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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory.

Compounding Problems: Big Insurer Ends Coverage For Compounded Meds
In the latest fallout from the compounding pharmacy scandal, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which is one of the largest insurers in New England, has decided to end coverage of specialty medications due to safety and cost concerns, The Boston Globe writes. Not surprisingly, the move is angering pharmacists and patient advocates. The decision follows a nationwide outbreak that began last fall of fungal meningitis, which has, so far, led to 748 cases, including 58 deaths, and has been called the worst public health crisis in the US in decades (see the numbers here). The episode has led to stepped up efforts by the FDA and offic...
Source: Pharmalot - June 14, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs

Gun law reform should not require medical records
The federal government has proposed that state mental health agencies be allowed to transmit certain data about mentally ill patients to the FBI’s National Instant Background Check System. The idea is to keep people who’ve been declared mentally unfit from buying guns. I think it’s a bad idea. If a court has declared a person to be mentally unfit, then the criminal justice system, not medical providers, could report the data instead. The justice system’s job is much more closely aligned with this task than the medical establishment is. Forcing health care providers into this role could also prove...
Source: Health Business Blog - June 14, 2013 Category: Health Managers Authors: David E. Williams of the Health business blog Tags: Policy and politics Source Type: blogs

Delivering accident prevention at a local level in the new public health system
This handbook has been published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) with support from Public Health England and funding from the Department of Health. It aims to give local authorities guidance on how to reduce the burden of accidents by encouraging people to take responsibility for their own safety, health and wellbeing. Handbook PHE - publications (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 14, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Status report on alcohol and health in 35 European countries 2013
This report presents a selection of results for 35 countries on alcohol consumption and related harm, as well as policy responses which contribute to the Global Information System for Alcohol and Health. Report WHO Europe - publications (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 14, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Alcohol related liver disease: measuring the units
This report argues that hospitals are missing opportunities to save the lives of people with alcohol-related liver disease by failing to provide early intervention and specialist consultant input. Recommendations include the introduction of a multidisciplinary alcohol care team in each acute hospital; as well as more thorough screening and support services. Report Executive summary Slides Self assessment checklist for trusts NCEPOD - publications (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 14, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Quality of care and clinical outcomes Source Type: blogs

Harnessing the power of healthcare crowdsourcing
by Kent Bottles All hospital system leaders are looking for new tools to help them cope with the rapid transformation of the American healthcare delivery system brought on by the Affordable Care Act and the transition of the payment system from fee for service to global, value-based programs. One tool that is increasingly mentioned as being underutilized by hospital systems is crowdsourcing. What is it? What is it not? What should healthcare leaders know about this disruptive technology? I first came across the term by reading Jeff Howe's 2006 Wired magazine article titled "The Rise of Crowdsourcing." In this still usef...
Source: hospital impact - June 13, 2013 Category: Health Managers Authors: Wendy Johnson Source Type: blogs

The Financialized Medical Center - Executives of Non-Profit Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Make an "Investor Call," but Have no Investors
We recently discussed the uncomfortable situation of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the non-profit health system/ academic medical center of Wake Forest School of Medicine. The organization suffered acute monetary losses after a problem plagued roll out of its new electronic health record. Presiding over this mess were some extremely well paid executives who had been hailed as "visionaries" by their own public relations people. (Look here and here.)An Even Bigger Financial Loss The resourceful Richard Craver, writing in the Winston-Salem Journal, just documented that the financial losses due to this cybern...
Source: Health Care Renewal - June 13, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: non-profit organizations financialization Wake Forest University Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Source Type: blogs

These Tricks Are Played to Get You to Vaccinate Your Child
Conclusion Despite the fact that study after study confirms that vaccinated children are no more protected than their unvaccinated peers, governments from around the world, hand-in-hand with Big Pharma and the medical professionals, keep coming up with more elaborate ways to force parents into vaccinating their children. I find it very sad that governments are so keen to boost vaccination targets that they are denying parents the ability to earn a livelihood by denying their children’s admittance into day care. This seems to me to be over the top and completely unnecessary. How do governments expect parents to be abl...
Source: vactruth.com - June 13, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Christina England Tags: Christina England Top Stories Dr. Viera Schreibner Mandatory Vaccination measles outbreak Pertussis Whooping Cough Source Type: blogs

