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Tag: Health

  • Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom become adversaries over push to tax California billionaires

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    LOS ANGELES — As national Democrats search for a unifying theme ahead of the fall’s midterm elections, a California proposal to levy a hefty tax on billionaires is turning some of the party’s leading figures into adversaries just when Democrats can least afford division from within.

    Bernie Sanders will be in Los Angeles campaigning Wednesday for the tax proposal that has the Silicon Valley in an uproar, with tech titans are threatening to leave the state. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is among its outspoken opponents, warning that it could leave government finances in crisis and put the state at a competitive disadvantage nationally.

    Sanders is planning a late afternoon rally near downtown, and in the past he has turned out overflow crowds in the heavily Democratic city. The Vermont senator, a democratic socialist, is popular in California — he won the 2020 Democratic presidential primary in the state in a runaway. He’s been railing for decades against what he characterizes as wealthy elites and the growing gap between rich and poor.

    A large health care union is attempting to place a proposal before voters in November that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the assets of billionaires — including stocks, art, businesses, collectibles and intellectual property — to backfill federal funding cuts to health services for lower-income people that were signed by President Donald Trump last year.

    Sanders wrote on the social platform X that he strongly supports the tax “at a time of unprecedented and growing wealth and income inequality.”

    “Our nation will not thrive when so few own so much,” Sanders wrote.

    Debate on the proposal is unfolding at a time when voters in both parties express unease with economic conditions and what the future will bring in a politically divided nation. Distrust of government — and its ability to get things done — is widespread.

    The proposal has created a rift between Newsom and prominent members of his party’s progressive wing, including Sanders, who has said the tax should be a template for other states.

    “The issues that are really going to be motivating Democrats this year, affordability and the cost of health care and cuts to schools, none of these would be fixed by this proposal. If fact, they would be made worse,” said Brian Brokaw, a longtime Newsom adviser who is leading a political committee opposing the tax.

    Midterm elections typically punish the party in control of the White House, and Democrats are hoping to gain enough U.S. House seats to overturn the chamber’s slim Republican majority. In California, rejiggered House districts approved by voters last year are expected to help the party pick up as many as five additional seats, which would leave Republicans in control of just a handful of districts.

    “It is always better for a party to have the political debate focused on issues where you are united and the other party is divided,” said Eric Schickler, a professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley. “Having an issue like this where Newsom and Sanders — among others — are on different sides is not ideal.”

    With the idea of taxing billionaires popular among many voters “this can be a good way for Democratic candidates to rally that side and break through from the pack,” Schickler added in an email.

    It’s already trickled into the race for governor and contests down the ballot. Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, both candidates for governor, have warned the tax would erase jobs. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democratic candidate for governor, has said inequality starts at the federal level, where the tax code is riddled with loopholes.

    Coinciding with the Sanders visit and an upcoming state Democratic convention this weekend, opponents are sending out targeted emails and social media ads intended to sway party insiders.

    It’s not clear if the proposal will make the ballot — supporters must gather more than 870,000 petition signatures to place it before voters.

    The nascent contest already has drawn out a tangle of competing interests, with millions of dollars flowing into political committees.

    Newsom has long opposed state-level wealth taxes, believing such levies would be disadvantageous for the world’s fourth-largest economy. At a time when California is strapped for cash and he is considering a 2028 presidential run, he is trying to block the proposal before it reaches the ballot.

    Analysts say an exodus of billionaires could mean a loss of hundreds of millions of tax dollars for the nation’s most populous state. But supporters say the funding is needed to offset federal cuts that could leave many Californians without vital services.

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  • Colorado medical device company admits to fraud scheme, agrees to pay DOJ millions in penalties

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    A Colorado medical device company admitted to orchestrating an elaborate health care fraud scheme that resulted in the overbilling of patients and insurers by hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Zynex Inc., an Englewood-based firm that manufactures and sells medical devices used for pain management and rehabilitation, entered into an agreement Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid prosecution.

    The company, as part of the deal, agreed to pay between $5 million and $12.5 million in penalties — the final tally will depend on its earnings and profit during the settlement period — and will forfeit millions of dollars in unpaid claims.

    Zynex admitted to participating in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud, mail fraud and other violations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island announced in a news release.

    The agreement comes a month after a federal grand jury indicted two former top Zynex executives who allegedly spearheaded the years-long scheme.

    Zynex, in its deal with the government, also admitted to collecting more than $873 million for its products, including more than $600 million for supplies, “the vast majority of which were the result of fraud,” investigators said.

    Have you used Zynex for medical devices? We want to talk to you.

    The company acknowledged that it shipped and billed for medically unnecessary supplies in excess quantities and misled investors who were unaware of the fraudulent billing practices.

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  • Have you used Zynex for medical devices? We want to talk to you.

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    Two former executives at a Colorado-based medical device company last month were charged in connection with orchestrating an alleged health care fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say raked in more than $800 million.

    Zynex, based in Englewood, shipped patients excessive volumes of devices each month, using these fraudulent billings to artificially inflate the company’s financial reporting and its stock price, the government alleged.

    The Denver Post wants to hear from those who have received Zynex supplies and devices.

    Reporter Sam Tabachnik is working on a story about the alleged scheme and wants to hear about the experiences of patients who dealt with this company. Let us know below.

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  • ‘The Arrow’s David Ramsey Opens Up About Past Testicular Cancer Treatment

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    David Ramsey recently opened up about his nearly decade-long health struggles with testicular cancer.

    The Arrow alum, now 54, said he was 28 when doctors first discovered his cancer and told him they would “watch and advise” his condition over the next decade, before he ultimately had surgery and chemotherapy eight years later.

    “I’m a cancer survivor,” he said on the Inside of You podcast. “I was kickboxing a lot and one of the testes was significantly smaller than the other. Now that’s true no matter what. It’s like the side of your face, right? They don’t match. But one was significant. So I went to the doctor.”

