood. The study was conducted between 2011-2014 federal health data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overall, more than 13% of kids had unhealthy low levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol. The CDC also says just says over 8% had levels of other forms of cholesterol that are bad for arteries. More than 7% had unhealthily high levels of “total” cholesterol. Obesity is a main cause for these trends, according to the CDC. More than 43% of obese children surveyed reported some form of abnormal cholesterol reading. “When one looks at the data it ...
OpenNotes is a national initiative that urges medical practitioners to allow patients access to their visit notes. This change in practice, according to research, represents a key step toward greater transparency in healthcare. “OpenNotes aligns with Cambia Health Foundation’s mission to make the health care system more person-focused, and proves the power of funders coming together to support a game-changing movement in which patients can instantly become active participants in all of their health care delivery,” said Steven Lesky, a program officer with Cambia Health Foundation which is one of the foundations partnering on OpenNotes. The results of OpenNotes thus far, involving 100 primary care doctors and 20,000 of their patients, was published in the Annals of Internal ...
On December 9, the United States Senate announced the passing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and includes health as part of the need for a well-rounded education. This is the first time that health has been included as a “core subject. Providing health education in school curriculum will help prevent obesity, tobacco use, alcohol use, and reduce other risky health behaviors. Also, teaching emotional and social skills can improve the academic behavior of students and increase their motivation to do well in school and on standardized tests. “This legislation is a monumental victory for our nation’s children and schools,” said Elaine Auld, the CEO of the Society for Public Health Education ...
A new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) found that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is found to be highly effective in reducing food insecurity. The government has designated food insecurity as the measure for whether a household lacks the resources for consistent and dependable access to food. The report highlights a growing body of research that finds children who receive food assistance see improvements in health and academic performance and at these benefits are mirrored by long-run improvements in health, educational attainment, and economic self-sufficiency. New research has shown that benefit levels are not often adequate to sustain families through the end of the month. The result of this has been a 27% increase in the rate of ...
According to a report from the University of Maryland School of Public Health, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has significantly improved insurance coverage and healthcare for Latinos. The new report analyzed data from the 2011-2014 National Health Interview Survey. The data suggested that the ACA is significantly reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. “Since the ACA took effect in 2014, the rates of uninsured Latinos were reduced by 7% as compared to 3% for whites,” said Dr. Jie Chen assistant professor in the Department of Health Services Administration at Maryland. “We also found that these groups were more likely to visit a primary care doctor and receive timely healthcare than before the ACA coverage began.” Dr. Chen believed that the relatively smaller decline in ...
A recent report from a partnership between magazines People en Español, Essence, Fortune, and the web site Great Place to Work selected the top U.S. companies that best meet the needs of multicultural employees, including Latinos. The report also listed which companies listed diversity as one of their top priorities and which offered the best environment for Latino employees in regards to atmosphere, benefits, and communication. The report was compiled through conversations with employees about a variety of workplace topics, including professional development, access to senior leadership, and connection with fellow co-workers. The top 10 employers include casual dining chain The Cheesecake Factory, used car dealership CarMax, southern California hospital system Scripps Health, ...
The White House has extended an invitation to a Google+ Hangout as part of the 25th anniversary Year of Action, the initiative that made a call for national “Bright Spots in Hispanic Education.” The event will take place on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Over 230 Bright Spots were announced during Hispanic Heritage Month. The Hangouts will be broadcast live from Washington, D.C. and viewers can participate via the Web stream, or by sending questions in during or in advance of the event through Google+, Twitter, Facebook or email. This interactive session will provide an opportunity to hear from programs, models, organizations, or initiatives that are helping close the achievement gap, from cradle-to-career, for Latino students, and for discussing ways to continue ...
