Public Health

Report Finds Some Patients Did Not Receive Discharge Instructions
Nearly 30 percent of patients discharged from Pennsylvania hospitals between June 2005 and December 2007 did not receive discharge instructions.

Head Injuries Increased After Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Law
Two recent studies showed that serious head injuries sustained in crashes increased after Pennsylvania repealed a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Patients Can Compare Hospital Quality of Care Information
Patients can find quality of care information for many of the nation’s hospitals on Hospital Compare.

Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Store Emergency Contact Number in Cell Phone
The state Senate has adopted a resolution encouraging Pennsylvania residents to store an emergency contact number in their cell phones.

York and Adams Counties Selected for Quality Improvement Program
York and Adams counties have been selected for a nationwide health care quality improvement project.

Pregnant Patients Must be Given Information on Cord Blood Banking
Physicians and health care facilities are now required to give pregnant patients information on umbilical cord blood banking and donation.

Pilot Program Would Encourage Healthier Living in Ethnic Communities
The Pennsylvania Medical Society is developing a pilot grant program to recognize organizations that are working toward healthy living in ethnic communities.

State Receives Federal Funds for Adult Autism Services
Pennsylvania has received the first federal waiver to provide services for adults with autism using federal Medicaid funds.

Pharmaceutical Advertisements Encourage Patients to Ask Physicians about Products
Many patients ask their physicians about a specific drug or procedure after seeing it advertised.

Poll Demonstrates Importance of Regular Doctor Visits
Nearly 73 percent of Pennsylvania adults said they only have their blood pressure checked when they visit their doctor, demonstrating why regular physicals and doctor visits are so important.

State Offers Free Breast, Cervical Cancer Screenings
Uninsured and underinsured women may be eligible for free breast and cervical cancer screenings through a state program.

Most Pennsylvanians Haven’t Prepared an Advance Health Care Directive
A poll by the Pennsylvania Medical Society found that 84 percent of Pennsylvania adults have not prepared an advance health care directive.

Patients Shouldn’t Flush Away Most Prescription Drugs
Federal guidelines on prescription drug disposal recommend that patients not flush most unused drugs.

Physicians Answer Medical Questions in Doctors on Call Program
Physician volunteers fielded health care questions and concerns from more than 300 callers on Wednesday, March 12, for “Doctors on Call.”

FDA to Reformulate Flu Vaccine Next Year
Physicians should order flu shots for next year early because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to completely overhaul next year’s vaccine.

Pennsylvania Health Care Quality Alliance Website Consolidates Hospital Outcome and Quality Data
The Pennsylvania Health Care Quality Alliance (PHCQA) has posted hospital outcome and quality data to its website.

Poll Finds that 42.6 Percent of Pennsylvanians Have Not Considered Being Organ Donors
The Pennsylvania Medical Society's Institute for Good Medicine conducted the poll to raise awareness of the need for organ donation.

Health Care Workers Encouraged to Wash Hands Often
Washing hands can help prevent spread of infection.

Medical Centers Launch Registry to Track Deadly Lung Disease
A new patient registry will track the deadly lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), increasing research of and access to care for those who suffer from IPF.

School Immunization Regulations (PA Code)
State regulation listing the immunization requirements of children entering and attending schools in the commonwealth.

Disease Reporting
This publication includes lists of reportable diseases, how and where to report, confidentiality rules, and penalties for failing to report.

Screening for Diseases of the Newborn
Some newborn diseases must be reported to the state.

State Society Says Female Patients Should Receive HPV Vaccine
The State Society recommends that some female patients should receive a vaccine that could prevent an infection that causes up to 70 percent of cervical cancers.

State Society Opposes Lyme Disease Treatment Bill
The Pennsylvania Medical Society opposes a bill that would endorse a specific treatment for lyme disease.

Governor Issues Executive Orders to Launch Chronic Care and Health Care Equity Initiatives
As part of his Prescription for Pennsylvania reform plan, Gov. Rendell on May 21 issued executive orders on chronic disease management and health care equity.

State Society Furthers Collaborative Efforts on Behalf of Patients
The Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Trustees has approved the launch of a collaborative initiative to promote patient-centered models of care related to chronic disease management.

Elder Abuse: Spotting the Signs and Responding
Learn how to spot the signs of elder abuse, which affects millions of senior citizens.

Women and Heart Disease: A New Paradigm
Recently there has been significant progress in research on heart disease among women and guidelines for better prevention and treatment of the disease. Several agencies and organizations have released their findings and recommendations.

Federal and State Programs Address the Burden of Asthma
The State Society offers links to asthma resources and programming from a variety of organizations.

Syphilis: The Great Imitator
Syphilis is known as "the great imitator" because its early symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases.

Preparing for Public Health Emergencies
Because the public looks to physicians for help and information about all aspects of health care, it's critical to consider the potential roles in a public health emergency and prepare to fill them.

Ricin as a Chemical Terrorist Agent
These emergency preparedness and bioterrorism fact sheets come from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Disruption of Care Troubling for Pennsylvania Patients
Ten-year study suggests high turnover among state specialists.

Measuring Your Adolescent Patient's Growth
Tools for physicians to use in their offices.

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