MedlinePlus.gov Connect

MedlinePlus Connect now responds to requests for lab test information.

EHRs and patient portals may now send LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) codes to the MedlinePlus Connect system. MedlinePlus Connect responds with links to MedlinePlus consumer health information  for the lab tests related to those codes.

This functionality is available in both the MedlinePlus Connect Web application and Web service. This new feature complements MedlinePlus Connect’s ability to respond to information requests for specific diagnosis or medication codes.

See details on implementing it via the Web application at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/connect/application.html and for the Web service at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/connect/service.html. NLM has also enhanced the MedlinePlus Connect demonstration pages to illustrate how MedlinePlus Connect replies to lab codes. Visit the Web application demo page at http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/services/demo.html and the Web service application demo page at http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/services/servicedemo.cfm.

The lab test responses are available for many of the most frequently used lab tests. NLM plans to further expand the lab implementation in the future.

MedlinePlus.gov Tour

Today NLM released a new version of the MedlinePlus tour in English and Spanish.  The tours highlight important features of MedlinePlus.gov and describe where you can find certain types of information on the site. The tours last approximately 8 minutes and they include audio. We invite you to view the tours to see all the wonderful features MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en español have to offer!  There’s also a downloadable version of each tour so you can play them without an Internet connection.  If you have comments or questions about the MedlinePlus tours, send a message to the MedlinePlus team via the contact form on MedlinePlus.gov.

DigitalLiteracy.gov

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released www.DigitalLiteracy.gov.  The web site provide librarians, teachers, workforce trainers and other practitioners a central location to share digital literacy content and practices. These trusted groups can, in turn, better teach residents of their communities the skills today’s employers need.

The web site, a collaboration of nine federal agencies, features the work of the medical librarian community, such a “Beyond an Apple a Day” and “ABCs of DNA.” Please have a look and continue to submit new materials for inclusion in the portal.

by Bart Ragon, Associate Director for Library Tech Services and Development, University of Virginia, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

The e-Science Bootcamp for librarians was held at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library on Friday, March 4, 2011 and was supported by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM-SE/A) with special thanks to the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association.  The program was designed as an educational opportunity for SE/A members to increase knowledge in the emerging field of e-Science.  Special areas of focus included data management, information needs, and scientific investigation.  A full description of the program can be found at http://blog.hsl.virginia.edu/escience/.

Throughout the day, the program provided a ground level view of scientists’ day-to-day challenges related to e-Science.  Highlights from the day included a tour through the files and workflow of biomedical engineer Kimberley Kelly, PhD, as she described the challenges of organizing the massive amount of information and data used in her work.  Bootcampers also visited the working lab of Dr. Deborah Lannigan, which focuses on the signaling pathways of cells involved with breast cancer.  At the lab, attendees visited five stations where graduate students described their work and how it related to the overall research process.  J. Randall Moorman, MD, provided insight into his work with sepsis in premature newborn infants.  Dr. Moorman described the importance of sites like PhysioNet for sharing and mining data.  He described how this site is not only useful for his work, but required.  Andrew Sallans, MLIS, MIS, provided an overview of e-Science, as well practical applications currently being implemented at the University of Virginia.  Andrew provided information on NSF data management policies, creation and administering of data interviews, and his work on an institutional data repository.

Thirty-nine NN/LM members attended the program and eleven travel scholarships were awarded.  Attendees came from Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama.  During the final session participants developed an action plan to engage faculty at their own institution in e-Science.  The program lasted from 8:30am to 5:00pm and participants earned seven Medical Library Association Continuing Education credits.  A LinkedIn group, Southeastern/Atlantic e-Science Librarians, was created to provide an ongoing forum for discussion in the region.

Evaluation data and comments were collected and were overwhelmingly positive.   The intent was for participants to be able to engage researchers in meaningful conversations at their institution, and several librarians have already remarked that they have taken actions toward this goal.  For a report from a Bootcamp attendee, see the blog post “A Day at Librarian Bootcamp” from Johns Hopkins University librarian Robin N Sinn.

WISER 4.4 is now available!  You can download this update to WISER’s Windows, Pocket PC, and SmartPhone platforms from the WISER Web site (http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov/), or access the updated on-line version, WebWISER (http://webwiser.nlm.nih.gov/getHomeData.do).

Highlights of this version include (please see the WISER Web site’s What’s New in 4.4 (http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov/whats_new_4_4.html) for more information):

1) WISER for Windows rolls out a new, interactive Chemical Reactivity capability. You can:

a) Create your own mix of chemicals.

b) See an overview of the resulting potential hazards.

c) Delve into the detailed reaction behind each hazard or gas produced.

