News
Highlighted Article for April 15, 2021:
Measuring Mortality In The Pandemics Of 1918–19 And 2020–21
How do deaths caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic compare to deaths caused by the 1918-19 Spanish Flu?
A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, considering data available on both pandemics and analyzing the different impacts of public health responses on mortality.
To learn more, check out the April 15 Highlighted Article:
Measuring Mortality In The Pandemics Of 1918–19 And 2020–21
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Highlighted Article for April 1, 2021:
A Nurse Is Not Just a Nurse:
The Challenges of Nursing During a Pandemic and Beyond
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the already-strained nursing workforce?
NEJM Catalyst addresses this question in a recent interview with Kathleen Sanford, DBA, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for CommonSpirit Health.
To learn more about everything in nursing that is changing, and even more that is staying the same, check out the April 1 Highlighted Article:
A Nurse Is Not Just a Nurse: The Challenges of Nursing During a Pandemic and Beyond
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Highlighted Resource for March 15, 2021:
Monitoring the Health of Populations by Tracking Disease Outbreaks:
Saving Humanity From the Next Plague
When predicting and preparing for pandemics, leaders can use a statistics-based public health approach described in the ADL’s March 15 highlighted resource.
This book is part of the ADL's new collection of 200 ebooks, purchased with funding from the SECU Foundation.
To learn more, check out the ADL's March 15 Highlighted Resource:
Monitoring the Health of Populations by Tracking Disease Outbreaks: Saving Humanity From the Next Plague
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Highlighted Article for March 1, 2021:
North Carolina Child Health Report Card
The NC Institute of Medicine and NC Child recently collaborated on the 2021 NC Child Health Report Card, evaluating the wellbeing of North Carolina children.
The report covers factors related to children's health both before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including areas such as secure homes, access to care, healthy births, and health risk factors.
To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Resource:
North Carolina Child Health Report Card
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Highlighted Article for February 15, 2021:
Farmworker Camps to Urban Tent Cities:
Tailoring Vaccine Info to Where It’s Most Needed
What does it take to get good health information about the COVID-19 vaccine out to a local community?
A recent Kaiser Health News article describes the efforts being made by western North Carolina citizens to answer their communities' vaccine questions and share critical facts.
To learn more, check out the 2/15 Highlighted Article:
Farmworker Camps to Urban Tent Cities: Tailoring Vaccine Info to Where It’s Most Needed
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Highlighted Article for February 1, 2021:
Four Steps To Help Achieve COVID-19 Vaccine Adoption:
How Health Professionals Can Embrace Their Role As Messengers
How should health care providers talk to patients about the COVID-19 vaccine?
A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, suggesting message approaches and explaining the important dos and don'ts of the conversation.
To learn more, check out the February 1 Highlighted Article!
Four Steps To Help Achieve COVID-19 Vaccine Adoption: How Health Professionals Can Embrace Their Role As Messengers
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Highlighted Article for January 15, 2021:
Health Care Providers Can Help Combat Harmful Misinformation About the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks of patients basing health decisions on unreliable information become even greater.
A recent NC Medical Journal article describes ways that health care providers can guide their patients towards trustworthy, evidence-based resources.
To learn more, check out the January 15 Highlighted Article:
Health Care Providers Can Help Combat Harmful Misinformation About the Pandemic
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Highlighted Article for January 1, 2021:
A Guide to Promoting Health Care Workforce Well-Being During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 has had a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of all health care professionals, which has increased the existing levels of stress and burnout throughout the health care system.
A recent guide from the Institute for Healthcare addresses this problem, discussing strategies and solutions for individuals and organizations to support the health care workforce during and after the pandemic.
To learn more, check out the January 1 Highlighted Resource:
A Guide to Promoting Health Care Workforce Well-Being During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic*
*Note that users will need a free IHI account to download the full guide
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Highlighted Article for December 15, 2020:
Supporting Children and Teens During This Holiday Season
What can parents, caregivers, and family members do to support children and teens during the 2020 holiday season?
A recent fact sheet from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides strategies and suggestions for helping children and adults through the holidays.
To learn more, check out the December 15 Highlighted Resource:
Supporting Children and Teens During This Holiday Season
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Highlighted Article for December 1, 2020:
Nurses Suffer Heavy Toll from COVID-19:
Two Reports Highlight the Latest Numbers
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the nurse workforce?
A recent MedPage Today article discusses two new reports about this question, discussing the high risks that nurses face while working with patients and the resulting deaths.
