Bridging The Great Health Divide

Alabama

A historic day for the state as Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the nation’s first elder...

Alabama creates elder abuse registry

Updated: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:10 PM CDT
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By Erin Davis
Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law the nation’s first elder abuse registry. This is “Shirley’s Law,” named after Shirley Holcombe, a victim of elder abuse.

Alabama

Rare disease transmitted by ticks reported in Alabama and Georgia

Updated: Mar. 31, 2022 at 9:28 PM CDT
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By Reagan Ranzer
Cases of a rare disease transmitted by ticks have been reported in Alabama and Georgia.

News

Southeast Health unveils new automated lab system

Southeast Health unveils new automated lab system

Updated: Mar. 25, 2022 at 2:55 PM CDT
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By Press Release
The improved efficiency from the new system will also provide faster and consistent testing turnaround times.

News

Exercise - courtesy of MGN

100 Alabama Miles Challenge kicks off Saturday

Updated: Mar. 24, 2022 at 12:47 PM CDT
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By Kinsley Centers
This virtual challenge will begin Saturday, March 26.

News

March 30 will be “Doctors Day” in Alabama

Updated: Mar. 24, 2022 at 11:13 AM CDT
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By WAFF 48 Digital Staff
Governor Kay Ivey is honoring the physicians who care for Alabamians by declaring March 30 as “Doctors Day”.

News

Grocery store inflation

High grocery store prices impact lower- and middle-class families

Updated: Mar. 23, 2022 at 5:57 PM CDT
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By Meredith Blair
Many consumers are finding themselves switching to more cost-efficient products.

Wiregrass Wellness

WAFF 48's Jasmyn Cornell reporting

New apprenticeship program to address nursing shortage in Alabama

Updated: Mar. 23, 2022 at 5:14 PM CDT
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By Jasmyn Cornell
The Alabama Community College System is partnering with the Office of Apprenticeship and hospitals to launch the nurse apprenticeship program. The program is being developed to help address the ongoing nursing shortage in Alabama.

News

During the first special session of 2022, the Alabama legislature passed bills dealing with...

Alabama hospitals, nursing homes split $80 million in ARPA funds

Updated: Mar. 22, 2022 at 5:33 PM CDT
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By Erin Davis
During the first special session of 2022, the Alabama legislature passed bills dealing with money from the American Rescue Plan Act. About $80 million was sent to the hospitals and nursing homes in the state to fight COVID-19.

Community

Destiny Church

Destiny Church focuses on mental health during March

Updated: Mar. 22, 2022 at 4:15 PM CDT
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By Meredith Blair
Pastor Goode began a mental health series, after realizing the pandemic was taking a toll on many.

News

(Source: Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention)

Exchange Center works to create a “trauma informed” community with annual conference

Updated: Mar. 18, 2022 at 5:58 PM CDT
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By Jayla Johnson
Experts at the Exchange Center for Childhood Abuse Prevention say the best way to inform the public is through hands on and interactive learning.
Local Radar
Local Radar

News

$12 million drug lab, mental heath center coming to Dothan

Updated: Mar. 16, 2022 at 5:52 AM CDT
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By Ken Curtis
State Representative Steve Clouse calls these “game changers” for law enforcement, behavioral care.

Community

Donations wanted for “Henry’s Closet”

Updated: Mar. 9, 2022 at 6:27 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
The center says this is the most impactful outreach project they’ve ever done for their families.

Community

“Veteran’s Garden” creates community at Landmark Park

Updated: Feb. 22, 2022 at 12:47 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
It’s all in an effort to strengthen our local food system, as extra produce goes to food banks.

Wiregrass Wellness

SE Health CEO speaks on medical center

Updated: Feb. 21, 2022 at 7:31 PM CST
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By Nick Brooks
CEO Rick Sutton spoke about COVID-19 and future goals.

Alabama

New bill could legalize fentanyl test strips in Alabama

Updated: Feb. 21, 2022 at 7:16 PM CST
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By Erin Davis
The bill would legalize fentanyl drug test strips that let a user know if his or her drugs are laced with fentanyl.

Wiregrass Wellness

Using the barbershop to change the narrative of mental health

Updated: Feb. 21, 2022 at 3:46 PM CST
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By Danya Bacchus, CBS News
The Confess Project is a coalition of Black barbers trained to be mental health advocates.

