Brewing Cuts in School and at Work

Brewing Cuts in School and at Work

Milawaukee, Wisc., has been making headlines the past couple of days. Yesterday, it was reported that 34 percent of Black males in the city are unemployed. Today, it was announced that Milwaukee Public Schools will lay off more than 300 teachers as part of its budget cutting plan.

Each story is troublesome in its own right, especially given that the city’s woes are reflective of broader national trends. Combined, the stats are dire. A 2006 report on teacher distribution in the MPS found that

“The least experienced teachers and those with the lowest educational attainment are more likely to be instructing children of color, children who are English language learners, and children in poverty. Further, these teachers are more likely to be teaching those children most in need of expert teachers – children in low performing schools.”

With so many Black men facing unemployment because of job cuts in the manufacturing industry—“a key source of jobs for African-American male high school graduates”—it becomes increasingly more important to ensure that all children receive the very best education possible.

New RWJF Directory Compares Hospitals and Doctors

New RWJF Directory Compares Hospitals and Doctors

Building on the growing trend to look for health care information online, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s just released a map-based directory designed to help users compare health care provided by local hospitals and physicians.  Foundation staff believe the directory will be especially helpful to people who “receive care in different areas of the country.”  To view the national directory, go here.  And to read the full article, see: New directory helps patients compare hospitals

“Are Doctors Playing Favorites”?

“Are Doctors Playing Favorites”?

Not everyone is happy about the Obama Administration’s plan to deploy “mystery shoppers” posing as patients and contacting doctors’ offices for appointments in an attempt to assess whether all people, regardless of type of health care coverage, are able to get care when they need it.  According to Washington, DC-based internist, Dr. Raymond Scalettar, “I don’t like the idea of the government snooping. It’s a pernicious practice — Big Brother tactics, which should be opposed.”  The Administration’s rationale for its proposed plan is the now critical shortage of primary care doctors coupled with what it believes is the practice by some physicians to give preferential treatment to patients with private insurance versus those covered by government payment plans. 

For more, see: U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors.  

Babies and Food Giants

Babies and Food Giants

Photo caption: In Motts for Tots apple juice, a popular fruit juice parents serve their children, a 200ml serving comes with 13 grams of sugar and 50 calories. An equal-sized serving of Safeway brand apple juice dishes up about 23 grams of sugar and 93 calories.

 

An article on CNN today draws attention to a growing epidemic of obesity in infants. Several factors come into play to affect a child’s health, but one issue of growing importance is nutrition labeling. Often, parents just aren’t aware of what they’re feeding their children. "There's a disconnect in people's minds. The mothers don't know. They're used to thinking juice is good; juice is fruit. What they don't tell them is all the sugar in the package," says Dr. Sandeep Gupta, director of Pediatric Overweight Education and Research Program at Indiana University Health. At a stage when physical and mental health development is critically important and equally sensitive, why isn’t more being done to protect kids by enlightening parents?

One answer: Lobbying. In a summary of a recent opinion piece by Kelly Brownell (director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University), the issue of the food industry’s lobbying capabilities comes into plain view. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration attempts to redesign and clarify the traditional food label, more direct grouping may not be an option. “Food industry’s powerful lobby would block such a black-and-white system that categorized every food as either healthy or unhealthy.”

 

 

So for now, parents are stuck with labels depicting quantitative components, rather than an understandable translation of what they’re actually getting. And the babies are paying the price.

Remembering the King of Pop

Remembering the King of Pop

On this second anniversary of the death Michael Jackson, McKinney pauses to pay tribute to the King of Pop for bringing multiple cultures together. His music transcended social barriers and connected people of all races, creeds and origins, even before the Internet materialized.  Jackson pioneered the We-Are-The-World effect.  Thank you, Michael, for your music and love of humankind.

Troubling Trend: More Young Adults Living With Diabetes

Troubling Trend: More Young Adults Living With Diabetes

When we are young we think we can avoid health-related issues that happen to “to the other older person.” By that, meaning we can consume all the chips, fries, burgers, pastries, pizza and sodas we want, believing that time and youth can reverse any possible damage? Wrong. According to leading diabetes experts, more people in their 20s and 30s are coping with Type 2 diabetes, which used to be rare in those under 40. Younger type 2 diabetes patients are not just worried about college, dating and entertainment choices but now trying to participate in such activities with high blood pressure, poor eyesight, obesity, kidney problems and possibly congestive heart failure. It just doesn’t happen to the “older guy.” Healthy food choices are important at every age. We shouldn’t let an early death win.

