The emergence of several new human Swine Flu cases reported in the media has generated a good deal of publicity. Here are some CDC and WHO information resources that are frequently updated with Swine Flu outbreak and mitigation developments:

CDC web page on Swine Flu. This site is kept updated with recent facts and status on Swine Flu. There is a link on the page to the facts and figures about the current investigation. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with a newly discovered swine influenza A (swine flu) virus. http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1.html.

Transcript of the April 26 CDC Briefing on Public Health Investigation of Human Cases of Swine Influenza: http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/download.asp?af=h&f=11270&s_cid=cs_000_sw

A transcript of the April 24 press briefing about the Swine Flu situation is located at: http://www.cdc.gov/media/transcripts/2009/t090424.htm?s_cid=tw_epr_53

A new Swine Flu topic page on MedlinePlus is now live at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/swineflu.html

You can also add the following RSS feed on Swine Flu to your feed reader to get regular updates: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/rss/?s_cid=tw_epr_54

Latest CDC Health Advisory
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/pdf/HAN_042509.pdf

Information updates from World Health Organization http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

From NYC Health Dept - Chart: steps required to confirm suspected cases of swine flu
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr015-09.shtml

Recent articles in the MMWR on swine flu in California: Update: Swine Influena A (H1N1) Infections - - California and Texas, April 2009 MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Apr 24; 58(Dispath);1-3.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58d0424a1.htm

Swine Influenza A (H1N1) infection in two children–Southern California, March-April 2009 MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Apr 24;58(15):400-2.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58d0421a1.htm

Swine Flu guidance documents for clinicians and public health professionals: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance/

HHS Swine Flu widget: http://www.hhs.gov/web/library/index.html

Three ways to stay current on Swine Flu and Avian Influenza News events:

1. RSS Feed: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/32957440.rss
2. Website: http://aidailydigest.blogspot.com/
3. Twitter: Go http://twitter.com and sign up. Once logged in, open
   another tab go to http://search.twitter.com/ search for “AIDigest” and
   click follow.”

CDC also has a Twitter feed that contains updates on the Swine Flu: http://twitter.com/cdcemergency

Representatives from three popular vendors will be demonstrating changes and enhancements to their electronic resources for SE/A hospital librarians.

Tuesday April 28, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Journals@Ovid
Speaker: Jenna Huson

Wednesday April 29, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. (EST)
Elsevier
Speaker: Garrett Meyer

Thursday April 30, 2009
12 noon to 1 p.m. (EST)
Cinahl on Ebscohost
Speaker: TBD

To join go to: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/bbb/
Enter as a Guest
Sign in with your first and last name

For more information on how to use Adobe Connect, please use this link - http://www.adobe.com/resources/acrobatconnect/

NLM has announced applied informatics grants for health-related and scientific organizations that aim to optimize the utility and use of clinical and research information. These grants are for organizations that wish to exploit the capabilities of information technology to bring usable, useful biomedical knowledge to end users by translating the findings of informatics and information science research into practice through novel or enhanced systems and services. NLM anticipates making 35 awards and spending approximately 800,000.00 to support this program. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. For the full opportunity, visit the (http://www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-LM-09-001.html) National Institutes of Health website.

The closing date for applications is July 1, 2009.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the nation’s primary resource for biomedical information in all formats and is the world’s largest research library in a single scientific and professional field. The History of Medicine division (HMD) is a major component of NLM’s Library Operations program area. HMD is responsible for NLM’s historical collections of monographs and journals as well as manuscripts, archives, images, web sites, and historical audiovisuals. In addition, HMD staff provides technical and customer service to support research and scholarship in the history of medicine and conduct historical research. The Division develops and manages an interactive and innovative onsite and web exhibition program, travels exhibitions to libraries across America, and supports the use of K-12 curriculum materials associated with exhibitions.

The Deputy Chief, HMD shares responsibility for and participates fully with the Chief in directing and managing all activities of HMD, which has three Section Heads, several technical experts, and a total staff of 40 employees.

The complete vacancy announcement, along with mandatory qualifications, requirements, and application procedures, can be accessed via internet link: http://www.usajobs.gov (Announcement Numbers NLM-09-334228-DE {for candidates without prior Federal employment history} and NLM-09-334228-MP {for candidates with prior Federal employment history}). The salary range is $102,721.00 - 133,543.00 USD per year. Applicants must be US Citizens.

For questions, contact Susan Burns at burnss@mail.nih.gov or by calling 301-496-3661. Applications must be received before midnight Eastern Daylight Time, May 22, 2009.

Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
Director
National Library of Medicine

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Milton Corn, M.D., as NLM Deputy Director for Research and Education.

