Martha Bebinger

In April, a vaccination site in Trousdale County, Tennessee, administered just a handful of shots throughout the entire day. Since then, the daily pace of vaccinations has slowed even further. Rural areas across the South still have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

As COVID Vaccinations Slow, Parts Of The U.S. Remain Far Behind 70% Goal

Blake Farmer

Vermont and Massachusetts lead the nation, with more than 70% of adults having had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Southern states such as Tennessee lag far behind.

After experiencing a suicidal crisis earlier this year, Melinda, a Massachusetts 13-year-old, was forced to remain 17 days in the local hospital's emergency room while she waited for a space to open up at a psychiatric treatment facility. She was only allowed to use her phone an hour a day in the ER; her mom visited daily, bringing books and special foods.

Kids In Mental Health Crisis Can Languish For Days Inside ERs

Martha Bebinger

The practice of housing children who are in psychiatric crisis in local ERs — often for days, while they await appropriate in-patient treatment — has become even more prevalent during the pandemic.

Interpreter Ana Maria Rios-Velez demonstrates the screening app at the front entrance of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. It has a multilingual function to better communicate with non-English speaking patients and staff.

The Pandemic Imperiled Non-English Speakers In A Hospital

Martha Bebinger

Data from a Boston hospital showed that Latino patients who did not speak English well had a 35% greater risk of death from COVID-19. The hospital has added interpretation capacity.

Health

Medical Residents Learn To Treat The Growing Health Hazards Of Climate Change

Martha Bebinger

From heat-related illness to mosquito-borne infections, physicians are seeing the effects of a warming planet in the exam room. There's a growing push to teach doctors-in-training how to respond.

Elections

What Is Political Messaging Around Affordable Care Act This Election Year?

Martha Bebinger

Health care is taking a bigger role in down-ballot races this fall, especially as the Supreme Court is set to hear another case that could determine the fate of the Affordable Care Act.