Dana Branham
Oklahoma City
communications with @okhealthyminds • former reporter at @TheOklahoman_ and @dallasnews • pit bull admirer • she/her
Articles by Dana Branham
'I've been there, too.' How Oklahoma 988 director brings experience to job, helping others
When Tony Stelter stepped into his role overseeing the Oklahoma City call center for the statewide 988 mental health line , he brought years of experience working in the state’s mental health system. He also brings the experience of someone who’s been there before — who knows what it’s like to struggle with mental illness and substance abuse, and to find hope in recovery. From a young age, Stelter dealt with severe depression and anxiety and eventually turned to substance use to cope.
5 things to know about COVID variant XBB.1.5 and other strains circulating in Oklahoma
A new COVID-19 variant is taking hold across the country, threatening another wave of infections. The highly contagious variant, XBB.1.5 , has arrived in the United States and is quickly making up a large share of new cases across the country. In Oklahoma, the state’s Public Health Laboratory has identified two cases of XBB.1.5, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
15 people sick, including 1 in Oklahoma, in salmonella outbreak Original
At least one person in Oklahoma has been sickened as part of a salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is investigating an outbreak that so far has sickened fifteen people in Oklahoma, Nebraska and South Dakota. Two people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Oklahoma has one reported case associated with the outbreak; Nebraska has eight, and South Dakota has six.
Medicaid changes, anti-trans bill and other health-related issues to watch for in 2023
The past year brought no shortage of news about Oklahomans’ health, and 2023 likely will be no different. The year started off with a crushing COVID-19 surge, flooding hospitals and sending case counts soaring as the omicron variant took hold. As the year went on, Oklahomans have seen COVID-19 vaccination eligibility expand to the state’s youngest residents and new booster shots become available. In the spring, the Oklahoma Legislature began passing a slew of anti-abortion measures .
Free at-home COVID test kits available for order again through USPS. Here's how to get yours
The federal government relaunched its program to send households free COVID-19 testing kits Thursday. Each household can place one order for four free at-home COVID-19 test kits through the U.S. Postal Service. The orders will begin to ship out next week. To place your household's order, visit: special.usps.com/testkits. Don’t throw away your old at-home COVID tests. Some expiration dates have been extended The government program to ship out free COVID-19 tests was put on hold in September.
Oklahoma led the U.S. in improvements to child insurance rates. Here's why
Oklahoma’s child health insurance rate saw the biggest improvement in the country, a new report found. Experts say Medicaid expansion and continuous Medicaid coverage during the pandemic helped drive the gains in children’s health care coverage, but the state has work to do to retain that progress. The report, from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, found that across the country, the number of uninsured children decreased from 2019 to 2021.
Proposed ballot initiative would put abortion access to a vote in Oklahoma
Oklahomans could have the chance to vote on a state question that would protect abortion access in the wake of bans passed this year by the state Legislature. If State Question 828 makes it on the ballot, the proposed amendment would add an "individual right to reproductive freedom" to Oklahoma's constitution. It would protect an individual's right to make decisions about all pregnancy-related matters, including abortion care and contraception.
DOJ to probe if state, OKC discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities
OKLAHOMA CITY - The U.S. Department of Justice will investigate whether the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department discriminate against adults with behavioral health disabilities.
Feds to probe if Oklahoma discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities Original
The U.S. Department of Justice will investigate whether the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department discriminate against adults with behavioral health disabilities. The Justice Department made the announcement Thursday of what could be a sweeping probe into the state’s mental health system as well as law enforcement in Oklahoma County.
DOJ to investigate whether Oklahoma, OKC discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it's opening an investigation into the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department, about whether the state and the city discriminate against adults with behavioral health disabilities.
Updated COVID boosters are here. Here's how and where to get an OKC appointment
New bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, updated to match the omicron subvariants making up the vast majority of cases in Oklahoma, have arrived in the state and are available to anyone 12 and older. The updated boosters are likely to give Oklahomans added protection ahead of a possible increase in cases this winter, like the past two winters have brought.
