Weekend COVID-19 Testing Exceeds Projected Numbers
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced more than 11,000 Tennesseans received free COVID-19 tests through the weekend efforts of Unified-Command Group to offer tests regardless of traditional symptoms. The Unified-Command Group is a joint partnership between the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Department of Military and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). “Tennesseans across the […]
Gov. Lee Announces Aggressive Statewide COVID-19 Testing Effort
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced free COVID-19 testing will be available for any Tennessean, regardless of traditional symptoms, as the Unified-Command group ramps up an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state. “As we look to reboot our state’s economy, we must have a greater understanding of how this virus is operating in […]
Suicide Prevention Starts with YOU: Life is Precious, Powerful, and Purposeful
For your consideration, please see the following Op-ed Clark Flatt, President, The Jason Foundation; Misty Leitch, Interim Director, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network; and Marie Williams, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services If you saw a relative, a friend, or even a stranger choking, you wouldn’t hesitate to try to help. There […]
Finding Ways to Keep Children Occupied During These Challenging Times
Families will face an unprecedented challenge in the coming weeks as their children move schooling into their homes while parents juggle work and childcare responsibilities, and emotional and potential financial stresses. Keeping children at home is an important part of containing the novel coronavirus so that the health care system does not get overwhelmed, but […]
Lee Administration Health Care Modernization Task Force Formed
Finance & Administration Commissioner Stuart McWhorter today announced the formation of a Health Care Modernization Task Force, which he will co-chair with Bill Carpenter, former Chairman and CEO of LifePoint Health. The Task Force will host public discussions with the goal of providing options for consideration to address some the state’s major healthcare issues. “Working […]
Tennessee Tipping the Scales Against Childhood Obesity
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is receiving recognition for new requirements designed to promote good health in state licensed child care agencies. The National Resource Center (NRC) for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education cited those changes in a report https://nrckids.org/files/Final.ASHW.2018.Report_8.19.19.pdf ranking Tennessee’s regulations as the most supportive of obesity prevention in […]
Tips for Managing After School Hours
Part of each school day includes what happens before, and after school. Before and after school care, homework and winding down at the end of the day all play a part in a successful school day. BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CHILDCARE During early and middle childhood, children need supervision. A responsible adult should be available to […]
TDH Reports Six Cases of Vaping-associated Respiratory Disease
The Tennessee Department of Health has reported six cases of suspected serious respiratory disease among people who use electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a cluster of severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes or vape, with 215 cases […]
Initial State Findings Point to Clinical Similarities in Illnesses Among People Who Use E-cigarettes
Initial findings from the investigation into serious lung illnesses associated with e-cigarette products point to clinical similarities among those affected. Patients report similar exposures, symptoms and clinical findings and these align with the CDC health advisory released last week. While many of the patients, but not all, reported recent use of THC-containing products, some reported […]
Nine CDC Health Hacks for Back-to-School Success
To have a great school year, kids need to stay healthy. Healthy students are better learners. CDC has tips and resources for parents and schools to help children and teens get fit and stay healthy whether they’re just starting kindergarten or heading off to high school. “As a parent and grandparent, I know that back-to-school […]
Nearly Three-Quarters of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children Under 19 Caused by Consumer Products
A vast report, looking at the products and activities associated with non-fatal traumatic brain injuries for youngsters aged up to 19, in 66 US hospitals’ emergency departments, has revealed that floors, beds and American football are posing some of the greatest risks. The study, published in Brain Injury, shows that 72% of cases across all age […]
Compound Found in Red Wine Opens Door for New Treatments for Depression, Anxiety
Like to unwind with a glass of red wine after a stressful day? Don’t give alcohol all the credit. New research has revealed that the plant compound resveratrol, which is found in red wine, displays anti-stress effects by blocking the expression of an enzyme related to the control of stress in the brain, according to […]
Beat the Heat Safely!
The hottest temperatures of the season so far are now encroaching on our region. Temperatures in the 90’s with very high humidity can spell disaster for your summer fun, so the CDC offers some tips for staying safe in the extreme heat. Stay Cool Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in […]
Delivery of Sanofi Flu Vaccines to be Delayed
Delivery of Sanofi Pasteur flu vaccines will be delayed by three to four weeks this fall, according to the manufacturer. The delay impacts the company’s three flu vaccines, including Fluzone Quadrivalent, which is approved for children and adults. “Sanofi Pasteur fully expects to manufacture and deliver every dose reserved by our customers, beginning with partial […]
Your Circle of Friends, Not Your Fitbit, is More Predictive of Your Health
Wearable fitness trackers have made it all too easy for us to make assumptions about our health. We may look to our heart rate to determine whether we really felt the stress of that presentation at work this morning, or think ourselves healthier based on the number of steps we’ve taken by the end of […]
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine Lowers Rates of Shingles in Children by 78%
A large, population-based study in the July 2019 Pediatrics confirms an additional benefit of immunizing against varicella (chickenpox), a disease that once sickened more than 4 million people in the United States each year—mostly children. The study, “Incidence of Herpes Zoster Among Children: 2003-2014,” published online June 10, found that children who were vaccinated against […]