News

Science Expo 2011

UT Health Science Center Librarian Peg Seger assisting future medical professional

 Health Professionals of Tomorrow storm UT Health Science Center

The UT Health Science Center played host to nearly 1,500 students from all over San Antonio and South Texas on  November 12, 2011. The majority of the students were high school seniors and juniors with a few extra who came along for the ride. The enthusiasm and excitement displayed by the students was exciting and spoke well of the future of medicine in the hands of these possible upcoming professionals. The UT Health Science Center Briscoe Library sponsored an exhibit table in the medical lecture hall commons area  during the Science Expo. On exhibit were such things as the availability of MedlinePlus, the PubMed database and how to effectively use the National Library of Medicine resources. Also on hand were materials containing information on medical librarianship and available scholarships. Many students had never encountered the MedlinePlus database and were extremely surprised at the amount of information available to them.  A few students did admit that they were still trying to decide on a career and were quite engaging when asked about their foreseeable choices. It was quite apparent that both students and staff experienced a wonderful time and left looking forward to future Science Expo gatherings.

 

Posted in Health Fairs, News, South Texas, Staying Well. Connected., UTHSCSA Library News, Youth | Comments Off

Search for health care leading Texans to Mexico

The Dallas Morning News and its Spanish-language sister Al Dia TX both recently published a very interesting story about US patients seeking care in Mexican hospitals — not just for “medical tourism” but even for emergency care. The article mentions that a bill considered in the Texas Lege this year would have allowed US insurers to cover services inside Mexico for Texans living within 75 miles of the border. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but it’s just another sign that legislators — like even the hospital administrators quoted in the article — see treatment in Mexico as one way to address rising healthcare and insurance costs and continued high numbers of uninsured Texans.

As we look to the future, will one of our upcoming health information challenges in South Texas be to help US patients understand and safely navigate their healthcare options in Mexico?

Here’s the English-language article from the Dallas Morning News, y el mismo artículo en español de Al Dia TX.

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Secondhand smoke dangerous for children

On September 18, 2007, the Surgeon General reemphasized that secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and that US children are more heavily exposed to secondhand smoke than nonsmoking adults. The 2006 Surgeon General’s report noted that 60 percent of US children aged 3-11 years “nearly 22 million young people” are exposed to secondhand smoke. See the report excerpt at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChildrenAndSmoke/

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Senate Bill 98 Creates UT Health Science Center South Texas

This week, Texas Governor Rick Perry and other state and local officials were at the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) in Harlingen to sign Texas Senate Bill 98 and officially begin the process of creating a new four-year medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

Texas Governor Rick Perry and Dr. Leonel Vela, Dean of the Regional Academic Health Center at the ceremonial signing of SB 98.

Texas Governor Rick Perry and Dr. Leonel Vela, Dean of the Regional Academic Health Center at the ceremonial signing of SB 98 on Tuesday, September 1.

Currently, the RAHC serves as a branch campus of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and provides opportunities for 3rd and 4th year medical students to gain clinical experience in the US-Mexico border region. The bill calls for the RAHC to be converted into a independent campus called The University of Texas Health Science Center South Texas.

With the founding of a four-year medical school in the region, officials hope that an increase in the number of much-needed health care professionals in the area will soon follow. With the formal passage of SB 98, state officials will immediately begin the work of funding the project.  An article in the September 2nd issue of the McAllen Monitor provides more information on this historic event.

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Senior Fiesta 2011 Draws Large Crowds for April 13th Event

The Senior Fiesta is an annual event that brings together many San Antonio area agencies and organizations to highlight services and products of interest to area senior citizens. Sponsored by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Catholic Charities, the event drew 3,500 people in 2010. This year, along with food and live entertainment, there were 87 vendors available at the event  including the UT Health Science Center Briscoe Library. Pictured here is Lydia Fletcher, Health Science Center Outreach Services Assistant, demonstrating MedlinePlus® to event attendees interested in learning more about finding reliable health information.

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Some folk remedies have extremely high lead content

This recent article from the Brownsville Herald took an AP report regarding high lead content of certain folk remedies, and combined it with local reporting on sources of lead poisoning in the Valley. The article centered on a specific incident in Houston to report on several dangerous folk remedies which all contain extremely high levels of lead, including:

  • A generally Mexican folk remedy called greta, a yellow or bright orange powder that may be mixed with olive oil when given to treat diarrhea or stomach upset (“empacho“)
  • Another generally Mexican folk remedy called azarcón (also known as coral, maría luisa, rueda, alarcón or liga), a orange powder which may also be mixed with olive oil and given to treat stomach ailments like empacho
  • A generally Dominican folk remedy called litargirio, a yellow or peach-colored powder traditionally used for a variety of purposes including as a deodorant, foot fungicide, and burn or wound treatment
  • A number of ayurvedic remedies common in South Asian immigrant communities, including ghasard and mahayogaraj gugullu

According to the article, nearly 20% of lead poisoning cases in Harris County are blamed on traditional medicines.

Although Brownsville Herald reporter Melissa McEver was unable to find any local retail stores that acknowledged selling greta or azarcón, the national version of the story (see this version from the AP) reported that Harris County investigators had found that some storekeepers would keep such remedies “behind the counter,” bringing them out only for known customers. McEver did, however, quote a Region 11 DSHS official who indicated that pottery and ceramic dishes were found to be a source in many local cases of lead poisoning.

Additional resources:

Posted in Hispanic health, Minority health, News, South Texas, Spanish Language Content, Staying Well. Connected. | Comments Off

State of Texas Launches New Disaster Planning and Preparedness Website

The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a new Website, “Ready or Not? Have a Plan,” designed to help Texans prepare for emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, terrorist attacks, and disease outbreaks. As part of the awareness campaign, the State of Texas encourages businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and others to co-brand, distribute and display these materials by providing prepared campaign materials.

Ready or Not? is available in both English (TexasPrepares.org) and Spanish (TexasPrepara.org).

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State Senator Eliot Shapleigh Criticizes Border Health Commission

On March 14 Texas state senator Eliot Shapleigh published an open letter sharply criticizing the Border Health Commission. Shapleigh’s letter highlights persistent health disparities in the border region.

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Stay in Circulation

MedlinePlus and the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute remind us that this week (September 17-21) is Stay in Circulation Week, encouraging awareness of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), which affects one in 20 Americans over the age of 50. Learn more on the MedlinePlus topic page for Peripheral Vascular Diseases.

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Study finds VA needs to expand specialty care in Lower Valley

Veterans in the lower Rio Grande Valley have long advocated for a VA hospital to be built in that area to alleviate the need for them to travel hours to San Antonio’s Audie Murphy VA Hospital for services. However, a new comprehensive study, presented at the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) in Harlingen yesterday, indicates that 98 percent of Lower Valley veterans’ trips to Audie Murphy Hospital are for specialty care — such as cancer treatment, endocrinology, neurology, obstetrics and outpatient surgery — instead of inpatient care. Based on that study, the VA is recommending that the the 34,000 square-foot South Texas VA Health Center, due to be completed in December 2007 adjacent to the RAHC, be expanded to a facility nearly four-and-a-half times that size by 2010, with a focus on specialized services. The recommendations also include contracting with local hospitals for inpatient care and health screenings, and expansion of specialty-care services at the VA outpatient clinic in McAllen. This article from Harlingen’s Valley Morning Star covers the announcement and some of the initial reactions it has received.

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