The Impact of Systems Improvements: A Progress Review Webinar on Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorders and Blood Safety

Register Now  | August 28, 2013 | 1:30–3:00 PM EDT 

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States. Complications of bleeding and clotting disorders can be prevented if the conditions are promptly recognized and treated. Small systems improvements can have a large impact in reducing healthcare costs and the burden of disease.

Join HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, and experts from the field on Wednesday, August 28 at 1:30 PM to learn about the progress of select Healthy People 2020 objectives in the Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorders and Blood Safety Topic Areas.

This webinar series focuses on crosscutting themes, collaborations that lead to success, and challenges to achieve Healthy People 2020 targets.

Register today!

The Impact of Systems Improvements: A Progress Review Webinar on Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorders and Blood Safety

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States. Complications of bleeding and clotting disorders can be prevented if the conditions are promptly recognized and treated. Small systems improvements can have a large impact in reducing healthcare costs and the burden of disease.

Join HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, and experts from the field on Wednesday, August 28 at 1:30 PM to learn about the progress of select Healthy People 2020 objectives in the Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorders and Blood Safety Topic Areas.

This webinar series focuses on crosscutting themes, collaborations that lead to success, and challenges to achieve Healthy People 2020 targets.

Register today!

Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) is a national health agenda that communicates a vision and a strategy for improving the health of the Nation's population and achieving health equity.  On December 2, 2010, Healthy People 2020 launched its ambitious, yet achievable, 10-year agenda for improving the Nation’s health. Healthy People 2020 is the result of a multi-year process that reflects input from a diverse group of individuals and organizations.

HP2020 provides a framework to address risk factors and determinants of health and the diseases and disorders that affect our communities. It enables state and local public health departments and their partners to set priorities and assign tasks to help achieve the objectives.

To showcase HP2020 activities in Virginia, the VDH has launched this webpage.  Virginia’s HP2020 page will showcase VA specific initiatives that are using HP2020 goals and objectives, as well as list individuals and organizations that are interested in partnering to implement a HP2020 initiative. If your organization has an interest in partnering to implement an HP2020 initiative, complete the form below. 


Click here to learn more: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/healthpolicy/healthequity/HealthyPeople2020.htm 

Webinar: Who's Leading the Leading Health Indicators? Access to Health Services

Join the Healthy People 2020 initiative on Thursday, January 24, at 3 pm EST, to learn about the success of one statewide partnership in securing coverage for over 500,000 previously uninsured children through advocacy and community outreach. This 45-minute webinar  will be led by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, and will include a roundtable discussion on the impact of this critical Leading Health Indicator topic.

Participate in the Healthy People 2020 Process! Public Comment Opens October 15, 2012.

Participate in the Healthy People 2020 process! The public comment period will be open from October 15, 2012 through 5:00 pm ET on November 2, 2012.

Public comments are a cornerstone of Healthy People 2020. There will be opportunities for public input periodically throughout the decade to ensure that Healthy People 2020 reflects current public health priorities.

You will be able to (a) comment on proposed new objectives to be added to the Educational and Community-Based Programs and Social Determinants of Health Topic Areas, and (b) propose new objectives to be included in 1 of the 42 existing Healthy People 2020 Topic Areas.

To participate in the public comment period, visit the online public comment database beginning on October 15, 2012. Comments will be accepted through 5:00 pm ET on November 2, 2012.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Virginia Youth Sharing Public Health Stories

Research Corner

Ethnic Differences in Mental Illness and Mental Health Service Use among Black Fathers Doyle, O.; Joe, S.; Caldwell, C. H. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, Supplement 2 (May), p. s222-s231, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300446

Gathering Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data in Health IT: Better Information Can Help Close Disparities Gap / Baker, K. -- Washington, DC: Center for American Progress, 2012 / 4 p.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/02/pdf/baker_lgbt_fact_sheet.html

Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients / American Psychological Association (APA). American Psychologist, v. 67, #1 (January), p. 10-42, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024659

Hispanic Lesbians and Bisexual Women at Heightened Risk or Health Disparities / Kim, H. J.; Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, #1 (January), p. e9-e15, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300378

