Latest news with #DavidDerrick
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Health Endeavors, Telescope Health Advancing Provider Analytics and Care Gap Solutions Through Strategic Partnership
FARMINGTON, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Healthcare technology leaders Health Endeavors and Telescope Health are partnering to provide comprehensive, value-based solutions for health systems, physician groups, Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs), and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). This innovative technology will help the healthcare ecosystem optimize performance and close care gaps through actionable data, while also providing a platform designed to meet the needs of diverse patient populations. 'This partnership accelerates and expands the analytics and actionable data that we can provide to our value-based care partners and providers at the point of care. This will help lead to better performance, improved access and better care for individual patients,' stated David Derrick, CEO of Health Endeavors. The two organizations are transforming raw data into insights to help providers evaluate their performance, establish market transparency, review Quality Scores, calculate aggregate costs, collect population health metrics and more. It will also offer personalized, virtual care resources to supplement providers' existing efforts. 'Our passion for reducing barriers to care complements perfectly with Health Endeavors' mission of using data to empower not only the provider, but the patient as well,' said Telescope Health CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Matthew Thompson. 'This collaboration represents a concerted effort to identify where the gaps are and empower providers with the necessary tools to improve how they serve their patients.' The partnership is rooted in Health Endeavors' decades-long experience providing analytic and quality support to value-based care partners. Telescope Health, a physician-led technology company focused on improving health care outcomes, has served hundreds of thousands of patients through a diverse portfolio of providers, employers, non-profits and local governments. For more information on how Health Endeavors and Telescope Health are impacting health care through advanced technology, please visit About Health Endeavors Recognized as a thought leader, Health Endeavors has a long history of supporting Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and those in value-based care arrangements. With proprietary augmented intelligence Health Endeavors analyzes segregated data and transforms it into actionable insights. These insights are then delivered directly at the point of care, empowering your providers with the necessary tools to win. The mission is simple: return resources, power, and joy back to the point of care. Learn more at About Telescope Health Telescope Health is a physician-led technology company focused on improving healthcare outcomes. We serve public, private and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals seeking on-demand, comprehensive care and actionable data insights. To learn how we're doing that every day, visit
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump targets paper straw purchases by federal government — and won't stop there
President Trump has declared the last straw. Or at least the paper ones used by federal agencies. In an executive order this week, the president barred the federal government from buying paper straws — ensuring they will soon disappear from cafeterias and break rooms in government buildings throughout the country. He's not stopping with the federal government, however, but instead has ordered development of a "National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws" by March 27 that will "alleviate the forced use of paper straws nationwide." According to the White House, paper straws aren't the environmentally friendly alternative they appear to be, and are so flimsy that sippers sometimes need several to get to the bottom of their drinks. "Cities and states across America have banned plastic straws, caving to pressure from woke activists who prioritize symbolism over science," the White House said. The order reverses a Biden-era initiative that required federal procurement offices to purchase paper straws in lieu of plastic, and was part of a wider effort to target plastic pollution. Environmentalists condemned Trump's action, saying most Americans support reducing the use of unnecessary plastic. 'People hate seeing plastic pollution hurt wildlife and trash the environment," said David Derrick, attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "I don't know what Trump has been sipping that's put him so out of touch, but this move will make life worse for everybody and seems to have more to do with spite than common sense.' Christy Leavitt of the nonprofit environmental group Oceana noted that two garbage trucks' worth of plastic is dumped into oceans every 60 seconds. Microscopic pieces of plastic are found in human brain, liver, kidney, heart and testicular tissue. And research has found microplastics in bottled water, beer and seafood. Less than 6% of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Leavitt said that polls conducted by her organization show that 80% of U.S. voters support regulations that would require companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and food ware. "Instead of doing what is necessary to protect Americans' health, communities and coasts from pervasive plastic pollution, President Trump is announcing executive orders that are more about messaging than finding solutions," she said. Erin Levine of California's World Centric, a manufacturer of compostable, plant-based food ware and packaging, said Trump's executive order included false information about paper straws, including the statement that they are coated with PFAS — a cancer-causing "forever chemical" found in water systems throughout the nation, and that was developed to repel water and stains. "You don't need it, and it would be more expensive to add it," she said. "By the way, if paper straws had PFAS, they wouldn't break down as he says they do." A 2023 study from Belgian researchers found PFAS in most of the paper straws they analyzed. It was unclear if the PFAS were intentionally added to repel water, or