Healthwatch and Health and Wellbeing Boards
This document introduces the relationship between Healthwatch and Health and Wellbeing Boards, including the principles and functions of the boards, membership and codes of conduct, and engagement with the community. Document (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 13, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Securing excellence in commissioning sexual assault services for people who experience sexual violence
This new framework aims to drive up local improvements in the quality of services, improve the outcomes of the victims of sex assault and rape, as well as reducing health inequalities. The plan will be delivered by four NHS England regional teams, supported by nine areas teams and London. They will work within a national framework with the aim of raising standards of care, reducing inconsistency and saving money. Framework NHS England - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 13, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Commissioning Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

National Indian Health Service HIV/AIDS Program Webinar
Tuesday, June 25th 1:00 – 2:00 Mountain Men who have sex with men are disproportionately represented in new HIV infections and existing HIV and AIDS cases among American Indians and Alaska Natives. This webinar will present several products, campaigns, educational resources and programs that have been developed recently for AI/AN lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two spirit (LGBTQ2-S) communities. These resources can be used to help support local efforts to combat stigma, promote awareness, HIV testing and encourage more equitable community norms. More information about this National Indian Health Serv...
Source: BHIC - June 12, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Gail Kouame Tags: Conferences HIV/AIDS Public Health Source Type: blogs

Bridging Criminal Justice Systems and Community Healthcare Webinar
Tuesday, June 18th – 2:00 – 3:30pm Eastern Join the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions for a webinar showcasing the need for new community partnerships with local criminal justice systems. Learn why a public health approach will meet this community need, and what providers need to bridge the integration of primary, behavioral health and criminal justice. Examine cases, explore research-based practices and gain insight into how health centers can engage criminal justice systems and improve care coordination. More information about the webinar can be found online: http://1.usa.gov/195dPRj &nb...
Source: BHIC - June 12, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Gail Kouame Tags: Conferences General Public Health Source Type: blogs

Indian Health Service Suicide Training
The Indian Health Service’s TeleBehavioral Health Center for Excellence is pleased to announce an eight-part series on suicide training. This series will cover Risk Assessment and Safety Planning. The first session took place on June 1oth. There is no cost to attend the trainings. The remaining offerings in the 8-session series will occur on the following dates at 3:30pm Eastern and cover the following topics: - June 17th – Understanding Suicide - June 24th – Theory of Suicide - July 1st – Understanding Impact of Suicidal Related Behavior - July 8th – Safety Planning for Suicide - July 1...
Source: BHIC - June 12, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Gail Kouame Tags: Conferences General Public Health Source Type: blogs

Recommendations For Mosquito Control And Preventing West Nile Virus
Summer is quickly approaching, along with mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile Virus (WNV). When temperatures rise in the summer, the burgeoning mosquito population puts human and animals at risk for contracting WNV which may cause life-altering disease, including encephalitis, and acute inflammation of the brain. Last year marked the second worst outbreak of WNV since it was first detected in the United States in 1999, In 2012, a total of 5.674 cases of WNV in people, including 286 deaths, were reported to the CDC. The following tips and resources provide helpful information for WNV prevention: - Use an EPA-regi...
Source: BHIC - June 12, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Gail Kouame Tags: General Public Health Websites Source Type: blogs

How the Affordable Care Act Will Change Mental Health Treatment
The tragedies in Aurora and Newtown in 2012 sparked a lot of debate about America’s mental health policy. Despite vigorous debate on all sides, there’s been no clear solution yet. However, a point that many seem to miss when debating the issue is the Affordable Care Act and just how much it will do for expanding access to mental health treatment in this country. According to numbers from the National Alliance on Mental Health, it’s estimated that one in four adults experience a mental illness during the course of a given year. That’s about 55.7 million people. So it’s no wonder that the Care Act would aim to ext...
Source: World of Psychology - June 12, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Michael Cahill Tags: Disorders General Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Policy and Advocacy Treatment Affordable Care Care Act Clear Solution Federal Poverty Line Health Insurance Health Insurance Plans High Risk Insurance Insurance Companie Source Type: blogs

A Legal Settlement of One Aspect of the Fall of AHERF, Only 15 Years Later
It only took 15 years, but litigation related to one of the most important, but obscure cases of bad health care leadership and governance from the 1990s was finally settled. Background The Allegheny Health Education and Research Foundation (AHERF) was a large integrated health care system formed out of multiple mergers. AHERF went bankrupt in 1998, leading to massive layoffs, hospital closures, and the near dissolution of a medical school (which ended up taken over by Drexel University). We last discussed the case in 2012 here.. A summary of other important points about it is appended below.&n...
Source: Health Care Renewal - June 12, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: AHERF You heard it here first legal settlements anechoic effect Source Type: blogs

