News from NYU Langone Health
NY Coalition Proposes First-In-The-Nation Cap On Hospital Clinic Bills. (New York Post)
The New York Post (11/20) A coalition in New York, including Local 32 BJ and the Real Estate Board of New York, supports the “Fair Pricing Act” to cap patient billing costs at 150% of Medicare rates, targeting hospitals like Northwell and NYU Langone Health, with the bill seeking to prevent excessive charges for outpatient services, with enforcement by state agencies, while facing opposition from the Greater New York Hospital Association.
At A Glance: Emergency Depot. (Crain's New York Business)
Paywalled* Crain’s New York Business (11/20) Home Depot has donated $10 million to NYU Langone Health, resulting in the emergency department at NYU Langone Health’s ambulatory care center in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, being renamed “The Home Depot Emergency Department at NYU Langone Health – Cobble Hill”; this donation, which will bolster emergency services, is among several contributions made by the hardware store’s foundation to the healthcare system chaired by its co-founder, Kenneth Langone, chair of the board of trustees, in recent years.
NYU Langone Calls On Gov. Hochul To Reduce Travel Tolls For Patients. (Washington Square (NY) News)
Washington Square (NY) News (11/20) NYU Langone Health officials have requested that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reduce or exempt the $9 rush hour toll for patients and healthcare workers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, with Joseph J. Lhota, executive vice president and vice dean, chief financial office, chief of staff, saying, “we believe it remains feasible to craft exclusions that would protect patients and health care employees who need to travel by car.”
Why Rates Of Postpartum Depression Have Doubled In The Last Decade. (ABC News)
ABC News (11/20) Esther Zusstone, MD, resident physician, Department of Radiology, writes that postpartum depression rates have doubled over the past decade, with a study from Kaiser Permanente Southern California showing an increase from 9% in 2010 to 19% in 2021, and discusses how mental health conditions are now the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., with challenges in accessing care, lack of support, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the issue.
Scientists Take Huge Step Forward In Mapping All 37 Trillion Cells In The Human Body. (LiveScience)
LiveScience (11/20) Itai Yanai, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, contributed to the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) project, which mapped 100 million cells from over 10,000 individuals to understand cellular similarities and differences across demographics; Yanai wrote in a commentary, “Intestinal inflammation can cause cells to undergo metaplasia, a shift from one cell type to another,” as researchers identified a cell type potentially responsible for inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Bacterial Contamination Found In Water System Of Toothpaste Manufacturer. (NBC News Now-2)
NBC News (11/20) The FDA has identified harmful bacteria and mold-like substances in the water system of Tom’s of Maine’s toothpaste manufacturing facility, although no illnesses have been reported and no recalls issued, with the company asserting confidence in their product’s safety and working to address the FDA’s concerns; Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, said that while the presence of bacteria like Pseudomonas, common in water sources, is concerning, most people remain unaffected, though immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk.
For Older Adults, Dementia Risk And Falling Could Be Linked – Experts Explain Why. (South Florida Reporter)
The South Florida Reporter (11/21) Older adults who experience a fall are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those with other injuries, according to a study in JAMA Network Open; Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology, the Pearl I. Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment, said the fall itself may contribute to cognitive decline, necessitating further cognitive screening post-fall.
Elon Musk Asked People To Upload Their Medical Data To X So His AI Company Could Learn To Interpret MRIs And CT Scans. (Fortune)
Fortune (11/20) Elon Musk’s initiative to have users upload medical test results to X for analysis by Grok, an AI chatbot developed by his startup xAI, has sparked concerns about privacy and accuracy, as Grok has misinterpreted medical images, including confusing a benign breast cyst with testicles Laura Heacock, MD, associate professor, Department of Radiology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, commented on X, “We know they have the technical capability,” but questioned their commitment to incorporating medical imaging.
Research Reveals A Plant-Based Diet Can Boost Sexual Health And Reduce Erectile Dysfunction Risk In Men. (Totally Vegan Buzz)
Totally Vegan Buzz (11/21) A study by the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that men, particularly those undergoing prostate cancer treatment, who follow a plant-based diet experience improved sexual health, reduced erectile dysfunction, and enhanced urinary health, with Stacy Loeb, MD, professor, Departments of Urology and Population Health, Perlmutter Cancer Center, saying, “Our findings offer hope for those looking for ways to improve their quality of life after undergoing surgery, radiation, and other common therapies for prostate cancer, which can cause significant side effects,” and recommending dietary adjustments like increasing fruits and vegetables while reducing meat and dairy.
Walking Pneumonia Cases Surge. (WNYW-TV New York)
WNYW-TV (11/20) Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, discussed an increase in walking pneumonia cases and highlighted that symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, and sore throat resemble other respiratory illnesses.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Stay Healthy On The Go: Essential Travel Tips For The Holiday Season. (Long Island (NY))
Long Island (NY) (11/20) Theresa M. Fiorito, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, offers health tips for holiday travelers, such as staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, moving regularly, and boosting immunity.
Long Island Community Hospital Deadline For Union Contract Approaches. (Newsday (NY))
Newsday (NY) (11/20) Union workers at NYU Langone Health affiliated-Long Island Community Hospital, are approaching a Friday deadline to finalize a new contract, with James Iorio, director, media relations, saying, “Long Island Community Hospital is at the table in good faith negotiating this contract and remains committed to supporting our nurses as they continue to provide quality and compassionate care for our patients.”
