Category: Press releases

2018 Overdose Deaths

Release

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/overdose-deaths-in-philadelphia-dropped-by-more-than-100-in-2018?e=[UNIQID]

Inquirer

  • Overdose death rates dropped in all demographic groups, except for those over 55. Deaths in that age group increased by 29 percent between 2017 and 2018. Health officials saw another age-related shift as well: in 2017, people between 35 and 44 were the most likely age group to die of a drug overdose. In 2018, people between 45 and 54 were at “the most dangerous age” for drug overdoses, health department spokesman James Garrow said.

https://www.philly.com/health/opioid-overdose-deaths-philadelphia-20190514.html

By Aubrey Whelan

KYW

Philadelphia has made a tiny bit of progress in combating overdose deaths. The official death toll for last year was 1,116 people, which is 100 less than in 2017.

The city has mounted a three-pronged attack on overdose deaths: getting more of the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone in circulation, getting more people into treatment and getting doctors to prescribe fewer opioids.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/overdose-deaths-philadelphia-decline-first-time-five-years-remain-crisis-levels

By Pat Loeb

PhillyVoice

he Philadelphia Department of Public Health found that the number of overdose deaths in the city dropped by more than 100 in 2018, marking a decline of 8% over the previous year.

Figures released on Tuesday show that there were 1,116 overdose deaths last year, down from 1,217 in 2017. While modest, the number is encouraging compared to the 34% increase from 907 deaths in 2016 to 2017.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/philadelphia-overdose-deaths-decline-heroin-fentanyl-treatment/

By Michael Tanenbaum

Soda Tax Unemployment Study

Release

A study on a key economic marker of the impact of Philadelphia’s beverage tax was published today in the scientific journal PLOS ONE. This study found that the unemployment rate in Philadelphia industries potentially affected by the beverage tax did not change in the year after the tax was implemented.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/press-release-new-study-on-unemployment-claims-one-year-after-implementation-of-philadelphias-sweetened-beverage-tax?e=[UNIQID]

ACME Markets Hepatitis A Warning

Release

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has recently confirmed that a person who works at the Acme Markets, located at 1400 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, has acute Hepatitis A. The store is aware of the situation and is working collaboratively with the health department.

https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=48732a6251c09f25e0086d47a&id=5d6fb30f8d

Inquirer

Acme shoppers who ate precut fruit and vegetables from a store in South Philadelphia last month should consider getting vaccinated “as soon as possible” because a worker at the store has “acute” hepatitis A, the city’s Department of Public Health said Saturday.

https://www.philly.com/news/hepatitis-a-acme-philadelphia-vaccine-20190406.html

By Christian Hetrick

6ABC

The Health Department released the alert Saturday that an employee of Acme has acute Hepatitis A. That employee had access to cut fruit and vegetables for sale in the store from Sunday, March 17 to Friday, March 29.

https://6abc.com/health/health-dept-warns-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure-from-south-philly-market/5236907/

By Staff

WHYY

Anyone who ate pre-cut fruit and vegetables bought at the store from March 17 through March 29 is advised to take precautions against the virus by getting a hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible, the Health Department said. Contact your health-care provider or local pharmacy for information about being vaccinated.

https://whyy.org/articles/06jmhepa/

By Staff

KYW (1)

The Philadelphia Health Department is urging customers of a south Philadelphia super market who ate pre-cut produce from the store to get a hepatitis a vaccine. KYW’s John Mcdevitt reports the warning comes after a food handler contracts Hepatitis A.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/health-department-urges-south-philadelphia-acme-customers-get-vaccinated

By John McDevitt

KYW (2)

Health officials are warning customers of a South Philadelphia supermarket about possible exposure to hepatitis A.

The Philadelphia Health Department recently confirmed that an employee at the Acme on the 1400 block of East Passyunk Avenue has acute hepatitis A.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/health-department-warns-potential-hepatitis-exposure-south-philly-acme

By Dr. Brian McDonough

Fox29

http://www.fox29.com/news/local-news/officials-warn-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure-at-south-philadelphia-acme

By Staff

NBCPhiladelphia

Philadelphia health officials are asking people to get vaccinated after a worker at a popular South Philly grocery store was treated for “acute” Hepatitis A.

