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May 2010  Items covered in this issue:
Updates for Massachusetts
Other News
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| Updates for Massachusetts Top | |
League's Community Health Institute a Success
Last week's annual conference, entitled Setting the Tempo: Orchestrating Our Score for Reform, was a huge success in Hyannis. Sessions included presentations and discussions on the following: the impact of national health care reform; clinical and workforce issues; communications; and health information technology. The League extends its thanks to all of the speakers who contributed their expertise to the sessions. Presentations from the CHI are now available directly from the League's website by clicking here. |
MDPH Health of Massachusetts report
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has just released Health of Massachusetts, a very comprehensive, user-friendly report that compiles data from over 50 sources and covers topics such as Community Assets, Mortality, Health Care Access, Health Care Quality, Natality and Early Childhood, Infectious Disease, Wellness and Chronic Disease, Environmental Health, Occupational Health, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use, Unintentional Injury, Suicide and Self Injury, Violence, and Mortality. It also incorporates Health Disparities and policy perspectives throughout. To find it, go to www.mass.gov/dph/healthofmassachusetts.
Regional Health Dialogues
There are two (2) regional health dialogue meetings left across the state and we welcome you to share your ideas and concerns with the Commissioner.
- CENTRAL Regional Dialogue - Friday, May 14, 2010, Worcester - City of Worcester Task Force on Public Health: Process, Recommendations & Implementation
- CENTRAL Regional Dialogue - Friday, May 14, 2010, Milford - Youth Development & Substance Abuse Prevention
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Disaster after disaster - businesses urged to apply for assistance
May 5, 2010. Just as things started to get back to normal after the spring floods, another water emergency brought another federal disaster declaration to Massachusetts. Thankfully, emergency management responded immediately to alert state, regional, and local agencies of the incident, as well as the media and the public. A recent article in the Boston Globe highlighted response efforts, including that community health centers were among the agencies to be immediately notified of the incident.
Peter Judge, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said the water crisis provided an unusually valuable exercise in "preparing for the big one, a bigger attack.'' He noted that his agency has a lot of experience communicating about events such as blizzards and hurricanes, but less experience with events that affect such a large number of people, occur without warning, and require immediate action. The boil-water order, he said, "compressed everything into a short time frame.''
Businesses are encouraged to apply for assistance for both recent disasters and may qualify for as much as 75% reimbursement of losses and expenses related to the events. Assistance centers are still available, visit MEMA's website to find an assistance center near you. Additional information is also available on the FEMA website, see links below: |
CDC - May 05, 2010. Oil spill response workers may be exposed to many different chemical, physical, biological, and psychological hazards. These hazards vary depending on the type and location of the oil spill, type and stage of response, degree of coordination between entities involved in response and recovery, and the workers' specific tasks. Therefore, occupational and environmental hazards need to be identified, assessed, and monitored in each oil spill response. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/ |
FDA Launches Medical Device and Radiation-Emitting Product Transparency Web site
FDA - Apr 19, 2010. The US Food and Drug Administration launched the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Transparency Web site today as part of the agency's transparency initiative. The site will provide information about medical device and radiation-emitting product regulatory processes and decisions, and summaries of data that provide the rationale for agency actions. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm208969.htm |
SAMHSA Grants Available for Communities Affected by Economic Downturn
HHS - Apr 14, 2010. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is making $16.8 million available in funding for up to four years for its Community Resilience and Recovery Initiative (CRRI) grants. The purpose of this community-based initiative is to improve behavioral health outcomes through coordination and use of evidence based health promotion, illness prevention, and treatment and recovery support services in communities affected by recent economic distress. Applicants for these grants will be expected to implement evidence-based practices and address several of SAMHSA's 10 strategic initiatives including those involving military families, prevention and trauma. http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1004144400.aspx |