    Ramsey told host Michael Rosenbaum, “What they saw, they didn’t know what it was. They saw something called microlithiasis. Anyone that’s kind of gone through testicular cancer will understand that. That’s present if there’s cancer but it can be present without cancer. So, they’re watching.”

    Eight and a half years later, Ramsey returned to the doctor when one testicle grew to “the size of my fist.” Although he noted it was “never painful,” doctors needed to surgically remove the testicle and give him chemotherapy.

    Ramsey said perspective has “changed everything” for him after his health struggles. “I feel like crap this morning but I can choose joy. I know it sounds kind of crazy but this stuff has really helped me a lot to just deal with the stuff,” he said.

    “These are the cards. So, what are you going to do with it?” added Ramsey. “That’s just what kind of works for my own mental.”

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    Glenn Garner

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  • Christy Carlson Romano Opened Up About Her Positive Cancer Screening In A Heartbreaking Video

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    “It’s time to have a strong sense of faith and know that it’s in God’s hands, most of it.”

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  • Philly installs 76 monitors to track air quality and pollution across city

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    Philadelphia launched a new tool that allows residents to monitor air quality and pollution in their neighborhoods in real time.

    On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Mayor Cherelle Parker and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health unveiled the “Breathe Philly” network. Officials said the city installed 76 ground-level air pollution monitors throughout Philadelphia to provide real-time information on the air quality in every neighborhood.

    The network is the first of its kind in the nation. The air quality monitors are within 1.5 miles of every Philadelphia resident, allowing them to view the data from the sensor closest to their location on the Breathe Philly dashboard.

    The sensors measure fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are two common air pollutants. Some of the sensors will also be able to measure ozone (O3) as soon as the spring.

    “Clean air is fundamental to public health and our vision for a cleaner and greener Philadelphia,” Mayor Parker said. “Breathe Philly ensures no matter your zip code, you have access to real-time information about the air you and your family are breathing. This is about transparency, environmental justice, and giving residents the tools to protect their health. With this launch, every Philadelphian now lives within 1.5 miles of an air quality sensor, and that’s a commitment we are proud to make.”

    Exposure to air pollution can cause several health conditions, including asthma and respiratory illness. Pollution also impacts climate and local ecosystems.

    According to experts, outdoor pollution comes from several sources, including motor vehicles, industry and forest fires.

    “Breathe Philly is the culmination of years of effort by the Health Department’s Air Management Services division to ensure high-quality, reliable, and accessible air quality data are available for all Philadelphians – in every zip code and every neighborhood,” Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson said. “We’re excited to use the Breathe Philly network in our work to improve air quality, but we’re just as excited to see how residents use it – whether you’re a citizen scientist, the parent of a child with asthma, or just a resident enjoying the outdoors.”

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    David Chang

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  • Planned Parenthood Lakeland location to close, sparking concerns for some

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Some people are concerned as Polk County’s only Planned Parenthood clinic plans to permanently close.

    The organization recently announced that its Lakeland location’s last day for appointments will be March 6, with doors officially closing a week later.

    What You Need To Know

    • For decades, the Lakeland location has offered a range of services that included mammograms and other health screenings. It will be the 24th Planned Parenthood center to close nationwide

    • The organization says that the closures are tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Trump signed into law last July

    • The Lakeland location did not provide abortion services, even before Florida law restricted when they can take place in 2024

    Kim-Marie Noble said that learning about the closure online was heartbreaking.

    “I didn’t even know that this was the last one in Polk County. I know that this was my gynecologist, but I didn’t fully understand the scope that this is it,” she said. “It’s going away, and it hurts as somebody that is strapped income-wise.” 

    The mother of one said her financial situation limits her to very few clinics. She said that only one other facility in Lakeland accepts her health insurance.

    “I’m comfortable here. It’s not easy for a woman to find a place that they feel comfortable dealing with their feminine issues,” Noble said.

    For decades, the Lakeland location has offered a range of services that included mammograms and other health screenings. It will be the 24th Planned Parenthood center to close nationwide.

    The organization says that the closures are tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed into law last July.

    A provision in the bill defunded health care entities that offer abortions and blocked them from accepting Medicaid.

    The anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America applauded the legislation, saying in a statement that, “Thanks to President Trump and pro-life leaders in Congress, millions of Americans will no longer be forced to bankroll the abortion industry with their tax dollars. Defunding abortion businesses, led by Planned Parenthood, marks the greatest pro-life victory since the Dobbs decision.”

    The Lakeland location did not provide abortion services, even before Florida law restricted when they can take place in 2024.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Florida said: “While we have supported patients in transitioning to alternate providers, efforts to permanently block Planned Parenthood from accepting Medicaid at the national level — and parallel efforts to codify that provision into state law — pose a serious and lasting threat to public health.”

    As for Noble, she said she is bracing for what’s to come.

    “It’s one of those, ‘You’re going to find out’ and I’m afraid to find out and I’m afraid to see what it’s going to look like in the future,” she said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Understanding contagiousness following recovery from a virus

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    From the flu to the common cold, viruses keep knocking out Minnesotans this winter.

    After you start to feel better, how long are you contagious?

    “After the flu, you’re generally the most contagious at day two, three or four after your symptoms start, but you’re probably contagious for another five to seven days in total. So you’re contagious from day one, before you have symptoms, to about day seven, after your symptoms stop.” Dr. David Hilden, an internal medicine physician with Hennepin Healthcare, said.

    For the flu, you’re contagious for three to seven days, according to Hilden. If you get COVID, you could be contagious for five to 10 days, and those with the common cold could be contagious for up to two weeks.

    “It does vary by different individuals, however. If you’re a sicker person, maybe you have chronic illnesses, maybe you’re an older adult. You might shed that virus a little bit longer as your body fights it,” Hilden said.

    If you get sick may later be free of symptoms, but you aren’t free from spreading the virus, at least not immediately. 

    Are there precautions we should take while contagious?