For more on this troubling trend, read USA Today article.

Remembering Metrorail Operator Jeanice McMillan

Remembering Metrorail Operator Jeanice McMillan

Two years ago today the deadliest crash on Washington's subway system occurred. Train operator Jeanice McMillan and eight passengers lost their lives in the accident. Dozens of others were injured. As the runaway train careened towards a stopped train, McMillan showed tremendous courage. She kept her post in the conductor’s cabin and applied the brakes, never giving up and never knowing that the circuitry that controlled the brakes had failed. McKinney pauses on this day to pay tribute to McMillan. She made the ultimate sacrifice for the passengers in her care.

Promote What You Believe In

Promote What You Believe In

A recent study with Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication found that eight in 10 women believe that supporting causes gives them a sense of purpose and  meaning in life. Men were more likely to view such “causal” supports as fads. Women are also more likely to volunteer their time, donate products and amplify their messages on social network spaces to foster participation from others.  Whether by using social media, word of mouth, networking meetings or a night out with the girls, we know that causes and projects move forward when we believe in what we’re doing. McKinney & Associates has continued this practice for more than 20 years by strategically lifting up important social justice issues in the media. Whether health care disparities and health access inequities, labor injustices or civil rights for all, changing the conversation on these and other issues wouldn’t matter if we didn’t believe in their worth.

It is said that when people know you care, then they care.

America’s Oral Health is in Crisis

America’s Oral Health is in Crisis

More than a decade since the U.S. Surgeon General called America’s poor oral health a “silent epidemic,” oral health diseases remain prevalent among the nation’s underserved populations. Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans bear the burden of poor oral health more than any other racial or ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the largely majority-minority town of Windsor, North Carolina, the unabated crisis is playing out. A new study by the local government says a shortage of dentists and lack of access to dental care is to blame. In 2010, there were only 15 dentists for 109,000 low-income residents in the county. And almost no private dentist in the area will accept Medicaid because the reimbursement rates are below market rate.


Oral health is critical to overall health.


Reform efforts should focus on integrating oral health into health care and increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists.


Read More: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110616/ARTICLES/110619585?template=printpicart

New Federal Efforts Aimed at Engaging rather than Alienating Fathers

New Federal Efforts Aimed at Engaging rather than Alienating Fathers

In time for Father’s Day, The Root.com has taken a look at the nation’s welfare policies to see if public assistance undermines fathers.  The online news source found that the welfare system indeed discounts fathers but the trend is changing. New federal policies and programs seek to affirm the value of fathers. This weekend HUD officials are hosting fairs at 200 public-housing authorities across the country to celebrate fatherhood and families. The project is a step in the right direction. More needs to be done.

Read More via The Root.com: http://www.theroot.com/views/welfare-fathers-and-those-persistent-myths

Health reform is education reform

Health reform is education reform

Only one in 10 high school kids meeting the minimum goals for physical activity

America's teens are drinking too many sugary drinks and not getting enough exercise, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only one in 10 high school boys and girls are meeting the minimum goals for physical activity outlined by in the CDC's recently released "Healthy People 2020" report. The findings appear in the June 17 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6023a1.htm?s_cid=mm6023a1_w.

There’s a critical need to improve the quality of school meals and to create more opportunities for students to be physically active.

Weiner, Perceived Golden Boy Who Missed a Golden Rule

Weiner, Perceived Golden Boy Who Missed a Golden Rule

Read today’s Huffington Post article for latest on Weiner’s story, “Anthony Weiner Photos Fallout: House Democrats Hope Scandal-Plagued Congressman Will Resign”

Anyone with access to broadcast, print or online media knows the Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) story of “my Twitter account was hacked,” following lewd photos of him tweeted to a 21-year-old woman, that instantly went public. When the story broke two weeks ago, Weiner’s first line of defense was one of arrogance (how dare the media pester me with such questions) and victimization (“someone had fun with my last name, played a prank on me”). For nearly 10 days, Weiner lied to media, his constituents and the American public suggesting someone ‘doctored’ photos to implicate him in this disturbing online sexting behavior.

The media, insatiable and unsatisfied with what smelled like lies, continued digging into and unraveling Weiner’s story. The lie slapped him in the face on June 6, 2011, forcing him to call a late afternoon national press conference where he shamefully admitted he lied and sent the photo—no one hacked his Twitter account. This spotlight grew larger than necessary because he did not honor a public relations biblical rule: Tell the truth.

