Developed in conjunction with a special section June 22, 1997, in the New
York Times, this site (http://www.nytimes.com/specials/women/whome/)
offers articles on
29 women's health concerns, web versions of several recognized health books, an
annotated guide of links, and a search engine.
The Women's Health component of the Global Health Network (http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/GHNet/GHWomen.html) provides links to hundreds of sites on women's health issues worldwide. Links include medical associations, research projects, consumer guides, government agencies, and databases. Topics cover general women's health, aging, cancer, domestic violence, heart disease, infectious diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, nutrition and fitness, and population and reproductive health issues.
Developing Objectives for Healthy People 2010 is now available. This guide provides information on the process for developing the Nation's third set of disease prevention and health promotion objectives. It describes how individuals and organizations can get involved and provides background on the Healthy People initiative and a calendar of major milestones. $7 for a single copy; further discounts in quantities of 5 ($22), 10 ($35), 20 ($58), and 34 ($79) copies. Call (301)468-5960 to place your order. Supplies are limited.
A new public service leaflet from the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery offers advice on how to control tinnitus, which is
constant ringing or "noise in the ears." Doctor, what causes tinnitus?
outlines the causes of tinnitus and ways to cope with this disorder and lessen its
severity and includes a list of "do's and don'ts" for those with the condition.
For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to Tinnitus,
c/o American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, One Prince Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314-3357.
The Healthy Start Initiative: A Community-Driven Approach to Infant Mortality Reduction-Volume V: Collaboration with Managed Care Organizations will assist Healthy Start projects and their subcontracting service providers in developing proposals and entering into contracts with health maintenance organizations that serve Medicaid clients. The Healthy Start Initiative is a 6-year national demonstration program designed to reduce infant mortality and improve the health and well-being of women, infants, children, and families. Previous volumes in this series, which shares the lessons learned through the project, are Consortia Development; Early Implementation: Lessons Learned; Sustainability; and Community Outreach. Single copies of each volume can be obtained at no charge from the National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse, 2070 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, VA 22182-2536, or call (703)821-8955.
A clinical practice guideline, Recognition and Early Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, helps clinicians identify changes in an individual that might be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It also provides the tools needed to conduct an initial assessment when these changes or symptoms are present. Two related items, a quick reference guide for clinicians and a guide for patients and families, are available. For copies of the guideline, contact the Government Printing Office, (202) 512-1800. For copies of the quick reference and consumer guides, contact the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Publications Clearinghouse at (800) 358-9295. To find all three Alzheimer's disease guideline documents online, go to http://www.ahcpr.gov/guide/ and select "Clinical Practice Guidelines Online."
The new Teen Smoking: Pack It Up! curriculum helps educators and other youth workers build tobacco prevention programs. Ideal for nonsmokers in grades 7-12 and youth who have begun to experiment with tobacco but are not yet addicted to it, the curriculum also works as a motivating force to prepare already physically addicted youth to quit. The curriculum integrates content and skills-based learning in 18 activities and features a recipe format and reproducible handouts. Five posters for display in classrooms and other building locations reinforce the prevention message. For more information or to request a free 108-page catalog describing videos, posters, books, and other educational resources, write to The Bureau For At-Risk Youth, P.O. Box 760, Plainview, NY 11803-0760, or call (800)99-YOUTH.
A new edition of Straight Talk: Substance Abuse is available. It is part of a substance abuse module that also includes a discussion leader's guide focusing on skill building. The entire module emphasizes and reinforces drug-free values and behaviors and deals with the negative consequences of substance abuse for the individual, family, and community. The special issue contains an interview with the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and a humorous resignation memo written by Joe Camel to his boss. The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors and the National Prevention Network collaborated on the issue, with technical assistance from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, NIDA, and Join Together. Prevention specialists, Drug-Free Schools and Communities coordinators, health educators, counselors, and other youth-serving professionals may obtain a free copy by writing on their school or agency letterhead to The Learning Partnership, P.O. Box 199, Pleasantville, NY 10570, or by sending a fax to (914)769-5676.
Now you can order discounted copies of Actual Causes of Death in the United States (Inv. No. F0039), For a Healthy Nation: Returns on Investment in Public Health (Inv. No. M0016), and the fall 1996 edition of Prevention Report, which includes a list of web addresses for health information in the Healthy People 2000 priority areas (Inv. No. R0039). Bulk quantities are available in allotments of 10 ($5), 50 ($10), 100 ($15), and 500 ($25) copies for F0039 and R0039. Individual copies of M0016 are available for half price ($2.50). Call (301)468-5960. Supplies are limited.
