Still searching for thoughtful and useful holiday gifts that show the recipient how much you care? Maybe a health-related book is the answer. Laura Landro, assistant managing editor of the Wall Street Journal and author of the newspaper’s The Informed Patient column, recently selected the following as her picks for the best health books of 2009.
The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. Newly revised and updated, the fourth edition of Mayo's consumer-health and medical guide offers a wealth of data on everything from emergency care for injuries to advice on how to deal with someone expressing suicidal thoughts.
CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010: The Yellow Book. Published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this guide for international travel details the risk or diseases and infections in foreign destinations and preventive measures to consider.
Medicine for the Outdoors by Paul Auerbach. Written by an emergency surgeon and authority in wilderness medicine, this is a handbook for anyone participating in outdoor activities or eco-tourism far from medical care.
Dangerous or Safe? by Cara Natterson. A pediatrician, Natterson tackles questions about the safety of medicines, foods and chemicals regularly ingested or given to children.
Cheating Death by Sanjay Gupta. Written by CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Gupta’s stories of doctors struggling to keep the near-dead alive and patients who cheat death is a self-proclaimed “medical thriller”.
Ask Dr. Marie by Marie Savard. Physician and contributor to ABC News, Dr. Savard answers questions women have about their anatomy.
A Brain Wider Than the Sky by Andrew Levy. A migraine patient’s headache diary turned memoir, Levy’s account offers hope for relief.
Josie's Story by Sorrel King. King writes of her mission to improve patient safety following her daughter’s death from complications of treatment at John Hopkins Medical Center.
In Her Wake by Nancy Rappaport. Child psychiatrist Rappaport investigates the circumstances leading to her mother’s suicide in 1963.
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. In his account of training to be an ultra-marathoner, McDougall also covers the history and science of running as well as the debate over the merits of high tech running shoes.
Stand by Her by John W. Anderson. Written in response to the lack of support he found when his mother, wife, and sister were diagnosed with breast cancer, Anderson’s guide focuses on helping men be supportive caregivers.
Post by Donna Doyle
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Good News and Bad News about the Flu
The CDC has updated the status of the H1N1 flu pandemic. As of December 11th the CDC is reporting that the pandemic has potentially peaked. Flu activity continued to decline during the week of November 29-December 5, 2009 with the number of states reporting flu activity decreasing and overall visits to doctors with flu symptoms and hospitalizations declining as well.
To find out the status of your state go check out the CDC map:
To find out the status of your state go check out the CDC map:
The bad news is that although case numbers declined, flu-associated deaths increased and have disproportionally affected children and young adults. The CDC reported at a press conference on December 14th that “many times more children and younger adults, unfortunately, have been hospitalized or killed by H1N1 influenza than occurs during a regular flu season.”
How Many People have been affected by H1N1 Flu Virus?
Using a method developed by the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program, which is comprised of 10 state health departments and other collaborators, the CDC has provided an estimated range of the total number of 2009 H1N1 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. The mid-level estimate for each of these:
About 47 million people infected with H1N1 in 2009
About 213,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations
About 9,820 H1N1-related deaths in 2009
How Many People have been affected by H1N1 Flu Virus?
Using a method developed by the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program, which is comprised of 10 state health departments and other collaborators, the CDC has provided an estimated range of the total number of 2009 H1N1 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. The mid-level estimate for each of these:
About 47 million people infected with H1N1 in 2009
About 213,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations
About 9,820 H1N1-related deaths in 2009
Post by Sandy Oelschlegel
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Journal News: Journal of Pastoral Care
Lately, there haven’t been too many issues of the Journal of Pastoral Care on the shelf. In case you are wondering, we haven’t cancelled our subscription to this publication, but it has undergone some changes. First, there is a new title: Journal of Pastoral Care is now the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling. The journal has been very late, with the first issue of 2009 expected at the end of this month. In addition, we now have online access to the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, our access begins with this year, and, online at least, we have access to 4 full issues, the latest being issue 3,4.
Please see the publisher’s statement below for clarification.
http://journals.sfu.ca/jpcp/index.php/jpcp/article/view/52/43
Post by Michael Lindsay
Please see the publisher’s statement below for clarification.
http://journals.sfu.ca/jpcp/index.php/jpcp/article/view/52/43
Post by Michael Lindsay
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Evidence-Based Medicine and the News Feed
Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is important--using the latest research, from the best sources, can make an impact on patient care.
Check out the Preston Medical Library News Feed for regularly updated health news from peer-reviewed journals, newswires, and the popular press. You might notice that more evidence-based articles are showing up in the news feed. In order to help in identifying these, they are marked where appropriate, with (RCT) for Randomized Controlled Trials, and (SR) for Systematic Reviews.
With all the information that is available online, several solutions exist for managing information from blogs, journal articles and other RSS feeds. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow you to subscribe to web addresses where content such as blogs, journals, and newspapers is stored. Bloglines and Google Reader are two free solutions, allowing you to set up accounts where you can manage your subscriptions to RSS feeds. After registering, look for RSS links to get started.