Oklahomans flooding Kansas abortion clinic, provider says: 'A public health crisis'
OKLAHOMA CITY — An abortion clinic in Kansas is now seeing primarily patients from Oklahoma and Texas in the wake of bans in each state that outlaw nearly all abortions past roughly the six-week mark of pregnancy. Click here to read the story at Oklahoman.com. A subscription may be required. Featured video:
Oklahoma schools are stepping up to support mental health for students in crisis
Oklahoma children were already dealing with rising rates of mental health challenges before the pandemic hit, upending education and daily life. Now, even more children are struggling, and schools are seeing a rise in students dealing with anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other mental health struggles.
COVID-19 protocols for OKC Marathon will be a reminder of pandemic's impact on Oklahoma
The 22nd annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon will in many ways mark a return to normalcy after the past two years of pandemic-related shifts for its events. Even with a lull in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide — and many Oklahomans having returned to pre-pandemic life — COVID-19 safety measures will be among the reminders of the pandemic’s impact on the state at this year’s marathon, the first time the race has been held in April since 2019.
Wastewater surveillance, crucial for COVID tracking, has major potential for public health
The sky's the limit for the public health efforts that could be aided by wastewater surveillance. Researchers have monitored sewage in several cities across Oklahoma for levels of the virus that causes COVID-19. In each of the pandemic’s surges, a rise in the concentrations of the virus in wastewater has preceded a rise in cases by about a week.
Community health workers play critical role in keeping lines of communication open
Community health workers across Oklahoma have quietly worked as the backbone of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the Oklahoma City-County Health Department and the state Health Department shored up their workforce of community health workers during the pandemic. Whatever the next phase of the pandemic may bring, they’ll stay on the front lines of public health education.
COVID-19 in Oklahoma by the numbers: Where we've been and where experts say we're headed
In the two years since COVID-19 arrived in Oklahoma, we’ve lost more than 15,000 Oklahomans. Thousands have been hospitalized with the disease, hundreds of thousands have tested positive, and many have long-term complications from COVID or lingering symptoms. Here’s a look by the numbers at where we’ve been so far, where we stand now, and where experts say we’re headed.
For Oklahomans facing mental health crises, 988 call center could make 'world of difference' Original
With a crisis call center vendor selected, Oklahoma is preparing for the July launch of 988, a new national three-digit phone number for people to call in a mental health crisis. The state Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department announced last week that it has selected Arizona-based Solari Crisis and Human Services to operate Oklahoma’s 988 call center.
Is daylight saving time bad for your sleep schedule? Oklahoma doctors weigh in on health risks
Sleep medicine experts want to see an end to the twice-a-year shifting of clocks. And there's some momentum among legislators that could make that a reality: the U.S. Senate passed a bill in March that would establish daylight saving time year-round. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which has called for the end of seasonal time changes, applauded the Senate for the measure, saying that shifting our clocks forward and back each year poses health risks to the public.
COVID precautions play a role in Oklahoma flu activity again this year
After an especially mild flu season last year, Oklahoma has seen flu activity ramp up this spring, at a time when it’s often winding down. Flu season runs from October through May, though people often think of the flu spiking in the winter months. This flu season has happened in two waves in Oklahoma, said Kendra Dougherty, director of acute disease investigations with the state Health Department. The first wave, Dougherty said, began around Thanksgiving and increased until about mid-December.
¿LeBron James llegaría a los Mavericks? La posibilidad de jugar en Dallas con Luka Doncic existe
By Dana Branham 10:20 AM on Apr 8, 2022 CDT Pocas horas después de alcanzar las 50 victorias por primera vez en siete temporadas, los Dallas Mavericks fueron tendencia en Twitter. Sin embargo, no por su hito o su perspectiva en los playoffs, sino porque fueron mencionados en ESPN al mismo tiempo que LeBron James durante una conversación sobre los planes de juego futuros de James. Para ser claros, este no fue un informe bomba vinculando a James con Dallas.