Prior to joining the NLM, Dr. Corn served with distinction in numerous top leadership positions at Georgetown University including Dean of the School of Medicine. Since 1990, as NLM Associate Director for Extramural Programs, Dr. Corn has led the Library’s Division of Extramural Programs in an exemplary manner, establishing numerous collaborations with other agencies and organizations that have expanded informatics research and training opportunities. Dr. Corn creatively modified NLM’s Training Program in Biomedical Informatics to keep pace with developments in biomedical computing. At present the 18 NLM training grants (involving 27 academic medical centers)offer tracks in clinical care informatics, bioinformatics, public health and health services research informatics and the informatics of clinical and translational research and supports over 250 pre- and post-doctoral trainees. As administrator of the largest Federal programs for training in informatics and for a significant share of the research grants available to informatics scientists, Dr. Corn has become nationally and internationally known as an expert in research directions in biomedical informatics.

As you know, Dr. Corn brings rich experience, leadership, and talent - as well as a world class sense of humor - to the position of Deputy Director for Research and Education, where he will serve as principal medical advisor on research and development and medical education priorities for the NLM. Dr. Corn will provide direction and advice on the full range of NLM’s intramural and extramural research portfolio.

Click here to register for the conference.

Individual Registration - $195 (late registration May 1 at $295);
Government employees complimentary

Friends of the National Library of Medicine
2009 Annual Conference

Personal Electronic Health Records:
From Biomedical Research to People’s Health
May 20 - 21, 2009

National Institutes of Health, Natcher Conference Center
9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland

Reflecting the NIH mission, the National Library of Medicine and the non-profit Friends of the NLM have organized this conference to develop and promote new information and knowledge regarding the critical and recent developments in health information technology. The conference is structured to offer cross-cutting perspectives from government, industry, health centers and research, and to align closely with the priorities of the current Administration around the development and widespread implementation of personal electronic health records. Please visit www.fnlm.org for additional information on the conference.

Please find a selection of sessions and speakers listed below:

• Electronic Health Record and Economic Recovery David Cutler, PhD, Harvard University
• Biomedical Research and Electronic Health Record George Hripcsak, MD, MS, Columbia University
• Our Search for the Best Personal Health Electronic Health Record Alfred Spector, PhD, Google
• Health Records and Systems Interoperability Daniel S. Pelino, IBM and Dan Drawbaugh, UPMC
• Microsoft Experience with Electronic Health Records James Mault, MD, FACS, Microsoft Health Solutions Group
• Patient Access to Electronic Health Records Rich Umbdenstock, FACHE, American Hospital Association
• New Initiatives in Personalized Health Information Clement McDonald, MD, National Library of Medicine
• Ethical and Legal Issues of Personal Health Records Arthur Caplan, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
• If We Were Starting Now: What is Needed for the Electronic Health Record of the Future? Donald Lindberg, MD, National Library of Medicine

Conference Co-Chairs:

Andrew Balas, MD, PhD- Dean, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University

Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, MSHA, FACP, FACMI - Chief Medical Officer and President, Clinical Services, HCA, Inc.

For more information, please contact Sarah Pease at 202.719.8060 or spease@oai-usa.com.

Friday, April 17 is the deadline for applying for an outreach project in the May, 2009-April 2010 contract year.  If you are interested, please see http://nnlm.gov/sea/funding/outreach.html.  If all approved budget funding is not used, we will have another call sometime during the contract year but don’t delay, all money could be obligated by the end of May.  Full proposals will not due unless your project application is accepted.

Express awards will be open for applications sometime in May. These awards fund smaller outreach projects and various technology, training, exhibit, digitization projects.

If you have questions, please call one of the outreach coordinators in the SE/A Office - 1-800-338-7657.

Job Posting: Network Services Coordinator
Network Services Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region
NYU Health Sciences Libraries seeks to fill the position of Network Services Coordinator for the Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The mission of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public’s access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. The Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) office serves NN/LM members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Overall Responsibilities
The Network Services Coordinator plans and organizes resource sharing and network programs in consultation with the MAR Resource Sharing Committee. Manages the DOCLINE program of the Region, offering training and consultation. Ensures compliance with all NLM requirements for members using DOCLINE and LinkOut. Reports to RML Associate Director.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Administers the DOCLINE and LinkOut programs of the NN/LM for the Region ensuring accuracy of the member information in the directory. Sees that membership certificates are distributed in a timely manner;
2. Staffs the MAR Resource Sharing Committee and encourages their participation in the development of region-wide resource sharing efforts;
3. Trains all RML staff on the fundamentals of DOCLINE and interlibrary loan, so they can answer basic questions from members;
4. Works five hours per month in a network member’s Document Delivery or interlibrary loan department;
5. Develops training programs using Adobe Connect, online tutorials and simple printed instructions for training staff in a variety of libraries on use of the DOCLINE and LinkOut systems; provides individual or group consultation on use of DOCLINE and LinkOut if needed;
6. Encourages use of EFTS and helps problem solve with librarians who cannot use it, due to technical or administrative problems;
7. Is training point of contact with other RMLs and the National Library of Medicine’s staff to be expert on current and upcoming system changes or technology developments in areas affecting resource sharing. Attends monthly teleconferences and provides regular feedback to NLM on problems or concerns of MAR members in regard to resource sharing;
8. Organizes user testing of new technologies and systems for NLM if requested;
9. Participates in all RML staff activities including exhibits, state liaison efforts, network member questions, implementation of region-wide programs including but not limited to Emergency Preparedness and Historical Collections and in offering training;
10. Develops and manage the NN/LM MAR RML Consultants program;
11. Develops a program to recruit new members, including a recruitment kit;
12. Oversees the annual contact process to ensure that the appropriate information is gathered and compiled;
13. Develops and implements a region-wide member recruitment program for public libraries;
14. Other related duties as required.