    “Generally, I would probably stay home until I wasn’t even a nuisance in the office,” Mike Oxley of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, said.

    “I think leveraging hybrid work as much as possible and just keeping your distance,” Mary Kaeding of Golden Valley, Minnesota, said.

    Hilden recommends doing what makes sense.

    “Wash your hands a lot. Whatever you do, don’t sneeze into your hand. Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue paper. If you’re capable of doing it, or if you can, wear a mask if you are not feeling well. That will prevent those droplets and that airborne spread,” he said.

    In:

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    Jeff Wagner

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  • ‘I am in excruciating pain’: California woman pays $13,000 for eye color change surgery. Now she’s warning others against it

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    A California woman opts for a risky eye color changing surgery to brighten her dark brown eyes to a lighter shade. She instantly regrets the procedure after seeing the results and raises red flags about potential complications.

    In a video with over 613,000 views, TikToker Jasmine Hill (@storywithfriends) says the unnamed doctor performed the procedure on one eye and handed her a mirror to see how it looked. She immediately noticed that the color was not the light brown she requested. Instead, the eye appeared a blue-green color. However, she still received the procedure on her other eye.

    Hill says she soon began experiencing further complications beyond being dissatisfied with the look of her eyes.

    “I could be in the house trying to watch TV and it was torture. I could have on the darkest shades and the smallest amount of light that would hit it was just excruciating discomfort,” she explains. She also began experiencing vision problems.

    Hill receives consultations from four eye doctors, who she says all told her they couldn’t improve her symptoms. So, she decides to hire a lawyer.

    Around four weeks after hiring her lawyer, she received a cease and desist via email from the doctor who performed the surgery. Hill made previous TikToks explaining her symptoms as they appeared.

    “The cease and desist says, ’13 patients to date have cancelled their [procedure] citing the reason is Jasmine’s video that named doctor Blah Blah Blah,”” she says, reading the email. The letter claims that Hill’s videos have cost them around $156,000 in damages from lost business.

    She says that her lawyer met with the doctor’s lawyer to find a “common ground for a settlement agreement.” Ultimately, they agree that a $14,000 refund would suffice.

    However, the settlement offer comes with stipulations. Hill cannot mention the doctor’s name, business name, manufacturer of the pigment used, or city or state where the surgery was performed.

    The doctor later sends an addendum to the settlement. He requests she remove all of her videos on the procedure, even if they don’t mention him. He also requests the removal of unrelated videos that show her location.

    She captions the video, “Legal Disclaimer: Everything said in this video is my opinion based off my personal experience.”

    While Hill does not directly name the doctor in the video, she likes a comment suggesting that the doctor is TikTok-famous Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler. The Mary Sue reached out to Wachler for further comment.

    How did viewers react to the complications?

    Many commenters empathize with Hill’s experience, encouraging her to seek a second legal opinion before taking the settlement.

    “That kind of NDA costs millions, not just a refund. They better try again. You need a better lawyer,” one says.

    Another remarks, “Cease and desist is a scare tactic carry on.”

    “This is no different than you posting a negative Google review and folks cancelling as a result. He’s suing how??” a third asks.

    “Girl defamation lawsuits are only valid if whats being stated is UNTRUE you are giving real situations you have nothing to worry about,” a fourth commenter writes.

    Others agree that eye color-changing surgery isn’t worth the risk. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, most methods of eye color-changing surgery carry the risk of eye infection, vision loss, and inflammation. Plus, these procedures can be complicated to reverse.

    “I’m so so sorry for everything you’ve gone through. I went through medical malpractice stuff and it didn’t end in my favor. The stress nearly took me out,” a commenter shares.

    “I am so sorry you’re going through this. This is so much for one person to experience. He is going way overboard,” a second says.

    @storywithfriends

    Legal Disclaimer: Everything said in this video is my opinion based off my personal experience.

    ♬ original sound – Jasmine Hill

    The Mary Sue reached out to Jasmine Hill via Instagram and TikTok direct message for further comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding is a reporter and content strategist based in Philadelphia. You can contact her at rebekahjonesharding.com.

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    Rebekah Harding

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  • Science Confirms Choosing Joy Boosts Mind and Body

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    Science confirms choosing joy boosts mind and body, showing how gratitude and laughter support mental and physical wellness and makes life easier.

    We are in an era marked by stress, uncertainty, and constant digital noise and it is easy to swim in pool of misery. But there is hope, science confirms choosing joy boosts mind and body. Data delivers a surprisingly simple prescription for a better life: cultivate happiness on purpose. Researchers in psychology and neuroscience increasingly agree maintaining a positive outlook isn’t just a feel-good cliché — it has measurable benefits for mental health, physical well-being, productivity, and longevity.

    Studies in the field of positive psychology, pioneered by experts such as Martin Seligman, show individuals who intentionally practice optimism experience lower levels of stress hormones, improved immune response, and reduced risk of depression. A happy attitude doesn’t mean ignoring life’s challenges; rather, it involves training the brain to notice moments of joy, gratitude, and meaning even during difficult times.

    RELATED: Sip A Little Romance With The Best Valentine’s Cocktails

    When you experience something which makes you smile — whether it’s a silly joke, a favorite snack, or a song you love — your brain releases dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters linked to pleasure and emotional regulation. These chemicals help lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and enhance focus. Over time, repeatedly activating these neural pathways can rewire the brain to default toward positivity, a concept known as neuroplasticity.

    A 2023 review in behavioral health research found people who engage in daily gratitude or joy-spotting practices report higher life satisfaction and resilience. Even brief positive moments can interrupt cycles of rumination and anxiety, helping individuals regain perspective.

