http://www.getreadyforflu.org/clocksstocks/index.htm

APHA’s Get Ready campaign reminds everyone to check preparedness kits when changing clocks to daylight savings time on March 14, 2010.

by Susan P. Hardee, MLS
Director, Wake AHEC Library Services
WakeMed Health and Hospitals

If you are responsible for information at your hospital, a NC hospital librarian, or an AHEC librarian, please choose to attend March 29, 2010 in Raleigh or March 30 in Charlotte!

Attendance is free.  Small travel stipends will be provided to attendees.

Please see program and location details at:  http://library.ncahec.net/flyer_NC_following.pdf

Register now! It’s easy at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/527B7WG

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services under Contract No. NO1-LM-6-3502 with the University of Maryland Baltimore.

by Janet Sclar
CAIC Project Coordinator
Coalition for American Indians in Computing
Humboldt State University
707-826-3338
http://www.humboldt.edu/caic/

The Coalition for American Indians is able to extend our program for one more summer!  We will host our last group of high school students at Humboldt State University this July 12-24.  Thanks to all our efforts, last year’s camp resulted in four students desiring to apply and being accepted at Humboldt State University.

The program for Summer 2010 will have space for just 16 students (we had 40 last year and 120 applications!).  We hope to find those who are genuinely interested in exploring computing (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, GIS) at the college level.  The program will include instruction in problem solving, mathematical computations, and computer programming. Students live in campus housing and have a college student as a peer mentor. The mornings are used for class time and the afternoons and early evenings are used for fun projects. Field trips are being planned and we’d like to visit a local reservation or Native-owned business and see how technology is being used there to benefit the members.

Attached is this year’s flyer and application.  If you know any high school Sophomores or Juniors who would be interested in applying, please announce our program to them.  If a student is interested but does not currently meet the criteria, please have them address that issue in their personal statement.  The program dates are July 12-24, and we are again covering round trip travel, room and board and a stipend. The application deadline is SOON: April 2nd!

Lonyx Landry is doing local recruitment trips and talks to interested groups over the next few weeks.  He may call you, or you may contact him at 707-599-7215, to schedule a meeting or presentation.

If you have any suggestions for the program, or can host our students for an hour tour, please contact me right away as we are finalizing our schedule this month.

March 5, 2010

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/03/20100305a.html

National organizations will have a key role in building a healthier nation as part of the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.

National organizations interested in applying for Communities Putting Prevention to Work- Leveraging National Organizations cooperative agreements can find more information at www.grants.gov. The application deadline is April 19, 2010. To learn more about the Communities Putting Prevention to Work- Leveraging National Organizations program please visit: http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/funding/index.html

Fact Sheet: http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/funding/cppwfactsheet.html

(RFQ No. NLM-0010-054-SES)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is pleased to announce the solicitation of quotations from organizations and libraries to design and conduct projects that will improve access to HIV/AIDS related health information for patients, the affected community, and their caregivers.

Projects must involve one or more of the following information access categories:

• Information retrieval;
• Skills development;
• State-of-the-art resources;
• Resource development; and/or
• Document Access.

Emphasis is placed upon the following types of organizations or arrangements for developing these programs:

• Community-based organizations (CBOs) or patient advocacy groups currently providing HIV/AIDS related serves to the affected community;
• Public libraries serving communities in the provision of HIV/AIDS-related information and resources;
• Health departments or other local, municipal, or state agencies working to improve public health;
• Faith-based organizations currently providing HIV/AIDS-related services; and/or
• Multi-type consortia of the above-listed organizations that may be in existence or formed specifically for this project.

Standard Awards are offered for up to $60,000; Express Awards are offered for up to $10,000.

Quotations are due to NLM on Monday, April 19, 2010.

