Agency data show lag in dental visits
People in Arkansas with dental insurance were among the least likely in the U.S. to have seen a dentist in the previous 12 months, according to data released by the National Center for Health Statistics.
In the nation's west south central region, an area comprising Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, 29.4% of adults hadn't gone to a dentist during the previous year -- the highest percentage in the country.
The national average was 22.1% of adults.
Government data also showed that the four-state region had the second-highest rate of insured adults, 5.4%, who reported unmet dental care needs because of cost.
In the mountain region made up of eight Western states, 7 percent of people had that problem.
About half of American adults had dental coverage between 2014 and 2017.
Hospital sets class on bleeding control
Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville will host a free "Stop the Bleed" training event Tuesday.
The program is designed to teach people to stop the bleeding from a traumatic injury, such as a gunshot wound.
A person can die from uncontrolled bleeding in five minutes, said Dr. Joe Olivi, medical director for trauma services for Northwest Health.
"Uncontrollable bleeding is the No. 1 cause of preventable death from trauma," he said.
"Those nearest to someone with a bleeding injury can make a life-saving difference if they are adequately trained."
The class will teach bleeding control through the correct use of pressure, gauze packs and tourniquets.
It begins at 5:30 p.m. in the hospital's classrooms.
Those interested can register by emailing communityrelations@nw-health.com.
UAMS' Hunt picked for dean fellowship
Dr. Jennifer Hunt of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences was selected for a national fellowship program, a news release said.
Hunt, who chairs the health sciences center's pathology and laboratory services department, was one of five people chosen for the Association of American Medical Colleges' Council of Deans Fellowship Program.
The fellowship is for medical leaders who are qualified to serve as deans.
Hunt, a specialist in endocrine, molecular anatomic and head and neck pathology, joined UAMS after stints at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and Harvard Medical School.
2 Arkansans back opioid-remedy bill
Two members of Arkansas' congressional delegation have joined as co-sponsors on a bill that would eliminate special requirements for doctors to dispense medication-assisted treatment for opioids.
Reps. Bruce Westerman and French Hill recently co-sponsored the legislation intended to scuttle rules requiring doctors to have a special waiver to dispense medications, such as buprenorphine, that are used to treat people with opioid addictions.
Public-health experts have been critical of the regulation, saying it inhibits addiction treatment.
House Resolution 2482, the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2019, has been referred to committees for review.
In Arkansas, 188 people died from opioid-related overdoses in 2017, and opioid abuse is thought to be prevalent in the state.
Metro on 05/26/2019