Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: March 21, 2008

The Colorado Health Foundation will award $6 million in grants during 2008 for its Healthy Connections health information technology initiative.

The money is in addition to the group's initial investment of $2.5 million last year, and will be used to purchase software and hardware for providers caring for low-income, uninsured Coloradoans.

Local organizations that have received grants include Peak Vista Community Health Center in Colorado Springs and Pueblo Community Health Center in Pueblo.

The foundation's goal is to create electronic records for every Colorado resident. That is in alignment with Gov. Bill Ritter's "Building Blocks for Health Care Reform" plan, which calls for a $25 million general fund investment in the fiscal year 2008-09 budget to address several health care priorities, including improving data exchange between state health care officials and providers.

A request for proposals for Healthy Connections funding will be issued this spring and will be followed by a series of community workshops. Information about the RFP and related activities is available at www.ColoradoHealth.org.

Easter salmonella warning

While El Paso County saw only six cases of salmonella infection last year, the Department of Health and Environment is warning that the disease can be spread from an unlikely source: baby ducks and chicks given to children as Easter gifts.

Salmonella infection is associated with mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and has an incubation period ranging from six to 72 hours, the department said. The symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Dehydration can be severe among infants and the elderly.

Outbreaks associated with handling baby birds are frequent. Most chicks and ducklings are infected while still in the egg stage at large hatcheries. The birds are meant for people who intend to raise them for meat or eggs -- not for pets.

In Colorado, pet stores that sell baby birds are not required to post information about the bacteria they could carry, so taking the birds home as pets adds to the exposure risks, the health department said.

Smart Seal program expands

Four new restaurants have been added to the Colorado's Smart Seal program: Qdoba, Rosalinda's Mexican, Imperial Chinese and Queen of Sheba.

Created by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last September, the volunteer program encourages participating restaurants to showcase meals that are lower in fat and saturated fat, and include components such as beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

In Colorado Springs, the Olive Branch is participating in the program.

SCHIP coverage increases

More than 7 million children were enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program during 2007 -- a 5.9 percent increase from 2006.

The figures were released as SCHIP faces reauthorization. Created during 1997, SCHIP is a state and federal partnership designed to provide health care access to uninsured children. The program received $40 billion from the federal government during the last 10 years. Congress, unable to override a veto by President George W. Bush for a bill that increased funding, extended the program until March 2009.

In Colorado, federal figures show that nearly 70,000 people were enrolled in the state's SCHIP program during 2006, while nearly 85,000 enrolled during 2007. The program serves families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. It includes physicals, doctor visits, immunization, dental care, hospital services, eye care, prescriptions, mental health care, hearing aids and prenatal care.

The enrollment information, compiled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and based on state reports, show that 6.7 million children nationwide were enrolled during 2006, and 7.1 million enrolled last year.

Alcohol and arthritis

Drinking three or more alcoholic beverages per week, preferably red wine, may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a common form of arthritis that involves inflammation in the lining of joints -- leading to warmth, decreased range of motion, swelling and pain in the joint.

An article published in the January/February issue of Arthritis Today cites a Swedish study that reported that the more alcohol people consumed the lower their risk for RA. However, scientists were quick to caution that they are not encouraging excessive alcohol consumption.

Although the reasons are not fully understood, research suggests alcohol may reduce inflammation.

The study included 1,400 people diagnosed with RA and 1,700 people who did not have RA. Those who reported drinking more than three alcoholic beverages per week had a reduced risk of RA, whereas those who drank 10 alcoholic beverages a week received even more protection.

Amy Gillentine covers health care for the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

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