Health

OP-ED: For Better Health, Doctors and Patients Must Form a Team

Published

11 years ago

February 17, 2015

By Nailah Thompson, DO MPH

Last week, a 64 year-old Black man went to his Primary Care physician for a routine check-up. He had no significant medical history but went in after receiving a call from his doctor’s office because they hadn’t seen him in more than a year.

At the end of his visit, before leaving the room, the doctor asked if there was anything else he wanted to share, and he mentioned that he had experienced some “chest tightness” when walking up the stairs at the Oracle Arena at a recent warriors game.

He was sent for a test, which found that his heart was not getting enough oxygen. He was sent for another test that showed he, in fact, had extensive heart disease with severe plaque buildup in the arteries leading to his heart.

He was hospitalized and had to have Open Heart Surgery to restore adequate blood flow to his heart.

That 64 year-old man is my father and we were at that Warriors game together. He failed to mention the chest tightness to his wife, his daughter the physician, or anyone else.

When I asked him why, he told me he figured he was just “out of shape,” as he had picked up some extra weight over the past several years as he had become less active.

He later admitted he had been in denial. This came as a shock to our family. But sadly, this scenario happens all too often. Thankfully my dad is receiving the care he needs to prevent a major heart attack in the future.

If you haven’t been personally affected by heart disease, odds are someone you know has. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for Blacks in America.

Black women in America face a greater risk of heart disease than women of other backgrounds.

For me, this experience was a wakeup call that a shift needs to happen in our idea of healthcare. I believe we need to move from the practice of using the healthcare system when you need someone to fix you, to using the healthcare system as a place where each patient and their physician form a team.

This team will make decisions to invest in the patient’s health and wellness at the earliest possible point to maximize the number of each patient’s quality, healthy years of life. Each person can do some simple things to increase their number of quality, healthy years of life; this number will differ for every person.

Know your family history: My grandmother had a heart attack at age 50. She and others in my father’s family had heart disease – my father was unaware of this. This information could have been a warning for him to let his doctor know and be aware of his risk and possible symptoms.

Know your numbers: We all should know our blood pressure, and whether it is normal or elevated. Important numbers to remember are:

Normal BP is less than 120/80; Normal total cholesterol is less than 200; Normal fasting sugar is less than 100; Normal Hemoglobin A1c is less than 6. (If you have diabetes this test monitors your sugar control over 3-4 months)

Make healthy life choices regarding eating and exercise: Healthy choices when it comes to food and drink and regular exercise not only help with weight loss, but also help to prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Eating healthy and exercising regularly can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce your risk of dying from heart disease.

It is important to do all these things, as doing just one is not enough. My father knew his numbers.

He didn’t have a history of high blood pressure or any other chronic diseases. For him, the family history was the most important factor.

It is vital that we not only check our blood pressure, not only have blood tests done, or not only exercise regularly and eat healthy. We must also connect with our physician, follow up regularly, and be aware of our family history in conjunction with recognizing and reporting symptoms that could be indicative of heart disease.

We must take advantage of the resources available to us through our healthcare team and healthcare system while we are healthy. This will make it possible for us as a community, to move from a fix me system of health care, to focusing on our health and doing all we can to reach and maintain our highest level of health and wellness.

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Activism

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.

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Bay Area

How Is AI Affecting California? The State Wants You to Share Your Story

The program marks the first time the state has opened the platform to all Californians. State officials said the effort is designed to give residents a direct role in discussions about how AI should be regulated and used as the technology rapidly expands across industries.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 7 that California is expanding its Engaged California digital democracy initiative statewide, inviting residents to help shape future state policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs and the economy.

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed about this moment: AI is moving fast, bringing enormous opportunity, but also real risks,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians deserve a seat at the table as we shape what’s to come.”

The initiative will roll out in two phases. Beginning immediately, Californians can sign up online to share how AI is affecting their work and communities and provide ideas for possible government action. Later this summer, a smaller group reflecting the state’s workforce demographics will participate in live discussions focused on developing policy recommendations.

State officials said the goal is to identify areas of agreement among Californians and provide policymakers with public feedback as the state develops future AI regulations and workforce strategies.

Engaged California is modeled after digital democracy programs used in Taiwan and is intended to encourage structured public discussion rather than social media-style debate. Officials described the effort as a form of “deliberative democracy” aimed at helping residents engage directly in state decision-making.

“The more Californians are engaged in the democratic process, the better able we’ll be to confront the challenges we face together,” said Nick Maduros, California Secretary of Government Operations, in a statement.

The statewide launch builds on two earlier pilot programs. One pilot gathered public input following the Los Angeles firestorms to help guide recovery efforts, while another collected ideas from state employees about improving government operations.

California has positioned itself as a national leader in AI policy and development. Since 2023, the Newsom administration has introduced initiatives focused on responsible AI use in government, cybersecurity protections, workforce training and regulations targeting risks such as deepfakes and AI-generated robocalls.

The state has also partnered with companies in Silicon Valley — including NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft — to expand AI education and workforce training programs across California schools and universities.

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Activism

California Launches Free Diaper Program for Newborns Statewide

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will launch a first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers to families with newborns, part of a broader effort to lower costs for parents and improve infant health outcomes.

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

State officials said hospitals participating in the program will give families the diapers when they are discharged after birth, helping parents leave with an immediate supply of newborn essentials.

“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the program is part of California’s broader affordability efforts, which also include free school meals, universal preschool for four-year-olds and expanded after-school programs.

The announcement comes ahead of Mother’s Day and is tied to the administration’s broader CalRx initiative, which aims to reduce costs for essential products and medications. State officials said California is also exploring ways to lower diaper prices by challenging high costs from major brands.

The first year of the program will prioritize hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time. Officials said the effort is intended to reduce financial pressure on low-income families and improve infant and maternal health by ensuring parents have access to clean diapers.

“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement. She said the program would allow parents to focus on caring for their newborns instead of worrying about basic supplies.

According to Baby2Baby, one in two families in the United States struggles to afford diapers. The organization has distributed more than half a billion items to children over the past 15 years through partnerships with shelters, hospitals, foster care programs and schools.

State officials said Baby2Baby will oversee diaper purchasing, warehousing and distribution through its existing hospital and community partnerships across California.