California Wildfires Present Health Concerns For Thousands of People

California Wildfires Present Health Concerns For Thousands of People

As multiple wildfires consumed homes, vehicles, and expansive acreage in Southern California in recent days, thick smoke blanketed the sky, causing health concerns for many in the area. Small particles in the air—which hang around for long periods of time even after the fires are out—can cause respiratory issues and chest pain as well as burning eyes and headaches. Children, elderly people, those with respiratory or heart conditions, and people with compromised immune systems, may …

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Patient With Severe Case of Bird Flu Dies In Louisiana

Patient With Severe Case of Bird Flu Dies In Louisiana

A patient who had been hospitalized with a human case of severe avian influenza (H5N1) in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The patient was over the age of 65 and was also reported to have underlying medical conditions. No additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission was reported. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to wild birds. As of January 7, 2025, there were 66 human cases …

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Flu Trend Is High, May Have Reached Seasonal Peak

Flu Trend Is High, May Have Reached Seasonal Peak

The final respiratory illness data for the last week of 2024 (ending December 28) show that influenza is trending ahead of both COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus among children and adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a hospitalization rate of 4.3 per 100,000. Flu’s positivity rate was up 18.7% over the previous week, and the overall percentage of emergency department visits with a discharge diagnosis of influenza was 5.2%—compared to …

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Americans: US Healthcare System Is Worse Than Ever

Americans: US Healthcare System Is Worse Than Ever

Americans have given the US healthcare system a record-low quality rating, while 70% of respondents in a national survey also believe that the healthcare system at large has major problems or is in a state of crisis, according to a recent Gallup poll of more than 1,000 adults. Sentiment is now at its lowest point since the polling organization began monitoring opinions on the topic in 2001. The percentage of those who say the quality …

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Urgent Care Leader Lamelas Named Ambassador to Argentina

Urgent Care Leader Lamelas Named Ambassador to Argentina

Peter Lamelas, MD, MBA, one of urgent care’s industry leaders, has been appointed by President Elect Trump as the US Ambassador to Argentina. As the founder of MD Now Urgent Care, the Cuban-born physician and entrepreneur grew the brand to 59 centers, which were acquired in 2022 by HCA Healthcare. Certified in emergency medicine with more than 20 years of experience, Lamelas was also a founding member of the Urgent Care Association (UCA) and joined …

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Private Equity Courting Walgreens For Acquisition

Private Equity Courting Walgreens For Acquisition

Earlier this week, several media outlets reported that Walgreens is in negotiation discussions for a potential sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. With Walgreens’ debt and flagging in-store clinics, a major overhaul seems likely regardless. A few weeks ago, the retail pharmacy giant said it would be closing 1,200 locations over the next few years after reporting a $3 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2024. A deal with Sycamore Partners would take …

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Substantial Update to First Aid Guidelines Reflects New Literature

Substantial Update to First Aid Guidelines Reflects New Literature

New first aid guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross published in Circulation expand the scope of emergency care conditions addressed and provide greater specificity for first aid action steps. It is the first major update since 2010. Key topics that are new, substantially revised, or have significantly updated literature include: opioid overdose; bleeding control; open chest wounds; spinal motion restriction; hypothermia and frostbite; presyncope; anaphylaxis, snakebite; oxygen administration; and …

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UnitedHealth Group CEO Killed Near NY Investor Day Event

UnitedHealth Group CEO Killed Near NY Investor Day Event

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s insurance division, was shot and killed outside of a hotel in New York City on December 4, according to news reports. The 50-year-old Thompson has worked for the company for 20 years and was promoted to the chief executive position in 2021. UnitedHealth Group leadership canceled the day’s scheduled investor event immediately after the incident. He was described as an “extraordinary person” in a video sent to employees. Thompson was …

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UK Begins To Stockpile H5N1 Vaccines

UK Begins To Stockpile H5N1 Vaccines

The United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency has now contracted with a supplier to purchase more than 5 million doses of human H5N1 avian flu vaccine to prepare the country should an avian flu pandemic occur. The virus has been causing a prolonged global outbreak with new cases emerging in humans recently—although the risk still remains quite low. Poultry and dairy cattle are the most likely animals to experience outbreaks of the virus, and thousands of …

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VillageMD Top Exec Resigns Amid Financial Backslide 

VillageMD Top Exec Resigns Amid Financial Backslide 

CEO Tim Barry, the founder and top executive of VillageMD, is stepping down from his role as the company faces significant financial difficulties. Majority owner Walgreens Boots Alliance has reported substantial losses amounting to billions of dollars, according to Forbes. VillageMD has struggled for more than a decade to attract patients to its clinics located within Walgreens retail stores. This has led to a sharp reduction in its intended expansion plans to stand up clinics …

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