Public Health On Call

Explore the ongoing battle to end surprise ambulance bills in the U.S., showcasing the complexities and frustrations faced by individuals. Dive into the operations of ambulance services, the emotional turmoil of unexpected bills, and the need for policy changes to alleviate healthcare costs.

Substance use disorder is recognized as a disability and therefore protected under antidiscrimination laws. But stigma persists, even in health care settings where people who use substances may be denied necessary care. Rebekah Joab, senior staff attorney at the Legal Action Center, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about LAC's litigation and advocacy efforts to combat SUD-based discrimination and the details of a major lawsuit against a hospital that allegedly denied critical care to a patient. Learn more about LAC's work: https://www.lac.org/

Anopheles stephensi, a species of mosquito native to Southeast Asia, is finding its way to Africa. Unlike Anopheles gambiae, the species native to Africa, Anopheles stephensi can breed in tiny amounts of water year-round and has made a comfortable home in urban areas. It's also a remarkably adept spreader of malaria in places and to extents not normally seen in places across the continent. In an extended episode of Malaria Minute, a podcast from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, guest host Thomas Locke discusses how researchers are tracking stephensi and how the invasive species could complicate efforts to control the disease in Africa. Learn more: www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/prevention/vector-control/global-databases-on-invasive-mosquito-vector-species

Just because we can do something medically, should we? A new podcast from the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics explores some unintended consequences of advancing technology and medicine. Bioethicist and playing god? producer Jeff Kahn talks with Stephanie Desmon about the podcast and some of the topics they cover, including ethics around buying and selling organs, fertility, and more. Learn more: https://bioethics.jhu.edu/research-and-outreach/the-dracopoulos-bloomberg-bioethics-ideas-lab/projects/playing-god/

Learn about the impact of winter weather on our skin, including dryness and itchiness. Discover tips for reducing redness and chapping, the importance of protecting lips and using sunscreen, and the connection between skin health and overall health care leadership.

Known risk factors for suicide, such as gender and race, are too general to pinpoint who might be in imminent danger. Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Dr. Paul Nestadt talks with Stephanie Desmon about "psychological autopsies," or investigations of suicides to better understand who is at risk—and where there might be opportunities for interventions. Learn more: https://magazine.jhsph.edu/2023/looking-for-why Please note that this podcast contains mentions of self-harm and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, there are ways to get help. Call 988 for free, confidential crisis counseling and referrals available 24/7.

An increased prevalence of firearms and a lack of public denouncement of violence are escalating the risks of violence in places critical to political participation. Tim Carey, law and policy advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report from the Center that lays out gun policy and communication recommendations to ensure that the places in which democracy plays out—legislatures, election offices, public demonstrations and more—remain safe. Learn more: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/preventing-armed-insurrection-firearms-in-political-spaces-threaten-public-health-safety-and-democracy

Dr. Paul Spiegel, a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years. In a bonus episode, Dr. Spiegel talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his recent deployment to Cairo, Egypt as a strategic advisor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the health response in Gaza.

New Yorkers have lost up to 6 years of life expectancy due to the pandemic. Healthy NYC aims to improve overall health and claw back these losses. The initiative focuses on tackling leading causes of death like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and reducing health disparities. Factors like access to healthcare, climate change, and mental health are also addressed. The collaboration between agencies, health systems, and community organizations is crucial in launching Healthy NYC.

In the last episode of 2023, Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with co-hosts Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon about 2023. This year saw a rise in non-COVID topics, including Supreme Court cases, malaria, RSV, antitrans health legislation, climate emergencies, artificial intelligence, and more. They also talk about what topics they're thinking about for 2024. Learn more about another one of our projects, the Expert Insights newsletter: http://publichealth.jhu.edu/subscribe