health take | How Mayo Nurses Use AI + Vaccine Panel Considers Changes for Kids
9.18.25
TOMORROW: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “End your week with a visit to the UCare flu shot clinic at the HmongTown Marketplace. Prepare for a healthy fall and winter while treating yourself to all the delights of the market.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4pvQnZI (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
SURVEY: From Annenberg and University of Pennsylvania, results of a survey conducted August 5-18, VERBATIM: “Most Americans lack confidence that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is providing the public with trustworthy information on matters concerning public health. Just 39% have confidence RFK Jr. is providing trustworthy public health information. By contrast, the public has more confidence (57%) in Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, even after years of attacks by right-wing critics over his leadership of the U.S. response to the Covid-19 pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pAkYFU
YOUTH: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Half of U.S. youth say that loneliness has a daily disruptive impact on their mental health, according to Hopelab and Data For Progress survey results shared exclusively with Axios. The big picture: The polls shows two different paths, with over half of respondents reporting good mental health, though that state of well-being strongly correlates with income and LGBTQ+ identity. The survey's results ‘challenges an oversimplified crisis narrative around youth mental health, showing that two things are true at once,’ Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, Hopelab principal researcher, told Axios.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nJFwdj
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
VACCINATIONS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “In the clearest signal yet that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intends to reshape the childhood vaccination schedule, the vaccine advisers meeting on Thursday appeared poised to vote against recommending vaccination for children under 4 with a combination shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. The decision by the committee, whose members were appointed by Mr. Kennedy, is unlikely to have massive consequences. The recommendations for other vaccines given separately to protect against those diseases — the more common practice — remain unchanged.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/422NINb
MORE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The advisers planned to vote later Thursday on a proposal to recommend that the shot not be given to children younger than 4 because of rare instances of feverish seizures associated with the first dose, given to kids between ages 1 and 2. On Thursday, committee member Dr. Cody Meissner said such seizures may be ‘a very frightening experience’ for families, but medical experts agree they’re not linked to brain function or school problems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Kt1EtL
THIS MONTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and pediatric patients are sharing their journeys in a unique way at Essentia Health. Pediatric patients who complete their cancer treatment get to be a part of the ‘light the lobby’ initiative. Essentia kicked off the new light show on Tuesday, allowing patients to light up the building’s lobby with their favorite color.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gu6y5P
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence sponsor)
AI: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Electronic health records, policies and procedures, and evidence-based practice guidelines are essential for high-quality care. Yet navigating multiple systems to find the right information can be time-consuming for nurses. To address this challenge, a multidisciplinary team led by Mayo Clinic's Department of Nursing developed Nurse Virtual Assistant — a first-of-its-kind tool created by Mayo Clinic nurses for nurses. Built entirely in-house, this generative artificial intelligence (AI) solution displays information in a single tab within Mayo Clinic's electronic health record system.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42tb52E
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)
CDC: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Susan Monarez, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Sept. 17 in her first public remarks since she was fired. Some Republicans on the committee accused her of lying and said she hadn’t been on board with the administration’s agenda. As in earlier hearings concerning Robert F. Kennedy’s performance as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the focus was on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who cast the deciding vote as HELP Committee chair to confirm Kennedy early this year. Since that vote, Cassidy has repeatedly expressed skepticism about Kennedy’s leadership.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4n3dIR0
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) got into a heated exchange about vaccines with former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez. During a Wednesday hearing about Monarez’s ouster from the agency, Paul grilled her about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and the need for newborns to get a hepatitis B shot.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3KaNddR
MENTAL HEALTH: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the wake of the global COVID pandemic, much attention has been paid to kids’ mental health, but children in the United States have struggled for decades trying to access counseling and therapy. In the past, children in Minnesota’s public schools largely got mental health care from school social workers or psychologists, but that approach had shortcomings, including staffing problems and budget limitations that meant kids who really needed to talk to someone about their mental health often had to wait for months.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gP5VEl