To learn more, check out the December 1 Highlighted Article: Nurses Suffer Heavy Toll from COVID-19: Two Reports Highlight the Latest Numbers
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Highlighted Article for November 15, 2020:
Getting Our Knees Off Black People’s Necks:
An Anti-Racist Approach to Medical Care
How can health care providers oppose racism within the medical system and ensure all their patients receive the support and care they need?
A recent Health Affairs blog article addresses this question, suggesting five steps that providers can take toward building a health care system that opposes racism.
To learn more, check out the November 15 Highlighted Article:
Getting Our Knees Off Black People’s Necks: An Anti-Racist Approach to Medical Care
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Highlighted Article for November 1, 2020:
How to Identify, Understand, and Unlearn Implicit Bias in Patient Care
How can health care providers recognize, understand, and avoid unconscious assumptions about their patients?
An article in Health Affairs addresses this question, exploring the idea of implicit bias and suggesting approaches that health care providers can use to unlearn it.
To learn more, check out the November 1 Highlighted Article:
How to Identify, Understand, and Unlearn Implicit Bias in Patient Care
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Highlighted Article for October 15, 2020:
Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Children’s Neighborhoods:
Evidence From The New Child Opportunity Index 2.0
What impact are neighborhood conditions having on children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds?
A recent Health Affairs research article examines this question, using the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 to compare factors influencing health outcomes across the national neighborhood distribution.
To learn more, check out the October 15 Highlighted Article:
Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Children’s Neighborhoods: Evidence From The New Child Opportunity Index 2.0
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Highlighted Article for October 1, 2020:
Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health of US adults?
A recent JAMA Network Open article examines this question, comparing depressive symptoms in the US before and after the pandemic.
To learn more, check out the October 1 highlighted article!
Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Highlighted Article for September 15, 2020:
Health Care in a Changing North Carolina Climate
How will the changing climate impact North Carolina's health care systems?
A recent article in the North Carolina Medical Journal addresses this question, examinining the potential changes in disease outcomes or health risks and suggesting actions that health care providers can take in response.
To learn more, check out the September 15 highlighted article!
Health Care in a Changing North Carolina Climate
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Highlighted Article for September 1, 2020:
The First COVID Surge Weakened NC's Cash-Strapped Rural Hospitals.
A Second Wave May Devastate Them.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted North Carolina's struggling rural hospitals?
A recent North Carolina Health News article addresses this question, discussing the different aspects of the crisis, the impact of relief payments, and what to expect going forward.
To learn more, check out the September 1 Highlighted Article!
The First COVID Surge Weakened NC's Cash-Strapped Rural Hospitals. A Second Wave May Devastate Them.
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Highlighted Article for August 15, 2020:
How To Increase Flu Vaccination During The COVID-19 Pandemic
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccinations are taking on additional importance.
A recent Health Affairs blog post addresses this topic, discussing barriers that the public might encounter to getting vaccinated and possible ways to overcome them.
To learn more, check out the 8/15 highlighted article!
How To Increase Flu Vaccination During The COVID-19 Pandemic
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Highlighted Article for August 1, 2020:
How to Avoid Bias in Patient Care
How can health care professionals work to avoid their own biases when caring for patients?
A recent blog post from the American Academy of Family Physicians addresses this question, explaining the idea of implicit bias and providing tips to address it.
To learn more, check of the August 1 Highlighted Article!
How to Avoid Bias in Patient Care
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Highlighted Article for July 15, 2020:
Leaning In to Serious Illness Care Through Stories and Science
What do serious illness issues look like in North Carolina?
The most recent issue of the NC Medical Journal addresses this question, with a collection of articles on delivering different aspects of serious illness care.
The issue brief provides an introduction to the topic and summaries of the other articles in the journal.
To learn more, check out the July 15 highlighted article:
Leaning In to Serious Illness Care Through Stories and Science
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Highlighted Article for July 1, 2020:
Isolation And Health
What are the health risks related to social isolation and loneliness?
A recent Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs discusses this question, including the impact of isolation on premature morbidity and various biomarkers of health.
To learn more, check out the July 1 highlighted article!
Isolation and Health
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Highlighted Article for June 15, 2020:
It’s Time To Address The Role Of Implicit Bias Within Health Care Delivery
What does racial bias look like inside the health care system?
A Health Affairs blog article discusess this question, addressing both how the problem manifests and what individuals and organizations can do to counteract it.