Longer lives
This website contains a range of data that, for the first time, allows people to easily compare an area’s mortality performance against those with similar populations, incomes and levels of health. It aims to provide local areas with information to help them understand their own position and better target efforts to improve the public’s health. Website (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 12, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

FDA Building a Prescription Drug and Marketing Database
Over the last several years, we have written extensively about the potential implications that the Physician Payments Sunshine Act will have on physicians and the life sciences industry. One of the greatest implications is that numerous government and private entities will be able to use the publicly posted payment data to "data mine" for certain trends and information to identify potentially fraudulent behavior or medically unnecessary services. Living up to our predictions, although somewhat indirectly related to the Sunshine Act, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) recentl...
Source: Policy and Medicine - June 12, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs

Real-time PCR Detection of Foodborne Pathogenic Salmonella spp
.from Burkhard Malorny, Dietrich Mäde and Charlotta Löfström writing in Real-Time PCR in Food Science: Current Technology and Applications:Infections by Salmonella enterica are a significant public health concern worldwide. Salmonellae form a complex group of bacteria consisting of two species, six subspecies and more than 2500 serovars (serotypes). Mainly through ingestion of contaminated food or feed, they cause self-limiting gastrointestinal disease in a wide range of mammalian hosts. Within the last decade, numerous real-time PCR assays have been developed for rapid detection of salmonellae in potentiall...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - June 11, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: blogs

Walgreens pays record $80 million settlement for improper drug sales
Walgreens Corp., the nation’s largest drug store chain, agreed on Tuesday to pay $80 million in civil penalties to resolve allegations that the company negligently allowed controlled substances such as oxycodone and other prescription pain killers to be diverted for abuse and illegal black market sales. Mark R. Trouville, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Miami field division, said the agreement settles administrative actions and civil penalties regarding Walgreens‘ Jupiter, Fla., distribution center and six Walgreens retail pharmacies, along with sim...
Source: PharmaGossip - June 11, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs

Has pancreatic damage from glucagon suppressing diabetes drugs been underplayed? - BMJ
BMJ 2013; 346 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f3680 (Published 10 June 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f3680Article Related content Article metrics Deborah Cohen, investigations editor Author Affiliations dcohen@bmj.com Incretin mimetics have been called “the darlings of diabetes treatment” and they may soon also be licensed for treating obesity. But a BMJ investigation has found growing safety concerns linked to the drugs’ mechanism of action. Deborah Cohenasks why patients and doctors have not been told. They’ve been touted as th...
Source: PharmaGossip - June 11, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs

CCG outcomes interactive tool
In December 2012, NHS England published a set of information packs for CCGs and local authorities that set out key data to inform the local position on outcomes. Following feedback, this tool has been produced which allows users to view maps, charts and tables of individual outcome indicators across CCGs.The CCG outcomes explorer tool allows users to explore the relationships between two outcomes or between demographic information and outcomes.CCG outcomes tool (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 11, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Commissioning Local authorities, public health and health inequalities NHS measurement and performance Source Type: blogs

Physician Payment Sunshine Act: New England Journal of Medicine Articles on Requirements and Potential Effects
With less than two months (see our daily counter to the right) for applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to begin collecting the required payment information and data required under the National Physician Payment Transparency Program (NPPTP) of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), stakeholders are increasingly beginning to discuss the requirements and potential effects. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) devoted several articles in a recent issue, including one article authored by NPPTP architects Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Niall Brennan, M.P.P., and Peter Budetti, M.D.,...
Source: Policy and Medicine - June 11, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs

Saving Grady: Reflections On Kate Neuhausen’s Narrative Matters Essay
In the past 12 years, several of our nation’s most storied public hospitals have closed, including DC General (2001), New Orleans’s Charity Hospital (2005), and Martin Luther King, Jr. hospital in Los Angeles (2007). When Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital was featured on the front page of The New York Times on Jan 8, 2008, it was widely assumed it would be the next to go. However, at its darkest hour, Grady received help from an unexpected quarter. In the June issue of Health Affairs, a young physician, Dr. Kate Neuhausen, describes how she and other leaders of a little-known student organization mobilized hundreds ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 10, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Arthur Kellermann Tags: All Categories Disparities Hospitals Medicaid Nurses Personal Experience Physicians Policy Politics Public Health Source Type: blogs