The Influence of Implicit Bias on Treatment Recommendations for 4 Common Pediatric Conditions: Pain, Urinary Tract Infection, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Asthma / Sabin, J. A.; Greenwald, A. G. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, #5 (May), p. 988-995, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300621

Medication Adherence among Latino and Non-latino White Children with Asthma / McQuaid, E. L.; Everhart, R. S.; Seifer, R.; Kopel, S. J.; Mitchell, D. K., et al. Pediatrics, v. 129, #6 (June), p. e1404-e1410, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-1391

Modeling the Impact of Social Discrimination and Financial Hardship on the Sexual Risk of HIV among Latino and Black men who Have Sex with Men / Ayala, G.; Bingham, T.; Kim, J.; Wheeler, D. P.; Millet, G. A. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, Supplement 2 (May), p. s242-s249, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300641

The Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Lung Disorders in Northern Plains and Southwest American Indians / Sprague, D.; Bogart, A.; Manson, S.; Buchwald, D.; Goldberg, J. / American Indian Services Utilization, Psychiatric, Epidemiology, Risk and Protective Factors Project (AI-SUPERPFP). Ethnicity & Health, v. 15, #6 (December) p. 569-579, 2011.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13557858.2010.500017

Religious Climate and Health Risk Behaviors in Sexual Minority Youths: A Population-based Study / Hatzenbueler, M. L.; Pachankis, J. E.; Wolff, J. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, #4 (April), p. 657-663, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300517

Taking It Like a Man: Masculine Role Norms as Moderators of the Racial Discrimination-Depressive Symptoms Association among African American Men / Hammond, W. P. American Journal of Public Health, v. 102, Supplement 2 (May), p. s232-s241, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300485

Trying to Breathe Easy / Moscou, S. Minority Nurse, (Spring), p. 14-16, 2012.
http://www.minoritynurse.com/trying-breathe-easy

Young Native American Men and their Intention to use Family Planning Services / Rink, E.; Fourstar, K.; Elk, J. M.; Dick, R., et al. American Journal of Men's Health, v. 6, #4 (July), p. 324-330, 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1557988312439226

Mayor’s Healthy Richmond Campaign

The Official Kickoff for the Healthy Richmond Campaign 

Expo opens at 10 a.m., Kickoff begins at 10:30 a.m.Presented by: Mayor Dwight C. Jones

Join us and our very own Dr. Remley the Commissioner of The Virginia Department of Health at the  Get Healthy-Stay Healthy Health Expo.,  and Chick-fil-a cow walk, part of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy!

The Mayor established a Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy as a direct result of his concerns about disparity in health outcomes across the Richmond community. The Commission -- which is made up of health experts including physicians, hospital executives, mental health and clinical providers, and members of the community -- worked together to identify critical health issues facing the City of Richmond. Focus areas to improve Richmond’s health:

The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy identified numerous factors that contribute to disparity and poor health, but they were able to prioritize and agreed on five recommendations to forward to the Mayor that they believed would make the most impact on improving the health and well-being of Richmond residents:

•      Healthy Richmond Campaign - promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and participating in various initiatives to improve the health of Richmond’s residents,
•      Health and Social Equity - impacting policy by creating an infrastructure that promotes healthy living,
•      Behavioral Health - addressing prevention and intervention for at-risk youth and families,
•      Medical Homes for the Uninsured - eliminating barriers that impact access to health care,
•      Support for Healthcare Providers - encouraging health care providers to practice in underserved areas of  the community.

