Insights

<p>Why did a Northern California hospital chain report suspiciously high rates of malnutrition in its elderly patients? Answers and more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Health journalists and patient advocates should be on high alert for the changes that are sure to come with the announcement last week that <a href="../../../../../../../../blogs/man-survives-alien-tumor-health-journalism-its-finest">the FDA has approved the Lap-Band device</a> for nearly every person with a few pounds to lose.</p>

<p>Carbon dioxide gets most of the public attention as the main driver of climate change, a serious and increasing threat to public health worldwide. <br />But “black carbon” or “soot” emitted from diesel engines, cook stoves, brick kilns, agricultural burning and other sources in the developing and developed world poses a serious health risk for people especially in south and east Asia.</p>

<p>Here’s the latest in health and health journalism news from Reporting on Health.</p> <p><strong>Cancer:</strong> You know you want to click on this story from Chico, Calif.: <a href="http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/02/06/man-survives-huge-%E2%80%98al…;“Man Survives Huge ‘Al

<p>If you're looking for affordable and convenient journalism training (that you can do in your pajamas), there are few better resources than <a href="http://www.newsu.org/">Poynter News University</a>.&nbsp;This week in&nbsp;Career GPS, we bring you the best ideas for health journalists from the 100th NewsU webinar, and new health media job openings.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.consumersunion.org/">Consumers Union</a> is offering a great opportunity for people focused on health care and health journalism to make their voices heard.</p><p>From now until next Friday, Feb. 25, Consumer Union’s <a href="https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/Advocacy?page=UserActionInactive… Patient Project</a> will be gathering opinions from people about Medicare’s new <a href="http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-doctor/provider-search.aspx">Physician Compare</a> site to submit as part of Medicare’s open comment period on the site.</p>

<p>Getting ready for a huge study of the Gulf oil spill's affects on human health, plus more from our Daily Briefing.</p>

<p>Do public health professionals have certain political responsibilities?</p>

<p>While speaking at the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah (left, photo source USAID) told the audience of scientists how the development agency would support the creation of new innovations and their delivery to improve the health of the world’s neediest popul

<p>Now we can go to the starting line. After a bit of uncertainty injected into the process by in-state political maneuvering, the Kansas Insurance Department has been awarded an "early innovator" grant to help the state set up its insurance exchange program.</p>