Solutions

Rural communities of color across the US find new ways to get the health care they need Haywood Park Community Hospital was the closest hospital for many in Brownsville, Tennessee, a rural city in the eastern part of the state. Kenya Hunter Medical Xpress

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It's more common for people in rural areas to die earlier than urban residents from things like heart disease, cancer and stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But hospitals have closed throughout rural America in the last decade, leaving some of the 46 million people who live in these areas fewer options to get the care they need when they need it.

Rescue From Above: How Drones May Narrow Emergency Response Times - KFF Health News Public safety and health care organizations are using drones to speed up lifesaving treatment during medical emergencies in which every second counts. khnkytjaw KFF Health News

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Disaster planning for older adults: What to know this hurricane and wildfire season When Hurricane Ian struck southwestern Florida in 2022, it led to the deaths of more than 150 people—the majority of whom were older adults who had heart-related problems, power outage-related accidents, ... Laura Williamson Medical Xpress

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The deaths drove home the importance of evacuating when natural hazards threaten homes and highlighted the complicated nature of doing so for the growing population of adults aging in place.

We aren’t doing enough about the risk of bird flu – but we can | CNN

The United States’ response to H5N1 – “bird flu” – has been fragmented and inadequate. With three cases reported in people in the United States and clusters from Michigan to Texas, it’s clear that the virus is widespread among animals. To protect people, animals, and our economy, and to restore trust in public health, we need to get this right....

We have a lot to learn and no time to lose. First, states and national authorities must work with one another. This will require multiple federal agencies – including CDC, USDA, APHIS – and their state counterparts to share information transparently and in real time with each other and with the public. Second, Congress needs to provide resources to respond to the next pandemic and also for systems, workforce, and infrastructure so we are prepared to stop new and unknown events before they become epidemics. Third, and perhaps most importantly, we must quickly build relationships with farm owners and workers by being responsive to their needs and addressing questions and concerns.

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