Life coaching has become big business, and now health and wellness coaching is hot on its heels as the next big wave of wellness for the masses. So, why would a nurse make a good coach? What would give a nurse an edge when it comes to coaching willing clients through the process of getting well, maintaining wellness, or increasing one's aptitude for health, wellness and well-being?
Nurses are trained to examine patients/clients in a holistic manner, taking into consideration myriad aspects of an individual's "biopsychosocial" self. From the beginning, nurses are trained to look for areas of both strength and weakness, and nurses are then taught to assist patients in learning new skills which will allow them the maximum amount of independence and quality of life possible.
Coaching and nursing seem to be a match made in Heaven. Coaching is all about helping people to maximize their health and well-being, create a wellness plan, be held accountable for their actions, and produce concrete results in their lives.
As a case manager and a visiting nurse, I have worked with the sickest of the sick, those with multiple life-altering illnesses, and underserved inner-city populations struggling with cycles of poverty, poor health, chronic illness, substance abuse, and institutionalized racism. On a personal level, having removed myself from that front-line world for more than year, I am now ready to work with the well, with those who are motivated and anxious to improve their health, those strongly desiring to take their level of wellness and personal well-being to the next level. Coaching seems to be one of the ways to do such work, and it feels like the right fit at the right time.
Nurses are coaches, for all intents and purposes, and grafting professional coach training onto a nurse's education seems to be a fail-proof avenue to create a new way to make a meaningful living in the world while serving others. If there are any readers out there who have had a positive (or negative) experience with a health and wellness coach, I would love to hear about it. And if there is anyone who would like to experience coaching with me for a very low introductory rate, I am very willing to work with any person committed to their health and open to engaging my services as I power up a new and exciting vocation.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
"Natural" Beauty
Looking at different natural health and yoga magazines, I am sometimes shocked (perhaps unnecessarily) at how the publishers of such magazines follow the lead of mainstream fashion magazines, ubiquitously populating the pages of their publications with beautiful, flawless young women with clear skin, taut muscles, ample cleavage, exposed bellies and long, tan legs.
One would think that so-called "natural" magazines would be more apt to use "real" people for their ads and articles, but in this culture dominated by a fascination with youth and beauty, I shouldn't be surprised.
Perusing the pages of one such magazine, my wife and I were both independently struck with the fact that the pages of this "natural" magazine were filled with nothing but young white women, all of whom were displaying some combination of the attributes described in the first paragraph of this post.
This type of natural lifestyle is not necessarily just the purview of the young, white and beautiful, yet, if I were an alien and happened to pick up several of these magazines soon after landing, I would be convinced that anyone who did yoga or drank soy milk had the legs of a gazelle and blinding pearly white teeth. If the same alien went to a yoga class, he or she might be disappointed that many of the yogis and yoginis did indeed sport some modicum of body fat and hints of cellulite.
Alien visitations aside, I am simply appalled that yoga and natural health magazines all need to jump on the homogeneity bandwagon, delivering a bland and culturally narrow image to the soy milk-drinking masses, subtly convincing their readers that the products sold amidst their pages will deliver beauty, smooth skin and glowing health to anyone who happens to be young, white and female.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Coaching Myself
I am moving closer to making a decision about becoming a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. This training would help me to synthesize my training as a nurse, massage therapist, yoga instructor and Laughter Yoga Leader into a vocation that can assist others in achieving optimal wellness and self actualization.
Nurses are natural coaches in that our training revolves around creating care plans that target aspects of health and wellness in need of strengthening, support and change. At its core, nursing is about health promotion, and the heart of health and wellness coaching is the promotion of optimal health and wellness. Taking that alignment into consideration, becoming a coach seems to be a very intelligent career move for any nurse intent on hanging a virtual shingle, so speak.
As I explore the world of coaching, I can see that there is a vast amount of room in this burgeoning field for innovation, entrepreneurial development, and personal fulfillment. Even more, coaching is work that is 100% portable since most coaches provide their services by phone, email and web-based applications.
If I move forward with the training over the summer, I may be searching for subjects willing to receive free coaching sessions during my 13-week course, so stay tuned for the day when I send out the call.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Swine Flu Fears
Over the last few weeks, I've received a number of calls from tourists planning to come to our region for vacation but fearful of contracting the H1N1 virus, previously known as Swine Flu.
Although the outbreak has now been classified as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization due to the number of countries involved as well as other epidemiological factors, the virus is still no more virulent than seasonal influenza. This may change, of course, as the virus mutates and develops in the months prior to flu season, but for now there are no travel restrictions or advisories for any region of the United States.
Still, the calls keep coming, and the nervous visitors fret that they may wind up acutely ill and hospitalized when visiting our sleepy college town.
When these calls come in, my consistent response has been the same: H1N1 is relatively mild at this time, cases are coming to light slowly and steadily, and the number of severely ill patients is small. While there have been several deaths, we must bear in mind that seasonal influenza kills approximately 36,000 American per year, something that can help us all keep the current outbreak in perspective. I also remind the erstwhile travelers that flying on a commercial airplane---with its recycled air and passengers coughing and sneezing---is probably much more risky than a visit to our town could ever be.
Now, my tune may change if H1N1 evolves, mutates and becomes more virulent in the autumn, a potential outcome that may indeed come to pass. Realistically, there are germs and bacteria and viruses everywhere, and I see no reason to live in fear. But for those for whom fear is the paramount factor in the equation, perhaps they should just stay home.
Although the outbreak has now been classified as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization due to the number of countries involved as well as other epidemiological factors, the virus is still no more virulent than seasonal influenza. This may change, of course, as the virus mutates and develops in the months prior to flu season, but for now there are no travel restrictions or advisories for any region of the United States.
Still, the calls keep coming, and the nervous visitors fret that they may wind up acutely ill and hospitalized when visiting our sleepy college town.
When these calls come in, my consistent response has been the same: H1N1 is relatively mild at this time, cases are coming to light slowly and steadily, and the number of severely ill patients is small. While there have been several deaths, we must bear in mind that seasonal influenza kills approximately 36,000 American per year, something that can help us all keep the current outbreak in perspective. I also remind the erstwhile travelers that flying on a commercial airplane---with its recycled air and passengers coughing and sneezing---is probably much more risky than a visit to our town could ever be.
Now, my tune may change if H1N1 evolves, mutates and becomes more virulent in the autumn, a potential outcome that may indeed come to pass. Realistically, there are germs and bacteria and viruses everywhere, and I see no reason to live in fear. But for those for whom fear is the paramount factor in the equation, perhaps they should just stay home.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Bat in a Basket
So, there I was this afternoon, innocently playing the part of Public Health Nurse Extraordinaire, when I decided to reach for my laptop and sync it with the town network. But, lo and behold, a furry little bat had decided to make its home on my laptop bag, and as I stood, aghast and dumbstruck, it began to crawl and creep in its inimitably bat-like way around the top of my file cabinet.
