Princess Health and Princess Health andCarlisle hospital closes, making Nicholas County the 40th Kentucky county without a hospital.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andCarlisle hospital closes, making Nicholas County the 40th Kentucky county without a hospital.Princessiccia

health reform hospitals jobs rural-urban disparities

Gusty 13:04 Add Comment

Fully one-third of Kentucky's counties will not have a hospital, following the closure of Nicholas County Hospital in Carlisle. That will make Nicholas the 40th county without a hospital, according to the Kentucky Hospital Association.

The hospital board said it searched "every possible option to keep the hospital open," but it has filed for bankruptcy and will close later this week, reports WLEX-TV. Officials reported that the 14-bed hospital was losing more than $100,000 per month, which they say resulted from a decrease in the number of patients and slow state and federal reimbursements, Sam Smith reports for WKYT-TV.

"It's a trickle-down effect that's going to impact the entire community and then there's the more critical life-saving aspect. There's a number of people within the community who are alive today because they were able to receive treatment at the hospital," hospital spokesman Stephen Scalf told WKYT.

Scalf said the hospital's clinics will close by Friday except for one rural health clinic that will likely remain open. Johnson Mathers Nursing Home, which operates on the same campus as the hospital, will not close. "Nicholas County Hospital is operated by a private nonprofit organization, JMHC Inc., and has 44 full-time and 40 part-time employees who are being laid off," Karla Ward reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The hospital's board said in a news release that it has been negatively affected by a national transition to "larger, urban-centered hospitals' that had forced many other rural health centers to close."

The fiscal court will be looking for options to create an "urgent treatment or ambulatory care facility that will provide for the community's medical needs in the future," WLEX reports. The county owns the hospital's property, and Judge-Executive Mike Pryor said other healthcare provers are considering taking over the space, Smith reports. "It's just another hit to us," said Pryor. "It's going to be something we are going to have to deal with, like we have in the past."

Princess Health and Princess Health andPoll finds contrasting views of Obamacare and Kynect.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andPoll finds contrasting views of Obamacare and Kynect.Princessiccia

Affordable Care Act health reform insurance exchange obamacare Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act poll state government

Gusty 20:19 Add Comment

Most registered voters in Kentucky have an unfavorable view of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act when it is called Obamacare, but a plurality think favorably of Kynect, the brand name of the health-insurance marketplace that state government created under the law.

Those were among the findings of a poll taken April 30 through May 6 for NBC News by the Marist College Institute of Public Opinion in New York. It asked, "Overall, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Obamacare?" The result was 33 percent favorable and 57 percent unfavorable, which was very close to voters' opinion of President Obama: 32 percent approval and 56 percent disapproval.

Last fall, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that people who weren't sure how Obamacare would affect them and their families had an unfavorable opinion of it, while those who said they did know how it would affect them had a favorable opinion.

In the recent poll, half the people were asked about Obamcare and the other half were asked, "Overall, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Kynect?" The term was not defined. The poll found that 29 percent had a favorable opinion and 22 percent had an unfavorable opinion, while 29 percent said they had never heard of Kynect and 21 percent said they were unsure how to rate it.

Among people who identified themselves as Democrats, 39 percent were favorable and 15 percent were unfavorable; among Republicans, it was 16 percent favorable and 32 percent unfavorable. Among independents (who were 14 percent of the survey), opinion was 31 percent favorable and 22 percent unfavorable.

The only polling region where Kynect was not rated favorably was the Bluegrass and some surrounding counties, where opinion was 25 percent favorable and 28 percent unfavorable.

The poll asked all registered voters, "From what you have heard about the new health care law, do you think it is a good idea, a bad idea?" Then they were asked if they felt that strongly or not so strongly. The results showed polarization: 27 percent strongly felt it is a good idea, 43 percent said they felt strongly that it was a bad idea, and those who said their opinions weren't so strong were in the single digits. Eleven percent said they didn't have an opinion either way, and 4 percent said they weren't sure.

The poll, taken via landline and cell phones, has an error margin of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points. The Obamacare and Kynect questions have an error margin of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. NBC News and Marist College took the survey mainly to gauge opinions in Kentucky's race for the U.S. Senate. For its release and the poll results, click here.

Princess Health and Princess Health andSchools keep adjusting to national nutrition guidelines.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andSchools keep adjusting to national nutrition guidelines.Princessiccia

child obesity nutrition poverty school lunch schools

Gusty 19:47 Add Comment

Paducah-area school districts "continue to adjust school meals to ensure students are fed complete, healthy meals every day," Kathleen Fox reports for The Paducah Sun.