2) 19 new substances and mixtures of substances have been introduced, including Crude Oil and the Corexit 9500 and Corexit 9527 dispersants.

In addition, WISER for iPhone/iPod touch 1.1 is now available from Apple’s App Store.

All WISER platforms now include:

1) The 19 new substances and mixtures of substances.

2) Data updates based on the latest information from the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs).

3) Many usability improvements and fixes.

Coming this Spring and Summer for WISER are:

1) Enhancements to WISER for iPhone/iPod touch, including the help identify tool, and iPad-focused support.

2) WISER for the Android platform.

Please see the News page of the WISER Web site for our future plans.  Feel free to contact us if you have suggestions about opportunities to add new features, or to enhance current features. Feedback from our users helps in our plans to develop future versions of WISER!  Please use the Contact Us page of the WISER Web site to submit your feedback and ideas or anything else related to WISER.

We would also like to note the following resources of special interest to those who need to learn more about or have urgent access to health information related to tsunamis, earthquakes, and radiation emergencies currently affecting Japan.

1) Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM).  Clinicians and others who need to learn about assessing and managing radiation emergencies are urged to use the Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) Web site (http://remm.nlm.gov). Selected key files from REMM are also available for downloading on mobile devices from http://www.remm.nlm.gov/downloadmremm.htm. The entire REMM web site can be downloaded to a laptop or desktop computer for use where there is no Internet connection.

2) Japan Disasters Topic Page.  A new page of links to information on “Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Event – March 2011″ is now available at http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/japan2011.html. The resources on this page may help with understanding the health issues related to the devastating Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant situation. Resources from the National Library of Medicine, U.S. federal agencies, and other key resources are listed for responders, health professionals, and the general public.

3) For questions regarding REMM and the Japan Disasters Topic Page, please email custserv@nlm.nih.gov or call 1-888-346-3656 in the United States, or 301-594-5983 internationally.

Many libraries in the Southeastern Atlantic Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine are using LibGuides to share knowledge and information. LibGuides by Springshare is touted as a practical Web 2.0 application specifically built for libraries and educational institutions. The company has over 1700 libraries using this application with 125,000+ guides by 25,000+ librarians and more than 50 million page hits per month. Coordinators at NN/LM SE/A were impressed by a poster at the MAC 2010 meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina from West Virginia University, in which LibGuides were used to incorporate information literacy into the health sciences curriculum at their institution. Librarians at WVU were very helpful in providing more information and offered to answer any questions and share their LibGuides with NN/LM staff. To see their poster, please visit: http://macmla.org/events/2010/presentations/arnold.pdf

After seeing how useful these guides can be, further discussion regarding the use of LibGuides for NN/LM SE/A took place and led to an information webinar session for the staff. We are pleased to announce that we will be implementing LibGuides for our network members. Each coordinator in the office has specific duties related to particular health topics. For example, the Consumer Health Coordinator specializes in various subjects related to consumer health, such as senior health, veterans health information resources and consumer genetics. The Community Outreach Coordinator specializes in resources for specific populations and is planning a LibGuide for population specific health resources for Native Americans, African Americans, etc. These guides will lend themselves quite readily to the mission of NN/LM and will be an excellent way to provide this information to network members. As a content sharing system, LibGuides can act as a gateway to specific resources on a wide variety of health topics and cool tools can be incorporated into the guides, such as RSS feeds, interactive polls, and videos, just to name a few.

At the recent Oversight Committee meeting in Baltimore, members suggested that NN/LM SE/A be a source of information on topics important to NN/LM network members. One such topic mentioned was electronic health records (EHRs). Announcements and updates regarding EHRs come at a rate that is almost impossible to keep up with, yet it’s a topic that many health sciences librarians want to know about. LibGuides will make it possible to have all of the pertinent information in one location. Based on that suggestion, the topic of the first NN/LM SE/A LibGuide is EHRs. To take a look at this LibGuide, please visit: http://seaguides.hshsl.umaryland.edu/emr. Future LibGuides from NN/LM SE/A will be found at: http://seaguides.hshsl.umaryland.edu/.

