Social determinants of health (SDOH) correlate directly with an individual's overall health. Primary care providers (PCPs) and hospitals help patients meet their basic health care needs, but what if a patient has other needs beyond health care, like homelessness? Luckily, there are interventions and strategies health care providers and hospitals can use to direct patients to the proper services to meet their social needs.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has set aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). NRHD showcases the efforts of health care organizations like AFMC, which are devoted to addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and the unique challenges rural citizens face. This blog discusses the importance of supporting our rural communities and ways providers and community members can celebrate NRHD.

While cancer affects people of various ages, races, ethnicities and sexes, it does not affect them equally. Differences in genetics, hormones, environmental exposures (social determinants of health), and many other factors can lead to differences in risk and death rates among various populations. The most common risks for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older. However, there are racial or ethnic factors that could also put some women at greater risk than others.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved over-the-counter hearing aids, much like reading glasses, that you can pick up at your local Walmart or Walgreens sometime in the near future. What do over-the-counter hearing aids (OTCs) mean for the general public? How will you know which one is best for you? Dr. Mary Chatelain from Pinnacle Hearing recently went on AFMC TV to discuss this news and what it means for people.

Every October, pink ribbons appear everywhere, from social media to storefronts, to remind us that breast cancer awareness saves lives. For many Arkansans, timely breast cancer screening and follow-up care remain out of reach due to cost, transportation limitations, and limited clinical capacity. Health care providers play a critical role in helping patients overcome these challenges. By connecting women with local and statewide resources, providers can improve early detection and reduce preventable deaths from breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This blog post discusses the importance of scheduling your mammogram appointments through organizations like CARTI and reveals the history of the famous “pink ribbon” you see everywhere during the month of October.