By Margaret Henderson
Several state radon programs encourage outreach efforts made by and to physicians whose direct connection to their patients make them most influential in improving public health and individual lives.
Emphasizing the public health importance of radon awareness and mitigation, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has a section on its website providing public service announcements to spread the word among Kansans, noting the Surgeon General has declared war on radon as a leading source of lung cancer. http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/radon.htm
At KDHE, the mission is to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans. During the Radon Action Month in January 2014, Kansas Health and Environment Secretary Robert Moser, M.D., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer, lead a physician’s outreach to his colleagues, writing in the newsletter of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians. His words, advocating radon issues, reached more than 1500 recipients asking them to take action. In a KDEH press release (http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2013/12202013.htm), Dr. Moser stated:
“Radon is the first leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked and is estimated to cause over 200 lung cancer deaths in Kansas every year….”
Other states also are taking action and setting goals for outreach by and to physicians. In Arizona, the radon program would like to have a radon poster or banner in every pediatric office in the state to raise awareness about indoor radon.
Other medical outreach efforts involve health care workers and physicians. For instance, Utah’s Newborn Baby Program includes a coupon for a free radon test kit in the “goodie” bag that goes home with families. Currently involving 10% of the hospitals, the program is working to connect with more hospitals in the state to expand this initiative. Arizona’s radon program participated in a fair for the nursing training program, reaching health care providers as they graduate and go into health service. And in Georgia, radon information is provided at a Medical Fair where physicians are recruited for practice in underserved areas.
Through the combined outreach by and to physicians and other health care workers, state radon programs are enlisting the health care community in improving the health outcomes of their efforts: saving lives.
United States