To learn more, check out the June 15 highlighted article:
It’s Time To Address The Role Of Implicit Bias Within Health Care Delivery
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Highlighted Article for June 1, 2020:
9 Dimensions of Wellness
How can health care providers care for their own wellness in stressful circumstances?
An article in American Nurse Today addresses this question by breaking down "wellness" into nine dimensions, including everything from physical to environmental to spiritual.
To learn more, check out the June 1 highlighted article!
9 Dimensions of Wellness
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Highlighted Article for May 15, 2020:
Doctors Without Patients:
‘Our Waiting Rooms Are Like Ghost Towns’
How is the COVID-19 pandemic impacting small physician practices?
A recent New York Times article addresses this question, discussing both the medical and economic implications for the health care workforce.
To learn more, check out the May 15 highlighted article!
Doctors Without Patients: ‘Our Waiting Rooms Are Like Ghost Towns’
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Highlighted Article for May 1, 2020:
Protecting Healthcare’s Family Caregivers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
What impact is COVID-19 having on the community caregivers who look after family and friends outside of health care settings?
A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, addressing the financial impact, lack of protective equipment, and emotional strain that caregivers face.
To learn more, check out the May 1 highlighted article:
Protecting Healthcare’s Family Caregivers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Highlighted Article for April 15, 2020:
10 Communication Tips for Physician Phone Visits During COVID-19
How can you make virtual visits more effective for you and your patients?
A recent Family Practice Medicine blog post covers 10 easy tips for communicating in virtual visits.
To learn more, check of the April 15 highlighted article!
10 Communication Tips for Physician Phone Visits During COVID-19
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Highlighted Article for April 1, 2020:
Custodial Staff Protect Us From The Novel Coronavirus, But Who Is Protecting Them?
How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact the health and wellbeing of custodial staff?
Since many custodial staff members are designated as essential employees, they may have both greater exposure to the disease and fewer opportunities for protection, training, and care.
To learn more, read this Health Affairs blog post!
Custodial Staff Protect Us From The Novel Coronavirus, But Who Is Protecting Them?
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Highlighted Article for March 15, 2020:
Worried About That New Medical Study? Read This First
How do you know which scientific studies to trust?
A recent article in the New York Times explains some key principles of evaluating studies, translating evidence-based concepts into simpler terms.
To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article:
Worried About That New Medical Study? Read This First.
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Highlighted Article for March 1, 2020:
Stress Is A Key To Understanding Many Social Determinants Of Health
How do stress, social factors, and physical environments work together to impact health?
A recent article in the Health Affairs blog discusses this question, examining the way that social determinants of health are connected to the role of stress in health outcomes.
To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Article:
Stress Is A Key To Understanding Many Social Determinants Of Health
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COVID-19 Resource Guide is a collaboration of the UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library and the North Carolina AHEC.
Please take a look at the COVID-19 guide.
If you have specific questions or concerns related to coronavirus, call:North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NC DHHS)
1-866-462-3821
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Healthcare Providers Need to Know (webinar)
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Highlighted Article for February 15, 2020:
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry 'Moral Injury' From Financial Pressures Of Health Care
How do system-level pressures and obstacles harm health care professionals?
A recent article in Kaiser Health News explains what it means to call these struggles a 'moral injury,' describing the cumulative impact of a financially-driven system on the people involved.
To learn more, check out the February 15 highlighted article:
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry 'Moral Injury' From Financial Pressures Of Health Care
For more reading about burnout in health care, please see our collection on Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff.
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Highlighted Article for February 1, 2020:
2019 Novel Coronavirus Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
What do health care providers need to know about the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus?
The CDC answered this question by providing guidance on screening, reporting, and treating patients who may be infected.
To learn more about this developing situation, check out the highlighted article of the month:
2019 Novel Coronavirus Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
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American Board of Neruology and Psychiatry Have Added a New Section to their Pilot MOC
We have integrated all of the articles from the ABPN's new list for Child and Adolescent Health and created one collection for all of the ABPN articles.back to top
Highlighted Article for January 15, 2020:
The State of North Carolina's Perinatal Health
The latest issue of the NC Medical Journal addresses the complex problem of mother and infant health in North Carolina.
The issue brief provides an overview of the current state of perinatal health, as well as explaining where the journal's other articles fit into the framework.
To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!
The State of North Carolina's Perinatal Health
Kimple, K.S. (2020). The state of North Carolina's perinatal health. North Carolina Medical Journal January-February 2020 vol. 81 no. 1 24-27.
View the full January-February 2020 issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal here.
