Utah Department of Health Office of Health Disparities
The Connection: News about overcoming health disparities in Utah

Friday, July 27, 2012

FREE COMMUNITY CANCER SCREENING CLINICS

The American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings for certain cancers. Intermountain Cancer Services is pleased to provide free cancer screenings at your local Intermountain Healthcare community clinic.  Screenings are a way to find cancer in people who have no symptoms of cancer.

THE FOLLOWING CANCER SCREENINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE:
• Cervical Cancer Screening (PAP test) for women ages 20 and older
• Clinical Breast Exam for women ages 20 and older
• Mammogram vouchers for women ages 40-64
• Prostate Screening which includes a blood test and a rectal exam for men ages 50 and older

WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE SCREENING BE HELD?
• August 16 – Lincoln Elementary School Clinic, 5:30-7:30 p.m.1090 Roberta Street (250 East), Salt Lake City

HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR A SCREENING?
All screenings are by appointment only. To sign up for a screening or for more information, please call 801-507-3800. Interpretation services will be available.

PRUEBAS DE DETECCIÓN DE CÁNCER GRATUITAS EN LAS CLÍNICAS DE LA COMUNIDAD
La Sociedad Estadounidense de Oncología recomienda exámenes con regularidad para detectar ciertos tipos de cáncer. Los Servicios de Oncología de Intermountain se complacen en ofrecer pruebas gratuitas de detección de cáncer en la clínica de Intermountain Healthcare en su comunidad local.
Las pruebas de detección son una manera de encontrar cáncer en las personas que no tienen ningún síntoma de cáncer.
SE OFRECERÁN LAS SIGUIENTES PRUEBAS DE DETECCIÓN DE CÁNCER:
• Prueba de detección de cáncer de cuello uterino (Papanicolaou) para mujeres mayores de 20 años de edad.
• Examen clínico de los senos para mujeres mayores de 20 años de edad.
• Vale (cupón) para la mamografía para las mujeres de 40 a 64 años de edad.
• Prueba de detección de cáncer de próstata que incluye un análisis de sangre y un examen rectal para los varones mayores de 50 años de edad.
¿CUÁNDO Y DÓNDE SE REALIZARÁN LAS PRUEBAS DE DETECCIÓN?
• 16 de agosto – Clínica “Lincoln Elementary School”, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
1090 Roberta Street (250 East), Salt Lake City
¿CÓMO PUEDO INSCRIBIRME PARA UNA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE DETECCIÓN?
Todas las pruebas de detección se realizarán con cita previa solamente. Para inscribirse o para obtener más información, sírvase llamar al teléfono 801-507-3800.
Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Training at UDOH: Breaking the Glass-Navigating Sexual health & HIV Stigma with African Immigrants and Refugees


The National African Immigrant Project at the Office of Minority Health
Resource Center, Utah Department of Health and Musungu HIV/AIDS
Support Organization present
Breaking the Glass:  Navigating Sexual health & HIV Stigma with African Immigrants and Refugees
Monday July, 30th, 2012
10:00am – 2:00 pm
(Registration begins at 9:30am)
Utah Department of Health
Cannon Health Building Room 114
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City, Utah
84116
Trainers are:
Ijeoma Otigbuo, PhD,
Emmanuel Koku, PhD,
Ade Assani-Uva, MS. RD. LD.
Margaret Korto, MBA, MHA, Office of Minority Health Resource Center
TARGET AUDIENCE: Healthcare providers who work with African clients
ATTENDANCE IS FREE but space is limited. Please RSVP.
For registration please call
(801) 538-9159

Thursday, July 19, 2012

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region VIII Update Teleconference Call Series


We are pleased to announce a new, bi-monthly teleconference series designed to keep you updated on the latest CMS program issues.  Staff will be available on these calls to listen to your concerns and respond to your questions.  This is your “go to” meeting for all your questions.        

Topics:  We will announce discussion topics in the weeks leading up to each event, and will vary them in accordance with policy priorities for Medicare & Medicaid programs, Health Exchanges, and more.
     
Target Audience:  Provider organizations and members, Congressional offices, state and local governments and advocacy groups. 

Teleconference Format:  Our CMS Region VIII leadership and staff will share timely program updates, seek input, and address questions from participants.  We anticipate discussing several priority topics during each call. 

Logistics:  You don’t need to register for these calls. Each session will accommodate 100 participants on a first come, first served basis. We ask that if several people are calling in from one location that they call in on one line.

Audio Conference Line (all calls): 1-877-267-1577, Meeting ID: 2845

Wednesday August 1, 2012 – 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT)

Wednesday October 3, 2012 – 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT)

Wednesday December 5, 2012 – 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT)

Wednesday February 6, 2013 – 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT)

Wednesday April 3, 2013 – 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (MT)

The agenda for the 8/1/2012 teleconference will be distributed in the coming days.  If you would like to request an agenda item, please email your request to:

Accommodations will be made to incorporate all reasonable requests.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

State Snapshots Instructional Web Conference

You're invited to attend a State Snapshots instructional Web conference July 27, 2012, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET. The session will be moderated by Dr. Ernest Moy, AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports team leader.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's newly published 2011 State Snapshots offer valuable insights on the level of health care quality and disparities in every State and the District of Columbia. You'll find State-level performance summaries on treating cancer, diabetes, maternal and child disorders, heart disease, and other illnesses that affect quality of life, workforce productivity, and insurance costs.
As an interactive Web-based tool at http://statesnapshots.ahrq.gov, State Snapshots is designed to provide State officials and health care leaders with health care quality and disparities data so they can take steps to address gaps in quality care and access to services. For easy reference, the data are categorized by health condition, level of care, treatment setting, race and income, and health insurance status.

To join the visual portion of the session via the WebEx computer telemeeting software: 
 Copy and paste this URL into the Web site address window at the top of your browser: https://hhs-ahrq.webex.com/hhs-ahrq/j.php?ED=179101812 and press Enter.
  1. Upon arriving at the AHRQ WebEx log-in page, look for the sentence that begins, "If you are not the host..." and select the link labeled "join as a participant."
  2. You will be taken to the WebEx session page. Enter your name, e-mail address, and the session password, State0727, in the form on the right side of the screen.
  3. Select the Join Now button.
  4. Follow the instructions.
To join the audio portion of the session via telephone:
To receive a call back, enter your phone number in the pop-up window when you’ve joined the meeting, or you may call one of the phone numbers listed below and enter the access code: 714 109 286.
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4490
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-408-792-6300
Toll-free dialing restrictions: http://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf
If the computer you are using has not been used for a WebEx telemeeting session previously, you may need to visit the WebEx corporate Web site (http://www.intercall.com/services/web-conferencing/training-center-resources_training-manager.php) to download the WebEx Training Manager application. This download should be undertaken well in advance of the session and may require the involvement of your organization's IT maintenance staff. The installation will enable your computer to communicate and interact with those of the other session participants.
For technical assistance, contact the Technical Coordinator: Sanford Grimes, sanford.grimes@ahrq.hhs.gov or (301) 427-1268.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Scholarship Opportunity to attend Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 26th Annual Conference in Washington, DC

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) will host their 26th Annual Conference from October 20-22, 2012 in Washington, DC.   HACU is providing college students with an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to participate in conference Student Track which attracts undergraduate students representing a wide range of academic disciplines. 

This is an opportunity to gain insight on employment opportunities and hiring trends in the federal and private sectors.  Student participants will take advantage of workshops addressing career, educational, cultural and leadership issues and expand their network and meet potential mentors and employers.  In addition, HACU hosts a large scale career fair with hundreds of federal agencies, corporations and non-profits represented.

For more details visit http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Conference_Student_Scholarship1.asp to apply for the scholarship.

If you are not a student and interested in learning more about this conference or attending, visit http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Annual_Conference1.asp.  The HACU conference annually attracts hundreds of distinguished academic, corporate, federal, public policy and community leaders.

Applications now being accepted for 2012 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic

Washington, DC  – WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease has announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2012 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic. This one of a kind, nationally renowned program trains women heart disease survivors to become volunteer community educators, national spokespersons and support network leaders for women living with heart disease. Applications can be obtained at www.womenheart.org. Deadline for applications is August 31, 2012.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and more women than men have died from heart disease every year since 1984. Each year since 2002 women heart disease survivors from around the country have participated in this nationally competitive application process to become a WomenHeart Champion and earn the prestigious opportunity to be educated at WomenHeart’s annual Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic. Sixty women are selected, and nearly 600 women have completed the program since its inception 10 years ago.

By becoming a national volunteer WomenHeart Champion, each selected woman becomes one of more than 600 inspirational women from across the country to be honored with the WomenHeart Champion title. These women, the “boots on the ground” in the fight against heart disease, are available to speak to community, state, and national audiences about the prevalence of heart disease in women and how it is so often under diagnosed and mistreated. In addition, WomenHeart advocates for prevention, early and accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment of heart disease, and WomenHeart Champions run the only national community based, patient led network of support groups for women living with heart disease.

