Health

Little Sign Of Washington Hospitals Becoming Less Error-Prone

John Ryan — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:40:07 +0000

US hospitals harm one out of every seven patients they aim to help. So-called “adverse events” inside hospitals are one of the leading causes of death in America.

Portland Voters Keep Fluoride Out Of Drinking Water

Jamala Henderson — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:11 +0000

Voters in Portland, Oregon have decide not to add fluoride to their municipal drinking water. Seattle and most other large cities in the US added the chemical decades ago to prevent cavities in children.

Pierce County Judge Says Boarding The Mentally Ill In ERs Violates State And Federal Law

Patricia Murphy — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:02:14 +0000

A Pierce County Superior Court judge said Monday that temporarily boarding the mentally ill in hospital emergency rooms without treatment violates state and federal law. County and state attorneys have asked for the ruling to be put on hold while they appeal.

What You Still Don’t Know About Obamacare

the conversation with ross reynolds — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:48:04 +0000

Over 40 percent of Americans don’t know Obamacare is the law according to a non-partisan study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Even more Americans don’t know what’s in the law or how the Affordable Care Act will affect them. To clear up the confusion, Ross Reynolds speaks with Mike Kreidler, the Washington state insurance commissioner about what the Affordable Care Act means for you.

Pro-Eating Disorder Propaganda Proliferates On The Internet

The Conversation with Ross Reynolds — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:25:43 +0000

Experts are increasingly concerned about pro-eating disorder content, which is proliferating on the Internet, including Twitter hashtags like #thinspiration and #pro-ana.

KUOW’s Ross Reynolds talks with Dr. Jillian Lampert, senior director at The Emily Program, about the role of the Internet and other factors that contribute to the problem of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.

Seattle Study Shows Cancer Can Lead To Bankruptcy

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:15:11 +0000

Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, according to a study published online today in the journal Health Affairs. There are plenty of anecdotes of people who have used up their savings, borrowed from friends or filed for bankruptcy following a serious illness like cancer. Now researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have documented exactly how great the risk of bankruptcy is for cancer patients.

Liberia: America's Original Self-Deportation Scheme

Producer — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:29:13 +0000

In the decades leading up to the civil war, white Americans uncomfortable with the rising numbers of free blacks came up with a plan. Get rid of them. Specifically, convince them to resettle in Liberia. It was America's original "self-deportation" scheme. But things didn't go exactly according to plan.
List of stories from KUOW Presents, May 15:

Who Should Get A Genetic Test For Breast Cancer?

Sara Lerner — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:55:48 +0000

Now, the public knows about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy. She wrote in the New York Times that, thanks to genetic testing, she believed there was an 87 percent chance she’d get breast cancer, so she went for it.
Tuesday, Dr. Julie Gralow, director of breast medical oncology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance spoke with KUOW's Sara Lerner. Dr. Gralow says, “The majority of breast cancer in the United States is not gene-mutation cancer.”

The NBA Meets, The SIFF Festival Opens And The Cost Of Health Care

Weekday — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

The End Of The Seattle/Sacramento Kings Saga?
Months of speculation about the NBA’s return to Seattle could end today. League owners are in Dallas to vote on Chris Hansen’s deal to buy the Sacramento Kings and move the team to Seattle. Meanwhile, a rival group of NBA-backed Sacramento investors is waiting in the wings to keep the team in town. Seattle Times reporter Bob Condotta joins us from Dallas.
Seattle International Film Festival Opens
It’s mid-May, which means summer is around the corner. But before you frolic outdoors, you’ll probably head into a movie theater for the annual Seattle International Film Festival. Organizers bill it as the biggest film festival in North America. Get a sneak preview with the minds behind the madness.
The Cost Of Health Care
Last week the government released costs for 100 common procedures at hospitals around the country. The numbers varied wildly between geographic regions, but also between hospitals in the same city. University of Washington professor Aaron Katz explains what that means for consumers.

The Elements Of Cooking With Michael Pollan

The Conversation with Ross Reynolds — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:18:38 +0000

Fire, air, water and earth; or as author Michael Pollan experienced it: barbeque, bread, braise and beer. In his latest book, “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,” Pollan challenges himself to master the basic technologies that have allowed people to turn raw into cooked.
The impetus of his journey was to highlight the possibility and importance of mastering the preparation of personal meals. His book explores the cultural shift of food responsibility from the home to corporation via packaged or prepared foods, and how this directly correlates with the rise in American obesity issues.