health

Oldham Is Kentucky's Healthiest County. (Jefferson County Isn't Even Close.)

Joseph Lord — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:56:57 +0000

Oldham is the healthiest county in Kentucky. The least healthy? Floyd County in eastern Kentucky.

The ranking of health outcomes among Kentucky's 120 counties considers tobacco use, diet and exercise, access to healthcare and other factors. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute did the analysis.

Jefferson County ranked 30th. Shelby County ranked third and Bullitt County ranked 25th.

The other least healthy counties just above Floyd are Perry, Breathitt, Wolfe and Lee, the rankings said.

Hospital Bids Bye-Bye To Big Macs, Others May Follow Suit

Elana Gordon — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:51:05 +0000

The McDonald's at the Truman Medical Centers' main campus in Kansas City, Mo., has closed, ending an epic, two-decade stint inside the hospital and making it the fifth health facility in the past few years to give the Big Mac the boot.

Earlier this year, hospital CEO John Bluford told The Salt that the presence of the McDonald's — located just feet from a revamped cafeteria to

New Menu Labeling Law Takes Effect

Patrick DeSpain — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:10:01 +0000

A new menu labeling ordinance goes into effect Monday for many Louisville restaurants.

The ordinance was first proposed in July and only applies to restaurants that already have calorie counts for their menus available.

“Any food service establishment that posts caloric or other nutritional information on its website—or through other communications methods—that they need to make that same information available to customers on site at the restaurant," says Department of Public Health and Wellness spokesman Dave Langdon.

U of L Trustees Board Approves Process to Complete Merger Talks

Devin Katayama — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:59:55 +0000

The University of Louisville Medical Center is inching closer to securing a merging partner, which officials say could come in the next several weeks.

U of L’s Board of Trustees authorized the school’s vice president of health affairs, Dr. David Dunn, to complete negotiations with finalists, whose names are being kept quiet during the negotiating process.

After a potential merger with Catholic Health Initiatives and Jewish Hospital fell through, UMC opened the merger to a bidding process.

KentuckyOne Health Expands Invests $30 Million in Cardiac Care

Devin Katayama — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:23:49 +0000

KentuckyOne Health--the state's largest healthcare system--has announced its first major investment of the $325 million it promised to spend after its creation.

“This is the first down payment on that commitment,” said Dr. Dan Varga, the group's Chief Clinical Officer.

Kentucky One Health was formed this year in the merger of Saint Mary’s and Saint Joseph Health Systems and Jewish Hospital.

HealthTeacher Program Supported In JCPS Classrooms

Devin Katayama — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

A new health resource should be available in all 155 Jefferson County Public Schools by the end of the year.

The program HealthTeacher concentrates on improving healthy outcomes for students, and also provides resources that extend beyond the classroom.

“We think it helps both advance the core standards but also introduce the health and wellness curriculum throughout JCPS,” said Lynnie Meyer, executive director of the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Legislation to Regulate Pain Clinics Pending in Two Indiana Communities

Patrick DeSpain — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:39:44 +0000

Two southern Indiana communities are taking preliminary steps to more tightly regulate prescription pills by cracking down on pain clinics. Prescription painkiller abuse is becoming more common, and some say the pills are easier to get legally due to unscrupulous pain clinic operators.

U of L Wings HIV Clinic to Close Jeffersonville Location

Patrick DeSpain — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:53:54 +0000

The University of Louisville Wings Clinic is consolidating patient care to its downtown Louisville branch.

Wings is a research and treatment facility for patients with HIV and AIDS, and used to offer patient care one day a week in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Now, University of Louisville spokeswoman Julie Heflin says it makes sense to merge the operations in downtown Louisville.

Lawmaker Hopes to Allow Schools to Stock EpiPens

Kenny Colston — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:00:01 +0000

A Kentucky state lawmaker wants to expand EpiPen use in schools.

EpiPens are used to stop the effects of allergic reactions, and currently, state law only allows students with allergies to carry the devices.

“Some children are not aware a particular allergy and the place that it occurs for the very first time is there in the cafeteria setting or in school," says Representative Addia Wuchner, who will again file a bill that would allow schools to carry EpiPens for general use.

Medicaid Open Enrollment Begins in Kentucky

Kenny Colston — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:49:47 +0000

Kentuckians on Medicaid now have the opportunity to change healthcare providers for the first time in months.

Open enrollment for all of the state except Louisville started today. It's the first time since Medicaid was privatized that residents can choose a new private operator to handle their care.