public health

The Clinician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers, 4th Edition is published by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) as a service to healthcare providers involved in the care of older adults. This 4th edition is an update of the 3rd edition to the current state of the literature, with a continued focus on the interprofessional nature of the team caring for an older adult driver. This edition is the result of a cooperative agreement between AGS and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Clinician’s Guide is available in two formats, a digital text accessed through your browser and a downloadable PDF.

Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on Infection Prevention for Healthcare Personnel Caring for Patients with Suspected or Known COVID-19

Bethie Seay — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 30, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Publication Date:

November 15, 2021

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

DOI (1):

10.1093/cid/ciab953

PMID (1):

34791102

Recommendations from the Infectious Disease Society of America regarding prevention of COVID-19 infection in health care professionals.

View

Background: Since its emergence in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a risk to healthcare personnel (HCP) and patients in healthcare settings. Although all clinical interactions likely carry some risk of transmission, human actions like coughing and care activities like aerosol-generating procedures likely have a higher risk of transmission. The rapid emergence and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 continues to create significant challenges in healthcare facilities, particularly with shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) used by HCP. Evidence-based recommendations for what PPE to use in conventional, contingency, and crisis standards of care continue to be needed. Where evidence is lacking, the development of specific research questions can help direct funders and investigators.

Objective: Develop evidence-based rapid guidelines intended to support HCP in their decisions about infection prevention when caring for patients with suspected or known COVID-19.

Methods: IDSA formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel including frontline clinicians, infectious disease specialists, experts in infection control, and guideline methodologists with representation from the disciplines of public health, medical microbiology, pediatrics, critical care medicine and gastroenterology. The process followed a rapid recommendation checklist. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes. Then a systematic review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations.

Results: The IDSA guideline panel agreed on eight recommendations, including two updated recommendations and one new recommendation added since the first version of the guideline. Narrative summaries of other interventions undergoing evaluations are also included.

Conclusions: Using a combination of direct and indirect evidence, the panel was able to provide recommendations for eight specific questions on the use of PPE for HCP providing care for patients with suspected or known COVID-19. Where evidence was lacking, attempts were made to provide potential avenues for investigation. There remain significant gaps in the understanding of the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and PPE recommendations may need to be modified in response to new evidence. These recommendations should serve as a minimum for PPE use in healthcare facilities and do not preclude decisions based on local risk assessments or requirements of local health jurisdictions or other regulatory bodies.

Author/s:

Lynch, J. B., Davitkov, P., Anderson, D. J., Bhimraj, A., Cheng, V. C. C., Guzman-Cottrill, J., Dhindsa, J., Duggal, A., Jain, M. K., Lee, G. M., Liang, S. Y., McGeer, A., Varghese, J., Lavergne, V., Murad, M. H., Mustafa, R. A., Sultan, S., Falck-Ytter, Y., Morgan, R. L.

The opioid crisis: a contextual, social-ecological framework

Devin Evans — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

March 3, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Health Research Policy and Systems

Publication Date:

August 6, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

URL:

The opioid crisis: a contextual, social-ecological framework

Type:

Community-Based Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1186/s12961-020-00596-8

Keywords

Opioid Use Disorder

opioids

social-ecological framework

RISEOK

Opioid Epidemic

PMID (1):

32762700

MeSH

analgesics, opioid

public health

Opioid Epidemic

opioid-related disorders

drug overdose

This resources is being added primarily for those participating in a study of opioid management in the elderly. It presents a socioecological view of the opioid crisis. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

The prevalence of opioid use and misuse has provoked a staggering number of deaths over the past two and a half decades. Much attention has focused on individual risks according to various characteristics and experiences. However, broader social and contextual domains are also essential contributors to the opioid crisis such as interpersonal relationships and the conditions of the community and society that people live in. Despite efforts to tackle the issue, the rates of opioid misuse and non-fatal and fatal overdose remain high. Many call for a broad public health approach, but articulation of what such a strategy could entail has not been fully realised. In order to improve the awareness surrounding opioid misuse, we developed a social-ecological framework that helps conceptualise the multivariable risk factors of opioid misuse and facilitates reviewing them in individual, interpersonal, communal and societal levels. Our framework illustrates the multi-layer complexity of the opioid crisis that more completely captures the crisis as a multidimensional issue requiring a broader and integrated approach to prevention and treatment.