The revised National School Lunch Program "places the emphasis on portion size and healthier food options such as fruits, vegetables and milk," Fox notes. "The requirements to make lunches and breakfasts healthier, which have been phased in over the last two school years, will continue to change for the 2014 school year. All pastas and other grain products in schools will have to be whole-grain rich, defined as 51 percent or more of whole grain, and the first ingredient has to be whole wheat or grain."

Half the grain products in Paducah Public Schools are whole grain, and some are white to head off complaints, Nutrition Director Penny Holt told Fox. Holt "doesn't foresee major issues in switching the remain half to whole grain," Fox writes. "She said many of the whole grain products are popular with students including brown rolls, flatbreads, short slice Domino's pizza crust and honey wheat whole grain wraps."

"The healthier options are growing in popularity, especially with our younger kids who have become more familiar with them," Holt said. All children in the school system receive free breakfast and lunch as part of a special federal program for schools with a large percentage of children in poverty.

"Holt said the greater challenge will be adhering to the stricter sodium guidelines with meals and higher nutritional value for snacks or a-la-carte items," Fox reports. "Items that can be served other than those on the daily menu include baked chips and whole grain cookies, but nothing with minimal nutritional value such as soda or candy."

In the McCracken County Schools, Food Services Director Sara Jane Hedges "said the district already has success with many of its whole grain alternatives, including its pastas and pizza crusts," Fox writes. "She said the change toward healthier a-la-carte options, which now have to provide additional nutritional value, will not be a problem because the district has already worked toward offering foods that meet those guidelines." (Read more; subscription required)

Princess Health and Princess Health andStudy finds ADHD treatment might discourage smoking; Kentucky ranks high in both.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andStudy finds ADHD treatment might discourage smoking; Kentucky ranks high in both.Princessiccia

ADHD research smoking tobacco youth

Gusty 14:03 Add Comment

Stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder might also reduce smoking risk, particularly if the medication is taken regularly, according to an analysis performed by Duke University. The study, online in the journal Pediatrics, has special signifcance for Kentucky, which first among the states in smoking and percentage of young people diagnosed with ADHD.

"Given that individuals with ADHD are more likely to smoke, our study supports the use of stimulant treatment to reduce the likelihood of smoking in youth with ADHD," said senior author Scott Kollins, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke.

ADHD, which causes hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty paying attention, is often treated with stimulant medication, behavior therapy or both. The smoking rates are much higher for people who have ADHD than for the rest of the population. "Studies have shown that youth with ADHD are two to three times mores likely to smoke cigarettes than their peers, and 40 percent of adults with ADHD smoke regularly, more than twice the rate" among adults without the disorder, a Duke release says.

Some studies regarding potential connections between the using stimulant medications and smoking showed that taking stimulant medications increases smoking, and others didn't reveal any effects. "It has been suggested that some people with ADHD 'self-medicate' their attention deficits using nicotine," said lead author Erin Schoenfelder, a Duke psychologist. "Our findings show that treating ADHD effectively with medication may prevent young people from picking up the habit."

So far, the Duke study is the largest meta-analysis about the effects of stimulant medications on smoking habits. It looked at 14 longitudinal studies about smoking and ADHD treatment. The study found a "significant association between stimulant treatment and lower smoking rates. The effect was larger in those with more severe ADHD and when participants took stimulant medications continuously," the release says. The researchers said more studies are required to figure out the nature of the stimulant treatment needed to assist in reducing smoking risk.

"This study may debunk the perception that stimulants will increase one's risk for smoking," Kollins said. Schoenfelder said, "My hope is that this research can help inform our efforts to prevent negative outcomes for kids with ADHD, including cigarette smoking. This population hasn't been targeted for smoking prevention efforts, despite the well-known connection between ADHD and smoking." (Read more)

Princess Health andHeels and Wheels.Princessiccia

Princess Health andHeels and Wheels.Princessiccia

Gusty 13:20 Add Comment

On June 1st, there is going to be a great 5K race and 1K charity walk taking place at Bingemans.  It is for a cause that is near and dear to H+P-er, Jan de Visser.  CLICK HERE for full details.  