Infant Mortality Toolkit: Resources for a Public Health Approach
The Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University and the National SUID/SIDS Resource Center have created a toolkit for public health workers to integrate evidence-based strategies for addressing infant mortality. Access the toolkit and and additional resources here: http://bit.ly/12fCKkQ (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - June 10, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kate Flewelling Tags: Children and Teens Public Health Source Type: blogs

Resources to Promote Employee Wellness
June is National Safety Month. This week’s safety theme is Employee Wellness. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have developed resources to make the case for, develop, implement and evaluate Workplace Health Promotion programs. Check out the full toolkit: http://1.usa.gov/11uFjdF (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - June 10, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kate Flewelling Tags: Public Health Source Type: blogs

MMR action plan: 15 May 2013
This plan outlines a comprehensive set of local and national actions to significantly increase MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine coverage among those most at risk. It highlights the need for directors of public health to take a local view about the particularly vulnerable or low coverage groups, and to ensure that there are specific plans in place to identify the un- or undervaccinated in these groups and to offer them vaccination in a way designed to have good uptake. Action plan Annexes Department of Health - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 10, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Flu immunisation programme 2013 to 2014
This document provides guidance on planning details for health professionals on the flu immunisation programme for winter 2013 to 2014. Local areas are being asked to make sure they offer flu vaccine to everyone at risk so uptake reaches or exceeds 75% for people aged 65 or over and those at risk in the under 65 age group. Guidance Department of Health - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 10, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Recent Cancer Survivor Chances for Medical School Admission
by premedman1235 (Posted Sun Jun 09, 2013 8:12 pm)Hi Brady Kinesia (great username), Your advice is truly appreciated. Careful thought was placed in the response of your previous message. Frequently, I am cautious what information to write on the internet. This is why I leave out descriptive details about the University that I attend. However, I do believe that giving greater insight into my situation will lead you to further understand my situation. Going through chemotherapy kept me one year back from graduating. Therefore, instead of graduating this year, I will do so in the spring of 2014. As I previously stated in my...
Source: Med Student Guide - June 9, 2013 Category: Medical Students Source Type: blogs

Upcoming Webinars for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
Webinar: LGBT Engagement in CDC’s Talk To Your Doctor Campaign Webinar Date and Time: June 13, 2013 2:00PM – 3:00PM ET Description: CenterLink, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and the Network for LGBT Health Equity are teaming up to provide a webinar discussing the “Talk With Your Doctor” campaign, and the impact that it will have on the health of LGBT communities. A new feature of the CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers campaign was unveiled this week— “Talk With Your Doctor” (TWYD). The goal of this phase of the campaign is to engage health care providers and encourage them to use Tips as an o...
Source: BHIC - June 7, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Lori Tagawa Tags: Conferences Websites Source Type: blogs

Climate change and health: a tool to estimate health and adaptation costs
This economic analysis tool aims to support health adaptation planning in European Member States. It provides step-by-step guidance on estimating: the costs associated with damage to health due to climate change; the costs for adaptation in various sectors to protect health from climate change; and the efficiency of adaptation measures, i.e. the cost of adaptation versus the expected returns, or averted health costs. Economic analysis tool WHO Europe - publications (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 7, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Simply knowing about health risks does not change behavior
Exercise is good for you. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Stop smoking. Drink less alcohol. Such messages abound in public health campaigns and there is a firm belief that they will ultimately change behavior. This is based on the assumption that individuals are motivated to change behaviors to reduce their individual health risks. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 6, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Obesity Primary care Source Type: blogs

June 10 – 16 is Men’s Health Week
June 10 – 16 is National Men’s Health Week. The purpose of Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe. For a partial list of activities, visit: http://bit.ly/122NlPW Resources, events and toolkits...
Source: BHIC - June 6, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Monica Rogers Tags: General Health Information Literacy Public Health Websites Source Type: blogs

Funding Opportunities Roundup
Public Health Law Research: Making the Case for Laws That Improve Health (Round 3) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Offers funding and technical assistance for research related to public health laws and their impact. Deadline: July 24, 2013 For more information: http://bit.ly/11Hu54y Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) National Institutes of Health – Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Deadline: Letter of Intent (Required): Ju...
Source: BHIC - June 6, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Monica Rogers Tags: Scholarships and Grants Source Type: blogs