    One simple, science-backed habit is to intentionally seek out two or three small moments each day which spark joy. These don’t have to be grand gestures or expensive experiences. In fact, the most effective mood-boosters are often ordinary pleasures:

    • Listening to a favorite song during your commute
    • Sharing a lighthearted joke with a coworker
    • Enjoying a comforting sandwich or snack
    • Watching a funny video clip
    • Taking a few minutes to appreciate a sunset

    These micro-moments of happiness act like emotional anchors, reminding us life contains pockets of delight even amid busy schedules and personal challenges.

    Mental health experts warn chronic stress and negativity can contribute to inflammation, heart disease, and weakened immunity. Conversely, cultivating positive emotions has been linked to improved cardiovascular health and longer life expectancy. A landmark longitudinal study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found individuals with higher reported well-being had a significantly lower risk of premature mortality.

    Beyond physical health, a positive attitude can improve relationships and workplace performance. People who project optimism are often perceived as more approachable, collaborative, and resilient — qualities strengthening both personal and professional connections.

    RELATED: How Marijuana Can Heighten Intimacy With Your Partner

    Building a happier mindset is not about forcing cheerfulness; it’s about noticing what already brings a smile. Experts suggest keeping a simple “joy list” on your phone or jotting down one pleasant moment before bed. Over time, this practice trains your attention toward what makes life meaningful.

    In a world ften emphasizing what’s going wrong, choosing to find two or three small reasons to smile each day can be a quiet act of resilience. Science confirms what many have long suspected: happiness isn’t just a result of a good life — it’s a powerful tool for creating one.

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    JJ McKay

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  • Indian Health Service to Phase Out Use of Dental Fillings Containing Mercury by 2027

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    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans and Alaska Natives has announced it will phase out the use of dental fillings containing mercury.

    The Indian Health Service has used fillings, known as dental amalgams, that contain elemental mercury to treat decayed and otherwise damaged teeth for decades. Native American rights and industry advocates have called for an end to the practice, arguing it exposes patients who may not have access to private dentistry to a harmful neurotoxin.

    The use of mercury-containing amalgams, also known as “silver fillings” due to their appearance, has declined sharply since 2009 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reclassified the devices from low to moderate risk. The industry has largely abandoned them in favor of plastic resin alternatives, which are also preferred for aesthetic reasons.

    The Indian Health Service says it will fully implement the move to mercury-free alternatives by 2027. Already, the percentage of the Indian Health Service’s roughly 2.8 million patient user population receiving them has declined from 12% in 2005 to 2% in 2023, the latest year of available data, agency documents show.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees IHS, said growing environmental and health concerns about mercury exposure, and global efforts to reduce materials containing the hazardous heavy metal prompted the change announced this month.

    “This is a commonsense step that protects patients and prevents harm before it starts,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said in a statement.

    The agency’s switch to mercury-free alternatives also upholds legal responsibilities the U.S. government has to the 575 federally recognized tribes, he said.

    According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dental amalgam fillings can release small amounts of mercury vapor during placement, removal, teeth grinding and gum chewing. It recommends that certain people at high risk for adverse effects of mercury exposure, including pregnant women, children under 6, and those with existing neurological conditions avoid the fillings. But the administration, along with the American Dental Association, says available evidence does not link mercury-containing fillings to long-term negative health outcomes.

    The World Health Organization has created a plan to encourage countries around the world to phase out the use of dental amalgams, citing potential for mercury exposure. In 2013 several countries, including the U.S., signed onto the Minamata Convention, a global agreement targeting the adverse health and the environment effects of mercury. In November, signatories to the convention agreed to phase out the use of mercury-containing dental amalgams by the year 2034.

    While Kennedy’s decision to stop its use within the IHS by 2027 puts the U.S. ahead of the global schedule, the country is still behind many other developed nations that have already banned the practice.

    “The rest of the world is light years ahead of us,” said Rochelle Diver, the U.N. environmental treaties coordinator for the International Indian Treaty Council, adding that IHS patients should not receive treatment that is considered antiquated by many dentists.

    In a statement, the American Dental Association acknowledged declining use of mercury-containing fillings, but said they remain a “safe, durable and affordable material.”

    The use of mercury in other medical devices, including thermometers and blood pressure devices, has also declined sharply in recent decades. While mercury-containing amalgams have fallen out of favor in the U.S. private dental sector, patients relying on government services may not have a say, according to Charles G. Brown, president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry.

    Many state-administered Medicaid programs continue to cover mercury-containing fillings as a treatment for tooth decay, Brown said.

    “If you’re on Medicaid, if you are stuck in the Indian Health Service, if you were stuck in a prison or other institution, you just don’t have any choice,” Brown said.

    Brewer reported from Oklahoma City.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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    Associated Press

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  • Brother’s Keeper working to help young men feel connected

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    Editor’s Note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — There is a loneliness epidemic, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and one group that’s been particularly affected is young men.

    What You Need To Know

    • The suicide rate is four times higher for men than for women

    • Students at John Carroll University meet monthly to build more intimate relationships and ward off loneliness

    • Young men are less likely to open up to family members because they don’t want to be a burden

    Between 2010 and 2023, the suicide rate for males ages 15–24 rose by 26% according to the American Institute for Boys and Men.

    One man is trying to change that.

    “From a very young age, boys are taught that certain feelings, they can’t express,” said Matt Wooters, therapist and a professor at John Carroll University.

    He said that’s enforced on social media and with their peers.

    “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, to feel any spectrum of emotion,” Wooters said.

    He started a group called Brother’s Keeper. It’s a safe space where young college men can share about more than just football scores. They meet monthly.

    “There’s a lot of talk about toxic masculinity in the modern discourse. And it’s interesting that there’s also a lot of talk about male loneliness and isolation,” Wooters said. “I think those two things are connected.”

    Men are more likely than women to feel socially isolated and not meaningfully part of any community, according to the AIBM, and their suicide rate is four times higher than women.

    “I think it really stems back to the phones and social media, even when we seem like we’re super connected with others, there’s a sense of loneliness, and that connection that it’s not really genuine,” said junior Casey LaForce.