Author/s:

Jalali, Mohammad S., Botticelli, Michael, Hwang, Rachael C., Koh, Howard K., McHugh, R. Kathryn

Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2018 for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter using multi-year outbreak surveillance data, United States

Devin Evans — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

February 24, 2021

Journal/Publication:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

December 1, 2020

URL:

Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2018 for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter using multi-year outbreak surveillance data, United States

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Article

Keywords

Foodborne Diseases

Food Safety

Salmonella

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

MeSH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

centers for disease control and prevention (U.S.)

Campylobacter

Salmonella

CDC report on the food sources of common food-born illnesses in the U.S. The Executive Summary is on page 2. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Each year in the United States an estimated 9 million people get sick, 56,000 are hospitalized, and 1,300 die of foodborne disease caused by known pathogens. These estimates help us understand the scope of this public health problem. However, to develop effective prevention measures, we need to understand the types of foods contributing to the problem. The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a tri-agency group created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). IFSAC developed a method to estimate the percentages of foodborne illness attributed to certain sources using outbreak data from 1998 through the most recent year for four priority pathogens: Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter. IFSAC described this method and the estimates for 2012 in a report, peer-reviewed journal article, and at a public meeting. IFSAC derived the estimates for 2018 using the same method used for the 2012 estimates, with some modifications. The data came from 1,459 foodborne disease outbreaks that occurred from 1998 through 2018 and for which each confirmed or suspected implicated food was assigned to a single food category. The method relies most heavily on the most recent five years of outbreak data (2014 – 2018). Foods are categorized using a scheme IFSAC created that classifies foods into 17 categories that closely align with the U.S. food regulatory agencies’ classification needs

Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Brian Desmarais — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:46:49 +0000

Date Added:

August 10, 2020

Publisher:

American Heart Association

Publication Date:

August 5, 2020

URL:

Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1161/CIR.0000000000000883.

MeSH

public health

AHA Scientific Statements

cannabinoids

cannabis

medical marijuana

A fairly extensive review of the possible benefits and harms of recreational marijuana, with an emphasis on cardiovascular effects. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Cannabis, or marijuana, has potential therapeutic and medicinal properties related to multiple compounds, particularly Δ-9- tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Over the past 25 years, attitudes toward cannabis have evolved rapidly, with expanding legalization of medical and recreational use at the state level in the United States and recreational use nationally in Canada and Uruguay. As a result, the consumption of cannabis products is increasing considerably, particularly among youth. Our understanding of the safety and ef cacy of cannabis has been limited by decades of worldwide illegality and continues to be limited in the United States by the ongoing classi cation of cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. These shifts in cannabis use require clinicians to understand conflicting laws, health implications, and therapeutic possibilities. Cannabis may have therapeutic bene ts, but few are cardiovascular in nature. Conversely, many of the concerning health implications of cannabis include cardiovascular diseases, although they may be mediated by mechanisms of delivery. This statement critically reviews the use of medicinal and recreational cannabis from a clinical but also a policy and public health perspective by evaluating its safety and ef cacy pro le, particularly in relationship to cardiovascular health.

Author/s:

Page 2nd, R.L., Allen, L.A., Kloner, K.A., Rana, J.S., Piano, R.S., Morris, A.A., Martel, C.

Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020

Brian Desmarais — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 15:21:15 +0000

Date Added:

July 29, 2020

Publisher:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

July 24, 2020

URL:

Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6930e1

MeSH

COVID-19

public health

outpatients

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Public Health Practice

Telephone

Surveys and Questionnaires

Young Adult

Adults

It often takes a long time to recover from COVID-19. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Relatively little is known about the clinical course of COVID-19 and return to baseline health for persons with milder, outpatient illness.

What is added by this report?

In a multistate telephone survey of symptomatic adults who had a positive outpatient test result for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 35% had not returned to their usual state of health when interviewed 2–3 weeks after testing. Among persons aged 18–34 years with no chronic medical conditions, one in five had not returned to their usual state of health.

What are the implications for public health practice?

COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Effective public health messaging targeting these groups is warranted.

Author/s:

Tenforde, M.W., Kim, S.S., Lindsell, C.J., Rose, E.B.

