Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage
Green energy pays for itself in lives saved from smog
New Scientist (website)
Sept. 22
Switching to clean energy might seem like the expensive option, but it would pay for itself almost immediately, according to a new analysis. … By 2050, 1.3 million early deaths could be avoided every year. The conclusion … offers support for the US Environmental Protection Agency, which on Friday proposed limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new coal-fired and gas-fired power. … "The work strengthens the case for these new regulations by pointing out the air quality and health benefits," says Jason West at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who led the analysis.
Stay Healthy: The Doctor Will See (All of) You Now
Parade Magazine
Sept. 21
When a dozen pregnant women arrive at the University of North Carolina Family Medicine Center in Chapel Hill, all with the same appointment time, it’s not a scheduling snafu. They will see their doctor on time—together. “We have been doing group visits in our practice since 2001,” says the department’s residency director, Cristy Page, M.D. Page says that about 40 percent of the clinic’s prenatal patients choose group care when offered the choice, and the rate can be even higher for second pregnancies.
Patients who come to the ED for mental health issues can need lifesaving care
Nurse.com
Sept. 23
Psychiatric emergencies can be as serious as a medical condition, but in traditional EDs, mental health patients may wait for treatment. …As demand for emergency care has increased, so has the number of mental health patients seeking services. A study from the Carolina Center for Health Informatics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported in 2013 that nearly 10% of ED visits in North Carolina from 2008-2010 were for mental health diagnoses, and the rate of mental health related visits increased seven times more than overall ED visits.
State schools fail to keep eye on potential test cheating
The Seattle Times
Sept. 21
Each school year, Washington education officials receive, at most, a handful of allegations that teachers cheated to inflate student scores on state tests. Many years, they receive none at all.
…. But test tampering could be a bigger problem than they realize. …In the past year, two prestigious national organizations have recommended that post-test analysis be a regular part of any state testing program. …Greg Cizek, a professor of educational measurement and evaluation at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, called such states [that do not conduct post-test analysis] irresponsible.“ A state’s primary obligation is to ensure that the scores reported on their tests are valid,” he said.
State & Local Coverage
Barnett: Folt off to a promising start as UNC chancellor
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Sept. 22
Carol Folt, now nearly three months into her job as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is impressing people inside and outside of the Carolina community with her engaging personality, her diplomatic skills and her eagerness to learn.
Video job interviews increase opportunities for employers, workers
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Sept. 21
…Navigating an interview from behind a computer screen is becoming increasingly common for job applicants. A recent survey by Right Management, a global workforce consulting firm with offices in Raleigh and High Point, found that 18 percent of job candidates have participated in a video interview within the last year, more than double the percentage that had done so a year ago. … “With Skype, you can see how comfortable someone is with technology,” said Ray Angle, director of career services at UNC Chapel Hill. …
Science Briefs
The Observer (Charlotte)
Sept. 22
A literacy webcam coaching strategy, developed by researchers at UNC Chapel Hill, has been shown to significantly help struggling kindergarten and first-grade readers in rural classrooms keep pace with their peers. Targeted Reading Intervention webcam coaching also achieves this at low cost by eliminating geographic barriers and reducing the need for special education.
N.C. declines to implement healthcare law
The Observer (Fayetteville)
Sept. 22
On Oct. 1, as many as 1.5 million North Carolina residents will be swept into a complex government program that will force them to buy health insurance. … North Carolina and 26 other states decided not to provide their residents with a health care exchange, also called the Health Insurance Marketplace. … "The disadvantage is that the state doesn't have a role in shaping the creation and implementation of the exchange – it is run by Washington," said Jonathan Oberlander, professor of social medicine and health policy and management at UNC.
Issues & Trends
Business leaders air education concerns
Watauga Democrat (Boone)
Sept. 21
Several Boone Area Chamber of Commerce members expressed this sentiment at a presentation by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce held at Wells Fargo in Boone. "It's critical … to rural communities that we don't de-invest in those things — that we reinvest," said Jason Triplett, chairman of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce board. …This year's state budget decreased funding to the University of North Carolina system by 4.7 percent compared to the amount legislative staff said would be needed to sustain spending at last year's levels. …