Oklahoma state epidemiologist defends changes to COVID reporting methodology
Oklahoma’s state epidemiologist defended the state Health Department’s decision to implement some COVID-19 reporting changes, including how the department now calculates the state’s seven-day average of new cases. The Health Department previously calculated its seven-day average by dividing the total number of new cases reported over the week by seven, even if the tests for those cases were performed earlier.
What SoonerCare members need to know about the end of the federal COVID emergency
About 200,000 Oklahomans could lose their Medicaid coverage when the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 expires, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority said. While the emergency could be extended for another 90 days, as it has been several times since 2020, it’ll otherwise come to an end on April 16. Members could start receiving notices soon after that about how to keep their coverage if they're still eligible or when their coverage will end if they no longer qualify.
At 2-year mark, Oklahomans reflect on how COVID-19 changed lives and future with the virus
Two years ago, on March 11, 2020, Oklahoma City was where the pandemic went from feeling abstract to concrete. The Thunder game against the Utah Jazz scheduled for that night never tipped off, but it was a tipping point. Since that day, when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic — the “day that changed everything,” as some have dubbed it — the virus has changed countless lives in Oklahoma. We’ve lost over 15,000 Oklahomans to COVID. More than 42,000 have been hospitalized with the virus.
Oklahoma Poison Center reports spike in suicide attempts among teen girls
The Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information is sounding the alarm after staff saw a significant rise in suicide attempts in February, particularly among adolescent girls. The center received reports that at least 123 females between the ages of 11 and 19 had tried to self-harm by ingesting substances. Thirty-four self-harm attempts in males also were reported.
CDC eases masking advice for much of the US, but where should you keep one on in Oklahoma?
About half of Oklahoma's counties are still seeing a high enough burden of COVID-19 in their communities that residents should continue to wear masks, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new recommendations take into account the strain COVID-19 is putting on the health care system in a given community as well as new cases and hospital admissions.
Oklahoma providers have seen rise in eating disorders since COVID hit. Here’s how to find help
Oklahoma treatment providers have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking help for eating disorders as the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on. While it’s difficult to pinpoint one cause driving the increase, experts said stressors of the pandemic play a role. The pandemic also has brought about soaring rates of depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, and eating disorders often occur alongside other mental health conditions.
OKC hospital tightens security, locks down ICU after 'online attacks' over COVID-19 patient Original
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City has tightened security and locked down its intensive care unit in response to what it called social media attacks and said the hospital has taken legal action against a local religious leader. An evangelical group, the Ekklesia of Oklahoma, protested outside the hospital on W Memorial Road last week, calling on Mercy to administer a certain dosage of a steroid for one of the group’s members, who was in the hospital with COVID-19.
'Immense relief': Military medical teams give needed support to OKC hospitals amid COVID wave
Dressed in the same scrubs their civilian counterparts wear, the military members in Oklahoma City hospitals look like any other health care workers. After a few days of training and onboarding, the teams have quickly gotten to work at OU Medical Center and Integris Health hospitals in Oklahoma City, offering extra support as the hospitals have struggled with the impact of the omicron surge on their staffing and capacity.
'We can't put COVID-19 in the rearview' yet: Oklahoma COVID-19 cases hit 1 million mark
Oklahoma hit a milestone Wednesday that months ago might have been difficult to comprehend: 1 million recorded COVID-19 cases. To put it in perspective, 1 million COVID-19 cases is: One case for about every four Oklahomans More cases than people who live in Oklahoma City Double the number of cases the state had recorded just six months ago, in August 2021 Of those 1 million cases, over a quarter were recorded just in January 2022, as the omicron variant ripped through Oklahoma.
Nonprofit's top priorities for Oklahoma's mental health focus on wellness in children
Improving the mental wellness of Oklahoma’s children — and ensuring families are equipped financially to give children a strong start — is key to strengthening the state’s future health outcomes, according to recommendations from an Oklahoma nonprofit.