unintentionally incorporated as a result of contamination from recycled products, PFAS-contaminated water, or PFAS-laden fertilizers — made from biosolids — used to grow the plant material used to make the straws. Levine said she could not speak for other companies, but World Centric uses a five-ply paper so they don't have to use any bioplastics or coating in their straws. She said they do use a food-grade glue, but that also has no PFAS. The straws are certified organic, she said, which means no PFAS. In California, a 2018 law forbids full-service, dine-in restaurants to provide plastic straws, unless requested by the customer. The bill was written after lawmakers noted years of plastic straw pollution on beaches and in waterways. Between 1988 and 2014, the California Coastal Commission reported roughly 835,000 straws on the state's beaches during cleanups and other pollution reduction campaigns. Plastic straws were also noted sticking out of sea turtle nostrils, and sickening or killing seabirds, fish, manatees, dolphins and other marine mammals. Plastic straws have also been banned or restricted in at least 155 city or county jurisdictions throughout California, including Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and San Francisco, according to data collected by Levine. Trump has for years harbored a grudge against paper straws. During his 2020 campaign, which he lost, he marketed "Trump" brand plastic straws as a replacement for "liberal" paper straws. A pack of 10 sold for $15. The campaign reportedly grossed nearly $500,000 from straw sales in the first few weeks. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump targets paper straw purchases by federal government — and won't stop there
President Trump has declared the last straw. Or at least the paper ones used by federal agencies. In an executive order this week, the president barred the federal government from buying paper straws — ensuring they will soon disappear from cafeterias and break rooms in government buildings throughout the country. He's not stopping with the federal government, however, but instead has ordered development of a 'National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws' by March 27 that will 'alleviate the forced use of paper straws nationwide.' According to the White House, paper straws aren't the environmentally friendly alternative they appear to be, and are so flimsy that sippers sometimes need several to get to the bottom of their drinks. 'Cities and states across America have banned plastic straws, caving to pressure from woke activists who prioritize symbolism over science,' the White House said. The order reverses a Biden-era initiative that required federal procurement offices to purchase paper straws in lieu of plastic, and was part of a wider effort to target plastic pollution. Environmentalists condemned Trump's action, saying most Americans support reducing the use of unnecessary plastic. 'People hate seeing plastic pollution hurt wildlife and trash the environment,' said David Derrick, attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'I don't know what Trump has been sipping that's put him so out of touch, but this move will make life worse for everybody and seems to have more to do with spite than common sense.' Christy Leavitt of the nonprofit environmental group Oceana noted that two garbage trucks' worth of plastic is dumped into oceans every 60 seconds. Microscopic pieces of plastic are found in human brain, liver, kidney, heart and testicular tissue. And research has found microplastics in bottled water, beer and seafood. Less than 6% of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Leavitt said that polls conducted by her organization show that 80% of U.S. voters support regulations that would require companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and food ware. 'Instead of doing what is necessary to protect Americans' health, communities and coasts from pervasive plastic pollution, President Trump is announcing executive orders that are more about messaging than finding solutions,' she said. Erin Levine of California's World Centric, a manufacturer of compostable, plant-based food ware and packaging, said Trump's executive order included false information about paper straws, including the statement that they are coated with PFAS — a cancer-causing 'forever chemical' found in water systems throughout the nation, and that was developed to repel water and stains. 'You don't need it, and it would be more expensive to add it,' she said. 'By the way, if paper straws had PFAS, they wouldn't break down as he says they do.' A 2023 study from Belgian researchers found PFAS in most of the paper straws they analyzed. It was unclear if the PFAS were intentionally added to repel water, or unintentionally incorporated as a result of contamination from recycled products, PFAS-contaminated water, or PFAS-laden fertilizers — made from biosolids — used to grow the plant material used to make the straws. Levine said she could not speak for other companies, but World Centric uses a five-ply paper so they don't have to use any bioplastics or coating in their straws. She said they do use a food-grade glue, but that also has no PFAS. The straws are certified organic, she said, which means no PFAS. In California, a 2018 law forbids full-service, dine-in restaurants to provide plastic straws, unless requested by the customer. The bill was written after lawmakers noted years of plastic straw pollution on beaches and in waterways. Between 1988 and 2014, the California Coastal Commission reported roughly 835,000 straws on the state's beaches during cleanups and other pollution reduction campaigns. Plastic straws were also noted sticking out of sea turtle nostrils, and sickening or killing seabirds, fish, manatees, dolphins and other marine mammals. Plastic straws have also been banned or restricted in at least 155 city or county jurisdictions throughout California, including Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and San Francisco, according to data collected by Levine. Trump has for years harbored a grudge against paper straws. During his 2020 campaign, which he lost, he marketed 'Trump' brand plastic straws as a replacement for 'liberal' paper straws. A pack of 10 sold for $15. The campaign reportedly grossed nearly $500,000 from straw sales in the first few weeks.