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Highlighted Article for January 1, 2020:
To A New Nurse – You’ll Be Okay
In celebration of the WHO declaring 2020 the Year of the Nurse, this month's highlighted article showcases nurse and blogger Danielle LeVeck addressing new members of the profession.
LeVeck's letter welcomes new nurses welcomes to the profession, highlighting both the challenges and the rewards of a nurse's role and offering advice for the future.
A recent FierceHealthcare article named LeVeck one of the 2020 social media influencers in healthcare, citing this post as one of her best.
To learn more, check out the January 1 highlighted article of the month!
LeVeck, D. (2017, August 22). To a new nurse - you'll be okay. Nurse Abnormalities.
Renfrow, J. (2019, November 19). Danielle LeVeck: nursing storyteller. Fierce Healthcare.
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Two Highlighted Articles for December 15, 2019:
"ICD-10 Codes for the Holidays" and Guidance for Vaping Associated Lung Injury
Enjoy two mid-month highlighted articles this December.
The CDC's interim guidance on suspected vaping-associated lung injuries provide a starting point for treating patients who use e-cigarettes.
And for a brighter moment, a Physicians Practice article shares a collection of holiday-themed ICD-10 codes.
To learn more, check out our highlighted articles!
Jatlaoui TC, Wiltz JL, Kabbani S, et al. Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers for Managing Patients with Suspected E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury — United States, November 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:1081-1086.
Shryock, T. (2019, November 25). 15 icd-10 codes for the holidays. Physicians Practice.
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Highlighted Article for December 1, 2019:
Transgender Adolescents' Experiences in Primary Care
What kinds of experiences do transgender adolescents encounter in primary care?
A recent article in the Journal of Adolescent Health asked this question in a qualitative study, investigating the challenges and barriers to primary care, concluding with recommendations to provide better experiences with primary care for transgender adolescents.
To learn more, read the December 1 highlighted article!
Guss, C. E., Woolverton, G. A., Borus, J., Austin, S. B., Reisner, S. L., & Katz-Wise, S. L. (2019). Transgender adolescents' experiences in primary care: A qualitative study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(3), 344-349. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.03.009
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Highlighted Article for National Rural Health Day:
What's Economic Development Got to Do With It?
The Economic Impact of Healthy Rural Communities
Supporting a healthy rural community takes more than great health care.
To celebrate National Rural Health Day on November 21, the ADL is highlighting an article that describes the economic, technological, and insurance challenges that face rural areas striving for health.
To learn more about this important topic, check out the November 15 highlighted article:
Woodie, P. (2018). What's economic development got to do with it? the economic impact of healthy rural communities. North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(6), 382-385. doi:10.18043/ncm.79.6.382
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Highlighted Resource for November 1, 2019:
Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff
When facing problems related to burnout and wellness, healthcare providers from all disciplines can turn to the AHEC Digital Library's guide about Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff.
This collection will help you learn about different aspects of the problem, from coping with burnout to building resiliency.
The latest update to the guide features the National Academy of Medicine's report, "Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout," highlighting its focus on burnout as a system-level issue.
To learn more, check out the ADL's Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff guide!
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Highlighted Article for October 15, 2019:
HHS Guide for Clinicians on the Appropriate Dosage Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Analgesics
What is the best method to help patients decrease their use of opioids?
The US Department of Health and Human Services has produced a guide to help health care providers answer this complex question.
The guide includes considerations prior to the decision to taper, recommendations on how to individualize plans according to unique patient needs, a decision-making flowchart, and information on additional options regarding withdrawal or behavioral health.
To learn more, check out October's highlighted article of the month!
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Working Group on Patient-Centered Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-term Opioid Analgesics. (2019). HHS guide for clinicians on the appropriate dosage reduction or discontinuation of long-term opioid analgesics. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For a summary of the guide and context about its release, you can also read this FierceHealthcare article:
Finnegan, J. (2019, October 10). HHS offers guide to help clinicians taper patients off opioids. FierceHealthcare.
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October's Highlighted Article:
Shifting the Burden?
Consequences Of Postacute Care Payment Reform On Informal Caregivers
How much of the burden of postacute care in the US has been taken on by the family and friends who provide patients with informal in-home support?
A recent Health Affairs blog post asks this question, discussing the impact that health policy efforts to reduce the cost of postacute care have had on the nation's informal caregivers.
The article also suggests alternative options that healthcare professionals and others can use to improve care and reduce costs without requiring families to take on the burden of postacute care.
