618: HIMSS Preview, NC Lead Investigation

JANSON SILVERS:   

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, March 11, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 

J.T. LANE:   

So, it's truly a massive global event that brings in experts from the public and private sector and technology and healthcare and medicine from all across the globe. 

SILVERS:   

ASTHO's the Senior Vice President for population health and innovation, J.T. Lane discusses the HIMSS Global Health Conference that kicks off today. Lane is there in person to dive into this year's theme of creating tomorrow's health. 

LANE:   

Public health has obviously lived in the world of big data for a long time as well. And so the key that we want to really hone in on for this year too, are what are the technology solutions? And what are the data needs that really can drive a more modern public health design and deployment at the community level? And also, how do we bring the community in? 

SILVERS:   

ASTHO was currently working on several projects that would support data modernization for state and territorial public health in the future. 

LANE:   

So many of the systems have been siloed or underfunded for so long. And when we're trying to transition to more of an enterprise-level vision and planning and implementation mode that is going to lead to a lot of change and how we've managed the technology apparatus of public health over the last 40 years. 

SILVERS:   

Lane says the HIMSS conference is so important because we have to figure out how to make all of our data work together. 

LANE:   

We're at a very pivotal moment in reforming the public health data ecosystem; it's a tough challenge. It's complicated and complex. And we've got to, I think, look to the future as a more integrated endeavor. 

SILVERS:   

A link to more information on the conference is in the shownotes. 

A public health success story from North Carolina is the focus of this week's health policy update. ASTHO's Maggie Davis says the state uses its public health authority to routinely screen for elevated lead levels in children. And what they recently found kicked off an international investigation.  

MAGGIE DAVIS:   

And in this case, they saw a massive spike in these higher elevated levels of lead in children in the western region of the state last fall. So, after seeing that elevated level, the health department started an investigation to see what were the potential sources. And what they ended up revealing is that there were three apple purée products that were the source in common for a lot of these children.  

SILVERS:   

Eventually, the investigation which involved the FDA and the CDC determined the products were likely contaminated in Ecuador by cinnamon, but it all started because of those routine screenings in North Carolina.  

DAVIS:   

So commonly, states have laws requiring young people usually at 12 and 24 months to be screened for lead exposure. So, this is usually a blood test. And so the public health officials and their doctors screened the blood for a higher level of lead than is normal. Even though there is no safe amount of lead exposure. There are some guidelines of what is considered you know, extremely risky or have a higher risk or concern. 

SILVERS:   

Davis says other states are trying to bolster their current screening programs. 

DAVIS:   

And we're starting to see in the 2024 sessions a few states to expand their existing programs to consider going to require screening for all children under the age of five in an effort to better identify where these potential sources of lead are because while we tend to think of childhood lead exposure of being you know, lead based paint, as we saw in this case, some sources of lead can be unknown. 

SILVERS:   

Learn more about this case in this week's health policy update. The link is in the show notes. And tune in later this week to hear North Carolina's perspective right here on this podcast. 

Also today, the USDA is considering some long term changes to nutrition standards. An ASTHO blog article takes you through the proposed moves, which include modifications to sugar, sodium, whole grain, and supply chain guidelines. The link is in the show notes.  

Finally this morning, stay up to date on public health news and other resources. When you sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly email newsletter, the link to sign up is in the show notes.  

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player, so you don't miss a single report and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.