NIHCM Newsletter / July 2024
Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis
See the ‘NIHCM Infographic - Gun Violence: The Impact on Society’ for more information and citations.
This graphic’s sources include:
Total gun death 2019 - 2023: Gun Violence Archive, Past Summary Ledgers, 2024
For every one person who dies by firearm, more than two survive: The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, Nonfatal Gun Violence, 2020
Firearm vs. motor vehicle deaths: Dan Keating, The Washington Post, “Guns killed more young people than cars did for the first time in 2020”, 2022
Note: Data in the above article is from the Centers for Disease Control and Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).
Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis
The US Surgeon General has declared firearm violence a public health crisis, noting the rise in rates and that firearms are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents since 2020. While mass shootings are often the most publicized, more common incidents involve fewer individuals and include suicides, which account for over half of firearm-related deaths. NIHCM’s infographic provides crucial information about the health and economic toll of gun violence.
Toll on Children: A NIHCM Research Insights highlights a study revealing that firearm injuries in children lead to poorer health outcomes and increased health care utilization and spending for survivors and their families.
Population Health: A new study shows that exposure to gun violence significantly harms the health of Black Americans, especially women. A recent article further examines gun violence in comparison to the state population and categorization by cause.
Resources & Initiatives
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarized violence-related injuries from 2021, including the role of firearms.
White House officials ask health departments, systems, and hospitals to increase reporting on gunshot wounds.
NIHCM grantee The Journalist’s Resource emphasizes the importance of framing gun violence within a broader public health context, as opposed to just an issue with crime.
Independence Blue Cross is part of the Coalition to Save Lives in Philadelphia and has a resource on what people can do to address gun violence and take care of themselves.
Health Care Industry News
The health care industry continues to face numerous challenges, including concerns about the workforce, emerging challenges regarding cybersecurity, the evolving promises of technology in care delivery, and telehealth’s decreasing popularity among patients.
Health Care Workforce: The health care workforce is in crisis, due to factors such as understaffing and administrative burdens. Amidst this growing issue, California state officials delayed a pay increase for hourly health care workers. As these problems persist, an increasing number of nurse practitioners are choosing higher paying jobs in specialty care.
Nursing Homes: Nationally, nursing home operators are concerned about meeting new federal staffing requirements, which may feel unattainable due to existing workforce shortages. As nursing home investors report millions in profits, patients suffer and are left unattended by an understaffed workforce.
Cybersecurity & Health Systems: According to physicians, after the cyberattack at Ascension hospitals, patient safety was at-risk due to a lack of electronic resources to inform patient care. In addition, a common administrative practice used to reassure vendors after a cyber attack actually slows the process of bringing hospitals back online. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also plan to cease financial support for Medicare providers impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
Tech & Care Delivery: New developments in health care AI and the popularization of telehealth during the pandemic highlight a constantly evolving care delivery landscape. Researchers are trying to determine whether robots in emergency rooms help or hinder the delivery of bedside patient care. The utilization of telehealth has declined. A new report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the percentage of adults who used telemedicine decreased from 37.0% in 2021 to 30.1% in 2022.
Resources & Initiatives
To address workforce burnout, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in New Jersey allows nurse managers to have a 4-day workweek.
Universities receive financial support from federal agencies to address health workforce concerns for entry level employees and workers delivering geriatric care.
NIHCM’s resources include webinars on telehealth and artificial intelligence.
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality features a resource on maintaining patient safety during a cyberattack.
Health Inequities & Social Determinants of Health
A KFF analysis identifies persistent racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care and social determinants of health (SDOH). Key findings include higher rates of food insecurity reported by Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native people compared to their White counterparts. Despite high health care spending in the US, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) explains that little progress has been made to eliminate health inequities over the past two decades.
Uninsured: A recent CDC report finds that the uninsured rate among working-age adults in the US dropped from 14.7% in 2019 to 10.9% in 2023. However, the Congressional Budget Office projects that the uninsured rate will rise over the next decade, with the largest increase anticipated among adults aged 19-44.
SDOH: Feeding America’s 2024 report shows how food insecurity rates vary by geography, race, and ethnicity. Questions remain about how health care providers can effectively address food insecurity, as evidence is limited. Additionally, a new study finds an association between housing insecurity and poor health for children.
Strategies: The NASEM report emphasizes the need for a collective effort to address health equity. It outlines actions health care systems can take, such as diversifying the workforce and improving data collection on health inequities.
Resources & Initiatives
GuideWell underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the multicultural needs of patients to reduce health disparities.
NIHCM offers resources on health equity and SDOH.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan provides insights into poverty and how SDOH impact health outcomes.
- The CDC shares public health resources focused on improving health equity and SDOH.
Mental Health
While youth mental health remains a primary concern, preliminary state level data reveals overall improvements in metrics of student wellbeing. However, there is growing concern about the impact of social media and loneliness on mental health. The Surgeon General has called for a warning on social media, similar to those on tobacco products, citing research on its negative effects. Additionally, new research links loneliness to increased stroke risk.
Social Media: The Governor of California is advocating for restrictions on phone use in schools in an attempt to protect student mental health. Other states, such as New York and Florida, are also taking measures to reduce children’s social media use. However, experts report that existing research on the association between social media and mental health is limited.
LGBTQ: A CDC report examines the impact of sexual orientation and gender identity on social connection and mental health, finding higher rates of loneliness among bisexual and transgender people. The 988 subnetwork lifeline for LGBTQ youth, launched a year ago, has been receiving an increasing number of calls.
Resources & Initiatives
NIHCM provides a variety of resources on mental health, including infographics on the double-edged sword of online spaces for LGBTQ youth and improving children's mental health.
Elevance Health shares information on combating loneliness and emphasizes the importance of inclusive language when discussing mental health.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced its 2024 mental health first aid certification courses, designed to train participants in recognizing and assisting individuals in mental health crises.
If you are struggling, call 988 or visit the 988 Lifeline website.
