May 6, 1997 - Grand Forks' only hospital is slowly beginning to provide care again. United Hospital was completely shut down for two weeks during the height of the Red River flooding. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson visited the emergency room today (TUESDAY) which is the first area of the hospital to begin seeing patients again. JOY: "I have a sore throat so I'm gonna see the doctor. Joy Jordheim sits patiently with her mother Pat, while she waits for medicine to cure a possible case of strep throat. Joy has been sick for five days, but her mother didn't take her to the doctor right away because it has been a major hassle getting medical care in Grand Forks:
May 5, 1997 - EVERY DAY, victims of domestic abuse looking for a way out quietly endure a frustrating search for shelter, only to hear repeatedly that there is no space available...they should call another shelter. What many women do not realize is that of the twelve domestic abuse shelters in the Twin Cities, there is almost ALWAYS a space somewhere. The challenge is finding it. But a new project underway this spring could make the search a little bit easier. The "Day One" project encourages shelters to share bed information with each other, so if they don't have space, they can refer women to another shelter that does have a bed. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, the project is long overdue in the eyes of abuse victims: | D-CART ITEM: 9585
April 24, 1997 - The National Weather Service is taking some heat over its failed Red River crest prediction. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports: The Mayor of East Grand Forks is blaming the National Weather Service for failing to give residents along the Red River "adequate warning" to prepare for this spring's massive flooding. Mayor Lynn Stauss told a group of flood victims staying in Bemidgi it wasn't their fault they did not buy flood insurance or protect their valuables. Stauss says residents trusted the weather service and its 49 foot flood crest prediction: STAUSS: "They not only missed it, they blew it big. Now they expect that everybody should have flood insurance or they're not going t
April 18, 1997 - Minnesota farmers grow soybeans mainly for cattle feed, but a growing body of research suggests people may want to include the beans in their daily diet. Nutritionist, Mark Messina has studied the health benefits of soybeans for the National Institutes of Health. Today, he will be in Saint Paul speaking to a group of registered dietitions about the health virtues of soybeans. Messina told Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson, soybeans are the only plant known to contain special chemicals called isoflavones that could lower the risk of osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease.
April 15, 1997 - A revolution is underway in medicine that could result in the mainstream acceptance of ancient healing techniques. Practitioners of accupuncture, massage and herbal remedies have often clashed with western-style doctors over a lack of strong scientific backing. But patients have been more receptive. A 1993 Harvard Medical School study found one-third of Americans use some form of alternative medicine. Each year, Americans spend more than 13 billion dollars out-of-pocket on these procedures and products. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, consumer interest in alternative medicine is forcing a dramatic change in the structure of modern medicine.
April 8, 1997 - Most Minnesotans will never suffer from salmonella, meningitis or tuberculosis. These diseases pop up occasionally but they rarely gain much of a foothold before public health workers reign them in. Monitoring the front line in this war against disease requires constant attention, something the State Public Health Laboratory has been doing for the past 100 years. As the lab marks it's centennial anniversary today Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson has this report on its coming of age.
February 26, 1997 - As part of Minnesota Public Radio's Voices of Minnesota series, a presentation of excerpts from an interview with George Latimer, former St. Paul mayor.
February 4, 1997 - This session, Congress is expected to tackle the thorny issue of reforming Medicare. Many seniors are worried the reform effort will ultimately translate into fewer benefits. But in Minnesota, seniors are actually hopeful they might come out ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
February 3, 1997 - The 1997 legislative session will be relatively low-key when it comes to health care. There are no major health reforms in the works...at least not anything on a scale comparable to the 1992 MinnesotaCare legislation. But, there is at least one health care issue brewing this session that could significantly change the way MinnesotaCare is financed. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports: MinnesotaCare is the state's subsized health care insurance plan for the uninsured. It's funded primarily through a 2-percent tax on providers including medical doctors, chiropractors and dentists.
January 31, 1997 - Currently about 20-percent of the state's nearly 8,000 physicians are women. But those numbers are expected to more than double in the next few years. That's because women are now attending the U of M Medical School at almost the same rate as men. .And before long, this gender parity in the classroom will begin showing up in the doctor's office. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, some female patients can hardly wait.