To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!
Chatterjee, P., Hoffman, A.K., & Werner, R.M. (2019, September 5). Shifting the burden? consequences of postacute care payment reform on informal caregivers. Health Affairs Blog.
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Highlighted Article:
Driving the Future:
Assessment of the North Carolina Local Public Health Workforce
What do the people who work in North Carolina's local health departments look like?
This recent report from UNC's Gillings School of Public Health, in partnership with NC AHEC, addresses that question, sharing the results from their survey of the NC public health workforce.
The report describes the demographics, skills, and training needs of people currently working in public health in NC, as well as identifying possible next steps for the future.
To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!
Gillings School of Global Public Health. (July 2019). Driving the future: assessment of the North Carolina local public health workforce. University of North Carolina.
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September's Highlighted Article of the Month:
Returning to the Meaning of Medicine:
Three Pivots
How can the healthcare profession return to the roots of why people chose to practice medicine?
In a recent talk, Health Director Anna Roth proposes a moral recovery that would allow the profession to reform its belief systems.
The three pivots described in the video and accompanying article ask people to listen, question beliefs, and trust people.
To learn more, check out the September Article of the Month!
Roth, A. (2019). Returning to the meaning of medicine: three pivots. NEJM Catalyst.
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Highlighted Opioid Article:
Opioid Settlements Spark Debate on How to Spend the Money
As large drug companies begin to make settlement payments in relation to the opioid crisis, how should that money be spent?
A recent NC Health News article discusses questions occurring in states that have been awarded settlements, such as how much money should be required to go towards opioid-related efforts.
By comparing the current opioid crisis to past settlements from tobacco companies regarding smoking, the article highlights the problems governments may face when spending this money.
To learn more, check out our highlighted article!
Vestal, C. (2019, August 19). Opioid settlements spark debate on how to spend the money. North Carolina Health News.
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Hurricane Resources are now posted!
We have added Hurrican Resources in the Disaster Preparation and Response collection. It can be found at the top of the health topics page.back to top
August ABOG Articles are Posted
There will be more forthcoming and we will post those as they are released.back to top
Highlighted Article:
Why Health Care Needs More Women and Nurse Leaders
A recent blog post from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) shares an interview with IHI President Emerita and Senior Fellow Maureen Bisognano addressing healthcare leadership by women and by nurses.
This interview discusses the changes happening to bring nurses and women into more healthcare leadership roles, including both the benefits and challenges of this shift.
To learn more, check out the highlighted article of the month!
Bisognano, M. (2019, August 6). Why healthcare needs more women and nurse leaders. Improvement Blog. Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
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August Opioid Article of the Month:
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Long-term Opioid Use After Injury Among Previously Opioid-Free Workers
What influences opioid-free workers to develop long-term opioid use after injuries?
A recent JAMA Network Open takes on this question, studying a cohort of injured workers to determine which factors carried the highest risk of long-term use.
The study identifies the number of days' supply in the initial opioid prescription as one of the key risk factors.
To learn more, check out the August Opioid Article of the Month!
Durand Z, Nechuta S, Krishnaswami S, Hurwitz EL, McPheeters M. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Long-term Opioid Use After Injury Among Previously Opioid-Free Workers. JAMA Netw Open. Published online July 17, 20192(7):e197222. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.7222
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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Highlighted Article:
Care of the Transgender Patient
What do healthcare providers need to know in order to offer appropriate and culturally competent care to the transgender population?
A recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine answers this question, discussing the health disparities faced by transgender persons, defining key terminology, and suggesting approaches and treatment options that healthcare providers can use when providing care to transgender patients.
To learn more, check out the highlighted article of the month!
Safer JD, Tangpricha V. Care of the Transgender Patient. Ann Intern Med. 2019;171:ITC1–ITC16. doi: 10.7326/AITC201907020!
Request the article via the ADL
Freely available FierceHealthcare summary of the article:
Finnegan, J. (2019, July 2). ACP issues guide to help primary care doctors care for transgender patients. FierceHealthcare.
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July Opioid Article of the Month:
Leveraging Medicaid To Combat The Opioid Epidemic:
How Leader States And Health Plans Deliver Evidence-Based Treatment
The July Opioid Article of the Month looks at the different strategies states across the US have used in their efforts to reduce opioid use.
This Health Affairs blog post looks at the many aspects of reducing opioid use, looking beyond initial prescribing limits to describe support for medication-assisted treatment, methods of integrating treatment with payment structures, and clinic-level changes to make opioid treatment more accessible.
