Institute of Medicine of Chicago

RFK Jr. Adviser Sought To Have FDA Retract Approval Of Polio Vaccine RFK Jr. Adviser Sought To Have FDA Retract Approval Of Polio Vaccine Aaron Siri, a lawyer who is helping to vet candidates for top health positions, has a history of challenging vaccine policies in courts. Candidates to fill roles in the incoming administration are specifically asked about their vaccine views, sources say. [KFF Health News and NYTimes] The New York Times: RFK Jr.’s Lawyer Has Asked The FDA To Revoke Polio Vaccine Approval The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death. That campaign is just one front in the war that the lawyer, Aaron Siri, is waging against vaccines of all kinds. (Jewett and Stolberg, 12/13) More> https://lnkd.in/eSrufJkB  #vaccines #childrenshealth #polio #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #medicine #healthcare #dental

55 new behavioral health sites in 2024- 3 Chicago sites included Hospitals and health systems invested in new inpatient and outpatient behavioral health projects in 2024, and new substance use treatment and other clinics opened across the U.S. [Health News Illinois] Here are 55 notable behavioral health openings this year:    Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers opened a children's urgent recovery center in Durant, Okla., CBS affiliate KXII reported. Inova Fairfax (Va.) Hospital opened a new behavioral health emergency department. The unit is the first EmPATH, or Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing unit in Northern Virginia. Full article here> https://lnkd.in/grkaFQcN #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #medicine #dental #illinois

Lawmakers weigh potential benefits, concerns of using psilocybin to treat mental health | Lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on the potential of psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms,” as a mental health treatment. [Health News Illinois] Jean Lacy, founding executive director of the Illinois Psychedelic Society, said psilocybin could help address a rise in suicides, especially among veterans and postpartum women.  Waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration could prevent thousands from accessing the treatment, she said. “We seek to be a responsible leader in the state with psychedelics,” she told members of the House’s Mental Health & Addiction Committee. Lacy said patients are already seeking these treatments on the black market, and a state-regulated structure could protect them. Dr. Abid Nazeer, chief medical officer and medical director for Hopemark Health, is among the psychiatrists advocating for psilocybin. While still labeled as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration, there’s no reason to think it's more dangerous than prescribed medications like opioids or Xanax, he said.  Dr. Christopher Holden, representing the Illinois Psychiatric Society, urged lawmakers to allow the FDA and the “broader medical community to have hard evidence on efficacy and develop standards of care,” which include dosing, prescribing and treatment protocols. While research continues on psilocybin and its potential effects, there are proven medications and treatment plans that are underutilized to treat patients, he said.  "I'm hopeful about potential for new treatments that can help with mental health, (but) worry of clinics or companies that offer psychedelics that are not FDA-approved, especially without a psychiatrist involved, without more research," he said. Holden agreed with advocates that psilocybin has shown little addictive potential. Lawmakers held a subject matter hearing on two pieces of legislation that could pave the way for the use of psilocybin for patients with mental health challenges. More>https://lnkd.in/g6rjNqjT #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #healthcare #medicine #dental  

Chicago’s pilot program to send emergency responders to people experiencing a mental health crisis has shown “promising” results, though some interagency challenges must be addressed to improve outcomes, according to a report published last week by the University of Chicago. [Health News Illinois] Specifically, participants reported that their distress level dropped by an average of 19 percent after interacting with clinicians. About 40 percent of the people served by response teams presented symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. Over 30 percent presented symptoms of self-harm or the use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. Teams responded to more than 1,300 events during the two-year pilot period, serving 673 individuals. The number of calls that teams successfully responded to increased by 37 percent over the pilot period. Teams operate Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. However, challenges remain as far as coordination among the various city agencies, specifically as it relates to data collection. The report noted the importance of agency collaboration to create new policies and procedures to ensure the program runs efficiently. “We hope that our findings provide practical insights for Chicago, and for other communities across America that seek to improve mental health crisis response,” Harold Pollack, the co-director of the University of Chicago Health Lab, said in a statement. The pilot was a partnership between the Chicago Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication, the Chicago Fire Department and the Chicago Police Department. The agencies worked together to test three healthcare-based alternate response team models. Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood said the report is a “critical validator as we work to expand (the program) and permanently solidify it as part of our first responder ecosystem.” “(The program) is critical to fulfilling Mayor (Brandon) Johnson’s vision for a robust continuum of care and ensuring that all Chicagoans experiencing behavioral health crises receive a behavioral health response,” Gatewood said. The city announced this fall that the staffing model for the program will transition entirely to public health employees. Look for more information on IOMC's Behavioral Health webinar on Jan. 28th, 2025, at Noon CT. #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #publichealth #communityhealth #populationhealth #medicine #healthcare #dental

