Pulse on Health by Jeff Hansel

Hammond, Pine Island, Oronoco, Zumbro Falls recovery...

Here are some upcoming flood-recovery sessions in the region, for those still in the painstaking process of recovering from the floods of September, 2010.

•. 6 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2010 at the Mazeppa Community Center, 121 Maple Street N.e. in Mazeppa, Minnesota — a community meeting "regarding the rebuilding concerns which arose during the Disaster Recovery Center Operations in Mazeppa." The meeting is intended especially for people from Hammond, Pine Island, Oronoco and Zumbro Falls, says an announcement.

• The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs offers flood relief grants for reimbursable expenses to Veterans, spouses and widows/widowers of veterans up to $750 per household "if they have not received FEMA or other assistance for the amount applied for." Thirty-five counties are covered by the program, says an announcement. Contact Goodhue County Veterans Service Office, or your local county Veterans Service Office. The one in Goodhue County is at the government center,  room 101, 509 West 5th Street, Red Wing 55066-2540, or call 651-385-3256. IMPORTANT: The original receipts must be presented (to be copied). Reimbursable items include appliances, flood-related building materials, cleaning supplies, flooring, food, plastic, plumbing supplies, rental costs for generators, water pumps, sump pumps, Bobcats, backhoes, sand, sandbags, sheetrock, window treatments and shelter costs if displaced by the flood. 

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

PTSD revealed...

The University of Minnesota has announced that researchers from the U of M Medical School and the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center "have discovered a correlation between increased circuit activity in the right side of the brain and the debilitating, involuntary flashbacks triggered by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

The announcement suggests this is a step toward objective diagnosis of PTSD, meaning patients could get a clear-cut yes-or-no answer as to whether they have PTSD and get it relatively easily.

"PTSD often stems from war, but also can be a result of exposure to any psychologically traumatic event. The disorder can manifest itself in flashbacks, recurring nightmares, anger or hyper-vigilance," the university reports. 

Researchers used "magnetoencephalography" (MEG) to measure magnetic fields in the brain and "researchers found differences between signals in the temporal and parieto-occipital right hemispheric areas of the brain among those with PTSD." There's a "clear difference" in the test results between those who have PTSD and those who don't, researcher Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos is quoted as saying.

The research results were published in the Journal of Neural Engineering. Those studied had flashbacks even when the environment was devoid of external stimuli, confirming that PTSD symptoms can manifest themselves at any time.

The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. I should point out that trained scientists often say "correlation does not prove causation." In other words, just because two things are correlated doesn't mean that one causes the other. 

Still, as a potential diagnostic technique, this sounds interesting.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Smartphone diagnosis at Mayo Clinic Arizona...

IT World is reporting that Mayo Clinic in Arizona is using smartphones to diagnose patients.

Specifically, "when a middle-aged woman arrived at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona complaining of a headache, nausea and double vision, doctors had little to go on. Within 30 minutes, the patient slipped into a coma, but CT scans of her brain showed no abnormalities."

A brain artery clot was diagnosed by Mayo neurologists using telemedicine, imaging software and a Calgary Scientific "ResolutionMD Mobile" device.

"ResolutionMD Mobile enables information and images to be accessed by healthcare professionals at a convenient time and place. ResolutionMD Mobile delivers a complete acute telemedicine solution directly to your mobile device. It provides the instant access to images and reports and moving forward will also provide high-quality video for clinical consults that your team needs, regardless of the patient's location. You can now provide the same level of care that you would if you were actually there with the patient," says Calgary Scientific's website.

Mayo's top administrators in Rochester, CEO Dr. John Noseworthy and chief administrative officer Shirley Weis, told local business, human service and political leaders last week at a community update that they expect to reach out to patient wherever they are around the world. It's part of "the Mayo Effect" or, one of the clinic's oft-repeated phrases, "Mayo Clinic everywhere."

IT World quotes Dr. Bart Demaerschalk discussing the woman diagnosed at Yuma Regional Medical Center.

"Almost certainly the patient would have died if the diagnosis had not been recognized," he says in the article written by freelance writer Cindy Waxer.

Must be a pretty profound realization for a patient to get a life-saving diagnosis at her own, local hospital — essentially through the use of a telephone.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Distracted driving deaths in Minnesota...

Here are some statistics that might raise an eyebrow for you. The topic is "distracted driving" and the result is death, in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says these are the deaths attributed to distracted driving for the past five years:
• 2009 — 85
• 2008 — 125
• 2007 — 115
• 2006 — 151
• 2005 — 161

On the surface, it appears as if distracted driving deaths are going down. Maybe more people are using earphones for their cell phones. Or fewer are eating ice-cream cones while driving or reaching for a dropped CD now that iPods have become popular.

But it still seems to me that the loss of 85 people due to distracted driving is a really big number, especially if you think of how many people are likely affected by each of those deaths. There's also the possibility that deaths are decreasing because people are driving less in order to save money on gas.

I'll let you take a look at the numbers and make up your own minds.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Consider health sciences education Monday...

If you've ever thought about working in a diverse range of fields such as lab tech, nurse or medical clerical worker in the health-care setting, this is your chance to get a sneak peek at an educational system that can help you get there.

The Mayo School of Health Sciences plans a free open house for prospective students on November 1 (2010), says an announcement from Mayo Clinic. The event is open to the public and requires no pre-registration (refreshments will be served).

Career opportunities include "caring for a patient in the hospital, cleaning an operating room or processing a patient's bill," says the School of Health Sciences website. 

The Mayo announcement says the school offers 96 programs representing 57 health-sciences careers.

Deans, faculty and staff will be on hand. You'll get a chance to tour clinical areas (from 6 to 7 p.m.) where the educational experience takes place.

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Date: Monday, November 1, 2010

Location: Mayo Clinic Siebens Building, first floor, 100 Second Avenue, S.W., Rochester, Minnesota

Some of the programs available include:
• Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
• Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• Clinical Neurophysiology Technology 
• Clinical Research Coordinator 
• Cytogenetic Technology
• Cytotechnology
• Echocardiography
• Hemodialysis
• Histology Technician
• Nuclear Medicine
• Phlebotomy
• Radiation Therapy 
• Radiography 
• Respiratory Care 
• Sonography
• Surgical Technology
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Physical Therapy
• Nurse Practitioner 
• Pharmacy 
• Physician Assistant 

Representatives from the Mayo financial aid office, Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC), the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) and Winona State University are scheduled to attend.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Mayo Clinic, Sweden, and regenerative medicine...

Several Mayo Clinic researchers are heading to Sweden to the Karolinska Institute for a symposium on regenerative medicine.

"As part of its continuing relationship with the Karolinska Institute, Mayo Clinic research leaders are participating in the upcoming symposium on regenerative medicine in Sweden, November 3-5. The event is part of the Frontiers in Biomedical Research relationship established earlier this year between Karolinska and the Minnesota Partnership members (Mayo and the University of Minnesota)," says the Mayo Advancing the Science blog.

Those scheduled to speak include: "Deputy Dean of Research Stephen Russell, M.D., Ph.D., Anthony Windebank, M.D., Michael Yazemski, M.D., Ph.D., Sree Nair, M.D., Ph.D.,  Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D, and Yasuhiro Ikeda, D.V.M., Ph.D.," according to Mayo.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Mayo Clinic gubernatorial endorsement…?

Has Mayo Clinic made an endorsement in the race for Minnesota governor?

Or perhaps, made clear who Minnesotans should not vote for? 

Dr. Glenn Forbes, Mayo medical director for state government and community affairs, has written an opinion piece published in the print edition of the Post-Bulletin.

Forbes points out that Minnesota spends $1.2 billion per year on Medicaid services. The state needs to spend another $189 million to qualify for federal matching dollars through early Medicaid enrollment, Forbes says. 

"We cannot stress this point enough: Minnesota taxpayers are already spending $1.2 billion on this population. While we understand the concern over spending an additional $189 million, this should be considered in the context of receiving the $1.4 billion federal match to meet the urgent health care needs of our citizens," he writes.

Forbes takes a clear slap at current Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, who "opted out" of early Medicaid participation, when he says, "…declining early enrollment is simply walking away from $1.4 billion…."

