Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

-
Image
primary care :: Article Creator Primary Care In Crisis: A Physician's Take On Reform Source: Imtmphoto/Shutterstock This blog reviews how the role of primary care practice has diminished greatly over the past 40 years. When I became a physician in the 1980's primary care medicine entailed a physician specializing in pediatrics, family medicine, or internal medicine who served as the main point of contact for a panel of patients. The primary care physician evaluated patients for their annual check-ups, monitored patients with chronic conditions, and was also available for same-day or same-week visits when someone was sick. The primary care physician was able to address more than 90% of the care of sick patients in their clinic, and occasionally would refer patients for evaluation by a specialist. In rare cases, when the required level of care could not be handled in the clinic, such as when a patient required intravenous...
Post a Comment

Illinois lawmakers could remove religious exemption for child vaccination - Washington Examiner

-

State lawmakers could make Illinois the sixth state to remove a religious or philosophical objection to vaccines required to attend school.

In Illinois and most other states, it’s required by law that children be up to date on their vaccination schedule to attend school. As of January, 45 states and Washington D.C allowed religious exemptions for immunizations and 15 of those allowed for philosophical exemptions, according to the National Council of State Legislatures.

If lawmakers approve of Senate Bill 3668 and it’s signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, parents would no longer be able to submit a letter to their child’s school objecting to the vaccination requirement.

Supporters of removing the exemption have said some parents have used it improperly.

“Back in 2014, we had about 14,000 religious exemptions,” said Tom Hughes, director of the Illinois Public Health Association. “In 2018, it’s up to over 19,000.”

This increase came even after public health officials increased the steps required for parents to obtain religious exemptions, including verification that they had talked with a medical professional about the decision.

Opponents of vaccinations quote a number of scripture verses but, Hughes stressed, often use them to mask beliefs about GMOs or mercury content in vaccines. Nearly all child vaccinations contain no Thimerosal, the preservative ingredient that contains ethylmercury. That is relatively harmless, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared to methylmercury, which is found in fish and can be detrimental in higher doses.

Activists have been contacting lawmakers, pressuring them to withdraw the legislation, saying it infringes on their religious freedom.

In Illinois, 96 percent to 98 percent of students enrolled in school are up to date vaccinations. However, that means more than 40,000 students – mostly concentrated in private, religious, or inner-city public schools – are not. Some schools have rates as low as 7 percent inoculated.

Herd immunity, Hughes said, is the goal. That’s the term for a high enough percentage of vaccinations in a particular community where a contagious disease will generally not spread. It varies by disease, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generally put it between 83 percent and 94 percent.

Earlier this month, lawmakers in Connecticut heard from parents who want them retain that state's religious exemption. A committee of Connecticut lawmakers advanced the bill, but it faces opposition from Republicans.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

These Are the Top Doctors in the Hudson Valley in 2022

-
Image
advanced primary care of the ozarks :: Article Creator Integrating Rx With Advanced Primary Care Will Unlock Better Health America's healthcare industry has been squeezed tightly over the past few years with post-pandemic fallout, a declining economy and high consumer expectations. Retail pharmacies are no exception, and it's clear that the traditional pharmacy model is in crisis. With rising costs for medications and supplies and changing consumer retail habits, this doesn't bode well for the brick-and-mortar community pharmacy. Simply put: the traditional pharmacy model is unsustainable. We will soon see a rash of closing retail pharmacies and consumers scrambling to fill needed prescriptions affordably. You might be asking yourself why this should matter to you as HR and benefit professionals. I serve as chief human resources officer for a company that works with many large employers concerned about healthcare costs and the de...
Read more

William Buoni, MD - Wexner Medical Center

-
Image
podiatry billing company :: Article Creator The Best Medical Billing Services Of 2024 1. Get a full picture of the company's features. Claim scrubbing and follow-up are par for the course. You'll also commonly find that RCM companies include reporting, consultation, and EMR and PMS access with your services. Check for these features as you speak with company representatives. You should also determine whether the features that accompany your medical billing leave the company or your own team responsible for entering and coding charges. It's worth asking if your billing service candidates are following the most recent ICD-10 coding system updates. You should also get a sense of the billing company's experience with other practices in your specialty. Lastly, ask about the depth and extent of reporting and analytics solutions. "You'll want to ensure that your medical billing service has implemented & maintains timely bill...
Read more

Who are the top doctors in Columbus? Search by specialty with Columbus Monthly's 2021 list

-
Image
women's preventive services :: Article Creator Women - Search News Team USA wins women's 4x400 for eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal The U.S. Women's have dominated the 4x400 relay, winning eight golds in a row in the event. When Team USA won it in Tokyo it gave the legendary Allyson Felix her 11th Olympic medal, making her the most decorated track and field athlete of all time.
Read more