Insights

<p>Though blogging and social media have been around for some time now, some people still argue that blogging, social media and journalism should be independent of one another. Scott Hensley of NPR's Shots blog contends that couldn’t be further from the truth.</p>

<p>Dramatic progress in lowering sepsis rates in California hospitals, the latest on smoking bans, and medical marijuana news, plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>In today's hyper-evolving social media world, it might seem quaint, if not downright foolish, to believe that old school journalism's low-tech and low-cost approaches — a pen, a pad, and shoe-leather investigation — could result in an article that ignites a global furor.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>How one reporter covered community health issues facing two neighborhoods facing each other across a toxic river in the middle of the Superfund site.</p>

<p>Why do Mexican-American schoolchildren in California have seven times more flame retardant in their systems than their peers in Mexico? Answers and more in our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Homeless people who are discharged from acute care hospital to a step-down care center, or medical respite bed, are less likely to be readmitted in 90-days, according to an October, 2009 study in <em>The Journal of Prevention and Intervention in The Communit</em>y.</p>

<p>The charade perpetrated by William Hamman, the United Airlines pilot who had a second, lucrative <a href="../../../../../../../../blogs/william-hamman-wisconsins-flying-fake-cardiologist-sailed-past-many-who-easily-could-have-caug">career as a fake cardiologist</a>, is starting to have consequences.</p>

<p>In Los Angeles, five communities were awarded money to encourage healthier lifestyles that include bicycling and walking. Have these grants improved public health? Damien Newton will investigate.</p>

<p>Redefining Alzheimer's disease could dramatically change the way this disease of aging is diagnosed, treated. Plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Every ER has patients like "Sam." The staff call them "frequent fliers" because they patch them up and discharge them, only to watch them return an hour or a day or a week later with another problem. &nbsp;How much should the health care system spend to help someone who won't help himself?&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>