Electronic form for submission of COVID-19 specimens to the Public Health Lab

Brian Desmarais — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:23:01 +0000

Date Added:

March 16, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Oklahoma Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory

Publication Date:

March 16, 2020

URL:

Electronic form for submission of COVID-19 specimens to the Public Health Lab

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Web Page

Keywords

COVID-19

electronic form

specimens

MeSH

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

public health

Records

This is the electronic fillable form for submission of COVID-19 specimens to the Public Health Lab at the OSDH. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Not available.

Screening for Alcohol Use and Brief Counseling of Adults — 13 States and the District of Columbia, 2017

John Bayhi — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 20:31:53 +0000

Date Added:

March 14, 2020

Journal/Publication:

MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Publisher:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

March 13, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

265-270

URL:

Screening for Alcohol Use and Brief Counseling of Adults — 13 States and the District of Columbia, 2017

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.15585/mmwr.mm6910a3

Keywords

alcohol use

screening and brief intervention

alcohol SBI

binge drinking

PMID (1):

32163383

MeSH

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Public Health Practice

health personnel

Evidence-Based Medicine

insurance coverage

Telephone

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S.

Longitudinal Studies

The CDC recommends screening all adults for binge drinking with a single question and recommending reduction to those who screen positive. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

What is already known about this topic?

Binge drinking increases the risk for adverse health conditions and death. Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI), recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for all adults in primary care, is effective in reducing binge drinking.

What is added by this report?

In 2017, 81% of survey respondents were asked by their health care provider about alcohol consumption and 38% about binge drinking at a checkup in the past 2 years. Among those asked about alcohol use and who reported current binge drinking, 80% received no advice to reduce their drinking.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Implementation of alcohol SBI as recommended by USPSTF, coupled with population-level evidence-based interventions, can reduce binge drinking among U.S. adults.

Author/s:

McKnight-Eily, LR, Okoro, CA, Turay, K, Acero, C, Hungerford, D

Can We Say What Diet Is Best for Health?

John Bayhi — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 16:26:48 +0000

Date Added:

January 16, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Annual Review of Public Health

Publisher:

Annual Reviews

Publication Date:

March 1, 2014

Volume:

Pages:

83-103

URL:

Can we say what diet is best for health?

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182351

Keywords

PMID (1):

24641555

MeSH

Dietary Carbohydrates

An evidence-based review of what we currently know about what we should be eating. It appears that Michael Pollan was right when he wrote, in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, “Eat good food, not too much, mostly vegetables.” The only thing he left out was to try to avoid highly processed food of any kind. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Diet is established among the most important influences on health in modern societies. Injudicious diet figures among the leading causes of premature death and chronic disease. Optimal eating is associated with increased life expectancy, dramatic reduction in lifetime risk of all chronic disease, and amelioration of gene expression. In this context, claims abound for the competitive merits of various diets relative to one another. Whereas such claims, particularly when attached to commercial interests, emphasize distinctions, the fundamentals of virtually all eating patterns associated with meaningful evidence of health benefit overlap substantially. There have been no rigorous, long-term studies comparing contenders for best diet laurels using methodology that precludes bias and confounding, and for many reasons such studies are unlikely. In the absence of such direct comparisons, claims for the established superiority of any one specific diet over others are exaggerated. The weight of evidence strongly supports a theme of healthful eating while allowing for variations on that theme. A diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants, is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention and is consistent with the salient components of seemingly distinct dietary approaches. Efforts to improve public health through diet are forestalled not for want of knowledge about the optimal feeding of Homo sapiens but for distractions associated with exaggerated claims, and our failure to convert what we reliably know into what we routinely do. Knowledge in this case is not, as of yet, power; would that it were so.

Author/s:

Katz, DL, Meller, S

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Brian Desmarais — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:17:31 +0000

Date Added:

January 14, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Publisher:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Publication Date:

August 16, 2019

URL:

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

DOI (1):

http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6832a3

MeSH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.

Data Collection

vaccination

Papillomaviridae

clinical decision-making

public health

Papillomavirus Infections

Middle Aged

child

United States

HPV vaccination appears to be both safe and effective in adults 27-45 years of age. While the public health impact of routine HPV vaccination of adults would be small, some high-risk individuals could benefit significantly. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12 years. Catch-up recommendations apply to persons not vaccinated at age 11 or 12 years.

What is added by this report?