Researchers Issue Outlook for a Significant New England 'Red Tide' in 2010
NOAA - Feb 24, 2010. Red tide blooms in 2010 are threatening to be on par with the outbreak of the toxic Paralytic Shellfish Poison in 2005 that stretched from the New Hampshire border down to Martha's Vineyard waters prompting closures coast-wide. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100224_redtide.html |
| Public Health Advisories Top |
Multistate Outbreak of Human E. coli O145 Infections Linked to Shredded Romaine Lettuce from a Single Processing Facility
CDC - May 06, 2010. Local and state public health officials in Michigan, New York, and Ohio are investigating human illnesses caused by E. coli O145. The CDC is supporting these investigations and facilitating regular communication and information sharing between the states and with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2010/ecoli_o145/index.html |
Waterborne Illness following Exposure to Drinking Water
MDPH - May 6, 2010. The recent boil water order was pre-emptive and precautionary, and not a response to water testing suggestive of fecal contamination. Therefore, the risk for infection related to recent events affecting the MWRA water supply is very low. Nonetheless, clinicians should be alert for patients presenting with gastrointestinal illness and should query such patients about drinking water in the affected communities. The infections that would be of particular concern under these circumstances are the parasitic infections, giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis. Patients who present with a history of exposure (i.e., drinking untreated water), but without symptoms, may be offered reassurance of the extremely low likelihood of acquiring waterborne illness. They can be instructed to contact their clinician if symptoms develop. Read the full advisory. |
Potential for Dengue Infection Among Relief Workers Returning from Haiti
CDC - Apr 27, 2010. The CDC has received reports of dengue fever among relief workers returning from Haiti, where the disease is endemic. Health-care providers in the US should consider dengue in the differential diagnosis of febrile illness in any person who has recently been in Haiti or other countries where dengue is being transmitted, and are encouraged to submit samples to state health departments (available from AZ, CA, CT, FL, NY, PR, and TX) or the CDC for proper laboratory testing. In US areas with Aedes mosquitoes present, infected travelers may also present a risk for local spread of dengue virus(es). |
PCV13 Advisory
MDPH - Apr 15, 2010. On February 24, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). MDPH has sent you previous communications about its ordering and inventory management, as well as an excerpt from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) with some of the initial recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on its use. The MDPH clinical advisory includes additional guidance about introducing PCV13 vaccine and suggested schedules and is posted on www.mass.gov/dph/imm in the section "Advisories, Alerts and Events." If you have questions about PCV13 ordering, please call MDPH's Vaccine Management Unit at 617-983-6828. If you have clinical questions about PCV13, please contact the Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at 617-983-6800 and ask to speak to an epidemiologist. |
Measles Update - Travelers Health
CDC - Apr 12, 2010. Measles is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among young children. Measles outbreaks are common in many areas, including Europe. Although the risk for exposure to measles can be high for many US travelers and citizens living in other countries (expatriates), the illness can be prevented by a vaccination. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/in-the-news/measles.aspx |
Update on Antiviral Drugs - Anticipated Termination Dates for EUAs Extended
MDPH - Apr 7, 2010. All anticipated termination dates for CDC-sponsored emergency use authorizations (EUAs) have been extended for antiviral drugs (Tamiflu, Relenza, Peramivir IV) and devices (N95 respirators, swine flu test kits, flu test kits). The previously anticipated termination date of April 26, 2010, has been extended to June 23, 2010. CDC-sponsored EUAs will remain in effect through June 23, 2010, unless the declaration of emergency is terminated, the EUAs are revoked sooner or the declaration of emergency is extended.
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Flu Update for Massachusetts
by Donna Lazorik, MDPH
WHO - May 7, 2010. The most active areas of pandemic influenza virus transmission currently are in parts of West Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. In the temperate zone of the northern and southern hemisphere, overall pandemic influenza activity remains sporadic. Seasonal influenza virus type B continues to be detected sporadically across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, however, low levels of late season virus circulation have primarily been detected in East and Central Asia, southern Europe, and central Africa. Read more at http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_05_07/en/index.html.
