Closing the Gap in Healthcare

Winter Months

Winter Months - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247913

Winter Months

Updated Booster

Updated Booster - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247909

Updated Booster

Scary October Month

Scary October Month - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247905

Scary October Month

Passing the Baton

Passing the Baton - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247901

Passing the Baton

Pandemic Mask

Pandemic Mask - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247897

Pandemic Mask

Long Hauler

Long Hauler - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247893

Long Hauler

Holiday Booster!

Holiday Booster! - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness-6247889

Holiday Booster!

Talking to members of the 50+ membership Club of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
This morning I had the opportunity to address members of the new 50+ club of the 6th District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. I pledge spring, April 15, 1965, Xi Psi, South Carolina State University. I am blessed to be a member of this illustrious group.
This group is the mindset of Bro Toussaint Avent, a 90 + year-old brother who felt it was s Great idea for older brothers to have a 50 + club. We are grateful for his insight.
My job is to keep us updated on health information so we can continue our long life in the fraternity and with our family and friends.
This morning I focused on a condition called Sarcopenia. In short, it is the decrease in muscle strength as one ages. It is a part of the natural aging process that starts around age 35. Studies reveal that this decrease in muscle tone and power occurs at about one percent a year but accelerates to about four percent starting around age sixty. We all will experience it, some faster than others.
New studies show that the process can be slowed down by doing more resistance exercise (light weights for upper and lower body) as we age at least two to three times a week (cardio exercise is still recommended most days of the week for 30 minutes). As a personal observation, I have noticed that not many older black folk are doing this kind of workout. It is often seen in the way one walks.
This type of fitness maintenance is necessary to age gracefully. This type of healthiness is required to maintain the activities of daily living as one ages. Just being able to get in and out of your car, walk up and down steps and move after sitting is improved if this type of training is done. If you need a trainer to get you started, do it. Remember you don't need to do heavy weights. This type of training improves diabetes control, hypertension, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Finally, weight training is needed to keep you from experiencing severe injury if you were to fall. This training improves balance which decreases significantly with aging. Falling is a significant cause of disability and death in seniors. Weight training has been found to increase longevity and quality of life in older people
Doing nothing as one age is not an option.
I am Thaddeus John Bell, a Family Physician.

Health disparities continue to exist....but they really shouldn’t. We, at Closing the Gap in Healthcare, are trying hard to remove the barriers to healthcare in our communities. Help us close the gap this Giving Tuesday (today, Nov 29) by making a donation to Closing The Gap in Healthcare. 100% of your donation will go toward our ongoing efforts to educate African Americans and other minorities about health disparities that exist in our communities and share ways that you can address those disparities.

During 2022, we have continued to focus on shining a spotlight on COVID and encouraging our communities to be the vaccine, in addition to other health disparities that our communities have faced for hundreds of years such as diabetes and hypertension.

Our efforts to bring awareness to these disparities and share information about how you can be proactive about your health will continue in 2023...but we need your help.

This Giving Tuesday, we’ve set an aggressive goal to raise $7,500. Can you help us by contributing $10, $15, $25 to our fundraiser? Any amount will be helpful towards our efforts to Close The Gap in Health Disparities for African Americans and the Underserved.

Yours in good health,
Thaddeus J. Bell, MD

https://donorbox.org/help-closing-the-gap-in-health-care?recurring=true

Giving Tuesday For Health Awareness! -
https://donorbox.org/help-closing-the-gap-in-health-care?recurring=true
https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/giving-tuesday-for-health-awareness

The importance of having a trusted primary care physician.
I was having a conversation with a lifelong friend and colleague today, and we were talking about the importance of having a trusted primary care physician. One probably doesn't give this a thought until one gets sick or needs medical advice.
The number one issue that African Americans and other underserved populations complained about during the height of the pandemic was perceived racism from the medical profession. Black folk thought the medical profession was not always receptive to their needs. We learn a lot from COVID. Turst has always been an issue even before the Tuskegee Experiments.
The current medical climate suggests that physicians spend about forty percent of their time on medical records and decrease time talking directly to patients.
Many African-Americans don't really understand what primary care physician do. We are the quarterback of your health care team. We talk to other Drs on your behalf. We are not the Cancer Dr, or the Heart Doctor, or the GI doctor, but we coordinate your care with all of these subspecialists. We make decisions on when you are referred. We recommend and make sure you follow up on your care. We are supposed to be your health advocate. We oversee your care. Some folk come in telling the Dr who they want to be referred to. In general that's not a good idea. I personally have screen the physicians I refer patients to.
The health disparities are not going away. Death from Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes in our community is going up.All of health disparities are increasing, which is well documented.
Whenever I see medical data talking about health improvement, I always ask the question, "what about black and other historically medically underserved populations?
I hope that you have taken the time to form a good relationship with your trusted primary care physician. Your life depends on it.

By now I hope the ladies that follow me have heard something about the new studies that have suggested that straight hair products may increase the development of Uterine Cancer in Black women. Urterine cancer is a very rare cancer of the reproductive organs.

