Data Resources for H1N1 Surveillance

Need information about new H1N1 cases? Surveillance data is being posted online as the flu season develops.

The CDC collects and publishes national and regional data online on a weekly basis at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

NC collects county and state data online on a weekly basis at:
http://www.flu.nc.gov/epi/gcdc/flu2009.html

Get Text Updates on H1N1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just launched an H1N1 flu mobile texting pilot!

You may sign up now to have CDC information about H1N1 flu and other topics delivered directly to your mobile phone!

In September 2009, CDC launched a three-month text messaging campaign pilot to share important, timely health information directly to users.

To subscribe to the pilot, text HEALTH to 87000.

Subscribers can expect to receive about three health messages a week during the three-month pilot. Standard text messaging rates will apply. For more information about the pilot, visit http://www.cdc.gov/mobile.

A case study of medical grand rounds: are we using effective methods?

BACKGROUND:Grand rounds are a time-honored continuing medical education activity that is intended to keep doctors current and competent. In addition, health care leaders and medical educators often rely on grand rounds to change physician behavior and improve patient outcomes. However, the extent to which grand rounds programs are consistent with evidence-based educational practices is unknown.
METHOD: The authors used an instrumental case study approach in 2007 to determine whether one grand rounds program, such as medical grand rounds held at a U.S. academic medical center, adhered to well-accepted educational practices. Qualitative data collected from program planners, presenters, and participants via structured observations, key informant interviews, and a focus-group session allowed an assessment of consistency with five evidence-based practices. The authors used an intensive, inductive approach to analyze data to determine the extent to which the medical grand rounds program incorporated the five practices.
RESULTS: Studied during 2007, this traditional medical grand rounds program only minimally reflected the five evidence-based educational practices of needs assessment, multifaceted intervention strategy, sequencing, interaction, and commitment to change. Authors found grand rounds sessions to be slide-driven, passive presentations reflecting a broad range of subspecialty topics. Opportunities for questions were limited, and audience attendance was inconsistent and varied, particularly for nonfaculty participants.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified important opportunities for improving a specific grand rounds program and for researching similar examples of this common, traditional educational forum for physicians.

Source: Van Hoof TJ, Monson RJ, Majdalany GT, Giannotti TE, Meehan TP. A case study of medical grand rounds: are we using effective methods? Acad Med. 2009 Aug;84(8):1144-51. PubMed PMID: 19638786.

Community Reads Together

Copies of Something for the Pain are available at the Medical Center Library!

Durham County Library has selected "Something for the Pain" by Durham resident Dr. Paul Austin for Durham Reads Together 2009, the library's bi-annual community-wide reading event. The book, which Library Journal calls "a definite page-turner and a riveting debut," is a deeply-felt and deftly rendered first-person account of the life of an ER doctor.

Durham County Library encourages everyone to read the book in preparation for programs and events (listed online) throughout the month of October. Durham Reads Together will conclude with a Meet the Author event on Sunday, November 1 at 3:00 pm at the Doris Duke Center in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 426 Anderson St., Durham. All Durham Reads Together programs are free and open to the public. For more information about the book, the author, and events and programs, visit www.durhamcountylibrary.org/drt. Durham Reads Together 2009 is sponsored by the Friends of the Durham Library.

With support from the Friends of the Durham Library, Durham County Library has purchased more than 200 additional copies of Something for the Pain to ensure that the book circulates easily throughout the community.

Now that the title has been announced, everyone in Durham - individuals, community organizations, businesses, book groups, high school and college students, healthcare workers and members of the faith community - is encouraged to read and discuss the book, and attend programs in October.

This is the third Durham Reads Together project coordinated by the Durham County Library. In 2005 the book featured was James McBride's The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. In 2007 Durham Reads Together featured Darcy Frey's The Last Shot.

Durham County Library provides the entire community with books, services and other resources that inform, inspire learning, cultivate understanding and excite the imagination. For more information about the library, visit us online at www.durhamcountylibrary.org

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science,Magic, and Medicine

Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine
September 2 - October 2
Durham County Main Library
300 N. Roxboro St

Organized by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, this traveling exhibit explores the link between the Harry Potter novels and the history of science. The exhibition tour is coordinated by the American Library Association Public Programs Office, Chicago.

Related materials from the Medical Center Library's Trent Collection will also be on display.

Sponsored by the Durham County Main Library and the Duke Medical Center Library

EndNote Classes

Learn how to organize references, create bibliographies, and work with manuscripts. Thursday, Sept. 17th; 12-1 pm and Tuesday, Sept. 22nd; 5:30-6:30 pm (Rm 104 Lower Level)

DHTS Announces Epocrates Changes

Epocrates users take note: DHTS is not renewing the site license for the Epocrates premium products. Existing licenses will still be valid for 1 year from date renewed / initiated.

The original notice from DHTS follows:
Please Note! Beginning Thursday, October 1, 2009, Duke Health Technology Solutions will migrate from the Epocrates Essentials Suite of applications to the free mobile products offered by Epocrates: Epocrates Rx, MobileCME, Epocrates Medtools, and Epocrates Mobile Resource Center. When your existing Epocrates Essentials license expires, on your next sync, you should automatically switch over to the free Epocrates Products. New or renewed licenses before September 30, 2009, will be valid for one year from the date of initiation.

For those requesting Epocrates for the first time after September 30, you will need to go to the Epocrates Website, https://www.epocrates.com/products/rx/ , and walk through the steps to download the free Epocrates Mobile applications. If you are interested in any of the additional features available through Epocrates, you will need to purchase those applications through Epocrates.

Finally, if you have any additional questions, you should first contact your Local LAN Administrator. Mobile Computing will also provide a link to the Epocrates Website as well on our home page, pda.duhs.duke.edu.

Against the Odds Exhibit Reception 9/3/09

This traveling exhibit highlights the role of communities in improving health at home and around the world. On display until Sept 11th; 1st Stack Level

Exhibit Reception: September 3rd from 5:30 - 7:00 pm