March 26, 2002 -
April 4, 2002 - One of the most surprising turnarounds in health care is the rebound of small town hospitals. Hundreds closed across the U.S. during the 1980's and 90's. But five years ago the federal government changed how medicare benefits are paid. The new system sends more dollars to rural health facilities. At Minnesota's smallest hospital, in the southwest part of the state, the change has been dramatic. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
April 9, 2002 - A committee in the Minnesota House has approved a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs for some Minnesotans. The bill seemed unlikely to pass this year when a key committee chairman announced three weeks ago that the legislation was "dead" because of the state's finances. However, the bill's chief author said the stalement in budget negotiations allowed him to continue work on the issue and he is hopeful the bill will pass the House floor. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
April 9, 2002 - Emergency rooms are getting crowded, and more than half the nation's hospitals are "diverting" ambulances to other hospitals. That's the conclusion of a recent study from the American Hospital Association. The overcrowding of ER's is especially bad on the East and West Coasts, but the problem is getting worse here in the Twin Cities too. Joining us on the line is Dr. Brent Asplin, a member of the national task force on emergency department crowding, and he's an ER doctor at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
April 16, 2002 - The Minnesota Health Department is reporting that in the year 2001 new HIV infections were up 40 percent among white men in Minnesota. In addition, 16 percent of the newly reported HIV infections were found in African-born immigrants. Those immigrants represent only one percent of the state's population. Dr. Gary Remafedi is the Director of the Youth and AIDS Project at the University of Minnesota. He says while the numbers are a concern, it's too early to say whether they represent a trend.
April 19, 2002 - Federal health officials say African American infants in St. Paul die at a higher rate than most other cities in the country. The city's black infant mortality rate ranks fourth among the 60 largest U-S cities, according to an analysis published by the Centers for Disease Control. Minneapolis ranks 38th. The Minnesota Department of Health is concerned about the number of non-white infant deaths occuring across the state. Cheryl Fogarty, the department's infant mortality consultant, says she noticed an increase in black infant mortality starting in the late 90s.
April 22, 2002 - Why is electronic communication with doctors the exception and not the rule? The majority of internet users want to be able to communicate with their doctor via e-mail.
April 22, 2002 - Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch wants to strip the anti-tobacco group, Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco- or MPAAT- of its 202 (m) million dollar endowment. He is asking a Ramsey County District court judge to decide MPAAT has failed to administer its endowment properly and has undermined public confidence. Hatch wants the endowment money divided instead between the University of Minnesota and the state Department of Health. Minnesota's commissioner of health is caught in the middle of the issue. Jan Malcolm sits on MPAAT's board, but Malcolm would direct half the endowment for the Health Department if the judge agrees with Hatch. She says MPAAT had been responding to a number of Hatch's concerns:
April 22, 2002 - Maplewood-based 3M today reported its first quarter earnings dropped slightly, but they still surpassed Wall Street's estimates. Analysts say deep cost-cutting and a new management program implemented by CEO James McNerney have made the company a leaner, more efficient company. A little more than a year ago, McNerney became the first outsider ever to run the company. Now he's leading a transformation that's prompting cheers from investors but jitters from employees. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
April 22, 2002 - Humans possess a certain essence within them when they are born. At birth, it is pure and undefiled. The competition on Saturnday night is at the Lanesboro community Center. John Davis thought of the Kids Philosophy slam as a fun, competitive way for kids to think about the world. He also started the Great American Think-Off too. INTRO: The nature of humankind is good. That's the conclusion of the winner of the 2002 Kids Philosophy Slam held in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Vineetha Joseph of Nutley, New Jersey: won with her thoughts on this year's question which was: "Is the nature of humankind good or evil?" More than 2000 kids from around the world participated.