Supreme Court: Legal to Take Your DNA if You are Arrested
This week the Supreme Court decided that it is not a violation of the 4th Amendment for law enforcement to take a DNA sample from people who are arrested. The Court said that a cheek swab was no different than mug shots or fingerprinting; its purpose is to identify the person in custody. From the New York Times:The police may take DNA samples from people arrested in connection with serious crimes, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday in a 5-to-4 decision.The federal government and 28 states authorize the practice, and law enforcement officials say it is a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes. But the court said the...
Source: Mary Meets Dolly - June 6, 2013 Category: Geneticists and Genetics Commentators Tags: Genetic Testing Source Type: blogs

How an ObamaCare Slush Fund Pays For Nanny-State Lobbying
Walter Olson Did you know that the Affordable Care Act creates an enormous, multi-billion-dollar slush fund — in the out years, it will raise $2 billion a year in perpetuity — for the federal government to spend on more or less anything that might “improve health and help restrain the rate of growth” of health-care costs? That the spending can bypass the Congressional appropriations process, and is rife with expenditures for the purposes of lobbying government itself, which is supposed to be an unlawful use of federal funds? Somehow it didn’t sink in until I read this excellent investigation in Forbes ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - June 6, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Walter Olson Source Type: blogs

Researcher Continues to Use Bogus Data to Support Non-Efficacy of E-Cigarettes; Even Study Authors Admit Study Cannot Be Used to Evaluate E-Cig Efficacy
In my recent KQED radio discussion with Dr. Glantz about proposed California legislation to ban electronic cigarette use in public places, Dr. Glantz again cited data from a recent study by Vickerman et al. to support his contention that e-cigarettes are less effective than NRT for smoking cessation. I have already explained in detail why the data from the Vickerman study cannot be used to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Briefly, instead of estimating cessation rates among a cohort of smokers who made quit attempts using these products, the study analyzed cessation rates of a large number of...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - June 6, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Source Type: blogs

High quality healthcare commissioning: obstacles and opportunities for progress on race equality
This paper draws on findings from the Evidence and Ethnicity in Commissioning (EEiC) project, together with practice experience and other research, to highlight obstacles and opportunities for healthcare commissioning to enhance access, experiences and outcomes for minority ethnic people. The aim of the paper is to describe typical elements of commissioning work and to point out a range of actions that clinical commissioners, commissioning managers and other stakeholders can and should take to improve healthcare commissioning for multi-ethnic populations. Report Race Equality Foundation - publications (Source: He...
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 6, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Commissioning Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs

Engaging with BME communities: insights for impact
This report highlights ways in which providers and commissioners have developed innovative solutions and approaches to better cater for and engage with BME communities. Report NHS Confederation - publications (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 6, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Library Service Tags: Commissioning Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Patient involvement, experience and feedback Source Type: blogs

Flu During Pregnancy May Increase Child’s Risk for Bipolar Disorder
Pregnant mothers’ exposure to the flu was associated with a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child would develop bipolar disorder in adulthood, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza. Alan Brown, M.D., M.P.H, of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, a grantee of the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), said: Prospective mothers should take common sense preventive measures...
Source: Highlight HEALTH - June 5, 2013 Category: Medical Scientists Authors: NIH Newsbot Source Type: blogs

Long After the Start of the "War on Terror," a Conflict of Interest about an Anthrax Scare Comes to Light
In May, David Willman writing for the Los Angeles Times broke a story of a somewhat new variant on the conflict of interest theme, one that has not gotten a lot of attention, but should.The issue was medical, with a twist, - how to best treat a bioterror attack with anthrax engineered to be resistant to multiple drugs, an event that luckily is not known to ever have occurred. The story came from the bad old days of the "war on terror," but only has now come to light years later. The Alarm RaiserThe story opened thus,Over the last decade, former Navy Secretary Richard J. Danzig, a prominent lawyer, presidential adviso...
Source: Health Care Renewal - June 5, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: Human Genome Sciences deception terrorism biotechnology government GlaxoSmithKline conflicts of interest Source Type: blogs

Cancer Cluster Investigations Website
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has announced a new resource that explains cancer cluster investigations from the perspective of community members and public health professionals. Videos of interviews with community members document experiences and serve as a resource. The website also offers advice for community members and guidance for public health officials. http://bit.ly/11ZQKiA (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - June 5, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Patricia Devine Tags: Public Health Source Type: blogs

