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March 2010  Items covered in this issue:
Updates for Massachusetts
Other News
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| Updates for Massachusetts Top | |
Information for serving victims of the Haiti earthquake
MA Health Care Training Forum Update - MassHealth has established a special protocol to ensure benefit applications for individuals arriving to Massachusetts from Haiti seeking medical attention are managed and processed in an expedited manner. Providers, community health centers, community organizations, relatives and friends should ensure these individuals work with a Virtual Gateway provider to submit an application for medical benefits. For details, click here. FAQs: Individuals Arriving from Haiti for Medical Care - Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) posted Questions and Answers for those providing care to evacuees from the January Haiti earthquake. https://questions.cms.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/cmshhs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?&p_pv=4.1122&p_prods=1,2,476,1122. |
Call for Posters - Adult Immunization Conference
Masspro and the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition are now accepting abstracts for posters/storyboards at the 15th Annual Adult Immunization Conference, to be held in Worcester MA on May 11, 2010. Posters provide authors and participants with the ability to connect with each other and to engage in discussions about their work. Poster topics can include: scientific breakthroughs in vaccine development, reaching underserved populations, staff immunizations, innovative community immunization strategies, improving immunizations in physician practice settings, and other innovative areas of adult immunization. The poster session will give you the opportunity to describe the work you have accomplished, and to share your success with your colleagues. Successful applicants will be provided with a free registration to the conference! Those wishing to submit an abstract for a poster presentation should complete the attached form and send it via e-mail to sknutsen@maqio.sdps.org by March 23, 2010. |
Boston Public Health Commission submits "Stories from the Field" to NACCHO
BPHC recently submitted several brief narratives to the NACCHO website "Stories from the Field" highlighting some of the more interesting and successful components of Boston's flu response. To view these and other stories from across the nation, visit http://www.naccho.org/topics/H1N1/stories_search.cfm. |
Haiti, Chile, now Taiwan: earthquake escalation?
CS Monitor - Mar 4, 2010. The 6.4-magnitude Taiwan earthquake that hit Thursday on the heels of massive quakes in Haiti and Chile, has some worrying about a spike in seismic activity. But there's no geological connection between those quakes, and nothing unusual in the number of recent big quakes, says Kuo Kai-wen, director of the Seismology Center of Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. "Because Haiti just happened, everyone's paying more attention to earthquakes," says Mr. Kuo. "But the activity is normal - it's not so scary." Read more at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0304/Haiti-Chile-now-Taiwan-earthquake-escalation.
Chile keeps shaking, rattling survivors
Fearing tsunamis in Chile, hundreds hide in hills
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As world watches Chile earthquake, deadly floods hit quake-rocked Haiti
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Update on Avian influenza situation in Egypt
WHO - Feb 17, 2010. The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced two new cases of human H5N1 avian influenza infection. Of the 99 laboratory confirmed cases of Avian influenza A(H5N1) reported in Egypt, 30 have been fatal. Globally there have been 464 cases with 282 fatalities (60.8%CFR).
Avian influenza, also known as "bird flu" or H5N1, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The infection can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness, which may pass unnoticed, to a rapidly fatal disease that can cause severe epidemics. Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans. In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their feces. Nevertheless, there is concern that the virus could mutate to become more easily transmissible between humans, raising the possibility of an influenza pandemic. Read more at http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_02_17/en/index.html. |
FEMA declares major disasters and emergencies in 2010
There have been seven Major Disaster Declarations since 2/5/10. The states of Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Virginia were impacted by severe winter storms between 12/18/09 and 1/25/10. Track FEMA's declared disasters and emergencies at http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema. |
First responders want more spectrum for safety communications network
A 10-MHz swath of spectrum in the 700 MHz band freed up by last year's switch to digital TV broadcasting already has been set aside for the nationwide network for first responders; public safety officials, though, said that additional bandwidth is necessary to create a robust, high-speed network capable of handling multiple kinds of data, as well as video and voice traffic. A coalition of public safety organizations has kicked off a campaign to convince Congress to allocate an additional 10 MHz of radio spectrum allocated for a planned national public safety communications network. For more information, please visit: http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/first-responders-wantmore-spectrum-safety-network. |
| Public Health Advisories Top |
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FDA Update on the Investigation into the Salmonella Montevideo Outbreak
FDA - Feb 25, 2010. The Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, continues to work closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health and other states in the investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections associated with certain Italian-style sausage products including salami/salame. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm202128.htm. |
Gastrointestinal Illness in Boston: Norovirus