The employee, who is not being identified, works at the Acme market at 1400 E. Passyunk Ave., the Philadelphia Department of Public Health said in a news release.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Health-Department-Warns-of-Hepatitis-A-at-South-Philadelphia-Acme-Market-508212131.html

By Rudy Chinchilla

CBS3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHKP7SwTYsY

KYW(3)

Muhammad says he just learned of the warning from health officials – that customers who’ve recently eaten pre-cut fruits and vegetables from the store should get vaccinated against the disease – but he’s not worried.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/customers-react-news-potential-hepatitis-exposure-south-philadelphia-grocery-store

By Justin Udo

Temple Mumps Cases Up to 105 and Press Conference

Release

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/media-advisoryphiladelphia-department-of-public-health-and-temple-university-to-host-media-availability-prior-to-mumps-vaccine-clinic?e=[UNIQID]

Inquirer

https://www.philly.com/health/mumps-outbreak-temple-university-vaccine-clinic-20190326.html

Temple News

https://temple-news.com/temple-and-city-officials-provide-mumps-outbreak-update/

Huffington Post

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/temple-university-mumps-outbreak_n_5c9b7117e4b07c88662e8bb2

6ABC

https://6abc.com/health/more-than-hundred-mumps-cases-reported-at-temple-university/5219011/

NBC10

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Number-of-Mumps-Cases-Rises-to-105-Temple-University–507685491.html

Fox29

http://www.fox29.com/news/temple-mumps-outbreak-grows-to-105-probable-cases-18-confirmed

CBS 3

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/03/27/temple-university-mumps-outbreak-over-100-cases-vaccination-clinics/

Daily Pennsylvanian

https://www.thedp.com/article/2019/03/mumps-penn-temple-disease-contagious-off-campus

Metro

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/philadelphia/mumps-outbreak-temple-university-reaches-105-cases

Trieu Dental Clinics Closing

Release

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental practices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices. These practices put the safety of patients at risk and forced the closure of all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics, located at 437 West Chew Avenue, 5427 North 5th Street, and 6536 Woodland Avenue. Patients of these clinics are advised to contact their regular healthcare providers to be tested for hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV. The Health Department believes the risk of infection to be low, and is not aware of any infections as a result of these unsafe practices.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/press-releasehealth-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices?e=[UNIQID]

CBS News

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has shut down three local dentist practices and is warning patients to get tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B, CBS Philadelphia reports. The Department of Health says all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics have been closed for improper sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-health-department-warning-patients-possible-hiv-hepatitis-risk-from-trieu-family-dental-clinics/

By Staff

Philadelphia Tribune

Philadelphia health officials have closed three dental offices in the city for “unsafe infection control practices” and told patients they should be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working with the Pennsylvania Department of State, ordered the closure of all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics, located at 437 West Chew Ave., 5427 N. Fifth St. and 6536 Woodland Ave.

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/health-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices/article_b8a0ceae-ce3a-5ab0-ade7-d0a66e86224a.html

By Staff

6ABC

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental offices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment, and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://6abc.com/health/3-philadelphia-dental-practices-shut-down-patients-urged-to-get-tested/5217051/

By Staff

USA Today

“We do not know how long these unsatisfactory practices were taking place, so we are encouraging anyone who had a visit at one of the three Trieu dental practices in Philadelphia to speak with their regular healthcare provider as soon as possible,” read a statement from the health department emailed to USA TODAY.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/26/dental-clinics-closed-hiv-disease-risk-philadelphia-officials/3275575002/

By Brett Molina

NBC10

“The sterilization and handling of used instruments on patients was not being cleaned appropriately or in a timely fashion, Dr. Steven Alles, the Director of Disease Control with the Philadelphia Health Department, told NBC10.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Philadelphia-Dental-Office-Closure-Possible-Exposure-HIV-Hepatitis-Diseases-Unsanitary-507646041.html

By Denise Nakano and David Chang

Metro

The Department of Health is urging patients of the three Trieu Dental Clinic branches in Philadelphia to get tested for HIV, and hepatitis B and C following an investigation that revealed improper sterilization and injection safety practices.

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/philadelphia/philly-dept-health-warns-potential-hiv-hepatitis-exposure-trieu-dental-clinics

By Nate Homan

Philly Voice

“The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has shuttered three Philadelphia dental offices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment, and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/trieu-family-dental-clinics-closure-unsanitary-hiv-hepatitis/

By Bailey King

KYW

Philadelphia health officials are urging patients at dentist practices in the city to get tested for HIV and other diseases.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning patients of Trieu Family Dental Clinics to get tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/three-philadelphia-dental-practices-shut-down-patients-advised-get-tested-hiv

By Antoinette Lee

Inquirer

The Health Department said in a statement Monday that it believes “the risk of infection to be low, and is not aware of any infections as a result of these unsafe practice.”

https://www.philly.com/news/trieu-dental-health-infections-philadelphia-20190326.html

By Robert Moran

Daily Mail

As many as 1,500 patients may have been exposed to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV at three dental clinics in Philadelphia, health officials say.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health shut down all three locations of Trieu Family Dental on West Chew Avenue, North 5th Street and Woodland Avenue.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6852143/Three-Philadelphia-dental-offices-closed-exposing-1-500-patients-HIV-hepatitis.html

