The first year of the SE/A Outreach Challenge has concluded and we are claiming success. With the activities of SE/A members, we were able to expand our outreach efforts to an additional 900 people in the Region. During this first year, a variety of health information activities were offered, with MedlinePlus.gov leading the way. PubMed, other NLM resources and technology programs were offered as well. To view the progress made, check the Challenge web page at http://nnlm.gov/sea/outreach/challenge/index.html.

We want to thank the Network members who participated this year in providing many and varied activities. Your contributions as our partners in health information outreach in the region are greatly appreciated. The Challenge will continue for the next four years of our contract. We hope that in year 2 we can build on this early success and involve more Network members. Your work will help in making yours a healthier community.

The July issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research, is now online at http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/. Please pass the word on to your colleagues about The NIH News in Health. The National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison is happy to send a limited number of print copies free of charge to any library. Please contact Harrison Wein at weinh@od.nih.gov or 301-435-7489 if you are interested in receiving print copies. To subscribe to the e-release, send an email to Listserv@list.nih.gov with the words “Subscribe NIHNewsInHealth-L” in the message body.

In this issue:

Feature Stories:
Baby on Board - Boost Your Chances for a Healthy Pregnancy: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/July/docs/01features_01.htm

Deep Vein Trouble - Recognize and Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/July/docs/01features_02.htm

Health Capsules:
Bladder Control Surgeries for Women: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/July/docs/02capsules.htm#cap01

Protect Against Skin Cancer
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/July/docs/02capsules.htm#cap02

Featured Web Site:
Tuberculosis: www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/tuberculosis

NN/LM SE/A Consumer Health Outreach Coordinator, Terri Ottosen, has written an article describing the development and content of a new class offering in the region on genetics information for consumers. It has been published in the Journal
of Consumer Health on the Internet, Vol. 11, Number 2, 2007, p.33-42. The title of the article is “Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers.” The following is the abstract:

The Human Genome Project, a multibillion dollar research initiative, was designed to map and sequence the genes in the human genome. This goal has been realized, but the future data gathered will have implications for many generations to come. Consumers trying to make sense of the often complex issues surrounding genetic information need reliable resources to assist them in understanding and evaluating this information. Librarians familiar with and aware of these resources and issues can greatly assist consumers. This paper will discuss the content of new training for librarians and consumers, including Web resources for consumer genetics information.

The article also provides a list of resources for genetics information for consumers. The class, entitled, the ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers, is intended to assist librarians or consumers seeking to understand basic genetics concepts, vocabulary, counseling and conditions.

For further information contact Terri at: tottosen@hshsl.umaryland.edu

Medicare Enhances Consumer Information On Hospital Care
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added a milestone addition to the Hospital Compare consumer Web site (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov). The revised comparison tool will now give consumers even better insight into the quality of care provided by their local hospitals.

This website has:

Hospital Location Information
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/Hospital/Search/SearchCriteria.
asp?version=default

Get the address, telephone number and other important information for all Medicare-certified hospitals in the United States. Search by name, city, state, zip code and county.

Hospital Quality Information
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/Hospital/Search/
SearchCriteria.asp?version=default

See measures that show how often hospitals provided recommended treatment for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgery.

Find information about hospitals’ death (mortality) rates for heart attack and heart failure. http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/Hospital/Static/GlossaryPopUp.asp
?TermID=Risk-Adjusted%2030-ay%20Death%20(Mortality)
%20Rates&Language=English

Hospital Checklist
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/Hospital/Static/About-
HospChecklist.asp?dest=NAV|Home|About|Checklist#TabTop

Review some important questions for consideration before you or your loved one goes to the hospital.

Your Rights When You Are in the Hospital

Know your rights, link toThe Patient Care Partnership: http://www.aha.org/aha/issues/Communicating-With-Patients/
pt-care-partnership.html

Replacing the AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights, this plain language brochure informs patients about what they should expect during their hospital stay with regard to their rights and responsibilities. The brochure is available in multiple languages: http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2003/pdf/pcp_english_030730.pdf

English
Arabic
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Russian
Tagalog
Spanish
Vietnamese