Closing the door behind me, I calmly made my way to a colleague's office. He's a health inspector and sanitarian, level-headed and pragmatic, and I recruited him in my bat-catching endeavor.
Meanwhile, while said colleague ran in search of heavy-duty gloves, my boss and our administrative assistant insisted on seeing the bat, peeking in behind me as I reopened my office door.
"Don't touch it, Keith. You can't. Please don't," said my boss.
By now, the bat had descended to the table next to the file cabinet and I feared I might lose him. I dashed to the kitchen, found a small wicker basket (the size that might, for reason of illustration only, hold two medium-sized lemons) and rushed back to my office to see the creature still lurking (in quintessential bat fashion, I may add) on the aforementioned table.
At the very moment my favorite health inspector/sanitarian arrived with heavy duty gloves donned, I raised my basket into the air, took three steps---not two, but three---and trapped the bat with a rapid descending basket-like arc.
The bat immediately began to squeal like an otherworldly creature from the Lord of the Rings, and my sanitarian colleague slid a piece of cardboard beneath the now quivering basket. Holding our prey tightly between the cardboard and wicker with our four hands, we traipsed through the Health Department to a blessedly large window intelligently opened by our boss, and the bat in question was released into the cool June New England air, landing with a confused yet simultaneously gentle thud on the roof below. Moments later, he (or she) lifted into the air and vanished into the trees.
Resting on our bat-catching laurels, we returned to our individuals duties, each to his or her own desk once again, and the bat summarily forgot all about us and its adventure inside a local municipal health department.
They don't teach you this stuff in nursing school.
Closing the door behind me, I calmly made my way to a colleague's office. He's a health inspector and sanitarian, level-headed and pragmatic, and I recruited him in my bat-catching endeavor.
Meanwhile, while said colleague ran in search of heavy-duty gloves, my boss and our administrative assistant insisted on seeing the bat, peeking in behind me as I reopened my office door.
"Don't touch it, Keith. You can't. Please don't," said my boss.
By now, the bat had descended to the table next to the file cabinet and I feared I might lose him. I dashed to the kitchen, found a small wicker basket (the size that might, for reason of illustration only, hold two medium-sized lemons) and rushed back to my office to see the creature still lurking (in quintessential bat fashion, I may add) on the aforementioned table.
At the very moment my favorite health inspector/sanitarian arrived with heavy duty gloves donned, I raised my basket into the air, took three steps---not two, but three---and trapped the bat with a rapid descending basket-like arc.
The bat immediately began to squeal like an otherworldly creature from the Lord of the Rings, and my sanitarian colleague slid a piece of cardboard beneath the now quivering basket. Holding our prey tightly between the cardboard and wicker with our four hands, we traipsed through the Health Department to a blessedly large window intelligently opened by our boss, and the bat in question was released into the cool June New England air, landing with a confused yet simultaneously gentle thud on the roof below. Moments later, he (or she) lifted into the air and vanished into the trees.
Resting on our bat-catching laurels, we returned to our individuals duties, each to his or her own desk once again, and the bat summarily forgot all about us and its adventure inside a local municipal health department.
They don't teach you this stuff in nursing school.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Grand Rounds at ACP Internist
The newest edition of Grand Rounds, the venerable blog carnival of all things medicine, nursing and health care, is up at ACP Internist. Both Digital Doorway and The Adventures of Bob the Nurse are included. Cruise on over if you have a moment to spare.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Surviving Stress
These days, it seems that stress is the #1 factor impacting my health and the health of many others that I know. From financial worries to chronic health conditions to the multifaceted and fast-paced aspects of modern life, many of us are suffering from stress on some level or another, and I submit that stress universally impacts the health of millions, both as a cause of disease, as a symptom, and as a 21st century illness or syndrome in and of itself.
Many subsume their stress with alcohol, sugar, caffeine, unnecessary spending, and various forms of addiction and emotional sublimation. We all feel the effects, and we all react in our idiosyncratic way to the vicissitudes of life.
On a personal level, I have lately turned to acupuncture, herbs, supplements, meditation, exercise, and dietary and nutritional changes to assuage the effects of stress. Further challenging myself to pursue optimal health and wellness, I have engaged the counsel of a wellness coach who helps to keep me on track as I navigate some challenging personal times.
All of these changes and approaches have indeed decreased the severity of my Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, improved several aspects of my health, and pointed me further down the road towards optimal wellness. Still, certain chronic conditions continue to rear their heads, and I struggle to make more headway in those areas.
The pace of life frequently seems largely untenable, and we manage our lives as best we can amidst the tumult. We eat well, keep hydrated, exercise, seek leisure and fun, connect with family and friends, pursue creative projects and spiritual renewal---all in the name of balance and wellness.
It's a bumpy road, and all too often we lose sight of our own self care as we focus like a laser beam on our latest to-do list and the unending tasks before us.
Personally, I need to take an enormous breath, sit back, and reassess what's really most important in my life. Failing to do so would simply be an invitation for the stress monster to sink it's teeth deeper. In my commitment to wellness and optimal health, it's ultimately a commitment to creating the healthiest, most satisfying and productive life possible.
Many subsume their stress with alcohol, sugar, caffeine, unnecessary spending, and various forms of addiction and emotional sublimation. We all feel the effects, and we all react in our idiosyncratic way to the vicissitudes of life.
On a personal level, I have lately turned to acupuncture, herbs, supplements, meditation, exercise, and dietary and nutritional changes to assuage the effects of stress. Further challenging myself to pursue optimal health and wellness, I have engaged the counsel of a wellness coach who helps to keep me on track as I navigate some challenging personal times.
All of these changes and approaches have indeed decreased the severity of my Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, improved several aspects of my health, and pointed me further down the road towards optimal wellness. Still, certain chronic conditions continue to rear their heads, and I struggle to make more headway in those areas.
The pace of life frequently seems largely untenable, and we manage our lives as best we can amidst the tumult. We eat well, keep hydrated, exercise, seek leisure and fun, connect with family and friends, pursue creative projects and spiritual renewal---all in the name of balance and wellness.
It's a bumpy road, and all too often we lose sight of our own self care as we focus like a laser beam on our latest to-do list and the unending tasks before us.
Personally, I need to take an enormous breath, sit back, and reassess what's really most important in my life. Failing to do so would simply be an invitation for the stress monster to sink it's teeth deeper. In my commitment to wellness and optimal health, it's ultimately a commitment to creating the healthiest, most satisfying and productive life possible.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Of Tetanus and Fishing Line
"I heard you have free shots here, and I think I need a Tetanus shot." He is a friendly middle-aged man with a thick accent.
"Well yes, I usually do, but I don't have any Tetanus today. I'm sorry. But call me in two weeks and I'll have some for sure. Is it urgent?" I ask.
"Not really," he says. Pulling up his sleeve, he reveals a fairly large slice on his bicep, sewn together with blue fishing line.
"I work as a carpenter, and I often cut myself," he explains. "Whenever I do, I get out my needle and fishing line and stitch it up myself." He is obviously proud but simultaneously nonchalant.
