December 2021

WASHINGTON – Most older Americans have had to use telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and many were comfortable with it, but a new poll finds persistent concerns about issues like technology, the quality of care and patient privacy.

WASHINGTON – For nearly two years, most student loan borrowers have been spared the obligation of making payments on their balances. Their interest rate has been frozen, and for the millions in default, the collection calls have stopped.

The American Red Cross is urging people to donate blood as the organization experiences the lowest blood supply and donor turnout that it’s had ahead of the holiday season in more than a decade. While donor turnout typically declines during the holidays, turnout in recent months has been especially low and especially troubling, said Krystal Smith, communications director for the American Red Cross North Texas Region.

You’ve probably seen medical illustrations in textbooks or at the doctor’s office, but have you ever seen one featuring a person of color? Last month, an illustration of a pregnant Black woman went viral on Twitter and many users commented that they’d never seen an image like it. The image, created by future Nigerian medical student and illustrator Chidiebere Ibe, has drawn attention to efforts by artists of color to bring more diversity to the drawings, which can impact patient care.

Glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at an “exceptional” rate because of global warming, threatening the water supply of millions of people in Asia, a study published last week said. The study revealed Himalayan glaciers are shrinking far more rapidly than glaciers in other parts of the world.