Colorado Checkup: Jan. 25, 2023

Rural Seniors Benefit From Pandemic-Driven Remote Fitness Boom
By Christina Saint Louis When the pandemic began, senior service agencies hustled to rework health classes to include virtual options for older adults. Now that isolation has ended, virtual classes remain. For seniors in rural areas, those classes have broadened access to supervised physical activity.

After a Brief Pandemic Reprieve, Rural Workers Return to Life Without Paid Leave
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez Coastal and politically progressive states have passed stronger paid sick and family leave policies, but many workers in rural America are left out, facing tough decisions when choosing between caring for themselves or sick family members or keeping their jobs.

What Older Americans Need to Know About Taking Paxlovid
By Judith Graham Covid-19 continues to hit seniors with disproportionate severity. Experts say Paxlovid is an effective therapy that is being underprescribed for people 65 and older.

Wave of Rural Nursing Home Closures Grows Amid Staffing Crunch
By Tony Leys Many small-town care facilities that remain open are limiting admissions, citing a lack of staff, while a wave of others shutter. That means more patients are marooned in hospitals or placed far away from their families.

Will Your Smartphone Be the Next Doctor’s Office?
By Hannah Norman Entrepreneurs see smartphones as an opportunity to meet patients where they are. But many app-based diagnostic tools still need clinical validation to get buy-in from health care providers.

Ask Voters Directly, and Abortion Rights Wins Most Ballot Fights
By Julie Rovner Anti-abortion candidates have fared well in recent elections. But decades of ballot initiatives — including a half-dozen measures considered after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June — show that when voters are asked directly, they usually side with preserving abortion rights.

During In-Flight Emergencies, Sometimes Airlines’ Medical Kits Fall Short
By Vignesh Ramachandran U.S. airlines have response plans for passengers who run into health issues in flight, but planes carry limited and sometimes incomplete medical supplies that can put travelers at risk.

Telehealth Brings Expert Sexual Assault Exams to Rural Patients
By Arielle Zionts Some rural residents must travel hours for a sexual assault exam. Specialized telehealth services are expanding so they can obtain care closer to home.

Transgender People in Rural America Struggle to Find Doctors Willing or Able to Provide Care
By Helen Santoro Many health professionals in rural areas don’t know how to provide gender-affirming care, leaving transgender patients with few options.

More Orthopedic Physicians Sell Out to Private Equity Firms, Raising Alarms About Costs and Quality
By Harris Meyer While some doctors seem eager for a huge payoff, others are warily watching what happens when private equity firms take charge of orthopedic practices.