"Wow. That's impressive," I reply, examining his needlework and the reddened area around the wound. "Do you know when your last Tetanus was?"
"Not really," he replies, "but I'm sure I'll be OK."
"You can go to several places that offer free care. They may have Tetanus in stock."
"No thanks. I'll call you in a few weeks and get it then. No problem."
I give him my card and tell him to call me in a week or so. My vaccine order is late this month and I feel badly that I wasn't able to make the order in time for this month's clinic. His DIY stitching was indeed impressive, but it drives home the point that there are millions of Americans just like him who have no health insurance and no way to receive even the most basic medical care without a great deal of effort and expense.
So, this man carries fishing line and a (sterile?) needle in his toolbox when he's on the job. How many people walk around with poorly healed wounds, unnecessary infections and God knows what else while corporate executives make off with billion-dollar severance packages?
It's enough to make me want to go fishing and leave it all behind.
"Well yes, I usually do, but I don't have any Tetanus today. I'm sorry. But call me in two weeks and I'll have some for sure. Is it urgent?" I ask.
"Not really," he says. Pulling up his sleeve, he reveals a fairly large slice on his bicep, sewn together with blue fishing line.
"I work as a carpenter, and I often cut myself," he explains. "Whenever I do, I get out my needle and fishing line and stitch it up myself." He is obviously proud but simultaneously nonchalant.
"Wow. That's impressive," I reply, examining his needlework and the reddened area around the wound. "Do you know when your last Tetanus was?"
"Not really," he replies, "but I'm sure I'll be OK."
"You can go to several places that offer free care. They may have Tetanus in stock."
"No thanks. I'll call you in a few weeks and get it then. No problem."
I give him my card and tell him to call me in a week or so. My vaccine order is late this month and I feel badly that I wasn't able to make the order in time for this month's clinic. His DIY stitching was indeed impressive, but it drives home the point that there are millions of Americans just like him who have no health insurance and no way to receive even the most basic medical care without a great deal of effort and expense.
So, this man carries fishing line and a (sterile?) needle in his toolbox when he's on the job. How many people walk around with poorly healed wounds, unnecessary infections and God knows what else while corporate executives make off with billion-dollar severance packages?
It's enough to make me want to go fishing and leave it all behind.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Change of Shift at Florence dot com
There is an excellent new edition of Change of Shift over at Florence dot com. Please surf over and peruse this week's offerings from the premier nurse blogger carnival.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
A Health Coach?
As I contemplate ways to make money and do good in the world without reporting to an office every day, I've been scanning my list of skills and credentials and coming up with some ideas.
Reviewing my vocational history, I am a Bachelor's educated Registered Nurse with 14 years of experience of case management, hospice, ambulatory nursing, home care, community health, and public health. I have skills as a writer, blogger and editor, and have been published in several books.
Beyond nursing, I am a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, a Certified Practitioner of Swedish Massage, a Level I Reiki Practitioner, and a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.
With some expertise in the areas of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, case management, and chronic illness management, I find that people often ask me for advice, be it medical, nursing, or simply about life in general.
So, I frequently wonder about the possibility of "hanging a shingle" as a coach, perhaps as a professional health and wellness coach. While the idea is still germinating, I'm working with a health coach myself, experiencing the benefits of such a relationship, and realizing that I have the skills to do it.
Interestingly, a friend called tonight and asked me for urgent medical advice. While I don't picture myself soliciting business for a personal "ask-a-nurse" hotline, I can see that my nursing can indeed be parlayed into a relationship wherein an individual in need of guidance and advice might benefit from the holistic intervention of a coach with a nurse's education.
Speaking of nurses, I have also considered running workshops for nurses on burnout prevention, and perhaps there's a new niche market in being a health coach specifically for nurses and health care providers. After all, we caregivers can be horrendous at taking care of ourselves, so there may indeed be very specific ways that someone like me can help nurses and others figure out how to make the most of their lives, care for themselves well, and optimize their health and wellness.
The wheels are turning, and we shall see how they continue to turn.
Reviewing my vocational history, I am a Bachelor's educated Registered Nurse with 14 years of experience of case management, hospice, ambulatory nursing, home care, community health, and public health. I have skills as a writer, blogger and editor, and have been published in several books.
Beyond nursing, I am a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, a Certified Practitioner of Swedish Massage, a Level I Reiki Practitioner, and a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.
With some expertise in the areas of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, case management, and chronic illness management, I find that people often ask me for advice, be it medical, nursing, or simply about life in general.
So, I frequently wonder about the possibility of "hanging a shingle" as a coach, perhaps as a professional health and wellness coach. While the idea is still germinating, I'm working with a health coach myself, experiencing the benefits of such a relationship, and realizing that I have the skills to do it.
Interestingly, a friend called tonight and asked me for urgent medical advice. While I don't picture myself soliciting business for a personal "ask-a-nurse" hotline, I can see that my nursing can indeed be parlayed into a relationship wherein an individual in need of guidance and advice might benefit from the holistic intervention of a coach with a nurse's education.
Speaking of nurses, I have also considered running workshops for nurses on burnout prevention, and perhaps there's a new niche market in being a health coach specifically for nurses and health care providers. After all, we caregivers can be horrendous at taking care of ourselves, so there may indeed be very specific ways that someone like me can help nurses and others figure out how to make the most of their lives, care for themselves well, and optimize their health and wellness.
The wheels are turning, and we shall see how they continue to turn.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Surviving Nursing School
Today I met with a new friend who just finished his first year of nursing school. Listening to his (almost universal) story of the travails of nursing education, my mind wanders back to just how difficult it all was, even as the rose-colored glasses of time filter out the suffering that such an experience entailed.
It's funny how one cannot altogether remember pain. Even women who have been through childbirth often say that they know it was the most painful experience of their lives, but they simply can't conjure up the intensity of the moment. The human brain and body are so self-protective. We easily allow the vicissitudes of life to be covered over with the mental cobwebs of forgetfulness, and I guess that's a good thing.
So, back to nursing school. Why do nursing professors so often make it a living hell? Why does it have to feel like boot camp? If nurses still eat their young, is it assumed that it's best to prepare nursing students for their eventual consumption by roasting them alive as they're educated?
Even though I can't remember my specific complaints about nursing school (and there were two different schools through which I ushered myself), it was indeed a painstaking experience peppered with struggle and angst (especially as an Associate Degree candidate).
All nursing students have my sympathy as they ride the waves of nursing education, often faced with jaded professors and clinical preceptors. Still, there are always gems amidst the stress and heartache, and there were several educators for whom I had the highest esteem and regard.
Yes, we are the most trusted and respected professionals in America, but the process of becoming a nurse can often be rather difficult and distasteful. As Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies once sang: "It's not as bad as eating one's own liver, but I'd like to think that there are better methods."
