6 tips to help mothers prevent diabetes, make healthy choices Preventing type 2 diabetes requires self-management, motivation, and healthy lifestyle changes — but how do you encourage patients to improve their health while caring for the health of others? This is a common question Catherine Gutfreund, M.D., a primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente, encounters while caring for busy moms and families in her practice. Caring for Mom: A Unique Kind of Patient As a family physician, Dr. Gutfreund has cared for mothers from diverse family settings—single mothers, full time working moms, women with several children and the "sandwich generation" mom, caring ... May 22, 2017 General Diabetes, Public Health, Well-being 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA joins partnership to raise awareness of the association between diabetes and cardiovascular disease The California Medical Association (CMA) has joined the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease to raise awareness of the co-occurrence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The program, “Making the Diabetes Heart Connection,” is a partnership that includes the American Heart and Stroke Association, American Medical Women’s Association, California Chronic Care Coalition, California Health Collaborative, American College of Cardiology (CA Chapter), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The coalition is working to establish May 2017 as Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month here in California ... May 22, 2017 General Cardiology, Diabetes, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Free CME: Diabetes prevention webinar Diabetes remains one of California’s fastest-growing and costliest diseases, and the burden is only expected to accelerate in the coming years. An estimated 2.5 million California adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, while 13 million – nearly half of the state’s adult population – have prediabetes, increasing their risk of developing diabetes over the next few years. Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose or hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Among prediabetes patients, up ... April 19, 2017 CMA, General CME, Continuing Medical Education, Diabetes, Public Health, Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
California's kindergarten vaccination rates hit new high Vaccination rates among California kindergartners are at their highest point since 2001, according to new data from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Compared to 2015-16, the percentage of students attending kindergarten in 2016-17 who had received all required vaccines rose from 93 percent to 96 percent. California's new vaccine law (SB 277), which was sponsored by the California Medical Association and took effect last year, eliminated the personal belief exemption and requires all children to be up-to-date on their vaccinations prior to enrolling in a public or private ... April 19, 2017 General I Heart Immunity, Immunization, Legislative Advocacy, Public Health, Vaccination 0 0 Comment Read More »
SBC Dept. of Public Health Update on Oak Glen Outbreak On Saturday, March 25, several campers at Oak Glen Christian Camp became ill with symptoms that included nausea and vomiting. Forty-one people were reported ill and 14 people were transported to local hospitals. The camp has been temporarily closed and is being inspected by the Division of Environmental Health Services. DEHS is working closely with the Public Health Communicable Disease Section in this investigation. The cause of the illnesses has not yet been determined. Any updates regarding this incident will be announced in future news releases and social media postings. Please refer ... March 28, 2017 General Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH publishes new Zika resources for physicians The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has published new and revised Zika virus resources for physicians on its website. The evolving Zika virus outbreak and science have presented challenges for providers who are asked to educate, counsel, screen, monitor and manage patients with Zika virus exposure. “We hope these resources will aid health care providers in meeting the needs of California’s families,” the agency said. These materials can be accessed through the CDPH Zika webpage. The new resources include: 1) CDPH Zika Screening Algorithm; 2) CDPH Zika Virus Information for Healthcare ... March 3, 2017 General Public Health, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
ACIP publishes new vaccination schedules for children, adolescents and adults On February 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published updated immunization schedules for children, adolescents and adults. The 2017 child and adolescent immunization schedule includes several updates including influenza, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal, meningococcal and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccines (DTap). Changes to the 2017 adult immunization schedule include new or revised recommendations for influenza, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, and meningococcal vaccines. The new schedule was published online, in the Annals of ... March 2, 2017 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA shares tools and resources on diabetes prevention The California Medical Association (CMA) has developed a resource page to share tools and resources on diabetes prevention and to help providers connect their patients with diabetes prevention programs recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CMA’s resource page shares information on the AMA’s Prevent Diabetes STAT toolkit, which providers and care teams can use to identify patients with prediabetes and refer eligible patients to evidence-based diabetes prevention programs approved by the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. CMA will continue to update this page, highlighting existing programs ... February 23, 2017 General Diabetes, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
First confirmed flu-related death in San Bernardino County The Department of Public Health has confirmed a child with underlying medical conditions has become the first flu-related death for San Bernardino County. This flu season has seen widespread influenza activity that is more severe than last year. The California Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of 14 reportable flu related deaths statewide as of January 14. "The family has our sincerest condolences. The death of a child is always tragic, but this fatality is a reminder that the flu can be serious and often deadly," said Dr. ... January 26, 2017 General Health Advisory, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Talk to your patients about the flu shot With flu activity increasing and people planning gatherings for the holidays, now is the perfect time to talk to your patients about getting their flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine every year. This season, however, CDC recommends only the flu shot (not the nasal spray vaccine). While seasonal flu activity varies, flu activity usually peaks between December and February, though activity can last as late as May. As long as flu activity is ... December 13, 2016 General Immunization, Influenza, Public Health, Vaccination, Flu 0 0 Comment Read More »