By Mary Kekatos

Philadelphia Sun

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental practices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.philasun.com/stateside/health-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices/

By Staff

AP

The clinics were closed last December after city investigators found evidence of improper safety practices. The closures were announced Monday in a statement that noted the clinics can be reopened after health and licensing authorities are satisfied they are safe.

https://www.apnews.com/a9345d710def4eaa8ff8a0e17ee072ad

By Staff

Brotherly Love Report

Release

PHILADELPHIA–The City of Philadelphia has issued a brand-new report, Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia. This first-ever report is intended to highlight the unique challenges faced by Black men in Philadelphia today and lay the groundwork for actionable steps we all can take to improve their health outcomes.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/press-release-health-department-and-office-of-black-male-engagement-announce-first-ever-report-on-health-of-black-men-and-boys-in-philadelphia

WHYY

The full report, Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia, is available for download. City epidemiologist Raynard Washington said the statistics are meant to serve as a kind of blueprint to direct resources.

“Black men represent 20 percent of the population in Philadelphia — that’s a large proportion, a large share of the population,” Washington said. “So really thinking about how do we ensure that there is a complete wraparound [of] both services as well as supports and opportunity for them is important.”

https://whyy.org/articles/new-report-grades-the-health-of-black-males-in-philadelphia/

By Jad Sleiman

Inquirer

“The first step to solving any problem is drawing attention to it,” said Thomas Farley, city health commissioner. “The Brotherly Love report shows that, while Philadelphia has many initiatives to promote health, African American men are still not as healthy as other demographic groups and not as healthy as they could be.”

https://www.philly.com/health/black-men-life-expectancy-philly-20190314.html

By Rita Giordano

Philly Voice

A new report released Thursday by Philadelphia health officials shines a direct spotlight on the challenges faced by the city’s black men and boys.

The inaugural report, dubbed “Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia,” revealed a mixture of positive and negative health findings.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/life-expectancy-philly-black-men-racial-demographic-health-challenges/

By Jon Kopp

Philly Tribune

“Black men and boys have been experiencing disparate health outcomes for quite some time and in many areas we are seeing some improvements, “ said Dr. Raynard Washington, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s chief epidemiologist.

“In some ways, things are improving for Black men and boys, but there is still a gap between their health outcomes and others.”

 

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said in a news release, “The first step to solving any problem is drawing attention to it.

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/health/report-life-expectancy-for-black-men-is-lower-than-any/article_c99d33c3-a53b-5006-975d-d6e6ec7bce99.html

By Ayana Jones

Philadelphia Sun

The City of Philadelphia has issued a brand-new report, “Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia.” This first-ever report is intended to highlight the unique challenges faced by Black men in Philadelphia today and lay the groundwork for actionable steps we all can take to improve their health outcomes.

https://www.philasun.com/health/philadelphia-issues-first-ever-report-on-the-health-outcomes-of-black-men-and-boys/

Buprenorphine Ad Campaign

Release

Earlier today, the Commissioners of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities Services and Philadelphia Department of Public Health jointly announced a new mass media and digital advertising campaign intended to encourage people suffering from opioid use disorder, and their family and friends, to learn about medication-assisted treatment.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/press-releasecity-announces-new-bupe-works-ad-campaign-to-encourage-people-to-get-into-treatment?e=[UNIQID]

NBC10

The Philadelphia Health Department has launched a new campagin to fight the opioid epidemic. The ads show the real faces of people in recovery. Ronald McAdams, who is featured in the campagin, says he hopes he can help others get help by sharing his story.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/New-Campaign-To-Fight-Opioids_Philadelphia-506755272.html

WHYY

City officials don’t have a good sense of how many people use heroin every day in Philadelphia. Their lowest estimate is 50,000, and it could be as many as double that. Farley said this campaign is designed for all people who use heroin, not just those who are homeless on the streets of Kensington.

“That’s not your typical people who are using heroin,” he said. “Most of the people who are injecting drugs are living at home, many are employed, so they are in many ways a hidden population.”

https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-promotes-buprenorphine-for-opioid-addiction-treatment/

By Nina Feldman

Philly Voice

“We need a media campaign to reach all the people in Philadelphia who might not be aware of this,” Department of Public Health Commissioner Tom Farley said.

The $200,000 ad campaign will include television and radio spots, print ads, social media posts and ads placed at Frankford Transportation Center and on bus shelters. It also includes three billboard advertisements – two along I-95 and another on Route 1.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-launches-media-campaign-touting-medication-assisted-treatment-opioid-addiction/

By John Kopp

Inquirer

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said that despite an encouraging decline in deaths, Philadelphia’s opioid epidemic is still at crisis levels. The new campaign is being aimed at the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 heroin users in Philadelphia.