    LaForce attends the monthly meetings. He plays lacrosse and considers himself close to his teammates, but he said the talks just aren’t the same.

    “You just see each other and you ask ‘Oh, how’s your day going? Oh, it’s good.’ And it doesn’t go much deeper than that,” he said.

    He said that the conversations in the group are much deeper.

    Wooters said he intentionally chooses athletes.

    “Even the most connected, successful, popular students on campus, especially male students, don’t have spaces to be authentic,” Wooters said.

    He said men don’t share with family because they don’t want to be a burden.

    “One single adult in their life that isn’t a family member, that they can call when they’re not doing well or when they’re doing well, changes everything,” Wooters said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • ‘I don’t feel good’: Person goes to urgent care after finding ‘suspicious lines’ under her nails. Doctors immediately send them to the hospital

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    Given the high price of medical care in the United States, it’s no surprise that many find themselves putting off essential treatment, even if they have insurance.

    In fact, almost half of American adults say it’s difficult to afford healthcare costs. Additionally, around a third of American adults admit to having put off medical care due to cost concerns.

    Often, this manifests as simply waiting out the problem in hopes it gets better. However, things can occasionally take a turn for the worse, as a recent viral video shows. 

    What’s Wrong With This Person’s Finger?

    In a video with over 6.7 million views, TikToker @spenshii shows themselves looking a bit ill.

    “I do not feel good, and I just found suspicious lines under my nail, so I’m going to go to Urgent Care,” the TikToker starts. “I hope to come back and tell you, ‘You don’t have to worry about suspicious lines under your nail!’”

    The video then immediately cuts to the TikToker in the hospital.

    In the caption, they offered a further explanation of what happened.

    “It was because they suspected endocarditis!” they wrote. “I am predisposed as I have Marfan Syndrome and a history of MRSA. It can present with splinter hemorrhages under the nails. But I’m all good, looks like it’s just some other nasty infection that causes chest pain and coldlike symptoms and nausea and vomiting and aches and fatigue and brain fog and splinter hemorrhages and…”

    Subsequent videos from the creator show that they were eventually diagnosed with pneumonia. They also documented the issues they had receiving that diagnosis, as well as some of the other problems that emerged during their treatment.

    What Are Splinter Hemorrhages?

    While most users expressed concern for the TikToker, some questioned what it meant to have “suspicious lines” under one’s nails.

    The TikToker revealed their own nails in a follow-up video. Visible under the nails are several thin, small, red-brown lines.

    As the TikToker wrote in their caption, these are called “splinter hemorrhages.” In a response video, Dr. Sermed Mezher summarizes them as “one of those that can mean absolutely nothing, or be a serious concern.”

    According to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most common ways that people get splinter hemorrhages is via trauma. For example, closing a door on your finger or getting acrylic nails put on can both cause splinter hemorrhages.

    Are They Bad?

    In some cases, the sudden appearance of these small, thin lines can indicate a serious problem. Skin conditions like nail psoriasis and lichen planus can cause this issue. So too can vasculitis, or an inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation is sometimes the result of diseases like antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus.

    Furthermore, bacterial infections like endocarditis are also known to cause splinter hemorrhages. Patients with chronic kidney disease have reported them as well. Finally, there is some evidence that patients can develop this issue in response to medication.

    If you find yourself with splinter hemorrhages, especially if you haven’t experienced any recent nail trauma, it’s a good idea to see a specialist. From there, they will be able to tell you if your issue is benign or something that requires further medication and treatment.

    In the comments section, many users offered their own experiences in the medical field. Often, these negative experiences resulted from their not being taken seriously. This sometimes had dire consequences.

    “One time I was pooping blood but the GI Specialist was like hmm who knows what that could be, maybe anxiety! And then 5 years later a PA finally listened to me and referred me for a colonoscopy and then they found stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to my liver…at age 32…” recalled a commenter.

    “I had painful lesions inside of my nose for an entire year that my doctor and other healthcare professionals I came in contact with just brushed off as stress even though i told them that’s not what it is. I brought it up at every check up appointment bc it was making my nose swell and it was very painful. ‘it’s probably just stress’ or ‘you make a lot of medications so it’s probably a side effect’ ?? why do they immediately go to that, I’ve been on the same medications for 2 decades,” shared another. “anyways turns out I had a full blown mrsa infection in both of my nostrils for a solid year.”

    “One time i went to urgent care with really bad period bleeding to be reassured it was a normal amount of blood loss only to be transported to the ER for a blood transfusion after i lost half the blood in my body,” stated a third.

    @spenshii

    NAIL REVEAL POSTED!!!! and that’s what you missed on glee. Edit to add: It was because they suspected endocarditis! I am predisposed as I have Marfan Syndrome and a history of MRSA. It can present with splinter hemorrhages under the nails. But I’m all good, looks like it’s just some other nasty infection that causes chest pain and coldlike symptoms and nausea and vomiting and aches and fatigue and brain fog and splinter hemorrhages and-

    ♬ Frolic (Theme from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” TV Show) – Luciano Michelini

    The Mary Sue reached out to @spenshii via TikTok direct message and comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Braden Bjella

    Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in the Daily Dot, Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.

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  • Lindsey Vonn Says Her Latest Surgery After Olympic Crash ‘Went Well’ and She Can Return to US

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s latest surgery on her left leg that she broke in the Olympic downhill “went well” and now she “will be able to finally go back to the U.S.,” the American skiing standout said Saturday.

    The 41-year-old Vonn is being treated at a hospital in Treviso.

    She said on Wednesday that she had a “successful” third surgery.

    Nine days before Sunday’s crash, Vonn ruptured the ACL in her left knee in another crash. Even before then, all eyes had been on her as the feel-good story heading into the Olympics for her comeback after nearly six years of retirement.

    “I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad,” Vonn said on Instagram. “Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy. I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.

    “When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk.”

