Transforming Health Stories
-
Brett Sholtis
Pregnant and on heroin when a nurse changed her life, she worries others won’t get help
With a budget in question, a program pairing pregnant women with nurses could lose funding.
-
A new Pa. bill would make it easier for doctors to get insurance approval to treat patients
The proposal would require insurers to provide doctors with more information upfront.
-
Exploring health challenges within the LGBTQ+ community
-
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Health care worker shortage, behavioral health resources top concerns for hospital execs in Pa.
Shortages of nurses, doctors and other qualified workers was a challenge before the coronavirus strained hospitals, however, the virus accelerated the need for action, as burned-out nurses fled intensive care units flooded with COVID-19 patients.
-
Brett Sholtis
As 988 hotline goes live in Pennsylvania, crisis centers need workers
Pennsylvania crisis intervention centers are facing a staffing shortage at a time when demand is expected to increase.
-
Kate Landis
Bucks County, prison guards sued for pepper spraying, restraining woman with mental illness
A Yardley couple is suing Bucks County and 10 county jail employees over what they allege were civil rights violations against their daughter, 29-year-old Kim Stringer.
-
Jae C. Hong
Nurses in Pennsylvania waited months to get licenses to work during historic staffing shortage
NPR found Pennsylvania processed LPN applications more slowly than any other state and was among the slowest at issuing RN licenses last year.
-
Brett Sholtis
People with mental illness to lose home over Norristown land deal
“The system is really at a critical point now.”
-
Jeremy Long
With Pa. hospitals desperate for nurses, ‘travelers’ make the best of a bad situation
Stressed out nurses are ditching their jobs for lucrative travel gigs, while overburdened hospitals see record staffing shortages.
Transforming Health Videos
-
LGBTQ+ Health
LGBTQ+ individuals may have many of the same health concerns as the general population but experience health challenges at higher rates. Research has shown that a history of discrimination and stigma has contributed to higher rates of mental illness among LGBTQ+ community members. We’ll explore the health concerns for those in the LGBTQ+ community and hear individual stories.
-
Substance Abuse in a Pandemic
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are also facing a substance use crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the pandemic has prompted more people to start or increase use of a substance as a way of coping with the stress. Overdose deaths have also spiked since the start of the pandemic.
-
Delaying Care During a Pandemic
The biggest concern we had when we were at the beginning of the pandemic and everything was shutting down was that we were not doing our mammogram screenings and it was a lack of knowledge on how this virus spreads.
-
Routine Healthcare in a Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many put off routine healthcare and screenings in order to stay away from the doctor’s office but what are the lasting effects of this delay in healthcare? How are those that delayed their care getting back on track? Plus – what role will telemedicine continue to play in the future of healthcare?
Transforming Health is about health care – not only its quality and costs, but the importance of maintaining good health through individual and collective action. It’s a look at the rapidly changing health in America and in Central Pennsylvania, through Transforming Health on WITF, in partnership with Capital Blue Cross and WellSpan Health.
One More Moment
Every year tens of thousands of people in the United States decide life is too much to bear. One More Moment is a collection of stories from those who have been touched by suicide. Listen as they share sadness, joy and hope for one more moment.
Stay and connect. Share if you’d like. You are worth one more moment.
Through the Cracks will draw on experts and first-hand accounts to target problems and break down stigma associated with mental health. Both data-driven and deeply personal, this months-long series aims to spark conversations, question policymakers and health care leaders, and result in measurable improvements for those who need help.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in the nation. Every day, thousands of Pennsylvanians—mothers and fathers, children, neighbors—struggle to overcome addiction. Rural and urban, rich and poor, the opioid crisis affects all of us.
Here With You
Together, WITF, Capital Blue Cross and WellSpan Health have launched “Here with You,” a special Transforming Health campaign designed to promote physical and mental resiliency during these challenging times and beyond. We’re distributing resources to children and families, providing free access to technology and engaging the community.
Discover more about Here With You.