Jan's story:

On September 3rd, 2011 Jan de Visser went on a fateful bike ride that almost killed him. What was supposed to be an easy brick ride in preparation for the next week's Muskoka 70.3 ended after barely 5km in the passenger side door of a minivan. He sustained a broken neck, bleeding in the brain, a shattered cheekbone and eye socket, eye damage, and a broken collar bone. While the physical injuries were relatively quick to heal, the bleed in the brain caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which is still causing him problems: memory, planning and organization, and mood are all impacted, and in addition he now suffers from epilepsy. Being able to get back to running and later riding was a major factor in his recovery: it kept him sane, forces him to pay attention to his diet, and his training provides structure to his day. For the foreseeable future he will be a duathlete though instead of a triathlete.

More event details:

• 5K Race
• 1K walk
• kid's dash
• WELL-stocked swag bags and "insanely high-valued prizes." 

If you want to race or volunteer, click here for more info.

Princess Health and2014 Baden Road Races.Princessiccia

Princess Health and2014 Baden Road Races.Princessiccia

Gusty 10:27 Add Comment

H+P had an excellent experience at the 2014 Baden Road Races.  There were a few new features in this re-branded version of the New Hamburg Classic Races.  Our favourite addition to the already outstanding event was the hill challenge.  In the middle of the 7-miler, there is a massive hill that is also timed.  Run up the fastest, and you get a new pair of shoes!

Click here to read the WRS race recap.

Here's how we did as a team:

7-Miler Team Results

• Luke was the first in for the team.  He crushed the 7M course, finishing 2nd OA, winning his AG.  This is his 4th race in a row with the team where he has stood on the OA podium!
• Greg worked with Luke for much of the race.  Finally kicking his training into gear, his fitness is starting to build.  He finished 3rd OA, and won his AG!
• Mike had an AWESOME race for the team.  He forgot that he was supposed to be tired after the marathon from last weekend!  He came in 3rd on the team, 5th OA, and averaged 4mins/K for the 7M course.
• Dave Rutherford, coming back from his Achilles injury, was in next for the team.  He finished in under 47 minutes, won his AG, and placed 8th OA.  
• Mailman came in right behind Dave.  He finished in 47 minutes, and 9th OA, making him the 5th H+P-er in the top 10!
• Nick Burt was unable to draft his nemesis in this race (Mailman), but still finished in just over 48 minutes.  He still comfortably won his AG.  The season series of Mailman vs. Nick now sits 2-1 in Aaron's favour.  
• Jessica was the 1st woman in for the team.  She ran very strong, finishing 2nd OA for females, and winning the hill challenge!
• Payton was our next female to finish the 7M.  She ran a very strong race of just over 53 minutes, placing 2nd in her AG and 6th OA.
• Will hammered a great 7M, finishing 2nd in his category.  
• Cari also had an awesome race, cruising in with a time of just over 1:10!

5K Team Results

• Coach Sean won the race with a time of 17:20
• Friend of H+P, Catherine, had an awesome return to action after 6 months away form racing.  She won the race in 21-minutes low.
• Kailey had an outstanding race for the team.  After being away from running for over 6 months with injury woes, she crushed the 5K, finishing 2nd OA, 1sec behind Catherine,
• Next in for the team was Holden.  He had a great race, finishing in well under 25 minutes.  Pretty darn good for a 10-year-old!  
• Ed was in next for the team.  He ran a very strong 25:05, placing just inside the top 30.  
• Maria had an awesome race, coming in just over 30 minutes and winning her category!

Special thanks:

• A HUGE thanks goes to Daniel Cook.  He got up before 5am, did his long run, and THEN made the trip out to cheer on the team!
• Also, a big thanks goes to Brendan who came out to cheer people on and take pictures at the base of the climb.  

You guys made the race experience better for everybody!  Way to represent H+P!  

Princess Health and Princess Health andKosair sues Norton over use of donations to Children's Hospital; Norton says charity weaseling out of obligation.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andKosair sues Norton over use of donations to Children's Hospital; Norton says charity weaseling out of obligation.Princessiccia

children's health courts hospitals philanthropy

Gusty 14:10 Add Comment

Kosair Charities, which gives more than $6 million a year to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, has sued the hospital's parent, Norton Healthcare, accusing it of misusing some of the money "to enhance its bottom line and 'line the pockets' of its executives," and has "refused to provide an accounting of how Kosair's donations are spent," Andrew Wolfson reports for The Courier-Journal.

"Norton spokesman Thomas Johnson said the company 'categorically' denies that 'money designated for Kosair Children's Hospital was somehow spent for any other purpose or in any other Norton Healthcare facility'," Wolfson writes. "In a statement the company called the lawsuit 'baseless' and said, 'Over the last few years Kosair Charities has engaged in a systematic pattern of raising baseless allegations in an effort to avoid its contractual obligations to the children's hospital that carries its name.'" (Read more)