BPHC health alert - Feb 19, 2010. Annual citywide outbreaks of gastroenteritis are typically seen during the fall and winter months, often associated with presumptive norovirus. Over the past several weeks the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has observed an increase in the number of patients seeking treatment for vomiting or diarrhea at Boston hospital emergency departments. Recently, institutional clusters of gastroenteritis have also been identified at four Boston sites. In one cluster, three elderly persons were hospitalized for dehydration. Laboratory testing has confirmed Norovirus, with genotype identification pending. Health care providers in Boston are reminded that all cases of calicivirus (including norovirus) and any outbreak of illness must be reported the public health department. For more information, go to http://www.bphc.org/programs/infectiousdisease/healthcareprovidersandlaboratories/Forms%20%20Documents/20090427_SwineFlu_01.pdf. |
Flu Update for Massachusetts
by Donna Lazorik, MDPH
MDPH - Mar 3, 2010. The provisional ACIP recommendations for Flu Vaccine for 2010-2011 have been published on the ACIP website http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/downloads/flu-vac-mar-2010-508.pdf. On February 24, 2010, the ACIP voted on updated recommendations for use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2010-2011 influenza season. Provisional recommendations for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza (2010-2011 influenza season): Seasonal flu vaccination recommendations for adults were expanded to include all adults beginning in the 2010-11 influenza season. Therefore, all people age 6 months and older are now recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination.
CDC - Mar 1, 2010. 2009 Influenza Key Points and Messages. Asthma is the most common underlying health condition reported among adult 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations and was reported in 30% of adults hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 flu, according to EIP data. Diabetes is the second most common underlying condition associated with 2009 H1N1 hospitalization, accounting for 23% of those hospitalizations in adults. Minority groups have consistently had higher rates of serious 2009 H1N1 disease, including hospitalizations, than non-minority groups, when comparing hospitalization rates across racial/ethnic groups during the spring-summer versus the fall-winter. On February 24, 2010 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to expand the recommendation for annual influenza vaccination to include all people aged 6 months and older.
CDC - Feb 22, 2010. Protection Against 2009 H1N1 To Be Included in 2010-2011 Seasonal Flu Vaccine. Key FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Inclusion of 2009 H1N1 Strain in the 2010-2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. http://www.flu.gov/news/blogs/blog20100222.html
MDPH - Feb 16, 2010. February 2010 issue of Vaccinate Adults is now online. The February 2010 issue of Vaccinate Adults has just been placed online at http://www.immunize.org/va. This issue focuses on the newly published 2010 US immunization schedule for adults and on recently released provisional ACIP recommendations. Some features included in the issue:
* Ask the Experts * Vaccine Highlights * Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule--United States, 2010 * Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines in Adults * Do I need any vaccinations today? Download the entire issue now at http://www.immunize.org/va/va26.pdf.
MDPH - Feb 8, 2010. CDC is advising that flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall but it is expected to continue for several more months. Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally are low. Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception. CDC has reported a cumulative 59 cases of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistant 2009 H1N1 viruses in the United States since April 2009.
CDC continues to encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, which can last as late as May. Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways, including when they begin, how severe they are, how long they last and which viruses will spread. There were more uncertainties than usual going into this flu season because of the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Though flu activity has declined since late October, there are still uncertainties surrounding the rest of this flu season, including the possibility of the circulation of seasonal influenza viruses and ongoing circulation of 2009 H1N1 viruses. In past pandemics, flu activity has occurred in waves and it's possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity in the winter or spring of 2010. In addition, sporadic cases of influenza may also be detected in the summer.
All lots of monovalent 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pre-filled syringes manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, not included in the two earlier recalls, should now be administered by February 15, 2010 regardless of the expiration imprinted on the package. To ensure that its vaccine meets potency standards, Sanofi Pasteur (the manufacturer) is shortening the expiration period of all its 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pre-filled syringes that are not included in either of the two previous Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 vaccine recalls. See http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/qa_recall.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm for more details.
To purchase seasonal vaccine : Providers who are looking for seasonal influenza vaccine available for purchase, can check with IVATS (Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System). IVATS provides information about vaccine manufacturers and distributors with vaccine available for purchase. To access this information, go to: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/ivats_09_10.pdf. If you have high-risk patients who have not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza (e.g., residents in long-term care facilities), there is now more vaccine supply to fill those needs.