WomenHeart was founded in 1999 and the Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic was founded as an integral part of WomenHeart in 2002.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Hospice Nurse & Family Caregiver Study funded by American Cancer Society- Compensation provided for participants

Have you recently cared for a family member who received hospice care in the home?
If so, we’d like to hear about your experience.
Help us gain insight from family caregivers.
Hospice Nurse and Family Caregiver Study

Funded by the American Cancer Society
Compensation provided!
Caregivers who recently provided care for a loved one on home hospice are eligible to participate in a 60-90 minute focus group with University of Utah researchers.
If you are interested, please contact our research team to check your eligibility and provide scheduling information.
E-mail (Maija.reblin@nurs.utah.edu) Phone (801-581-8355)

Expressing interest by contacting the research team does not obligate you to participate in any study. This study has been approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board.

Intern Position Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office of Diversity Affairs

Job Closes: When filled
Location:    Mayor’s Office of Diversity Affairs |
                     Salt Lake County Government Complex
                     2001 S State, North Building, N-1001
                     Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Hours:         10 hours a week – Flexible days | August through December 2012
Rate:            $10.00/hr
Supervisor:  Rebecca Sanchez
Qualifications:
·         Self directed and Accountable
o   able to receive a task, follow through on assignments and complete with minimum supervision
o   follows directions and ask relevant questions to complete an assignment
o   record and keep a file of relevant and contact information
·         Computer Skills
o   Website Management
o   Photo Shop
o   Excel
o   Outlook
o   Word
Job Duties:
·         Maintain the Diversity Website www.diversity.slco.org , updating and inputting information and posting photos of community events
·         Track and keep report on monthly Website visitors and the diverse email list
·         Send out weekly job and event  email announcements to diverse community
·         Assist in the production of the Annual Diversity Dinner (30 additional hours in month of October)
Required: Resume and Cover Letter stating how you meet the job qualifications. Your application will NOT be considered if you do not send both.

Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Mini Grant Re-Issue

**Insurance requirements have been removed from the RFP.**
Salt Lake Valley Health Department is seeking proposals from community-based organizations located in Salt Lake County. Proposals must show how beliefs surrounding tobacco affect tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among specific populations in Salt Lake County.   Bid number: HE12289-1    Due date: July 30, 2012

Details can be found at: www.bidsync.com

Aug 7: Utah's Demographic Transformation


Pam Perlich, Ph.D. Presents
Utah’s Demographic Transformation:

Implications for Public Health and Health Disparities

 
Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 12-1:30pm
Utah Department of Health
288 North 1460 West, Room 129


Learn about:
·       Population trends, especially as they compare to those of other states and regions
·       The causes, outcomes, and implications of this demographic change
·       Considerations for public health strategic planning, especially relating to chronic disease and injury prevention.


About the Speaker:


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Salt Lake Valley Health Dept BEWISE Program-Full Time Position Open (SPANISH SPEAKING REQUIRED)

Background:
The BeWise program offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings and cardiovascular disease examinations to mid and low-income, underinsured, or uninsured women ages 50-64 years old. It is designed to provide these women with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve their diet, physical activity, and other life habits to prevent, delay or control cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. 

 Scope of Work:
Women that participate in the BeWise program have several additional measurements taken during their annual breast and cervical exam.  Measurements include: height, weight, BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, and A1C (if they are diabetic). After the initial exam, the client meets with a lifestyle coach and together, they work to develop a healthier lifestyle plan for the client. The purpose of this position will be to provide lifestyle coaching for women in the BeWise program both face-to-face in the clinic and follow-up via telephone. Staff may also be asked to provide classes on nutrition or physical activity for the participants in the BeWise program.

Requirements:
·         Junior or Senior student in one of the following areas: Public Health, Community Health, Health Education and/or Health Promotion. Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred.
·         Must be a fluent Spanish speaker (approx. 60% clientele are Spanish speaking)
·         Must be able to effectively communicate with a diverse group of women ages 50 – 64
·         Must be comfortable leading nutrition and beginner level exercise classes

Essential Job Functions:
·         Provide lifestyle coaching in improving health behaviors
·         Assist women in setting SMART goals as part of the lifestyle coaching session
·         Working knowledge of the Health Belief Model, Transtheoretical Model, Ecological Model
·         Communicate effectively face-to-face and via telephone
·         Provide basic health information and referral to supplemental resources
·         Enter client information into a computer database
·         Provide classes on basic nutrition and beginner level exercise to BeWise participants

Position Logistics:
·         Compensation (depending on experience/qualifications)
o   $10.97 - $12.74
·         Part Time 20 hours/week without benefits
·         Hours: flexible, must be available Thursdays 8-5 and a couple Thursday evenings a month
·         Supervisor: Darrin Sluga, Community Development Director (dsluga@slco.org)
·         Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012

START DATE:  ASAP

TO APPLY:
Send cover letter and resume to Alysia Ducuara at aducuara@slco.org or fax to (385) 468-4096

New data about high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity

The newest Utah Health Status Update has a wealth of information about these conditions which are highly prevelent among Utah minorities:


http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/hsu/1207_UnCHBP.pdf

Health Brochures Now Available in Audio Format for the Blind


The Utah Department of Health (UDOH), Office of Health Disparities (OHD) has collaborated with the Utah State Library Program for the Blind and Disabled (USL) to create an online collection of audio health materials. The collection includes mp3 recordings of 39 health brochures covering a variety of chronic diseases, guidelines for healthy aging, and concerns specific to the sight-impaired population, such as diabetic retinopathy and safe exercise for people with vision problems.

The audio resources for the blind have been added to the OHD Multilingual Library, an online collection of health resources in 50 languages, which is available at http://health.utah.gov/disparities/multilinguallibrary/index.php.

The Multilingual Library has been a popular source for health materials in a variety of languages since 2006. OHD recently expanded the Library to accommodate English- language materials for special populations such as the blind. 

“The Multilingual Library is an excellent online resource to educate non-English speakers,” said Dr. David Patton, UDOH Executive Director. “We are really pleased to expand the library to reach additional populations with specific needs.” 

A multidisciplinary team first envisioned the project at a meeting of OHD, USL and local health department staff members. The USL lacked resources about health. OHD had an expansive collection of health materials in the Multilingual Library, but no audio for the blind. Together, they researched the health needs of blind library patrons using library intake forms (documents filled out by library users when looking for materials). OHD staff selected quality health brochures appropriate to meet these needs. USL volunteers read the brochures aloud to create audio recordings.

"These health-related articles are a valuable addition to the Utah State Library, Health Department, and Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired web sites," said State Librarian Donna Jones Morris. "This partnership allows the link to these resources to be viewed on all three web sites."

The Resources for the Blind section of the Multilingual Library can be accessed at: http://health.utah.gov/disparities/multilinguallibrary/Target/Blind.php.

Guest lecture and Q&A "Sick and Dying on the Streets: Should healthcare care about urban homeless?"


"Sick and Dying on the Streets: Should healthcare care about urban homeless?"

by Jim Withers, MD and Pat Perri, MD of the Street Medicine Institute, Pittsburgh, PA.

Monday, July 16
4:00-5:00 pm, HSEB 2680

Drs. Withers and Perri have spent decades providing health care out on the streets and under bridges to people experiencing homelessness in the US and around the world. They've found that the kind of care that makes the biggest difference on the streets also has powerful health and cost saving implications for mainstream healthcare.

University of Utah Health Sciences Education Building (HSEB) room 2680 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm to learn how the Street Medicine model promotes the just kind of healing that patients, providers and our health care system needs right now.

Visit streetmedicine.org to learn more about Street Medicine and the International Street Medicine Symposium VIII coming to Salt Lake City, UT September 25-27, 2012.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

CDC Releases Diabetes Report Card 2012

By 2050, as many as 1 in 3 adults in the United States could have diabetes if current trends continue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2009, and people with diagnosed diabetes have medical costs that are more than twice as high as for people without the disease. The Affordable Care Act, the health care law passed in 2010, includes a number of provisions that directly address gaps in diabetes prevention, screening, care, and treatment.

Last week, CDC released its Diabetes Report Card 2012, which provides a snapshot of the impact of diabetes on our nation. Required by the Affordable Care Act, the Report Card profiles national and state data on diabetes and pre-diabetes, preventive care practices, risk factors, quality of care, and diabetes outcomes.  It also documents the steps the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans living with diabetes and pre-diabetes today and to improve the lives of millions of Americans in the future through prevention. 

Read the full Diabetes Report Card 2012 (PDF - 1.36 MB).

By Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Health