HealthTeamWorks

04/24/2026

Preventive care plays a key role in staying healthy—from routine check-ups and screenings to vaccinations and dental visits.

These services help detect potential health issues early, improve health outcomes, and reduce the risk of more serious conditions over time.

A good reminder to stay up to date on your preventive care. Find more information here:
https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/prevention/preventive-care.html

Knowing your family health history can help you stay well and catch problems early.

04/24/2026

AI chatbots are increasingly being used for mental health support, but questions remain around safety, privacy, effectiveness, and regulation.

This KFF Health News article explores the growth of AI “therapy” apps, current regulatory gaps, and concerns raised by mental health experts.

Read more:

With high demand for mental health care, a wave of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots are being marketed as therapy apps — with little evidence they work and few regulations.

04/22/2026

States across the country are grappling with physician shortages—especially in rural and underserved communities.
A new report from the Milbank Memorial Fund outlines a practical roadmap for building and sustaining “grow your own” Graduate Medical Education (GME) strategies. The framework highlights five key stages—from exploration to optimization—to help states better align investments with workforce needs.
Read more:

This evidence-based framework organizes a GME growth strategy into five iterative stages: exploration, strategy development, strategy design, technical assistance, and optimization.

04/17/2026

Long before stepping into a cardiology fellowship at CU Anschutz, Isaac Acquah was waking before sunrise to help in his family’s bakery in Accra, Ghana—learning the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance.

That same drive led him from medical school in Ghana to advanced training in the U.S., including earning a public health degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and conducting research focused on health disparities and cardiovascular outcomes.

Now training as a cardiology fellow at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, he’s combining clinical care and research with something just as powerful—clear, compassionate communication. By breaking down complex medical concepts so patients can truly understand them, he’s helping build trust and confidence in their care.

Read more about his journey:

Isaac Acquah, MD, MPH, a fellow in the CU Anschutz cardiovascular disease training program, aims to improve cardiovascular care for all patients.

04/16/2026

How well is your state delivering primary care?

New fact sheets from the Primary Care Collaborative highlight the state of primary care across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.—and why investing in primary care is essential for better health outcomes and lower costs.

Explore your state’s fact sheet to see where progress is being made—and where more investment is needed: https://thepcc.org/factsheet/the-state-of-primary-care/

The package of fact sheets below examines the state of primary care in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

04/15/2026

In this episode of the "Meet at the Intersection" podcast, advocates share powerful, first-hand experiences with reproductive care that led them into advocacy. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling, how men engage in reproductive care, and why it’s essential to humanize the individuals and families at the center of the Black maternal mortality crisis.

Featuring leaders in the field, the episode also explores how midwifery and birth center models can improve outcomes and how healthcare providers can support safe, respectful, and culturally responsive care that honors bodily autonomy and lived experience.

Listen to the episode: https://meetattheintersection.org/podcast/reimagining-care-through-midwifery-20-mins/

04/13/2026

It’s Black Maternal Health Week 2026

This year’s theme, “Rooted in Justice & Joy,” marks 10 years of collective impact, uplifting Black-led organizations that continue to drive change, healing, and equity in maternal health.

Let’s honor the leaders, voices, and communities shaping a better path forward, and continue supporting efforts that advance equity for all.

Find more information about Black Maternal Health Week here: https://blkmaternalhealthweek.com/

04/10/2026

A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that mothers of color who experienced racism or microaggressions during obstetric care had higher blood pressure after childbirth compared to those who did not report these experiences.

The study also found that among patients living in neighborhoods heavily affected by structural racism, the correlation between racism and blood pressure was stronger.

Read the article highlighting this research: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/racism-linked-to-higher-postpartum-blood-pressure

Mothers who faced racism or microaggressions during obstetric care had higher blood pressure after delivering their babies compared to those who did not.

04/09/2026

A recent article by Larry Green, Bonnie Jortberg, and Emma Gilchrist from the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Family Medicine and the Farley Health Policy Center, published in The Lancet Primary Care, highlights the critical role of family physicians in integrating mental health into primary care.

Family physicians are often the most accessible clinicians—especially in communities where mental health specialists are limited. Their ongoing relationships with patients allow them to identify concerns early, provide evidence-based care, coordinate with specialists, and support continuity over time.

Learn more and access the full article through the University of Colorado page: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/family-medicine/family-physicians-mental-health-primary-care

Department of Family Medicine faculty highlight importance of integrated mental health wellness into primary care routines.

04/08/2026

It’s National Public Health Week 🌟

This year’s theme, “Ready. Set. Action!”, is a call to recognize the powerful impact of public health in our everyday lives—from protecting our families and strengthening communities to helping people live longer, healthier lives.

It’s also a time to celebrate the dedicated public health professionals who work behind the scenes every day and to continue advocating for policies and practices that support health and well-being for all.

Let’s take action together and continue building healthier communities.

Learn more: https://www.apha.org/initiatives/national-public-health-week

Join us in Celebrating National Public Health Week, April 6 - 12, 2026. APHA brings communities nationwide together to honor the contributions of public health and shine a light on the issues shaping the health of our nation.

04/07/2026

This is a great article from UCHealth Today on managing chronic conditions and supporting healthy aging.

As the article highlights:
“A key part of aging well is really good communication between patients, their family and the provider… The patient is the captain of the ship.”

Strong communication isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Our Clinical Health Coach® v-Fusion training is designed to strengthen exactly this:
helping care teams communicate more effectively, build trust, and empower patients to take an active role in managing their health.

These skills are especially critical for individuals living with chronic conditions, where behavior change, goal-setting, and ongoing support make all the difference.

Our next Clinical Health Coach® v-Fusion cohort begins April 22. This a great opportunity to build practical skills that translate directly into better patient engagement and outcomes.

Learn more and enroll here: https://healthteamworks.org/chc-v-fusion/
Access the "How older adults can manage chronic conditions" article here:
https://www.uchealth.org/today/how-older-adults-can-manage-chronic-conditions/

Need help with chronic conditions? Here are tips for managing medications, appointments and pain. Staying active is vital to staying healthy.

04/06/2026

Four in 10 Americans have medical debt. Most don’t know there’s a federal law that could eliminate it.

On this episode of The Dose, a podcast from the The Commonwealth Fund, host Joel Bervell talks with Jared Walker about his nonprofit, Dollar For, which has helped Americans erase more than $100 million in medical debt by connecting them to the charity care programs that hospitals are legally required to offer but rarely publicize.

Listen to the podcast here:

On The Dose podcast, Jared Walker talks about his nonprofit, Dollar For, which has helped Americans erase more than $100 million in medical debt.