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Rural Health Briefing, December 1, 2005
National News
1. Rural Access to Broadband
2. Preparing for the Next Pandemic
3. E-Prescribing for Medicare Part D
4. Federal Health IT Resources
Across Arizona
1. Workgroups Seeking Rural Representatives
2. Annual Rural Health Policy Forum Set for January 30
3. Two December Meetings for Arizona Public Health Leaders
4. Conference on Culturally Based Substance Abuse Treatments
Arizona Flex
1. Flex Program Surveys HIT Readiness
EMS
1. ADHS Adopts New EMS Guidances
Grants and Opportunities
1. Graduate Fellowships in Minority Health Disparities
2. Health Education & Health Promotion Internships
3. Kaiser Media Fellowships Focus on Health
Calendar
December 7-9, 21st Annual Indian Child and Family Conference, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fountain Hills, Arizona
December 10-14, American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 12-14, National Conference on Mobile Health and Electronic Order Entry, San Diego, California
December 13-14, Public Health Collaborative Leadership Train-the-Trainer Workshop, Phoenix
December 15, 2nd Annual Arizona Public Health Leadership Forum, Phoenix
January 7, 2006, 5th Annual Women’s Mental Health Symposium, Tucson
January 9-11, 2006, National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, Washington, D.C.
January 18-20, 2006, National Summit on the Methamphetamine Epidemic, Las Vegas, Nevada
January 23-35, 2006, Native Diabetes Prevention Conference, Phoenix
January 30, 2006, Arizona Rural Health Policy Forum, Phoenix
February 24-26, 2006, Annual Meeting on Health Philanthropy: Improving Community Health, Inspiring Community Action, Phoenix
Mark Your Calendar
March 14-16, 2006, Annual Conference of the Association for Community Health Improvement, Phoenix
March 28-31, 2006, Fourth Annual Western Region Flex Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 17-19, 2006, Culturally Based Substance Abuse Treatments for Native American, Alaska Natives and Latinos, Tucson
May 15-19, 2006, 3rd Annual Rural Nurse Conference, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
National News
Rural Access to Broadband
Comparing the national initiative for rural electrification in the 1930’s to rural broadband services today, Representative Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is calling for a large-scale effort to improve the business, healthcare and educational opportunities by assisting the spread of rural high-speed Internet access. As part of the overhaul of the 1996 telecommunications law, Udall has introduced HR 1479, Rural Access to Broadband Services Act to both ease the way of present providers to extend their rural reach and support research on new technologies for increasing affordable access.
On November 18, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed HR 4214, Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, that included removing support for rural broadband access. This now has been included in the reconciliation negotiations under S 1932.
Representatives Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) propose mandating rapid expansion of rural broadband funded by the federal Universal Service Fund. They are seeking comments by December 23 on a discussion draft of the Universal Service Reform Act of 2005, available here.
Preparing for the Next Pandemic
A report by Healthy Americans estimates that the “inevitable” mid-level flu pandemic would result in 1,138,742 flu cases in Arizona, 39,675 hospitalizations and 9,223 deaths. This study also outlines many preventive-planning steps including strategies for coordinated response, outbreak tracking, stockpiling needed supplies, public education campaigns, mass vaccinations and backup workers.
Click here for the 21-page report, “A Killer Flu?”
An overview of influenza and particularly the Avian flu warns that pandemics (worldwide epidemics) are periodic and better preparation is essential. “Influenza: the Impending Pandemic” by Dr. Rashid Chotani, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Public Health, cites CDC estimates of up to 7 million deaths worldwide resulting from the next pandemic.
In the industrialized countries the result could be an additional 233 million outpatient visits, 5 million hospitalizations and a 25% increase in demand for ICU beds, ventilators and related equipment.
Click here for the presentation.
“HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan” was released in November 2005. Click here for the 396-page report.
CDC maintains a comprehensive site on influenza with weekly updates and topical bulletins and several sections devoted to health care professionals. Click here for that site.
E-Prescribing for Medicare Part D
CMS has released its starter set of standards for Medicare e-prescribing. Although doctors and pharmacies are not required to use e-prescribing as part of the Medicare Part D drug benefit, those choosing to do so must abide by the standards. E-prescribing promises to prevent medication errors by:
• Eliminating obscure handwriting and transcription errors;
• Allowing doctors or computer systems to check for patient allergies or harmful interactions with other drugs the patient is taking; and,
• Providing information to doctors about the correct dosage and other aspects of the prescription.
They are known as foundation standards because they support minimal functionality in e-prescribing and are already widely used.
Click here for the standards and related information.
Federal Health IT Resources
Government Health IT, a private publication, has brought together an annotated list of web resources organized by the following departments: HHS, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, Defense and intergovernmental.
Click here for details.
Across Arizona
Workgroups Seeking Rural Representatives
Representatives of rural healthcare are encouraged to join volunteer workgroups linked to the Arizona Health-e Connection Steering Committee that is charged with recommending actions and milestones for the next five years. To join a workgroup, fill out the one-page form available here, then send it with your resume to Chris Muir at cmuir@azgita.gov.
With objectives of improving care and reducing costs, Governor Napolitano has created the Health-e Connection Steering Committee and charged it with developing an Arizona roadmap for electronic health data exchange between healthcare insurance companies, providers and consumers.
Annual Rural Health Policy Forum Set for January 30
The educational Arizona Rural Health Policy Forum will assist participants in understanding the health and human services directions determined by policy makers in the 2006 legislative session. It will be held in Phoenix on Monday, January 30.
