health care

"He wasn't raised where health was an issue in the household. There was nobody talkin' about health, probably nobody talking about not smoking or drinking or unhealthy practices, what it could lead to. There was nobody talkin' about that."

Let Me Show You What Keeps Me From Being Healthy

8:43am October 05, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Residents of North Carolina's "stroke belt" headed out with cameras to document why the area is notorious for high rates of heart disease and stroke. They aim to come up with community solutions.

Imagine having to take a 40-minute boat ride just to get on the road to a clinic. That's the situation for some families in rural Guatemala (above).

What's Luck Got To Do With Health Care? A Heck Of A Lot

7:03am October 03, 2015

by Emily Sohn

It's true for all of us. The choice of a doctor, for example, can make a tremendous difference. For those who live in remote spots and in poor countries, good luck is even more critical.

Health & Safety

Missing Microbes Provide Clues About Asthma Risk

6:16pm October 02, 2015

by Rob Stein

Researchers find that babies lacking four types of bacteria in their guts at 3 months appear to have a higher risk for developing asthma later in life.

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Is that struck by macaw, initial encounter, or struck by macaw, subsequent encounter?

Struck By A Macaw? Now There's A Medical Diagnosis Code For That

6:16pm October 02, 2015

by Barbara Feder Ostrov

Updating antiquated diagnosis codes is supposed to make medical billing more accurate, but doctors and insurers say right now it seems like a very expensive headache. Is there a code for that?

Nurses Patricia Wegener (left) and Susan Davis at Mercy Hospital can monitor the condition of a patient who is miles away via the hospital's technology. But some health insurers and analysts remain skeptical that telemedicine saves money.

Telemedicine Expands, Though Financial Prospects Still Uncertain

1:55pm October 02, 2015

by Alex Smith

With apps and video chats now a part of many people's days, some firms and hospitals see big potential for health care delivered remotely. But a lot of insurers still aren't willing to pay for it.

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Laticia Aossey was hospitalized while a student at the University of Northern Iowa when she realized she hadn't signed up for health insurance.

Many Former Foster Youths Don't Know They Have Health Care

3:05pm October 01, 2015

by Ray Glier

Under the Affordable Care Act, former foster youths get Medicaid coverage until age 26. Many of them aren't aware of that, and getting that information to them isn't always easy.

Even In Prison, Health Care Often Comes With A Copay

11:42am October 01, 2015

by Michelle Andrews

Although the government is responsible for providing health services to people in jail and prison, inmates are still often expected to pay for a share of the treatment.

None of the biocontainment treatment centers in U.S. hospitals were specifically designed for kids — until now. Texas Children's Hospital aims to fill that gap.

Kids With Ebola, Bird Flu Or TB? Texas Children's Hospital Will Be Ready

7:25pm September 30, 2015

by Carrie Feibel

A pediatric hospital in Houston is opening a new biocontainment wing — the first in the U.S. designed for children. Kids will even get dolls sporting mini versions of "spacesuits" doctors wear.

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Cover detail from Stories from the Shadows, by James O'Connell.

House Calls To The Homeless: A Doctor Treats Boston's Most Isolated Patients

11:39am September 30, 2015

James O'Connell refers to himself as a "street doctor." Since 1985, he has cared for homeless patients, sometimes making visits on park benches or in alleys. His memoir is Stories from the Shadows.

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Children in foster care typically haven't been to the doctor or dentist regularly.

Children In Foster Care Aren't Getting To See The Doctor

6:31pm September 29, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Pediatricians need to do more to get the right health care for children in foster care, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Those children often miss out on both routine and acute care.