Cow Walk:  April 28, 2012 starts at 8:30 a.m  Click here and learn more

Expo Information:

Date and Time:                    April 28, 2012, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location:                              Greater Richmond Convention Center

                                             403 N. Third Street, Exhibit Hall A

         Richmond, VA 23219


(Click Below to Learn More)

Health Care Disparities Grant Program Applications Being Accepted

Health Care Disparities Grant Program

Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.Grants to improve the quality of health care delivered to low-income and minority Americans, and to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

The goal of The Commonwealth Fund's Program on Health Care Disparities is to improve the quality of health care delivered to low-income and minority Americans, and to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. The program builds on efforts to improve quality of care overall in the United States, by focusing on hospitals and ambulatory care providers serving large numbers of low-income and minority patients (minority-serving, safety-net institutions). The strategies it pursues include:

• Identifying opportunities for improving performance of safety-net providers


• Enhancing the capacity of safety-net providers to improve performance


• Fostering incentives and policies that promote better performance of safety-net providers

Website: Link to program website
Sponsor: Commonwealth Fund
Deadlines: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Contact: Phone: 212.606.3800 Fax: 212.606.3500 Email: cmwf@cmwf.org

Hospitals find success in slashing health disparities

Cultural competency training is among the efforts that boost care quality for minority patients.

According to the 2010 National Healthcare Disparities Report, only 20 percent of health care disparities have been reduced. However, a number of hospitals and health systems have implemented different methods to narrow the gap, according to a report from a coalition of health care organizations. For example, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital implemented a four-hour training program for health professionals to help address cultural, language, and literacy needs of their Hispanic patients.

Emilio Carrillo, vice president for community health at NewYork-Presbyterian, said "The cultural competency training provides background information in terms of the various ethnicities and religions and groups that we see predominantly." The hospital also employed bilingual patient navigators and established seven patient-centered medical homes. As a result, the article notes that there was nearly a 10 percent drop in emergency department visits. The report cites case studies from eight other organizations working to reduce health disparities, including Baylor Health Cary System in Dallas, TX, University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS, and Adventist Health Care in Rockville, MD. The article notes that more than three-quarters of hospitals collect data on patients' race and other demographic factors, such as language and disability. "It's important to recognize that collecting data on race, ethnicity, language, disability, and gender is foundational to addressing disparities and to doing interventions to reduce them," said Romana Hasnain-Wynia, research associate professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Institute for Healthcare Studies in Chicago.

Richard de Filippi, chair of the American Hospital Association's Equity of Care Committee, emphasized that hospitals focused on data collection, cultural competency training, including minorities in leadership positions, and patient-centered care inevitably will lower health care disparities (O'Reilly, 03/16).

Click here to learn more

Getting a doctor's appointment tougher on Medicaid

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Americans on Medicaid have a harder time getting a prompt doctor's appointment, which may help explain why some end up going to the ER, a new study finds.
The problem is likely to grow, researchers say, as more people go on Medicaid as part of national healthcare reform. So simply expanding coverage may not be enough to improve low-income Americans' access to primary care.

"Insurance coverage does not necessarily mean better access," said senior researcher Dr. Adit A. Ginde, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

The study found that of more than 230,000 Americans surveyed over a decade, Medicaid recipients had more problems getting an appointment with a primary care doctor.

Just over 16 percent reported at least one "barrier" -- like having to wait too long for an appointment, limited health clinic hours, or even being unable to get someone on the phone at the doctor's office. That compared with 9 percent of survey respondents who had private insurance. To learn more click here.

University of Virginia- Hospital Education Program

Special events offered through the HEP benefit from the time, talents, and other resources contributed by members of the University community and local residents. Those interested in volunteering at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital should contact the Office of Volunteer Services at (434) 924-5251. All HEP services are free to children and their families. For additional information, contact (434) 924-2658.

Youth Health Festival!

Attend the Youth Health Festival!Saturday, April 21, 2012 -
Health Equity Day of Action

WHAT: Youth Health Festival: Young. Healthy. YOUnited!
WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 2012, 12 noon to 4 pm
WHERE: Columbia Heights Educational Campus, 3101 16th Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20010 **FREE PARKING *** Learn more

Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on LGBT Health Awareness Week 2012

Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on LGBT Health Awareness Week 2012

LGBT Health Awareness Week is an important time to highlight the progress our country is making to address the unique health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, especially through implementation of the health care law, the Affordable Care Act.