The solicitation for the 2010 HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Projects is posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site at http://tinyurl.com/yawvyxo

The RFP for the 2011-2016 NN/LM Contracts is now posted at https://www.fbo.gov/index?mode=form&id=710e032c5bf072654aee91ee84620673&tab=ntype

From the main page at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=main&mode=list&tab=list

On left side at top page “In Keyword / Solicitation #” enter: NLM-10-055-AN

Click search …

Check out the March issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research. In this edition:

The Salty Stuff Salt, Blood Pressure and Your Health
Salt is essential to our body’s fluids. On the other hand, too much salt can lead to a host of health problems.
full story

When Blood Vessels Bulge – All About Aneurysms
An aneurysm—a balloon-like bulge in an artery—can develop and grow for years without causing any symptoms. But an aneurysm is a silent threat to your health.
full story

Health Capsules:

• How Light Boosts Migraine Pain
• Health on the Go
• Featured Web Site: We Can!

Click here to download a PDF version for printing.

Visit our Facebook wall to suggest topics you’d like us to cover, or start a discussion about how you use the newsletter. We want to hear what you think! Also check out the NIH Health & Science Gifts and send some to your Facebook friends.

Please pass the word on to your colleagues about NIH News in Health. We are happy to send a limited number of print copies free of charge for display in offices, libraries or clinics. Just email us or call 301-435-7489 for more information.

by Cindy Love, Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine announces a new page of Chile earthquake information for those in the United States and elsewhere who are monitoring or responding to the medical and public health needs in Chile. It is available at http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/chileearthquake.html.

The page lists new Web links about the Chile earthquake aftermath from both government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). People locators, social media resources, and alerts for travelers to Chile are also listed.

A separate page on “Earthquakes – Resources for Response and Recovery” (http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/earthquakes.html) links to background information on earthquakes and subsequent health issues, such as traumatic injuries, guidelines for responders, stress and coping, and sanitation issues.

Please send your comments and suggestions about additional Chile-related health information content to tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov. This information is compiled by the Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services, US National Library of Medicine.

By Donna McCloskey (Presbyterian Hospital, Huntersville)

The five libraries of Novant Health in North Carolina—Learning Resource Center in Charlotte, Forsyth Medical Center Library in Winston-Salem, Health Information Center in Huntersville, Health Library in Matthews, and Hanesbrands Health Learning Center in Winston-Salem—are the first place recipients of the 2009 MLA Creative Promotions Award.

Using funds from an Express Hospital Library Promotion Award from the NNLM, SE/A region, the libraries produced a bookmark brochure in healthcare staff and consumer health versions as well as large table top display to highlight the services provided by the libraries.  These were used to promote the libraries during NMLM in 2009 and will continued to be used to raise awareness of library resources available throughout the Novant Health network of hospitals, outpatient centers, and physician practices.

A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

March 2, 2010

Today the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) outlining the proposed approach for establishing a certification program to test and certify electronic health records (EHRs). The HITECH Act mandates the development of a certification program which will give purchasers and users of EHR technology assurances that the technology and products have the necessary functionality and security to help meet meaningful use criteria. While we are making significant strides toward modernizing our health care system, these efforts will only succeed if providers and patients are confident that their health information systems are safe and functional.

The proposed rule incorporates two phases of development for the certification program to ensure that eligible professionals and eligible hospitals are able to adopt and implement Certified EHR Technology in time to qualify for meaningful use incentive payments. The rulemaking process will take time, so this phased approach provides a bridge  to detailed guidelines to support an ongoing program of testing and certification of health IT.

The first proposed program creates a temporary certification process under which the National Coordinator would authorize organizations to assume many of the responsibilities that will eventually be fulfilled under the permanent certification program. For the permanent certification program, the rule proposes transitioning much of the responsibility for testing and certification to organizations in the private sector.

Publication of the proposed rule on the Establishment of Certification Programs for Health Information Technology is an important first step in bringing structure and cohesion to the evaluation of EHRs, EHR modules, and potentially other types of health IT.  The programs will help support end users of certified products, and ultimately serve the interests of each patient by ensuring that their information is securely managed and available where and when it is needed.

Your input is essential to bringing this important process to fruition.  We encourage your participation in the open public comment period.

Additional information on both of these programs and how you can comment can be found through the HHS news release issued today and at the http://HealthIT.HHS.Gov website.

The vision of the HITECH Act is unfolding rapidly, and all of us at ONC look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve the meaningful use of EHRs.