    But Vonn concluded her latest message by saying she is “still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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  • LA County to end clinic services at 7 locations. See the list

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    The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will end clinic services at seven locations later this month because of significant funding cuts totaling more than $50 million, officials announced Friday.

    The affected clinics — which provide services including vaccinations, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and tuberculosis testing and care — are scheduled to cease clinical operations on Feb. 27. Public health officials said services will continue at six remaining Public Health clinics and through nearby community health providers, officials said.

    “Public Health is facing serious funding challenges that are reducing our ability to continue all existing programs and forcing the closure of several Public Health clinics,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.

    She added that investments in community health providers over the past decade have expanded access to comprehensive care, and patients will be connected with alternative services to meet their needs.

    The following Public Health clinics are scheduled to end clinical services:

    • Antelope Valley Public Health Clinic, 335-B East Avenue K6, Lancaster
    • Center for Community Health (Leavy), 522 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles
    • Curtis R. Tucker Public Health Clinic, 123 W. Manchester Blvd.,Inglewood
    • Hollywood-Wilshire Public Health Clinic, 5205 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
    • Pomona Public Health Clinic, 750 S. Park Ave., Pomona
    • Dr. Ruth Temple Health Center, 3834 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
    • Torrance Public Health Clinic, 711 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance.

    Health officials cited reductions in federal, state and local funding, along with rising operational costs, as key factors forcing the consolidation of services. Federal funding accounts for nearly half of the department’s budget, and officials warned that continued uncertainty could lead to additional disruptions.

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  • Buncombe County confirms 7th case of measles this year

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    Buncombe County has confirmed a new case of measles, health officials announced Thursday. This is now the county’s seventh confirmed case.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Buncombe County is reporting a new confirmed case of measles

    •  Health officials say a person visited several places last week while positive

    •  Locations included two Asheville area Goodwill stores, The Inn on Biltmore Estate, a Novant Urgent Care and the MAHEC Family Health Center


    A person visited the following locations last week while positive with the disease, health officials said.

    • Novant Health Urgent Care at 349 New Leicester Highway in Asheville on Feb. 4 between noon and 3:45 p.m.
    • MAHEC Family Health Center at 123 Hendersonville Road in Asheville on Feb. 6 between 2:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
    • The Inn on Biltmore Estate at 1 Antler Hill Road in Asheville on Feb. 3 between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and again between 2 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.
    • Two Asheville area Goodwill Store locations, including the store at 51 Mills Gap Road on Feb. 3 between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and the location at 86 South Tunnel Road on Feb. 3 between 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

    Anyone who visited these locations during the specified dates and times could have been exposed and is asked to contact the N.C. Public Health Outreach Team at 844-628-7223.

    Health officials say symptoms could appear up until Feb. 27 and include:

    • High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
    • Cough
    • Runny nose
    • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
    • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots), appearing two to three days after symptoms begin
    • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
    • Measles can also cause complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and suppression of the immune system

    Health officials say measles is highly contagious and can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person was present. “Vaccination and isolation are key to limiting disease spread,” officials said. 

    Several exposure incidents have been reported across the Triangle area in North Carolina over the past week, including one confirmed case in Johnston County.

    In South Carolina, there have been 933 confirmed cases of measles in an outbreak. That outbreak is centered around Spartanburg County, which sits on the border with North Carolina west of Charlotte.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • Scientific studies calculate climate change as health danger

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    The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that climate change is a danger to public health, an idea that President Donald Trump called “a scam.” But repeated scientific studies say it’s a documented and quantifiable harm.

    Again and again, research has found increasing disease and deaths — thousands every year — in a warming world.

    The Environmental Protection Agency finding in 2009, under the Obama administration, has been the legal underpinning of nearly all regulations fighting global warming.

    “It boggles the mind that the administration is rescinding the endangerment finding; it’s akin to insisting that the world is flat or denying that gravity is a thing,” said Dr. Howard Frumkin, a physician and professor emeritus of public health at the University of Washington.

    Thousands of scientific studies have looked at climate change and its effects on human health in the past five years and they predominantly show climate change is increasingly dangerous to people.

    Many conclude that in the United States, thousands of people have died and even more were sickened because of climate change in the past few decades.

    For example, a study on “Trends in heat-related deaths in the U.S., 1999-2023 ” in the prestigious JAMA journal shows the yearly heat-related death count and rate have more than doubled in the past quarter century from 1,069 in 1999 to a record high 2,325 in 2023.

    A 2021 study in Nature Climate Change looked at 732 locations in 43 countries — including 210 in the United States — and determined that more than a third of heat deaths are due to human-caused climate change. That means more than 9,700 global deaths a year attributed to warming from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

    A new study published this week found that 2.2% of summer deaths in Texas from 2010 to 2023 were heat related “as climate change brings more frequent and intense heat to Texas.”

    In the more than 15 years, since the government first determined climate change to be a public health danger, there have been more than 29,000 peer-reviewed studies that looked at the intersection of climate and health, with more than 5,000 looking specifically at the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed research database.

    More than 60% of those studies have been published in the past five years.

    “Study after study documents that climate change endangers health, for one simple reason: It’s true,” said Frumkin, a former director of the National Center for Environmental Health appointed by President George W. Bush.

    In a Thursday event at the White House, Trump disagreed, saying: “It has nothing to do with public health. This is all a scam, a giant scam.”

    Experts strongly disagree.

    “Health risks are increasing because human-cause climate change is already upon us. Take the 2021 heat dome for example, that killed (more than) 600 people in the Northwest,” said Dr. Jonathan Patz, a physician who directs the Center for Health, Energy and Environmental Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The new climate attribution studies show that event was made 150-fold more likely due to climate change.”

    Patz and Frumkin both said the “vast majority” of peer-reviewed studies show health harms from climate change. Peer-reviewed studies are considered the gold standard of science because other experts pore over the data, evidence and methods, requiring changes, questioning techniques and conclusions.

