Weekly Health Digest: Safe Injection Sites, Suburban Poor, and Flu on the Rise

Safe injection sites in San Francisco could be first in the US

Mark Lieber

The opioid epidemic has spread rapidly across America, leaving public health officials to think of response to what has become a crisis. The San Francisco Department of Public Health unanimously decided to launch the nation’s first legal safe injection sites to combat the opioid epidemic. The safe injection sites will provide counseling and referrals to social and health services, while serving as a facility where people can consume previously obtained drugs under the supervision of staff trained to respond to drug-related medical emergencies.

Flu still on the rise, hospitalizations high, CDC says

Susan Scutti

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu cases are still rising. During the fifth week of 2018, approximately 60 per 100,000 people were hospitalized for reasons related to the flu. In addition, during the week ending on February 3rd alone, there were over 14,000 new cases of the flu confirmed via laboratory. Health professionals still urge individuals to obtain flu vaccinations.

Upsurge Of Suburban Poor Discover Health Care’s Nowhere Land

Elaine Korry

Today, nearly 17 million Americans living in poverty in the United States reside in suburban areas, and researchers estimate that one in five of the suburban poor are uninsured. Despite the fact that more Americans living in poverty are located in the suburbs rather than in cities or rural areas, suburban areas generally receive only a fraction of the health funding provided to cities. As the demand for care in these areas increases, local health services are struggling to provide adequate health services.

CNN Exclusive: California launches investigation following stunning admission by Aetna medical director

Wayne Drash

Dr. Jay Ken Iinuma, who was Aetna’s medical director in Southern California, stated under oath that throughout his time at Aetna he never looked at a patient’s medical record in determining coverage. He noted that the job training he received at Aetna outlined the process as having nurses do record reviews and making recommendations to him. Health professionals, including the California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, are shocked and outraged by this admission.