As public relations professionals, we know the dangers of letting someone else control our story. Best practices in crisis management situations is to: 1) Get out in front of your story as quickly and as honestly as possible. 2) Full disclosure. The quicker you put suspicions to rest, the more likely you can move on and the media will look for someone else to grill—not you. Even as children, our parents and teachers encourage us to tell the truth, no matter how ugly. One or two times of going against their advice, we soon realize how a story snowballs out of control, becoming worse than the actual truth. Most people are more forgiving if honesty and sincere remorse are shown first rather than an arrogant attempt to sell us a story you think we’re foolish enough to buy.

Rep. Weiner has now negatively impacted his marriage and political career. Members of Congress are seeking his resignation. His situation is no different than previous public figures who thought they could overcome the truth with a lie. From former President Bill Clinton, to former New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, Tiger Woods, John Edwards and others and more to come, one’s intelligence and perceived ability to outwit the public is not the answer. Owning your faults and displaying sincere regret will give you peace of mind and the media less to talk about.

A History Not Worth Repeating

A History Not Worth Repeating

On this day, June 14, we recognize as Flag Day, when our country’s flag was first carried by the Continental Army in 1776. To commemorate this, some people proudly wave replicas in varying forms of the American flag perhaps not knowing the full history. But according to an article in today’s Washington Post, adults aren’t the only ones short on U.S. history knowledge.  According to the Nation’s Report Card, only  13 percent of high school seniors who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress exhibited strong academic performance in American history.  In addition, only 22 percent of fourth-graders and 18 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or higher. Several factors may contribute to low test scores but the greater concern lies with the disconnect within these students’ classrooms, communities and homes. This is a tell-tale indication of gaps in our communities (whether intended or unintended) where each one isn’t teaching one. Understanding why persons in our history made good or bad decisions is imperative for helping us make more informed, critical choices when facing similar situations. And as the saying goes, “if you don’t know your past (history), you are doomed to repeat it. “

Read more from the Washington Post: “Less Than a Quarter of Students Proficient in U.S. History, Educators Concerned”

Older, Experience Becoming Preferred in Health Care

Older, Experience Becoming Preferred in Health Care

The recession forced many people out of their jobs, homes and predictable lifestyles and into new ways of managing their money, hopes and dreams. For some, that meant downsizing, returning to school for more education or pursuing an entirely new career. Careers in health care are often sought by those on the younger side of life with time to invest to gain experience, and not necessarily those who may be mid-life. However, a recent study by the Association of American Medical Colleges shows more people aged 29 or older are entering medical school. These students will be near 40 years of age or older upon finishing schooling and residency but the investment may be just what patients need: more sensitive, life-experienced, adjusted physicians who have cared for their own sick children, spouses or an elderly parent. Their pulse on real-life situations may be well worth our wait and care.

Read more on CNN.com: "Never to Late to Be a Doctor"

Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

J. Howard DeHoff, MD, of South Whitehall Township, is a primary care internist.

Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

The House GOP is gloating about the recent passage of HR 1216, which rescinds the funds obligated by the Affordable Care Act for training much-needed primary care physicians, but millions of Americans will suffer if the Senate follows suit. The shortage of primary care physicians has already reached crisis levels in many areas -- nearly every county in Pennsylvania is experiencing a shortage of primary care providers. And according to primary care physician Dr. Howard DeHoff, "by 2025, there will be a shortage of 35,000 to 44,000 primary care physicians leaving more than 66 million Americans without access to quality care." The result, he worries, will be millions of people at risk for heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, depression, domestic violence, tobacco addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, arthritis, influenza -- and without quality care. What's the old saying -- "an ounce of prevention..."

To view full article: http://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-primary-care-physicians-dehoff-yv-20110608,0,6645569.story

The Importance of Equal Education

The Importance of Equal Education

With 2012 elections poised conspicuously in front of us, hot topics like the economy, jobs and war are everyday fodder for political pundits.

But two issues that seem to be strategically avoided by the candidates as they boil just below the surface of these debates are immigration and education reform. Indeed, these issues have the potential to clearly delineate campaign positions, for better or for worse. And they are not mutually exclusive. Or at least, they shouldn’t be.

In two recent Washington Post articles, common perspectives of US minority communities and the roles they play in society are challenged. In one article, we learn that the percentage of Hispanic students finishing high school and attending two-year colleges is dramatically increased over the past decade. In another, the number of highly skilled immigrants in our country now outranks the number of low-skilled immigrant workers.