More than 1 in 4 Oklahoma adults are physically inactive: Ideas for more movement Original
Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of inactive adults in the country, a new study shows. It’s among seven states and one territory, Puerto Rico, where 30% or more adults were physically inactive, according to an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The other states include West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Oklahomans can help researchers answer questions about long COVID through research study
Oklahomans will have the chance to participate in a national study on long COVID-19 to help scientists learn why some people infected with COVID-19 suffer with symptoms long after their infection. Long COVID-19 refers to a range of symptoms someone might experience that could last weeks or months after a person was infected with COVID-19. Some estimates say it could affect between 10 to 30% of people who were infected.
Military medical teams coming to Oklahoma to support hospitals during COVID-19 surge
Three military medical teams will be coming to Oklahoma City by early February to support hospitals struggling during the omicron COVID-19 surge, a Health Department spokeswoman confirmed Friday. One Army medical team will work with OU Medical Center, and two Air Force medical teams will work with Integris Health in Oklahoma City, spokeswoman Erica Rankin-Riley said in an email. "All three teams should be in the state by early February," she said.
Military medical teams coming to Oklahoma to support hospitals during COVID-19 surge
Three military medical teams will be coming to Oklahoma City by early February to support hospitals struggling during the omicron COVID-19 surge, a Health Department spokeswoman confirmed Friday. One Army medical team will work with OU Medical Center, and two Air Force medical teams will work with Integris Health in Oklahoma City, spokeswoman Erica Rankin-Riley said in an email. "All three teams should be in the state by early February," she said.
State, county health departments will move away from contact tracing for COVID-19
The state Health Department and health departments for Oklahoma and Tulsa counties issued a joint announcement Thursday saying they’d be moving away from universal case investigations and contact tracing for COVID-19. In part because of how the omicron variant has led to more cases than ever — many of which are less severe and detected through at-home testing — investigators and epidemiologists will instead focus on outbreaks and clusters in high-risk settings, the departments said.
State, county health departments will move away from contact tracing for COVID-19
The state Health Department and health departments for Oklahoma and Tulsa counties issued a joint announcement Thursday saying they’d be moving away from universal case investigations and contact tracing for COVID-19. In part because of how the omicron variant has led to more cases than ever — many of which are less severe and detected through at-home testing — investigators and epidemiologists will instead focus on outbreaks and clusters in high-risk settings, the departments said.
What to know about bacterial meningitis, the infection that claimed life of Deer Creek athlete
News of the sudden illness and death of Deer Creek athlete Nathan Rogalski rocked the community and raised questions about what bacterial meningitis is and whom it affects. Rogalski, who had committed to play baseball at Oklahoma State, died of complications after the infection. More:'He was a special kid all around': Deer Creek community mourns death of star athlete Nathan Rogalski The infection is rare but serious.
What to know about bacterial meningitis, the infection that claimed life of Deer Creek athlete
News of the sudden illness and death of Deer Creek athlete Nathan Rogalski rocked the community and raised questions about what bacterial meningitis is and whom it affects. Rogalski, who had committed to play baseball at Oklahoma State, died of complications after the infection. More:'He was a special kid all around': Deer Creek community mourns death of star athlete Nathan Rogalski The infection is rare but serious.
Oklahoma hits all-time record for COVID-19 hospitalizations
Oklahoma hit an all-time high in COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday, recording a three-day average of 2,070 patients. Of those, 561 are in Oklahoma City. That surpassed the state's previous record of 1,994 COVID-19 hospitalizations, which was a single-day total, set in January 2021. The omicron surge has hit hospitals hard. In this wave, hospitals are dealing with record-high hospitalizations on top of worse staffing shortages than they've faced in previous waves.
