Health

Push to integrate physical, mental health services

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By CELESTE BOTT
Capital News Service
LANSING – The look of health care in the future will combine behavioral health and physical care for more uniform treatment, according to James Haveman, director of the Department of Community Health. “There’s a great deal of effort being made to integrate mental health, substance abuse and physical health care,” Haveman said. “If we build connections between these different forms of care, we can make sure people have cost-effective access to the treatment they need.”
According to Haveman, those connections range from changes in health policy to bringing rehabilitation centers into hospitals, rather than expecting patients to seek a separate facility. For example, Michigan Health Information Network, a state entity, promotes health care through electronic exchange of information. The network now uses the PatientSecure system, an electronic directory, for health care providers across the state.

Health

State pushing plan for healthier Michigan

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By LAUREN GENTILE
Capital News Service
LANSING – Michigan has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation — 32 percent of adults and 17 percent of youths are obese. Now the state plans a new campaign on television, radio and the Internet to guide the public in a healthier direction, as well as to recognize success stories of those who have changed their lifestyle. “Recognition motivates people and if we can get people motivated, then this will be a great healthy future for Michigan,” said Nathan Ohle, director of outreach and development for the Michigan Fitness Foundation. To achieve that goal, the Department of Community Health is using its new 4 x 4 plan, which incorporates four key healthy behaviors and four key health measures. “This plan will help us, help Michiganders, through a bunch of different mediums,” said James Haveman, director of Community Health.

Health

No quick drug cure expected for obesity

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By WEI YU
Capital News Service
LANSING – Two new obesity drugs are awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration, but federal advisers say Qnexa and Lorcaserin should undergo clinical trials to ensure there are no heart-risks. According to the Department of Community Health, Michigan has the 10th highest rate of obesity in the United States. Thirty percent of adults were obese and about one in six children aged 2 to 5 were obese or overweight in 2010. “It is necessary to initiate clinical trials of the new drugs,” said Tom Rifai, medical director of metabolic nutrition and weight management at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac.

Government

State, researchers attack infant mortality

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By SAODAT ASANOVA-TAYLOR
Capital News Service
LANSING – As infant mortality rates continue to rise across the state, the Department of Community Health is implementing a new plan that should reduce the number of deaths and disparities based on geography, socio-economic issues and race. Last October, the Department of Community Health convened a summit to identify strategies to reduce and prevent infant deaths. Based on recommendations from politicians, health specialists and community leaders, the department developed a plan to reduce the infant mortality rate. Angela Minicuci, a public information officer for the department, said her agency continue to seek input as it works to update the current statewide plan. “We’re in the process of finalizing the updates to the plan which will continue to serve various populations across the entire state.”
According to Minicuci, the new plan will work to reduce unintended pregnancies by making family services available and implementing a system to ensure all women deliver at locations that best serve their specific needs.

Health

Health experts worry about doctor shortage

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By WEI YU
Capital News Service
LANSING –- Michigan could face a more serious shortage of physicians by 2020, according to a report by the Michigan Center for Health Professions. The report predicts that the top three shortages will be cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons and general surgeons. Melanie Brim, deputy director of policy and planning at the Department of Community Health, said the gap of physicians is an overall problem that is compounded by the current distribution of professionals. “The state doesn’t have enough physicians in general, much less getting them evenly distributed into not only rural areas, but also into urban Detroit,” Brim said. For example, the ratio of residents to primary care doctors in Clinton County is 2,494:1, while the ratio in Ingham County is 762:1.

Government

Lawmakers propose more public information about children's products

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By PATRICK LYONS
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan manufacturers and distributors of children’s products would be required to report the presence of toxic chemicals in their products if legislation introduced in the Senate passes. The legislation by Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor would require manufacturers and distributors to report to the Department of Community Health if their products contain potentially harmful chemicals, and if so in what quantity. The results would then be available to the public on the department’s website. A recent rash of scares concerning chemicals in children’s toys, including lead-painted toys from Asia, prompted the legislation, Warren said. Children’s products are the focus because children are most susceptible to these chemicals for such reasons as weight, hand-to-mouth behavior and level of development, said Alexis Blizman, legislative and policy director for the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health in Ann Arbor.