- North Dakota: A child in North Dakota caught a flu virus from a pig after coming in contact with the animal at the state fair in Minot last month, according to the North Dakota Health Department, marking the first such case confirmed in a state resident. The child was hospitalized and later released, state officials said. Another case of flu associated with the fair was identified in a non-state resident (AP/Sacramento Bee, 8/16).
- Texas: Patients from Driscoll Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House had a chance to treat patients—teddy bear patients, that is—through the Teddy Bear Hospital program arranged by the Stripes Child Life Program. For the event, children could choose a stuffed bear or dog and "treat" them at stations that were set up like those the children visit in the hospital, according to child life specialist Mara Ellis. In addition to receiving medical procedures, such as X-rays and surgery, most stuffed animals went to a station where the learned how to cope with their experience. Kids were able to dress up as doctors and take a photo with their stuffed animal patient, according to a volunteer (Rodriguez, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 8/16).
- Washington, D.C.: Ascension's Providence Health System is eyeing replacing its 408-bed hospital with a "health village." Officials are proposing the change because of an excess of hospital beds in the Washington, D.C., area and changing community health needs. At the proposed 30-acre health village, Providence would provide services that have a positive impact on the community, such as primary care, telehealth, expanded post-acute care, and urgent care as well as recreation space and walking trails (Paavola, Becker's Hospital Review, 8/16).
Make your patients healthy and your ED happy with community paramedicine
For organizations assuming population health risk, top priorities include reducing the rates of avoidable ED visits, avoidable admissions, and readmissions. But most organizations don't have all the staff they need to engage patients and support robust care management.
Our infographic explains how community paramedics can help extend the care team to achieve these system goals.