Latest California Healthline Stories
Inland Empire Grapples With Shortage of Hospital Beds
With 1.9 hospital beds for every 1,000 people, California ranks 49th in the nation for hospital bed availability. And the Inland Empire region — specifically southwest Riverside County — is lower yet with 1.05 licensed beds per 1,000 people. The region also faces a shortage of doctors and nurses.
High-Risk Pool Changes First Reforms on Tap in California
One of the first changes California will see under national health reform is the creation of a new insurance pool for “high-risk” patients. How the new national pool will affect California’s existing program will be closely watched.
California Falling Short in Kids’ Dental Care, Studies Say
One study gives California a “C” in dental care for low-income children and another contends tooth decay is at epidemic proportions among kids in Los Angeles County’s poorest communities. Researchers and dental advocates urge policymakers to pay more attention to oral health.
Lessons Learned From California’s H1N1 Experience
Mark Horton, head of the California Public Health Department, and Vanessa Cordova of the Alameda County Public Health Department share their thoughts on the state’s efforts to address H1N1 flu.
California Health Officials Prepare To Combat Expected Increase in H1N1 Influenza Cases
Deborah Burger of CNA, Gil Chavez of the state public health department, Cheri Hummel of the California Hospital Association and Hilary McLean of the education department discussed H1N1 preparedness with California Healthline.
Federal Officials Urge Health Departments To Remain Focused on Controlling H1N1 Influenza
Susan Hogeland of the California Academy of Family Physicians, Al Lundeen of the state public health department, CDC’s Von Roebuck and Eric Weiss of Stanford Medical Center discussed the virus with California Healthline.
Report Foresees Dramatic Rise in Alzheimer’s Disease Over Next Two Decades in California
Debra Cherry of the Alzheimer’s Association, Linda Hewett of UCSF’s Alzheimer’s and Memory Center, Patrick Fox of the Institute for Health & Aging at UCSF’s School of Nursing and Linda Rudolph of the state’s Center for Chronic Disease Prevention discussed the trend.
New Laws in California Set Sights on Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections
State Sen. Elaine Alquist and Kathleen Billingsley, deputy director of the state Department of Public Health’s Center for Health Care Quality, talked with California Healthline about two new laws aimed at curbing hospital-acquired infections.
Report: Disease Prevention Efforts Save Money, Boost Health
Investing $10 per person per year in community-based disease prevention programs could save California $1.7 billion over five years, according to a new report. Beyond the cost savings, advocates trumpet the health improvements as reason enough for the spending.
Prop. 4: Third Try for Parental Notification of Abortion
Proposition 4 includes revisions in reporting details, fines and timeframes, but it has much in common with ballot initiatives that California voters rejected in 2005 and 2006.