Some say cancer treatments can be just as bad for a patient’s well being as the cancer itself. But part-time Sanibel resident John Kanzius had aimed to change that. The late inventor and cancer patient developed a device, which some believe has the potential to cure cancer. Researchers continue to assess the new treatment, and, as WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports, the head researcher visited Florida Gulf Coast University Monday to update the findings.

Where we live matters to our health – according to a new report released today/Wednesday. The 2011 County Health Rankings analyzes the health of nearly every county in the nation. It ranks Collier County as the healthiest county in Florida for the second year in a row. For Healthy State dot org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

More than 65 million Americans live in areas without enough primary care providers – and the shortage is only expected to get worse. But health care reform is working to change that by expanding the National Health Service Corps. That federal program helps pay for aspiring primary care clinicians. The catch? They must work in areas where they’re needed most. For HealthyState.org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani has the story of two doctors and their experience with the corps.

When it comes to treating terminal illness, palliative care is often seen as the end of the fight. It focuses on quality of life rather than cure and is usually integrated in a patient’s final days or weeks in the form of hospice. But some question its traditional role in health care. A recent study shows that palliative care can not only help people live better, but also longer. As WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports, those in the field call for changing the way we view and use this so-called “end-of-life” care.

Asthma can be a difficult condition to live with – especially when you’re a student. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the chronic disease is one of the leading causes of school absences in the country. But there’s a southwest Florida program that’s working to change that. By working with the students, their parents, and their schools, it’s helping to keep them in the classroom and out of the hospital. As part of our Your Voice series on Education - WGCU’s Farah Dosani with Healthy State dot org reports. 

 

Death and loss may be a tough subject to talk about – but not for Dr. Ken Doka. The renowned author and professor of gerontology has been touring Southwest Florida this week speaking on issues dealing with death, dying, and grief. For HealthyState.org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

Hospice and palliative care workers across Florida are speaking out about ‘advance care’ or ‘end-of-life’ planning. This comes in light of the Obama administration reversing its decision to include these discussions as part of annual checkups for Medicare patients. Once dubbed by Sarah Palin as ‘death panels,’ those in the field hope to clear this myth. For HealthyState.org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

Though Florida has recently cracked down on the regulation of pill mills that illegally prescribe or dispense prescription drugs many pain clinics are legitimate. For HealthyState.org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports on one such clinic in Fort Myers that offers pain management services to those with little access to care and relief. No pills involved.

With the federal health care overhaul, Florida and other states brace for a large expansion of Medicaid in 2014. But many wonder who will take care of these new recipients. Patients today have trouble accessing doctors, because very few accept the insurance. Medicaid is even in state courts over the issue. Access to specialists is especially difficult for those on Medicaid in parts of Florida; some say it’s as bad as being uninsured.  For Healthy State dot org, WGCU’s Farah Dosani reports.

Areas across the state and country are helping their residents find a safe new home for their unwanted prescription drugs – including Collier County. It has established permanent drop-off boxes, where people can safely dispose of their meds anytime they want.