The National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report measure the quality of health care and access to health care for various racial, ethnic, and income groups and other priority populations, such as residents of rural areas and people with disabilities. New topics added this year include care coordination and health system infrastructure. Presented in chart and tabular format, these indicators show very clearly the wide gulf of health care access and provision of services along socioeconomic lines as well as among other demarcations.
Archive for Business
Obesity Levels to Rise Drastically in the United States
According to this article – Obesity and Severe Obesity Forecasts Through 2030 - that was just published, if obesity projections continue as they are, 51% of Americans will be obese by 2030. The consequences for the healthcare system will be severe if this trend continues unabated; as it is, health expenditures directly related to obesity are now a drain on the system. A couple of revelations in this report (and really counter-intuitive), are the facts that those with a college education and those whose household incomes are over $50,000 have shown the most dranmatic increases in obesity rates since 1990. This newly-published book from the Institute of Medicine – Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation- should be consulted as well as the Weight on the Nation project page.
Economic Crisis – May 2012 Update
What is the economic outlook for OECD countries? (OECD); Fiscal Consolidation: How much, how fast and by what means? (OECD); Toward Effective Governance of Financial Institutions (Group of 30); Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Financial Problems (CRS); Global Financial Stability Report (IMF); Economic Growth and the Unemployment Rate (CRS); and The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress (CRS).
Mental Health Statistics for the United States
This biennial report, Mental Health, United States contains vast reams of information, charts, and statistics on those who have experienced serious mental illness, their socieconomic indicators, type of treatment, and plans utilized. The most recent volume is for 2010; it was just released. Previous volumes in this series can also be accessed
State and Local Government Health Care Plans
The just-released National Compensation Survey: Health Plans Provisions in State and Local Government in the United States, 2011 provides detailed information on a national level as to the provision of health care benefits: vision, dental, outpatient prescription, selected benefits by type of plan, etc. This 300 page document proceeds to analyze the data by geographic region, income level, and industry sector (including higher education). Another informative report is this April 2012 report – Employment-Based Health Benefits: Trends in Access and Coverage, 1997-2010 - that shows a downward trend in employers offering medical benefits to workers.
Economic Crisis – April 2012 Update
The African-American Labor Force in the Recovery (U.S. Department of Labor); The U.S. Income Distribution and Mobility: Trends and International Comparisons (CRS); The Boomerang Generation: Feeling OK about Living with Mom and Dad (Pew); The Eurozone Crisis: Overview and Issues for Congress (CRS); and Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress (CRS).
Autism Diagnosis Rates Rise Sharply in New Jersey and the Nation
A CDC report released today shows that the chance of a child being diagnosed with autism has risen to 1 in 88; in New Jersey, it is 1 in 49. This study is based on 14 separate site reports; the one for New Jersey was based at UMDNJ (Table 1). As reported in The New York Times, “… researchers cannot agree on whether the trend is a result of heightened awareness, an expanding definition of the spectrum, an actual increase in incidence or some combination of those factors.”(article) More information is available from: The Star-Ledger, Time, WebMD, Wall Street Journal, and Autism Speaks.
Mass Layoffs in New Jersey During 2011
This report generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, notes that there were 585 mass layoffs (defined as affecting 50 persons from a single employer) involving 66,811 people, the second highest number in New Jersey since 1996. Selected industrial sectors are highlighted along with numbers back to 2009. More information on a national scale can be found at Mass Layoff Statistics.
Diabetes Could Reach Epidemic Proportions by 2050
If this report - Projection of the year 2050 burden of diabetes in the US adult population: dynamic modeling of incidence, mortality, and prediabetes prevalence (from Population Health Metrics) – is correct, then the prevalence of diabetes in this country could be a catastrophic health care burden as 33% of the U.S. population could be affected. Some counter-measures are discussed that can impact this disturbing trend, but without vigilance, diabetes will become a national scourge. Previous blog entries provide additional information on this disease.
Financial Times Podcasts
Listen to such weekly shows as FT Banking Weekly, FT Money, FT Connected Business, and FT News. An archives feature preserves previous broadcasts back to 2007.
Historic Medical Texts
The Medical Heritage Library is a collaborative project involving major medical libraries with the goal of digitizing rare medical texts. As of this writing, almost 30,000 items from the 17th to 20th centuries are available for perusal. Searching is by author, title, or subject. Examples include a 1567 Latin version of Raymund Lull’s treatise on alchemy and handbooks of popular medicine. There are many entries on nursing as well.
Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy, New Jersey Among the Worst
According to this article – State-Level Variations in Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy – white males live on average to 74.8 years, while black males live 67.7 years, resulting in a 7 year difference. White females live on average to 78.8 years and black females live for 73.6 years, resulting in a difference of 5 years. However, the picture for New Jersey is bleaker: New Jersey is among the states with the largest gap in life expectancies: white males live 8 years longer and white females 6 years longer than their black counterparts. As the article points out: “… black men live fewer years than expected, whereas white men live equal to or longer than expected nationally.” For the females: “…white women have higher-than-average life expectancy and black women experience lower-than-average or average life expectancy.” Figures, tables, and a bibliography supplement this article. Another recent article that supports these troubling numbers is one that dealt with life expectancies in this country as compared with other “high income countries.” Please read Falling behind: life expectancy in US counties from 2000 to 2007 in an international context.
Economic Crisis – March 2012 Update
Solving the Financial and Sovereign Debt Crisis in Europe (OECD Journal); The Recession of 2007-2009 (Bureau of Labor Statistics); The Crisis: The Response of the European Trade Unions (Global Labour University); Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth (OECD); and Coping with Crisis: How Are Local Governments Reinventing Themselves in the Wake of the Great Recession (International City/County Management Association).
Employment Projections to 2020
The entire January 2012 issue of the Monthly Labor Review centers around how industries and occupations will develop over the next few years. How will sectors grow? What does the demand look like? This report can be supplemented by a special issue of Occupational Outlook Quarterly entitled Charting the Projections: 2010-2020 that concentrates more on the labor force itself.
A Look Inside Facebook As It Goes Public
Forced by SEC regulations to file as a public company once it has assests in excess of $10 million and more than 500 shareholders, Facebook submitted a Form S1 Registration Statement on 2-1-12 that allows outsiders to see the inner workings of this social media giant. Included are the mission statement of the company, a personal letter from Mark Zuckerberg, executive compensation plans, names of all stockholders holding at least a 5% share, revenue history, and consolidated financial statements. A linked table of contents allows for easy navigation although the verbiage at times is mind-numbing.
Economic Crisis – February 2012 Update
The Great Recession and Bank Lending to Small Businesses (Federal Reserve – Boston); Top Economic Stories of 2011 (Brookings); At Risk: America’s Poor During and After the Great Recession (Indiana University); Beige Book, January 2012 (Federal Reserve); Down and Out: Measuring Long-Term Hardship in the Labor Market (Center for Economic Policy and Research); Financial Sector Regulation for Growth, Equity and Stability (Bank for International Settlements); Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy (CRS); Transformative Times: New Opportunities for Business in an Era of Upheaval (Wharton); Unemployment Statistics on Older Americans (Urban Institute); Unemployment Insurance and the Great Recession (Urban Institute); Global Economic Prospects 2012 (World Bank); and World Economic Situation and Prospects (United Nations).
Standard & Poor’s Rates the Credit of 16 European Countries
Of course, this was released on a slow news day – Friday. But here is the original text of the announcement. Find out which countires had ratings lowered and which were affirmed.
Economic Crisis – January 2012 Update
Listing of Sears and Kmart Stores to Close
This list may be expanded to 120 stores in the near future. For now, there are 80 stores slated to close. For this go-around, New Jersey has been spared any closures.
Hazardous Substance Information
You or a co-worker are expected to handle some chemicals. What are the risks involved? Is protective gear necessary? If so, what kind? If there is an accident, what immediate care should be given? Besides calling a help line (National Poison Control Center – 1 800 222 1222), you do have access to some good online sources before you tackle a particular situation. New Jersey has the Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets. ”The Fact Sheets are prepared on pure substances and contain information on health hazards, exposure limits, personal protective equipment, proper handling, first aid, and emergency procedures for fires and spills.” There are 1600 of them with 900 translated into Spanish. They are being constantly revised and additional ones are being translated. The site allows access by alphabetical listing, new/revised sheets, carcinogens, translated into Spanish, and newly translated sheets. As the sheets are revised, they are transferred into a more accessible and informative format. The site also contains “quick response guides” for emergency responders. Tha National Librray of Medicine, within its TOXNET site, offers the Hazardous Substances Data Bank that includes over 5000 chemicals and their human health effects (with peer reviewed references) and medical treatments. The HSDB also provides mobile access.