“Although our public image of people who are using heroin is people who are homeless on the street in Kensington, that’s not your typical people who are using heroin,” he said. “Most of the people who are injecting drugs are living at home, many are employed — they’re in many ways a hidden population. A hidden population we need to reach.”

https://www.philly.com/health/opioid-addiction-buprenorphine-treatment-philadelphia-20190305.html

By Aubrey Whelan

KYW

Advertising has proven effective at getting people to consume things. But will it work to get people to stop consuming drugs? Philadelphia health officials are hoping the answer is yes.

Officials have launched an ad campaign proclaiming “BUPE works.” BUPE, or buprenorphine, is medically assisted treatment for addiction and the target audience is drug users who are ready to give it a try.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/ad-campaign-hopes-get-drug-addicts-medically-assisted-treatment

By Pat Loeb

Inquirer Editorial Board

That’s why the Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health are launching a $200,000 ad campaign in English and Spanish to raise awareness about the availability of medications that treat opioid addiction. The ads feature Philadelphians in recovery who use buprenorphine, or “bupe,” with the slogan, “Bupe works.” (The campaign directs people interested in treatment to call 888-545-2600 or visit www.BupeWorks.org.)

https://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/awarness-campaign-bupernorphine-methadone-access-medication-assisted-treatment-mat-20190308.html

By Editorial Board

2018 Health of the City Report Issued

Today, Philadelphia Department of Public Health released the second Health of the City annual report, which describes the landscape of health for Philadelphia residents. Many health indicators are improving, but some indicators – particularly those related to opioid use and unhealthy behaviors – are troubling. Among the grimmest findings was that drug overdoses and homicides have caused a decline in life expectancy in Philadelphia. The latest data on teen health has good news though: cigarette use, drinking, sweetened beverage use, teen birth rates, and new cases of sexually-transmitted diseases have all continued to drop.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/health-department-releases-2018-health-of-the-city-report

Health Department Website Launch

PHILADELPHIA–Last month, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Office of Open Data and Digital Transformation (ODDT) capped a nearly year-long effort to rethink, rewrite, and reorganize the web presence of the Health Department. The new website,  www.phila.gov/health, will allow residents to easily get access to information on preventing disease and living healthily, while providing direct access to nearly 100 services available to the public.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/health-department-announces-launch-of-new-website

Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Guidelines

Press release

PHILADELPHIA — This morning, Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, flanked by surgeons from three of the major health systems in Philadelphia, announced the release of new, voluntary guidelines for surgeons to use when deciding if, and how many, opioids will be prescribed after a successful surgery. These guidelines are the first in the country that were built using evidence of actual use. 

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/city-releases-voluntary-guidelines-for-postoperative-opioid-prescribing-to-combat-opioid-crisis

Philadelphia Tribune

Philadelphia is trying to get doctors to prescribe fewer opioids to patients recovering from surgery through voluntary guidelines published for surgeons.


If the guidelines are followed, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said, far fewer opioid pills will be prescribed in the city.

http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/article_63843f8a-3023-523b-ac11-e13b36ad794d.html

By Tom MacDonald

KYW 1

The Philadelphia Health Department has taken the unusual step of developing opioid prescription guidelines for surgeons in the city, in another effort to reign in the addiction epidemic. The guidelines are based on research showing opioids may be completely unnecessary after minor surgery.


Philadelphia is the first city to take on the task. Health Commissioner Tom Farley says other efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions have paid off, but still a survey showed they’re at historically high levels.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philly-becomes-first-city-issue-opioid-prescription-guidelines

By Pat Loeb

KYW 2

The Philadelphia Health Department has taken the unusual step of developing opioid prescription guidelines for surgeons in the city, in another effort to reign in the addiction epidemic. KYW Newsradio’s City Hall bureau chief Pat Loeb reports the guidelines are based on research showing opioids may be completely unnecessary after minor surgery.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/philadelphia-health-department-develops-opioid-prescription-guidelines-city

By Pat Loeb

CBSPhilly

Doctors want to keep patients out of pain following surgery, but research is showing opioids aren’t always the best option, they’re overprescribed, and too many pills end up in the wrong hands.


“With these guidelines, patients will not be suffering unnecessarily with pain,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2018/12/19/philadelphia-becomes-first-city-in-us-to-issue-guidelines-to-doctors-who-prescribe-opioids-after-surgery/

By Stephanie Stahl

WHYY

“If all the surgeons in Philadelphia use these guidelines, this will reduce the use of opioids after surgery by more than 80 percent,” he said.


The guidelines call for using non-opioid pain treatments instead, which Farley says studies show are better for pain management.

https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/

By Tom MacDonald