To request free pandemic monovalent H1N1 vaccine: Providers who are already registered with the MDPH H1N1 Vaccine Program can request additional doses of H1N1 vaccine with your weekly reporting of your H1N1 doses administered information. Providers not registered with the MDPH H1N1 Vaccine Program can do so by going to http://www.mass.gov/dph/h1n1registration. Any questions related to accessing the website, the enrollment process, or general questions about the allocation and distribution process can be directed to this help desk either by phone at (888) 578-5585 or (617) 983-6898, or email ( MDPHH1N1Registration@state.ma.us).
More information is available at:
MDPH at http://www.mass.gov/flu
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Integrating PCPs into Community Pandemic Influenza Planning
On August 24-26, 2009, a group of subject matter experts convened in Atlanta, Georgia, to begin work on developing tools for Primary Care Provider (PCP) offices. Participants included PCPs, office managers, hospitals, local and state public health departments, local and state emergency management agencies, professional associations, and federal stakeholders. During the three-day (half day, full day, half day) meeting, 76 participants heard presentations describing some of the challenges facing PCP offices in planning for an influenza pandemic, and one community's approach to integrating PCP offices into their planning efforts. They also engaged in facilitated activities aimed at developing a template for PCP offices to use to create an internal office pandemic influenza plan, and identified strategies for integrating the office plan with public health and emergency management plans in their community. On the final day of the meeting participants outlined key components of a proposed planning tool, which will be called the Pandemic Influenza Organizer. Abbreviated Pandemic Influenza Plan Template for Primary Care Provider Offices: Guidance from Stakeholders. |
Priority Telecommunications Services
NACHC Prep Tips - Feb 12, 2010. There are a number of government services that are designed for telecommunications during disasters when normal channels of communications may be jammed. They all fall under the National Communications Systems. Three of these services, Government Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS), Wireless Priority Service (WPS), and Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) are affordable options that may be a good fit for your organization. A number of health centers across the country have already signed up for these services and have found them very helpful during local disasters.
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) - provides National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) personnel a high probability of completion for their phone calls when normal calling methods are unsuccessful. It is designed for periods of severe network congestion or disruption. GETS is in a constant state of readiness. Users receive a GETS "calling card" to access the service. This card provides access phone numbers, Personal Identification Number (PIN), and simple dialing instructions.
Wireless Priority Service (WPS) - is a method of improving connection capabilities for authorized national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) cell phone users. In the event of congestion in the wireless network, an emergency call using WPS will wait in queue for the next available channel. WPS calls do not preempt calls in progress or deny the general public's use of the radio spectrum.
Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) - is a program that authorizes national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) organizations to receive priority treatment for vital voice and data circuits or other telecommunications services. The TSP Program provides service vendors a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate to prioritize requests by identifying those services critical to NS/EP.
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JC webinar recording available
NACHC - Feb 12, 2010. On February 11, 2010, the National Association of Community Health Centers hosted a webinar on Joint Commission EM Standards Review for Health Centers. This 75 minute session provided participants with an overview on the 2010 Ambulatory Care Standards for Emergency Management and featured experts from The Joint Commission. Visit the EM Webinars page to listen to the recorded webinar, download the slides, and get quick access to other Joint Commission resources. |
2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza and Hispanic Communities: Questions and Answers
CDC - Feb 11, 2010. These questions and answers summarize the current understanding of the impact of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza virus on Hispanics/Latinos, describe some of the barriers to uptake of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines, and outline potential strategies for improving health and increasing vaccine coverage in Hispanic/Latino communities. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa_hispanic.htm. |
| Training and Education Top |
Infectious Disease Surveillance, Reporting, and Control: What is it all About?
MDPH and Massachusetts Health Officers Association training on communicable disease and reporting. This program is held annually in March. The afternoon session will again offer a presentation or exercise conducted by experienced local public health nurses and an outbreak investigation presentation conducted by MDPH epidemiologists. March 10th in Palmer and March 24th in Tewksbury, go to http://my.calendars.net/cal_mhoa/ for more details and to register. |
DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness The DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness provides high quality all-hazards training for the Boston community, including public health, health care, and public safety personnel, with a focus on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incident preparedness, response, and recovery.
Upcoming courses include:
- ICS-400: Incident Command System for Emergency Management Directors; Chiefs, and Senior Leaders - March 30-31 - register at www.mass.gov/mema |
MEMA offers local advanced ICS trainings
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) offers advanced Incident Command System (ICS) trainings across the state.