Wiregrass Wellness

“Hospital to Home” benefits families across the Wiregrass

Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 at 6:12 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
Personal care and home-delivered meals are a few services SARCOA's program is assisting seniors in need with after hospital discharge.

Community

Gov. Ivey announces grants to help domestic violence victims

Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 at 11:03 AM CST
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By Charles Montgomery
The grants total $567,424 and are from the American Rescue Plan that relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wiregrass Wellness

Program hopes to use dogs’ sense of smell to save lives

Updated: Feb. 12, 2022 at 10:39 PM CST
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By Kenneth Smith
Different samples of pet saliva are put in containers. The dogs are trained to sniff out the one with cancer.

News

“I feel wonderful,” Teen heart transplant survivor reflects on journey

Updated: Feb. 11, 2022 at 6:10 PM CST
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By Kinsley Centers
For American Heart Month we are sharing the journey of heart transplant survivor, Jaquavion “Qua” Johnson.

Wiregrass Wellness

New research program could mean big things for the Wiregrass

Updated: Feb. 10, 2022 at 7:17 PM CST
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By Jayla Johnson
Medical experts in the Wiregrass say a new research program coming to the area could benefit the community.

Alabama

Alabama lawmakers mull bill banning gender transition treatments for minors

Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 at 8:17 PM CST
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By Erin Davis
A bill now headed to the Alabama Senate floor would charge doctors with a felony if they treat a transgender youth with hormonal therapy, puberty blockers, or if they perform surgery to alter the minor’s appearance.

Black History Month

Recent suicides show need for mental health care in Black community

Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 at 9:10 AM CST
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By Jasmine Williams
Their deaths have shown a tragic trend in the African American community, one that’s become worst since the pandemic.

Wiregrass Wellness

Pandemic leading adolescents to serious mental health issues

Updated: Feb. 7, 2022 at 1:58 PM CST
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By Kinsley Centers
Health experts say children and teens separated from their peers and learning to deal with loss over the past few years took its toll.

News

ADPH: Heart disease is state’s leading cause of death

Updated: Feb. 6, 2022 at 7:07 PM CST
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By Brady Talbert
Every 36 seconds one person dies of heart disease. It’s an alarming statistic from the CDC, which reports around 659,000 deaths a year.

News

Breaking the stigma: There is a “pandemic with mental health,” says prevention specialist

Updated: Feb. 4, 2022 at 1:09 PM CST
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By Kinsley Centers
COVID-19 is not the only pandemic we are facing, a Wiregrass prevention specialist tells News 4 we are in a pandemic when it comes to mental health.

Wiregrass Wellness

SE Health celebrates Heart Health Month

Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 7:01 PM CST
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By Carmen Fuentes
Heart Health Month runs Feb. 1st - 28th

Food

The 4-H peanut butter and jelly drive is back

Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 6:23 PM CST
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By Jayla Johnson
This year’s goal is to collect 3,600 pounds of food.

Wiregrass Wellness

Researchers may have found exercise benefits in a pill

Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 4:47 PM CST
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By Rick Portier
Everyone knows exercise makes you healthy but what if you could get the benefits of a 30-minute workout in a pill?

Politics

Bill would strip Southeast Health board of appointment power

Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 2:30 PM CST
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By Ken Curtis
Houston County Commissioners would have sole discretion who they appoint to a powerful healthcare board if a legislative bill introduced this week wins final approval.

Education

ESCC nursing facility passes inspection

Updated: Jan. 26, 2022 at 7:42 PM CST
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By Nick Brooks
Enterprise State Community College is one step closer to opening its new nursing facility.

Community

Dothan church plans to house the homeless during the cold winter weather

Updated: Jan. 26, 2022 at 7:03 PM CST
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By Jayla Johnson
With temperatures expected to dip below freezing this weekend, one Dothan church is looking to make sure everyone stays warm.

Community

Alzheimer’s Resource Center gets new executive director

Updated: Jan. 24, 2022 at 4:37 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
Daniel Axtell has stepped up in place of Kay Jones, after she retired in November.

Wiregrass Wellness

Brain-dead human receives first transplant of genetically altered pig kidney from UAB

Updated: Jan. 20, 2022 at 4:50 PM CST
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By WBRC Staff
The transplant is a major milestone in world medicine.