It's funny how one cannot altogether remember pain. Even women who have been through childbirth often say that they know it was the most painful experience of their lives, but they simply can't conjure up the intensity of the moment. The human brain and body are so self-protective. We easily allow the vicissitudes of life to be covered over with the mental cobwebs of forgetfulness, and I guess that's a good thing.
So, back to nursing school. Why do nursing professors so often make it a living hell? Why does it have to feel like boot camp? If nurses still eat their young, is it assumed that it's best to prepare nursing students for their eventual consumption by roasting them alive as they're educated?
Even though I can't remember my specific complaints about nursing school (and there were two different schools through which I ushered myself), it was indeed a painstaking experience peppered with struggle and angst (especially as an Associate Degree candidate).
All nursing students have my sympathy as they ride the waves of nursing education, often faced with jaded professors and clinical preceptors. Still, there are always gems amidst the stress and heartache, and there were several educators for whom I had the highest esteem and regard.
Yes, we are the most trusted and respected professionals in America, but the process of becoming a nurse can often be rather difficult and distasteful. As Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies once sang: "It's not as bad as eating one's own liver, but I'd like to think that there are better methods."
Friday, May 29, 2009
"Nurse Jackie" Disappoints and Demeans
So, I just finished watching the first episode of "Nurse Jackie", the new Showtime television show about a nurse on the front lines.
What is so disappointing about "Nurse Jackie" is that, in the first five minutes of the premier, this insipid "dramedy" depicts the lead character snorting narcotics while on the clock, forging a dead patient's signature on an organ donor card, lying to said patient's family about the organ donor status of their loved one, and engaging in illicit sex with a coworker while her husband's at home caring for her two young children. Meanwhile, a 1st year nursing student pegs our heroine (or anti-heroine, if you will) as a saint, a designation that Jackie appears to aspire to, "but just not yet".
Now, I'm not so naive as to think that there aren't nurses out there who divert medications, have affairs with coworkers, and engage in all manner of improper behavior. But I take issue with the fact that even though nurses are the most trusted professionals in the United States on survey after survey, the media continues to portray nurses in derogatory ways that undermine our credibility and image in the eyes of the public.
While Florence Nightingale may indeed be the most famous nurse in history, Nurse Ratched of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is probably a close second. Sadly, the premier of "Nurse Jackie" does nothing to advance the cause of nursing in the eyes of the television audience, relying instead on gallows humor, sexual intrigue and drug diversion to add spice to a lackluster premier that demeans nurses and diverts the public's attention from the real story of nursing that is ultimately more compelling than any faux "dramedy" could ever be.
What is so disappointing about "Nurse Jackie" is that, in the first five minutes of the premier, this insipid "dramedy" depicts the lead character snorting narcotics while on the clock, forging a dead patient's signature on an organ donor card, lying to said patient's family about the organ donor status of their loved one, and engaging in illicit sex with a coworker while her husband's at home caring for her two young children. Meanwhile, a 1st year nursing student pegs our heroine (or anti-heroine, if you will) as a saint, a designation that Jackie appears to aspire to, "but just not yet".
Now, I'm not so naive as to think that there aren't nurses out there who divert medications, have affairs with coworkers, and engage in all manner of improper behavior. But I take issue with the fact that even though nurses are the most trusted professionals in the United States on survey after survey, the media continues to portray nurses in derogatory ways that undermine our credibility and image in the eyes of the public.
While Florence Nightingale may indeed be the most famous nurse in history, Nurse Ratched of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is probably a close second. Sadly, the premier of "Nurse Jackie" does nothing to advance the cause of nursing in the eyes of the television audience, relying instead on gallows humor, sexual intrigue and drug diversion to add spice to a lackluster premier that demeans nurses and diverts the public's attention from the real story of nursing that is ultimately more compelling than any faux "dramedy" could ever be.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
H1N1 Creeps Along
The H1N1 virus, otherwise known as Swine Flu, is creeping along at a slow but steady pace, and my work as a public health nurse amidst the outbreak of a novel influenza virus has certainly ebbed----for now.
As predicted by many, the virus is currently no more virulent than your average seasonal influenza, and while more cases and deaths are indeed expected, the rate of the spread of H1N1 is slow and steady rather than rapid and diffuse.
Still, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to what will happen when H1N1 goes somewhat underground over the summer, only to resurface in the Autumn, mutated and ready for the seasonal flu season. Epidemiologists are concerned due to the fact that the 1918 influenza pandemic began with a novel virus emerging in the Spring, spreading slowly but steadily, diminishing in the summer and reemerging in the Autumn, hundreds of times more virulent. Only time will tell.
Another novel aspect of this virus is that, unlike seasonal influenza---which predominately impacts older adults and those with chronic illnesses---the majority of H1N1 cases are those between the ages of 5 and 20, with the vast preponderance being between the ages of 11 and 15. The assumption is that those generations of children have never been exposed to this virus before, whereas the rest of us were alive in the 1970s during the last H1N1 outbreak. And whereas most children and young adults are healthy enough to fight off the infection, there are concerns about children with weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses. When children die from otherwise benign infections, people take notice, and this is an eventuality we all want to avoid.
Be that as it may, the H1N1 scenario is relatively calm for now, and those of us working in public health and other sectors of the health care industry watch, wait, listen, and hope that nothing more comes of this outbreak of a novel virus making its inexorable way around the world.
As predicted by many, the virus is currently no more virulent than your average seasonal influenza, and while more cases and deaths are indeed expected, the rate of the spread of H1N1 is slow and steady rather than rapid and diffuse.
Still, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to what will happen when H1N1 goes somewhat underground over the summer, only to resurface in the Autumn, mutated and ready for the seasonal flu season. Epidemiologists are concerned due to the fact that the 1918 influenza pandemic began with a novel virus emerging in the Spring, spreading slowly but steadily, diminishing in the summer and reemerging in the Autumn, hundreds of times more virulent. Only time will tell.
Another novel aspect of this virus is that, unlike seasonal influenza---which predominately impacts older adults and those with chronic illnesses---the majority of H1N1 cases are those between the ages of 5 and 20, with the vast preponderance being between the ages of 11 and 15. The assumption is that those generations of children have never been exposed to this virus before, whereas the rest of us were alive in the 1970s during the last H1N1 outbreak. And whereas most children and young adults are healthy enough to fight off the infection, there are concerns about children with weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses. When children die from otherwise benign infections, people take notice, and this is an eventuality we all want to avoid.
Be that as it may, the H1N1 scenario is relatively calm for now, and those of us working in public health and other sectors of the health care industry watch, wait, listen, and hope that nothing more comes of this outbreak of a novel virus making its inexorable way around the world.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Bob the Nurse in California
For those of you who have not been following my other blog, The Adventures of Bob the Nurse, Bob is currently in California for a break from life in New England. His journey and adventures are being documented by his hostess, Gina of Code Blog, and we are now seeking other places for him to visit and enjoy.
If you would like to host Bob and send digital photos documenting his visit for posting on Bob's blog, you will be credited for each photo with a link to your website or blog, if you have one. Please contact me if you're interested in being a host for Bob, and pay his blog a visit, where a new photo is posted every day!