As always, the NN/LM SE/A would like your input and feedback on these LibGuides as we put them into practice. Suggestions for LibGuides topics are most welcome. We’ll be exploring this application and seeking new and creative ways to make use of these guides. One potential idea we’re exploring is the use of LibGuides as a collaborative workspace. Many network members have developed curricula and projects that can serve as “best practices” for the Region and it would be great to have a space where these projects can be shared with everyone. If you have any suggestions or comments, please email any coordinator in the SEA office or send us an email: HSHSL-NLMsea@hshsl.umaryland.edu

Position Title:     Chief, Technical Services Division

Organization:     National Library of Medicine

Closing Date: September 17, 2010

Salary Range: $123,758-155,500

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the world’s largest biomedical library and the developer of electronic information services that deliver data to millions of users every day, including scientists, health professionals, and the public.  NLM plays a pivotal role in enabling biomedical research, supporting health care and public health, and promoting healthy behavior.  In support of this mission, NLM seeks qualified applicants for the position of Chief, Technical Services Division with responsibility for the Library’s technical services and collection development functions to build and organize a collection of over 12,000.000 items, including selection and acquisition of electronic and print materials, licensing, processing, cataloging and metadata description.   The Chief of the Technical Services Division reports to the Associate Director for Library Operations in managing the operations of 90 employees in the Serial Records, Selection and Acquisitions, and Cataloging Sections; formulating and interpreting policies; analyzing technical services programs for continuous improvement; developing and monitoring operational and collection budgets; and staffing requirements.  The office of the Chief, TSD also oversees the deployment of the integrated library management system with the OPAC and other automated enhancements to facilitate access to the collection resources.  The incumbent will take the lead in developing and implementing innovative redesign of processing workflows for acquisitions and cataloging, expanding the scope of electronic resources for the collection, launching a digital repository, and reshaping the Division’s workforce to meet the challenges of new organizational priorities.

NLM’s unique position as the world’s largest biomedical library, its dedicated and diverse staff, and a history of developing technology solutions to improve the collection, processing, and dissemination of information provide an excellent opportunity for an experienced library professional with a strong background managing technical services in a complex library environment, outstanding communications skills and a results-oriented approach to problem solving.   As a national library, NLM works closely with the Library of Congress, the National Agricultural Library, National Archives and Records Administration, American Library Association, other government agencies, institutions and international organizations to develop standards, policies and workable long-term solutions to problems facing research libraries today.  The Chief of NLM’s Technical Services Division serves as the Library’s expert on collection development and technical processing and represents NLM at national venues and professional groups and organizations with opportunities to engage in national level collaborations and partnerships.

For full position description and qualifications visit USAJobs:

HHS/NIH-2010-2826
Complete posting on USAJOBS
Supervisory Librarian
Technical Services Division, Library Operations
Closing Date: 09/17/2010

BEYONDtheSEA

Date: September 15, 2010

Time: Noon – 1:00 pm EST

Archive of Presenation

Transliteracy and Libraries

Literacy is required for one to be fully involved in and contribute to society. Times are changing, technologies are evolving rapidly, and it’s no longer enough to focus on the ability to read and write alone. Libraries need to shift their focus from mere literacy to transliteracy, the ability to read, write, and interact across a range of platforms, tools, and media, from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio, and film, to digital social networks. Join us and our presenters, Bobbi Newman and Brian Hulsey, for the September 15 Beyond the SEA presentation and learn how transliteracy is tied to literacy and why it is important to libraries.
Presenters:

Bobbi Newman
Bobbi is dedicated to helping libraries find their place in the digital age.

She is passionate about 21st century literacies and the role of all libraries in equal access and opportunity for all.  Her professional interests include digital and technology based services, the digital divide, and improving existing services through expanding traditional methods, while creating innovative new practices.

She shares her passion by consulting and speaking at local, national, and international conferences. She writes http://librarianbyday.net/ and http://librariesandtransliteracy.wordpress.com/

Brian Hulsey
Brian currently holds a position in Electronic Resources at the Simon Schwob Memorial Library of Columbus State University as well as Reference Services for the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries in Columbus, Georgia.

He presents at the state, regional, and national level on a myriad of topics ranging from accessible services to innovative technologies. All the while enthusiastically continuing to explore and learn new technologies in hopes to promote and excite others with a contagious dedication for clear and inspiring library service.

His professional interest include equal access to information, intellectual freedom, digital and technology based services, 21st century literacies, and making libraries a key component in the ever changing climate of information and communication. He writes http://strangedichotomy.wordpress.com/ & http://librariesandtransliteracy.wordpress.com/ Outside of libraryland he is a triathlete, cycling enthusiast, Pilates instructor, and coffee shop frequenter.

How to get connected:

What do you need to join these conferences?

