>> Are your local hospitals at risk from storms?
>> New Drug for ALS: what can patients expect?
>> Two Injuries in Five Days
The Med & Mic™ 09.30.22
MED NEWS blog post from Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC
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Hospitals at Risk from Hurricane Flooding
Hundreds of coastal hospitals are at risk of flooding from weather events similar to Hurricane Ian. A Harvard study published in GeoHealth looked at 682 acute care hospitals within 10 miles of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Of the 78 metropolitan areas studied, 25 have half or more of their hospitals at risk of flooding from even weak storms. In 18 metropolitan areas, half of the roads near hospitals were at risk of storm flooding.
The ten cities at highest risk:
Miami
New York
Boston
Orlando
New Orleans
Tampa
Sarasota
Jacksonville
Fort Meyers
Philadelphia
One hospital in the Fort Meyers area had a swamped emergency room and part of its roof blown away by Hurricane Ian. Hundreds of patients were being evacuated after storm damage cut off water supplies. (Source: Spectrum News, 9.30.22 via AP, R. Tillman, 9.29.22)
New ALS Drug Approved
The FDA approved a new medication for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gerhig’s disease. The drug, which is taken by mouth or by feeding tube, is not a cure. A 24-week study showed a moderate slowing of progression of the disease, in which nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain degenerate, leading to paralysis and death. Study participants scored two points better on a 48-point scale compared to people getting placebo. ALS patient advocates called for the drug’s approval. About 20,000 people in the U.S. have ALS. A longer, larger trial is ongoing to confirm its benefits. The medication will be removed from the market if the findings don’t hold up. Only two other drugs for ALS are FDA approved. (Source: STAT News, D. Garde, 2.29.22)
Ire Over Injuries
After a sack in the Miami-Cincinnati NFL game Thursday night, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field by stretcher for head and neck injuries. He also hit his head on the turf and wobbled afterwards in the game on Sunday in the Miami-Buffalo game. Controversy swirls over whether proper procedures were followed. Earlier in the week, an NFL vice president said the player did pass protocol. (Source: FOX News, R. Morik, 9.29.22)
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