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
If you would like to host Bob and send digital photos documenting his visit for posting on Bob's blog, you will be credited for each photo with a link to your website or blog, if you have one. Please contact me if you're interested in being a host for Bob, and pay his blog a visit, where a new photo is posted every day!
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Change of Shift and Bob the Nurse
The newest edition of Change of Shift, that nursing blog carnival we all love, is currently viewable at Emergiblog.
I'm happy to report that our hero, Bob the Nurse, is prominently featured on Change of Shift once again, as is Digital Doorway.
By the way, Bob is about to take a trip to California, where he will vacation with the kind and hospitable author of CodeBlog. We have no doubt that photos will start pouring in as he gallavants in the land of milk and honey.
I'm happy to report that our hero, Bob the Nurse, is prominently featured on Change of Shift once again, as is Digital Doorway.
By the way, Bob is about to take a trip to California, where he will vacation with the kind and hospitable author of CodeBlog. We have no doubt that photos will start pouring in as he gallavants in the land of milk and honey.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Top 50 Nursing Blogs
I am honored that Digital Doorway has been included in a new list of the top 50 nursing blogs on the internet. The website named Online Nursing Degree Guide has compiled the list and published it today on their website, and I am very grateful for, and humbled by, their recognition.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Grand Rounds: The Diversity Edition
The latest edition of Grand Rounds---the most respected and widely known medical blog carnival on the internet---is now up at Health Blogs Observatory, with a general theme of diversity. I am honored to have my post entitled "Swine Flu and the Working Poor" included in such a fine edition of Grand Rounds.
Of note, Health Blogs Observatory is an "online research lab" which examines the health blogosphere, and I highly recommend spending some time perusing this interesting resource.
Of note, Health Blogs Observatory is an "online research lab" which examines the health blogosphere, and I highly recommend spending some time perusing this interesting resource.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers Day
Many wishes for a very happy Mothers Day to everyone who has ever been a mother, had a mother, or provided mothering to another person or animal.
While Mothers Day does indeed conjure expected and quintessential visions of motherhood, there are many forms of mothering and many kinds of mothers, and I want to offer a friendly and appreciative nod to anyone who sees themselves as a mother of any kind.
There are birth mothers, stepmothers, adopted mothers, those who mother injured animals, and men who mother their children. It's almost impossible to list all of those connected with mothering, but suffice it to say that this day recognizes the essence of motherhood and mothering, and I give thanks for my mother, my stepmother, my mother-in-law, my deceased grandmothers, my wife, and all of those who have mothered me in so many ways over the years.
Happy Mothers Day to all.
While Mothers Day does indeed conjure expected and quintessential visions of motherhood, there are many forms of mothering and many kinds of mothers, and I want to offer a friendly and appreciative nod to anyone who sees themselves as a mother of any kind.
There are birth mothers, stepmothers, adopted mothers, those who mother injured animals, and men who mother their children. It's almost impossible to list all of those connected with mothering, but suffice it to say that this day recognizes the essence of motherhood and mothering, and I give thanks for my mother, my stepmother, my mother-in-law, my deceased grandmothers, my wife, and all of those who have mothered me in so many ways over the years.
Happy Mothers Day to all.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Swine Flu and the Working Poor
Several times today, the issue came up regarding what a conundrum the working poor face when forced to keep a child with flu-like symptoms out of school for a week.
With the CDC recommending seven days of home isolation for any child exhibiting a flu-like illness, we discussed in staff meeting what a difficult scenario this must be for parents who work in low-wage occupations that offer no sick time or personal time to care for their sick children.
As Barbara Ehrenreich so deftly illustrated in her seminal book, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America", the working poor are employed in occupations where not being able to come to work is almost ubiquitously grounds for instant termination.
So, when a single mother of three who cleans offices for a non-unionized cleaning company, she lives in fear of a child falling ill and missing school. Since her other family members also work in jobs they must protect by never missing a day of work, this "nickeled and dimed" wage earner is between a rock and a hard place when the school sends her feverish child home and demands that he or she not return for seven calendar days.
I am in no way stating that the CDC is erroneous in its recommendations for protecting the public from sick individuals potentially infected with the H1N1 virus, but we must not overlook the plight of the poor and the working poor when mandating sick days for children whose parents are at such risk of losing the little employment they have.
Now, government cannot solve every problem for every citizen at all times, but when we are mandating such a strict policy of isolation from school during a time when every person with a job desperately needs to retain that job in order to survive, there is a missing piece to the economic puzzle that must be examined, if not addressed.
Many workers are woefully unprotected from being laid off or fired when they miss a day of work for reasons well beyond their control, and the H1N1 virus may very well prove to be a problem for many workers on the edge of the wayward economy.
With the CDC recommending seven days of home isolation for any child exhibiting a flu-like illness, we discussed in staff meeting what a difficult scenario this must be for parents who work in low-wage occupations that offer no sick time or personal time to care for their sick children.
As Barbara Ehrenreich so deftly illustrated in her seminal book, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America", the working poor are employed in occupations where not being able to come to work is almost ubiquitously grounds for instant termination.
So, when a single mother of three who cleans offices for a non-unionized cleaning company, she lives in fear of a child falling ill and missing school. Since her other family members also work in jobs they must protect by never missing a day of work, this "nickeled and dimed" wage earner is between a rock and a hard place when the school sends her feverish child home and demands that he or she not return for seven calendar days.
I am in no way stating that the CDC is erroneous in its recommendations for protecting the public from sick individuals potentially infected with the H1N1 virus, but we must not overlook the plight of the poor and the working poor when mandating sick days for children whose parents are at such risk of losing the little employment they have.
Now, government cannot solve every problem for every citizen at all times, but when we are mandating such a strict policy of isolation from school during a time when every person with a job desperately needs to retain that job in order to survive, there is a missing piece to the economic puzzle that must be examined, if not addressed.
Many workers are woefully unprotected from being laid off or fired when they miss a day of work for reasons well beyond their control, and the H1N1 virus may very well prove to be a problem for many workers on the edge of the wayward economy.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Calling in Sick on Nurses Day
This morning, I am feeling unwell, so I decided to call in sick to work. Having no idea that it was indeed Nurses Day, the administrative assistant at our office expressed her dismay that I was not coming in, leading me to believe that a celebration of some sort had been planned, arrangements that were now foiled by my decision to remain in bed.
That said, my wife remarked that calling in sick on Nurses Day is in many ways quite perfect. Nurses work hard---often too hard---and I am no exception. And like many relatively new employees on probation, I still have no sick time or vacation until I reach my six-month performance review at the end of May. But no matter---self-care is paramount, and this is the perfect day to eschew the vicissitudes of work and the ongoing swine flu extravaganza.
