Tagged: Medical

The Democratic candidate for Nebraska’s Second Congressional District says changes are needed to the Medicare system to keep it solvent.

A new biobank at UNMC will allow researchers access to a larger number of blood samples that aren't specific to any one disease. Dr. Jennifer Larsen, vice chancellor for research, says a biobank holds biologic samples to be used in future research. 

Currently, UNMC has several condition-specific biobanks. But this new biobank would contain blood samples obtained from individuals when they go to the doctor for a routine visit.

The American Red Cross says there’s an urgent need for donations of blood and platelets.

April Oppliger, Program Manager for the Mid-American Blood Services Division, says there have been 50,000 fewer donations in June than anticipated. She says that’s about half the blood supply the Red Cross had at this time last year.

Oppliger says a pint of whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days. Platelets have a shelf life of only five days, and Oppliger says those donations are always in high demand. She says donations of all blood types are needed.  

What can people do to render aid before the ambulance arrives?  Metro Community College’s new Trauma First Response class provides the training to help answer that question.  

MCC’s Fremont campus is offering numerous eight-hour courses in Trauma First Response this summer.  Craig Jacobus, EMS Program Coordinator for the Fremont campus, says the classes are geared toward the non-traditional first responder. 

He says the courses take complex information and put it at a level that is immediately applicable.  Jacobus says this is not a sit down class.