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| April 02, 2012- In This Issue |
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Home
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Celebrate Public Health |
EP Leader Earns Degree |
Strong PH System |
GA Volunteer Health Care |
Newborn Screening |
New Direction in Diabetes
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PHBRIEFS |
PHRECIPE |
PHTRAINING |
PHEVENTS
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PHNEWS
Life expectancy for Americans has increased
30 years since 1900. The CDC estimates that
83 percent of those increased years have
been due to public health efforts. Smallpox
has been eradicated, poliomyelitis (polio)
has been eliminated in this country, and
there have been significant decreases in
measles, rubella, diphtheria, Haemophilus
influenza type B and other infectious
diseases. We have clean water, safer foods,
and safer workplaces.
April 2-8 is National Public Health Week and
I want to invite you to celebrate with me.
During this week, when you go to a
restaurant or drive by one, think of the
Public Health worker who has done the
inspection there to make sure the food is
safe. If you see a baby, think of the 28
newborn tests the Public Health lab has done
to protect his life. If you take a breath in
Atlanta consider that Public Health has been
testing that air for bioterrorism agents. If
you turn on the water in your home, consider
all the Public Health efforts to make sure
that water is clean and safe.
In the last decade new vaccines have
been introduced and CDC estimates that
each new group of completed childhood
immunizations prevents 42,000 deaths and
20 million cases of disease in this
country. There has been a 30 percent
reduction in U.S. TB cases thanks to
Public Health screening and epidemiology
work. The CDC estimates that expanded
newborn screening in the last decade
have led to earlier treatment for at
least 3,400 babies each year. There has
been a steep decline in children with
abnormal blood lead levels because of
screening and comprehensive lead
poisoning prevention laws. After the
terrorist activities of 2001, there was
much work and tremendous improvements
made in the nation's ability to respond
to Public Health threats
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Scott Minarcine, public health emergency preparedness grant program manager with DPH, graduated Friday with a master's degree in security studies from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
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On the morning of Friday, March 30, in front of a crowd of
students, faculty and families, Public health's Scott Minarcine
joined the 30 other members of his cohort to graduate with a
master's degree in security studies from the Center for Homeland
Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in
Monterey, California.
Minarcine, now in the Division of Health Protection finished
high school and joined the navy to allow "some time to think
about what to do next." He had no way of knowing that he would
end up attending a prestigious program at the Naval Postgraduate
School that is only open to local, tribal, state or federal
government agency employees who hold significant homeland
security-related responsibilities.
As the public health emergency preparedness grant program
manager in the emergency preparedness and response section,
Minarcine's position and past role as an emergency preparedness
specialist for the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health
Departments and the Cobb and Douglas Public Health made him an
excellent candidate for the program.
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A Healthier America Begins with Strong Public Health Systems
across the County
 Preventing
diseases and injuries before they start is critical
to helping people live longer, healthier lives while
managing health-related costs. Chronic diseases such
as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are
responsible for millions of premature deaths and
cause Americans to miss 2.5 billion days of work
each year, resulting in lost productivity totaling
more than $1 trillion.
We must work to move our health system from one
based on sick care to one rooted in wellness,
prevention and preparedness. Preventive measures can
improve the health of individuals, families and
communities. Doing so will help America become a
healthier place and help reach our goal of becoming
the healthiest nation in just one generation.
During 2012, National Public Health Week (NPHW) and
the American Public Health Association (APHA) will
build upon the National Prevention Strategy, created
by the National Prevention Council, to improve
health and wellness across the lifespan. Participate
in National Public Health Week and help educate
families, communities and public officials about the
importance of creating environments that promote
healthy lifestyles and healthy choices. Each day of
the week will highlight ways to increase the number
of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life
through individual and community-level actions.
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Georgia Volunteer Health Care Program Brings Medical, Dental
and Vision Care to the Uninsured in Georgia
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Region 1 Coordinator Suzanne Flinn recalls
the five years that William Lee, MD (center,
left), a Georgia volunteer doctor in Region
1, has participated in GVHCP along with Mary
Corchnoy (center, right), a retired RN.