    The various studies look at different parts of health. Some looked at deaths that wouldn’t have happened without climate change. Others looked at illnesses and injuries that didn’t kill people. Because researchers used different time periods, calculation methods and specific aspects of health, the final numbers of their conclusions don’t completely match.

    Studies also examined disparities among different peoples and locations. A growing field in the research are attribution studies that calculate what proportion of deaths or illness can be blamed on human-caused climate change by comparing real-world mortality and illness to what computer simulations show would happen in a world without a spike in greenhouse gases.

    Last year an international team of researchers looked at past studies to try to come up with a yearly health cost of climate change.

    While many studies just look at heat deaths, this team tried to bring in a variety of types of climate change deaths — heat waves, extreme weather disasters such as 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, wildfires, air pollution, diseases spread by mosquitos such as malaria — and found hundreds of thousands of climate change deaths globally.

    They then used the EPA’s own statistic that puts a dollar value on human life — $11.5 million in 2014 dollars — and calculated a global annual cost “on the order of at least $10 billion.”

    Studies also connect climate change to waterborne infections that cause diarrhea, mental health issues and even nutrition problems, Frumkin said.

    “Public health is not only about prevention of diseases, death and disability but also well-being. We are increasingly seeing people displaced by rising seas, intensifying storms and fires,” said Dr. Lynn Goldman, a physician and dean emeritus at the George Washington University School of Public Health.

    “We have only begun to understand the full consequences of a changing climate in terms of health.”

    The issue gets complicated when cold-related deaths are factored in. Those deaths are decreasing, yet in the United States there are still 13 times more deaths from cold exposure than heat exposure, studies show.

    Another study concludes that until the world warms another 2.7 degrees (1.5 degrees Celsius) from now, the number of temperature-related deaths won’t change much “due to offsetting decreases in cold-related mortality and increases in heat-related deaths.”

    But that study said that after temperatures rise beyond that threshold, and if society doesn’t adapt to the increased heat, “total mortality rises rapidly.”

    ___

    The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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  • EPA Ends Credits for Automatic Start-Stop Vehicle Ignition, a Feature Zeldin Says ‘Everyone Hates’

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    DETROIT (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency announced an end Thursday to credits to automakers who install automatic start-stop ignition systems in their vehicles, a device intended to reduce emissions that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said “everyone hates.”

    In remarks with President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, Zeldin called start-stop technology the “Obama switch” and said it makes vehicles “die” at every red light and stop sign. He said the credits, which also applied to options like improved air conditioning systems, are now “over, done, finished.”

    Zeldin repeated the generally-debunked claims that start-stop systems — which are mostly useful for city driving — are harmful to vehicles, asserting Thursday that “it kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment.”

    This latest Trump administration move to cut automotive industry efforts to clean up their cars and reduce transportation-driven emissions came as Zeldin and Trump also announced a broader repeal of the scientific finding known as endangerment that has been the central basis for regulating U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

    Start-stop is a technology that automatically shuts down a vehicle’s engine when a driver comes to a complete stop, and then automatically restarts the engine when the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal. Developed in response to the 1970s oil crisis, the feature was intended to cut vehicle idling, fuel consumption and emissions.

    About two-thirds of vehicles now have it, providing drivers with anywhere from 7% to 26% in fuel economy savings, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers. Start-stop also causes a split-second lag in acceleration, a point of irritation for some consumers and automotive enthusiasts.

    Burning gasoline and diesel fuel for transportation is a major contributor to planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and more, according to the EPA. By implementing the systems, automakers could earn credits toward meeting federal emissions reduction rules.

    “Countless Americans passionately despise the start/stop feature in cars,” Zeldin wrote in a post on X on Tuesday teasing the announcement. “So many have spoken out against this absurd start-stop-start-stop-start-stop concept.”

    The announcement made good on Zeldin’s promises last year to “fix” the feature. Start-stop is “where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy,” Zeldin said in a post on X last May. “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it,” he wrote at the time.

    Jeep-maker Stellantis welcomes the deregulatory effort, a spokesperson’s statement said: “We remain supportive of a rational, achievable approach on fuel economy standards that preserves our customers’ freedom of choice.”

    A Ford Motor Co. statement said: “We appreciate the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice.”

    General Motors deferred comment to the auto industry group Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

    “I’ve said it before: Automotive emissions regulations finalized in the previous administration are extremely challenging for automakers to achieve given the current marketplace demand for EVs,” said John Bozzella, president of the alliance. “The auto industry in America remains focused on preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and staying on a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles.”

    The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • RFK Jr. Pledged More Transparency. Here’s What the Public Doesn’t Know Anymore

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    NEW YORK (AP) — A year ago, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wanted to rebuild trust in federal health agencies, and vowed to employ “radical transparency” to do it.

    But many types of health information that steadily flowed from the government for years or decades has been delayed, deleted and in some cases stopped all together.

    The collection and sharing of information was hurt by sweeping layoffs at federal agencies and the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Officials took down health agency websites to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump, causing outside researchers to archive federal health datasets and leading to a lawsuit that ended with a judge ordering the websites’ restoration.

    Ariel Beccia, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said changes in the flow of federal health information have made her angry.

    “We pay taxes to hopefully have good, inclusive public health practice and data,” said Beccia, who focuses on the health of LGBTQ youth. “The past year it felt like every single day, something that I and my colleagues use daily in our work has just been taken away” by federal officials.

    Asked about now-unavailable data and information, a spokesman for Kennedy said the premise of The Associated Press’ inquiry was flawed and relied on selective and inaccurate characterizations.

    “Secretary Kennedy is leading the most transparent HHS in history, with unprecedented disclosure and openness aimed at restoring public trust in federal health agencies,” said the spokesman, Andrew Nixon.

    He pointed to an HHS webpage on the agency’s transparency efforts, which includes a list of canceled government contracts and the repackaging of previously available information — including a U.S. Food and Drug Administration “chemical contaminants transparency tool.”