The article also reviews successful strategies to reduce opioid use in states that have transitioned to Medicaid Managed Care, combining the two initiatives for increased effectiveness.
To learn more, check out the July Opioid Article of the Month!
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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Highlighted Resource:
Effective Communication For Healthcare Teams:
Addressing Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency and Cultural Differences
How can healthcare providers communicate with patients about important information without understanding a patient’s comprehension?
This CDC online course takes on question, offering three CE-accredited modules on health literacy, cultural compentency, and patients with limited English proficiency.
To learn more about these topics, check out this CDC course!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams. TRAIN.
Note: to access the course, registration for a free TRAIN account is required.
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June Opioid Article of the Month:
Virtual Reality as Therapy for Pain
A recent article in the New York Times considers the possibilities offered by some non-opioid methods for treating pain.
The article describes how virtual reality therapies, in combination with other nonpharmacological treatments, are being tested with patients who have chronic pain.
To learn more, check out the June Opioid Article of the Month!
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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May Opioid Article of the Month:
News Media Reporting On Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder Amid The Opioid Epidemic
The May Opioid Article of the Month delves into the question of how the US news media has presented stories about opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments.
This study from Health Affairs analyzes local news reporting about OUD treatments, tracking changes in news coverage against the geographic rate of high opioid overdoses and comparing positive versus negative perspectives.
To learn more, check out the May Opioid Article of the Month!
If you would like to request a copy of this article, please contact your librarian.
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Join us in increasing awareness. Please visit our new Behavioral Collection among Clinical Staff and our newly updated Mental Health Resource Collecionback to top
Highlighted Article:
Trends in Emergency Department Use by Rural and Urban Populations in the United States
Rural emergency departments have faced increasing utilization over the last decade, according to a recent article in JAMA Network Open.
This article analyzes visits in rural and urban areas, concluding that in spite of the US’s average decrease in ED visits, rural regions of the country have become more dependent on EDs as a source of healthcare.
To learn more about this trend, check out this JAMA article.
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Highlight Resource: TRAIN Learning Network
"TRAIN is a national learning network that provides quality training opportunities for professionals who protect and improve the public’s health." Please explore -Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams."This interactive training course, aims to raise the quality of interactions between health care professionals and patients by providing an interactive guide to understanding health literacy, cultural competency and limited English proficiency." You will need to create a free account
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April Opioid Article of the Month:
Denying Access to Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction is Denying Appropriate Medical Treatment
A recent report from the National Academy of Sciences tackles the problem of treatments for opioid use disorder.
This report explains both the value of the evidence-based treatments and the barriers people frequently encounter in accessing those treatments.
A news article about the report puts it into the current context of the opioid crisis.
To learn more, check out the April Opioid Articles of the Month!
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Highlighted Article:
Coordinating Community Planning for Transportation and Health
A recent article from the JAMA Forum highlights the way transportation challenges and mobility barriers affect healthcare.
The article describes the different approaches being taken to reduce these problems at the federal, state, and community levels.
To learn more, check out this JAMA article:
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March Opioid Article of the Month:
Opioid Prescribing Trends and the Physician’s Role in Responding to the Public Health Crisis
Several new articles in JAMA Internal Medicine examine the impact that physicians’ prescribing habits can have on the opioid crisis.
The first study looks at prescribing patterns across the demographic groups most affected by the opioid crisis, while the second study examines recent changes in opioid prescribing since 2015.
Both articles are highlighted in the a JAMA Internal Medicine commentary that describes how the data is connected in the opioid landscape.
To learn more, check out the March Opioid Article of the Month!
Adams, J. M., & Giroir, B. P. Opioid Prescribing Trends and the Physician’s Role in Responding to the Public Health Crisis. JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Highlighted Article:
High-Need, High-Cost Patients Offer Solutions for Improving Their Care and Reducing Costs
A recent NEJM Catalyst article takes on the question of improving healthcare by asking patients directly.
The article reports the results of a survey of high-need, high-cost patients, sharing their views on how systems could keep them healthier and out of the ER.
To learn more, check out the NEJM article!
Das, L.T., Abranson, E.L., & Kaushal, R. (2019). High-need, high-cost patients offer solutions for improving their care and reducing costs. NEJM Catalyst.
https://catalyst.nejm.org/high-need-high-cost-patients-solutions/
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February Opioid Articles of the Month
Five Highlighted Articles
With the expansion of opioid research, policies, and work, there have been many recent strong publications on the topic.
