Infotrak

80% of hospital bills contain errors, and most people don’t realize that medical bills are negotiable. Rick Gundling, Senior Vice President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, recommends that consumers request an itemized bill after hospitalization and review every charge carefully. He explains that prices for healthcare are often negotiable, and hospitals frequently offer financial assistance and prompt-pay discount programs—but healthcare consumers need to ask.

Can admitting you use AI harm your reputation? Joel Carnevale, PhD, Assistant Professor of Management at Florida International University’s College of Business led a team that studied audience perceptions of AI-assisted work. They discovered that even a legendary composer couldn't escape reputational damage when AI involvement was disclosed.

Here's something that should worry every parent in America: cardiovascular disease and obesity rates among U.S. women are projected to surge dramatically by 2050. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, Co-Director of the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, explains the reasons behind the troubled trends and how they can help their kids today.

Shockingly, drowsy driving claims over 6,000 lives each year—about ten times what official reports suggest. Jim Hedlund, PhD, roadway safety statistician with Highway Safety North, explains why many of these fatalities go unrecognized, identifies the groups most at risk, and offers two practical strategies to help prevent drowsy driving.

For over 160 years, Girls Inc. has been on a mission that matters: empowering young women from ages 5 to 25 to believe in their own potential. Stephanie Hull, CEO of Girls, Inc., explains how the organization serves nearly 125,000 girls across 75 affiliates in the U.S. and Canada, and how you can get involved.

One in four adults report feeling lonely, and the workplace might be making it worse. Berrin Erdogan, PhD, Express Employment Professionals Professor, Cameron Professor of Management & Leadership in the School of Business at Portland State University says feeling invisible at work isn't just unpleasant—it's actually dangerous. She discusses the serious physical and emotional consequences of persistent isolation, and offers advice to reduce loneliness on the job.

What happens when a hospital visit doesn't just empty your wallet but puts your housing at risk? Catherine K. Ettman, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shares her groundbreaking research reveals a stark reality: medical debt increases housing instability by 44%. Nearly one in four adults face housing difficulties tied to healthcare costs. She discusses potential solutions to the problem.

Jared Cooney Horvath, PhD, cognitive neuroscientist, and author of “The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids’ Learning -- And How To Help Them Thrive Again,” drops a startling claim: today's kids are experiencing measurable declines in literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, working memory, and even IQ. His culprit? The very technology we've been told would revolutionize education.

Only one-third of young adults are actively dating today, even though most desire serious, long-term committed relationships. Brian Willoughby, PhD, Associate Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University, blames low confidence in dating skills, reduced face-to-face interaction during adolescence thanks to social media, and the complete erosion of clear dating norms. He said the stakes extend beyond personal happiness; declining dating threatens marriage rates, fertility, and overall family formation in society.

Surprisingly, what happens during one night of sleep might reveal more about your health than years of doctor visits. James Zou, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University, discusses AI technology that he developed that can predict a person’s risk for 130 different diseases—including cancer, heart disease, and dementia—just by analyzing a night of sleep.

When physical injuries happen, we don't hesitate to seek help. But mental health? That's still a different story, even with all the progress we've made in talking about it openly. Trina Clayeux, PhD, CEO of Give an Hour, is working to change that through a network of five thousand volunteer mental health professionals who provide free care to people facing trauma and crisis.

Beth Hoffman, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, found that fewer than 30% of TV shows accurately depicted the currently recommended mode of CPR. We'll have life-saving information you need to know!

When nine out of ten renters pay their own utility bills but don't own the buildings they live in, who's going to pay for better insulation? George Homsy, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Environmental studies at Binghamton University, discusses potential approaches aimed at encouraging landlords to implement energy-efficient improvements.

Can a routine CT scan predict if you're at risk of falling? Jennifer St. Sauver, PhD, epidemiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, reveals how her team used deep learning AI to uncover a surprising connection between muscle quality and falls. She says the findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good core strength throughout adulthood to potentially reduce future fall risk.

Can trees actually protect your heart? Peter James, ScD, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, led a study that found that living near trees reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 4%, and that the protective effect persists across wealthy and poor neighborhoods alike. He believes his research provides sufficient evidence for urban planners, landscape architects, and land managers to seek to increase tree density in future development.

What if the key to feeling more loved isn't waiting to receive it, but learning to give it first? Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, author of “How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most”, one of the world's leading happiness scientists, reveals that happiness comes down to two core components.

Julian Olden, PhD, Professor of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, conducted the first comprehensive review of river protection in the US, and found that that less than 20% of American rivers are adequately protected—just 12% in the lower 48 states. He discussed how protecting rivers requires more than just land-based regulations. He explained why protecting upstream watersheds reduces the need for expensive water treatment plants and provides cleaner drinking water to downstream communitie

Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability, affecting over 280 million people worldwide. 3. Andrew Clegg, PhD, Professor of Health Services Research at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK, led a review of 73 randomized controlled trials including nearly 5,000 adults with depression. The research suggests that light to moderate exercise, such as walking and cycling, can reduce depression symptoms just as effectively as antidepressant medications and psychological therapy.

40% of American adults lack the basic digital skills needed for modern jobs. Brianna McCain, Vice President, JPMorgan Chase Policy Center, says America's workforce crisis isn't just an economic problem--it's a national security threat. She explains why the nation’s future skilled workforce requires stronger partnerships between employers and education.

Disabled Americans now represent nearly five percent of the US workforce, a record high. John O’Neill, PhD, Director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at the Kessler Foundation, says the pandemic shift toward remote work policies created natural accommodations that many disabled workers had been requesting for years. He says while employment rates for those with hearing and visual impairments have improved significantly, individuals with other disabilities remain underemployed.