Colorado faces daunting challenges in providing a healthy environment for both its oldest and youngest citizens, according to a new report from the Colorado Health Institute.  The report, “Reaching Our Peak: Creating a Healthier Colorado,” assesses how Colorado rates in five major areas that affect health: schools, workplaces, communities,...

Rural women with breast cancer are less likely than their urban counterparts to receive recommended radiation therapy after having a lumpectomy, a breast-sparing surgery that removes only tumors and surrounding tissue, a study by Mayo Clinic and others found. The difference is one of several rural disparities in breast...

For newborn babies, taking ethnicity into consideration may help determine how small is too small, according to Canadian researchers. They found that birth-weight standards based on population averages did not predict which babies born at or near full term were likely to suffer problems associated with being small for...

Key Findings Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) operate in non-metropolitan counties in every U.S. Census Region.  79 Medicare ACOs operate in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties.  Medicare ACOs operate in 16.7% of non-metropolitan counties.  9 ACOs operate exclusively in non-metropolitan counties, including at least 1 in every U.S.  Census...

For bicyclists, the rewards – from improved physical fitness and stress release to the minimal commuting costs – are obvious. So are the risks. Former Gov. Bill Ritter, an avid cyclist, suffered broken ribs after colliding with another bicyclist on one of his regular morning rides in 2010. Then-President...

Key Findings The Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) demonstration project provided expanded emergency services and extended clinic stays to remote rural communities.  Although the FESC demonstration ended this year, the FESC model may be appropriate in rural communities other than the five original demonstration sites.  FESCs may also be alternatives...

Opponents of the ACA have labeled the health care bill a jobs killer. It seems implausible that the bill could be expected to have much impact on employment except among the relatively small number of firms that are near the 50-worker cutoff. However the bill does provide a clear...