Studies have shown that health disparities related to sexual orientation and gender identity are due in part to lower rates of health coverage and a lack of cultural competency in the health care system। The Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans gain access to care by creating coverage options for people with pre-existing conditions, and under the law, beginning in 2014, every American will have access to health care through Affordable Insurance Exchanges, new competitive marketplaces where Americans will be able to purchase affordable coverage and have the same choices of insurance that members of Congress will have. These same benefits are or will be available to LGBT Americans across the country.

The Affordable Care Act also strengthens training for health care providers, devotes new resources to improving our primary care workforce, and increases funding for community health centers, where patients are served regardless of how much they can afford to pay। We know that members of the LGBT community may be more likely to be underinsured or uninsured, making the Affordable Care Act all the more important.

In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services continues to address the specific health concerns of LGBT Americans, including by working to incorporate data collection on LGBT populations into national health surveys, releasing rules requiring hospitals to allow same-sex partners the ability to visit each other in the hospital, and setting up an internal working group that ensures we are effectively coordinating policies to best address LGBT health needs across every agency in the Department.

Our Department is committed to improving the health of all Americans, including LGBT Americans, and we look forward to continuing this work during LGBT Health Awareness Week and beyond.

• 
  
  For more information on how the Department is working to improve LGBT Health and Well-being, visit http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/lgbthealth_update_2011.html.


• 
  
  Read the Departments recommendations for future LGBT Health improvements at http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/lgbthealth.html


• 
  
  Learn how health reform is giving LGBT Americans more control over their health care at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/01/new-options-for-lgbt-americans.html

National Women's Health Week

National Women's Health Week - Be the Brightest GEM - Health Fair and Community Fun Day featuring the InterActive Walk-through AmeriHeart on May 19, 2012 from Noon to 4 PM at George Wythe HS . Please help us spread the word and collect a host of vendors our visitors can interact with as they learn to lead healthier lives. See attached Flyer and Brochure.

Weight of the Nation Conference

Weight of the Nation Conference

May 7-9, 2012

The CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity will host the Weight of the Nation™, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference is designed to provide a forum to highlight progress in obesity prevention and control through policy and environmental strategies, framed around five intervention settings: early care and education; states, tribes, and communities; medical care; schools; and workplaces. The conference will feature a number of public health law-related sessions, as well as a practitioner training on public health law and policy. Find more information about the Weight of the Nation™ conference and registration.

New Breast Health Clinic

Pathways is excited to announce our new breast health clinic, open to

women of all ages.

Sign up for:

Free breast health workshop

Free mammogram (transportation provided)

This clinic operates every second and fourth Tuesday at Pathways, 1200 W.

Washington St., Petersburg, VA 23803.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 804-862-1104.

Pathways

1200 W Washington St Petersburg VA 23803

p 804.862.1104 x311 f 804.862.1015

Help us reach our goal for this fiscal year, invest today:

http://www.pathways-va.org/contribute

Health & Equity For All

GIH's 2012 annual meeting theme Health and Equity for All reflects Healthy People 2020's vision of good health for Americans across the life course, and attendees will examine and discuss philanthropy's role in moving the nation's health agenda forward. Read on for more details and meeting highlights.

This meeting is open only to staff and trustees of grantmaking organizations and corporate giving programs.**

March 7 - 9, 2012 REGISTER NOW!

Resource Promotiong Healthy Communities, Health over healthcare

This is a very nice video that highlights nicely the type of work that is being done trying to accomplish with Healthy Communities and ACHIEVE!!

Listen in on a “conversation about health, not health care.”

Click here to listen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-3Q3vpPQNM

Department of Health and Human Services

The Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project Grant Program provides support to community-level projects that use Healthy People 2020 overarching goals, topic areas, and objectives to promote improved heath at a community level. Proposed projects must address at least one of the Healthy People 2020 topics and incorporate at least one of the following priorities that are linked to the Healthy People 2020 overarching goals: Environmental Justice – supporting the rights of all people to live in a healthy environment; Health Equity – dealing with issues that cause some groups of people to have worse health than others; and Healthy Behaviors Across All Life Stages – activities to improve the opportunities for people of all ages to make healthy choices. The application deadline is August 5, 2011.

To learn more click http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/implementing/funding.aspx