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Training Opportunity - Healthcare Security Officer Training
May 3, 2013. The League, CHCACT and NACHC are teaming up to present an interactive training series for health center staff to prepare for the Healthcare Security Officer examination. The series will consist of three 90-minute webinars and one session for review and exam completion. Sessions have been designed to address all material covered in the exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the International Association of Health Care Security and Safety. Click here for more details and to register. |
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Trauma teams continue to offer support workshops for the Commonwealth
Liam Seward, MDMH - Apr 29, 2013. Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and MDPH offer supportive services workshops to healthcare providers. The Israeli Trauma Coalition offered to donate resources to the Commonwealth and work with community partners in addressing concerns that community members have. Specifically this organization is offering to host two sets of workshops for community members. One workshop focuses on discussing typical reactions to disaster stress and how members of your organization can work with individuals to address these reactions. The other workshop is based on the premise of helping the helper and works to address compassion fatigue and provides attendees with skills related to self care. The first set of workshops took place last week (May 6-10). If your organization and its partners would be interested in support, contact Liam Seward at liam.seward@state.ma.us or at 617-626-8170. More resources can be found online at: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/feature-story/marathon-recovery-resources.html.
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Health Alert - Mumps
BPHC - May 10, 2013. Three confirmed cases and eleven suspected cases of mumps in Boston residents have been reported to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) since the end of April. All three confirmed cases have documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine. A diagnosis of mumps should be suspected in anyone presenting with typical symptoms. Healthcare providers are required by public health regulations to report all suspect or confirmed cases of chickenpox immediately to local officials.
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Health Alert - Increase in Varicella Cases
BPHC - May 2, 2013. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has recently observed an increase in the number of patients with chickenpox (varicella) seen in Boston healthcare facilities. Nine cases have been reported over the past two weeks, with multiple people exposed in healthcare settings. In some cases, the initiation of isolation procedures was delayed. Healthcare providers should be on the alert for individuals presenting with a vesicular rash, pruritus, malaise, and fever, and promptly initiate airborne and contact precautions. All healthcare workers should be documented to be immune to varicella. Healthcare providers are required by public health regulations to report all suspect or confirmed cases of chickenpox immediately to local officials.
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Top 10 Influenza Pandemic Response Planning Tips
CDC - May 2, 2013. CDC is closely monitoring the avian influenza A (H7N9) situation in China and is taking several preparedness measures. While no H7N9 cases have been detected in the United States or anywhere outside of China at this time and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, CDC encourages state and local public health agencies to use this time to review and reinforce their pandemic preparedness plans in case the situation escalates. CDC has developed these Top 10 Influenza Pandemic Response Planning Tips to help senior public health officials at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels identify the most critical capabilities and activities needed to assure jurisdictional readiness for an influenza pandemic response. http://www.naccho.org/topics/emergency/upload/CDC-s-Top-10-H7N9-Planning-Tips_May-2-2013_final.pdf |
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In Face of Terror, Community Unite in Compassion and Strength
Jim Hunt - Apr 19, 2013. Marathon Monday's events brought a torrent of emotions. Initial terror gave way to grief then anger and ultimately, to resolve. Amid the confusion and tumult, one thing was clear: the city of Boston was united in its outrage, empathy and strength.
Marathon volunteers, first responders, civilians, elected officials and the city's world-renowned hospitals answered the horror with unmatched competence and compassion in their continuing care of the profoundly injured.
And it was our communities that proved once again, their unfailingly ability to come together to help one another feel a little less lost and powerless, and to provide solace, support and prayers to the victims and their families.
The night after the bombings, the streets of Dorchester were filled with families that spontaneously joined in a vigil for the Richard family. As nearly two thousand people converged on Garvey Park in support of Martin, Denise and Jane, other communities would do the same to honor Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, Sean Collier, and the recovering wounded.
We will never forget the 17,000 voices that became one during the singing of the national anthem at the Boston Bruins game that very same night. Nor President Obama's declaration that the strength and resolve of Boston residents "is the greatest rebuke" to those who "committed this heinous act."
But the most powerful and defining moment of last week happened in the seconds following the first explosion on Boylston Street: people running toward danger -- and not for cover -- to see how they could help.
This is the image that will endure in our hearts and minds. An image that says the people of Boston and this great state will never be defeated or divided by hatred and violence.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Massachusetts' 49 community health centers for their stewardship of the Commonwealth's beloved communities over the past few weeks and in the coming months as they continue to heal. Your help and guidance in the midst of such horror were a critical part of a response that has shown our residents and the rest of the country how the power of human goodness and neighborly love can prevail in the face of evil.
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Calendar Highlights
May 17 - Advanced Study in Health Center Finance Class
May 20-21 - 2013 Young Children Without Homes National Conference
May 21 - 18th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference
May 22 - Performance Improvement Practitioner Development Program: Session 2 - Measure/Analyze
May 31 - Advanced Study in Health Center Finance Class
June 5 - Aging with Dignity Conference
June 7 - League Annual Awards Gala
June 10 - Greater New Bedford Community Health Center 20th Annual Golf Tournament
June 13 - League Annual Meeting of the Assembly
June 14 - Advanced Study in Health Center Finance Class
June 18-19 - Bi-State PCA and NACHC Training for Medical Directors, Vermont
June 20 - Government Affairs Meeting
June 20 - Boston Conference Meeting
June 25-27 - Women's Health Leadership Institute Workshop for Community Health Workers
June 26 - Performance Improvement Practitioner Development Program: Session 3 - Improve
For more details and other health center events, visit http://www.massleague.org/Calendar/Calendar.php.
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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Tina Wright, Emergency Management Program Manager and Public Information Coordinator
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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