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POLLING
CURSES: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “Children learn new words and expressions from a variety of sources. This can include swear words, which may surprise or concern parents. The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children 6-17 years about their attitudes and experiences around children swearing. In describing their own view of children using swear words, 47% of parents think it is never okay, 35% feel it depends on the situation, 12% think it depends on the word, and 6% say swear words are no big deal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45fxUZe
MENOPAUSE: Via Personnel Today, VERBATIM: “More than a quarter of women (28%) have considered quitting their job because of menopause symptoms, with 7% already having walked away from the workplace, research has suggested. A survey of 2,000 UK working women (aged 40-65) commissioned by not-for-profit healthcare provider Benenden Health found 47% had been forced to change the way they work to cope.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qXABXC
AI: Via WFSB-TV, VERBATIM: “Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare as patients increasingly turn to AI tools for medical research. According to an exclusive poll conducted by Sacred Heart University, GreatBlue Research, and Gray Media, two out of every three of the 1,500 participants said they are already seeing AI being used for parts of their healthcare services.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49MCkIi
PET CARE: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “Cost is the most prevalent barrier to veterinary care in the United States. Nearly all veterinarians (94%) say clients’ financial considerations often (38%) or sometimes (56%) prevent them from providing recommended treatment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a4q72Y
2026: Via Sharyl Attkisson, VERBATIM: “A majority of respondents say their top priority for 2026 is improving their health. That’s according to the latest unscientific poll at SharylAttkisson.com. Forty percent (40%) say getting healthier is their main resolution. Fourteen percent (14%) say saving more money is their top goal for the new year. Twelve percent (12%) want to improve relationships, while another 12% (12%) aim to get organized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45fF8MQ
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
HEALTH IN MINNESOTA
DATA BREACH: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that the demographic records of over 300,000 individuals were accessed in a data breach involving MnCHOICES in November. MnCHOICES is a system used by counties, Tribal Nations, and managed care organizations to ‘support their assessment and planning work for Minnesotans needing long-term services and supports,’ DHS said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LAWWLJ
ICE: Senators Alice Mann (DFL-Edina) and Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights), both medical doctors, held a news conference this morning along with dozens of their fellow physicians to address the impact the federal immigration action is having on medical care. MANN: “The only other time in our history I can remember a group of physicians standing in front of you is during COVID. Because, do you have any idea how hard it is to get doctors from across the state and across all specialties to join together? This is a moment of crisis in this state.” KLEIN: “In our hospitals and in our clinics, patients are afraid to come in and seek care. When they do come in, ICE is pursuing them, with or without legal means or justification for that. And, our medical staff feel intimidated and afraid to do the good work that they should do an impeded from doing that good work.”
RECENT EXAMPLE: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Back pain sent Bonfilia Sanchez Dominguez to the ER early Thursday morning, driven by her husband, Liborio Parral Ortiz. But a stop by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents turned the Mounds View couple’s trip to the hospital into a nightmare. Within 24 hours, Parral Ortiz was in ICE detention in El Paso, Texas, and Sanchez Dominguez was trapped at Mercy Hospital’s Unity Campus in Fridley, blocked by ICE agents and hospital staff from access to her bedside.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUoDNz
MORE EXAMPLES: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “During a severe flu season that has already killed 32 children, ICE raids are leading a growing number of people across Minnesota to cancel important and even life-saving medical appointments, said Janna Gewirtz O’Brien, MD, MPH, president-elect of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LVC8hZ
BIG PICTURE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The sheer presence of the agents, sometimes in uniform, sometimes in plainclothes, has been enough to unnerve health care workers, who were already straining under conditions some have compared with those of the coronavirus pandemic. In interviews, nurses, doctors and other health care workers said the crisis conditions brought on by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown are wearing down overworked and understaffed medical institutions, and deteriorating patients’ trust in what are supposed to be safe havens.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b5rS0Z
THE MAHA MOVEMENT
