Eyes wide with surprise, Adelita Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN, pulled into the parking lot of the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing in December 2020. Media trucks populated the parking lot and reporters bustled in and out of the nursing school on a mission to capture their next headline. Adjusting her mask, Adelita took in the unexpected flurry of media, stepped out of her vehicle, and made her way into the nursing school. Inside, amid her chatting colleagues, reporters readied their pens, cameras, and microphones. Nearly a year after COVID-19 began infecting Texans – especially Latinos – Bexar County had finally gotten its hands on its first COVID-19 vaccines – and it was time to celebrate. Applause rightfully flooded the room as all eyes focused on the vaccines ...
Clinical trials are responsible for many of today’s life-saving procedures and treatments. But finding and enrolling in clinical trials can be difficult process, especially for Latinos who may experience language barriers or lack of information. In response to these challenges, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently updated their search engine to better help patients find and enroll in an NHBLI-sponsored clinical trial. Available in Spanish, interested participants can now browse for clinical trials by age group, condition, and location. The search engine also includes an overview of how clinical trials work, who can participate, and benefits, risks, and safety measures of trials. Diseases and conditions studied in NHBLI-sponsored clinical trials ...
“The good news is, we can’t kill you trying to save you. You showed up fit to fight.” Still in shock of recent events, Loriana Hernandez-Aldama tried to process the words of world-renowned oncologist Dr. Mark Levis. In such a short period of time in January 2014, her life had completely changed. Just a few days earlier, Loriana, a married mother and TV news anchor with a successful career in Austin and Dallas, Texas, was excitedly working with her fertility doctor to have another baby. But a precautionary blood test before a traditional embryo transfer revealed a disheartening diagnosis of AML Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer. At the advice of her doctor and healthcare connections, she kissed her then 2-year-old son, Gabriel, goodbye, and boarded a plane to Johns ...
Latinos are already the nation’s largest racial and ethnic minority group. They are also the youngest and fastest growing. As communities change to reflect these new and evolving dynamics, Latino health is going to be critical to the country overall for generations to come. Despite their numbers, many Latinos face numerous inequities and barriers that keep them from obtaining the best healthcare possible. These include lack of access, lack of health insurance, language barriers, and cultural stigmas. “As the nation’s largest and fastest growing ethnic group, it's important that all Latinos have access to affordable healthcare,” said Jose Calderon, president of the Hispanic Federation in a news release. In an effort to remove some of these barriers, communities across the ...
Minorities often deal with lots of obstacles that prevent them from getting the best healthcare possible. Language, cultural stigmas, lack of access and information, and segregation are just some big issues facing minorities. Having “good” health is a big factor in people excelling in their quality of life. Health factors into education, employment, and long-term success. For National Minority Health Month in April, let’s use #SaludTues at 1 p.m. EST April 18, 2017, to tweet about Latino health issues and solutions. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “National Minority Health Month!”
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, April 11, 2017
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: The U.S. Office of Minority Health ...
About $10 million worth of free flu shots are coming to Walgreens thanks to a collaboration between the drug store and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The effort, now in its seventh year, offers free flu shot vouchers to improve flu immunization rates among uninsured Americans. Latinos have the highest uninsured rates. Eligible individuals can call 866-994-6757 to find the nearest location where flu shot vouchers may be available. “Since 2010, this partnership has helped us make substantial strides in addressing disparities in flu vaccination coverage by providing free flu shots for more than 1.4 million people,” said Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, deputy assistant secretary for minority health and director of the HHS Office of Minority Health. “As the flu ...
April is National Minority Health Month and we’re excited to tweet about ways to prevent the greatest health disparities affecting Latinos across the U.S. today! The rising Latino population is creating an urgent need to tackle disparities in obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The estimated cost of health inequities is over $309 billion! Time to take action! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Taking Action to Address Latino Health Disparities
TIME/DATE: Noon CST (1 p.m. EST) Tuesday, April 19, 2016
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (@NIMHD), Kaiser Permanente (@kpvivabien) & 100 Million Healthier Lives (@100MLives) We’ll open the floor to your comments, stories and ...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently offered resources on getting the most out of your healthcare coverage. Four essential tips can be utilized to successfully manage health insurance all year long. Pay your first month’s premium. You have to pay your premium each month to keep your health insurance benefits.
Turn in your paperwork. All of your information must be submitted for your coverage to take effect.
Update your personal and financial information. Make sure you take note of any “life changes” (change of income, change of household size, residence, etc.) as soon as they happen.
File your income taxes. If you had a tax credit in 2015, you must file your 2015 federal income tax return. Open enrollment for 2017 health plans begins on ...
Three cities in Louisiana and three in North Carolina rank in the Top-10 most overweight U.S. cities, according to a study by RentApplication.com using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. The study determined the top 10 most overweight cities (with a population of at least 50,000 people) in the United States. The study noted that overweight or obese people spend 42% more on healthcare each year, for issues associated with overweight and obesity, like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This amounts to $147 billion annually with childhood obesity allotting for over $14 billion. In the Latino population, 42% of Latino adults are classified as obese. Latino children are also plagued by obesity, as 22.4% ages 2-19 are obese. All but one city in the ...