If the federal dollars don't come, Forbes argues, Minnesota hospitals and other health providers will have to shift the cost of providing "uncompensated care" (for those who cannot pay their medical bills) to other patients and payers.

"This represents a hidden increase in health insurance premiums, and the lack of transparency should be a concern to all Minnesotans … the failure to provide acceptable health care for vulnerable Minnesotans and imposing major hidden tax increases on patients and providers is unacceptable. In the closing days of this campaign, we strongly encourage voters to talk to candidates running for governor and the Minnesota Legislature to urge them to pledge to fix this critical problem during the 2011 legislative session," Forbes says. 

The next governor will have the option to opt in. Mayo's stance is a risky one because, should the only candidate against early Medicaid enrollment win, some fences will need mending.

A Post-Bulletin article by Heather J. Carlson says Democrat Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner both favor early Medicaid enrollment, while Republican Tom Emmer does not.

So, boil it all down and figure out who Mayo Clinic supports for governor.

Did Mayo, through Forbes, directly endorse a candidate?  No.

But is Mayo pointing its eyes toward (or away from) a particular frontrunner?  I'll let you decide.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Pine Island land transfer delay reported... (update)

Finance & Commerce is reporting that transfer of land for the U.S. 52 interchange at County Road 12 in Pine Island has been delayed by errors in "dimensions and descriptions" of land donated by developer Tower Investments to Pine Island, and from Pine Island to the state of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation "commonly" deals with such things, Finance & Commerce's Arundhati Parmar quotes MnDOT's project director as saying. But the delay has a direct impact upon preparatory work in Oronoco, which Elk Run biobusiness park proponents earlier this summer told the Post-Bulletin must be complete this fall.

A frontage road in Oronoco needed to be complete this fall to allow relocation of a power company's building, the Elk Run planners said. 

MnDOT's project manager, Terry Ward, told me this morning that the "minor" corrections have been made, the transfer documents have been reviewed and they are being recorded today. Once that's done, all that's left is for the federal highway administration to approve MnDOT to authorize the interchange project.

Ward said People's Cooperative, which needs fire fighter access during its construction project at Oronoco, will get a temporary crushed-rock access road built by MnDOT yet this fall, once the federal highway approval comes through. Ward said that process should take about five to seven days, although it could take longer because the Elk Run project and the U.S. 52 interchange are so complicated.

Pine Island city administrator Abraham Algadi said Elk Run is moving forward. He said this morning that "overall, the fundamentals on the project are moving forward."

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Guerrilla gardening with a twist...

I am intrigued by people who take notice of weedy, unsightly and dried-out curbside sections of soil and turn them into splendid urban gardens.

I'm not suggesting that you partake in "guerrilla gardening (interesting James Bond-like video available after 30-second intro)."

But perhaps you could seek permission to transform a neglected spot in your neighborhood into something people will actually enjoy rather than avoid.

[Blue bachelor's buttons (cornflower) or Centaurea cyanus. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

Some of the purveyors of this type of gardening do it in a somewhat radical fashion. But I wonder why virtually every city median that's got soil in it couldn't be opened up as a community garden spot, in other words, why can't we have "victory gardens" all over the place?

I bent over late one night to pinch the leaf of an herb that I knew had been planted near the location of the farmer's market in downtown Rochester. I wanted to smell the smell of basil, a common gardener's habit of enjoying the fragrance.

But then I noticed an idling police car in the nearby parking lot and wondered if I plucked a leaf, as gardeners often will, whether I'd get in trouble. I didn't risk it.

Maybe Rochester Parks and Recreation could identify some neglected stretches of soil in our community and mark them as "available for adoption" for those who want to garden away. Imagine if everywhere you went here in Rochester, Minnesota, you found little gardens with flowers and herbs and fruits and vegetables free for the trimming.

Just a thought.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Tree damage in Northeast Rochester...

I have a report of tree damage in northeast Rochester, Minnesota in the area behind Shopko North. That's the first report I'm aware of citing local damage due to the high winds today.

At least one tree is down. Please let us know if you have other damage to report (news@postbulletin.net).

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel