Jan Dyer

According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.

 

Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.

The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.   

The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.

According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.

 

Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.

The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.   

The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.

According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.

 

Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.

The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.   

The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.

Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.

Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.

Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.

The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.

Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.

Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.

Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.

Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.

The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.

Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.

Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.

Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.

Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.

The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.

Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.

The CDC has released an updated version of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Atlas.

The Atlas is an online tool that allows a user to easily analyze, map, and create tables from more than 10 years’ of data reported to the CDC.

Easy-to-follow instructions guide users through the “basic query” function, allowing them to map diseases by year, geographical area, and population group and create bar graphs that display changes over time and patterns across the U.S. Users also can download and export data and graphics as PDFs. Footnote sections provide more information about the surveillance data for each disease.

The Advanced Query function allows for the creation of customized tables that provide flexibility when comparing diseases, areas, and populations. This functionality also allows users to compare 2 or more diseases, examine multiple areas (eg, by state), view 2 or more years of data (eg, 2008-2013), or drill down to subpopulations of interest (eg, race, age, or sex).

The CDC also offers ready-made slide sets that show examples of the analyses that can be performed with the Atlas. These slides address diagnoses, social determinants of health, and recommended queries for each disease. For example, the slide for new diagnoses breaks down the data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis A, B, and C, and tuberculosis by race, sex, date, age, and U.S. county.

For more on the Atlas, visit www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/about-atlas.html. A webcast demonstrating functionality and Q&As are also available at www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/video.html

The CDC has released an updated version of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Atlas.

The Atlas is an online tool that allows a user to easily analyze, map, and create tables from more than 10 years’ of data reported to the CDC.

Easy-to-follow instructions guide users through the “basic query” function, allowing them to map diseases by year, geographical area, and population group and create bar graphs that display changes over time and patterns across the U.S. Users also can download and export data and graphics as PDFs. Footnote sections provide more information about the surveillance data for each disease.

The Advanced Query function allows for the creation of customized tables that provide flexibility when comparing diseases, areas, and populations. This functionality also allows users to compare 2 or more diseases, examine multiple areas (eg, by state), view 2 or more years of data (eg, 2008-2013), or drill down to subpopulations of interest (eg, race, age, or sex).

The CDC also offers ready-made slide sets that show examples of the analyses that can be performed with the Atlas. These slides address diagnoses, social determinants of health, and recommended queries for each disease. For example, the slide for new diagnoses breaks down the data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis A, B, and C, and tuberculosis by race, sex, date, age, and U.S. county.

For more on the Atlas, visit www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/about-atlas.html. A webcast demonstrating functionality and Q&As are also available at www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/video.html

The CDC has released an updated version of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Atlas.

The Atlas is an online tool that allows a user to easily analyze, map, and create tables from more than 10 years’ of data reported to the CDC.

Easy-to-follow instructions guide users through the “basic query” function, allowing them to map diseases by year, geographical area, and population group and create bar graphs that display changes over time and patterns across the U.S. Users also can download and export data and graphics as PDFs. Footnote sections provide more information about the surveillance data for each disease.

The Advanced Query function allows for the creation of customized tables that provide flexibility when comparing diseases, areas, and populations. This functionality also allows users to compare 2 or more diseases, examine multiple areas (eg, by state), view 2 or more years of data (eg, 2008-2013), or drill down to subpopulations of interest (eg, race, age, or sex).

The CDC also offers ready-made slide sets that show examples of the analyses that can be performed with the Atlas. These slides address diagnoses, social determinants of health, and recommended queries for each disease. For example, the slide for new diagnoses breaks down the data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis A, B, and C, and tuberculosis by race, sex, date, age, and U.S. county.

For more on the Atlas, visit www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/about-atlas.html. A webcast demonstrating functionality and Q&As are also available at www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/video.html

Opioid-related hospitalizations in rural areas are increasing nearly twice as fast as in urban areas (8.6% vs 4.9%).  But rural primary care comes with some barriers to effectively treat opioid abuse, including lack of access to specialty treatment centers, limited continuing training opportunities, and lack of social support services.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has called for research to expand access to evidence-based treatment for opioid abuse disorders in rural areas and is backing that call with up to $12 million to be awarded over the next 4 years. Specifically, the grants will fund as many as 4 research projects exploring ways to overcome barriers to the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in underserved communities.

Researchers may examine online training for physicians, in-office practice coaching, and virtual counseling sessions; projects also can create training resources to expand patients’ access to MAT.

