Health

Alaska Guard's homecoming has its own problems

Alaska Army National Guard troops returning home to rural communities after yearlong deployments to war zones face huge obstacles trying to receive standard veterans health care, according to a report by Veterans for America.

Hospital offers free flu shots next week

Alaska Regional Hospital will offer drive-through flu shots for free from 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 16.

Respiratory illness kills woman in Southeast

A respiratory illness likely caused by a virus circulating on Prince of Wales Island has killed one person and put another on a ventilator in an Anchorage hospital.

In brief: Health updates (10/7/08)

Events this week related to medicine and health

Cost of medical insurance rises faster than wages

Health care in Alaska has become harder to afford as modest wage increases this decade have failed to keep pace with big increases in the cost of health care insurance, according to a new study by Families USA, a national organization that represents health care consumers.

Flu vaccine is readily available

Alaska is well-stocked on flu vaccine this winter, and thousands of doses are already available for public distribution in local clinics, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.

With new lungs, cystic fibrosis sufferer looks forward to hikes

A young man whose medical condition spurred the state to reverse its Medicaid funding policy on adult transplants has taken the first deep breath of his life.

In brief: Health updates (9/30/08)

Events this week related to medicine and health

Aces in the pink for cancer fight

The fountain at Loussac Library will glow pink for the month of October in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer. And not just the fountain. The Alaska Aces are going pink too.

Heart attack victims subject of new study

Anchorage residents who suffer heart attacks this fall could receive a life-saving boost on their trip to the hospital.

Fairbanks mayor will make kidney donation

The mayor of Fairbanks plans to donate a kidney to a cousin who is suffering from a hereditary kidney disease.

Telepharmacy project spreads its worth across country

The days of walking down to the general store for prescription drugs are returning to Alaska, North Dakota and other parts of rural America, thanks to a virtual pharmacy system that has been tested on the frozen prairie.

People can trim cancer risks, expert says

Alaska causes cancer. So do California, Kansas and New Jersey. So says University of Pittsburgh epidemiologist and environmental cancer expert Devra Davis, who spoke at UAA Thursday evening.

Health officials report big jump in unusual intestinal infection

More than two dozen people have been diagnosed with a specific kind of intestinal infection.

State turns down imaging permit

The state last week rejected a state permit for Imaging Associates of Providence to run a Palmer-area facility that provides MRIs and other diagnostic services such as X-rays.

Villagers can't kick soda pop habit

Years ago Alaska Native health officials declared war on sugary soda pop in rural towns and villages. Pop is winning. Nearly one-third of toddlers in rural Northern and Southwest Alaska have two or more cups of sugary drinks, such as regular soda, on an average day,

Alaska ranks high in chlamydia but low in HIV rates nationally

Alaska continues to rank high nationally in the rate of chlamydia cases but relatively low in the most serious sexually transmitted disease, HIV, according to reports by the state Division of Public Health.

Palin lets drug bill become law

Gov. Sarah Palin has allowed a bill to establish a prescription drug database to become law without her signature.

Red Robin stops serving tomatoes

Red Robin restaurants in Anchorage pulled tomatoes from the menu Wednesday in the face of a spreading outbreak of salmonella in the Lower 48.

HEALTH4ALL

US health care system is out of control in cost, accessibility

There I was, holding the sports section. Much to my surprise, there was an article that I understood all too well � at least some of it.

Blog Health4all

43 doctors were disciplined in '07

The Alaska State Medical Board disciplined 43 doctors last year, a three-fold increase from 2006, according to a report from the Federation of State Medical Boards. The consumer group Public Citizen compared the actions by every state's medical board and ranked the Alaska board as the best at disciplining doctors for the second year in a row.