Health and Medicine
G Marrano/WFIR photos
A church school bus crashes into a truck carrying ammonia. Multiple injuries, a hectic emergency department and irate, worried spouses. It wasn’t real, but the 10th annual “Inter-professional Education Simulation” at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. About 300 students from Jefferson College, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Radford University took part – diagnosing volunteers acting as trauma patients, then treating them. Whiter says it takes almost a year to come up with a new disaster scenario. Kimberly Whiter oversees the exercise:
A less invasive surgery for a common heart valve disease performed at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital recently reached a milestone as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
The General Assembly reconvenes tomorrow to tackle the budget issue – and looming large is Medicaid expansion. WFIR’s Gene Marrano spoke with a local healthcare system leader:
Carilion Clinic President and CEO Nancy Agee joined WFIR’s Gene Marrano and Joey Self live in studio this morning for a wide ranging discussion.
A key Virginia Republican has signaled support for Medicaid expansion, a move that gives pro-expansion lawmakers a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. Virginia Beach Sen. Frank Wagner said in a statement Friday that he favors expanding Medicaid, enacting a new tax on hospitals, and using part of the extra money raised to give tax credits to lower income Virginians. Wagner has previously voted against Medicaid expansion and his new support could end a deadlock over the state budget. Lawmakers have been unable to pass a spending plan because of Republican infighting over whether it should include Medicaid expansion. But it’s not immediately clear if Wagner’s proposal will find broad support. The only other Republican senator who supports expansion, Sen. Emmett Hanger, opposes the proposed hospital tax.
Virginia’s hospitals and health care providers face a common problem: finding enough qualified workers. Many of those employers will be present in one place tomorrow, hoping to attract more candidates. The Healthcare Career Fair runs from 1:00 to 6:00 pm tomorrow at the Salem Civic Center, and there are hundreds of openings to fill. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Click here for more Healthcare Career Fair information.
Rep. Morgan Griffith
A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs is now half-way through Congress, and one of its orignal co-sponsors is Congressman Morgan Griffith. It’s called “Right to Try” legislation, the idea being that people already facing terminal illness should have the option of trying medications not yet fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The bill passed the House last week and now heads for the Senate. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Celebrating science, wellness and the arts is the concept behind a second annual – and expanded – family-friendly program tomorrow in downtown Roanoke. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has the story:
Shana Brown/G. Marrano photo WFIR
We recently told you about a gluten and nut-free bakery in Salem that draws in many with severe allergies. Now the owner of “Corbin’s Confections” has started a petition she hope will be noticed in Washington. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has the story:
See the link to petition below:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/require-cross-contamination-food-allergen-labeling-manufacturers