Grant applications are due March 4, 2016. For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-16-001.html.

Opioid-related hospitalizations in rural areas are increasing nearly twice as fast as in urban areas (8.6% vs 4.9%).  But rural primary care comes with some barriers to effectively treat opioid abuse, including lack of access to specialty treatment centers, limited continuing training opportunities, and lack of social support services.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has called for research to expand access to evidence-based treatment for opioid abuse disorders in rural areas and is backing that call with up to $12 million to be awarded over the next 4 years. Specifically, the grants will fund as many as 4 research projects exploring ways to overcome barriers to the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in underserved communities.

Researchers may examine online training for physicians, in-office practice coaching, and virtual counseling sessions; projects also can create training resources to expand patients’ access to MAT.

Grant applications are due March 4, 2016. For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-16-001.html.

Opioid-related hospitalizations in rural areas are increasing nearly twice as fast as in urban areas (8.6% vs 4.9%).  But rural primary care comes with some barriers to effectively treat opioid abuse, including lack of access to specialty treatment centers, limited continuing training opportunities, and lack of social support services.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has called for research to expand access to evidence-based treatment for opioid abuse disorders in rural areas and is backing that call with up to $12 million to be awarded over the next 4 years. Specifically, the grants will fund as many as 4 research projects exploring ways to overcome barriers to the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in underserved communities.

Researchers may examine online training for physicians, in-office practice coaching, and virtual counseling sessions; projects also can create training resources to expand patients’ access to MAT.

Grant applications are due March 4, 2016. For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-16-001.html.

Feedback from veterans has led to changes that will make participating in the Veterans Choice Program more convenient, especially for those who live far from a VA medical facility.

The Choice Program went into effect in 2014, and more than 400,000 medical appointments have been logged since then. Under the old policy, a veteran was eligible for the program if he or she had enrolled in VA health care by August 1, 2014, or was able to enroll as a combat veteran; experienced unusual or excessive burden, determined by geographical challenges, environmental factors, or medical condition affecting ability to travel; or lived more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility.

Under the updated requirements, a veteran is eligible if he or she has been waiting (or will have to wait) more than 30 days for VA medical care; lives more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility with a full-time primary care physician; needs to travel by air, boat, or ferry to the closest facility; faces an unusual or excessive burden in traveling; or lives in a state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility.

Care in the community is covered only by the VA for medical needs that have been approved by the veteran’s VA physician. The Choice Program does not affect the veteran’s existing VA health care or any other VA benefit.

For more details: www.va.gov/opa/choiceact.

Feedback from veterans has led to changes that will make participating in the Veterans Choice Program more convenient, especially for those who live far from a VA medical facility.

The Choice Program went into effect in 2014, and more than 400,000 medical appointments have been logged since then. Under the old policy, a veteran was eligible for the program if he or she had enrolled in VA health care by August 1, 2014, or was able to enroll as a combat veteran; experienced unusual or excessive burden, determined by geographical challenges, environmental factors, or medical condition affecting ability to travel; or lived more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility.

Under the updated requirements, a veteran is eligible if he or she has been waiting (or will have to wait) more than 30 days for VA medical care; lives more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility with a full-time primary care physician; needs to travel by air, boat, or ferry to the closest facility; faces an unusual or excessive burden in traveling; or lives in a state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility.

Care in the community is covered only by the VA for medical needs that have been approved by the veteran’s VA physician. The Choice Program does not affect the veteran’s existing VA health care or any other VA benefit.

For more details: www.va.gov/opa/choiceact.

Feedback from veterans has led to changes that will make participating in the Veterans Choice Program more convenient, especially for those who live far from a VA medical facility.

The Choice Program went into effect in 2014, and more than 400,000 medical appointments have been logged since then. Under the old policy, a veteran was eligible for the program if he or she had enrolled in VA health care by August 1, 2014, or was able to enroll as a combat veteran; experienced unusual or excessive burden, determined by geographical challenges, environmental factors, or medical condition affecting ability to travel; or lived more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility.

Under the updated requirements, a veteran is eligible if he or she has been waiting (or will have to wait) more than 30 days for VA medical care; lives more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility with a full-time primary care physician; needs to travel by air, boat, or ferry to the closest facility; faces an unusual or excessive burden in traveling; or lives in a state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility.

Care in the community is covered only by the VA for medical needs that have been approved by the veteran’s VA physician. The Choice Program does not affect the veteran’s existing VA health care or any other VA benefit.

