Ben Chandler leads support for research into addiction treatment at opioid panel’s final hearing
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Twenty-three people spoke in favor of funding the development of an opioid-use disorder treatment using the psychedelic drug ibogaine with some of the state’s opoid-settlement money at the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission’s second and final public hearing last week.
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler, a...
Interact for Health awards second round of grants to area nonprofits to support youth mental health
Interact for Health awarded a second wave of community grants aimed at increasing youth mental health prevention services in school-based settings.
This is the second announcement from the organization’s new five-year strategic plan, which has a strong focus on improving mental health and well-being in the region, particularly for youth. This additional $1M investment builds on the previous wave...
National Child Passenger Safety Week coming up: Please assure your car seat is properly installed
Each year, National Child Passenger Safety Week aims to increase awareness for parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly buckling kids in the right seats for their age and size.
“As a dad, I know how hard parents work to help keep children safe, especially on our roadways,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “While this week reminds us to take the proper precautions to keep our kids safe...
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center gets designation from National Institutes of Health
Twenty million dollars allocated by the General Assembly in the 2023-2024 biennial budget was integral to the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center being designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Institutes of Health.
The NIH is the federal government’s principal cancer research and training agency. Markey is now one of only 56 cancer centers nationwide with this designation...
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is first in state to use CathWorks FFR technology for coronary diagnostics
St. Elizabeth Healthcare achieves a significant milestone in cardiovascular care with the use of technology known as CathWorks FFRangio (FFR). Officials with Medtronic, who currently promote the less invasive, diagnostic technology in the United States, have designated St. Elizabeth as the first healthcare system in Kentucky to implement this new approach.
The CathWorks FFRangio (Photo from the websites)
CathWorks...
St. Elizabeth Healthcare partners with UC Clermont for free employee tuition toward surgical tech degree
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College and St. Elizabeth Healthcare have partnered to create a new career pathway in surgical technology.
St. Elizabeth is now offering free tuition toward a surgical technology associate degree, with UC Clermont providing the education needed to fill in-demand operating room roles.
The new program is open to interested St. Elizabeth employees who work at least...
New study: Burden of ‘long COVID’ is real, even after two years in those with severe and mild cases
Kentucky Health News
A recent study highlights the burden of COVID-19 that continues to affect millions of people, showing that patients who were hospitalized with the disease are especially vulnerable to a long list of health problems and death two years after the initial infection, and that those with mild or moderate infections have an elevated risk of two dozen medical conditions, Amy Goldstein...
It’s bat season so be aware — small number carry rabies which can be fatal to both people and pets
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Public health officials in Kentucky say we are now in bat season and remind everyone that each year a small number of bats test positive for rabies, which can be fatal to both people and pets.
According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, in 2017 there were five cases involving rabid bats statewide. In 2018, that number jumped to 13. In 2019, 12 confirmed cases...
With high school athletics in full swing, here’s what to know about the heart health of your young athlete
By Dr. Shaun Mohan
University of Kentucky
We often think of athletes, particularly young athletes, as the picture of perfect health. With helmets and protective pads, specialized nutrition and physical conditioning under the watchful eyes of coaches and trainers, these players seem poised to accomplish physical feats that can bring entire stadiums of cheering spectators to their feet.
But recent news...
Kentucky lawmakers set to finalize expanded Medicaid dental, vision and hearing benefits
By Nadia Ramlagan
Public News Service
Kentucky lawmakers next week are expected to finalize regulations that have expanded dental, vision and hearing benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries this year. Advocates for making them permanent say greater access to these services will make Kentucky’s population healthier.
Jefferson County resident Missy Newland said she’s experienced years of pain...
Death rates for people under 40 have skyrocketed across the United States, blame fentanyl
Photos of young overdose victims on display at an overdose awareness event in Rockville, Maryland, in August. Accidental overdose has become a primary cause of deaths for people under 40. (Photo by Tim Henderson, Stateline)
By Tim Henderson
Kentucky Lantern
A new Stateline analysis shows that U.S. residents under 40 were relatively unscathed by COVID-19 in the pandemic but fell victim to another killer:...
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month; American Cancer Society offers information
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
When prostate cancer is detected early, the odds of survival are high. That is the message being spread far and wide in September, which is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States and Black men are two times more likely to die from it than white men. Black men having the highest...
Kentucky has the highest rate of cancer caused by HPV in U.S., it may not be too late to get vaccinated
By Dr. Erin Poteet
University of Kentucky
Kentucky has the highest rate of cancers caused by the Human papillomavirus (HPV) in the U.S. – a dire statistic considering these cancers can be largely preventable through vaccination.
The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of sexually transmitted cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), including cervical, anal, penile, vaginal, vulvar and head/neck...
State seeing uptick in COVID-19 cases but so far numbers are small; wash hands, get vaccines
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases, and local outbreaks, along with other illnesses, have shut down several school districts. This has also been reflected in hospital admissions, which is considered one of the most reliable indicators for tracking the virus since the end of the public-health emergency on May 11.
In the first two full calendar weeks...
Governor announces $27.2 million in grant funding from federal Victims of Crime Act
Gov. Andy Beshear announced that $27.2 million in grant funding has been awarded to assist victims of violent crime in the state, with this year’s federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding awarded to 114 organizations across Kentucky.
VOCA funding prioritizes services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence, but can also serve survivors of homicide and victims of burglary,...