When will COVID-19 cases peak in Oklahoma? Here’s what our sewage can tell us Original
As other states have seen their COVID-19 cases start to decline, marking a slowing of the omicron surge, Oklahoma may be nearing its peak. Concentrations of the virus in sewage being monitored in several cities in Oklahoma have begun to plateau, though they’re still at very high levels, said Dr. Katrin Kuhn, a researcher with the University of Oklahoma's College of Public Health who is part of a team of scientists monitoring wastewater in Oklahoma.
Fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine available for immunocompromised Oklahomans Original
Some immunocompromised Oklahomans may be eligible now for a COVID-19 booster dose, depending on when they had their last shot. In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that some immunocompromised people get a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after their second shot of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
Oklahoma doctors share 3 things to know about how kids are being affected by omicron variant Original
Oklahoma hospitals are being hit hard again with a wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations. In this surge, more children are being hospitalized with the virus than at any other point during the pandemic. Doctors with OU Health shared advice and information about what they’re seeing during this surge, what the omicron variant looks like in children, and when COVID-19 symptoms are cause for concern. On Friday, the state Health Department reported 71 pediatric hospitalizations for COVID-19 statewide.
COVID cases may peak soon, but strain on hospitals won’t let up yet, top health official says
Oklahoma’s surge of COVID-19 cases is likely to peak soon, but the strain on hospitals will last longer, the state’s health commissioner said Wednesday. COVID-19 hospitalizations, which topped 1,700 on Wednesday, are now higher statewide than they were during the height of the delta variant surge in the summer. With the state recording some of its highest-ever case counts over the past two weeks, hospitalizations are expected to keep rising.
‘Like a war zone:’ Oklahoma City hospitals are in crisis again as COVID-19 tears through state Original
Oklahoma City hospitals are in crisis again. Hospital leaders on Tuesday described how the omicron variant of COVID-19 has pushed them to a breaking point: they're facing overflowing emergency rooms, shortages of supplies like syringes and saline, and scores of staff illnesses on top of an already depleted workforce. “This time, it feels and sometimes even looks like a war zone,” said Dr. Julie Watson, the chief medical officer of Integris Health.
'A dire situation:' Oklahoma hospitals resume reporting capacity amid omicron wave of COVID-19
Oklahoma hospitals relaunched their reporting of hospitalization numbers amid climbing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, another sign of the omicron variant’s increasing burden on the health care system. The four health systems — Integris Health, Mercy, SSM Health and OU Health — first began reporting their own bed counts in August, as the delta variant quickly sent hospitalizations climbing, straining hospitals.
'A dire situation:' Oklahoma hospitals resume reporting capacity amid omicron wave of COVID-19
Oklahoma hospitals relaunched their reporting of hospitalization numbers amid climbing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, another sign of the omicron variant’s increasing burden on the health care system. The four health systems — Integris Health, Mercy, SSM Health and OU Health — first began reporting their own bed counts in August, as the delta variant quickly sent hospitalizations climbing, straining hospitals.
Pediatric hospital admissions for COVID-19 on the rise in Oklahoma, doctors say Original
Oklahoma City doctors said they’re seeing more hospitalizations of children with COVID-19 during this surge than during any previous wave of the pandemic. At Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, three times as many children are being hospitalized with COVID-19 now compared with last winter’s surge. Oklahoma recorded a three-day average of 43 pediatric hospitalizations statewide Thursday, up 30 from a month ago.
Unvaccinated were over 3 times more likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID, Oklahoma study shows Original
Unvaccinated people were more likely to test positive for COVID-19, more likely to be hospitalized and more likely to die of the disease compared with those who have been vaccinated, a new study from the State Health Department shows. Across all age groups, people who weren’t vaccinated were more than three times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 or die from the virus than those who were vaccinated.
Oklahoma reports record number of COVID-19 cases over the weekend Original
Oklahoma reported record high numbers of new COVID-19 cases over the weekend as the state faces another surge, this time driven by the omicron variant. Saturday, Sunday and Monday now hold the top three spots for the state’s highest number of COVID-19 cases recorded in a single day.
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