There was a time when we did not spend a lot of time worrying about the quality of the health care services we received. Our families went to the doctor who was known as a “good doctor” and we received treatment in the nearby hospital known as a “good hospital.” An endorsement or two from…
read moreAs a follow-up to our previous blog (October 2014), we are revisiting the topic of Ebola because this public health crisis has drawn attention to two very important public health issues: (1) the ever-present global danger of infectious diseases, and (2) the critical role of the public health and health system infrastructures in preventing and…
read moreThe recent Ebola epidemic in Africa has served as a reminder of the vulnerability of public health systems in handling unexpected health problems, especially when basic access to care and day-to-day health problems remain a challenge. Unlike its northern counterpart, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to experience a disproportionate burden of disease, influenced by the intersection…
read moreFor over 50 years, the food industry has used Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) food service products for a variety of food and beverage service needs. EPS, commonly known as Styrofoam, is cheap and durable, so it seems ideal for takeout food or your hot cup of to-go coffee. But you might want to rethink drinking your…
read moreOver the past 50 years, 95% of the country’s state psychiatric hospital population have been closed down, leaving fewer than 200 hospitals to provide care to those living with mental illnesses (Fisher et al. 2009). Between 2009 and 2011 alone, states cumulatively cut more than $1.8 billion from their budgets for services for children and…
read moreAfter suffering from a nasty cold for more than a few days, many of us think about checking in with our doctor just to be sure that it’s not something worse. The result on those visits is, all too often, a simple confirmation of what you already knew: you have a cold. You’ll get better.…
read moreRecent healthcare reforms in the U.S. and abroad have emphasized the value of meaningful and effective preventative care and health promotion. Corporations are taking note, and, as a result, there has been a significant rise in the number of corporate wellness programs popping up. Under recent healthcare legislation in the U.S., there are tax incentives…
read more1. What is an E-Cig? The “e-cig” is an electronic cigarette that is used to simulate the experience of smoking that has a cartridge with a heater that vaporizes liquid nicotine instead of burning tobacco. Having become a seemingly overnight sensation, governments in both Europe and the United States are struggling with how to regulate…
read moreThe high cost of adverse events has been estimated to be at least US$177 billion per year in the U.S., and prescription drugs overall have efficacy only approximately 50% of the time, representing a potential waste of approximately $350 billion of the worldwide $700 billion or more drug spending (Miller et al., 2011). The wide…
read moreThe Organic and natural food industry has boomed in the last few decades, moving from a small niche market to a $30 billion dollar industry. Across the United States, people are growing more concerned by the possibility that their food choices could negatively affect their health and are responding by buying more products with labels…
read more