Michigan researchers wanted to find out more about vaccine conversations between doctors and parents. Too often, those conversations aren’t happening across the United States.
Michigan Health Watch
In-depth reporting on the intersection between public policy and important health topics ‒ such as insurance coverage, hospital admissions, opioid abuse, access to care, medical research and the business of health care ‒ that impact nearly every Michigan resident.
Staffing woes foil Michigan efforts to keep residents out of nursing homes
The popular MI Choice program, which keeps low-income seniors and disabled residents in their homes, now has 4,000 open positions as state agencies struggle to hire direct-care staffers, even after offering higher pay.
Michigan doctor helps shine national focus on race bias in pulse oximeters
Dark skin can throw off oxygen level readings on a ubiquitous medical tool. Landmark research by a U-M team found that low oxygen levels are more likely to go undetected in Black patients, with dangerous consequences.
Doctors: Know who’s at Thanksgiving table as RSV continues to surge
C.S. Mott Children’s in Ann Arbor became the latest hospital to announce it was running short on pediatric beds. Doctors say Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings could make RSV, flu and COVID spread much worse for the most vulnerable.
Abortion locked into Michigan constitution. What comes next.
When does the law take effect? What about existing state laws? Will there be lawsuits? You have questions, Bridge has answers.
Michigan logs 1st RSV child death as virus fills ERs and doctors’ offices
RSV and other respiratory viruses are riding a “bounce back” this fall as Michiganders and people around the nation return to pre-pandemic routines.
Flu shots down as Thanksgiving nears. And that’s only one threat.
After two years of low influenza rates, doctors fear Michigan may be in line for a severe flu season. There is already a rise in RSV cases, and COVID hospitalizations are rising. Bottom line, doctors say: Get your shot and wash your hands.
More Michigan parents opt to skip school vaccines for their children
More than 10 percent of students opted out of at least one vaccine in five Michigan counties, leaving areas open to potentially deadly outbreaks. Said one ‘vaccine choice’ leader: Parents know what’s best for their children.
1-in-10 people in U.S. over 65 has dementia, U-M study finds
Another 22 percent were found to have mild cognitive impairment. Dementia hit hardest among Black people, impairment hit higher for Hispanic participants. The findings hold implications for public policy and future health research.
Michigan’s 1.8M Catholics called on to stop Proposal 3. Will it work?
The state’s largest faith is mixing prayer and pragmatism in its fight against the ballot measure, trying to persuade even those who may generally favor abortion that the proposal is ‘extreme.’