Apr 23, 2010. Although flu activity continues to be low, now is a great time to begin planning for the upcoming flu season. Last month, over 700 public health, health care, school and community leaders joined Commissioner Auerbach at the MDPH-sponsored Responding to H1N1 Influenza: Lessons Learned conference at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. The day- long event provided an opportunity to review lessons learned and highlight best practices from the 2009-2010 H1N1 flu season. Presenters from a variety of fields and disciplines shared their experiences on topics ranging from patient education, vaccine distribution, outreach to vulnerable populations and non-traditional partnerships. Many community health centers shared their stories from the field, and the League accepted a "Public Health Hero" award on the behalf of the health centers and their great vaccination efforts. http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2010/04/h1n1-lessons-learned-.html#more
More information is available at:
MDPH at http://www.mass.gov/flu
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Introducing the myhealthfinder Widget
HHS - Apr 15, 2010. Healthfinder.gov recently launched the myhealthfinder widget. This widget provides screening and prevention recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force based on age, sex, and pregnancy status. The site also features actionable health information and tools presented in an easy-to-use format. http://www.healthfinder.gov/widgets/ |
Earthquake Preparedness
Is your state at risk of an earthquake? Visit this FEMA webpage and you might be surprised! There are a number of resources to assist you in implementing earthquake preparedness and non-structural mitigation activities into your overall emergency management efforts. http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm |
| Training and Education Top |
MDPH Immunization Program Immunization Update 2010
MDPH will present the "Immunization Update 2010" workshop at eight locations throughout the state. These workshops are intended for physicians, nurses, and other health professionals who manage and administer vaccines in Massachusetts. The program is free and CME/CEU credit will be given. Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:
- Outline the 2010 childhood, adolescent and adult immunization schedules for recommended vaccines.
- Review all new vaccines and any changes to the recommended use of existing vaccines.
- Explain the rationale for an immunization registry.
- Describe the functionality of the new MIIS.
- List new vaccines and their availability to public and private provider sites.
- Describe the anticipated web based vaccine ordering process and its benefits.
- Apply proper storage and handling techniques for vaccines, understanding the consequences of breaks in the cold chain.
- Explain how surveillance and case investigation was conducted for the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.
- Summarize the new school requirements for immunizations in MA.
All sessions will take place from 9:00 am - Noon.
May 14 - Hinton State Laboratory Institute, Jamaica Plain
May 18 - UMASS Medical School, Worcester
May 20 - Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable
May 25 - Tewksbury Hospital, Tewksbury
May 27 - Heritage State Park, Fall River
***Please Note: No refreshments will be available*** |
MEMA Emergency Management Courses
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) at Jonathan Bourne Public Library on May 18, 2010
Incident Command System 400 at Agawam Training Room on May 24, 2010
Incident Command System 300 at Montague Fire Station on June 7, 2010
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) at Cranevill Place on June 8, 2010Visit our web site at www.mass.gov/mema for more details. |
Avoiding a Disaster during a Disaster: Improving Medical Volunteer Response
Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Developed to increase awareness about the importance of volunteer planning and preparedness. Physicians, nurses, behavioral health specialists, and other health care professionals interested in volunteering to respond to a public health emergency or a disaster should attend this important, live CME event. The program will provide attendees with an overview of preparedness challenges, including lessons learned from the Haitian earthquake response; an outline of state and federal emergency management systems and volunteer options; and a discussion of the differences between disaster and humanitarian response and the importance of collaborating with community agencies. In addition, participants will learn about the pitfalls of self-deployment and the importance of becoming associated with a group or organization when volunteering. Current MSAR and MRC members may attend this activity at no cost. Preregistration is required and space is limited. To register for the program: Please call (800) 843-6356 or fax the registration form. The registration form may be downloaded at www.massmed.org/avoidingadisaster. |
Business Continuity Planning for Health Centers - A Virtual Conference
Health centers must be prepared for natural disasters and other catastrophes that could cause major disruptions to caring for patients. The goal of this multi-part virtual webinar conference is to provide support to health centers through hands on activities and the sharing of information and templates as they build a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that is specific to their own organization. Plans developed during this virtual conference will address service disruption, identify critical business functions, protect vital records and IT infrastructure, support and integrate staff preparedness, identify financial resources, and safeguard valuable resources. At the conclusion of the virtual conference, there will be an interactive session, called a tabletop exercise (TTX), that will walk each organization through the process of testing the plan developed during the five webinars. This virtual conference begins on May 20, 2010. For more information and to register, go to http://www.nachc.com/upcoming-trainings.cfm. |
