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Irish Times: One U.S. citizen in six has little or no medical insurance

The United States came off poorly in a World Health Organization report on international health systems, according to an article in the Irish Times on April 9. Larry Culpepper, BUSM professor and chairman of the department of family medicine, cites as one of the reasons for this that one person in six in the United States is either underinsured or not insured at all for health care. He also points out a significant imbalance between specialists and primary care physicians. Referring to a recent U.S. Institute of Medicine report, entitled Crossing the Quality Chasm, Culpepper outlines the challenges faced by primary care in the United States, including the need to change to medical care based on healing relationships. "Professional autonomy must give way to a system based on patients' needs and values," he says.

Today show: Effects of overly aggressive parents and coaches on kids

Today show news anchor Ann Curry interviewed Len Zaichkowsky, SED professor of developmental studies and counseling, and two-time Olympic medalist Kristine Lilly, of the U.S. women's soccer team and the WUSA's Nickerson Field-based Boston Breakers, on April 9 about the harmful effects of overly aggressive parents and coaches on kids who compete in sports. Zaichkowsky told Curry that there are many reasons why such aggressive behavior takes place. "One of the things we've learned is that the parents overidentify with the youngsters in sports and overidentify with the sport. Maybe it's something they were involved in and have this passion for. That's coupled with the fact that parents want the best for their children -- to achieve, to be number one. And then perhaps they'll get a free education in college, go on to glory in the Olympics and professional sports." But, Zaichkowsky pointed out, "So very few really rise to the top that Kristine is at."

Boston Herald: Experts differ on who won standoff

While the United States won release of its 24 servicemen and women and the Chinese government saved face, its Olympic bid, and its largest trading partner, experts are divided over who came out on top in the standoff, reports the April 12 Boston Herald. Merle Goldman, CAS history professor and Chinese historian, says, "I think [President] Bush and Colin Powell handled this very delicate diplomatic dance very smoothly and almost elegantly. We did not give in to their demands to make an apology. The fact that the letter from Bush expressing 'regret' for the incident and saying the United States was 'very sorry' for the presumed loss of the Chinese pilot was written in English allowed some leeway for both sides. The Chinese are saying we apologized. This is the way they are interpreting it in their own newspapers. But we didn't. It is 'we're very, very sorry' in our translation."

Boston Herald: Nursing home crisis seen for Bay State

Massachusetts is on the verge of running out of nursing home beds, a study released on April 12 asserts, leaving families with no options for elders who need skilled care by January 2003. Alan Sager, a School of Public Health professor of health services, who worked on the state report, entitled Where Will Your Mother Go? says in the April 13 Boston Herald that the state already spends more than the national average on nursing homes, but it's not enough. "The number of people who need nursing homes will rise," he says. The study "propels us forward and compels us to take a close look at the nursing home problems."

"In The News" is compiled by Mark Toth in the Office of Public Relations.

23 April 2001
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