For a one-time event, your ADL librarians have expanded the Opioid Article of the month to include five articles for February.
These articles cover work being done in the Charlotte and Mountain regions, the validity of evidence used to determine opioid policy, differing trends in intentional and unintentional poisoning deaths, and treatments for opioid use in substance use treatment facilities.
To learn more, check out all five of February’s Opioid Articles of the Month!
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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January Opioid Article of the Month:
Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic:
Decade of Research Shows Spike in Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis
The January Opioid Article of the Month highlights a newly published study investigating the impact of the opioid crisis on cases of infective endocarditis in North Carolina.
This serious heart condition can be caused by drug injections, and the article shows the connection between the spike in drug-use associated infective endocarditis and the opioid epidemic.
To learn more, check out the January Opioid Article of the Month!
Ward, A. (2018, December 4). Consequences of the opioid epidemic: decade of research shows spike in drug use-associated infective endocarditis. Contagion Live. Retrieved from https://www.contagionlive.com/news/consequences-of-the-opioid-epidemic-decade-of-research-shows-spike-in-drug-useassociated-infective-endocarditis
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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December Opioid Article of the Month:
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs):
An Important Element of a Comprehensive Approach to the Opioid Crisis
December’s opioid article of the month discusses the connection between the opioid crisis and childhood trauma.
Written by Dr. Betsey Tilson, the State Health Director of North Carolina, this article uses local data about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and opioid addiction to identify both risk factors for substance abuse and points when intervention could be effective.
To learn more, check out the new opioid article of the month!
Tilson, E. C. (05/2018). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): An important element of a comprehensive approach to the opioid crisis.
North Carolina Medical Society
http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/content/79/3/166.full
See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.
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ABPN Pilot Project Articles Now Available Through ADL
In October 2018 the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology released the reading list for the MOC III pilot project. This project will require the ABPN diplomates to read articles from a set list and answer questions.
We are pleased to announce that we are making these articles easily available through the AHEC Digital Library. American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Pilot Project Articles
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Why Opioid Addiction Will Persist Until Physicians Have a Panoramic View of Opioid Exposure
The November opioid article of the month puts the issue of hospital opioid use into the broader context of the addiction epidemic.
This blog post from Health Affairs uses research articles, statistics, and anecdotes to make the case for why hospital opioid use is a critical factor to consider.
To learn more, check out the new opioid article of the month!
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October Article of the Month: Opportunities to Prevent Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 11 States, July 2016–June 2017
October’s opioid article of the month highlights an attempt to figure out how people who fatally overdose on opioids are combining prescription and illegal drugs. This report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses medical examiner and coroner data to analyze specific drugs and other substances used by people who died of opioid overdoses. To learn more about the patterns shown in this data, check out the ADL’s opioid article of the month!
Opportunities to Prevent Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 11 States, July 2016–June2017.Mattson CL, O’Donnell J, Kariisa M, Seth P, Scholl L, Gladden RM. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:945–951.
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September Opioid Article of the Month
The September opioid article of the month highlights a New York Times news article about recently released opioid statistics. The article discusses the increase in deaths shown in the CDC’s data on opioid use and overdoses, pointing to potential reasons for the increase and showing the points for future success.
To learn more, check out the September opioid article of the month:
Sanger-Katz, M. (2018, August 15). Bleak new estimates in drug epidemic: a record 72,000 overdose deaths in 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/upshot/opioids-overdose-deaths-rising-fentanyl.html.
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Barriers rural physicians face prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder
The August opioid article of the month addresses an issue of particular interest to rural communities – the question of why some physicians who are authorized to prescribe opioid addiction treatments still aren’t doing so.
The article describes a research study surveying this unique population of providers, discussing the barriers that these physicians report facing that make it difficult for them to prescribe addiction treatments.
To learn why these rural physicians aren’t prescribing addiction treatments, check out this month’s article:
Andrilla, C. H. A., Coulthard, C., & Larson, E. H. (2017). Barriers rural physicians face prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The Annals of Family Medicine, 15(4), 359-362.
Retrieved from: http://www.annfammed.org/content/15/4/359.long
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Possible Access Issues due to recent storms
If you are experiencing problems accessing resources due to the recent storm, please contact us.
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Suicide: a silent contributor to opioid-overdose deaths.
This blog post draws attention to one of the most often overlooked aspects of the opioid crisis – the issue of suicide via deliberate overdose. The article explains why this is an important question that should not be ignored, discussing both the relevant statistics and the gaps in the research.
