Science, Health and Technology

MU research reactor and public-safety officials stage annual drill

George Varney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:58:41 +0000

The University of Missouri’s Research Reactor has successfully completed its annual drill.

The reactor staff worked with public-safety and health professionals yesterday to simulate a scenario involving a small fire and radiation exposure to two individuals. The police and fire departments participate in the drill every other year.

What sequestration cuts mean for Missouri scientists

Véronique LaCapra — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:35:49 +0000

It has been just over three months since the federal spending cuts known as sequestration first took effect.

A handful of programs were spared — but not scientific research, which amounts to about $140 billion in annual government spending.

As St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra found out, at universities here in St.

University of Missouri Health Care to cut workforce

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:29:59 +0000

University of Missouri Health Care will lay off or cut the hours and pay for 35 employees and eliminate 90 unfilled jobs in the coming year.

MU Health Care spokesperson Mary Jenkins told The Columbia Daily Tribune the job losses are due to cuts in federal health care payments from Medicare and the failure of legislators to expand Medicaid eligibility.

She says many of the 90 jobs that will be eliminated have been unfilled for most of the past year.

MU to conduct drill at nuclear research reactor

Casey Morell — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:25:31 +0000

The University of Missouri will be conducting a drill Monday morning at its research nuclear reactor center. The center is located south of Stadium Boulevard and west of Providence Road in Columbia. The drill is meant to simulate what could happen during an emergency situation at the reactor.

Leeches sometimes used to treat patients at Mercy Springfield

Michele Skalicky — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:22:11 +0000

A large jar sits inside a white refrigerator in the pharmacy at Mercy Springfield. Inside that jar are what are classified as medical devices by the US Food and Drug Administration: about 20 medical grade leeches that are kept in case they’re needed, which is usually once or twice a year.

Maggots used to treat wounds that won't heal

Michele Skalicky — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:18:17 +0000

Liliane Sparks of Hollister has health problems that prevent her from using a hyperbaric chamber to help heal her wounds. But without the proper treatment of the deep wounds on her feet, she faced amputation. Her doctor, Bob Dorsey at CoxHealth in Branson, suggested maggot debridement therapy.

Why federal money for rural hospitals is vulnerable to budget cuts

Harum Helmy — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:08:57 +0000

Compared to their urban counterparts, rural hospitals serve a population that tends to be older, sicker, uninsured and have less income. Rural hospitals provide a lot of uncompensated care and run on more narrow profit margins.

To stay open, these hospitals depend on special federal designations that give them a higher rate of reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid. For example, when a hospital designated as a critical access hospital, Medicare reimbursements can make up to a third of its entire revenue.

State audit gives 'poor' rating to management of early-childhood fund grants

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:14:57 +0000

The management of an early childhood fund by the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has received a "poor" rating in a state audit released Monday.

State Auditor Tom Schweich (R) said the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund provided more than $170,000 to three child care facilities that failed to open or expand their facilities as planned.

"We found $60,000 spent on a facility that was never built," Schweich said. "We found $22,500 spent to build a new facility which was

Bacteria, flooding close more Missouri public beaches

Associated Press — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:52:52 +0000

Flooding and concerns about water quality have prompted the closings of more public swimming beaches in Missouri.

The Department of Natural Resources says tests found high levels of bacteria at the day-use beach at Harry S. Truman State Park and the Grand Glaize Beach at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The beach at Mark Twain State Park is closed because of flooding and bacteria. The beaches at Thousand Hills State Park in Kirksville and Lake Wappapello in southeastern Missouri have been shut down by flooding.

MU campus smoking ban on track for July 1st

Daniel Shapiro — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:59:07 +0000

The University of Missouri’s policy to make its campus completely smoke free is on track to start on July 1^st.

The policy came about from a student-run movement that called for the change and several organizations around campus support the ban.