A new exercise videotape, Pathways to Better Living with Arthritis and Related Conditions, is divided into five parts that can be done separately to provide a variety of routines, or together for one complete workout. The video presents breathing techniques, stretching exercises, an aerobic section, and a total body relaxation sequence. The exercises can be performed seated, and no special equipment is needed. For more information, call the Arthritis Foundation at (800)207-8633 and ask for item #730-9050 ($29.95 plus shipping and handling). For a free brochure on exercise, write the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 7669, Atlanta, GA 30357-0669.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will test children in central Phoenix for lead poisoning as part of a new 3-year project. The goals are to identify sick children and make sure they are helped and to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in the years ahead.
ADHS has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the first year of the project. Teams from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health Services will visit about 6,000 residences door-to-door in the target area and test an estimated 800 to 1,000 1- and 2-year-olds for elevated levels of lead. The target area is the 15-square-mile inner-city core with deteriorating older housing likely to contain lead-paint chips and dust. The county teams will leave educational materials at all homes in the area and will counsel families with children about lead poisoning risks. For children with elevated blood-lead levels, ADHS will investigate the causes and refer families to health care providers and to the City of Phoenix for lead-based-paint abatement and for application for lead-safe housing rentals.
The free Is It Time for a Heart to Heart? kit is available to groups interested in educating older adults about congestive heart failure (CHF). The kit includes a leader's guide with instructions for conducting an educational program on CHF, a 15-minute video, easy-to-read consumer brochures, and an advertising poster. To order, contact Alliance for Aging Research, 2021 K Street, NW., Suite 305, Washington, DC 20006, or call (202)293-2856.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new campaign to promote moderate physical activity among adults. The theme "It's Everywhere You Go" reinforces the fact that 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day 5 or more days a week provide health benefits and fit easily into a normal daily routine. The campaign focuses on simple ways to add physical activity, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Developed for use by health professionals and community leaders, the
campaign has sections on Marketing Strategies for Physical Activity, Working with the
Media, and Developing Physical Activity Programs and Events. Other components of the kit
include television messages featuring Olympic gold medal speed skater Dan Jansen, radio
ads, a poster, and a print ad. For more information, contact the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, MS K-46, 4770 Buford Highway, NE.,
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, or call (888)CDC-4NRG or (888)CDC-4674 (toll free). To view the
campaign materials online, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/readyset/.
Telehealth Benefits Available for Rural Health Care Beginning January 1, 1998, about 12,000 public and not-for-profit rural health care providers will be eligible to receive lower cost telecommunications for clinical, nonclinical, informational, and educational services. Eligible providers include teaching hospitals, medical schools, schools of public health, community health centers, not-for-profit hospitals, mental health centers, migrant health centers, local health departments and agencies, rural health clinics, and consortia of these entities. Current Regulations Telecommunications services in health care ("telehealth") have many uses, such as linking medical staff to their patients and professionals to their colleagues, providing continuing education, enhancing emergency notification, tracking emerging diseases, and allowing public health and medical practitioners to share information with the public or their patients. Examples of services that are eligible for benefits include:
The FCC will have application, instructional, and question-and-answer materials available in November 1997. For more information on the rural telehealth benefits and to obtain an application form, visit the FCC's telehealth web site at http://www.fcc.gov/healthnet, or call (888)CALL-FCC. Information Sources To obtain a copy of the HHS package or information about the briefing sessions, fax your request to (301)468-3028 or e-mail nhicinfo@ health.org. You may also visit the Rural Information Center Health Service (RICHS) web site at http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/richs/. |
The 1998 Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information Conferences are just around the corner-on April 28, 1998 in Washington, DC, and May 27-30 in Philadelphia, PA. A new conference web site will be open soon. For information on the previous conferences, visit http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/confrnce/partnr97/.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion now has faxback
service. Call (301)468-1204 for organizational referrals on a variety of health
topics. Call (301)468-3028 for ODPHP Healthy People 2000 publications such as National
Health Observances, Toll-Free Numbers for Health Information, and Healthy People 2000
Progress Reviews.
Select here to go to NHIC's home
page.