Department of Health Policy Archives
Study finds increased risk of serious opioid events in mothers, regardless of dose
Apr. 26, 2021—A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers finds that new mothers who receive opioids after uncomplicated vaginal births face an increased risk of serious opioid-related events regardless of the opioid dosage, a finding that could significantly impact care delivery.
Physician-scientists Aliyu, Tindle elected to ASCI
Mar. 31, 2021—Vanderbilt’s Muktar Aliyu, MBBS, MPH, DrPH, and Hilary Tindle, MD, MPH, will be inducted this year into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), an elite honor society of physician-scientists from the upper ranks of academic medicine and industry.
Preterm births in Tennessee decreased during pandemic
Mar. 15, 2021—Statewide stay-at-home orders put in place as Tennessee fought to control the spread of coronavirus last March were associated with a 14% lower rate of preterm birth, according to a research letter published today in JAMA Pediatrics.
Discovery Lecture to feature geriatric medicine expert Cassel
Mar. 11, 2021—Christine Cassel, MD, a leading expert in geriatric medicine, medical ethics and the quality of care, will deliver the next web-based Discovery Lecture on Thursday, March 25, at 4 p.m. via Zoom.
VUMC investigator expands HIV research into South Africa
Feb. 18, 2021—A Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigator is hoping to improve access to HIV testing in South Africa, where more than 7 million people are known to have the virus, by training traditional healers to perform the tests.
Poll findsTennessee parents concerned about education, children’s mental health as COVID-19 presses on
Jan. 21, 2021—The latest Vanderbilt Child Health Poll release found that many Tennessee parents are worried about the mental health of their children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over 80% of parents had concerns about their children attending school remotely. The Poll also revealed that schooling practices and mental health concerns have varied widely among Tennessee families of different racial and economic groups.
Study shows drastic increases in opioid-affected births
Jan. 12, 2021—The rate of mothers who had an opioid-related diagnosis when delivering their baby increased by 131% from 2010-2017, as the incidence of babies diagnosed with drug withdrawal, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), increased by 82% nationally during that same time period.
Tennessee’s uninsured children have doubled since 2019 and 2 in 5 live with food insecurity, poll finds
Dec. 21, 2020—In fall 2020, 9% of Tennessee children were uninsured, more than twice the level at the same time in 2019, according to a new poll conducted by the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy. Just 4% of children were uninsured in fall 2019, the poll found.
Poll shows fewer than 6 in 10 Tennessee parents report wearing masks all the time, nearly half won’t vaccinate their children for COVID-19
Dec. 8, 2020—Many Tennessee parents are not wearing masks consistently to control community spread of COVID-19, despite recommendations from public health officials, according to new a poll conducted by the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy.
Panel discusses current health policy landscape
Dec. 3, 2020—The difficulty of policymaking with a divided government and electorate was the underlying theme of the Research into Policy and Practice webinar sponsored by the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as panelists and attendees gathered virtually to take measure of the post-election American landscape, over which hangs the pall of a surging pandemic.
JAMA Health Forum to become full-fledged journal in 2021
Dec. 3, 2020—Just a year after its founding as an online channel of information, the Journal of the American Medical Association’s (JAMA’s) Health Forum will become a full-fledged journal in January 2021.
Tennessee areas without mask requirements have higher death toll per capita
Nov. 10, 2020—Tennessee areas where mask requirements were instituted over the summer have substantially lower death rates due to COVID-19 as compared to areas without mask requirements, according to a new analysis by Vanderbilt Department of Health Policy researchers.
