World AIDS Day

"We … commemorate World AIDS Day to show our support and commitment to helping those who are living with the disease and to remember those who lost their battle with HIV/AIDS in our country and around the world." - HRSA Administrator, George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D.

This World AIDS Day, new data show HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program continues to drive progress toward ending the HIV epidemic. On November 29, the 2016 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report was released providing an in-depth look at the demographic and socio-economic factors among clients served by the Program. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medication, and essential support services for low income people living with HIV. In 2016, approximately 85 percent of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients were virally suppressed, up from nearly 70 percent in 2010. This exceeds the national average of 55 percent virally suppressed.

Telehealth and rural America

HRSA Administrator, George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D.

Noting that HRSA recently invested $203 million in health centers and rural communities to help fight the opioid epidemic, Dr. Sigounas said: "While the purpose of National Rural Health Day is to celebrate the efforts and contributions of rural America, it is difficult to think about rural health and not acknowledge the opioid crisis."

One response to the crisis, conferees said, is Project ECHO -- a new emphasis on telehealth as a means to deliver clinician training, patient consultation and case management to geographically isolated communities where hands-on care is scarce.

New HRSA behavioral health resource

photo of a physician talking with a patient

HRSA's new gateway to behavioral health provides information on how HRSA programs are incorporating mental health and substance use treatment into service delivery and training.

Learn about behavioral health initiatives involving HRSA-funded safety net providers and training/education grant programs. You'll also find a wide range of technical assistance resources on integrating behavioral health and primary care.

Use the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to find the nearest behavioral health organization or HRSA grantee that provides behavioral health services in your community.

Check out the new behavioral health resource.

New dementia learning modules for caregivers

photo of a caregiver with an elderly patient

Find out more about HRSA’s new learning modules to help family and other caregivers of people living with dementia address the challenges of caregiving.

The modules are a supplemental resource to HRSA’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia’s Training Curriculum that trains the primary care workforce about dementia care and helps providers address caregiver needs.

Intended for health professions faculty and students, primary care practitioners, and direct service providers, the curriculum and supplemental modules promote inter-professional teamwork in the care of persons living with dementia.

Check out the new learning modules.

FDA issues recommendations on covers for hospital bed mattresses

photo of a child in a hospital bed with a parent and physician

Over time, hospital bed mattress covers can wear out and allow blood and body fluids to penetrate and get trapped inside mattresses. If blood or body fluids from one patient penetrate and get absorbed in a mattress, the fluids can leak out the next time the mattress is used. Coming into contact with these fluids poses a risk of infection to patients using the bed.

The FDA issued a safety communication in 2013 alerting health care providers, health care facility staff, and caregivers to these safety concerns. From 2011 through 2016, the FDA has received over 700 reports of a hospital bed mattress cover failing to prevent blood or body fluids from leaking into the mattress.

Read the FDA recommendations.

National health promotion and disease prevention objectives: Healthy People

Secretary's Advisory Committee for 2030December 11, 3 - 5 p.m. ET

Be a part of the Healthy People 2030 development process. Register today for the 7th meeting of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2030 (Committee). The Committee will:

Discuss potential revisions to the proposed Healthy People 2030 framework based on public comments
Further develop subcommittee recommendations on topics including stakeholder engagement, health literacy, health and well-being, and law and policy

Healthy People 2020 Progress Review Webinar

December 12, 12:30 - 2 p.m. ET

Register for a Healthy People 2020 Progress Review webinar featuring early and middle childhood & adolescent health. The Progress Review webinars focus on tracking and measuring the progress of select Healthy People 2020 objectives throughout the decade.

You'll also learn how the City of Cincinnati Health Department is taking a comprehensive approach to providing school-based health services.