FLUORIDE: Via ProPublica, VERBATIM: “Under U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s oversight, the Food and Drug Administration said it issued notices to four businesses about their ingestible fluoride supplements for children and also put out new guidance for health professionals. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched investigations into two large companies over their marketing of fluoride toothpaste to parents and children. And changes to Medicaid in President Donald Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act threaten to make it harder than it already is for the most vulnerable people to access any oral health care at all, let alone fluoride treatments at a dentist’s office. More than anything, experts say, alarmist language from high-profile officials is trickling down to the public, leading more people to question whether any form of fluoride — in drinking water or in other treatments — is a good idea.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZnjOkY
MAHA: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “When a ‘Make America Healthy Again’ summit was held at the posh Waldorf Astoria in Washington, the line of attendees stretched down the block . . . The summit underscored just how closely Republicans have hitched themselves to the MAHA campaign, banking on its popularity to give them an electoral bounce in the midterms. But the strategy carries risks, because support for Kennedy is cratering and polls show voters care more about reducing health care costs than MAHA priorities such as ending vaccine mandates and promoting raw milk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bs9UGf
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
PREVENTION & TREATMENT
DIET MEDS: Via Axios, a map showing change in GLP-1 prescriptions from 2023 to 2024 – Minnesota saw a 13% increase. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4qvzr5P
VACCINATIONS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Outbreaks linked to declining vaccination rates are threatening to overwhelm hospital emergency departments — most of which aren’t fully prepared to treat sick kids. Why it matters: More than 35 million children are taken to emergency rooms each year, but most go to local hospitals that see fewer than 10 children a day. Only about 17% of hospitals met standards for high pediatric readiness in the most recent national study of nearly 5,000 emergency departments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45i0hG7
TYLENOL: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “A scientific review of 43 studies on acetaminophen use during pregnancy concluded that there was no evidence that the painkiller increased the risk of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders . . . The new review comes after President Trump told pregnant women during a news conference in September to ‘tough it out’ and ‘fight like hell’ not to take Tylenol, because he said the painkiller could cause autism in children.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49KFyMB
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
HEALTH HEADLINES
LEADERS: Jennifer Lohse at the University of Minnesota is one of Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/49x4t7w
MAYO: Via Becker’s, VERBATIM: “Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has appointed Todd Manion chair of revenue cycle for the health system. Mr. Manion succeeds Sharon Kelley, who left Mayo Clinic effective Jan. 3, after nearly four years with the health system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NvvaAL
PIG KIDNEY: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “One year ago, Tim Andrews was among the world’s first recipients of a genetically modified pig kidney. Now, he is the first in that small group of pioneers to go on to receive a human kidney.” ANDREWS: “I’m the first one that went across the bridge. … I’m the only person in the world that’s ever had a pig kidney and then had a human kidney after it,” he told CNN from the hospital on Thursday. “Nobody’s ever been across that bridge. That is cool!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49yx38o
UNITEDHEALTH: Via Zacks, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH recently launched the Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot, a targeted initiative aimed at easing persistent cash-flow pressures faced by independent rural hospitals. This six-month program aims to speed up Medicare Advantage (MA) reimbursement timelines by about 50%, cutting down the average payment cycles from less than 30 days to under 15 days in select markets across Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri. For rural hospitals that often find themselves with tight budgets, the timing of payments can be just as important as the total amount they receive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qV93Ci
STAIR CLIMB: Via American Lung Association, VERBATIM: “Today, the American Lung Association announced the official start of Fight For Air Climb season, which centers around 30 premier stair climb events in iconic buildings and stadiums from Los Angeles to New York City to Miami and dozens of cities in-between. Tens of thousands of people participate each year in support of family, friends and neighbors who fight for every breath. The series kicks off on February 22 and runs through May.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NG0I73
MORE: An event in Minneapolis is scheduled for March 7.
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
POT: From Cochrane via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Cannabis-based medicines have been widely promoted as a potential answer for people living with chronic nerve pain—but a major new review finds the evidence just isn’t there yet. After analyzing more than 20 clinical trials involving over 2,100 adults, researchers found no strong proof that cannabis products outperform placebos in relieving neuropathic pain. Even when small improvements were reported, especially with THC-CBD combinations, they weren’t large enough to make a real difference in daily life.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qDS6N6
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