After reviewing new evidence, CDC updated HPV vaccination recommendations for U.S. adults.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Routine recommendations for HPV vaccination of adolescents have not changed. Catch-up HPV vaccination is now recommended for all persons through age 26 years. For adults aged 27 through 45 years, public health benefit of HPV vaccination in this age range is minimal; shared clinical decision-making is recommended because some persons who are not adequately vaccinated might benefit.

Author/s:

Meites, E., Szilagyi, P., Chesson, H.W., Unger, E.R., Romero, J.R., Markowitz, L.E.

Is It Possible to Make a Correct Diagnosis of Lyme Disease on Symptoms Alone? Review of Key Issues and Public Health Implications

John Bayhi — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 15:58:04 +0000

Date Added:

November 2, 2019

Journal/Publication:

The American Journal of Medicine

Publisher:

Elsevier, Inc.

Publication Date:

October 1, 2019

Issue:

Volume:

132

Pages:

1148-1152

URL:

Is It Possible to Make a Correct Diagnosis of Lyme Disease on Symptoms Alone? Review of Key Issues and Public Health Implications

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.04.001

Keywords

Diagnosis of Lyme disease

Lyme disease

public health implications

symptoms of Lyme disease

treatment of Lyme disease

PMID (1):

31028718

MeSH

public health

Lyme Disease

Clinical Laboratory Techniques

While Lyme disease is extremely rare in Oklahoma, I’m sure you have all encountered patients who think they have it. This is a nice review of the diagnostic tests required to confirm the diagnosis. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

There is much confusion and misinformation about the diagnosis of Lyme disease, as well as its treatment. This review explains why one cannot make a correct diagnosis of Lyme disease based on symptoms alone. It also provides evidence to support the validity of two-tier testing for the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease. The public health consequences of failing to consider these issues are discussed.

Author/s:

Baker, PJ

Pulmonary Illness Related to E-Cigarette Use in Illinois and Wisconsin - Preliminary Report

Brian Desmarais — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 20:35:44 +0000

Date Added:

September 18, 2019

Journal/Publication:

New England Journal of Medicine

Publisher:

Massachusetts Medical Society

Publication Date:

September 6, 2019

URL:

Pulmonary Illness Related to E-Cigarette Use in Illinois and Wisconsin - Preliminary Report

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1056/NEJMoa1911614

Keywords

vaping

caution

PMID (1):

31491072

MeSH

sentinel surveillance

Respiration

Artificial

Dronabinol

electronic nicotine delivery systems

Vaping

Patients should be cautioned not to vape until further information is available regarding the cause of this problem.

Free full text

View

BACKGROUND:

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid and deliver an aerosolized product to the user. Pulmonary illnesses related to e-cigarette use have been reported, but no large series has been described. In July 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health received reports of pulmonary disease associated with the use of e-cigarettes (also called vaping) and launched a coordinated public health investigation.

METHODS:

We defined case patients as persons who reported use of e-cigarette devices and related products in the 90 days before symptom onset and had pulmonary infiltrates on imaging and whose illnesses were not attributed to other causes. Medical record abstraction and case patient interviews were conducted with the use of standardized tools.

RESULTS:

There were 53 case patients, 83% of whom were male; the median age of the patients was 19 years. The majority of patients presented with respiratory symptoms (98%), gastrointestinal symptoms (81%), and constitutional symptoms (100%). All case patients had bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging (which was part of the case definition). A total of 94% of the patients were hospitalized, 32% underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation, and one death was reported. A total of 84% of the patients reported having used tetrahydrocannabinol products in e-cigarette devices, although a wide variety of products and devices was reported. Syndromic surveillance data from Illinois showed that the mean monthly rate of visits related to severe respiratory illness in June through August of 2019 was twice the rate that was observed in the same months in 2018.

CONCLUSIONS:

Case patients presented with similar clinical characteristics. Although the features of e-cigarette use that were responsible for injury have not been identified, this cluster of illnesses represents an emerging clinical syndrome or syndromes. Additional work is needed to characterize the pathophysiology and to identify the definitive causes.