For many, Nurses Day translates as greeting cards, flowers, a pat on the back, and a moment of recognition amidst the frenzied work of health care. For me, Nurses Day conjures images of rest, respite from the work of nursing, and a moment to reflect and remember why I became a nurse, why I'm still a nurse, and how I can take care of myself as a nurse.
After thirteen years in nursing, I have experienced fulfillment, burnout, fatigue, overwhelming stress, camaraderie, boredom, confusion, frustration, excitement, and a mixture of too many other emotions and states of mind to describe here. It has been an interesting ride, and while I'm not sure that nursing will always be some aspect of my working life, I do know for certain that my "nursing mind" will always be an active part of the lens through which I view the world.
For today, I lay my nursing cap by the side of the bed (except when I check my work voicemail and email, of course), and I allow myself a day to play hookey and rest my weary nursing bones. With the birds singing outside the window and our Japanese Maple Tree in full crimson bloom, I sink down next to Tina the Dog and breathe a well-deserved sigh of relief.
That said, my wife remarked that calling in sick on Nurses Day is in many ways quite perfect. Nurses work hard---often too hard---and I am no exception. And like many relatively new employees on probation, I still have no sick time or vacation until I reach my six-month performance review at the end of May. But no matter---self-care is paramount, and this is the perfect day to eschew the vicissitudes of work and the ongoing swine flu extravaganza.
For many, Nurses Day translates as greeting cards, flowers, a pat on the back, and a moment of recognition amidst the frenzied work of health care. For me, Nurses Day conjures images of rest, respite from the work of nursing, and a moment to reflect and remember why I became a nurse, why I'm still a nurse, and how I can take care of myself as a nurse.
After thirteen years in nursing, I have experienced fulfillment, burnout, fatigue, overwhelming stress, camaraderie, boredom, confusion, frustration, excitement, and a mixture of too many other emotions and states of mind to describe here. It has been an interesting ride, and while I'm not sure that nursing will always be some aspect of my working life, I do know for certain that my "nursing mind" will always be an active part of the lens through which I view the world.
For today, I lay my nursing cap by the side of the bed (except when I check my work voicemail and email, of course), and I allow myself a day to play hookey and rest my weary nursing bones. With the birds singing outside the window and our Japanese Maple Tree in full crimson bloom, I sink down next to Tina the Dog and breathe a well-deserved sigh of relief.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Bob the Nurse Gets a Plug from Code Blog
My blogger friend Gina over at CodeBlog has posted about my new blog, "The Adventures of Bob the Nurse". I recently submitted a photo of Bob to an edition of the nursing blog carnival, Change of Shift, and Gina has been kind enough to champion Bob's cause! Additionally, Bob has been invited out West for a vacation where he could experience a needed change of scenery....
So, please visit Bob's world, and also pay a visit to Gina's post about our friend Bob. He truly gets around, and we hope to send him on a lovely vacation some day soon!
So, please visit Bob's world, and also pay a visit to Gina's post about our friend Bob. He truly gets around, and we hope to send him on a lovely vacation some day soon!
Twitter, Social Media and Emergency Preparedness!
Today, I spent an hour or so introducing a group of Medical Reserve Corps leaders to the world of Twitter. I have personally been using Twitter for a number of months. In fact, this blog feeds to my Twitter account automatically.
Now, for those who are working in the fields of emergency preparedness and public health, Twitter has a great deal to offer in terms of the aggregation of vast amounts of information on specific topics of interest. Swine flu has been an excellent example of Twitter's utility for keeping track of trends vis-a-vis the development of the disease, especially when such players as the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, FEMA, and the FDA chime in on their Twitter feeds multiple times per day.
Someone in our training stated that it's remarkable that the CDC and other large organizations actually pay someone to aggregate their material and post it on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites. However, I would beg to differ. I would actually find it remarkable if these organizations chose to not utilize social networking as a means of getting their message out there. There are segments of the population who rely on social networking for news, friendship, professional networking and entertainment, and savvy organizations with something to communicate are intelligently jumping on this bandwagon.
In terms of my friends and colleagues in the emergency preparedness world, one of my warnings was that, while Twitter and other sites can be fun and informative, it is best to keep a tight rein on who one chooses to follow and how much time one devotes to such an endeavor. Social media can be an enormous time waster, and even the most diligent of us can be unwittingly sucked in, even when the clock is ticking and there is work to be done.
That said, if one is interested in knowing the latest information on swine flu, public health threats, fires, product recalls and disease outbreaks, there is a veritable river of useful information flowing on Twitter that can keep one up to speed on a daily basis.
Social networking has certainly found a variety of audiences, and it remains to be seen how these applications will change and grow as they become more popular and their creators decide how to monetize them. Twitter is still a free service that's 100% free of ads, but I'm fairly certain that we will eventually see some form of ads on Twitter, just as we have seen ads develop as Facebook found its place in the online universe.
For emergency preparedness folks, tracking the trends and keeping in touch with colleagues on the front lines is a very useful way to apply Twitter to the work that we do. When emergency response teams on the ground can post brief and informative up-to-the-minute tweets about their current status vis-a-vis an ongoing emergency, everyone wins. And when we can easily track the progress of a new disease or other emerging threat with an application that's easy to use and free, there truly seems to be nothing to lose.
I'm happy to be opening my colleague's eyes to the uses of blogging and social for public health and emergency preparedness and response, and if these processes and applications actually serve to improve lives or otherwise positively impact our good work in the world, then I am a happy nurse indeed.
Now, for those who are working in the fields of emergency preparedness and public health, Twitter has a great deal to offer in terms of the aggregation of vast amounts of information on specific topics of interest. Swine flu has been an excellent example of Twitter's utility for keeping track of trends vis-a-vis the development of the disease, especially when such players as the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, FEMA, and the FDA chime in on their Twitter feeds multiple times per day.
Someone in our training stated that it's remarkable that the CDC and other large organizations actually pay someone to aggregate their material and post it on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites. However, I would beg to differ. I would actually find it remarkable if these organizations chose to not utilize social networking as a means of getting their message out there. There are segments of the population who rely on social networking for news, friendship, professional networking and entertainment, and savvy organizations with something to communicate are intelligently jumping on this bandwagon.
In terms of my friends and colleagues in the emergency preparedness world, one of my warnings was that, while Twitter and other sites can be fun and informative, it is best to keep a tight rein on who one chooses to follow and how much time one devotes to such an endeavor. Social media can be an enormous time waster, and even the most diligent of us can be unwittingly sucked in, even when the clock is ticking and there is work to be done.
That said, if one is interested in knowing the latest information on swine flu, public health threats, fires, product recalls and disease outbreaks, there is a veritable river of useful information flowing on Twitter that can keep one up to speed on a daily basis.
Social networking has certainly found a variety of audiences, and it remains to be seen how these applications will change and grow as they become more popular and their creators decide how to monetize them. Twitter is still a free service that's 100% free of ads, but I'm fairly certain that we will eventually see some form of ads on Twitter, just as we have seen ads develop as Facebook found its place in the online universe.