Incident Command System 300 at Massachusetts Army National Guard on March 10, 2010
Incident Command System 300 at Agawam Training Room on March 15, 2010
Incident Command System 400 at Agawam Training Room on March 29, 2010
Incident Command System 400 at DelValle Institute on March 30, 2010
Incident Command System 400 at Massachusetts Army National Guard TAB on April 20, 2010
To register, go to www.mass.gov/mema. |
H1N1 Influenza: Lessons Learned
Please join DPH Commissioner John Auerbach and other public health, health care, school and community leaders at Responding to H1N1 Influenza: Lessons Learned. This conference will provide an opportunity to review lessons learned and highlight best practices from the 2009-2010 H1N1 flu season. Presenters from a variety of fields will share their experiences on patient education, vaccine distribution, non-traditional partnerships and other important issues.
Who Should Attend? Local health officials, school and university administrators, school nurse leaders, physicians, EMS leaders, hospital administrators, public safety and emergency management officials, volunteer, business and civic association leaders.
Date: Monday, March 22, 2010
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Place: The DCU Center, Worcester, MA
RSVP will be required. Space is limited. Further registration information will be sent out in the coming weeks. Questions? Please contact: dph.emergencypreparedness@state.ma.us. |
The Joint Commission Conference: Emergency Preparedness Compliance 2010
April 8 - 9, 2010, Washington, DC. The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources' sixth annual emergency preparedness conference will help health care organizations turn concerns about staff readiness, patient surges and functioning without essential services into strategies for preparedness. The conference will feature proven emergency planning methodologies that are embedded in The Joint Commission standards as well as best practices. The conference is recommended for hospital and health system employees. http://www.jcrinc.com/common/PDFs/education/E-prep-brochure.pdf |
Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness
YNH-CEPDR is pleased to announce that previews for National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses are available at http://ynhhs.emergencyeducation.org. YNH-CEPDR is committed to ensuring that our courses remain current with applicable federal and accrediting agency requirements. The current course updates meet the requirements outlined in the FEMA February 2008 NIMS: Five-Year Training Plan. YNH-CEPDR also offers a number of courses that address important issues in healthcare preparedness, such as special populations, protection of the healthcare workforce and compliance with Joint Commission, OSHA and CMS regulations. Course recommendations include:
EM 150: Introduction to Evacuations - This introductory course discusses a variety of potential evacuation scenarios from water pipe breaks to fires to natural disasters to human-made incidents and aligns with safety regulations from OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association, as well as required capabilities and standards of HHS, ASPR (level one sub-capability standard) and The Joint Commission (standards EC 4.14 and EP 7).
EM 250: Small Victims, Big Challenges: Pediatric Triage, Treatment and Recovery for Emergencies - The course introduces clinicians acting as first receivers to the unique challenges encountered with children in a disaster. Children represent a special subset of individuals at risk as they have unique physiological and pharmacological considerations. The federal Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) encourages HHS to promote appropriate pre-disaster activities at the state and local levels to address the medical health needs of children. For additional information regarding these and other services, please contact the Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response at (203) 688-3224 or via email at center@ynhh.org. |
Mar 13 - Fenway CHC's The Women's Dinner Party, Boston, MA
Mar 28 - Brockton Neighborhood Health Center's "6K in the Park" road race, Brockton, MA
Apr 1 - Whittier Street Health Center's Roast for Cleve Killingsworth, Boston, MA
Apr 9 - Lynn Community Health Center's 4th Annual Health in Bloom, Peabody, MA Apr 24 - Mattapan Community Health Center's Rock the Boat celebration, Boston, MA For more details and other health center events, visit http://www.massleague.org/Calendar/Calendar.php. |
| Comings and Goings Top |
The League welcomes new support staff person Megan Fraser. Megan will focus on supporting Training and Education, and Membership services as well as provide support for the League's Technical, Administrative and Finance, and Clinical program needs. Welcome aboard! |
Farewell to Denice Curtis, Chief Quality Officer of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU). After seven years at KAMU and 24 years in public health, Denice will concentrate on finishing her doctorate degree in Health Sciences and plans to transition into a teaching position. Congratulations Denice on your amazing achievements, and best of luck in your future endeavors! |
| If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Tina Wright, Project Coordinator - EM & PI
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
40 Court Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
617-426-2225 ext. 231
twright@massleague.org
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