October 18, 2013

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

By Karl Oestreich

 

 

October 18, 2013

Mayo Clinic in the News is a weekly highlights summary of major media coverage. If you would like to be added to the weekly distribution list, send a note to Emily Blahnik with this subject line: SUBSCRIBE to Mayo Clinic in the News.

Thank you.

Karl Oestreich, manager enterprise media relations

NY Times
The Science Behind a Call for Safer Hockey
by Jeff Klein

The message from researchers last week for a Mayo Clinic conference on concussions in hockey was clear: the game as it is played now causes too much brain trauma, and it must change fundamentally… Such demands for reform in body checking and fighting may seem unrealistic. Yet researchers made similarly ambitious recommendations after the first Mayo Clinic hockey concussion conference, in 2010, and leagues across North America adopted many of them.

NY Times
Prompted by Injury, a League Will Review Rules on Fighting
by Jeff Klein

…I’m convening a special meeting of our competition committee to see whether we’re being too tolerant of fighting,” Skip Prince, the commissioner of the United States Hockey League, said Sunday. Last week, concussion researchers at the Mayo Clinic called for a full ban on fighting in junior and professional hockey, partly because of the severe injuries that can be sustained in hockey fights.

Circulation: The New York Times has the third highest circulation nationally, behind USA Today (2nd) and The Wall Street Journal (1st) with 1,150,589 weekday copies circulated and 1,645,152 circulated on Sundays.

Additional Coverage:
Globe & Mail, MacGregor: Past cannot justify the present when it comes to fighting in hockey, Globe & Mail, e! Science News, The Spec, Ultimate Hockey Source

Previous Coverage:  Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights October 11, 2013

Context: Mayo Clinic’s Sports Medicine Center held Ice Hockey Summit II: Action on Concussion on Oct. 8–9, 2013. The summit brought together top scientists, trainers, coaches, officials, retired professional players and manufacturers from across the United States, Canada and Europe to discuss concussion-related issues, including the science of concussion, impact on youth athletes and hockey community response.

“This is an opportunity for experts across the hockey world to come together to make the sport safer for our athletes,” says Michael Stuart, M.D., co-director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. “Hockey players at all levels are bigger, stronger and faster. Therefore, we must improve our ability to diagnose, treat and prevent traumatic brain injury.”

News Release: Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center to Host Second Concussion Summit

Mayo Clinic News Network: Youth Hockey Players: “Heads Up, Don’t Duck”

Mayo Clinic News Network: Water Sports and Concussions (pkg)

Public Affairs Contact: Bryan Anderson

Harvard Business Review
Overcoming Fragmentation in Health Care
by John Noseworthy

Addressing Fragmentation Health care is experiencing a significant trend of consolidation through mergers and acquisitions. At Mayo Clinic, we have chosen a different path — a path focused on sharing our most scalable product:  our knowledge. We believe that fragmentation and variability in care may best be addressed by creating tools to share knowledge than can be used by providers as they care for patients in their own communities.

Reach: Harvard Business Review - Online provides editorial content designed to complement the coverage found in its parent print publication, which focuses on business management. The site receives more than 232,000 unique visitors each month.

Additional Coverage:
Advisory Board
Mayo Clinic chief: How to overcome fragmentation

Context: John Noseworthy, M.D. is Mayo Clinic President and CEO.

Public Affairs Contact: Josh Derr

Advisory Board
How Mayo Clinic restructured nurse reporting relationships to drive integration

To drive integration, leaders at Mayo Clinic restructured reporting relationships so that all nurses—regardless of setting—report through solid lines up to the senior-most nurse leader. Learn from Pamela Johnson, Mayo Clinic's Chief Nursing Officer, about the benefits of Mayo Clinic’s solid-line nurse reporting relationships.

Reach: The Advisory Board Company is a global research, technology, and consulting firm partnering with more than 165,000 leaders in more than 4,100 organizations across health care and higher education.

Context: Pam O. Johnson, R.N., is Mayo Clinic's Chief Nursing Officer. Mayo Clinic nurses have career opportunities in over 60 inpatient and outpatient specialties.