They are pictured here with a local family
of five who received free medical services.
Dr. Lee, Ms. Corchnov, RN, along with Claude
Mathis, Missionary, started the Morganton
Medical/Dental Clinic and Mountaintown
Medical Clinic in Region 1.
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Carla Catalon-Scott gets excited when she talks about
the Georgia Volunteer Health Care Program (GVHCP) as the
Region 2 Coordinator. Catalon-Scott currently supports
28 partnering GVHCP clinics. She is not alone in her
enthusiasm. There are five GVHCP regional coordinators
covering Georgia in the North, Coastal, Atlanta, Central
and Southwest regions helping to recruit licensed
medical, dental and vision providers to volunteer in
Georgia.
GVHCP has enabled almost 1,700 Georgia providers to
volunteer 113,000 service hours and clinical resources,
totaling 125,000 patient visits for the uninsured in
Georgia. Collectively, the volunteer medical, dental
and vision care is worth $15.6 million.
GVHCP's goal is to increase access to quality health
care for indigent and low-income residents through
volunteerism from the healthcare provider community.
There is no cost to the individual providers
(physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, dentists,
etc.), nor to partnering clinics.
GVHCP was a concept of State Representative Mickey
Channell and other state legislators. GVHCP was based
on Florida's program and how the state served their
uninsured by providing free health care to eligible
patients. GVHCP is now a free service provided through
the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in
locations statewide where there are partnering clinics
and licensed health care professionals who provide
donated care to eligible patients.
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Georgia Lawmakers Consider Study on Newborn Screening for
Heart Defects
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Georgia, law requires that newborns undergo a screening
for a number of genetic and metabolic disorders prior to
discharge from a birthing facility. And hearing
screening is also conducted routinely for most babies
born in Georgia.
This legislative session, Georgia lawmakers will
consider House Bill 745, a bill sponsored by State
Representative Andy Welch and co-signed by
Representative Matt Ramsey to launch a pilot study
to determine whether special screening should be
required of all newborns for the detection of
critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).
Babies born with CCHD can appear healthy at first
and can be discharged before serious health
complications arise. Babies with CCHD can
potentially be diagnosed before discharge from their
birth facility by receiving a pulse oximetry
screen. Pulse oximetry, or pulse ox, is a simple
and non- invasive means of determining the amount of
oxygen in the red blood cells. A low saturation
level may indicate the presence of CCHD.
The pulse ox screen is performed at the baby's
bedside by placing a disposable probe on an
infant's right hand and either foot, which
allows the monitor to measure the percent of
oxygen saturated in the red blood cells that
leaves the heart and is circulating through the
baby's body.
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New Direction in Diabetes Program Makes Strides to Improve
Health of Georgians
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Dwana "Dee" Calhoun, M.S., C.H.E.S.,
(center) Diabetes Prevention and Control
Program Manager, discusses the program with
Amanda Dang (left) and Erika Lee (right)
interns with the Diabetes Prevention and
Control Program and/or Heart Disease and
Stroke Prevention Program.
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As the new Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP)
Manager for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH),
I understand the importance of ensuring that Georgia
responds to the need to continuously educate and address
diabetes throughout Georgia - for children and adults.
As research continues to evolve, we are excited about
learning more about the diabetes and its complications
in order to reduce our risks.
The mission of DPCP is to reduce diabetes
prevalence, disability and severe diabetes-related
complications including: heart disease, kidney
disease, lower extremity amputations and blindness.
DPCP accomplishes its work by engaging partners that
promote and support evidence-based strategies
resulting in environmental and health systems
changes to address diabetes prevention, as well as
reduce risks associated with severe and debilitating
diabetes complications.
DPCP is part of national effort by the CDC Division
of Diabetes Translation and is focused on the
following statewide efforts to improve the health of
Georgians:
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Home
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Celebrate Public Health |
EP Leader Earns Degree |
Strong PH System |
GA Volunteer Health Care |
Newborn Screening |
New Direction in Diabetes
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PHBRIEFS |
PHRECIPE |
PHTRAINING |
PHEVENTS
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PHNEWS
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