Carnegie Mellon University, known as one of the nation’s leading computer science schools, offered a course on iPad programming.  On the first day, the 30-person class saw 90 students show up and had a 75-student waiting list.  The school is putting the course lectures online for free on iTunesU.  The course is intended to help students design better iPad apps and understand data visualization.

Find out more details in the recent article in Pittsburgh Business Times:  http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/innovation/2012/01/you-too-can-take-cmus-ipad.html?ed=2012-01-31&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub.

The NIH released a February 2012 document summarizing its public access policy…

“WHAT IS AT STAKE UNDER THE PUBLIC ACCESS POLICY:  Opening up to the public 90,000 new scientific articles each year reporting research that U.S. taxpayers have funded through NIH’s annual 32 billion dollar investment in biomedical research…

HOW IT WORKS:  The NIH policy honors, and is consistent with, U.S. copyright law.  The author, as the creator of the work, holds the copyright in the original paper.  The author gives NIH a non-exclusive right to distribute the paper in PMC and may transfer to the publisher the balance of his rights, including an exclusive copyright for the final published version of the paper…

SUPPORT FROM PUBLISHERS:  Publishers representing about 1000 journals voluntarily submit the full content of their journals to PMC, regardless of whether the issue contains an article subject to the NIH Public Access Policy…

NO HARM TO PUBLISHERS IS EVIDENT:  The Public Access requirement took effect in 2008.  While the U.S. economy has suffered a downturn during the time period 2007 to 2011, scientific publishing has grown:  [1] The number of journals dedicated to publishing biological sciences/agriculture articles and medicine/health articles increased 15% and 19%, respectively.  [2] The average subscription prices of biology journals and health sciences journals increased 26% and 23%, respectively.  [3] Publishers forecast increases to the rate of growth of the medical journal market, from 4.5% in 2011 to 6.3% in 2014…”

The NIH public access policy:  http://publicaccess.nih.gov/public_access_policy_implications_2012.pdf.

The Rural Assistance Center and the National Rural Health Resources Center recently announced the release of an online health IT toolkit aimed at helping rural health care providers plan and implement health IT projects.

HHS’ Office of Rural Health Policy provided funding to support the development of the online toolkit (AHA News, 1/27).

Toolkit Details

The toolkit offers resources on:

• The planning, setup, implementation and maintenance of health IT systems;
• How to find health IT training programs, management expertise and funding support; and
• The meaningful use program.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

Goals of Toolkit

The toolkit aims to help rural communities:

• Address hurdles to raising capital for health IT projects;
• Improve community college-based health IT training programs;
• Obtain federal resources to support health IT initiatives; and
• Stay informed about health IT policy (RAC release, 1/26).

Read more:  http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2012/1/31/groups-release-online-health-it-toolkit-for-rural-health-providers.aspx#ixzz1lAGwQOUr.

National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) University is back in session.  The new Spring 2012 semester kicked off February 1^st.  The NeHC University will welcome Gwenn Darlinger, Project Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, to lead another installment of HIT Orientation, a comprehensive introduction to health IT in under two hours!

The HIT Orientation program will provide students with an introduction to HITECH, ONC initiatives and a high-level view of the current HIT landscape in the U.S.  This class is designed for stakeholders who are new to the HIT field, new to NeHC University, or just need a refresher on some of the HIT basics.

• Register and join NeHC University’s HIT Orientation
• Learn more about NeHC University programs and the new Spring 2012 semester

MAR is in the process of reviewing and updating the contents of our membership files. So we want you all to know that it may be several weeks before we’re able to send new certificates out to all our members. We thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact our Network and Advocacy Coordinator, Michelle Burda:  mburda@pitt.edu.

The National Library of Medicine Training Center is bringing their PubMed for Trainers course to Syracuse, NY, April 16-30, 2012.  The course requires attendance at all sessions, both online and            in-person:

• Online session:                                 April 16, 2012 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET)
• Online session:                                 April 18, 2012 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET)
• In-person session in Syracuse, NY:             April 24, 2012 (9:30 am – 4:30 pm ET)
• Online session:                                 April 30, 2012 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET)

Seating is limited.  For class details and to register, see:  http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/classes/schedule.html#class359.Pubmed for Trainers.

