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April 9, 2012 | 2:52 PM | By

ouRXperience: An “F” in Air Quality; Hmong Shaman Training; Healthy Food Access; Child Abuse Awareness

Wood-burning stoves are a major source of air pollution in Butte County. (Photo: Marley Zalay)

Editor’s Note: KQED produces ouRXperience, a blog from community correspondents, to enrich coverage of health issues across California.

Recently, ouRXperience featured posts from four California communities:

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Place Matters, Air Quality, Food Access, Hmong Health
March 30, 2012 | 2:00 PM | By

Autism on the Rise: But Why?

By Kamal Menghrajani

Profile Picture of a Boy

(Getty Images)

It was news that startled many. A new study from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention suggests that the prevalence of the disorder is much higher than previously thought. Up to 1 in 88 children is expected to develop autism or a related disorder, which is a 23 percent jump from the rate the CDC found just 2 years ago. Perhaps one million children and teens across the country are affected.

This morning on KQED’s Forum, autism experts discussed the significance of the new numbers and what progress is being made in the field of autism research.

The first question on everybody’s mind was whether the new number represents a true rise in the rate of autism – or is simply a reflection of the fact that more doctors are recognizing it.

“We’re not sure what the increase is due to. We do know that better identification, better diagnosis, and availability of services is contributing,” said Coleen Boyle, Director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the CDC. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Policy, Autism, Children's Health
March 27, 2012 | 6:54 PM | By

Slideshow: A Cold Morning But Crowds Pro and Con Gather at Supreme Court

Slideshow produced by Jessica Marcy, Kaiser Health News and Amanda Stupi, KQED

Inside the Supreme Court building this week, the nation’s highest court is hearing oral arguments in a case that seeks to overturn the 2010 health law. Outside the building, Americans gathered to express their support or opposition to the law — or just to see history being made.

The second image is of Spike Dolomite Ward, who wrote an apology to President Obama in December.

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Reform, Health Care and the Supreme Court
March 23, 2012 | 11:07 AM | By

Uninsured–and Still Against the Health Law

Libertarian Paul Ruffino, 55, has been looking for an insurance plan since leaving his previous job. Several insurance companies refuse to cover him because he has pre-existing conditions.

Libertarian Paul Ruffino, 55, has been looking for an insurance plan since leaving his previous job. Several insurance companies refuse to cover him because he has pre-existing conditions. (Photo: Sarah Varney)

Today marks the second anniversary of the federal health care law, and, unless you’ve been depriving yourself of news for the last several weeks, that same law will be front and center before the Supreme Court starting Monday. Here in California, uninsured Californians have a particular stake in the Court’s actions.

Madera County is a largely conservative and agricultural area where one in every three people lacks coverage. While many people say they want the Supreme Court to throw out the federal health law, I found that many there are struggling to reconcile their political views with the basic need for health insurance.

I started off in Oakhurst. Here, just a few miles from the entrance to Yosemite National Park, is the Sweetwater Steakhouse, a local watering hole where no one is shy about their opinions of President Obama’s signature initiative, including people like Joe Stern. ”ObamaCare is absolutely horrible, horrible, horrible. It should struck down immediately.” Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Reform, Election 2012, Health Care and the Supreme Court, Individual Mandate, Uninsured
March 5, 2012 | 9:44 AM | By

ouRXperience: Bridge to Western Medicine for Immigrants; Safety Helps Build Healthy Communities; Spike in Homicides

The mother and brother of murder victim Meldrick Melgoza embrace at the site where he was shot. (Photo: Anabell Romero)

The mother and brother of murder victim Meldrick Melgoza embrace at the site where he was shot. (Photo: Anabell Romero)

Editor’s Note: KQED produces ouRXperience, a blog from community correspondents, to enrich coverage of health issues across California.

Recently, ouRXperience featured posts from three California communities:

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Place Matters, Healthy Communities, Hmong Health, Violence
March 1, 2012 | 11:50 AM | By

Hospital, Heal Thy High-Carbon Self

This post originally appeared on the KQED blog Climate Watch.

By Kamal Menghrajani

Solar panels on the roof of Kaiser's hospital in Modesto will help the Oakland-based health care system reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. (Photo: Kaiser Permanente)

All across California, people are looking for ways to be more eco-friendly: composting, recycling, driving less, and turning out the lights. Now it looks like hospitals in the area are following suit, as Kaiser Permanente announced new ‘green’ initiatives this week.

The Oakland-based health care provider is installing fuel cells and solar panels at its hospitals and clinics throughout the state. The huge non-profit is also turning to green building techniques for new construction projects and to save energy where possible in existing facilities.

The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, or a total of 264,000 metric tons, by the year 2020. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Kaiser Permanente
February 21, 2012 | 2:39 PM | By

ouRXperience: Methyl Iodide Debate; Harbor-UCLA Renovation; Mental Health in Hmong and Free Dental Clinic

Residents voting on improvements to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center at public meeting in Carson last October. (Photo: Anabell Romero)

Residents voting on improvements to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center at public meeting in Carson last October. (Photo: Anabell Romero)

Editor’s Note: KQED produces ouRXperience, a blog from community correspondents, to enrich coverage of health issues across California.

Recently, ouRXperience featured posts from four California communities:

  • Patricia Carrillo in Salinas wrote about local reaction to the lawsuit challenging the state’s approval of the fumigant methyl iodide to use on strawberry crops.
  • From Wilmington, Anabell Romero, described how community members are contributing to the Master Plan for the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center renovation.
  • Changvang Her told about the challenges of providing mental health care in the Merced Hmong community where “mental health” translates to “damaged brain.”
  • and from San Bernardino, Bobbi Albano brought us the story of a free dental clinic and how one man got the help he needed.
FILED UNDER: KQED blogs, Hmong Community, Mental Health, Methyl Iodide