Skills and Requirements
MLS and at least 5 years experience in health sciences libraries. Knowledge of DOCLINE, LinkOut and related technology and cataloging issues preferred. Excellent communications, project management and team skills.
Salary begins at $60,000, with the NYU Medical Center benefits package. S/he is considered an employee of the New York University School of Medicine, which is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Information on the Middle Atlantic Region of the NN/LM is at http://nnlm.gov/mar/.

Applicants should send their resume and a letter of application to:
Ms. Terry Serra
NYU Health Sciences Libraries
NYU Langone Medical Center
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Fax: (212) 263-6534
HSL_jobs@med.nyu.edu
http://library.med.nyu.edu

by Martha Pedigo, librarian
Gateway Medical Center Health Science Library, Clarksville, TN

Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, Tennessee has been a Community Health Systems hospital since Fall 2007.  Interested in identifying other hospitals in the system that provide medical library services, I obtained a list of CHS Hospitals and searched for each one in DOCLINE, the National Library of Medicine’s automated interlibrary loan (ILL) request routing and referral service.  When CHS libraries were located, I noted contact information and called to introduce myself.  I developed an email list to provide a quick way to communicate with other libraries’ staff members.

A natural progression was to consider forming a DOCLINE Group among participating CHS libraries.   I contacted Beth Wescott at our Regional Medical Library (Southeastern Region) to discuss technical aspects of forming a new Group.  We would need a minimum of 11 members and all agree to keep our holdings list in DOCLINE current.  I developed a brief survey to send to each library asking such questions as delivery capabilities (fax and/or scan), number of subscriptions, cell placement preference, etc.  Once everyone returned their information to me I sent LIBIDs to Beth along with what we wanted to be called…CHSL (Community Health Systems Libraries) and voilà! We are now a Library Group in DOCLINE flocking together with 12 members!

Benefits of being part of a group are the usual.  Although most of us may have never actually met, we can offer support and exchange ideas, drawing on common experiences.  We can help one another with interlibrary loans and other services.   As the English version of the phrase goes, attributed to William Turner in 1545, birds of a feather flock and fly together…or… like seeks like to congregate.

Members of the CHSL Flock:
Lutheran Hospital Medical Library, Fort Wayne, IN
Chestnut Hill Health System Medical Library, Philadelphia, PA
Vista Medical Center East Medical Library, Waukegan, IL
Gadsden Regional Medical Center Education/Library Services, Gadsden, AL
Porter Valparaiso Hospital Medical Library, Valparaiso, IN
Affinity Medical Center Medical Library, Massillon, OH
Southside Regional Medical Center Medical Library, Petersburg, VA
Deaconess Hospital Medical Library, Oklahoma City, OK
Easton Hospital Frank J. D’Agostino M.D. Medical Library, Easton, PA
Brandy Hospital Health Sciences Library, Coatesville, PA
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Medical Staff Library, Pottstown, PA
Gateway Medical Center Health Science Library, Clarksville, TN

This past October, the Medical Library Association (MLA) held its annual National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM) observance, which celebrates the contributions and importance of health sciences information professionals and provides them with the opportunity to market their libraries.

Rosa Edwards and the Bell-Pittman Library Resource Center at Wilson Medical Center (NCUWMW) in Wilson, NC earned second place honors for their Indiana Jones-themed campaign. The library staff created brochures, bookmarks, flyers, newsletters, and even modeled their quality service report using an archaeological twist on the “Dig Deep” theme. A variety of events were held at the library including lectures, computer training sessions, a special cinema night, and an open house complete with archaeological props such as shovels, bones, creepy crawlers, lanterns, and buried treasure. The Bell-Pittman Library is no stranger to NMLM awards, they also placed first in the 2006 NMLM Creative Promotions Contest with their “Everything Under the Sun!” campaign. The sunny theme was successfully integrated throughout the library’s celebration. They garnered third place in 2007.

Keep up the good work Rosa and staff.