Minnesota plays a unique role in the arena of health, with impactful political/cultural moments, and important contributions from institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Hazelden, UCare, among others. Over the decades, MPR News and American RadioWorks have produced a breadth of reports and programming specifically dedicated to the subject of health. This collection includes interviews, debates, speeches, and documentaries that provide greater detail to the many facets of healthcare, from both a local and national perspective.
June 2, 1998 - Constance Swank, Research Director of the AARP, discusses American Association of Retired Persons study about the opinions of "Baby Boomers" about their retirement years. Swank also answers listener questions. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was in Minneapolis for its national convention.
June 2, 1998 - The Who's Song "My Generation" spoke for many baby boomers in the sixties, who couldn't envision the day when they'd be their parents' age. Thirty years on.... it's happened. According to the American Association of Retired People, one person every eight seconds turns 50 in the United States. Over time, the impact of baby boomer numbers has changed schools, the workplace and family life. And now, officials in Minnesota and throughout the country are trying to anticipate what kind of impact they'll have on the greying of America. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.
June 2, 1998 - There's a mix of glitz, glamour, and politics over the next few days as representatives of the nations seniors gather in Minneapolis. Astronaut Shannon Lucid and entertainer Debbie Reynolds are among the celebrities appearing at the American Association of Retired Persons' national convention running through Thursday. The AARP is the nation's leading organization for people 50 and older. Convention organizers say even though most of the seminars will focus on issues important to seniors, the event is inter-generational. Minnesota Public Radio's Todd Moe reports.
June 3, 1998 - Independent living is one of the topics during the AARP conference tomorrow afternoon. It's an issue we all wonder about as we age. How can we stay in our own homes as long as possible? Geriatrician Eric Tangalos says living at home is not only a personal preference for most people...it's also healthier.
June 3, 1998 - Vice President Al Gore pledged today in Minneapolis that he and the President Clinton will protect social security and Medicare. He also told seniors gathered for the AARP national convention that he'll fight for a patient's bill of rights to protect against what he says are abuses in managed health care. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.
June 3, 1998 - THE ANNUAL AARP CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS THIS WEEK IS FOR MEMBERS FIFTY AND OLDER. BUT ONE CAMPAIGN BEING LAUNCHED AT THE CONVENTION IS AIMED AT BABIES. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS HEALTH EDUCTORS HAVE BEEN TEACHING PARENTS ABOUT WAYS TO PREVENT SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROM OR SIDS. NOW AS MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S MARY STUCKY REPORTS MEDICAL AUTHOTIRITES BELIEVE ITS ESPECIALLY IMPROTANT FOR GRANDPARENTS TO GET THIS MESSAGE. nats 24:05 "Look at that. Are you going to make some noise?" (crying)
June 4, 1998 - Dr. Allen S. Levine, Director of the Minnesota Obesity Center, at the VA Medical Center, discusses the implications of The National Institutes of Health’s new body weight guidelines. Levine also answers listener questions. The Obesity Center has researchers from the VA, the Mayo, the U of M, and the Hennepin County medical Center.
June 4, 1998 - On the tails of a legal victory in his case against the tobacco industry, State Attorney General Skip Humphrey maintains a good share of support from Minnesota voters for his decision to settle the case before it went to jury. That's according to a new poll released by MPR, the Pioneer Press and KARE-11. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports:
June 5, 1998 - Millions of pounds of toasted oat cererals made by Malt-O-Meal at its Northfield plant are being recalled. The cereal is linked, but not positively identified, as the source of nationwide salmonella poisonings that have put 40 people in the hospital. State officials say over 100 Minnesotans have called the Health Department complaining of poisoning symptoms. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. People in twelve states have complained they contracted the flu like symptoms of salmonella poisoning - vomiting, diaherra, high fever and severe headache - and one of the links among all of them is one of Malt-O-Meal's toasted oat products. Minnesota Department of Health
June 9, 1998 - U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigators have more evidence linking Malt-o-Meal's Northfield cereal plant to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 200 people. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen has more: This much is certain: FDA investigators discovered salmonella bacteria in unopened boxes of Malt-o-Meal cereal produced at the company's Northfield plant. FDA spokesman Don Ayrd says the salmonella from the unopened boxes is the same strain that sickened hundreds throughout the Midwest and East Coast. "The odds of it being .... almost confirmation." :10 Ayrd says all that's left to do to be 100 percent sure is to perform what he calls a "fingerprinting" test: