| Public Health
Weblog collected and organized by Laura Larsson Clinical Faculty, SPHCM University of Washington |
||
About{ 2003 }Current
January Previous Years { 2002 } December November October July - Sept Jan-June 2001 2000 1999
eLearning Blogs eLearningpost InternettimeMore about Blogs and Their Variations The Art of Blogging - Part 1 Overview, Definitions, Uses, and Implications by George Siemens. December 1, 2002 The Art of Blogging - Part 2 Getting Started, "How To", Tools, Resources December 6, 2002 Weblog to Moblog By Justin Hall, Nov 21 2002 |
November 2003[Note: This site uses popup
windows to display links. Close the popped-up window to return to this
page]
November 28, 2003 2:00 PM Rural America At A Glance (2003) Rural America At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas for use in developing policies and programs to assist rural areas. This brochure is the second in a series of reports that uses current social and economic data to highlight important population, labor market, income, and poverty trends in rural areas. The new metropolitan/nonmetropolitan classification is also discussed. The format of the report incorporates text bullets with charts and maps to make the report easy-to-read and visually interesting. This brochure provides information on key rural conditions and trends for use by public and private decisionmakers and others in efforts to enhance the economic opportunities and quality of life for rural people and their communities. Released Friday, November 28, 2003 by the USDA's Economic Research Service. November 26, 2003 2:59 PM British Medical Journal, 15 November 2003; Vol. 327, No. 7424 (public health articles of interest)
EPA Science Inventory Launched for Public Use Searchable Database will Provide Access to Thousands of Science Documents To make EPA's quality science available to the public, Acting Deputy Administrator Steve Johnson and Assistant Administrator for Research and Development Paul Gilman launched the EPA Science Inventory for public access at a public event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, November 19th. The Science Inventory is a searchable, Agency-wide database of more than 4,000 scientific and technical work products. Database records provide such information as project descriptions (abstracts), contacts for additional information and electronic links to final reports and related research. The Science Inventory has been used for years within EPA to coordinate scientific work; this is the first time it will be made publicly available. Individuals and organizations will now be able to pick a topic of interest to them and conduct a keyword search. Steve Johnson said, "Americans invest hundreds of millions of dollars every year in EPA's human health and environmental science. Now that very science is easily accessible to anyone with a link to the Internet. The public launch of the Science Inventory is another example of open, transparent government." "Researchers at colleges and universities, in state and local The Science Inventory is on the Internet at www.epa.gov/si. Users can conduct keyword searches or can search within nine cross-cutting science topics: aging initiative, contaminated sediments, ecological assessment tools, genomics, tribal science, children's health, cumulative risk, environmental justice and non-indigenous species. EPA's Office of Research and Development manages the Science Inventory, with oversight by the EPA Science Policy Council. For more information on the Science Inventory, contact John Sykes at 919-541-2953 or sykes.john@epa.gov EPA relies on quality science as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA's laboratories and research centers, and EPA's research grantees, are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency's mission to safeguard human health and the environment. Source: Judith C. Russell (jrussell@gpo.gov), Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office MMWR November 28, 2003/Vol. 52/No. 47
MMWR Surveillance Summaries November 28, 2003/Vol. 52/No. SS--12 (PDF file size 441 KB) November 23, 2003 12:19 AM Responding to requests for localized health information, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the release of a new data analysis SMART BRFSS (Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The new analysis provides health information for 98 selected metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs*) for 2002 in such health categories as diabetes, obesity, smoking and overall health status. CDC made the announcement today at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting in San Francisco. SMART BRFSS marks the first time that health officials have had access to local-level data on health status that are comparable across the nation. With SMART BRFSS data, local officials now have access to information that will help answer local data needs. Within the data limitations described, the new analysis allows comparison between communities and comparison of the health status of a community with state and national data. Using the SMART BRFSS data, public health professionals can examine and compare the different needs of demographically similar metropolitan areas or different metropolitan areas within states and better target public health programs according to local needs. Some of the findings among the 98 MMSAs in the SMART BRFSS analysis
include: “Just as communities use economic indicators to compare themselves to other similar communities, these data enable communities to compare their health status as they never could before,” said Dr. James Marks, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “BRFSS also allows states to add timely questions specific to state and local needs. As the ability of BRFSS to provide local data expands, it will become even more useful in measuring very specific, local problems such as the health effects of disasters,” he said. SMART BRFSS includes a searchable Web site (www.cdc.gov/brfss) that features prevalence estimates for select risk factors for 2002, similar to the BRFSS state Web site. Web site users can also access “quick-view” charts, with seven select risk factors for each metropolitan and micropolitan area. Areas that had at least 500 completed interviews for the 2002 BRFSS survey were included in the data set. In addition, CDC was able to provide data for counties within the 98 metropolitan areas if they had a large enough sample size. CDC worked with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO) and state survey coordinators to discuss the impact of the data before the analysis was released. CDC will closely monitor the usefulness and adequacy of the local area data for intended public health uses. For more information about SMART BRFSS, including a complete list of the 98 metropolitan and micropolitan areas, visit www.cdc.gov/brfss. Additional information can be found in a November 14, 2003 Notice to Readers in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The annual BRFSS conference will be held in February 2004 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Established in 1984, BRFSS uses telephone surveys to obtain self-reported information on health indicators such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, colorectal screening, alcohol use, and overall health status. With assistance from CDC, the BRFSS survey is conducted by all state health departments, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Source: Press Release November 18, 2003 2003 National Diabetes Fact Sheet The new diabetes numbers, which were released in advance of tomorrow's World Diabetes Day, reflect an annual update of national estimates based on data from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Highlights of the updated data include:
The data, which is included in HHS' new 2003 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, will help national, state and local health officials understand the health and economic burden of diabetes and better direct efforts to reach populations hardest hit by the disease. Source: HHS Press Release 13 Nov 2003 November 10, 2003 2:19 PM Directory of America's Hospitals (usnews.com) This is a joint effort of the American Hospital Association and US News and World Report/usnews.com. The site is a consumer-oriented online directory of more than 6,000 hospitals in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and territories. Search for key information and statistics on a hospital by name, state, region and type of hospital. The site is an outgrowth of US News' Best Hospitals article that appears yearly. A search of Washington State hospitals reveals approximately 100 hospitals statewide. Clicking on a specific hospital gives, for example, hospital contact information, hospital type, the number of beds, staffing and admissions (if the hospital submits that information to AHA. Mine didn't). Note: the statistical information is very selective. If you need in-depth information about a specific hospital or several hospitals, you should go to the American Hospital Association's Web site and be prepared to pay for it, or you might try your state's Hospital Association. The Directory of more than 18,000 Web pages may be searched free. November 7, 2003 1:45 PM Vitamins & Minerals in the Food Guide Pyramid (NIRC) Food Pyramid that lists Vitamins & Minerals gained from eating each foodgroup, also lists the amounts of foods needed to eat daily to get 100% of RDA; site has other handy handouts, too. Get the Most from your Medicines: Managing Side Effects This document is available in PDF. National Council on Patient Information and Education The NCPIE has some interesting resources for purchase, including a bibliography of medication compliance by setting, population, and disease/condition. Selected information in Spanish and English. Selected content can be purchased. (available in PDF, too) Source: email message from ??. I forgot to note the person's name. Apologies to the original poster. November 6, 2003 9:33 AM Smoke-Free Families is "a national program supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to discover the best ways to help pregnant smokers quit, and spread the word about effective, evidence-based treatments". Health care professionals can find resources, information on the best way to quit, and facts about smoking. Information for human resources/benefits managers and for the entertainment industry, as well as family and friends of smokers is available. Mini-grants and current research publications and clinical trials is also available. For the person interested in stopping smoking there is a whole section on quitting. Advancing Public Health Nursing Education in Illinois The intent of the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago is to "advance public health nursing education by revising and enhancing the existing PHN option as offered through UIC CON at its five regional sites throughout northern and central Illinois". Potential students can find admission information and information on Regional Consortia, the State Advisory Board and the State Task Force in addition to the purpose and rationale for the project. "CarePlanner is a decision support tool for successful living and
care choices. It is for seniors, physically disabled and individuals
who have a chronic illness and need supportive services, and mature
adults who like to plan ahead". This tool provides information
on care options and asks questions about the care needed. Based on
the responses given, CarePlanner will create Advice Reports analyzing
the viewer's potential for successfully living in each of the living
and care options selected. Spanish language content is also available. Active Aging, Partnership for Prevention The goal of this project is to "increase physical activity and exercise by older adults and make communities safer for seniors to bike and walk". This page is a description of this project. It lists several available PDF documents that can be used to develop strategic plans for helping older adults become more healthy. Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Meet the faculty in this institute, learn about training opportunities and research being done at this Institute, and glance at the titles of Institute staff's peer-reviewed presentations and journal publications. November 5, 2003 2:36 PM Online Public Health Nursing Courses/Certificate Program The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center's School of Nursing
is currently offering two on-line Public Health Nursing courses designed
to enhance public health/community health nurses' skills for the delivery
of population-focused care within the changing health care environment.
Program content covers the core public health functions and essential
services with the goal of preparing public health nurses to achieve
the National Council on Linkages between Academic and Public Health
Practice's comptentices for public health professionals and the Quad-Council
(ANA, ASTND, ACHNE & APHA) Standards for Public Health Nursing
practice. This certificate program consists of two 3-semester hour
credit online courses. The courses are currently being grant supported
by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at a reduced
tuition rate of only $255 per 3-semester hour course. For more information
and registration forms, visit the program's website at http://www.phnconnect.com. |
Recent Entries Rural America At A Glance (2003) British Medical Journal, 15 November 2003; Vol. 327, No. 7424 EPA Science Inventory Launched for Public Use MMWR November 28, 2003/Vol. 52/No. 47 MMWR Surveillance Summaries November 28, 2003/Vol. 52/No. SS--12 2003 National Diabetes Fact Sheet Directory of America's Hospitals (usnews.com) Vitamins & Minerals in the Food Guide Pyramid (NIRC) Get the Most from your Medicines: Managing Side Effects National Council on Patient Information and Education Advancing Public Health Nursing Education in Illinois Active Aging, Partnership for Prevention Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Online Public Health Nursing Courses / Certificate Program Consumer-Driven Health Care: Evidence from the Field [Conference + Webcast] Recent Public Health Books from the National Academy Press USDA National Organic Program Consumer Information Page Center for Livable Communities History of Health Services Research Project (NLM) Health, United States, 2003 With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans
Send URLs to Larsson for Inclusion in this Weblog |
|
|