Nurses Want Industry Reforms to Enhance Life-Saving Treatment

Understaffed, these dialysis nurses say they are pressured to rush through life-saving treatments and work excessive hours. Nurses and patients spoke at this New America Media & SEIU-United Health Workers media briefing to share why they believe reform is needed and how SB 349 might help. “Things are not right in this industry.” Watch the […]

Youth Radio podcast: Healthcare

Young people are thought of as the healthiest among us, and it can be easy to discount how essential quality healthcare can be for youth. A 20-year-old Bay Area woman and others describe how asthma impacts her life nearly every day, and how access to a doctor is literally a lifeline. “It’s like a disability […]

#Health4AllKids is no longer just a hashtag

State Senator Ricardo Lara, a Democrat who helped draft the Health For All Kids Act, spoke to media and community members about the program this month. An estimated 170,000 undocumented children are expected to enroll in the program, which will help cover many of those left uninsured by gaps in the Affordable Care Act. “Lara shared with the gathering […]

Health for All Kids Act expected to serve 185,000 children

The Health for All Kids Act, signed into law last year, allows undocumented children under the age of 19 to apply for health coverage under Medi-Cal. Advocates and state legislators appeared in Coachella recently to promote insurance enrollment under the new law, and to lobby for similar legislation to promote health equality. “What we’re doing here in California is […]

How a game of tag taught me about health

Alondra Jimenez remembers the scene in the local emergency room when she dislocated her wrist as a small child. The wait was long, and the care inadequate. Even then, she knew something about the healthcare system wasn’t fair. “My experience as a child influenced me to become an advocate for my community’s health — because the […]

Heart2Heart trains future health leaders

Hundreds of Eastern Coachella Valley students earned their CPR certification at a health career event at Desert Mirage High School. The event, hosted by the Heart2Heart Foundation, connected students with dozens of health career representatives and was created to stoke confidence and a sense of adult responsibility. “Learning these life saving skills shows leadership and it gives you […]

FACES – Building a future with Rady Children’s Hospital

Health providers in San Diego say their industry needs students from City Heights to train in the healthcare professions — a diverse workforce to serve a diverse patient population. FACES for the Future is a career mentorship program that seeks to do just that. “FACES was created to help inspire and support youth in succeeding academically, and to prepare youth for […]

Healthcare is coming for undocumented – is Long Beach ready?

Undocumented kids growing up in Long Beach couldn’t always go to see a doctor when they felt ill. Now, Senate Bill 4, the Health for All Kids Act, will allow income-eligible, undocumented youth to qualify for health coverage under Medi-Cal. But getting the tens of thousands of families who qualify in Long Beach enrolled won’t be easy. “[Eligible residents] have said they often forego healthcare and other […]

New healthcare clinic opens in Coachella

The eastern Coachella Valley just opened its first Desert Oasis Healthcare facility. Coachella has been classified a medically underserved area since 1995, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The new center will help bring much-needed services, health classes, and providers to the community. “We are hoping the eastern Coachella Valley community will embrace this […]

A call for nurses in Kern high schools

Over half of school districts in California report having no nurse personnel. Within Kern County high schools, which have over 35,000 students, making it the largest high school district in the state, there are currently four nurses. The nationally recommended ratio is one nurse for every 750 students. Members of the community are voicing their frustration. “The high schools at this point, no matter how […]