Kara Gavin
Research and Policy Media Relations Manager
Gavin draws on more than 25 years of experience in communicating about science, medicine and health policy. She focuses mainly on the health services research done by members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, who work to understand and improve the safety, quality, equity and affordability of health care. As part of the Michigan Medicine communication team, she has lead responsibility for primary care and mental health topics. Contact: [email protected]; Twitter: @Karag
Health Lab
Pain Doesn’t Take a Holiday: Dental Opioids Study Points to Need for Better Prescribing
Pain from dental procedures can be managed without opioids, but a new study shows that many patients having a procedure before a weekend or holiday receive opioids.
Health Lab
COVID-19 Care is (Mostly) Free to Patients. Should Other Vital Care Be Too?
Rapid changes to insurance co-pays and deductibles for COVID-19 care helped remove the cost barrier to coronavirus care. Those changes could also help people with other conditions.
Health Lab
Everyone vs. COVID-19: How You Can Help Science Make Progress
Clinical research, surveys, symptom trackers and other studies can give the public a chance to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Health Lab
Even Before COVID-19, Many Adults Lacked Stable Food Supply
Food insecurity was already affecting older adults before COVID-19 disruptions to food supplies and the economy, a poll finds.
News Release
Everyone vs. COVID-19: U-M scientists need public’s help to understand and fight coronavirus
Signing up for U-M registry will make it easy for researchers to find sick, recovered, at-risk and healthy people for dozens of studies
Health Lab
Which Operations Can Restart First? New Guide Helps Hospitals Decide
As hospitals re-start elective surgery after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new guide can help them prioritize scarce resource use.
Health Lab
Many Could Face Sky-High Surprise Bills from Air Ambulance Flights
Surprise billing remains a serious issue for those who need emergency ambulance services. A recent study shows over 70% of patients using air or ground ambulance services could have received a surprise bill.
Health Lab
Study Shows New Focus Needed in Anti-Vaping Efforts for Teens & Young Adults
Teens and young adults know using Juul e-cigarettes and other vaping devices are addictive, linked to lung disease and contain high amounts of nicotine. A new study shows social factors must be taken into account for prevention messages.
News Release
Hail to the crafters & makers: U-M adds cloth masks & 3-D printed mask adjusters to list of COVID-19 response needs
Protective gear, meals and funds to support front-line teams, and food and toiletries for local residents, still needed
Health Lab
Nursing Homes Prepared for Pandemics, but COVID-19 Reveals Gaps
Nursing homes across America, and care homes in the UK and beyond, have had clusters of COVID-19 cases. How can they contain the spread of coronavirus or other pandemics?
Health Lab
When Ventilators Don’t Help COVID-19 Patients, This Might
A life support system called ECMO has helped ARDS patients in past pandemics and other situations; now critical care teams are trying it in COVID-19 patients.
News Release
Michigan Medicine teams with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and 25 Michigan hospitals for unique COVID-19 data collection to help determine treatments and best care practices
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Medicine is teaming with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and 25 other Michigan hospitals to collect comprehensive clinical data on COVID-19 patients to be included in an extensive registry that will provide insight into best practices in treating patients with the virus.
Health Lab
Getting Through a Pandemic When You Have a Mental Health Condition
Living in the time of COVID-19 is harder for people with mental illness including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, but these tips can help.
Health Lab
With the COVID-19 Curve Flattening, It's Time to Prevent a Second Peak
As pressure mounts to reverse the stay-home orders for COVID-19 prevention, a medical historian warns of the dangers of a double-humped curve.
News Release
U-M asks for public’s help: Fight COVID-19 by supporting health care workers, researchers & people in need
Three weeks ago, the University of Michigan put out its first call for community help during the COVID-19 pandemic. The response was nothing short of amazing, with thousands of individuals, families, businesses and organizations stepping forward.
