From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— State health officials today announced a plan to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, targeting vulnerable populations such as incarcerated people, rural residents, immigrants and others.
The Department of Health Services today also launched a new dashboard showing progress being made across major priorities under the plan, including boosting vaccination rates for various age groups.
One of the strategy’s key goals is improving data and surveillance for hepatitis A, B, and C, the viruses that cause the viral hepatitis disease, to improve testing, treatment and vaccination efforts in the state. It also aims to promote awareness about the disease and reduce related stigma.
Meanwhile, through various clinical efforts, state residents will have greater access to “comprehensive and equitable” services for hepatitis, DHS says.
“Viral hepatitis affects thousands of Wisconsinites each year, and many don’t know that they’re impacted by these conditions,” State Health Officer Paula Tran said in a statement. “With preventative vaccines available for hepatitis A and B and curative treatment available for hepatitis C, viral hepatitis elimination is possible in Wisconsin.”
See the release below.
— UW Health has created a new nonprofit called WorkForward, calling it “the first employer-based intermediary” in healthcare aimed at boosting the national health workforce.
The organization will work with various private and government organizations to advance this mission, through new apprenticeship opportunities, experiential learning and more.
While today’s announcement references projected shortfalls in the number of doctors, nurses and other care professionals in coming years, the Madison health system says the effort “isn’t about a shortage of talent” in the United States.
Instead, the nonprofit will focus on addressing “bottlenecks” in accessing and expanding healthcare education and training programs. That’s according to WorkForward CEO and Executive Director Bridgett Willey.
“People want to work in health care, or grow in their health care careers, and health systems want to hire and support talented people; they just need the right coordination and infrastructure,” she said. “That’s what WorkForward is designed to provide.”
See the release below.
— New research out of UW-Madison finds water filtration systems have contributed to greater longevity, along with possible impacts on height and cognitive scores.
Researchers at the La Follette School of Public Affairs recently published the study in the American Journal of Health Economics, analyzing data from the Social Security Administration on deaths among men born between 1975 and 2005. By combining personal information with water filtration, they explored the impact of early-life exposure to citywide water filtration systems.
The scientists found these systems may have boosted “old-age male mortality” by up to 3.2 months in the United States.
And looking at more census data from 1950 to 1970, they found some of the long-term connections can be attributed to improved education and income due to early-life exposure to water filtration. Plus, the researchers found water filtration “may have played a role” in boosting height and cognitive scores in early adulthood.
Prof. Jason Fletcher, who conducted the study, notes about one-fourth of all people lack safely managed drinking water at home, emphasizing the implications for human health.
“While water quality has improved in many areas, this study shows the real impacts to communities without access to safe water, both in the U.S. and globally,” he said.
See more in the release below.
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Press Releases
– UW-Health: Launches WorkForward to strengthen the nation’s health care workforce