Public Affairs Contact: Alyson Gonzalez

NBC Nightly News
Despite exercise, Bush’s artery was 95 percent blocked

Getting regular checkups is important — even for those who are already active and asymptomatic, such as former president George W. Bush. Exercise alone isn’t a guarantee against developing heart disease, and doctors need to make sure blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol are regularly monitored and checked. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports. Dr. Chet Rihal, Mayo Clinic cardiologist is interviewed.

Reach:  NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams continues to be the top rated evening newscast with more than 7.9 million viewers each night.

Context: Charanjit "Chet" Rihal, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and chair, Cardiovascular Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Public Affairs Contact: Traci Klein

MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports
Shutdown hurts CDC ability to track flu cases

Because of the government shutdown, the Centers for Disease Control can’t track the number of flu outbreaks. Dr. Gregory Poland, Mayo Clinic, joins Andrea Mitchell.

Reach: MSNBC provides in-depth analysis of daily headlines, political commentary and informed perspectives.

Additional Coverage:
KMSP, Shutdown and Shots; MPR, Mayo expert says disease tracking hobbled by shutdown; Government Executive, The Atlantic, News @ JAMA, National Journal, El Nuevo Dia, Hullabaloo

Previous Coverage: Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights, October 11, 2013

Context: Flu season is under way, but how many Americans have been hit so far, how badly, and which influenza bugs are to blame is unclear. That information is important to prevent and manage outbreaks, and it is crucial for creation of the next batch of influenza vaccines. But this flu season, the nation is flying (and coughing, and sneezing, and maybe worse) blind. That’s because the agency that normally keeps the country on top of influenza outbreaks — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — is largely out of commission due to the federal government shutdown. Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Gregory Poland, M.D., explains what the CDC normally does and what federal furloughs mean to efforts to protect people from contagious illnesses.

News Release: CDC Shutdown: Mayo Clinic Expert Explains What it Means for This Flu Season — and the Next

Mayo Clinic News Network: Mayo Expert Explains What It Means This Flu Season and the Next

Public Affairs Contact: Sharon Theimer

MinnPost
More baby boomers having cataract surgery — and at younger ages
by Susan Perry

More and more people are having cataract surgery — and they are doing so at younger ages, according to a new study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Reach: MinnPost is a nonprofit, nonpartisan enterprise which provides news and analysis based on reporting by professional journalists, most of whom have decades of experience in the Twin Cities media. According to MinnPost, the site averages more than 450,000 visits and more than 850,000 page views a month.

Previous Coverage: Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights, October 11, 2013

Context: As baby boomers enter their retirement years, health care costs for complex and debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are expected to soar. Not drawing as much attention is the likelihood of similarly rising expenses for common age-related medical procedures. A Mayo Clinic study looked at one of those — cataract surgery — and found that more people are getting the vision-improving procedure, seeking it at younger ages and having both eyes repaired within a few months, rather than only treating one eye. The demand shows no sign of leveling off, raising the need to manage costs and ensure access to appropriate cataract treatment, the researchers say.

“Cataract surgery rates are rising in all age groups between 50 and 90, but the greatest increase is in the 70- and 80-year-olds. And part of that is that our older population, or the aging baby boomers, are working longer, they want to be more active, they have more demands on their vision,” says senior author Jay Erie, M.D., a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist. “That’s why they’re looking for surgery sooner — so that they can remain independent, remain active, continue to work.” The findings are published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

News Release: Cataract Surgeries on the Rise as Boomers Age, Raising Access, Cost Issues

Mayo Clinic News Network: Cataract Surgeries on the Rise as Boomers Age

Public Affairs Contact: Sharon Theimer

KIMT
Mayo gets $10 million donation for new center
by Jeron Rennie

William Hall Wendel is a retired chairman and CEO for Polaris Industries and also a longtime patient of Mayo. Wednesday, the clinic announced a $10 million donation to expand and rename the floor, "W. Hall Wendel Jr. Center for Executive Health."…“This is a real growth opportunity for the clinic because very few medical institutions today offer the kind of services that the Mayo Clinic offers and are geared to the business people the way the Mayo Clinic is,” Wendel said.

Reach: KIMT 3 serves the Mason City-Austin-Albert Lea-Rochester market.

