Health Care
Birmingham Looks at Limiting Dollar Stores, Easing Restrictions on Other Food Vendors as Way to Battle Food Deserts
A new ordinance proposed by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin looks to combat the city’s food deserts by loosening regulations on mobile grocers and farmers markets, while simultaneously limiting the spread of dollar stores in low-income neighborhoods.
Jeffco Commission Approves UAB-Led Authority for Cooper Green
The Jefferson County Commission approved a resolution Thursday to allow UAB to manage operations at the county's indigent care clinic.
Alabama Committee Advances Bill to Outlaw Abortion
Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation, a measure that would make performing an abortion a felony with almost no exceptions.
Fed’s Report Condemning Alabama Prisons: State Vows Action
Alabama authorities vowed Thursday to begin the monumental task of fixing their troubling prison problems, responding to a U.S. Department of Justice report that condemned excessive violence, inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage in the state correctional system.
UAB Launches Program to Improve Treatment of Opioid Overdose
UAB’s Emergency Department is starting a new program to better treat patients with opioid use disorder. The initiative focuses on increasing the use of a drug called Suboxone.
Jeffco Health Officials: Violence is a Public Health Issue
Violence is the newest strategic focus for the Jefferson County Department of Health. It was one of several topics discussed in Tuesday's annual State of Health in Jefferson County address.
Alabama is Offering Free Genetic Testing. Here’s Why.
Scientists in Alabama want to capture a statewide genetic footprint. Free testing, they say, can help residents detect their risk for disease and bolster future genomic research.
Report: Violence, Housing Costs Affect Health Outcomes
A report out Tuesday ranks the health of all 67 counties in Alabama. It found that things like violence and housing costs are important predictors of health outcomes.
175 Down; 3,701 to Go. Jefferson County Starts Chipping Away at Rape Kit Testing Backlog
With the help of a federal grant program, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office has begun to chip away at the county’s massive backlog of untested sexual assault kits.
$25 Million Cyclotron Brings New Cancer Treatment to AL
A 90-ton cyclotron arrived Tuesday on the campus of UAB. The machine will be part of a new proton therapy center, bringing a specialized cancer treatment to Alabama.
Birmingham Airport Unveils Sensory Room
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport unveiled its new sensory room today. It’s for travelers who are easily overstimulated.
Drummond to Pay $775,000 Penalty to EPA, Jefferson County Health Department
Drummond Company has agreed to pay a $775,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement contained in a consent decree relating to alleged violations of environmental laws at its ABC Coke Plant in Tarrant.
Flu Activity Widespread in Alabama
Rates of flu-like activity are on the rise throughout Alabama. They've been increasing for a few weeks now, and a number of schools have closed because of the virus.
Pig Hearts Could Keep Babies Awaiting Transplants Alive
Scientists hope in the future, pig hearts can be a temporary solution for babies who need a transplant. UAB researchers recently presented their findings about this, and early results seem promising.
At Children’s Hospital, a Note with Lunch
Patients at Children’s Hospital of Alabama now get a little extra pick-me-up. Every day at lunch, kids there receive a note, called a napkinism.
Alabama Licenses Midwives for the First Time in Decades
For the first time in more than 40 years, Alabama has licensed professional midwives. Last week, the newly formed Alabama State Board of Midwifery issued credentials to five women.
With $30 Million Gift, UAB Says Cancer Research is the Future of Birmingham
Leaders of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB have big plans to use the recently announced $30 million gift from O’Neal Industries. They want to triple the number of clinical trials.
State Attorney General Asks Supreme Court to Rule on Banning Abortion Procedure
Alabama’s attorney general Steve Marshall wants the US Supreme Court to weigh in on restricting a certain abortion procedure.
Gun Violence Through the Eyes of a Trauma Surgeon
The recent shooting at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover has renewed attention on the issue of gun violence. Dr. Jeff Kerby, head of trauma services at UAB, says to curb gun-related deaths and injuries, health officials must have a seat at the table.
As Alabama’s Unemployment Rate Decreases, Medicaid Enrollment Does Not
Alabama’s unemployment rate hit record lows in the past year, falling below 4 percent, but the number of people enrolled in Medicaid hasn’t decreased.
Alabama Has Nation’s Highest Rate of Cervical Cancer Death
Alabama has the highest rate of cervical cancer death in the country. Black women in the state die from the disease at nearly twice the rate of white women. That is according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch, an international nonprofit.
A Flu Shot, a Letter and an Unexpected Response
Every fall, doctors beg the public to get a flu shot. It might not be a big deal to an adult, but for a kid, that needle can be intimidating. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager recently found the story of a girl, a vaccine, a letter and an unexpected response.
Recovery Resource Center Bridges Gaps in Addiction Treatment
For someone with addiction, deciding to get help is often the first step to recovery. But finding that help is not always easy. State-funded treatment facilities can have complicated requirements and long waiting lists.
UAB Medical Center West to Remain Near Bessemer
Officials in west Jefferson County at a press conference Monday welcomed UAB Medical Center West’s decision to build a new facility there. Prior to that announcement, UAB also considered moving the facility to Hoover.
Birmingham Police Face Biggest Backlog in Sexual Assault Kits Not Submitted for Analysis
Rhiannon Reese of Crisis Center Birmingham says she doesn’t want to play the blame game about sexual assault kits not submitted for analysis to Alabama’s forensic lab.
Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits Set off Alarm Bells in DA’s Office
So far, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative in Jefferson County has generated more questions than answers. The biggest question: How did 3,876 sexual assault kits not get submitted to the Department of Forensic Sciences for testing?
Jefferson County Commission Pursues Healthcare Authority Plan
Jefferson County is moving closer to establishing a healthcare authority to manage indigent healthcare in the county.
Is CBD Oil Legal in Alabama? It’s Complicated.
People seeking an alternative to pain medications or anti-anxiety drugs are increasingly turning to CBD oil. Some athletes even claim it helps with post-workout recovery. Studies have shown it curbs severe epilepsy. Those array of claims have made it easier to find CBD products in Alabama. But there’s just one problem: CBD is derived from marijuana.
UAB Receives $10 Million for Parkinson’s Research
The National Institutes of Health this week named UAB a Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, making it 1 of 8 such centers in country.
SPLC Calls on Court to Hold Alabama Prison System in Contempt
The Southern Poverty Law Center wants the state prison system held in contempt for failing to fill mental health positions. Contempt hearings began Tuesday in U.S. District Court involving the Alabama Department of Corrections and lawyers representing inmates.
A UAB Program Connects Resources For Pregnant Mothers Dealing With Substance Use Disorders
Alabama’s Chemical Endangerment Law makes it a felony offense to use drugs during pregnancy. A UAB program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants to redirect the focus from criminalizing a woman’s addiction to treating it.
Alabama Seeks Comment on Plans to Add Medicaid Work Requirement
Alabama wants to require some Medicaid recipients to work if they want healthcare coverage. The public has until Thursday to comment on the plan.