For the Greater Good: Medical Care During Disasters and Pandemics
A Discussion of Crisis Standards of Care for Massachusetts, June 8, 2010. Proposed Guidelines for Crisis Standards of Care ("CSC") - decision-making frameworks, protocols and processes to guide medical decision making during public health emergencies. MDPH is now launching a series of public engagement sessions with diverse groups of stakeholders to ensure that the proposed CSC Guidelines can be practically implemented and are properly aligned with community perspectives and values. MDPH will use the information it receives through this process to finalize CSC Guidelines for Massachusetts. Register at http://www.massmed.org/conv/csofcare/default.aspx or by calling 800.843.6356. This program is offered free of charge. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. |
Emergency Management with Special Populations - Certificate Program
Temple University's Department of Public Health, in collaboration with Temple's Center for Research Preparedness Education and Practice (C-PREP), is offering classes for preparing the public health workforce and emergency managers to address the needs of special populations in a competency based framework. These classes are for practitioners in emergency preparedness and response, public health professionals, undergraduate students, and recent graduates with an interest in emergency preparedness and response. These classes are offered in an online format through the undergraduate public health program. More information can be found at http://www.temple.edu/chp/departments/publichealth/emc/index.html. |
Yale New Haven EM Courses
EM 106: Emergency Preparedness for Healthcare - At Work and At Home (New). Emergency preparedness is the responsibility of every healthcare employee. Whether meeting Joint Commission or CMS requirements or ensuring that employees will come to work during a disaster, emergency preparedness training is essential. This awareness level course will provide the information and action steps all employees can take to ensure a work environment prepared for disasters and is recommended for all hospital and healthcare employees. For more information on any of our courses or to develop a customized course for your specific needs, please contact us at (203) 688-3224 or center@ynhh.org. |
May 14 - North End Community Health Center's "A Taste of the North End," Boston, MA
May 18-19 - MDPH Suicide Prevention Program's 9th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference, Marlborough, MA
May 21 - Duffy Health Center's "Evening of Stars," Hyannis, MA
June 8 - MDPH's For the Greater Good: Medical Care During Disasters and Pandemics, Waltham, MA June 8 - MDPH's Aging with Dignity XV Conference, Worcester, MA June 11 - League's annual Awards Gala, Boston, MA
June 14 - Greater New Bedford Community Health Center's annual Golf Tournament,
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| Comings and Goings Top |
BUSPH - Apr 23, 2010. The Partnership for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) says farewell and best of luck to Jennifer Tsoi, who will be moving on to manage the Local Public Health Institute of Massachusetts, also housed at the BU School of Public Health. In a recent email, Jennifer wrote "It has been a pleasure working with many of you over the past two years. I have learned a great deal from our partners, consultants and members from the five health disciplines. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with me. Your ongoing support for the PEER initiative is much appreciated. I especially want to thank the PEER Executive Committee members who spent countless hours working on PEER with me. Without their work and support, PEER wouldn't be where it is today."
PEER recently announced that Kerry Dunnell, formerly of the Cambridge Advanced Practice Center (APC), as the new Program Manager. Kerry joins PEER with an excellent history in project management and emergency preparedness. During her time in Cambridge, Kerry managed the Cambridge APC grant. In this role, she provided overall project supervision, technical assistance to implement the public health mutual aid plan, workshop and presentation development, and relationship building with 27 local boards of health in Region 4b. Given her wealth of experience and expertise in the field of public heath and emergency preparedness, PEER is confident in her ability to lead the initiative into its next phase. |
HHS - Apr 6, 2010. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the appointment of five new regional directors of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including New England's new regional director Christie Hager. As HHS regional directors, they will serve as key representatives of Secretary Sebelius in working with federal, state, local, and tribal officials on a wide range of health and social service issues. Christie Hager, JD, MPH is currently an Adjunct Lecturer on Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her research and teaching focus is on state regulation of health care and public health, health care access, and the legislative process. From 2004-2009, she served on the staff of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, as Chief Health Counsel in the Office of the Speaker during the development, enactment and first three years of implementation of the health reform law passed in 2006. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Division of Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health. She was appointed Senior Fellow at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy at Brandeis University's Heller School, where she served as Director and Principal Investigator at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, from 1999-2002. She also previously worked on the editorial staff of the New England Journal of Medicine. Ms. Hager received an AB from Smith College, a MPH from the Boston University School of Public Health, and a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Welcome Christie!
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| 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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