A new program launched by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) encourages practitioners to refer their patients to Genetics Home Reference, a free, user-friendly NLM Web site at http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov. Under this program, doctors can request free “Information Rx” pads, which enable them to write “prescriptions,” pointing patients to the Genetics Home Reference site for information about newborn screening and related genetic disorders. Four of the nation’s most respected medical associations—the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Medical Genetics—have teamed with NLM and NICHD on this initiative. The Information Rx pads can be ordered from the following Web site: http://www.informationrx.org.

Genetics Home Reference includes over 500 topics on genetic conditions and related genes. The site also features an illustrated tutorial that explains the basics of genetics and a glossary of genetics terms. The site is regularly updated by scientific staff and reviewed by external experts.

The press release announcing the Genetics Home Reference InformationRx program is available at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/nov2006/nlm-20a.htm

Online pharmacy

The Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) announces the availability of awards that support access to health information for libraries, consumers, health professionals and in particular those reaching underserved populations; enhance the capacity of libraries to share resources, strengthen network member librarians’ skills in the use of NLM databases; and increase the visibility of the NN/LM and NLM products and services.

Awards are for full network members for technology, library improvement, and outreach.

Deadline for applications for all awards is March 30, 2007.

MicroAwards

For Full Network members to enhance their services as well as promote NLM products and services; and provide seed money for ongoing or one-time projects through the purchase of displays, brochures, presentations, materials, equipment, supplies, or presentation of small programs.

Technology Improvement Awards

For Full Network members to expand their access to health information, enhance services, and provide seed funding for one-time technology projects, or to bring technology to a library or community that has previously not had access to NLM products and services.

For more information, or to apply for an award go to: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

“There was a strong correlation between video game skills and a surgeon’s capabilities performing laparoscopic surgery…”

Read the Reuters news alert

Read the abstract in PubMed :

Rosser JC Jr, Lynch PJ, Cuddihy L, Gentile DA, Klonsky J, Merrell R. The impact of video games on training surgeons in the 21st century. Arch Surg. 2007 Feb;142(2):181-6. PMID: 17309970 [PubMed - in process]

What’s next…Operation for the Wii?

MAR exhibited at National Women’s Heart Day on Friday, February 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. National Women’s Heart Day, organized by Sister-to-Sister, is an annual women’s health fair with free screenings for personal heart risks. We distributed MedlinePlus fliers and pens and demo’ed MedlinePlus for more than 200 visitors.

Many thanks to our volunteers, Colleen Bradley-Sanders, Archivist, NYU Ehrman Medical Library, and Gloria Willson, Dept. Principal Librarian at Public Health Library,NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene!

Pictured above: Arpita Bose, Outreach & Communications Coordinator, and Sue Hunter, Planning & Evaluation Coordinator, NN/LM, Middle Atlantic Region

The Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) announces the availability of awards that: support access to health information for libraries, consumers, health professionals, and in particular those reaching underserved populations; enhance the capacity of libraries to share resources, strengthen network member librarians’ skills in the use of NLM databases; and increase the visibility of the NN/LM and NLM products and services.

Awards are for network members to conduct or obtain training, host conferences, and conduct outreach that raises the awareness of health information resources available to health professionals, consumers, and librarians.

Deadline for applications for all awards is March 30, 2007.

Training Awards

For members to support hosting a workshop, technology fair or forum, or other professional educational activity that will assist network members in developing their skills and knowledge, and enhance their abilities as participants in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). Multiple awards to a single institution are possible.

Online Training Development Awards

For members to support the development of instructional programs that improve the knowledge and skills of librarians, health care providers, and other groups. Courses are to be delivered over the web. Access to the web technology is available through MAR.

Online Training Awards

For members to support online instruction that will assist network members in developing their skills and knowledge, and enhance their abilities as participants in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM).

Exhibit Awards

For members’ participation at venues that promote health information resources. Funds support registration and fees, travel, and related expenses. Members can promote their local library resources while promoting the National Library of Medicine.

Outreach Conference Awards

To fund two conferences: one on health disparities and one on health literacy. The goal of these awards is to identify regional issues in health disparities and information literacy by involving key players, including staff of public and health sciences libraries, community- or faith-based organizations, and research institutes that can inform,educate, and potentially build partnerships within the region.

For more information, or to apply for an award go to: http://nnlm.gov/mar/funding/

Here’s just a reminder that DOCLINE routing will NOT be affected by the President’s Day holiday on Monday, February 19^th. While the National Library of Medicine and the Middle Atlantic Region’s offices will both be closed, DOCLINE will route requests as normal. This means that libraries will receive requests on Monday and that any requests entered on Monday will route to libraries on Monday.

If you have questions or concerns about how your President’s Day schedule will affect DOCLINE, please contact Miguel Figueroa at figueroa@library.med.nyu.edu.

The DOCLINE Team announced today that Internet Explorer 7.0 and Firefox 2.0 are now supported for DOCLINE. Other browsers currently supported for use with DOCLINE are Internet Explorer 6.x, Firefox 1.5.x, and Netscape 7.1.

Customers using a third party product to interface with DOCLINE should check with their vendor for compatibility with these two browsers and the third party product prior to upgrading (e.g., ILLiad, QuickDoc, Relais or Clio).

Any users upgrading their browsers or using a new PC should verify that their browser settings are correct. See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/docline/system_requirements.html#browser for links to all supported browsers.

Users encountering problems using either Internet Explorer 7.0 or Firefox 2.0 and DOCLINE should send a message to NLM via the Contact Us link within DOCLINE or email custserv@nlm.nih.gov.

With the added support of Internet Explorer 7, NLM will end support for Internet Explorer 5.5 at the end of February (Microsoft ended support for IE 5.5 on December 31, 2005). Internet Explorer 5.5 users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, or Firefox 2.0.

In November 2006, Mozilla announced that it is ending Firefox 1.5 support on April 24, 2007. NLM will end support for Firefox 1.5 at the same time. Firefox users are encouraged to upgrade to Firefox 2 .0 before the April 24, 2007 support end date.

February is American Heart Month, and the RML is participating in National Woman’s Heart Day! The Sister to Sister Foundation organizes this annual free health fair, which includes free screenings on heart disease risks.

The RML will be exhibiting at National Women’s Heart Day. We will be talking with attendees about MedlinePlus as an information tool for heart health. Volunteers are welcome! If you would like to join us, please contact Arpita Bose (arpita.bose [at] library.med.nyu.edu or 212-263-4176). If you would like to publicize this event at your institution, you can contact Arpita for a PDF of the event flyer.

National Women’s Heart Day–New York will be held Friday, February 16, 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, at Madison Square Garden.