DSHS issues guidelines for staph
infection prevention
The Texas Department of State Health Services has released
new guidelines to help prevent the spread of staphylococcal
infections. The guidelines, “Prevention and Containment
of Staphylococcal Infections in Communities,” include
checklists for athletic departments, schools, child care settings,
dormitories, group homes, gyms and spas, homes, salons, workplaces
and youth camps.
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as “staph,”
are bacteria that can cause skin infections that are often
initially mistaken for insect or spider bites. Staph bacteria
are spread through person-to-person contact or contact with
contaminated surfaces.
To learn more about staph infections or to view the complete
set of guidelines on how to avoid them, visit www.mrsaTexas.org.
New campaign encourages Texans
to prepare for any emergency
Ready or not, disasters happen. Do you have a plan?
DSHS has launched a statewide emergency preparedness campaign to help Texans prepare for emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, terrorist attacks, and disease outbreaks.
Key to the Ready or Not? HAVE A PLAN campaign is a new interactive Web site, TexasPrepares.org for English and TexasPrepara.org in Spanish, where Texans can create a family emergency plan, build a customized disaster supplies list and get information about the threats we face.
DSHS encourages all Texans to get ready. Go online today and make your plan.
Commissioner Lakey testifies in Washington, D.C.
On September 26, Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner, testified
in Washington, D.C. before the House of Representatives Subcommittee
on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology.
His testimony on the progress and challenges Texas faces in
preparing for and responding to a pandemic outbreak addressed
how DSHS has taken an “all-hazards” approach to
its emergency preparedness during a public health crisis.
A recorded video and copy of Dr. Lakey’s statement can
be found at http://homelandsecurity.house.gov/hearings/index.asp?ID=89.
Texas receives $7 million in new grants for federally qualified
health centers
The federal Human Resources and Services Administration has
awarded 14 Texas communities more than $7 million in new grants
for federally qualified health centers to improve access to
primary health care.
The three award categories are: High Poverty County New Access
Points ($5.4M), High Poverty County Planning ($77K), and New
Access Points ($1.7M). Many of these centers are funded through
the DSHS FQHC Incubator Grant Program, which provides $5 million
each year for the expansion and development of the federally
qualified health centers. Funds will be used to expand medical,
dental and mental health services, hire grant writers, and
receive technical assistance and training. Additional details
about the awards can be found at http://newsroom.hrsa.gov/releases/2007/healthcentergrants.htm
or by contacting the Texas Primary Care Office at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chpr/.
New online training and continuing education credits available
for Texas Health Steps providers
Texas Health Steps takes a big leap with new online training
modules and an updated website. Health providers throughout
Texas can take online courses on subjects ranging from adolescent
health screening and case management to nutrition and mental-health
screening. Continuing education credits can be awarded to
eligible participants after the successful completion of each
module. The free, self-paced, web-based training modules are
about one hour long. Signing up is simple and fast. More than
1,000 health-care providers have already completed an online
class. For more information on the classes, visit http://txhealthsteps.com.
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Organ Donor Registration
DSHS
has launched a new Web site with information about organ donation
and instructions for registering as an organ donor online.
More than 7,000 people are waiting for life-saving organs in Texas.
The registry helps streamline the donation process and makes it
easier for Texans to register as organ, tissue and eye donors.
Glenda Dawson Donate Life
-- Texas Registry
News Release
Legislature expands breast and cervical cancer screening program
Effective Sept. 1, House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 10, passed by the
80th Texas Legislature, will expand the DSHS Breast and Cervical Cancer
Screening program and the Medicaid Treatment Act under HHSC. More
women will have access to screening for breast and cervical cancer
and qualified individuals will have access to treatment. Read more
here: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/bcccs/default.shtm.
Suicide prevention activities under way
DSHS, the Texas Suicide Prevention Council, and Mental Health America
in Texas have launched a new website, www.texassuicideprevention.org.
This site will provide suicide prevention information, including
suicide warning signs and guidance on helping someone in crisis.
A suicide prevention toolkit is available at
http://www.mhatexas.org/2006SuicidePreventToolkitUPDATE.htm.
This effort, through the federally funded Texas Youth Suicide Prevention
Project, will also provide suicide-prevention training in counties
that have the state’s highest incidence of suicide among 15-
to 24-year-olds. In August, the project will launch prevention services
for military dependents in San Antonio. Additional
information can be found here.
WIC continues rollout of electronic-benefits transfer
The
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC) continues to implement electronic-benefits transfer (EBT)
to provide nutritious foods to participants. WIC clinics and grocers
in 25 counties are preparing to use the EBT cards in August at more
than 100 grocers. When implementation is complete, EBT benefits
will be available in about one-fourth of Texas counties and issued
to about 150,000 of the 900,000 WIC clients served each month. For
more details visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/ebt/ebt1.shtm
Last Updated October 29, 2007
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