Additional Coverage: Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal, Post-Bulletin, KTTC, KAAL, News Medical, Topix, WeSRCH, FOX47, Twin Cities Business

Context: Mayo Clinic's Executive Health Program, which has kept thousands of business leaders healthy without major disruptions in their lives, begins a new chapter today with the announcement of a $10 million gift by W. Hall Wendel, Jr. to expand and name the W. Hall Wendel, Jr. Center for Executive Health.

The new center is located on the fifth floor of the Mayo Building and is the centerpiece of Mayo Clinic's worldwide program offering premium services and all-inclusive care targeted for busy business leaders.

"Mayo Clinic's Executive Health Program is geared to executives from around the world," says Mr. W. Hall Wendel, Jr. "It is designed for efficiency and thoroughness; busy executives are in and out in a day and a half, assuming no complications. If there are complications, the entire health and medical services of Mayo Clinic are on site and immediately available. Mayo Clinic's medical services are unparalleled in the world."

News Release: Mayo Clinic Announces $10 Million Gift to Expand and Name the W. Hall Wendel, Jr. Center for Executive Health

Mayo Clinic News Network: $10 Million Gift Expands and Names W. Hall Wendel, Jr. Center for Executive Health

Public Affairs Contact: Kelley Luckstein

WJXT Fla.
Plenty of supply, options: No excuse not to get flu shot

…Mayo clinic internist Dr. Vandana Bhide (1:18 on clip) says she's never missed her flu shot. I am the first person in line to get a flu shot because I don't want to get sick it will keep you out of school and out of work and people get very sick…And it's vaccination day at Mayo clinic so she was quick to sign up.

Reach: WJXT is an independent television station serving Florida’s First Coast that is licensed to Jacksonville.

Context: Flu season is upon us, and despite what most people think, influenza is a serious and potentially deadly disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 30,000 deaths occur annually as a result of flu and associated complications. With last year's flu outbreak ranking among the worst in recent history, Mayo Clinic experts offer advice and dispel many misconceptions about the flu to help people stay healthy.

"The vaccine is the best defense against flu and serious flu-related conditions, and because it's difficult to predict how and when the flu will strike, I recommend getting it as early as you can," says Teresa Seville, M.D., Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

News Release: Mayo Clinic Experts Encourage Flu Vaccinations, Dispel Common Myths

Mayo Clinic News Network: Flu Vaccination Options Are Available for Everyone

Public Affairs Contacts: Cindy Weiss (Florida), Jim McVeigh (Arizona), Bob Nellis (Minnesota), Susan Barber-Lindquist (Mayo Clinic Health System)

WCCO
Mayo Study: Teachers More Likely To Develop Speech Disorders

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say they’ve stumbled upon what appears to be an occupational hazard for school teachers…On Tuesday, the Mayo Clinic said the study that looked at 100 patients with speech and language disorders — things like semantic aphasia and apraxia of speech — and researchers noticed many of the patients were teachers. They’re not sure, however, why the teachers developed the diseases. Dr. Keith Josephs, the neurologist who led the study, has a theory about why teachers seem to be diagnosed with such diseases more often.

Reach: WCCO 4 News is the most-watched newscast in the Twin Cities, in 5 out of 7 newscasts.

Additional Coverage: HealthCanal, ScienceNewsline, Science Codex, Dublin News, e! Science News, Imperial Valley News

Context: Mayo Clinic researchers have found a surprising occupational hazard for teachers: progressive speech and language disorders. The research, recently published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, found that people with speech and language disorders are about 3.5 times more likely to be teachers than patients with Alzheimer's dementia.

News Release: Teachers More Likely to Have Progressive Speech and Language Disorders

Mayo Clinic News Network: Teachers More Likely to Have Progressive Speech and Language Disorders

Public Affairs Contact: Nick Hanson

Huffington Post
Exercise Could Protect You From Esophageal Cancer

Mayo Clinic researchers found an association between physical activity and risk of the cancer, with physically active people having a 32 percent lower risk of developing one of the two forms of esophageal cancer, called esophageal adenocarcinoma (cancer that starts in the mucus-producing cells).  "Although the incidence of esophageal squamous cell cancer is declining worldwide, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been rapidly rising. This increase may be partly attributable to the obesity epidemic," study researcher Siddharth Singh, M.B.B.S., of the Mayo Clinic, said in a statement.

