Smith Hager Bajo Blog

Almost 30,000 US Home Births

SHB Webmaster — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:17:05 +0000

While still a small percentage of the total births, home births trended up in the latest data analysis from the CDC. After dropping from 1990 to 2004, the rate of of U.S. births that occurred at home increased by 29%, from 0.56% of births to 0.72% in 2009. That translates to almost 30,000 home births in 2009, the highest since this data was first collected in 1989. Most of these births are attended by midwives.

Rethinking Healthcare Metrics

SHB Webmaster — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:21:09 +0000

“Like baseball ten years ago, healthcare is transforming as traditional business models fail to meet market demands. Conventional wisdom, intuition-based decision-making, misleading metrics and reluctance to change plague health systems today as they did baseball teams a decade ago. I devoured Moneyball when Michael Lewis first published it in 2003. Beane’s analytic approach appealed to my love of baseball; my confidence in evidenced-based decisions; and my belief that enlightened management can transform organizations.” Quote from David Johnson, Managing Director and Sector Head, BMO Capital Markets, who created an intriguing presentation called “Healthball”.

Steep Increase in US Twin Birth Rate Tapers

SHB Webmaster — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:07:44 +0000

The increase in US twin birth rate has slowed since 2005, although the growth from 1980 to 2009 was a record 76%, according to a new government study. The recent US twin rate was 33.2 per 1,000 births or 3.3% of all births. The steep incline started tapering off as awareness increased about the unintended consequences of multiple embryos such as low birthweight and pre-term birth. The movement toward implanting a single embryo is expected to continue to gain popularity in the US as it has in several other countries.

Mommy Resorts...in China

SHB Webmaster — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:16:02 +0000

China has rasied the bar on settings for maternity care. Their new mothers are advised to spend a month recuperating from birth and bonding with their newborns. Leveraging this custom, mommy resorts referred to as confinement hotels operate in places such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. They cost about the same as a nice hotel and provide medically trained staff and resort amenities. CNN reported that the Eonway Health Maintenance Center, affiliated with the West Garden Hospital, has a swimming pool, lounge, spa and beautiful decor. Medical rounds are included, but nannies are extra.

Happy Holidays from Smith Hager Bajo!

SHB Webmaster — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:43:21 +0000

Wishing you a joyous holiday and Happy New Year - Judy, Judy and Kathleen.

Good News for Women who Love Coffee

SHB Webmaster — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:05:07 +0000

Do we really need to kick the coffee habit to be healthy? Recent news from the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that moderate coffee consumption might protect women against endometrical cancer. Other studies tout reduced risk of gallstones, stroke and lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes among other health benefits. While it is premature to start drinking coffee for cancer prevention, the results of a 26-year study of 67,000 women is good news for coffee lovers.

New "Our Bodies, Ourselves" hot off the press

SHB Webmaster — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:34:58 +0000

The new edition of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” is out. This bestselling classic educates women of all ages and backgrounds about information crucial to health and well-being. The 40th anniversary edition is completely updated and getting rave reviews.

New urgently needed tool for depression - soon.

SHB Webmaster — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:26:42 +0000

According to Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman of Columbia University, approximately 1 in 4 women who undergo pregnancy experience significant psychiatric disturbances, often in the form of depression. Many physicians and other health professionals need help identifying moderate to severe depression in pregnant women. A tool was just presented at the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) 61st Annual Conference. Dr. Sophie Grigoriadis from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, presented preliminary data from a pilot test of a tool to help clinicians better serve pregnant patients and make more informed treatment decisions. This tool was described as “urgently needed”. Another need is a better tool for assessing depression in new fathers. No news if anyone is working on that tool, yet.

Flu Season! Got your shot?

SHB Webmaster — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:47:05 +0000

The CDC recommends flu shots for people 6 months and older. If you are a health care worker or if you are 50 and older, the flu shot is highly recommended. The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Each year about 36,000 people die from flu or flu complications. The good news is that nearly 2/3 of US adults say they plan to get vacinated this year. If you haven’t already done it, do something good for yourself and for anyone you could potentially infect. Get immunized in November.

Women in Children's Hospitals? The answer

SHB Webmaster — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:32:27 +0000

Four speakers addressed this question at the recent annual NACHRI Leadership Conference. The underlying theme was that hospitalized mothers and their NICU babies should be kept together to the extent possible for continuity of care, bonding and other compelling reasons. Two different models of freeleaning children and women’s hospitals were presented as case studies. Freestanding hospitals present more challenges to accomplish this objective. Panelists were Dr. Elena Gates, an OB/GYN from UCSF Medical Center/Benitoff Children’s Hospital, Jan Freitas-Nichols, MN, PNP, from OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Annie Coull, AIA, ACHA, with Anshen+Allen of Stantec and Judy Smith, MHA, Smith Hager Bajo.