OPIOIDS: From Vanderbilt via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Nitazenes, a powerful and largely hidden class of synthetic opioids, are quickly becoming a deadly factor in the overdose crisis. Over 20 times stronger than fentanyl, these drugs often go undetected on routine drug tests, making overdoses harder to diagnose and reverse. Cases from Tennessee reveal a disturbing pattern of fatalities, with nitazenes frequently mixed into counterfeit pills alongside fentanyl and methamphetamine.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gvSGYH
DOC PAY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “It pays quite well to be a doctor in Minnesota. Physicians in Rochester are paid more than doctors in any other metropolitan area in the U.S., according to a new report. And doctors in Minneapolis earn the eighth highest salaries. An annual compensation analysis by Doximity, a network of health care professionals, found that medical doctors in the Rochester metro area make on average $495,532 annually. Rochester maintains its top spot when salaries are adjusted for each city’s cost of living.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46bPvSI
MEDIA: Via news release from North Memorial, VERBATIM: “A new segment of the television program Empowered with Meg Ryan, produced in collaboration with North Memorial Health, will highlight recent advances in cardiovascular care and their impact on patient outcomes. The segment, filmed at North Memorial Health - Robbinsdale Hospital, explores how earlier diagnosis and minimally invasive treatments are transforming the management of heart conditions and improving recovery times.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pzWywc
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)
ALLERGIES: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “As we flip the page from summer to fall, allergies continue to be a nuisance. Dr. Neal Godse with the University of Minnesota, reveals what the three common culprits this time of year can be.” QUOTE: "Ragweed kind of blooms later in the season, releases a lot of pollen," says Godse. "And then as we get a little bit deeper into fall and the leaves start dropping, molds start to build up. The last thing that comes to mind, heating systems and ducts that have not been on for a couple of months collect a lot of dust and that gets kicked back up into the air." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3KgzHW5
WEIGHT LOSS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a genetic test that can help predict how people will respond to weight loss medications such as GLP-1s. The test estimates an individual's calories to satiation (CTS) — how much food it takes for a person to feel full — and links this biological trait to treatment success. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, represent a promising step toward more personalized and effective treatments for people living with obesity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46lUujT
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)
COVERAGE: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “In a major development, AHIP (formerly America's Health Insurance Plans), the insurance company trade group, announced that it will continue to cover updated COVID vaccines and flu vaccines through the end of 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IxnQT3
CUTS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The conventional wisdom in Washington is that by pushing off big changes to Medicaid until after the 2026 midterms, Republicans shielded themselves from voter backlash. Don’t be so sure. A full year before anyone casts their vote in November 2026 — meaning now, in the fall of 2025 — the American health care system will begin transitioning from an era of unprecedented expansion of coverage to an era of unprecedented cutbacks. And President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress will be easy to blame.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nXX7hN
AMAZON: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Amazon says it’s investing more than a $1 billion to raise wages and lower the cost of health care plans for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation workers. The Seattle-based company said Wednesday the average pay is increasing to more than $23 per hour. Some of its most tenured employees will see an increase between $1.10 and $1.90 per hour. Full-time employees, on average, will see their pay increase by $1,600 per year. Amazon also said it will lower the cost of its entry health care plan to $5 per week and $5 for co-pays, starting next year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41V6vtW
MEDICAL MARVELS: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Zubaz. Nerf balls. Microwave popcorn. Even the first snow blower. Minnesota has a habit of inventing things people didn’t know they needed—until they did. That same mindset has shaped a legacy of world-changing medical innovation. Some of health care’s most transformative breakthroughs—pacemakers, stem cell therapies, and surgical tape—were born here, driven by a culture that values practical solutions and human impact. But they didn’t begin with cutting-edge technology or fanfare. It was something much simpler: a problem to solve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KdXIgp
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
STOOL TEST: From Université de Genève via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Scientists at the University of Geneva have created the first detailed catalogue of gut bacteria at the subspecies level, unlocking powerful new ways to detect colorectal cancer. By applying machine learning to stool samples, they achieved a 90% detection rate—nearly matching colonoscopies, but with far less cost and discomfort. This breakthrough could revolutionize early cancer screening, helping catch the disease before it advances.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mrCwkL
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