Cultural Competence

SAN DIEGO — The majority of Hispanics in the United States believe that more information about good oral health habits, access to affordable oral health care, and more Hispanic and Spanish-speaking dentists and dental hygienists in their communities would help them "a lot" in achieving better oral health. That’s according to the findings of a national survey led by the Hispanic Dental Association and sponsored by Procter & Gamble brands Crest and Oral-B.

SAN DIEGO — Oral care brand Plackers has announced its continued support of Oral Health America’s Smiles Across America program with a donation of 5,000 Plackers Micro Mint dental flossers to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile of Collier County, Fla.

CHICAGO — A volunteer eye health and safety organization has introduced a new program that seeks to educate the public on the potential effects diabetes may have on one's vision.

BOSTON — This year’s jump in measles in the United States and Canada was costly and occurred among unvaccinated children and adults, suggested several studies being presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America here Thursday.

PASADENA, Calif. — African-American women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy face a 52% increased risk of developing diabetes in the future, compared with white women who develop GDM during pregnancy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online Thursday in the journal Diabetologia.

LOS ANGELES — The School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California announced on Wednesday that it will double its presence in clinics and medical homes that deliver healthcare services to the uninsured, the poor and the homeless.

The school began providing clinical pharmacy services in safety-net clinics in 2002 and currently is a key partner with 12 such clinics in Southern California. The new USC Medication Therapy and Safety Initiative aims to increase the school's coverage to 24 clinics and medical homes by 2013.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS Caremark has partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to inspire and prepare young Latinos to join the healthcare field is not only positive in its own right but is especially important when you look at the fact that the nation’s Hispanic population is growing four times faster than the total U.S. population.

ATLANTA — Despite declines in the number of Americans reporting coronary heart disease, rates vary widely between states and between racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.