It’s important to realize that the study of Hispanic students finishing high school does not distinguish between immigrant status, and the study of immigrant workers only generally distinguishes by race (Latinos tend to be lower-skilled). However, as Tara Bahrampour points out in the latter, “the report also offers a new perspective on the national immigration discourse, which tends to fixate on low-skilled, and often illegal, workers.”

With various bills pertaining to immigration and education reform undergoing scrutiny across the country, the United States is facing a pivotal moment in how it chooses to invest in its future. 

For more information, check out:

Alabama gov. signs nation's toughest immigrant law (WaPo, 06/09/11)

Obama’s border visit renews focus on immigration policy (Reuters, 05/09/11)

DREAM Act Portal

New Twist in Health Reform Legal Battle

New Twist in Health Reform Legal Battle

Up to now, the jurists hearing the case against the not quite 15-month old Affordable Care Act have responded along party lines—the four federal district judges appointed by Democratic presidents have ruled the law constitutional; the two Republican-appointed jurists say it is not.  More than 30 lawsuits have been filed by nearly as many states since the law was enacted in March 2010.  The latest legal arguments will be heard by a three-judge appellate court panel from the US Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit in Atlanta.  This time, however, the jurist include a Republican appointee, a Democratic appointee and a third who is distinguished with appointments from both a Republican and Democrat President.  It’s probably safe to say this ruling could go either way. 

For full story, see: Legal battle over Obama’s health-care law moves to Atlanta courtroom

Surviving the Night Shift...

Surviving the Night Shift at Hospitals

Night time and weekend care might be good for the hospital’s bottom line; not necessarily for the patient.  According to health writer Sandra Boodman, night and weekend care often result in “higher rates of errors and poorer patient outcomes.”  The sparse staff and slower pace translate into slower delayed responses.  But when there is no choice, here are some tips for protecting patients:

Here are some suggestions offered by experts to help patients and families protect themselves:

·         Ask if the hospital employs hospitalists or nocturnists, doctors who specialize in treating inpatients.

·         Check whether an experienced physician, not just a resident, is on duty and at the hospital at night outside of the emergency room.

·         Take your meds to the hospital with you (and any relevant records).

·         Keep after-hours information for your doctor; a call from your doctor can make the difference! 

For more on this topic, read:  Hospitals Turning To Nocturnists -- Doctors Who Work Nights -- To Improve Care

African-American Maternal Health in a State of Emergency

African-American Maternal Health in a State of Emergency

Amnesty International’s most recent findings on global maternal mortality rates are pretty embarrassing for the United States – we’re ranked 50^th, despite the fact that we spend the most money per capita on health care. But what’s truly appalling is that “African-American women are three to four times more likely than white women to die of pregnancy-related causes.” (The Root)

The truth that African-American women face an uphill battle for preconception health is not a new concept to us here at McKinney & Associates. We recently wrapped up a Be Well Women campaign, sponsored by the California Department of Public Health, aimed at encouraging Black women of child-bearing age to take care of their bodies not just for themselves, but for their future children.

There are a variety of factors behind African-American women’s heightened vulnerability during pregnancy – especially race-related stress complications – but most, if not all of them are preventable. McKPR encourages all women – regardless of race or age – to get the facts and take control of your health, for your present and future.

Enjoying the Summer Safely

Enjoying the Summer Safely

Technically, it's still Spring and Summer should be right around the corner.

In reality, many of us have been unceremoniously reminded to be careful of what we wish for when it comes to busting out the shorts and t-shirts after a long winter.

With DC hitting near record highs this week , it's important to remember that protecting ourselves from the heat and humidity goes beyond wishing it away.

Dehydration, heat stroke and exhaustion play an all too common role in defining the summer months, but they don't need to.

In the spirit of keeping our bodies healthy, here are some tips for enjoying summer safely:

1. Stay hydrated.

In addition to heat and humidity, several lesser-known factors can contribute to dehydration, including air conditioning, antihistamines and caffeine. So if you find yourself taking your daily allergy pill with your morning iced coffee while you sit in your air conditioned office, you may want to re-examine just how much water you're drinking to compensate.

2. Eat small

Frequent, small-portioned meals high in water content (think melons and lettuce) are a safe bet. For more tips, check out Adam Morgenstern's "How to Eat During a Heat Wave"


3. Avoid drinking too much alcohol

As fun as the summer-time vacation drinks can be, alcohol "impairs the body's ability to regulate its temperature."

For more tips on protecting yourself and recognizing different symptoms of heat exhaustion, check out ABC's "12 Heat Safety Tips for the Summer"