Partners in Health, co- founded by Paul Farmer, is an organization dedicated to bringing quality health care to poor citizens of the world. They have responded to the crisis in Haiti, gathering information about ground conditions and responding to the area’s most pressing medical and health needs. They are seeking surgeons, nurses, and medical personnel to volunteer in the relief effort. If you are a health professional that would like to contribute, please send an email to volunteer@pih.org with information on your credentials, language capabilities (Haitian Creole or French desired), availability, and contact information. For updated information on the Partners in Health relief effort in Haiti, please visit their website.
News
Health Professionals Called to Volunteer in Haiti
Health.data.gov: there’s gold in them there data
Data.gov opened in May 2009 as an important new open government initiative, offering “to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.”
This week, Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, introduced a new health community on data.gov. Health.data.gov (a/k/a HealthData.gov) is designed to be a clearinghouse for open federal health-related datasets from a wide variety of agencies, including the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food & Drug Administration, the National Library of Medicine, and more.
These datasets represent a potential goldmine for researchers in many areas of health and health services. The tools collected at health.data.gov also include APIs (application programming interfaces) created by the National Library of Medicine that allow programmers to create new and useful tools that leverage the valuable data from federal services like ClinicalTrials.gov and MedlinePlus.gov in new and innovative ways.
HHS Launches Action Plan to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Health Disparities
From the announcement: “Goals of the HHS Action Plan include transforming health care and expanding access, building on the provisions of the Affordable Care Act related to expanded insurance coverage and increased access to care. The plan also calls for more opportunities to increase the number of students from populations underrepresented in the health professions, train more people in medical interpretation to help serve patients with a limited command of English, and train community workers to help people navigate the system.”
Hispanic Heart Health discussed at the AHA Scientific Sessions
A recent study indicates that significant percentages of Hispanics have borderline high or high total cholesterol, low levels of good cholesterol, and borderline high or high levels of triglycerides. The study, which was based on the results of the 2007 Summer Heart Health Campaign survey and screening of almost 3,000 Hispanics in four cities (Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Miami, FL; and New York/New Jersey metro area), was released at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions. The recent survey and screening effort is part of the Alliance’s Para un corazón saludable (translation: For a healthy heart) campaign. The campaign, led by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (http://www.hispanichealth.org/), and sponsored by an educational grant from AstraZeneca was launched to improve awareness and understanding of heart disease risk factors, including high cholesterol, in Hispanic communities. Leading Hispanic cardiologists will convene for the inaugural Hispanic Cardiologist Leadership Network meeting at the AHA 2007 Scientific Sessions to discuss these and other issues critical to the improvement of heart health among Hispanics.
Impact of nursing shortage in Del Rio
Doctors and administrators both acknowledge that a shortage of nursing staff exists at Val Verde Regional Medical Center, but they disagree on the effects — and what should be done. Article from the Del Rio News Herald.
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.
Like brisket? It’s good for you.
If you’re a fan of Texas barbecue, you may be doing yourself a healthy favor. A recent report from Texas A&M University revealed that brisket could be the healthiest cut of beef due to ‘depots’ or tiny reservoirs of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that exist in the meat. See the full report at http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=458.
Look What’s Coming in February and March, 2013!
ABCD Workshop
Asset Based Community Development
Bringing Together: UT Health Science Center researchers, public health workers, area health professionals, community health workers (Promotores), public and academic librarians, Area Health Education Center Translational Advisory Boards (TABS), community health organizations, and more …
+++ More Information coming next month +++
Two Workshop Locations:
UTHSC San Antonio, TX: Thursday, February 21, 2013 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. segerp@uthscsa.edu
UTHSC Harlingen, TX: Thursday, March 7, 2013 9A.M. to 12:00 Noon. reynag@uthscsa.edu
Please email if you are interested in attending
[Meeting Locations – TBD]
Lotería de salud #11: La estrella
Bueno, después de un descanso imprevisto, regresamos de nuevo con ¡la lotería de salud! Esta semana nos toca “la estrella” — porque aquí en el Sur de Texas está para llegar un evento anual muy importante: la Operación “Lone Star”.
Este año 2008 marca el décimo año para este programa cooperativo de las Fuerzas Armadas de Texas, la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos, y muchos otros voluntarios. Durante dos semanas — del 28 de julio hasta el 8 de agosto — el programa ofrecerá servicios médicos, servicios dentales, e información sobre salud, totalmente gratuitos a toda la comunidad, en ocho lugares en siete condados del Sur de Texas.
En este comunicado de prensa en español de la Senadora Judith Zaffirini, se explica la Operación Lone Star del año pasado 2007, mientras este comunicado de prensa en inglés y este artículo del Rio Grande Guardian explican los planes para el programa este año. Pero las preguntas más importantes son: ¿dónde y cuándo? Estos son los detalles importantes, y si hace clic en los enlaces, encontrará mapas a los lugares de servicio:
Clínicas abiertas desde el 28 de julio hasta el 1° de agosto:
Brownsville: Raul A Besteiro Middle School, 6280 Southmost Road
Mission/La Joya: Cesar Chavez Middle School, Expressway 83 and Showers Road
Raymondville: Raymondville High School, One Bearkat Lane
San Juan: PSJA High School, 805 W. Ridge Road
Clínicas abiertas desde el 4 de agosto hasta el 8 de agosto:
Laredo: United South High School, 4001 Avenida Los Presidentes
Rio Grande City: Fort Ringgold Middle School, Fort Ringgold Campus
Zapata: Zapata Middle School, 17th Avenue and Carla Street
Clínica abierta desde el 6 de agosto hasta el 8 de agosto:
Hebbronville: Hebbronville Middle School, 910 N. Willhelma
Este es una oportunidad y un programa muy importante — ¡qué corra la noticia!
Lotería de salud #12: La garza
Esta semana en la lotería de salud, “llegaron los picos largos de la feria de San Juan…” así es ¡¡¡la garza!!! Y el tema de salud que nos trae la garza es el tema del agua limpia, el agua potable.
El agua potable es una necesidad para la salud de todos, y aunque por lo general en Texas tenemos fuentes de agua potable muy saludables, es importante entender de dónde viene el agua que toma usted, y qué son las condiciones que pueden afectar su salubridad.
Para una introducción, recomendamos este sitio de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA): “El agua potable y la salud: lo que usted debe saber”. También la página “Agua potable” de medlineplus.gov ofrece mucha información y enlaces importantes.
Por supuesto un desastre natural — como el huracán Dolly que afectó al Valle esta semana pasada — puede cambiar rapidamente la estabilidad del sistema de agua potable. Según esta nota que salió sobre las 5 de la tarde ayer, hay varias partes del Valle donde se está recomendando hervir el agua antes de tomarla, para prevenir enfermedades llevadas por el agua debido a las inundaciones y otros problemas que trajeron el huracán:
- North Alamo Water Supply Corporation (incluye partes de Donna, Weslaco, Elsa, Edcouch y La Blanca)
- La Villa
- Laguna Madre Water Supply (incluye la Isla del Padre Sur, Military Highway WSC, los que reciben agua de la planta Las Rusias)
- Sebastian Municipal Utility District
- Lyford
- Primera
- Port Mansfield
- Santa Rosa
Si usted vive en una de esas zonas o conoce a alguien que allí vive, es importante que verifique con las autoridades (su proveedor de agua) que el agua está buena para tomar; si no, debería hervirla al menos un minuto antes de tomarla.
