FLU SHOTS: Via UCare, a schedule of upcoming flu shot clinics including ones later this month in Minneapolis and Forest Lake. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3KirTmP (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via Navigator, VERBATIM: “Just 32 percent of Americans overwhelmingly are very satisfied with their own health care coverage and just 29 percent are very confident in their ability to access quality, affordable health care for the foreseeable future. Just half of Americans are positive about the overall quality of health care Americans receive in the country today, a five point drop from February 2020. Just 39 percent give a positive rating to the availability and affordability of health care nationally. Millennials are the least satisfied with their own coverage, confidence in ability to access care, and rating of the overall quality of health care in the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mGBfGE
RFK JR: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Recent polling now shows Kennedy’s numbers are significantly underwater for his performance so far. And perhaps more significantly, very few Americans seem to have strongly favorable feelings toward him or trust him on vaccines. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll released Friday showed Americans disapproved of Kennedy’s job performance 55%-42%. Political independents were even more negative, disapproving 61-34%. And even 21% of Republicans disapproved.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gWV8bf
DOGS: Via DPA, VERBATIM: “Almost three out of 10 (29%) dog owners choose holiday destinations based on how dog-friendly they are, a new survey suggests. Some 46% of respondents to the poll said they get anxious when they leave their dog behind while on holiday. This is because of worries over issues such as their pet’s eating habits and whether the animal will feel abandoned or stressed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46vTYOU
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
AUTISM: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump and White House officials announced that the administration will advise against taking acetaminophen, the medicine in Tylenol, during pregnancy, citing widely discredited concerns that it could cause autism, in the latest effort rebuking long-standing public health guidance. Top medical organizations and lawmakers have widely panned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for promoting the theory as he looks to fulfill his promise to find the root causes of autism.” QUOTE: “Taking Tylenol it’s not good. I’ll say it — It’s not good,” the president said from the White House on Monday, flanked by Kennedy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Mehmet Oz. He said pregnant women should only take Tylenol if they have a fever and cannot “tough it out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nsPccf
MORE: Via WCCO-Radio, from an interview with Dr. Amy Esler from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Pediatrics and Center for Neurobehavioral Development, in which she was asked for her reaction to Monday’s announcement. ESLER: “Probably a mix of disappointment and frustration. We have been working really hard for many decades identifying what the real causes of autism are, and that news conference, I feel, really set us back.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46h9zDa
TYLENOL: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Kenvue is preparing for an explosion of litigation over its popular pain reliever Tylenol after the Trump administration warned that the drug’s active ingredient is a potential cause of autism. The finding by President Trump’s health officials, which Kenvue and some medical societies dispute, could provide ammunition to plaintiffs’ attorneys who are seeking to reverse losses in older lawsuits alleging the medicine caused the neurodevelopmental disorders. And it could unleash thousands of new lawsuits in the coming years, people familiar with the matter say.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46BROxp
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)
LEGIONELLA: Via KCCI-TV, VERBATIM: “A second person’s death has now been linked to a Legionella outbreak in Marshalltown, state health officials say. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Monday that an elderly adult with multiple underlying health conditions died on Sept. 18. This is the second death associated with the Legionella outbreak.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nKaB0a
PLASTICS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Microplastics seem to be everywhere – in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. They have turned up in human organs, blood, testicles, placentas and even brains. Now, the State of Minnesota is starting to address the plastics problem closer to home, but they’re only at the beginning stages of understanding how deep the issue even is. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says a state-funded report detailing just how many microplastics are in Minnesota’s surface, drinking, and groundwater is expected to be released next year, marking the first statewide snapshot of its kind.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nBsoY5
WEST NILE: From MDH via X, VERBATIM: “West Nile Virus Alert! Cases are rising. Most won’t get sick, but some may face severe illness, hospitalization, or worse. Older adults & those with health issues are at higher risk. Protect yourself: use EPA-registered repellent & prevent mosquito bites.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/48wlYoa
ASTHMA: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) tools that help identify which children with asthma face the highest risk of serious asthma exacerbation and acute respiratory infections. The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found the tools can detect those risks as early as age 3.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47Y2uJ0
HOSPITALS: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “Patient deaths have been found to increase in U.S. hospitals after being acquired by private equity firms, according to one study. The death rates rose in the emergency departments of these hospitals, in comparison to similar hospitals not acquired by private equity, the study says. This nationwide study of hundreds of hospitals by researchers at Harvard Medical School, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Chicago builds on previous evidence demonstrating the link.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46BniDJ
ONCOLOGY: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “In recent years, cancer care has entered a new era—one shaped by precision medicine, collaboration, and powerful new tools that are helping Minnesotans receive better, faster, and more personalized treatment close to home. Across the state, leading clinicians and researchers are working to make care not only more effective, but more accessible for patients and families navigating a life-changing diagnosis.” QUOTE: “Cancer care in local clinics like ours is improving significantly due to a more coordinated, multidisciplinary approach,” says Dr. Sushma Tatineni, a medical oncologist and hematologist with Minnesota Oncology. “We extend our team beyond oncologists to include palliative care specialists, dietitians, genetic counselors, and social workers, ensuring every aspect of a patient’s journey is supported.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nBBDaJ
HACKATHON: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “On Sunday, more than a hundred doctors and specialists from around the world will convene in Rochester to help patients whose conditions have eluded diagnosis. Mayo Clinic will host the four-day event, known as the ‘Undiagnosed Hackathon’ — a global effort to solve rare diseases that have long gone unexplained. Eric Klee, a co-director, said he’s hopeful that this opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and backgrounds will help participating patients finally get answers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48xsaw5
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)
DIABETES: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Diabetes is a scourge for many Americans — including Somali Minnesotans. For many immigrants, treating diabetes requires navigating a multifaceted mix of cultural traditions, dietary restrictions and systemic barriers to health care. Omar Nur, executive director of the Somali American Social Service Association in Rochester, said diabetes is one of the most pressing health issues facing Somali families.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46B5Yi2
APPS: From Carnegie Mellon via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Do you have a meditation app on your smartphone, computer or wearable device? Well, you’re not alone. There are now thousands of meditation apps available worldwide, the top 10 of which have been collectively downloaded more than 300 million times. What’s more, early work on these digital meditation platforms shows that even relatively brief usage can lead to benefits, from reduced depression, anxiety, and stress to improved insomnia symptoms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W4uqn7
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)
VISAS: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration’s $100,000 fee for high-skilled visa applicants threatens to worsen a shortage of US doctors and make it harder for rural hospitals to operate, medical groups warned. The fee for H-1B visas ‘risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained physicians that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities,’ said American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan head and neck surgeon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48BI4pc
NEXTGEN: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “As Mayo Clinic in Florida celebrates the opening of the Duan Family Building, a state-of-the-art facility that will house seven MRI machines, the need for highly trained imaging professionals is greater than ever. In response, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is expanding its Radiography Technologist Program to meet the moment and build the workforce of the future. Beginning in January 2026, the program will welcome an expanded cohort of 20 students, doubling its original class size.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nHrNU3
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DEHYDRATION: From Liverpool John Moores via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Not drinking enough water could intensify stress responses. Researchers found that under-hydrated individuals had cortisol levels more than 50% higher during stressful situations. Poor hydration didn’t make participants feel thirstier, but it did trigger biological signs of strain. Keeping a water bottle handy could help manage stress and safeguard health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nfLORL
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