Circulation: The Huffington Post attracts over 28 million monthly unique viewers.

Context: Physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of esophageal cancer, according to a new study presented by Mayo Clinic researchers at the American College of Gastroenterology's Annual Scientific Meeting, Oct. 11–16, in San Diego.

"Although the incidence of esophageal squamous cell cancer is declining worldwide, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been rapidly rising. This increase may be partly attributable to the obesity epidemic," says Siddharth Singh, M.B.B.S., the study's lead author and researcher at Mayo Clinic.

"Obesity has been associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer through high levels of insulin, as well as chronic inflammation. By decreasing visceral fat, lowering levels of certain carcinogens, improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing chronic inflammation, physical activity can potentially decrease risk of esophageal cancer," says senior study author Prasad Iyer, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist.

News Release: Mayo Clinic Researchers Find Physical Activity May Reduce Risk of Esophageal Cancer

Public Affairs Contact: Brian Kilen

NBC Latino
How to talk to your children about drugs

In 2012 alone, 14.8 percent of high school seniors used a prescription drug non-medically.  The most commonly abused drugs were Adderall and the pain reliever Vicodin.  So how should we talk to our children about drugs to help them avoid abuse?  NBC Latino contributor Dr. Joseph Sirven shares five helpful tips.

Reach: NBC Latino is an English-language wesbite aimed at Hispanics featuring news and general interest information.

Context: Joseph Sirven, M.D., is chair of neurology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Dr. Sirven’s research pertains to all facets of the diagnosis and management of seizures and epilepsy.

Public Affairs Contact: Jim McVeigh

ABC 15 Ariz.
Mayo Clinic offers heart health program

Mayo Clinic cardiologist, Todd Hurst, M.D., joined Sonoran Living Live to talk about Mayo Clinic's Heart Health and Performance Program, including host Terri Ouellette's experience as a patient in the program. Learn more about cardiac diagnostic and treatment options available at Mayo Clinic by joining ABC15 and Rally for Red, and from Mayo Clinic staff members each month on Sonoran Living Live.

Reach:  KNXV-TV, ABC 15,  is the ABC television station affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Context: Todd Hurst, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic cardiologist who also has an appointment in Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Public Affairs Contact: Carol Benson

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Tags: ABC-15, Adderall, advisory board, Alyson Gonzalez, alzheimer's disease, Ambien, American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, Brian Kilen, Bryan Anderson, Cancer, Cancer, Cardiology, Cardiology, Carol Benson, cataract surgery, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Chet Rihal, Dr. Gregory Poland, Dr. Jay Erie, Dr. Jennifer White, Dr. John Noseworthy, Dr. Joseph Sirven, Dr. Keith Josephs, Dr. Michael Stuart, Dr. Prasad Iyer, Dr. Siddharth Singh, Dr. Teresa Seville, Dr. Todd Hurst, Dr. Vandana Bhide, Dublin News, e! Science News, El Nuevo Dia, esophageal cancer, Executive Health, flu, FOX47, gastroenterologist, gastroenterology, George W. Bush, GI, GI, Globe & Mail, Government Executive, Harvard Business Review, HealthCanal, heart attack, Huffington Post, Hullabaloo, Imperial Valley News, Influenza, Jacksonville, Jim McVeigh, Josh Derr, Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, KAAL, Kelley Luckstein, KIMT, KMSP, KTTC, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Mayo Clinic in the News, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic News Network, Mayo Clinic ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Minneapolis, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, Minnesota Public Radio, MinnPost, MPR, MSNBC, National Journal, NBC Latino, NBC Nightly News, Neurology, New York Times, News @ JAMA, News Medical, News4Jax, Nick Hanson, Nursing, Nursing, Ophthalmology, Pam O. Johnson, Phoenix, Post Bulletin, rochester, Science Codex, ScienceNewsline, Scottsdale, Sharon Theimer, Sonoran Living Live, St. Paul, The Atlantic, The Spec, Topix, Traci Klein, Twin Cities, Twin Cities Business, Ultimate Hockey Source, Vicodin, W. Hall Wendel, W. Hall Wendel Jr. Center for Executive Health, WCCO, WeSRCH, WJXT

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