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

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.

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

The ¡VIVA! Peer Tutors of the South Texas Independent School District are conducting a nationwide health literacy challenge.  Students enrolled in U.S. schools in grades 6-12 can submit a video promoting the website MedlinePlus.gov.  Video submission will open February 1, 2012 and will close March 23, 2012.  Winners will be announced on the ¡VIVA! website and Facebook page on April 16, 2012, and winning videos will be posted on the ¡VIVA! website.  For complete details about the video contest please visit the ¡VIVA! website at:  http://bla.stisd.net/viva.html.

Ann Vickman
Librarian
Biblioteca Las Américas
http://bla.stisd.net

Mark these dates and note that we’ve increased class sizes…

January 17th:     Patient Safety Resource Seminar: Librarians on the Front Lines

NEW Start Date and Increased Class Size (Online: Jan. 30 – Feb. 17, 2012)

February 6th:     Beyond an Apple a Day: Providing Consumer Health Information at Your Library

(Online: Feb. 6 – Mar. 9, 2012; Waitlist Only)

February 9th:     Super Searcher: Enhancing Your Online Search Super Powers

Increased Class Size (Online: Feb. 9 – 23, 2012)

What is fracking?  What are uranium tailings and how can they affect my health?  Answers to these questions can be found in Tox Town’s new US Southwest Scene.

http://www.toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/flash/southwest/flash.php  (English)

http://www.toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/flash/southwest/flash_sp.php (Spanish)

This scene, developed in conjunction with Diné College in New Mexico, highlights locations associated with environmental health concerns impacting the Navajo and others living in the Southwest region of the United States.  New Tox Town locations found in this scene include:

1. Abandoned Mines
2. Coal-Fired Power Plants
3. Dust Storms
4. Hydraulic Fracturing
5. Irrigation Canals and Ditches
6. Oil and Gas Fields
7. Sheep Ranching
8. Uranium Tailings
9. Water Wells
10. Windmills

Regardless of where you live, you will definitely want to visit this new neighborhood and learn about possible environmental health risks in this part of the country.

Applications are now being accepted for the Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Health Sciences Librarianship at the University of Pittsburgh.  This year-long program, beginning in May 2012, provides librarians with an in-depth knowledge of the health care environment and advanced skills in managing health sciences collections and resources.  Graduates will be prepared to play a key role in helping clinicians, researchers and health care consumers to keep pace with the expanding knowledge base in the health sciences.  For more information, please visit http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/health/.

Virtual Open Houses, an amazing opportunity to interact with advisors for this Certificate program, will be held on January 12^th 12:00 – 1:00 pm (EST) and January 26^th 3:00 – 4:00 pm (EST).

Those interested in a career as an information professional within the health care arena are invited to join the conversation…please complete the RSVP form at http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/news/rsvp-form.php.

This Certificate Program is an online 15-credit post-master’s program offered by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Information Sciences in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Health Sciences Library System.  The partnership between an ALA-accredited MLIS program and a world-class, dynamic health sciences library offers a unique educational experience.  The curriculum is based on contemporary applications of current information management theories and technologies.  The course of study is enriched by the varied and rich experience that practicing medical librarian instructors bring to the program.

Development of this Certificate program was supported by a grant from the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Please visit http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/healthcas to meet three of the HealthCAS librarian faculty and to explore their course offerings.

For more information on the program and the application process, visit http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/health/ or e-mail healthcasinq@sis.pitt.edu.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Brandi Belleau & the HealthCAS Recruitment Team
University of Pittsburgh
School of Information Sciences
Web:  http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/health/

Email: healthcasinq@sis.pitt.edu

We are pleased to announce the release of the Call for Applications for community teams to participate in Phase Two of the Healthy Weight Collaborative, a national quality improvement effort to test and spread evidence-based and promising interventions to prevent and treat obesity.  Attached, please find a fact sheet with more information on the Collaborative and the broader Collaborate for Healthy Weight initiative.

The Call for Applications may be found at:  http://www.collaborateforhealthyweight.org/Take-Action/Join-the-Collaborative.aspx.  Please access the PDF version of the complete application, or click on the blue “Apply Now!” box for access to the online application.

This phase will bring together 40 multi-sector teams (including primary care, public health, and the community) from across the country to engage in a virtual learning community from late February 2012-February 2013.

Key Dates:

• Application deadline:  January 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm EST
• Informational webinar for interested applicants:  January 11, 2012 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST.   Registration is required to attend, and may be accessed at http://www.cvent.com/d/dcq8qx.  Space is limited.
• Accepted teams notified:  February 28, 2012.

Phase Two Recruitment Priorities:

• Broad geographic distribution, with representation from urban, rural, tribal, and underserved communities facing significant health disparities.
• Tribal communities, as well as teams with a focus on faith-based, intergenerational, and women’s health approaches are encouraged to apply.
• The application of community health workers (ie. patient navigators, promatoras, or community advocates) and mHealth or innovative technology (ie. text messages, smart phone applications, or other innovative approaches) is encouraged.
• IT capacity (or access to) to participate in the virtual collaborative, including webinars and videoconferencing

For more information about the Healthy Weight Collaborative and the Collaborate for Healthy Weight initiative, please visit the project’s website:  www.collaborateforhealthyweight.org.

If you have any further questions, please email info@collaborateforhealthyweight.org or contact Becca Lipman at 617-391-2700.