Introduction and Invitation for Public Comment

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit health research organization.  Its mission is to fund research that offers patients and caregivers the information they need to make important healthcare decisions.  PCORI focuses on “comparative clinical effectiveness” research.  These are studies that compare options for preventing disease and providing treatment and care.  PCORI does so by:

1. Identifying national priorities for research.
2. Creating a research agenda based on identified priorities.
3. Funding research consistent with these priorities and agenda.
4. Providing patients and their caregivers with useful research information.

Visit the following to see the draft presented for public comment:  http://www.pcori.org/assets/PCORI-Draft-National-Priorities-and-Research-Agenda-2.pdf.

You are invited to join the faculty and staff of the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library for the Priscilla M. Mayden Lecture on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00 pm (Mountain Time) via the program link for viewing from a distance.  This year’s Mayden lecturer is Bart Ragon, Associate Director for Library Technology Services and Development.  Mr. Ragon’s lecture focuses on eScience and the Evolution of Library Services.  Not just for librarians, eScience / eResearch potentially impacts faculty, staff and student access to the data, tools and resources needed to collaborate, share and move science forward.

Mr. Ragon’s topic description:  “Science is changing and changing fast. Concepts like the data life cycle, data curation, translational science, high performance computing, and data sharing are having an impact on how science is conducted.  At the same time, libraries are adjusting services to meet the needs of highly networked and technically savvy patron groups.  eScience is a term that describes the dynamic re-shaping of collaboration and workflows in science and creating unique and important opportunities for librarianship.  This presentation explores potential roles for librarians in eScience, how new collaborations might form, and the role of the libraries in the data life cycle.”

There is no registration or fee to attend.  The program is being broadcast live and archived for on-demand viewing.  The program link will be available on the Mayden Lecture page for viewing from a distance:  http://library.med.utah.edu/or/pmayden/home.php.  For more information contact Jeanne Le Ber; 801-585-6744.

ALA is offering a two-session online workshop “Integrating iPads and Tablet Computers into Library Services.”  The workshop includes examples of uses and policies from a few libraries, reviews of the apps that libraries are using, and reviews of the hardware options.  Even though the workshop does not have a health sciences focus, previous attendees recommend it highly.

More details:  http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3495&zbrandid=4634&zidType=CH&zid=9884810&zsubscriberId=1026633937&zbdom=http://ala-publishing.informz.net

We are pleased to announce that MAR is now fully staffed.  We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our team.

• Barbara A. Epstein, HSLS Director, is responsible for overall implementation of the contract, and will lead planning and implementation of the Regional Medical Library for the Middle Atlantic Region.

• Renae Barger, Executive Director, is responsible for leadership, development, administration and evaluation of MAR programs.  Renae serves as a liaison to the National Library of Medicine, other Regional Medical Libraries and the Network members.

• Tristan Lucchetti, Administrator, will manage the budget, as well as monitor and track expenditures for subcontracts and awards.

• Michelle Burda, Network and Advocacy Coordinator, will plan Network member programs, with an emphasis on advocacy and changing roles for the information professional; coordinate outreach activities to hospital librarians; and manage the Region’s Membership and DOCLINE program.

• Lydia Collins, Consumer Health Coordinator, will have lead responsibility for developing, coordinating, and implementing consumer health information programs and providing outreach to public libraries and consumer groups, including soldiers, veterans and their families, senior citizens, caregivers, K-12 schools, and community-based and faith-based organizations.

• Kate Flewelling, Outreach Coordinator, will develop outreach programs to health professionals, with emphasis on services to unaffiliated health professionals, minority health professionals, public health workers, and mental health professionals.

• Melissa (Missy) Harvey, Technology and Communication Coordinator, will identify and evaluate technologies for MAR programs and develop a communication strategy to ensure that Network members and others in the region are informed about MAR activities, award opportunities and other initiatives.  Missy will also provide support for academic librarians within the MAR.