Women who never use hair straight products developed uterine cancer around 1% by age 70 while those who did use it the risk went up 4% around the same age in frequent user. This increase was reported to be primarily in Black women.
Formaldehyde is chemical in the hair product that is cargenogic.

I listened to several discussions among black women, and it's my impression that this kind of product is seldom used today by most black women. More importantly, black women are redefining what beauty is among themselves. That's a good thing.

As I heard a black lady say, take what God gave you and work with it. I ❤️ that attitude.

I am Dr Thaddeus John Bell. Have a good weekend.

I have dealt with some trying issues as an African-American physician primarily taking care of black patients.
A local pastor came to see me years ago asking me to take over his care because he only had 6 weeks to live. I was very perplexed because I had never heard of such a request. He told me that he wanted me to explore all avenues to make sure that the diagnosis of liver cancer was correct.
I thought it was a reasonable request. I did just that. The diagnosis was correct and his prognosis was dim. One week before he passed away he told me that his wife was unaware of his health issues. He wanted me to tell her because he could not. They were married for many years.
He ask me to discuss my finding regarding his health in her presence. She was devastated by the news and could not understand why he withheld this information from her.
He died a week later and she passed away several months later from a "broken heart" .
I am face with a similar challenges in which black males who have not revealed terminal health issues with their families.
The psychological trauma family members endure, not to mention the costly and impossible legal issues are worth noting.
I hope these experiences will cause someone to think again about being so private with family members about end-of-life issues they are facing. I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell.

Engaging Solutions Health Equity Part 2

https://vimeo.com/752578635

Engaging Solutions Health Equity Part 2 Engaging Solutions Health Equity Part 2

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/audio-a-surge-is-coming-6116059

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/audio-a-surge-is-coming-6116055

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

[Audio] Immunizations save lives! - https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/audio-a-surge-is-coming-6116051

[Audio] Parents and Adults, get the Vaccine

Closing The Gap In Health Care, Inc.

Dr.Bell's Health-eTip for 09/19/2022 -

Closing The Gap In Health Care, Inc. OUR MISSION is to decrease health disparities and increase the health literacy of African Americans and the underserved communities in America.

Today, we amended the authorizations of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize updated formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. https://bit.ly/3AAISrX

These bivalent vaccines, as they are called, contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.

With today’s authorization, the monovalent COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.

We will work quickly to evaluate future data and submissions to support authorization of bivalent COVID-19 boosters for additional age groups as we receive them.

Staying in one's right mind is talked-about frequently among older AA. In short it means not developing " senile dementia " which is a term we in the medical profession we not longer use.
It's through to be a blessing as ones gets older. It is indeed, but we now your chances of not having "senile dementia " has a lot to do not only with your genetic but even more importantly your personal choices regarding your lifestyle. In others words, how much you smoke use drugs, drink alcohol, eat unhealthy food and lead a sedentary life style. Not keeping your chronic medical problems such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, evaluated cholesterol as well other chronic medical disorders is paramount.
So "staying in your right mind is
more than a notion" as my grandmother use to say. I am Dr Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in hesth disparities for AA and the undersevred.

Congratulations Dr. Bell! Well-deserved!

Hats off to Dr. Thaddeus Bell, a CCF fundholder and extraordinary community leader. He's being awarded the Order of the Palmetto this evening, which is fitting for a man who has given so much to so many. As a CCF fundholder, Dr. Bell has two scholarships with us. The Tonisha Bell Alston and Thaddeus Bell, II Memorial Scholarship provides a 4-year scholarship to a South Carolina-residing student attending Morehouse College or Howard University. The second is The Thaddeus John Bell, MD Family Scholarship Endowment, which provides scholarships to African American students pursuing a career in health at MUSC. The endowment was created by partners Dr. T. Bell and Select Health to honor Dr. Bell.

Save the date! - Sept 12th. 12pm-1pm EST : Health Equity: Lens of Life. https://mailchi.mp/closingthegapinhealthcare/save-the-date

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Health Equity: Lens of Life Pt. 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Save the date! Dr. Bell will be featured in the Health Equity: Lens of Life Pt. 2 webinar alongside Tammy Butler and Kelli Lester from Engaging Solutions. The webinar will focus on the causes of health disparities and how to reduce them within communities of color by providing the proper resources and education.

Health Equity: Lens of Life Pt. 2 will be held on Monday, September 12, 2022, from 12 pm to 1 pm EST.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gZ_p7BS2

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Health Equity: Lens of Life Pt. 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. About the Webinar: This webinar will focus on the causes of health disparities and how to eliminate them by providing communities of color with resources and health education. It will also provide tips on how to maintain your own health and begin to close the gaps in the healthcare. What You'll Lear...