Is it Kosher? PrePex Bloodless Circumcision Device Now Approved by WHO for Resource-Limited Settings
While male circumcision remains a highly controversial issue for some, research has shown that it is very effective in limiting the spread of AIDS and other venereal diseases. And since the use of condoms, regular testing, and vigilance have been effective at curbing the spread of AIDS in the developed world, some places have neither the resources nor the culture necessary to change the rate at which the disease spreads. Traditional surgical circumcisions are bloody and can lead to substantial pain, but a novel device now offers a new way of removing the foreskin without blood or even surgery to frighten the already nervo...
Source: Medgadget - June 5, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Editors Tags: Urology Source Type: blogs

Cardiology MCQ Online 2
Time limit: 0 Quiz-summary 0 of 15 questions completed Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 You are welcome to try this Cardiology MCQ set and share it among your friends. We strongly advise you to verify the answers with standard text books. After completion of test, please send your score for display through the test system so that you can assess your performance compared to other users. You have ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - June 5, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin Tags: Cardiology MCQ Source Type: blogs

Applications of Real-time PCR to Biothreat Analysis
from Christina Egan and Cassandra D. Kelly-Cirino writing in Real-Time PCR: Advanced Technologies and Applications:With the public's reawakened concern regarding use of biological agents as weapons, the rapid detection, discrimination, and identification of pathogenic organisms and toxins has become a priority for state and federal government agencies. High confidence, cost effective, and near real-time diagnostic methods are essential to protecting national health security whether the target is public health, agriculture, commodities, or water supply infrastructures. While culture-based methods have been, and will likely ...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - June 5, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: blogs

French Sunshine Act: France Issues Final Decree - Reporting Retroactive to January 1, 2012
Last year, we wrote about the Loi Bertrand or the French Sunshine Act ("FSA"), which provides that health products companies must make available to the public the existence of any contract with health care providers (HCPs) and certain entities of the health sector, as well as any benefit in cash or in kind granted to the latter beyond a certain threshold. The Sunshine Act was adopted on 29 December 2011 to ensure transparency of decision-making within the health care sector and to prevent conflicts of interest between stakeholders. Consequently, as reported by the law firm McDermott, Will & Emery, the decree imple...
Source: Policy and Medicine - June 5, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs

Fixing obesity is not complicated
I recently spoke at a symposium on nutrition and public health at the Tuck School of Business at my alma mater in beautiful Hanover, N.H., Dartmouth College. Among others on the panel with me was Richard Starmann, the former head of corporate communications for McDonald’s. Those with even a modest number of Katz-column frequent flyer miles can readily guess how often he and I agreed. One point Mr. Starmann made, more than once, was that rampant obesity and related chronic disease was enormously, intractably complicated and would require diverse efforts, a great deal of private sector innovation, minimal government in...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 4, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Obesity Source Type: blogs

Joe Biden’s remarks at the National Conference on Mental Health
Vice President Biden speaks at the National Conference on Mental Health (http://1.usa.gov/15yd4hz) Biden says “it is his hope that the conference makes clear to all Americans that There is no distinction between a mental health problem and a physical problem. That there should be no stigma to a family or individual to seek help for mental health anymore than for a broken arm or a diagnosis of cancer, and in the process it is our goal to improve not only the access to mental health at an affordable rate…improving the already positive, positive help that is out there. It begins by making sure insurance companie...
Source: BHIC - June 4, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Eberle Tags: General Mental Health Public Health Source Type: blogs

New Federal Website: MentalHealth.gov
Yesterday, Kathleen Sibelius announced the launch of http://mentalhealth.gov/. This website includes information about the signs of mental illness, how individuals can seek help, and how communities can host conversations about mental health. Kay Jamison, Glenn Close, Cher and others share stories of recovery and hope. The site includes information for people with mental health problems, for parents and caregivers, for family and friends, and for educators. The site is part of a National Dialogue on Mental Health to support community conversations, public/private partnership commitments, and discussion on social and online...
Source: BHIC - June 4, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Eberle Tags: General Mental Health Public Health Websites Source Type: blogs

SAMHSA Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health
SAMHSA will release a Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health to support communities interested in holding discussions about mental health using consistent information and approaches. The entire SAMHSA Toolkit will be available soon via the SAMHSA website, the SAMHSA Store, and MentalHealth.gov. The Information Brief section of the Toolkit “Conversations in Your Community About Mental Health” is available for print and electronic download at http://1.usa.gov/1b0LCdA SAMHSA website, http://1.usa.gov/11fJJEn SAMHSA store, http://1.usa.gov/11fJGbH MentalHealth.gov, http://1.usa.gov/10WAPN2 (Source: BHIC)
Source: BHIC - June 4, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Michelle Eberle Tags: General Mental Health Public Health Websites Source Type: blogs