    Here are some examples of how less information is coming out of federal public health agencies than in past administrations.

    The Project 2025 blueprint that’s been influential to the Trump administration called for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance its data collection of U.S. abortions, but the agency failed to post its annual abortion surveillance report in November. (Nixon said it will come out this spring.)

    HHS officials blamed the delay on the CDC’s former chief medical officer, Dr. Debra Houry, saying she directed staff to return state-submitted abortion data rather than analyze it. But Houry — who resigned months before the report was slated to come out — said that claim was false. She says the report was derailed because of HHS cutbacks to the funding and staff needed to get it done.

    Fighting the nation’s overdose epidemic has long been a priority for both Republicans and Democrats. And the federal government has continued to collect and report on death certificate-based information on drug deaths.

    But the Trump administration curtailed other kinds of overdose work, including shutting down the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), which tracked emergency department visits — an early alert about drug-use trends. It was discontinued “as part of a broader effort to align agency activities with agency and administration priorities,” officials posted.

    Nixon said past DAWN data will remain available. But some experts say that’s not enough, and recently likened the termination of DAWN and other recent changes to spreading cracks in a windshield that makes it harder to see what’s ahead in the epidemic.

    Smoking has long been known as the nation’s leading preventable cause of death. The federal government for decades has not only monitored what percentage of people use cigarettes and other tobacco products, but also run successful public education campaigns like the FDA’s “Real Cost” and the CDC’s “Tips from Former Smokers.”

    Those campaigns were ended last year, although Nixon said the FDA campaign will return.

    Meanwhile, layoffs to CDC staff who worked on smoking meant an important survey on youth smoking and vaping — normally out in the fall — was never released. Those layoffs also put a stop to work on a report on smoking for the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

    For three decades, federal health officials tracked food poisoning infections caused by eight germs. In July, the Trump administration scaled back required reporting to just two pathogens monitored by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet.

    Under the change, health departments in 10 states that participate in the joint state and federal program only monitor infections caused by salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Tracking is optional for infections caused by campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio and Yersinia.

    CDC officials said the change would allow the agency to “steward resources effectively.” Food safety experts said the move undercuts the nation’s ability to accurately monitor risks in the U.S. food supply.

    Even before Kennedy was confirmed, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to roll back protections for transgender people and terminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

    That caused the CDC to remove from its website a range of information about HIV and transgender people. The government also stopped collecting and reporting crucial survey findings on transgender students — data that has shown higher rates of depression, drug use, bullying and other problems.

    That data is used to help fund and focus suicide-prevention programs and other efforts. And this is all happening as the federal and some state governments try to discourage gender-affirming care, ban transgender youth from sports and dictate which bathrooms they can use, Beccia said.

    “Without the data, we can’t systematically show the harm that’s being done” by these policies, Beccia said.

    Nixon said the data collection and reporting now aligns with agency priorities.

    Before he was health secretary, Kennedy was a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement and repeatedly accused federal health advisers of conflicts of interest that aligned them with vaccine-makers. In June, he dismissed the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and named his own replacements.

    A federal official said the government would release ethics forms for the new members. But it didn’t.

    Meanwhile, a CDC website that compiles disclosures by past and current ACIP members has more than 200 entries of former panel members, but information on only one Kennedy appointee. Among those missing from that list are Martin Kulldorff, the initial chair of Kennedy’s reconstituted committee, who had been paid to be an expert witness in legal cases against the vaccine-maker Merck. Another is current member Dr. Robert Malone, who also was paid as an expert witness in vaccine litigation.

    AP Health Writer JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • AI helping more medical offices improve patient interaction

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A new part of a doctor’s greeting with a patient now involves a bit of a new explanation. 

    More medical offices are implementing the use of artificial intelligence to summarize patient visits to help reduce documentation, time, and improve patient interactions. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Orlando Health interventional cardiologist confirmed AI use has immensely helped office efficiency and understanding from patients of their current state of health

    • Dr. Jesal Popat, cardiologist at Orlando Health, said the AI app used is HIPPA compliant, and patients are told and asked for their consent before it is used for information
    • Some patients have been hesitant about AI use in professional, medical settings, but Popat said after understanding how it works that almost all patients in his office are on board 

    “We are using artificial intelligence today in the office,” said Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health.

    Popat said his office at Orlando Health has begun to use AI to summarize his visits with patient, like Maureen Cravey and others. 

    Popat’s cell phone utilizes a secure application with Orlando Health to listen and understand what is said during appointments. 

    “I kind of saw it as sort of a court stenographer,” said Cravey. “Just somebody taking notes, which allowed then my provider, which of course is Dr. Popat, to stay focused on me.”

    The entire visit, Popat never looks at a computer screen or any other technology, keeping his full attention on Cravey. The two discuss her current medical heart needs and future procedures.

    When Orlando Health first launched this, Popat admits some of his clients were wary for their safety.

    Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health, talks with patient Maureen Cravey. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    “There was apprehension about privacy concerns and just reassuring the patients that all of the technology that we use is HIPPA compliant and health care quality grade. If it wasn’t, we would have nothing to do with it,” Popat said.

    Once the visit ended, the information gathered via AI is turned into a summary and printed out. Cravey was given the printout when she checked out. 

    On the paper it showed everything discussed including medications and doses, upcoming procedures, and any lifestyle modifications she may need to make. 

    “Since we started using AI in the office, the phone calls to our office from patients or patients’ family members has gone down by about 50%,” said Popat.

    Popat said that AI has helped in a big way with family of patients who cannot attend checkups with their loved ones, keeping ever the furthest family members up to date with instant information. 

    “It’s just a wonderful thing to be able to look at that hard copy, because it’s hard to retain everything when somebody is telling you something about your health,” said Cravey. 

    Popat said the AI recording from appointments is deleted instantly after a patient’s visit, ensuring none are saved for client privacy, and no identifiable patient information is entered into the AI application other than a person’s name. 

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