For emergency preparedness folks, tracking the trends and keeping in touch with colleagues on the front lines is a very useful way to apply Twitter to the work that we do. When emergency response teams on the ground can post brief and informative up-to-the-minute tweets about their current status vis-a-vis an ongoing emergency, everyone wins. And when we can easily track the progress of a new disease or other emerging threat with an application that's easy to use and free, there truly seems to be nothing to lose.
I'm happy to be opening my colleague's eyes to the uses of blogging and social for public health and emergency preparedness and response, and if these processes and applications actually serve to improve lives or otherwise positively impact our good work in the world, then I am a happy nurse indeed.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Swine Flu Fatigue?
Dear Readers, I apologize for not posting since Monday. My work life has been consumed with swine flu and its effects here on the local level, and Digital Doorway has suffered from a lack of attention. This situation will now be remedied.
So, a lot of people are already complaining of Swine Flu Fatigue. Of course, the media has latched onto this breaking news, disseminating information---and misinformation---throughout the 24-hour news cycle that is part and parcel of our 21st century lives. Still, a novel virus making its way around the world is certainly cause for concern and conversation, and the public health infrastructure is certainly responding as it should in such a circumstance.
On Twitter, on grocery lines, and in workplaces, various individuals claim that the government is overreacting, that public health officials are making a mountain out of molehill, and that the media is fanning the flames for the benefit of increased revenue in dark economic times. But I must beg to differ.
As a (relatively novice) public health official, I am impressed and heartened by the rapid, comprehensive and thoughtful reaction by the global public health community to this new viral threat. I have taken part in numerous conference calls with the CDC, with our state Department of Public Health, FEMA, and other players, and I can see that officials are acting responsibly and appropriately to a credible threat.
When Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans and our government was essentially asleep at the wheel, FEMA and other emergency management agencies fell down on the job, and their negligence and slow response certainly resulted in increased suffering, loss and death in the ensuing days during and after the storm. In retrospect, the public and media called for answers, recognizing clearly that preemption of calamity is an essential aspect of managing such situations before they mushroom out of control. The initial Katrina response was essentially a failure, and lessons learned at that time are still being analyzed and digested.
With swine flu, we have another opportunity for the machines of government, public health, surveillance and emergency preparedness to swing into action before all-out calamity strikes. While the current measures and attention being paid to the situation may appear to some to be somewhat overblown, one must only imagine what we might all say at some future date if the government's reaction to the early stages of the outbreak were less robust.
If this indeed becomes a global pandemic of massive scale in the months to come, it will be certain that we will be thankful that the assets and resources made available by the government and associated agencies were activated so early in the development of this viral process.
With antiviral medications at the ready and vast amounts of information being made available to the general public, the media, and the medical community on an up-to-the-minute basis, we can rest assured that the situation is being monitored vigorously by those in positions to make clear and intelligent decisions.
Here on the public health front lines, we local boards of health rely on the federal and state governments to guide us as we answer the public's questions, assuage their fears, and prepare our own local assets for appropriate and timely response. We are very appreciative of the responsiveness of the CDC and our other response partners, and without their guidance, this process would be infinitely more challenging.
In a few weeks or months, if the pandemic proves to be short-lived, we will all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we were properly prepared for a feasible and credible threat to public health. While some would potentially point fingers and make light of our credibility vis-a-vis such threats, we will still maintain our thankfulness that we reacted so swiftly and comprehensively based on the information available at the time the outbreak began.
If the outbreak does indeed develop into a larger-scale pandemic, then our reactions will also have been proven to be prudent and correct, and we will be well prepared to face the mounting threat.
Whatever the outcome, I see the national and global response to swine flu as an excellent example of how the public health infrastructure can mount a credible and rapid response on the local, regional, national and global levels when needed. This is a test---no matter the outcome---and in my view, the reaction to swine flu has been an excellent example of prudence, intelligence, and collective preemptive action at a time when such qualities are sorely needed and duly delivered.
So, a lot of people are already complaining of Swine Flu Fatigue. Of course, the media has latched onto this breaking news, disseminating information---and misinformation---throughout the 24-hour news cycle that is part and parcel of our 21st century lives. Still, a novel virus making its way around the world is certainly cause for concern and conversation, and the public health infrastructure is certainly responding as it should in such a circumstance.
On Twitter, on grocery lines, and in workplaces, various individuals claim that the government is overreacting, that public health officials are making a mountain out of molehill, and that the media is fanning the flames for the benefit of increased revenue in dark economic times. But I must beg to differ.
As a (relatively novice) public health official, I am impressed and heartened by the rapid, comprehensive and thoughtful reaction by the global public health community to this new viral threat. I have taken part in numerous conference calls with the CDC, with our state Department of Public Health, FEMA, and other players, and I can see that officials are acting responsibly and appropriately to a credible threat.
When Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans and our government was essentially asleep at the wheel, FEMA and other emergency management agencies fell down on the job, and their negligence and slow response certainly resulted in increased suffering, loss and death in the ensuing days during and after the storm. In retrospect, the public and media called for answers, recognizing clearly that preemption of calamity is an essential aspect of managing such situations before they mushroom out of control. The initial Katrina response was essentially a failure, and lessons learned at that time are still being analyzed and digested.
With swine flu, we have another opportunity for the machines of government, public health, surveillance and emergency preparedness to swing into action before all-out calamity strikes. While the current measures and attention being paid to the situation may appear to some to be somewhat overblown, one must only imagine what we might all say at some future date if the government's reaction to the early stages of the outbreak were less robust.
If this indeed becomes a global pandemic of massive scale in the months to come, it will be certain that we will be thankful that the assets and resources made available by the government and associated agencies were activated so early in the development of this viral process.
With antiviral medications at the ready and vast amounts of information being made available to the general public, the media, and the medical community on an up-to-the-minute basis, we can rest assured that the situation is being monitored vigorously by those in positions to make clear and intelligent decisions.
Here on the public health front lines, we local boards of health rely on the federal and state governments to guide us as we answer the public's questions, assuage their fears, and prepare our own local assets for appropriate and timely response. We are very appreciative of the responsiveness of the CDC and our other response partners, and without their guidance, this process would be infinitely more challenging.
In a few weeks or months, if the pandemic proves to be short-lived, we will all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we were properly prepared for a feasible and credible threat to public health. While some would potentially point fingers and make light of our credibility vis-a-vis such threats, we will still maintain our thankfulness that we reacted so swiftly and comprehensively based on the information available at the time the outbreak began.
If the outbreak does indeed develop into a larger-scale pandemic, then our reactions will also have been proven to be prudent and correct, and we will be well prepared to face the mounting threat.
Whatever the outcome, I see the national and global response to swine flu as an excellent example of how the public health infrastructure can mount a credible and rapid response on the local, regional, national and global levels when needed. This is a test---no matter the outcome---and in my view, the reaction to swine flu has been an excellent example of prudence, intelligence, and collective preemptive action at a time when such qualities are sorely needed and duly delivered.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Swine Flu and the Rubber Meets The Road
When a novel infectious disease makes its presence known, the public health infrastructure swings into action. Now, with the rapid emergence of swine flu in a number of countries around the world, this is a prime example of where the public health rubber meets the road.