Author/s:

Layden, J.E., Ghinai, I, Pray, I, Kimball, A, Layer, M, Tenforde, M, Navon, L, Hoots, B, Salvatore, PP, Elderbrook, M, Haupt, T, Kanne, J, Patel, MT, Saathoff-Huber, L, King, BA, Schier, JG, Mikosz, CA, Meiman, J

Sitting Time and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Brian Desmarais — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:31:30 +0000

Date Added:

August 19, 2019

Journal/Publication:

American Journal of Preventative Medicine

Publication Date:

August 1, 2019

URL:

Sitting Time and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.015

Keywords

physical activity

sitting

exercise

MeSH

cardiovascular diseases

You probably knew this, but perhaps it is time to address sitting behavior and well as physical activity. James W. Mold, MD. MPH

Free full text

View

Whether physical activity attenuates the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease and diabetes incidence is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease and diabetes with and without adjustment for physical activity.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION:

PubMed, Web of Science, BASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Elite, and ScienceDirect were searched for prospective studies, published between January 1, 1989, and February 15, 2019, examining the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease or diabetes outcomes. Data extraction and study quality assessments were conducted by 2 independent reviewers. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using a fixed-effects model. The quality assessment and meta-analysis procedures were completed in 2018.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS:

Nine studies with 448,285 participants were included. A higher total daily sitting time was associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (HR=1.29, 95% CI=1.27, 1.30, p<0.001) and diabetes (HR=1.13, 95% CI=1.04, 1.22, p<0.001) incidence when not adjusted for physical activity. The increased risk for diabetes was unaffected when adjusting for physical activity (HR=1.11, 95% CI=1.01, 1.19, p<0.001). For cardiovascular disease, the increased risk was attenuated but remained significant (HR=1.14, 95% CI=1.04, 1.23, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher levels of total daily sitting time are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, independent of physical activity. Reductions in total daily sitting may be recommended in public health guidelines.

Author/s:

Bailey, D.P., Hewson, D.J., Champion, R.B., Sayegh, S.M.

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Brian Desmarais — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:32:12 +0000

Date Added:

June 5, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Annals of Internal Medicine

Publisher:

American College of Physicians

Publication Date:

June 4, 2019

Issue:

Volume:

170

URL:

Preventing Firearm-Related Death and Injury

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.7326/AITC201906040

Keywords

MeSH

A comprehensive summary of what we know about firearm-associated injuries and firearm safety to support physician-initiated patient education. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Free full text

View

Deaths and injuries from firearms are significant public health problems, and clinicians are in a unique position to identify risk among their patients and discuss the importance of safe firearm practices. Although clinicians may be ill-prepared to engage in such discussions, an adequate body of evidence is available for support, and patients are generally receptive to this type of discussion with their physician. Here, we provide an overview of existing research and recommended strategies for counseling and intervention to reduce firearm-related death and injury.

Author/s:

Pallin, R., Spitzer, S.A., Ranney, M.L., Betz, M.E., Wintemute, G.J.

Integrating Community Health Workers Into Health Care Teams Without Coopting Them

Tracy Ashby — Mon, 13 May 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

May 13, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Health Affairs

Publisher:

Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Publication Date:

May 10, 2019

URL:

Integrating Community Health Workers Into Health Care Teams Without Coopting Them

Type:

Community-Based Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1377/hblog20190507.746358

Keywords

community health workers

primary health care

MeSH

community health workers

public health

delivery of health care

patient care team

An interesting article about community health workers and primary care practices. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

Commercial full text (fees may apply)

View

Community health workers (CHWs) are trusted laypeople who help their communities achieve health and well-being. For generations, they’ve worked in church basements, shelters, and food pantries to address a variety of health and social needs. In recent years, this workforce has captured the attention of health care organizations looking to hit value-based payment targets that are heavily influenced by the social determinants of health. As a result, they increasingly are transitioning from their grassroots, community-based origins to become integrated members of health care teams. The marriage of community health and formal health care is powerful, but it’s also tricky. If CHWs lose their identity and become medicalized, their effectiveness in the community is lessened. Health care leaders must grapple with a fundamental question: How do we integrate a grassroots workforce into health care without totally coopting it? We explore this tension and offer guidance for health care leaders, based on our experience with developing the IMPaCT CHW model, which has served 10,000 patients in greater Philadelphia and provides tools and technical assistance to more than 1,000 health care organizations across the country.

The challenges facing CHWs as they become part of health care teams can be thought of as falling into four categories: agenda, identity, scope of work, and integration.

Author/s:

Garfield, Cheryl, Kangovi, Shreya