A new report suggests discrimination in medical settings affects the quality of care for many Ohioans.

In a survey of more than 800 people, discrimination was not a rare experience, and for women and people of color; it was common.

In the survey, Black women reported feeling "less respected" twice as often as white men, and Black men were four times more likely to report being harassed in a health-care setting.

Greg Braylock, Jr., vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for ProMedica, a health-care system based in northwest Ohio, said he isn't surprised by the findings.

"We've known in health care for decades that we've had disparities in how people experience health care, the outcomes that they have," Braylock observed. "But we have failed as an industry to sufficiently address these negative differences in outcomes that we see."

Some 22% of those surveyed said they have accepted discrimination in medical settings as "a way of life," but 24% said they did not return for future appointments, which may mean delaying or avoiding needed care. Just 15% of people who said they felt discriminated against went on to file a complaint.

The report noted many hospital systems have equity training, but few have anti-racism initiatives.

Dawn Pullin, director of behavioral health and addictions for the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition, contended such efforts only scratch the surface of the problem.

"That training that we've done over the last 20-30 years has brought us to this place where this survey is still necessary, where health is still a crisis," Pullin asserted. "Where Black and African American people are dying daily because of the lack of services, and their skepticism about engaging the hospital setting."

Pierette Talley, executive director of the Ohio Unity Coalition, believes hospitals and other health-care institutions have made a good start toward addressing racism. But she said they need to dig deeper than community forums, health fairs and government-required anti-discrimination measures.

"They must be in touch with the community that they serve and work together to figure out what are the issues and how they can best be addressed," Talley urged. "So that we are rooting out racism at an institutional level and not just looking at some bad actors."

The report was released by the Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competency, the Ohio Unity Coalition, the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition, and the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio.

A relatively new virus known as monkeypox has made its way to the state of Washington. About 280 cases have been reported, with 240 occurring in King County, according to the state Department of Health.

Dr. Mark Cook, medical director of gender health for Kaiser Permanente in Seattle, said monkeypox has been known to medical professionals since the 1970s, but the virus has now begun a troubling trend of spreading from person to person.

"The symptoms are fever, body aches, swollen glands, fatigue and a characteristic rash; little round vesicles that can appear on your skin and many different parts of your body," Cook explained.

Cook emphasized monkeypox is spread through skin-to-skin contact, and so the best way to prevent getting the disease is not to touch people who are infected. He pointed out it is related to smallpox but is much less severe. A vaccine is available, but it is in short supply. There are close to 12,000 cases nationwide.

Cook noted fortunately, there have not been any reported deaths from the virus. But he added monkeypox is uncomfortable and people who are infected have to be isolated for a few weeks. There can also be scarring from the blisters.

"We should be concerned simply because it is a pretty significant illness, and it's miserable to have it for some people," Cook stressed. "That alone, I think, speaks to why we should do our very best to try to control it."

Changes in how to prevent COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic as medical professionals were learning about the disease may have sown distrust in the wisdom of authorities on the issue. Cook acknowledged doctors are more cognizant of it now.

"We've all learned how to try to deliver those messages in a more clear way to help people understand that the message isn't necessarily changing, but the information that we have does evolve over time," Cook stated.

Coloradans struggling economically put their health at risk when they decide not to turn on cooling systems, frequently out of fear of not being able to pay their utility bill and taking a hit on their credit score, or having services cut off.

Luke Ilderton, deputy director of Energy Outreach Colorado, said as homes get hotter, heat stress can come on very quickly. Prolonged exposure can lead to heart attacks, and can cause the body to shut down. Ilderton encouraged all Coloradans to make health priority number one.

"If people are suffering, they should turn on their cooling systems and look for resources -- like Energy Outreach Colorado, the Energy Office's weatherization program -- to be able to afford their cooling bill, but not at the sacrifice of their own personal health," Ilderton advised.

Help is available for those who cannot afford to pay their utility bills or repair or replace broken cooling systems, and for those at risk of being disconnected. To be connected with the right program, call Energy Outreach Colorado's helpline toll-free at 866-432-8435.

Ilderton pointed out there are ways to make your summer utility bill more affordable, especially for households participating in Xcel Energy's time-of-use rates.

"Try to precool your house in the early morning hours when electricity rates are at its lowest," Ilderton suggested. "You will be paying more in the afternoon, and you certainly will pay more from 3-7 p.m."

Climate change is bringing even more summer days above 90 degrees, and the Biden administration is encouraging states to add cooling assistance to programs initially created to help the nation's most vulnerable residents stay warm in winter.

Ilderton added the Inflation Reduction Act recently passed by Congress could help more people find long-term price relief by switching to lower-cost heat pump technology, which can be used to heat and cool homes, and does not require the use of fossil fuels.

"There's a significant amount of rebates and incentives, specifically targeting low- to moderate-income households, that will help with this transition," Ilderton noted.

As a new school year kicks into gear, advocacy groups want to ensure Ohio kids have access to medical coverage to keep them healthy and ready to learn.

It is estimated more than half the roughly four million uninsured children in the U.S. are eligible for Medicaid, and the "Get Covered Ohio" campaign is working to bridge the gaps preventing families from enrolling.

Zach Reat, director of health initiatives for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, which is doing targeted outreach in Franklin County to help families navigate the enrollment process. He explained they will focus on Hispanic populations, which have higher uninsured rates.

"There's just a lot of confusing requirements," Reat pointed out. "They ask a lot of questions about different types of assets in the application process. And pulling together all those answers and the verification documents that are required can be a really confusing process."

Researchers say children's access to health insurance improves outcomes for children, including educational attainment and economic security.

Reat noted with Medicaid coverage, children can get important routine care services including doctor visits, checkups and immunizations. More information about enrollment is online at getcoveredohio.org.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks received funding for expanded outreach through the federal "Connecting Kids to Coverage" project.

Pandemic-era policies helped expand Medicaid enrollment, and Reat argued they will continue their work throughout the year to help keep kids covered.

"As the public health emergency around COVID-19 comes to an end, there's going to be a really important need to make sure people are filling out the reinstatement paperwork for Medicaid," Reat emphasized. "We're going to be here to help them with that process."

An estimated 1.3 million Ohio kids have Medicaid coverage. In Ohio, a child is eligible if their household income is below 206% of the federal poverty level; about $4,700 a month for a family of four.