ASPPH Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals
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January 26, 2021 from 1-2pm EST. The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) is in the process of reviewing and revising the Core Competencies, and this virtual meeting is an opportunity for faculty and staff of schools and programs of public health to provide feedback on how the Core Competencies can better serve the public health workforce.
(Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH))
Scientific and Ethical Considerations for the Inclusion of Pregnant Women in Clinical Trials; Public Meeting
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February 2, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time and February 3, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting is intended to gather industry, patient, clinician, researcher, institutional review board, ethicist, professional society and other stakeholder input on the scientific and ethical issues that surround the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials for drug development.
(U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)
An Ounce of Prevention Is Still Worth a Pound of Cure, Especially in the Time of COVID-19
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The COVID-19 pandemic has only further emphasized the importance of chronic disease prevention and care — especially because many chronic conditions increase the severity of COVID-19 outcomes. For example, cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, in addition to being among the top 10 causes of death in the United States, are also established risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)
Better Data for a Better Understanding of the Use and Safety Profile of Cannabidiol (CBD) Products
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Over a short period of time, our society has seen a rapid increase in the interest and availability of cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from cannabis. However, we still have a limited understanding of the safety profile of CBD and many other cannabis-derived compounds, including potential safety risks for people and animals. At the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we see these knowledge gaps as an opportunity to develop new ways of building the science to inform public health decisions.
(U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)
Changing Age Distribution of the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, May–August 2020
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During June–August 2020, COVID-19 incidence was highest in persons aged 20–29 years, who accounted for >20% of all confirmed cases. Younger adults likely contribute to community transmission of COVID-19. Across the southern United States in June 2020, increases in percentage of positive SARS-CoV-2 test results among adults aged 20–39 years preceded increases among those aged ≥60 years by 4–15 days.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)
Check out Healthy People 2030’s Target-Setting Tools and Target-Setting Methods Publication
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The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recently released statistical methods and analytical tools that were instrumental in setting transparent, data-driven targets for Healthy People 2030 on a national level.
(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), HHS)
Expanding Medicaid can boost preconception health
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The time before pregnancy is critical for the health of women and their newborns, and new findings show Medicaid expansion is a promising way of improving health during that period.
(The Nation's Health)
Food Insecurity Edged Back up after COVID-19 Relief Expired
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Although food insecurity improved early in the pandemic between late March/early April and mid-to-late May, after the release of stimulus checks and supplements to unemployment benefits, food hardship levels edged back up the month after COVID-19 relief expired.
(Urban Institute)
Update: How Many Americans Have Lost Jobs with Employer Health Coverage During the Pandemic?
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Continued reliance on telehealth use could exacerbate health care inequities, and the resources and technology required for telehealth may be less accessible for people with low incomes or living in rural areas.
(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF))
Get COVID-19 vaccinations for ‘high-risk’ populations underway within 100 days worldwide, Tedros urges
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There needs to be a “collective commitment” to get vaccinations underway worldwide for health workers and others who are at high risk of catching COVID-19, within the next 100 days, said the UN health agency chief.
(United Nations (UN))
HHS Invests $8 Million to Address Gaps in Rural Telehealth through the Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded $8 million to fund the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) program. The TBP program assesses the broadband capacity available to rural health care providers and patient communities to improve their access to telehealth services.
(Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS)
How States Can Meet Mental Health Needs During the Pandemic and Beyond
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States face a major challenge to ensure that mental health needs are being met — both for people whose care was disrupted and for people with new mental and behavioral health needs brought on by the pandemic.
(Commonwealth Fund)
Med societies ask that healthcare infection penalties be suspended
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Warning that persistent staff and supply shortages in hard-hit hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to disruptions that could result in an increase in drug-resistant hospital infections, the heads of three US medical professional societies last week sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting a suspension of reimbursement penalties for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
(University of Minnesota, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP))
NIH-funded project creates an encyclopedia detailing the inner workings of the human and mouse genomes
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ENCODE Project's third phase offers new insights into the organization and regulation of our genes and genome.
(National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)
North Dakota uses ‘grow your own’ strategy to address shortage in special-education teachers
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The state of North Dakota is partnering with one of its public universities to help school districts address a persistent, widespread workforce challenge — the shortage of licensed special-education teachers. Using a $750,000 grant from the state, Minot State University will create a new scholarship program that allows 20 education paraprofessionals to earn a degree in special education.
Public Meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development for Vitiligo
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On March 8, 2021, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST, FDA is hosting a virtual public meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development for Vitiligo. FDA is interested in hearing patients’ perspectives on the impact of vitiligo on daily life and patient views on treatment approaches.
(U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)
Strategic Skills Training Series: Introduction to Change Management
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Aims to help prepare public health leaders and the public health workforce to develop the practices and competencies associated with being a Chief Health Strategist.
(Public Health Foundation (PHF))
Survey of US. Doctors Reveals Challenges, Strategies for Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotic Use
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To combat antibiotic resistance threats it’s essential to improve how antibiotics are prescribed
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)
US child COVID hospital rates vary widely by state, time
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Rates of pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations have varied dramatically across US states and more than tripled from May to November, raising concerns that specialized medical resources for children may not be available at the time and place they are needed.
(University of Minnesota, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP))
US health officials cite progress against coronavirus
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The nation's leading health officials told lawmakers that the country is making some progress against the coronavirus, but they urged Americans to continue mitigation efforts as they await a vaccine.