* A computer (with Flash installed)
* A telephone

How do I connect?
Go to this URL: http://webmeeting.nih.gov/beyondthesea
Enter as a Guest
Sign in with your first and last name
Follow the instructions in the meeting room to have Adobe Connect call your phone or call 1-800-605-5167 and enter the participant code 227471 when prompted.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. If you require special accommodations, please call 410-706-2855 at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Test your connection: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview

List of previously presented web conferences on subjects such as marketing your library and NN/LM updates.

New App for Health Hotlines

NLM’s Health Hotlines is now available as an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch (http://itunes.apple.com/app/health-hotlines/id376404746?mt=8).  Health Hotlines is also compatible with the iPad.

Health Hotlines is a compilation of organizations with toll-free telephone numbers to assist the public in locating health-related information. It is derived from DIRLINE, NLM’s Directory of Information Resources Online, which contains descriptions of almost 9,000 health and biomedical organizations and resources.  Some of the subject areas included in Health Hotlines are AIDS, cancer, diseases and disorders, maternal and child health, aging, substance abuse, disabilities and mental health.

Health Hotlines is also available on the NLM’s Web site http://healthhotlines.nlm.nih.gov.

The Technical Bulletin articles covering NLM/MLA events have been published:

MLA 2010: NLM® Theater Presentations

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj10/mj10_mla_theater_ppt.html

MLA 2010: NLM® Update PowerPoint Presentations

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj10/mj10_nlm_update.html

MLA 2010: NLM® Online Users’ Meeting: Questions and Answers

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj10/mj10_mla_qa.html

MLA 2010: NLM Online Users’ Meeting: PowerPoint® Presentations

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj10/mj10_mla_ss_ppt.html

Express Mobile Technology Pilot Project Funding Awards
The NN/LM SE/A is pleased to announce the recipients of the newly introduced Express Mobile Technology Award funded in year 05. The goals of the award are to improve or showcase the use of hand-held devices to enhance information access, create new avenues to deliver information or introduce NLM mobile products to health professionals.

Receipts of the award are:

Belton Emergency Medical Services – Health Information Campaign
PI Dave Porter
Period of Performance: July 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

East Tennessee State University – Expanding the Cancer Workforce: Partnering with the clergy
PI: Rick Wallace
Budget: $6,000
Period of Performance: July 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

Medical University of South Carolina – Mobile Med: A study on the usage of iPads in a clinical, community and campus setting
PI: Candace Moorer
Budget: $6,000
Period of Performance: July 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

Technology/Electronic Health Information Awareness Awards
The NN/LM SE/A is pleased to announce the recipients of the Technology/Electronic Health Information Awareness Award funded since March 1, 2010. The award is offered to promote the awareness of and use of information and technology at conferences for health professionals, librarians or health consumers.

Recipients of the award are:

Greenville County Library System – Community Health Fair, to increase public awareness of available electronic resources and opportunities
PI: Christine Grewcock
Budget: $5,000
Period of Performance: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

Medical University of South Carolina – Technology Fair, Fall 2010
PI: Mary Mauldin
Budget: $4,800
Period of Performance: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association – Role of the Librarians in E-science
PI: Brandi Tuttle
Budget: $10,532
Period of Performance: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association – Technology programming for health sciences librarians
PI: Ruth Riley
Budget: $5,000
Period of Performance: May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011

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.

Hope Leman
Research Information Technologist
Center for Health Research and Quality

http://scs.eventbrite.com/?ref=estw

Please join us on Saturday February 20th for an all-day symposium on accelerating scientific discoveries.

We have an exciting lineup of speakers including:

John Wilbanks is the VP of Science Commons.  John and the Science Commons team help people and organizations from every part of the scientific ecosystem lift legal and technical barriers to research and discovery.

Heather Joseph is the Executive Director at SPARC, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition. She leads SPARC’s advocacy efforts to support widespread adoption of open access to scholarly research.

Anthony Williams is a leader in the domain of free access chemistry. He is the VP of Strategic Development for the Royal Society of Chemistry, the president of ChemConnector and the founder of ChemZoo Inc.

Jean-Claude Bradley  is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the E-Learning Coordinator at Drexel University.

Cameron Neylon is a biophysicist who has always worked in interdisciplinary areas and is a leading advocate of data availability.

Stephen Friend is the founder and president of Sage , a not-for-profit medical research organization designed to revolutionize how researchers approach the complexity of human biological information and the treatment of disease.

More speakers to be announced soon.

The symposium will be held on the Microsoft campus in Redmond Washington.

Breakfast pastries, coffee breaks, lunch and an evening reception will be provided thanks to the generous support of Microsoft.

Science Commons Symposium – Pacific Northwest
9:30am to 5:30pm
February 20th
Microsoft Campus, Redmond WA