As 2024 wraps up, we showcase the public health themes and challenges that struck a chord with readers this year.
2024 – a year that began with worrisome measles outbreaks and closed with the number of human H5N1 infections creeping up though still posing little risk to people.
In between, we witnessed many positive developments – for example, a California pilot demonstrating the potential of community-based approaches to STI testing and education. Advances in point of care testing that allow trained staff to perform CLIA-waived tests in non-traditional settings – outside the laboratory. And an opportunity to deploy our interoperability solution for public health labs when severe flooding impacted San Mateo County.
We presented these stories and more on our blog, where you also can find dozens of clinical blogs by Primary.Health Medical Director Adi Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH, FACP. Over the last year, he explored topics ranging from hypertension to E.coli to the latest in HIV and STI prevention. We are grateful for the expertise he shared in every column. View the full list here in our Patient Health Hub.
These public health updates highlight the need for fast, accessible health screenings to monitor the spread of illnesses. We’re proud to partner with communities and power these programs to keep people safe and healthy.
Top Blogs of 2024
In this look back, we present our most-read blogs of 2024. Reach out to our team to learn more about any program or screening mentioned here.
1. Measles Outbreaks
What’s driving the latest measles outbreaks? After being eliminated in 2000, measles came back in 2024. Closing gaps in measles vaccine coverage is key to increasing herd immunity and preventing outbreaks.
2. H5N1 Surveillance
Advancing H5N1 surveillance: Unleashing innovation to strengthen our defense – In this call to action, Primary.Health CEO and co-founder Andrew Kobylinski proposes the industry integrate innovative and highly effective screening workflows nationwide to significantly enhance our H5N1 surveillance capabilities.
3. PHL Interoperability
Lead with the laboratory: Enhancing public health preparedness through interoperability – When severe flooding impacted a California public health lab earlier this year, Primary’s interoperability framework prevented interruption to vital testing services.
4. CLIA-Waived Testing
3 non-traditional settings for deploying CLIA-waived testing – As a follow-up to our introduction of the Primary.Health CLIA waiver, we looked at three non-clinical settings that are good candidates for efficient onsite CLIA-waived testing.
5. STI Community Partnership
STI partnership leverages CHWs, home-based testing, and technology – A yearlong California pilot powered by Primary.Health software demonstrates the potential of community-based approaches to STI testing and education.
6. Hypertension
Hypertension: Screening, Risks, and Essential Care Strategies – Hypertension is common but regular blood pressure screening can help people avoid its short- and long-term health effects.
7. Bird Flu 101
H5N1 Bird Flu 2024: Understanding the Risks and Protecting Yourself – While the risk of the H5N1 virus to humans remains low, it’s helpful to understand its origins, recognize the symptoms, and know how to protect yourself from infection.
8. Cholesterol
Cholesterol by the numbers: making sense of your lipid profile – LDL, HDL, VLDL? Learn how to decipher the mysterious acronyms in your cholesterol report and figure out what those numbers are really trying to tell you.
9. Telehealth Nurse Practitioners
Telehealth NPs meet patients where they are to educate and motivate – Primary.Health’s nurse practitioners provide telephonic follow-up to patients who receive abnormal test results from our neighborhood wellness clinics, offering them building blocks for their healthcare journeys.
That’s a wrap!
See you in 2025, when we will continue to provide you innovative, accessible technology and clinical solutions to keep communities, public health organizations, and workplaces safe and healthy.