Today, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic level for swine flu to Phase 4, meaning that there is now documented human-to-human transmission of a virus "able to sustain community-wide outbreaks". The WHO pandemic classification uses a scale of 1 to 6, with a rating of 6 signifying a global pandemic, a potential that officials are quick to say may or may not occur.
While no one in the United States has yet died from swine flu infection, the public health community takes the situation seriously, especially in light of the rising death toll in Mexico, and the emergence of disease in Spain, Scotland and Canada. in Queens, New York, a number of children who traveled to Mexico over spring vacation have been officially diagnosed with swine flu, and there are reports of school closings in various parts of the country.
Today, conference calls were scheduled by the CDC, state departments of public health, and other major players in the public health and emergency preparedness arenas.
Since I just recently attended the Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit in Dallas last month, I am acutely aware of how the CDC's Strategic National Stockpile figures largely into the response to just this type of public health emergency, and word has it that large amounts of stockpiled antiviral medications are at the ready if mass prophyaxis of the population is needed.
I am duly impressed by the rapid response of the CDC, FEMA and other important agencies involved in the effort vis-a-vis the swine flu outbreak, and we are ready to activate our local Medical Reserve Corps chapter if emergency dispensing of medications or other municipal response is needed.
Speaking of the Medical Reserve Corps, this swine flu outbreak is yet another example of why we need more medical (and non-medical) volunteers to join their local chapters. The MRC is an important part of the public health and emergency response infrastructure, and having a network of thousands of screened, vetted and trained volunteers ready to be mobilized across the country to assist in the response to these types of situations is crucial to protecting local, regional and national responders from being overwhelmed in the case of a surge of need on the part of the public.
For up-to-date information on the outbreak, visit the CDC's Swine Flu Website. This is not a tie for panic, yet it is also a time for vigilance, good hygeine and handwashing, and a circumspectful caution vis-a-vis individuals who exhibit any signs of flu-like illness. Medical providers are receiving detailed information regarding the epidemiology, symptoms and treatment of swine flu. Any individual with flu-like symptoms should refrain from going to work, school or other public places. Such individuals should absolutely wear a mask when in public, and should visit a medical provider as soon as possible.
As a local public health official, I am watching this situation carefully along with my colleagues, and we are in frequent communication with our state department of public health, our local schools, area colleges, and other partner agencies.
The public health infrastructure is indeed in full swing, and I am currently swept up in the rising tide of surveillance as the outbreak widens and deepens.
Today, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic level for swine flu to Phase 4, meaning that there is now documented human-to-human transmission of a virus "able to sustain community-wide outbreaks". The WHO pandemic classification uses a scale of 1 to 6, with a rating of 6 signifying a global pandemic, a potential that officials are quick to say may or may not occur.
While no one in the United States has yet died from swine flu infection, the public health community takes the situation seriously, especially in light of the rising death toll in Mexico, and the emergence of disease in Spain, Scotland and Canada. in Queens, New York, a number of children who traveled to Mexico over spring vacation have been officially diagnosed with swine flu, and there are reports of school closings in various parts of the country.
Today, conference calls were scheduled by the CDC, state departments of public health, and other major players in the public health and emergency preparedness arenas.
Since I just recently attended the Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit in Dallas last month, I am acutely aware of how the CDC's Strategic National Stockpile figures largely into the response to just this type of public health emergency, and word has it that large amounts of stockpiled antiviral medications are at the ready if mass prophyaxis of the population is needed.
I am duly impressed by the rapid response of the CDC, FEMA and other important agencies involved in the effort vis-a-vis the swine flu outbreak, and we are ready to activate our local Medical Reserve Corps chapter if emergency dispensing of medications or other municipal response is needed.
Speaking of the Medical Reserve Corps, this swine flu outbreak is yet another example of why we need more medical (and non-medical) volunteers to join their local chapters. The MRC is an important part of the public health and emergency response infrastructure, and having a network of thousands of screened, vetted and trained volunteers ready to be mobilized across the country to assist in the response to these types of situations is crucial to protecting local, regional and national responders from being overwhelmed in the case of a surge of need on the part of the public.
For up-to-date information on the outbreak, visit the CDC's Swine Flu Website. This is not a tie for panic, yet it is also a time for vigilance, good hygeine and handwashing, and a circumspectful caution vis-a-vis individuals who exhibit any signs of flu-like illness. Medical providers are receiving detailed information regarding the epidemiology, symptoms and treatment of swine flu. Any individual with flu-like symptoms should refrain from going to work, school or other public places. Such individuals should absolutely wear a mask when in public, and should visit a medical provider as soon as possible.
As a local public health official, I am watching this situation carefully along with my colleagues, and we are in frequent communication with our state department of public health, our local schools, area colleges, and other partner agencies.
The public health infrastructure is indeed in full swing, and I am currently swept up in the rising tide of surveillance as the outbreak widens and deepens.
Friday, April 24, 2009
World Malaria Day
Today, April 25th, is World Malaria Day, and according to the official website, there are currently 109 malarious countries in four regions of the world. Established goals have set December 31st, 2010 as the target date for delivering universal, effective, and affordable protection and treatment to all vulnerable persons at risk of malaria.
In concert with the United States Millennium Goals, eradicating malaria is seen to be equally important as eradicating poverty and realizing the laudable goals of protecting women's and children's rights around the world.
Some facts from the World Malaria Day website:
The following interventions need to be delivered worldwide by 2010:
In concert with the United States Millennium Goals, eradicating malaria is seen to be equally important as eradicating poverty and realizing the laudable goals of protecting women's and children's rights around the world.
Some facts from the World Malaria Day website:
The following interventions need to be delivered worldwide by 2010:
- More than 700 million insecticide-treated bednets – half of those in Africa
- More than 200 million of doses of effective treatment
- Indoor spraying for around 200 million homes annually
- Approximately 1.5 billion diagnostic tests annually
- In 2009, roughly $5.3 billion will be needed for malaria control worldwide
- In 2010, $6.2 billion will be needed
- From 2011 to 2020, roughly $5 billion per year will be need to sustain the gains of control measures.
- In addition, about $1 billion per year will be needed for research and development of new prevention and treatment tools
A dramatically expanded access to core anti-malaria interventions (protective nets, spraying, diagnostics and effective drugs) will result in a sharp decline of malaria cases and deaths. However, these measures will not eliminate the mosquito vector, the parasite or the favorable environmental conditions for transmission in many countries and regions. In some countries with naturally high transmission rates, control measures may need to be maintained for 15- 20 years or longer until new tools enabling elimination are developed or new research indicates that control measures can be safely reduced without risk of resurgence.
We are all responsible to support these important global programs, and days like World Malaria day serve to remind us of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of the global community from diseases which are 100% preventable.
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