To learn more about how suicide and opioid addiction are interrelated, read the July opioid article of the month.
Oquendo, M.A. & Volkow, N.D. (2018, April 26). Suicide: a silent contributor to opioid-overdose deaths. New England Journal of Medicine 2018; 378:1567-1569.back to top
Meeting Opioid Users Where They Are A Service Referral Approach to Law Enforcement
This month’s opioid article addresses the overlap between the clinical and law enforcement sides of the opioid crisis. This commentary provides insight into the challenges that law enforcement can face when dealing with people suffering from substance abuse, and describes one example of a solution through the Fayetteville Police Department’s program partnering law enforcement with medical, behavioral, and social support connections. To learn more, read the June opioid of the month article.back to top
The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Errors
The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Errors The May opioid article of the month discusses one of the lesser-known side effects of the opioid crisis – the hospital shortages of these drugs for patients who have a genuine need. The article describes the ways that doctors and nurses have tried to address these shortages, highlighting the risks involved with these measures and drawing a connection to an increased number of medical errors. To learn more about opioid shortages, check out the full article.Bartolone, P. (2018, March 16). The other opioid crisis: hospital shortages lead to patient pain, medical errors. Kaiser Health News.back to top
NEJM's Controlling the Swing of the Opioid Pendulum: challenge chronic pain or opioid addiction
The New England Journal of Medicine’s recent Perspective article,“ Controlling the Swing of the Opioid Pendulum, takes on the question of personal challenges that physicians can face when treating patients with chronic pain or opioid addiction. This article shows one physician’s answer, both highlighting unexpected problems and proposing potential solutions.back to top
SAMHSA guide: Words that Matter, explains some simple ways to reduce substance abuse stigma by language choices.
In the March Opioid Article of the Month, a SAMHSA guide explains some simple ways to reduce substance abuse stigma by language choices. The words that healthcare providers use to discuss this condition with patients can have a significant impact on the patient-provider relationship and the patient’s health outcomes. Check out the full article to learn why words matter.
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ADL Discontinuing Support For IE 10 and Older
On August 9th, ADL will no longer support access from Internet Explorer versions 10 or older. Prior to that time, please update your version of Internet Explorer, or access the site from Firefox or Chrome.back to top
New Resources Added to the Opioid Dependency Guide
NLM has created some saved searches on the opioid dependency topic - we have linked them in our Opioid Guide. Take a few minutes to check the guide for this and other resources.back to top
New resource guide to the Zika Virus Disease and North Carolina's readiness
< a href="https://library.ncahec.net/specialCollection?scID=1108">Resource Guide to the Zika Virus and North Carolina Readiness Zika Virus Disease is caused by a flavivirus that spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth, and possibly through sexual contact. Zika Virus Disease is usually mild and short-term, with the most common symptoms being fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). 4 out of 5 of those infected do not experience noticeable symptoms, and very few become sick enough to go to the hospital. Very rare cases may result in Guillain-Barre syndrome or other serious outcomes. There have been recent reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly (a condition in which a baby’s head and brain are significantly smaller than typical) and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus early in pregnancy.Please check out our guide for much important information about this virus and North Carolina's readiness
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Average price of medical journals?
Ever wondered overall about the price of medical journals? Well Library Journal has and every year they conduct a journals survey. In 2015 the average price for medical journals was $1,694 per title. Please visit the article Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On | Periodicals Price Survey 2015In 2016 that increased to $1801 (a 6% increase) please read the 2016 survey Fracking the Ecosystem | Periodicals Price Survey 2016
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Ebsco Heads-Up! Beginning in July 2017 (yes folks 2017) Ebsco will no longer support IE 8.0 OR 9.0
“Beginning in July 2017, [Ebsco] will no longer support Internet Explorer 8.0 or 9.0 due to security risks.To avoid any service interruptions, please make all recommended browser updates before July 2017.” Here are a couple of links to Ebsco support explaining minimum browser requirements. http://support.ebsco.com/support_news/detail.php?id=992&page=1 http://www.elabs10.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=4298555&mlid=191901&siteid=2010003005&uid=eb79ea2638 I know for many of you in hospitals, may have no control over your browser so I wanted to give you as much ahead notice as possible.back to top
The ADL now links to an Open Access diabetes journal, BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care "is a high-quality source for basic and clinical research regarding type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and associated complications. A rapid review process — and continuous online updates — ensure the publication of timely research."back to top