Dothan

Dothan PD better equipped to assist sensory disabled

Updated: Jan. 18, 2022 at 3:36 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
Dothan Police Department has received sensory inclusive first responder certification.

State

City of Oxford working to get Safe Haven Baby Box

Updated: Jan. 12, 2022 at 1:59 PM CST
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By Bria Chatman
Alabama’s Safe Haven law allows parents to surrender their babies to a fire station or local hospital. Now, the city of Oxford is working a on a new option to help keep infants safe.

Safety

Poison control expert warns about dangers of carbon monoxide during the winter

Updated: Jan. 10, 2022 at 1:51 PM CST
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By WTVY Staff
The Alabama Poison Information Center received 144 calls about carbon monoxide exposures and poisonings in 2021.

Wiregrass Wellness

Southeast nursing turnover rates among highest in the U.S.

Updated: Jan. 9, 2022 at 11:45 PM CST
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By Russell Jones
“Many nurses are taking the opportunity to go travel, sometimes out of state and sometimes locally, to make more money.”

Safety

Suicide among top reasons for law enforcement deaths in 2021

Updated: Jan. 7, 2022 at 6:57 PM CST
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By Nick Brooks
Suicide ranked second in deaths among law enforcement behind COVID-19.

Wiregrass Wellness

‘Count the Kicks’ campaign encourages expecting moms to notice babies’ movements

Updated: Jan. 5, 2022 at 5:54 AM CST
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By Bethany Davis
The Alabama Department of Public Health has a new message for expecting mothers to “count the kicks” of their babies, and it’s offering some tools to help.

Wiregrass Wellness

Next global health crisis may lurk in antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Updated: Jan. 3, 2022 at 1:57 PM CST
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By WTVY Staff
Bacterial infections that would normally be treated with antibiotics are becoming more resistant to these medications every day.

News

ADPH Launches partnerships with an app for expecting mothers

Updated: Dec. 30, 2021 at 8:59 PM CST
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By Jayla Johnson
The Alabama Department of Public Health is partnering with the app Count the Kicks to help expecting mothers.

Alabama

Governor awards $1.4 million to support nonprofit organizations that help child abuse victims

Updated: Dec. 17, 2021 at 1:50 PM CST
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By WTVY Staff
The grants will help nine nonprofit organizations provide services including counseling, advocacy, emotional support, safety services and referrals.

Wiregrass Wellness

Alabama infant mortality rate hits 50-year low

Updated: Dec. 15, 2021 at 3:57 PM CST
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By WSFA 12 News Staff
For 2020, the Alabama Department of Public Health reports a tie with 2018 for the lowest death rate in more than five decades.

News

Early County Schools opens school-based clinic

Updated: Dec. 13, 2021 at 11:26 PM CST
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By Jayla Johnson
Early County Schools is changing their approach with a school-based health center at Early County Elementary School.

Wiregrass Wellness

Wallace College adds certified medication assistant program

Updated: Dec. 13, 2021 at 5:53 PM CST
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By Meredith Blair
A new course added to Wallace college this fall will benefit students entering the medical field.

Community

Georgia cotton farmers donate socks to Homeless Resource Network

Updated: Dec. 10, 2021 at 3:12 PM CST
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By Dajhea Jones
Georgia cotton farmers donate socks to Homeless Resource Network

Wiregrass Wellness

Study finds self-administered cognition test accurately predicts early dementia sooner

Updated: Dec. 8, 2021 at 8:09 PM CST
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By WTVY Staff
A new study finds that a simple, self-administered test identifies the early, subtle signs of dementia sooner than standard testing.

Alabama

Alabama hospitals seeing increase in trauma patients amid nationwide blood shortage

Updated: Dec. 2, 2021 at 11:35 PM CST
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By Lauren Jackson
UAB’s emergency rooms are seeing more trauma patients and it is happening during a time when blood supply is critically low nationwide.

Wiregrass Wellness

Dental access in Alabama is shrinking, what you need to know

Updated: Dec. 1, 2021 at 1:09 PM CST
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By Jennifer Horton
Alabama dentists say the state is on the verge of a workforce crisis. One-third of Alabama’s dentists are sixty years or older. At least half of those practice in rural Alabama, which means the majority of rural dentists are eyeing retirement.