Factors Associated with Patients' Connection to Referred Social Needs Resources at a Federally Qualified Health Center.

Introduction: In an effort to improve health outcomes and promote health equity, healthcare systems have increasingly begun to screen patients for unmet social needs and refer them to relevant social services and community-based organizations. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the successful connection (ie, services started) to social needs resources, as well as factors associated with an attempt to connect as a secondary, intermediate outcome.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who had been screened, referred, and subsequently reached for follow-up navigation from March 2019 to December 2020, as part of a social needs intervention at a federally qualified health center (FQHC).

A family cluster of tuberculosis cases, including a case of acquired multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

Although the number of tuberculosis cases in the US is at an all-time low, with progressive declines seen for the past 17 years, many goals in the tuberculosis elimination process remain unrealized. This report describes a cluster of four tuberculosis cases in a family, including one case of acquired multidrug resistant tuberculosis. It also underscores some important issues in tuberculosis control today, including significant disparities in the foreign-born population with multidrug resistant tuberculosis as a looming problem, as well as utilization of therapeutic drug level monitoring in complicated cases.

Increase in primary and secondary syphilis cases in older adults in Louisiana.

Sexually active young adults and adolescents experience a majority of the burden of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and public health resources are appropriately directed at these age groups. However, sexual health of older adults is often ignored. An analysis of sexually transmitted disease surveillance data from the Louisiana Office of Public Health show that both the numbers and rates of primary and secondary syphilis cases have increased in older age groups over the past 10 years.

Integrating a grant-seeking program into health care philanthropy.

Like any sound business or investment strategy, diversification among different revenue sources should be part of a well-rounded health care philanthropy strategy. Individual giving has historically comprised the bulk of charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations, and that trend likely will continue. Not to be neglected, however, is charitable giving by corporations and private foundations.

Disparities in schizophrenic disorders and associated co-morbidities among inpatient discharges in Louisiana hospitals from the years 2000 to 2003.

National and international studies have suggested in the past that there are disparities based on the race of the patient for the diagnoses of schizophrenic disorders. The purpose of this study was to look for the same disparities in Louisiana inpatient population based on LAHIDD (Louisiana Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database) data from the years 2000 to 2003. We also looked for co-morbid substance and alcohol-related mental disorders in the same patient population.

Tuberculosis in Louisiana.

Data on tuberculosis from the Tuberculosis Information Management System in Louisiana have been analyzed. Although tuberculosis has been decreasing in recent years, it remains a public health problem in some population groups.

Now and in retrospect: Louisiana lues.

This article gives a brief descriptive synopsis of the disease syphilis and presents in narrative and graphic form current statistics and those of the recent past of the incidence of syphilis cases in Louisiana. The latest recommendations for treatment of all stages of syphilis from the U.S.

Are you sanitary?

The authors present an annotated, condensed synopsis of the fundamental basis of public health practice in Louisiana, the state's Sanitary Code. The "tongue-in-cheek" remarks about some of the Code's requirements are just that, poking a bit of fun at the rule and law-making processes, but meant not in the least bit to underestimate the value of the public health rules and laws of the state.

Blood mercury levels and fish consumption in Louisiana.

The primary source of non-occupational exposure to mercury is through the consumption of contaminated fish. Since 1994, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has reported mercury contamination in fish obtained from bodies of water throughout the state and has issued fish consumption advisories accordingly. To determine the extent of mercury intoxication in Louisiana, screening for blood mercury levels was offered to volunteers residing near selected advisory areas.

The Ability Program: improving statewide access to assistive technology for adults with disabilities.

In 1995, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust awarded $2.4 million to support the Ability Program, a statewide initiative to improve awareness of and access to assistive technology for adult North Carolinians with disabilities.

How to interpret fish consumption advisories.

The goal of this paper is to explain the guidelines used in Louisiana to issue advisories against consumption of chemically contaminated seafood or fish and explain some of the uncertainties encountered. In the absence of federal regulations the State had to develop its own approach. The concentrations resulting from Louisiana policies are generally low in comparison with the FDA tolerances and, thereby, well within reasonable limits justified by the need to protect populations with high fish consumption.

Regulation of infectious waste in Louisiana.

The purpose of the article is to acquaint readers of the JOURNAL with the requirements of state regulation of infectious waste, especially as it pertains to individual physicians and their medical offices. A brief historical perspective is given, followed by a brief summary of pertinent data relating to disease transmission via infectious waste and injuries attributable to infectious waste. Suggestions which comply with the law for disposal of infectious waste from a physician's office are given.

A review of practices among information resource programs on assistive technology.

There is presently a growing need for timely information on assistive technology products and services. Some exemplary assistive technology information resource programs exist, while others are just now being developed. A survey was used to review the practices of 24 information resource programs.

Brief or new: use of a computer program (PC Coloring Book) in cognitive rehabilitation.

PC Coloring Book, a software program for the personal microcomputers, is a helpful treatment modality in cognitive rehabilitation and also for upper extremity motor control refinement. In addition to the case described this program has been initiated with several other patients, including two adults with cerebral palsy who have had additional brain trauma and one 5-year-old who is developmentally delayed. We cannot yet assess the results because these patients have not used the program for a sufficient period of time.