The Lowcountry Jazz Festival, South Carolina’s premier annual Smooth Jazz event, returns to the Charleston Gaillard Center with a stellar lineup. The festival continues its Labor Day weekend tradition, kicking off Friday, September 2nd

There are so many subjects that I can address today. The life of many women will change because of the recent change of Roe vs Wade. It's really about appropriate health care of women rather than abortions. The health of women has taken a significant hit.
This is Pride Month. It does not matter who walks in my office for care. I recognize and appreciate differences in people and to that aim I do my best to give excellent care of all my patients. I respect and appreciate all people.
The Pandemic has done more to people than meets the eye. For example just think of all of the children who will grow up significantly traumatized by the pandemic in some way shape or form.
This month is Mens Health Month. I has the opportunity to fellowship with men at Greater Unity AME Church in Holly Hill, South Carolina yesterday. It was a men's Barbershop Talk. The title was Hypertension, the Heart, Prostate and the P***s. The talk was well-received. We learned and laughed a lot😅.
I am thankful I still have the passion and health to still serve Black folk.
I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in health disparities for African Americans and the underserved.

Join the" booster club"and make sure you are up to date with your COVID Vaccine. Get the COVID vaccine and Booster and live.

SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 15th. 2022 ~ LOWCOUNTRY JAZZ FESTIVAL!

Closing The Gap In Health Care, Inc.

Dr.Bell's Health-eTip for 03/30/2022 -

Closing The Gap In Health Care, Inc. OUR MISSION is to decrease health disparities and increase the health literacy of African Americans and the underserved communities in America.

New studies are revealing that people who had COVID 19 have a 40 percent chance of developing diabetes a year later. The cause of this phenomenon is not clear but it could cause an increase in type two diabetes world wide. Long haulers syndrome can present as type 2 diabetes months later.
I am recommending that if you have other risk factors for developing diabetes such as obesity and sedentary life and had COVID in the past year, surveillance for diabetes would be in order. The lab test would be an A1C. This is a discussion you will want to have with your physician.
Remember, being informed can lead to better health.
Thaddeus John Bell, MD Family Physician

The ill-fated behavior of entertainers, athletes, politicians, and VIPs should remind us that these people are no different from the rest of us. Sometimes they do crazy things.
Folk gets blurred vision based on who people are. Don't be star-struck by people. I have seen too many people at their zenith and in their nastiest circumstances.
As a physician, one recognizes that people essentially are all the same. We live to have life experiences, then we die.
Thaddeus John Bell, MD Family Physician

Bedside Manner, does your physician have it?
I have mention bedside manner in several teaching situations and was surprise that the term is not embraced or talked about anymore. One of the main reasons patients are referred to me is "good bedside manner". Bedside manner seems to important to older patients.
Bedside manner is how you relate to your patient so they feel comfortable with you. It is not taught but one learn it from being comfortable with people from all backgrounds. It's the way you would treat your Mom or Dad if they were your patient.
If your physician has bedside manner that you appreciate, you will likely follow their recommendations regarding your health care.
Get the vaccine if you have not done so.
Thaddeus John Bell, MD Family Physician

You can't " run" away from your family history.
It is well documented that Prime Time Dion Samders had toes amputated on his left foot because of blood clots. The procedure saved his leg and his life.
He also revealed that he had a family history of blood clots which he was not aware until he developed them.
Knowing your family medical history is very helpful. Sharing that history with your physician could be life saving.
I have lots of personal and professional experience with this.
Thaddeus John Bell, MD

Health Literacy 101
I have learned that most patients often do not fully pay attention or understand the full meaning of what is explained to them regarding their health situation.
Whenever I refer a patient to a specialist, I always ask the patient what their understanding of the results. Most patients have an incomplete version of what was said. This is because of multiple reasons. Nevertheless, this is why you need to follow up with your trusted family physician.
I am Thaddeus John Bell, MD

A tribute to Dr. Adele Stewart
When I was a student at South Carolina State College (1962-66) I worked as a microbiology lab assistant for Ms. Adele W Stewart. It was a workaid scholarship. She taught Zoology and Microbiology in the Natural Science Department headed by Dr. Louie Roache. He recommend me to her my freshmen year.
She was very demanding. I did not like working for her. I took several courses under her and she never gave me what I made explaining she graded on a different scale because she expected more from me. She gave a quiz every week. She always gave test back from highest to lowest score so everyone always knew who made the lowest score on her weekly quiz. I almost never got my paper back first. She always said to her students if you love life you love you should love Zoology. She was so demanding of me, I requested to work for someone else which never did happen.
After I graduated from State, I later found out she enrolled in Clemson and became the first African American woman to get a Ph.D. in Biology from Clemson University. I heard from her after I graduated from MUSC. She was so proud of me. She told me she was getting me ready for medical school.
She was a proud graduate of Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina. She already had two master's degrees when she taught me. I did not understand this lady. She always called me Mr. Bell as a student.
As I reflect on my academic journey, I realize that Dr. Stewart prepared me well.
She died giving a lecture at Morris College.
I will never forget Dr. Adele W. Stewart.