For more details: www.va.gov/opa/choiceact.

Hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are largely preventable, yet they affect about 250,000 hospital patients each year at a cost of about $250 million.

About one-quarter of all patients have a urinary catheter placed during their hospital stay, which puts them at risk for infection. Preventing or stopping the infections would not only be better for patients, but would also reduce the chance of creating superbugs. To that end, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new tool kit to help combat CAUTIs. The tool kit is the latest in a series of AHRQ tools and training materials that “help frontline providers go beyond the ‘what’ of improving care to actually show them ‘how’ to make changes in workflow processes to keep patients safer,” AHRQ says.

The tool kit is part of a 4-year project to promote the use of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP),  a custom program that combines best practices with an increased focus on teamwork, AHRQ says. Based on the experiences of more than 1,200 hospitals that successfully reduced CAUTI while participating in AHRQ’s nationwide CUSP project, the tool kit includes checklists, modifiable teaching tools, and resources to help clinical teams decide when and how to safely use catheters.

Designed by Johns Hopkins researchers, it proved to significantly reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in ICUS. Preliminary studies show CUSP reduces CAUTIs by about 15%.

Hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are largely preventable, yet they affect about 250,000 hospital patients each year at a cost of about $250 million.

About one-quarter of all patients have a urinary catheter placed during their hospital stay, which puts them at risk for infection. Preventing or stopping the infections would not only be better for patients, but would also reduce the chance of creating superbugs. To that end, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new tool kit to help combat CAUTIs. The tool kit is the latest in a series of AHRQ tools and training materials that “help frontline providers go beyond the ‘what’ of improving care to actually show them ‘how’ to make changes in workflow processes to keep patients safer,” AHRQ says.

The tool kit is part of a 4-year project to promote the use of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP),  a custom program that combines best practices with an increased focus on teamwork, AHRQ says. Based on the experiences of more than 1,200 hospitals that successfully reduced CAUTI while participating in AHRQ’s nationwide CUSP project, the tool kit includes checklists, modifiable teaching tools, and resources to help clinical teams decide when and how to safely use catheters.

Designed by Johns Hopkins researchers, it proved to significantly reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in ICUS. Preliminary studies show CUSP reduces CAUTIs by about 15%.

Hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are largely preventable, yet they affect about 250,000 hospital patients each year at a cost of about $250 million.

About one-quarter of all patients have a urinary catheter placed during their hospital stay, which puts them at risk for infection. Preventing or stopping the infections would not only be better for patients, but would also reduce the chance of creating superbugs. To that end, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new tool kit to help combat CAUTIs. The tool kit is the latest in a series of AHRQ tools and training materials that “help frontline providers go beyond the ‘what’ of improving care to actually show them ‘how’ to make changes in workflow processes to keep patients safer,” AHRQ says.

The tool kit is part of a 4-year project to promote the use of the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP),  a custom program that combines best practices with an increased focus on teamwork, AHRQ says. Based on the experiences of more than 1,200 hospitals that successfully reduced CAUTI while participating in AHRQ’s nationwide CUSP project, the tool kit includes checklists, modifiable teaching tools, and resources to help clinical teams decide when and how to safely use catheters.

Designed by Johns Hopkins researchers, it proved to significantly reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in ICUS. Preliminary studies show CUSP reduces CAUTIs by about 15%.

Admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment have declined slightly for alcohol abuse and markedly for cocaine use, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The report’s findings, drawn from the 2013 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), show that admissions dropped from 1,865,145 in 2003 to 1,683,451 in 2013. Alcohol use, although still responsible for the largest proportion of admissions, decreased from 42% to 38%. Cocaine (including crack) use declined dramatically from 14% to 6%. Marijuana use remained fairly steady over the past 10 years at 16% to 17%.

However, during the same period, heroin use admissions rose from 15% to 19%. And more than half of all patients admitted in 2013 reported abusing more than one substance.

Admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment have declined slightly for alcohol abuse and markedly for cocaine use, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The report’s findings, drawn from the 2013 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), show that admissions dropped from 1,865,145 in 2003 to 1,683,451 in 2013. Alcohol use, although still responsible for the largest proportion of admissions, decreased from 42% to 38%. Cocaine (including crack) use declined dramatically from 14% to 6%. Marijuana use remained fairly steady over the past 10 years at 16% to 17%.

However, during the same period, heroin use admissions rose from 15% to 19%. And more than half of all patients admitted in 2013 reported abusing more than one substance.

Admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment have declined slightly for alcohol abuse and markedly for cocaine use, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The report’s findings, drawn from the 2013 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), show that admissions dropped from 1,865,145 in 2003 to 1,683,451 in 2013. Alcohol use, although still responsible for the largest proportion of admissions, decreased from 42% to 38%. Cocaine (including crack) use declined dramatically from 14% to 6%. Marijuana use remained fairly steady over the past 10 years at 16% to 17%.

However, during the same period, heroin use admissions rose from 15% to 19%. And more than half of all patients admitted in 2013 reported abusing more than one substance.

Can hip-hop help get minority youth to avoid smoking? The FDA is hoping so. Its “Fresh Empire” campaign is the FDA’s first public education campaign designed to reduce and prevent tobacco use among at-risk multicultural teens who “identify with the hip-hop culture.”

Related: Is Cigarette Smoking on the Decline?

According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), more than 4 million minority youth smoke or experiment with smoking, and research suggests that those in the hip-hop crowd are more likely to smoke than are other young people. With the tagline “Keep It Fresh,” the campaign aims to associate living “tobacco free” with desirable hip-hop lifestyles. The goal is to keep the campaign “authentic through a peer-to-peer approach,” but the FDA is also encouraging public health organizations and interested adults to share the information about the campaign through the FDA’s social media channels, such as @FDATobacco (https://twitter.com/FDATobacco).

Related: E-Cigarettes and Tobacco Product Smoking

The campaign will complement the FDA’s general youth education campaign, “The Real Cost.”

Can hip-hop help get minority youth to avoid smoking? The FDA is hoping so. Its “Fresh Empire” campaign is the FDA’s first public education campaign designed to reduce and prevent tobacco use among at-risk multicultural teens who “identify with the hip-hop culture.”

Related: Is Cigarette Smoking on the Decline?

According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), more than 4 million minority youth smoke or experiment with smoking, and research suggests that those in the hip-hop crowd are more likely to smoke than are other young people. With the tagline “Keep It Fresh,” the campaign aims to associate living “tobacco free” with desirable hip-hop lifestyles. The goal is to keep the campaign “authentic through a peer-to-peer approach,” but the FDA is also encouraging public health organizations and interested adults to share the information about the campaign through the FDA’s social media channels, such as @FDATobacco (https://twitter.com/FDATobacco).

Related: E-Cigarettes and Tobacco Product Smoking

The campaign will complement the FDA’s general youth education campaign, “The Real Cost.”

Can hip-hop help get minority youth to avoid smoking? The FDA is hoping so. Its “Fresh Empire” campaign is the FDA’s first public education campaign designed to reduce and prevent tobacco use among at-risk multicultural teens who “identify with the hip-hop culture.”

Related: Is Cigarette Smoking on the Decline?

According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), more than 4 million minority youth smoke or experiment with smoking, and research suggests that those in the hip-hop crowd are more likely to smoke than are other young people. With the tagline “Keep It Fresh,” the campaign aims to associate living “tobacco free” with desirable hip-hop lifestyles. The goal is to keep the campaign “authentic through a peer-to-peer approach,” but the FDA is also encouraging public health organizations and interested adults to share the information about the campaign through the FDA’s social media channels, such as @FDATobacco (https://twitter.com/FDATobacco).

Related: E-Cigarettes and Tobacco Product Smoking

The campaign will complement the FDA’s general youth education campaign, “The Real Cost.”

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (www.thecommunityguide.org), which includes subject matter experts from the CDC, has released new online reports on interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD).

One report, Clinical Decision Support Systems to Improve Provider Practices, recommends clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). A systematic review of 45 studies provided sufficient evidence that CDSSs help improve screening for CVD risk factors and other CVD-related preventive care services, clinical tests, and treatments.

The Task Force adds that most of the available evidence on effectiveness is from studies of CDSSs that are implemented alone rather than as part of a coordinated service delivery effort. The report also found “evidence gaps,” such as a lack of evidence regarding the impact of CDSSs on CVD risk factor outcomes, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, and CVD-related morbidity and mortality, as well as patient-centered outcomes and processes.

The report includes full-text articles on the studies published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (www.thecommunityguide.org), which includes subject matter experts from the CDC, has released new online reports on interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD).

One report, Clinical Decision Support Systems to Improve Provider Practices, recommends clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). A systematic review of 45 studies provided sufficient evidence that CDSSs help improve screening for CVD risk factors and other CVD-related preventive care services, clinical tests, and treatments.

The Task Force adds that most of the available evidence on effectiveness is from studies of CDSSs that are implemented alone rather than as part of a coordinated service delivery effort. The report also found “evidence gaps,” such as a lack of evidence regarding the impact of CDSSs on CVD risk factor outcomes, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, and CVD-related morbidity and mortality, as well as patient-centered outcomes and processes.

The report includes full-text articles on the studies published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (www.thecommunityguide.org), which includes subject matter experts from the CDC, has released new online reports on interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD).

One report, Clinical Decision Support Systems to Improve Provider Practices, recommends clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). A systematic review of 45 studies provided sufficient evidence that CDSSs help improve screening for CVD risk factors and other CVD-related preventive care services, clinical tests, and treatments.

The Task Force adds that most of the available evidence on effectiveness is from studies of CDSSs that are implemented alone rather than as part of a coordinated service delivery effort. The report also found “evidence gaps,” such as a lack of evidence regarding the impact of CDSSs on CVD risk factor outcomes, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids, diabetes, and CVD-related morbidity and mortality, as well as patient-centered outcomes and processes.

The report includes full-text articles on the studies published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Air Force Medical Service offers 3 mobile applications designed to encourage health and well-being: the Pregnancy Mobile  App, the Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia (CEMM) Virtual Medical Center App, and the Wingman Toolkit App.

The Pregnancy Mobile App includes tools such as a pregnancy journal, an appointment manager, and kick and contraction counters. The user can also track health stats, such as biometrics, vitals, labs, ultrasounds, screenings, and vaccinations/immunizations.

The CEMM Virtual Medical Center App has patient education tools, such as a 3D Medical Animation library, Rx drug listing and reminder, adult and childhood immunization lists, and CEMM library. It also provides TRICARE tools, including military treatment facility locator, news feed, and Plan finder.

The Wingman Toolkit App was based on Master Resilience Training to help users “bounce back and recover when facing a difficult issue.” The toolkit also provides just-in-time resources such as quick access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the DoD Safe Helpline, and the user’s Wingman. Interactive tools include PT test requirements and workout reminders.

For more information on these apps, visit www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/healthy-living/mobile-apps.

The Air Force Medical Service offers 3 mobile applications designed to encourage health and well-being: the Pregnancy Mobile  App, the Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia (CEMM) Virtual Medical Center App, and the Wingman Toolkit App.

The Pregnancy Mobile App includes tools such as a pregnancy journal, an appointment manager, and kick and contraction counters. The user can also track health stats, such as biometrics, vitals, labs, ultrasounds, screenings, and vaccinations/immunizations.

The CEMM Virtual Medical Center App has patient education tools, such as a 3D Medical Animation library, Rx drug listing and reminder, adult and childhood immunization lists, and CEMM library. It also provides TRICARE tools, including military treatment facility locator, news feed, and Plan finder.

The Wingman Toolkit App was based on Master Resilience Training to help users “bounce back and recover when facing a difficult issue.” The toolkit also provides just-in-time resources such as quick access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the DoD Safe Helpline, and the user’s Wingman. Interactive tools include PT test requirements and workout reminders.

For more information on these apps, visit www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/healthy-living/mobile-apps.

The Air Force Medical Service offers 3 mobile applications designed to encourage health and well-being: the Pregnancy Mobile  App, the Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia (CEMM) Virtual Medical Center App, and the Wingman Toolkit App.

The Pregnancy Mobile App includes tools such as a pregnancy journal, an appointment manager, and kick and contraction counters. The user can also track health stats, such as biometrics, vitals, labs, ultrasounds, screenings, and vaccinations/immunizations.

The CEMM Virtual Medical Center App has patient education tools, such as a 3D Medical Animation library, Rx drug listing and reminder, adult and childhood immunization lists, and CEMM library. It also provides TRICARE tools, including military treatment facility locator, news feed, and Plan finder.

The Wingman Toolkit App was based on Master Resilience Training to help users “bounce back and recover when facing a difficult issue.” The toolkit also provides just-in-time resources such as quick access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the DoD Safe Helpline, and the user’s Wingman. Interactive tools include PT test requirements and workout reminders.

For more information on these apps, visit www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/healthy-living/mobile-apps.