Policy makers will discuss special initiatives impacting rural health, and key departmental executives will present their program priorities.
All policy makers in attendance will be introduced during the luncheon, at which time participants will have an opportunity to ask them questions. Co-sponsors will report on their health and social services issues and priorities. The Arizona Rural Health Association and Rural Health Office sponsor this annual event.
Two December Meetings for Arizona Public Health Leaders
Collaboration is key to developing and sustaining a statewide public health system. In support of this aim, two events are planned for next month.
Public Health Collaborative Leadership Train-the-Trainer Workshop
December 13 and 14, 2005
Pointe South Mountain Resort, Phoenix.
This workshop encourages regional teams of public health professionals and community leaders to attend and then work together. The workshop is free of charge. Register by November 10.
It is sponsored by the Southwest Public Health Leadership Institute at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health. Click here for further details.
2nd Annual Arizona Public Health Leadership Forum
December 15, 2005
Pointe South Mountain Resort, Phoenix
The forum will bring together public health leaders and champions for may areas of Arizona’s public health system with the goal of identifying common concerns and strengthening partnerships. It is free of charge but pre-registration is requested. Click here for details.
The event is coordinated by the Southwest Public Health Leadership Forum and sponsored by the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Local Health Officers’ Association.
Conference on Culturally Based Substance Abuse Treatments What cultural interventions are effective in treatment and recovery programs? This conference in Tucson from April 17-19, 2006, Culturally Based Substance Abuse Treatments for Native American, Alaska Natives and Latinos, will provide a forum for therapists and researchers to discuss best practices.
Organizers at the Center for Health Equality, UA Zuckerman College of Public Health are accepting proposals for talks, workshops and posters. The submission deadline is December 15, 2005.Click here for conference details.
Arizona Flex
Flex Program Surveys HIT Readiness
The Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program has launched a readiness assessment to help the state’s critical access hospitals prepare for participation in the electronic health record (EHR) systems that are one of the top priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services. Results will be shared with participating hospitals for use in strategic planning and implementation.
A November 14 forum on Arizona rural health information technology featured key presentations on relevant concerns of financing, policy and technical feasibility. The Arizona Rural Health Association and the Rural Health Office sponsored the event. Click here to view the presentations.
EMS
ADHS Adopts New EMS Guidances
Effective November 1, 2005, ADHS adopted 13 new guidance documents. They include a protocol for EMT-B Use of an Esophageal Tracheal Double Lumen Airway Device; Pediatric Triage and Treatment Protocols; and, Drug Profile for Vasopressin.
Click here for further details.
Grants and Opportunities
Note: Technical assistance is readily available for the development of grant proposals and other funding applications from the experienced staff of the Rural Health Office and the State Office of Rural Health Program. Please contact Jennifer Peashock.
Graduate Fellowships in Minority Health Disparities
Application deadline: February 1, 2006
Fellows in this ongoing program conduct research and community interventions in the areas of diabetes and substance abuse among Native American and Hispanics in the Southwest. Applicants must be minority U.S. citizens or permanent residents, enrolled in graduate work in public health, epidemiology, Mexican American Studies/Latino Health or Native American Studies with an emphasis on public health at the University of Arizona.
Fellowships include an $8,000 annual stipend. Click here for application details.
Health Education & Health Promotion Internships
Application deadlines:
March 1, 2005 for May – August Internship
July 1, 2005 for September – December Internship
The Society for Public Health Education is seeking applicants for internships in their Washington, D.C. office. Qualified applicants should be pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree in public health, health education, community health, health promotion, preventive medicine, or a related discipline. Preferred areas of interest are tobacco prevention and control; physical activity; women's health; environmental health and environmental justice; diabetes; obesity and nutrition; heart disease and stroke; cancer; school health; and eliminating health disparities.
Submit resume, cover letter addressing your experience in health education and health promotion, a personal statement (including why you are interested in an internship experience with SOPHE and your personal objectives for such an experience), and names of 3 references to: SOPHE, 750 First Street, NE, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20002. Fax: 202-408-9804. Or e-mail bpomietto@sophe.org.
Kaiser Media Fellowships Focus on Health
Application deadline: March 16, 2006
The Kaiser Family Foundation is accepting applications for its redesigned Kaiser Media Fellowships in Health program. Up to ten fellowships will be awarded to print, television, radio and online journalists to research and report on health policy issues. The program will provide journalists a chance to pursue individual in depth research projects and features group site visits and briefings on a wide range of health policy issues. Fellowships can run for as long as nine months or as short as a few months.
Stipends will be awarded based on the length of the fellowship, up to $50,000 for a nine-month fellowship. The program also covers expenses based on the needs of the project.
Click here for details.
Contact Your Representatives
a. Arizona Congressional Delegation: Links to Arizona members of the U.S. House of Representatives are available at: U.S. Representatives. Links to Arizona members of the U.S. Senate are available at: U.S. Senate
b. Arizona State Legislators: Available through the Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS): Call 1-800-352-8404 or follow links at Arizona Legislature.
Important Links
Editor's Note: This online newsletter is a project of the Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, housed in the Rural Health Office at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and supported through a grant from HRSA (Office of Rural Health Policy). The Rural Hospital Flexibility Program was created by Congress to improve the financial viability and stability of health care in rural areas, including creation of a new designation for rural hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Designated CAHs are eligible for cost-based reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients. In some states, including Arizona, additional reimbursement is also available for CAH services provided to Medicaid patients.
Your incisive comments, insightful suggestions or enigmatic questions are always welcome. Please send them as well as address changes to Jim Laukes, Editor, Rural Health Briefing.
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