Post by Michael Lindsay
Check out the Preston Medical Library News Feed for regularly updated health news from peer-reviewed journals, newswires, and the popular press. You might notice that more evidence-based articles are showing up in the news feed. In order to help in identifying these, they are marked where appropriate, with (RCT) for Randomized Controlled Trials, and (SR) for Systematic Reviews.
With all the information that is available online, several solutions exist for managing information from blogs, journal articles and other RSS feeds. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow you to subscribe to web addresses where content such as blogs, journals, and newspapers is stored. Bloglines and Google Reader are two free solutions, allowing you to set up accounts where you can manage your subscriptions to RSS feeds. After registering, look for RSS links to get started.
Post by Michael Lindsay
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Medical Screenings--Fly Ash
The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) now has a page for the Kingston Project. They are currently conducting medical screenings for people that have been affected by the fly ash spill in December 2008.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about this project, and find out the qualifications for the free health screenings available. Note that on the main Kingston Project page and on the FAQ page, contact information is listed for ORAU if you want to participate in this project.
For more information about the fly ash spill and fly ash, check out the site compiled by the National Library of Medicine.
Post by Cynthia Vaughn
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about this project, and find out the qualifications for the free health screenings available. Note that on the main Kingston Project page and on the FAQ page, contact information is listed for ORAU if you want to participate in this project.
For more information about the fly ash spill and fly ash, check out the site compiled by the National Library of Medicine.
Post by Cynthia Vaughn
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
In observance of the holiday, Preston Medical Library will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. We will be closed on Thursday and Friday. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, November 28.
In observance of the holiday, Preston Medical Library will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. We will be closed on Thursday and Friday. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, November 28.
Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmatic
Quiz question for clinicians: When talking with patients who may be having problems understanding what I am telling them, my best response is as follows: A) "If I spend time talking with my patients or make phone calls, I am not getting paid for that." B) "If patients can't read well, then why don't they learn how?" C)"It is our job to care for the patients, no matter what their reading levels."
Our goal at UT Medical Center is that physicians choose answer C and take that answer from good to great. The proposed goals for Healthy People 2020 are currently in development and open for public comment. The 2010 goal to "Increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care providers have satisfactory communication skills" remains. Objectives remain to increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care provider always listened carefully, explained things so they could understand them, showed respect for what they had to say, and spent enough time with them.
One of the new proposed health literacy-related guidelines for Healthy People 2020 includes “Increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care providers always involved them in decisions about their health care as much as they wanted.” Although "as much as they wanted" will be difficult to measure scientifically, the remainder of the goal is not only admirable but essential to quality health care. Physicians may be surprised to learn that encouraging patients to ask more questions does not increase the length of time for the patient visit. When doctors communicate better with their patients, the frustration factor that can lead to lawsuits is also reduced.
Patients want simple explanations instead of medspeak. Medspeak can block communications. Even as clinicians focus on translating medspeak for the patient, health consumers can also use learn some of the basics of medical terminology to increase their understanding.
Communication is a two-way street. Patients also have a responsibility to ask questions. One method is "Ask Me Three" from the National Patient Safety Foundation. For older patients who have not previously learned how to question the clinician, this responsibility may fall to the patient family member or caregiver. Naturally, parents must ask on behalf of their children, whether seventeen months or seventeen years old.
Reading, writing, and arithmetic alone cannot suffice to handle health care communication. Even as technology advances, all relationships still require listening, understanding, respect, and time.
Post by Martha Earl
Our goal at UT Medical Center is that physicians choose answer C and take that answer from good to great. The proposed goals for Healthy People 2020 are currently in development and open for public comment. The 2010 goal to "Increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care providers have satisfactory communication skills" remains. Objectives remain to increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care provider always listened carefully, explained things so they could understand them, showed respect for what they had to say, and spent enough time with them.
One of the new proposed health literacy-related guidelines for Healthy People 2020 includes “Increase the proportion of persons who report that their health care providers always involved them in decisions about their health care as much as they wanted.” Although "as much as they wanted" will be difficult to measure scientifically, the remainder of the goal is not only admirable but essential to quality health care. Physicians may be surprised to learn that encouraging patients to ask more questions does not increase the length of time for the patient visit. When doctors communicate better with their patients, the frustration factor that can lead to lawsuits is also reduced.
Patients want simple explanations instead of medspeak. Medspeak can block communications. Even as clinicians focus on translating medspeak for the patient, health consumers can also use learn some of the basics of medical terminology to increase their understanding.
Communication is a two-way street. Patients also have a responsibility to ask questions. One method is "Ask Me Three" from the National Patient Safety Foundation. For older patients who have not previously learned how to question the clinician, this responsibility may fall to the patient family member or caregiver. Naturally, parents must ask on behalf of their children, whether seventeen months or seventeen years old.
Reading, writing, and arithmetic alone cannot suffice to handle health care communication. Even as technology advances, all relationships still require listening, understanding, respect, and time.
Post by Martha Earl
Monday, November 23, 2009
America’s Healthiest and Unhealthiest States
Tennessee is a long way from Vermont, and that’s not just geographically speaking.
According to United Health Foundation rankings, Tennessee is a long way from most states in terms of healthiness. The annual ranking of America’s healthiest and unhealthiest states looks at 22 indicators of health, including everything from how many children receive recommended vaccinations, to obesity and smoking rates, to cancer deaths. Scores for each state are determined by gathering data from a variety of government and non-governmental databases and then calculating how much each state is better or worse than the national average for each measure.
At #44, Tennessee ranks in the bottom ten unhealthiest states in the nation but is ahead of SEC rival states Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
Go, Vols?
Post by Donna Doyle
According to United Health Foundation rankings, Tennessee is a long way from most states in terms of healthiness. The annual ranking of America’s healthiest and unhealthiest states looks at 22 indicators of health, including everything from how many children receive recommended vaccinations, to obesity and smoking rates, to cancer deaths. Scores for each state are determined by gathering data from a variety of government and non-governmental databases and then calculating how much each state is better or worse than the national average for each measure.
At #44, Tennessee ranks in the bottom ten unhealthiest states in the nation but is ahead of SEC rival states Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
Go, Vols?
Post by Donna Doyle
Friday, October 30, 2009
Exercise Rut-Breakers: Let’s Dance!
There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. ~ Vicki Baum
Last year in deep winter I succumbed to a surprising urge to dance. After returning from a brisk, cold walk I chose a few upbeat tunes and turned up the volume. Thanks to Abba, I was quickly transformed from a subzero, sidewalk-trudging diehard into a light-hearted dancing queen. Although my choreography was stifled by a coffee table and a frightened cat, I managed to enjoy a good aerobic work-out. More importantly, I had fun.
According to Megan Richardson, MS, ATC, with the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, “Dancing can help build bones, improve posture and prevent osteoporosis, as well as increase a person’s confidence and well-being.”
Although more systematic evidence is needed to support that dance improves mood, it is easier to measure its positive effect in other areas. For example, dance can improve diabetes outcomes, manage agitation in dementia patients, and improve balance control in the elderly.
In clinical practice waltz dancing may be considered as a safe aerobic exercise for patients with stable chronic heart failure. Hip-hop dance has been used to promote stroke literacy. Some Parkinson disease patients can benefit from tango dancing, and interactive dance exercise videos can help post-menopausal women adhere to exercise habits.
According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, people who are under age 35 and in good health do not need to see a doctor before beginning an exercise program. Individuals over age 35 who have been inactive for several years should consult a physician. Certain conditions might also warrant a need for medical clearance.
In response to the popularity of the television show Dancing with the Stars, The National Athletic Trainers’ Association offers several tips for people who are specifically interested in ballroom dance as a form of exercise. Less mainstream forms of dance are also an option. From belly dance, to contra dancing, to sacred circle dancing, Knoxville offers numerous dance opportunities.
You don’t even have to go as far as the Yellow Pages to find a place to dance. You can get up right now, turn on some music, and move. The systematic evidence might be lacking, but look in the mirror. If you’re like me, the observational evidence will be looking right back at you with a big smile.
Post by Donna Doyle
Last year in deep winter I succumbed to a surprising urge to dance. After returning from a brisk, cold walk I chose a few upbeat tunes and turned up the volume. Thanks to Abba, I was quickly transformed from a subzero, sidewalk-trudging diehard into a light-hearted dancing queen. Although my choreography was stifled by a coffee table and a frightened cat, I managed to enjoy a good aerobic work-out. More importantly, I had fun.
According to Megan Richardson, MS, ATC, with the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, “Dancing can help build bones, improve posture and prevent osteoporosis, as well as increase a person’s confidence and well-being.”
Although more systematic evidence is needed to support that dance improves mood, it is easier to measure its positive effect in other areas. For example, dance can improve diabetes outcomes, manage agitation in dementia patients, and improve balance control in the elderly.
In clinical practice waltz dancing may be considered as a safe aerobic exercise for patients with stable chronic heart failure. Hip-hop dance has been used to promote stroke literacy. Some Parkinson disease patients can benefit from tango dancing, and interactive dance exercise videos can help post-menopausal women adhere to exercise habits.
According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, people who are under age 35 and in good health do not need to see a doctor before beginning an exercise program. Individuals over age 35 who have been inactive for several years should consult a physician. Certain conditions might also warrant a need for medical clearance.
In response to the popularity of the television show Dancing with the Stars, The National Athletic Trainers’ Association offers several tips for people who are specifically interested in ballroom dance as a form of exercise. Less mainstream forms of dance are also an option. From belly dance, to contra dancing, to sacred circle dancing, Knoxville offers numerous dance opportunities.
You don’t even have to go as far as the Yellow Pages to find a place to dance. You can get up right now, turn on some music, and move. The systematic evidence might be lacking, but look in the mirror. If you’re like me, the observational evidence will be looking right back at you with a big smile.
Post by Donna Doyle
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who came to Preston Medical Library's open house on Friday. As you may have noticed, the library staff wore scrubs in order to represent being part of the medical team. In case you missed it, here is a group picture.
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