Thank you to our speakers and all who attended the 2024 Leadership Summit! The Election is Over- What Does It Mean for Healthcare and Public Health? A great discussion by the thought leaders and attendees on Dec. 4th. -Simbo Ige MD, MS, MPH) Ige,  MD, MPH, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health, Commissioner's Office -LaMar Hasbrouck, MD, MBA, MPH, FACHE Hasbrouck, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County- Dept. of Public Health -Jan Kitajewski, PhD, Director of Cancer Research at UIHealth -Teresa Garate, PhD, Managing Director, Health Management Associates  -Marilyn Griffin, MD, DFAPA, DFAACAP, Behavioral Health Medical Director, Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, a CVS Health Company For more information on upcoming programs, visit www.iomc.org. #healthequity #healthcaredisparities #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #medicine #healthcare #dental #maternalhealth #healthgap #

US flu activity picks up a little more pace | Though US flu activity is still low, markers such as test positivity and emergency department (ED) visits show more rises, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest weekly update. [KFF Health News and Univ. of Minnesota] In its monitoring of outpatient visits for flulike illness, Louisiana and the District of Columbia are at the high and very high level, respectively, with Georgia and Arizona at the lower tier of the high level. Most detections are influenza A, and subtyping last week at public health labs shows nearly 62% of influenza A viruses were H3N2 and 36% were 2009 H1N1. Nationally, outpatient visits are highest in the youngest children, followed by patients ages 5 to 24 years old. No pediatric flu deaths were reported this week, keeping the season’s total at two. More>https://lnkd.in/gp7xmB-f #children #influenza #flu #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #healthcare #medicine #dental

IDPH reports rise in whooping cough cases | Whooping cough cases in Illinois have reached levels not seen in two decades, the state’s Department of Public Health said Monday. [Health News Illinois] There were 408 cases of whooping cough, otherwise known as pertussis, reported in October, more than double the number in October 2023 and the highest monthly total since 2004. Illinois has seen more than 1,900 confirmed and probable cases of pertussis this year, according to preliminary data. It’s the highest number of cases reported in a year since 2012. Department Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said the rise is a “cause for concern and IDPH is monitoring this increase closely throughout the state.” The state has sent three health alerts in recent months to local health departments and providers to flag the rise in cases and urge vigilance about identifying cases and reporting them within 24 hours of diagnosis. The uptick is part of a national trend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a six-fold increase in cases this fall compared to last year, after the number of cases dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. IDPH also said Monday that the overall respiratory illness level in the state remains low. Vohra cautioned that a rise is expected in the coming weeks due to the holiday season and more indoor gatherings. #infection #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #medicine #dental #healthcare #pandemic  

U.S. gets poor grade for maternal, infant health care outcomes | For the third year in a row, high preterm birth rates earned the U.S. only a D+ in a March of Dimes report on the state of maternal and infant health. [Axios] The big picture: Black, Latina, Native American and Pacific Islander women experience disproportionate rates of preterm births, infant mortality and maternal deaths. People in the South and Midwest experience the worst outcomes. Context: March of Dimes says "an alarmingly high preterm birth rate" is one of the contributing factors "to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity." More>https://lnkd.in/gpzD2N94   #maternalhealth #maternalmorbidity #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #healthcare #medicine #dental

There are many questions to ask and numerous areas of critical focus. Where should we ask our leaders in government and healthcare to place our energy that will make an impact? Seven days to the 2024 Leadership Summit: The Election is Over—What Does It Mean for Healthcare and Public Health? 2024 Leadership Summit9 bi-annual event Five thought leaders & five presentations December 4, 2024 5:00- 8:00 PM CT Maggianos-Chicago Open to all - healthcare, public health, legislators, advocates, and i interested individuals -Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige,  MD, MPH, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health, Commissioner's Office -LaMar Hasbrouck, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County- Dept. of Public Health -Jan Kitajewski, PhD, Director of Cancer Research at UIHealth -Teresa Garate, PhD, Managing Director, Health Management Associates  -Marilyn Griffin, MD, DFAPA, DFAACAP, Behavioral Health Medical Director, Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, a CVS Health Company Visit this page for more details> https://lnkd.in/gWcExE2Q A few exhibitor spaces are available. We thank our sponsors: Golden Square Midwest Business Group on Health Novo Nordisk Washington Square Health Foundation The Portes Foundation Family Christian Health Center #maternalhealth #behavioralhealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth #sdoh #publichealth #communityhealth #populationhealth #healthcare #medicine

Illinois has seen a rise in severe maternal health issues and birth complications, according to an analysis by Northwestern Medicine researchers. [Health News Illinois] The study of nearly 1 million births at Illinois hospitals found the overall rate of severe maternal morbidity rose from 1.4 percent in 2016 to 2 percent in 2023. The rate for Black patients, at 2.6 percent, was more than double that of white patients, at 1.1 percent. The study also found the rate of vaginal birth complications increased by 22.4 percent and cesarean birth complications rose by 48.9 percent.   More>https://lnkd.in/giMqxRre #maternalhealth #healthcare #medicine #dental #womenshealth #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth