Health Care
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.
UAB Study Finds CBD Oil Helps Epilepsy Patients
Researchers at UAB published a study this month that offers hope to those dealing with severe epilepsy. It found cannabidiol or CBD oil helps curb seizures. The substance is derived from marijuana although it doesn’t have hallucinogenic properties.
Officials Want More Contamination Testing In North Birmingham
More than 500 properties in North Birmingham have not been tested for contamination, Congresswoman Terri Sewell said Wednesday while touring Collegeville with city, state and EPA officials. She wants people who have rejected soil testing to allow the EPA to check for contaminants.
Dorothy Levy, Co-founder Of United Cerebral Palsy Of Birmingham, Celebrates 106th Birthday
Dorothy Levy celebrated her 106th birthday last month, but the party isn’t quite over. Levy co-founded United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, which is now United Ability, and she is as witty and alert as anyone could hope to be at her age.
Local NAACP Leader Says He’s Not Resigning Following Concerns Over Bribery Trial
The local NAACP president says he’s not stepping down amid calls for his resignation. Testimony and emails presented in a recent federal bribery trial showed Hezekiah Jackson through his contacts worked to convince North Birmingham residents not to have their soil tested for contamination.
Another Legislator Indicted in Corruption Case Involving Diabetes Health Clinic
by Virginia Martin Alabama Rep. Randy Davis has been indicted on allegations he was involved in a plan to pressure Blue Cross Blue Shield to cover diabetes treatments at a string of health clinics with which he was involved. Davis, a Republican from Daphne, was charged by federal prosecutors in Montgomery with several […]
Residents Weigh in on 10-Block Downtown Attraction
The open space beneath the interstate downtown Birmingham will cover 10 blocks once the massive bridge replacement project is completed. Designers and ALDOT officials are getting public input today at the Boutwell Auditorium what to place in what was once an open parking area. Other feedback sessions are set for July 24.
Teaching Bleeding Control as a Survival Strategy
Recent mass shootings have prompted more than thoughts, prayers, and debates about guns. They’ve also sparked interest in ways to keep people alive in critical moments after a shooting. By teaching regular people to stop the bleeding, just as with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, people can save lives.
For UAB’s Might, Precision Medicine Was Personal
Medical treatments sometimes have to take a one-size-fits-all approach. But those treatments don’t always work the same way for everyone. Precision medicine is an emerging way to care for patients that considers their individual genes, environments, and lifestyles. And the leader of UAB's effort to do that is here because of his son.
UAB Hospitals Given Top Marks On Patient Safety
UAB Hospital and UAB Highlands Hospital each scored an "A" on a national nonprofit's patient safety assessment released Tuesday.
Study: Alabama Ranks Third in Premature Death
A comprehensive report published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at life expectancy and other key health measures across the U.S. Alabama ranked third-worst in premature death, but there was good news also.
Combating Alabama’s Rural Doctor Shortage
The state health department says most of Alabama faces a lack of primary-care. But there’s a University of Alabama program that’s been grooming doctors from rural areas so they can bring their skills home.
A New Way to Grow Tumors in 3-D
If you can grow cancer cells outside the body, it’s easier to figure out how to kill them. With an eye toward faster drug development and more effective treatments, a UAB biomedical engineer has come up with a new way to sustain cancer cells. He calls them "bioreactors."
Former Surgeon General Satcher to UAB: Take Risks
Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher came to UAB and pleaded for bold leadership in medicine. He also explained how his own near-death experience prompted him to take risks over his long career.
Several School Systems Closing Due to Flu Outbreak
The flu outbreak is forcing several school systems in the northern part of the state to close for a few days. This comes as high absences are reported in schools across the state and health officers investigate an estimated 87 deaths, potentially related to the flu. The following school systems have confirmed closings for the following […]
UAB Breaks Ground on Proton Therapy Center
Construction began Tuesday on a new high-tech cancer treatment facility on the campus of UAB. Proton International at UAB, the product of a partnership between the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Proton International, will be a three-story facility at the intersection of 20th Street South and 4th Avenue South focusing on proton therapy. Proton […]
Infectious Strain of Flu Hits Area Hard
This year the flu is peaking early and intensely. It’s one of the most active seasons in decades, and a nasty strain is going around. Area hospitals are at capacity and pharmacies are scrambling to stock medicine. But there are things you can do.
Alabama Has Second-Highest Infant Mortality Rate in U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a major report on infant mortality today. Alabama did not fare well. After Mississippi, it had the highest rate of infant death in the nation.
ACA Health Plan Enrollment Brisk Despite Federal Cuts
In Alabama, about 200,000 people have insurance through the Affordable Care Act. But this year, people have half as much time to sign up for a health plan through the ACA, known as “Obamacare.” The Trump administration also slashed the budget to advertise the healthcare.gov website. But in a tiny office in Birmingham, "Navigators" are trying to make up for that.
Concussion Expert on Youth Sports: “Time to Make Some Decisions”
Brain injury specialist Dr. Elizabeth Sandel has been studying that organ and bad things that happen to it for more than three decades. With football season in full swing, and the recent publication of a study linking adolescent concussions with multiple sclerosis, we wanted to check in with an expert.
Gay Men Blood Donors Not as Risky as Once Thought, Researchers Say
For decades, many gay men have been prohibited from donating blood. They were considered high-risk during the AIDS epidemic back in the 1980s. As of two years ago, they can donate if they’ve abstained from sex for a year, but some researchers say that’s unrealistic and unnecessary.
As Flu Season Begins, Shots Boost Health and Bottom Lines
It’s the start of flu season, which for many people means a date with a needle. If you’ve been to a drug store lately, you may have noticed some strong encouragement to get the shot. So why the big push? Is it just about health?
Tripling Trials? UAB Cancer Center Head Pushes Big Goals
The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is trying keep the disease from touching so many lives. It recently recruited oncology leader Dr. Michael Birrer to run the center. He tells WBHM’s Dan Carsen that when he was in training, top medical students did not go into oncology because cancer patients had few options, but things have changed.
Rural Hospitals Struggle, but Wilcox County’s Could Survive
Most rural hospitals in Alabama are operating at a financial loss. Since 2010, a half-dozen have closed, one of the highest closure rates in the nation. But as it turns out, a tiny hospital in the state's poorest county could buck the trend.
FAQ: How Would The Republican Health Care Bills Affect You?
This week, Republicans in Congress will try to rally votes for a bill that proposes major changes to the way Americans get health care and how much they pay. In Alabama, many thousands could be affected.
