In May 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report on the uninsured and health care coverage. In it you will find discussed such issues as  prevention and screening, cancer, chronic illness, hospital-based care, and general health status. This report is the second in the series by the Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance and is titled:  "Care Without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late."  The committee is appointed by the National Academies and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Source: AAMC STAT 5-13-02

Six reports have been issued to date.

Federal agencies launch health care quality information web site. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management have launched a Website to help consumer advocates, benefit managers, and state officials communicate with their audiences about health care quality.

The site, TalkingQuality.gov, provides step-by-step instructions on how to implement a quality measurement and reporting project, such as a health plan report card.

Source: AAMC STAT 4-29-02

Find a great Glossary, too.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has planned events for World Health Day 2002. This annual event held on April 7, 2002 was created by the World Health Organization to emphasize public health issues of worldwide concern. Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Director-General of the WHO, has announced that the theme of World Health Day 2002 will be "Move for Health". Several events will take place worldwide in cities such as Cairo, Washington D.C., Sao Paulo, Madrid and Geneva. 

The report, Information for Health: A Strategy for Building the National Health Information Infrastructure is now available. This report and recommendations from the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, which advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services on health information policy, is the result of extensive input from individuals and organizations around the country. The report is available online at http://ncvhs.hhs.gov/nhiilayo.pdf

Recent events have underscored the need for an effective health information infrastructure linking the public, healthcare providers, and public health professionals. This report is intended to stimulate collaborative action toward that goal. Please share this report with your colleagues, examine the recommendations that touch your area, and initiate tangible steps--preferably in concert with others--to help build this health support system for all Americans.

Source: John Lumpkin, M.D., M.P.H.
Chair, National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
and Chair, NCVHS Workgroup on the National Health Information Infrastructure

To help America's practicing physicians and front-line medical professionals prepare to confront the crisis of terrorism, the AMA recently launched a 10-part series of Web-based educational programs featuring some of the nation's leading experts on the clinical, psycho-social, and disaster preparedness issues raised by acts of terrorism.

Because of the unprecedented nature of the current crisis of terrorism, the AMA is making this continuing medical education activity available to all physicians free of charge. With the complete series of presentations available online — enhanced by audio and video — physicians can view any or all of the segments anytime and anywhere (presentations require a media player for viewing, such as Windows Media Player or Real Player).

Physicians who participate in this CME should become knowledgeable of the following:

1. Diagnosis and treatment of anthrax, smallpox, and other bioweapons found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "A" list.
2. The symptoms of exposure to chemical warfare agents and in the 'time-dependent treatment' of exposed individuals.
3. Specific elements of the Federal Response Plan for disasters.
4. Steps required to create or enhance community-based disaster plans.
5. Steps required to enhance interaction between physicians and departments of public health.
6. How disasters affect the mental health of both children and adults.
7. How disasters impact clinical medicine and the patient population in general.
   

Source: AMA

The CE does take some time to load and you must register.

Build a Web site, understand HTML, include HMTL entities (special characters or symbols), review style sheets, tables and Web standards. Great site for the beginning Web site developer.  

On June 18, 2001, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order No. 13217, "Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities." The Order calls upon the federal government to assist states and localities to implement swiftly the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C., stating: "The United States is committed to community-based alternatives for individuals with disabilities and recognizes that such services advance the best interests of the United States."

Executive Order 13217 directs six federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Housing and Urban Development and the Social Security Administration to "evaluate the policies, programs, statutes, and regulations of their respective agencies to determine whether any should be revised or modified to improve the availability of community-based services for qualified individuals with disabilities."¹

As a result of the self-evaluation process required by Executive Order 13217, federal agencies devised literally hundreds of solutions to facilitate the community integration of individuals with disabilities. These solutions fall into the following categories:

• Health Care Structure and Financing
• Housing
• Personal Assistance, Direct Care Services and Community Workers
• Caregiver and Family Support
• Transportation
• Employment
• Education
• Access to Technology
• Accountability and Legal Compliance
• Public Awareness, Outreach and Partnerships
• Income Supports
• Gathering, Assessment and Use of Data
• Cross-Agency Collaboration and Coordination

Source: the document.

This site provides access to photographs, illustrations, animations and audio/visuals in public health. To find just the right resource, use the PHIL Search engine. It allows you to do a keyword search, an image ID search and organize your results by a title, creation date, or image ID. To get aditional information use the FAQs. Related links can also provide additional images such as the "Big Picture Book of Viruses" from Tulane University or the Iowa State University Entomology Image Gallery.