Listen Last year set another record for overdose deaths in Tennessee. The state’s health department released the latest figures Monday that showed 1,776 fatal overdoses in 2017.
How A Nashville Startup’s App Is Becoming Part Of Tennessee’s Opioid Response
Listen A small slice of the money Tennessee dedicated to the opioid crisis this year is going to a social network developed by a Nashville startup. It’s an app designed for people in recovery.
Nashville’s Desperate Need For Dental Work Inspires New UT Residency Program
Listen A clinic in North Nashville has expanded its dental department in response to a growing need among people who lack insurance coverage. The manpower and money come from new partners who also see a glaring problem.
Nashville Sheriff’s Grand Plan To Decriminalize Mental Illness Still Needs Blessing Of The Courts
Listen The Davidson County Sheriff has started construction on a facility that will force the local criminal justice system to change how it treats people with a mental illness. But at its official groundbreaking this week, the sheriff admitted he still has some convincing to do.
Study Finds Southern Doctors Overlook Key Genetic Test For ‘Underserved’ Patients
Listen Southern doctors seem to be overlooking a key genetic test for underserved patients with breast and ovarian cancer. A new study published by a Vanderbilt researcher finds very few women get this recommended blood screening, even though they have insurance coverage through Medicare.
Clarksville Clinic Aims To Fill Mental Health Gaps For Military Families And Veterans
Listen A military-focused mental health clinic in Clarksville has been so in demand during its first three months that it’s on track to becoming the busiest for a new nonprofit. Cohen Veterans Network has been starting sites around the country focused on post-9/11 veterans.
BlueCross At A Stalemate With Nashville Anesthesiologists
Listen A contract stalemate between Tennessee’s largest health insurer and anesthesiologists in Nashville could start causing headaches for patients at the end of the month. The standoff reveals the local effects of physician consolidation.
Why Tennessee Schools Are Always Waiting On 7th Graders To Get Their Shots
Listen Tennessee doctors are beginning to see the annual back-to-school wave of kids needing booster shots — and it’s usually seventh graders who need some extra prodding to get the required shots in Nashville schools.
Tennessee’s New Opioid Law And A Crackdown On Pill Mills Create A Rush To Pain Clinics
Listen Tennessee’s pain doctors are being inundated with calls from patients needing a specialist to prescribe opioids. The combined impact of a new state law and closure of a dozen pain clinics has created a pinch for pain patients.
Nashville Public Housing Won’t Enforce New National Ban On Smoking
Listen A national ban on smoking in public housing is in effect as of Tuesday, but not in Nashville. The local housing authority says it has decided not to enforce the new rules, even though many residents have been under the impression the blanket ban applies to them.