The following is a summary of selected womens health-related blog entries.
HHS Regulation
~American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Calls Out Secretary Leavitt for Misrepresenting Certification Issues in Support of Proposed Regulation, Our Bodies Ourselves: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitts most recent posting on his professional blog about the proposed regulation reflects that he continues to either misunderstand or deliberately misrepresent the certification issue as a primary argument for the introduction of the proposed regulations, the blog post says. According to the entry, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the certifying organization for ob/gyns, has clearly stated since at least March of this year that refusal to perform or refer for abortion would have no bearing on issuance or renewal of provider certification. The blog references a letter sent on Aug. 22 by ABOG to Leavitt in response to the proposed regulation. The letter challenges Leavitt to provide any evidence that this is a real justification for the regulation, which he has thus far failed to provide (Our Bodies Ourselves, 8/25).
~HHS Proposal Says Doctors Can Refuse Abortions, Referrals, Feministing: Leavitts insistence that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued guidelines that could shape board certification requirements and necessitate a doctor to perform abortions to be considered competent is a falsehood that HHS is using [to] create the illusion that providers rights are under vicious attack, when in reality the regulations are the offense, blatantly threatening our reproductive freedoms particularly for uninsured and low-income women, the blog post says. In addition, the entry says that although the regulation does not define contraception as abortion, the American Civil Liberties Union thinks there could be some wiggle room ( 8/22).
~The Department of Health and Hallowed Services, Cristina Page, Birth Control Watch: While Leavitt is attempting to pass off his new regulation as protecting health care providers who, for reasons of conscience, dont want to take part in abortion services, for those schooled in the fine print, the regulation might be described as a love letter to extremists, Page writes in a blog entry. According to Page, there already have been three laws passed in the last 30 years that protect individuals who do not want to participate in abortion services. Page adds, Leavitt does not claim that these laws are inadequate; he does not point to any violations of them. He seems to want us to believe that he is merely underscoring longstanding laws. Page concludes that [i]f Leavitts intent is as broad as his broadly worded regulation to suggest, your right to health care all health care will be determined by the sensitivities of nearly every person in a white smock, and even perhaps others. Your doctor may not have a problem giving you that prescription, but will the pharmacist fill it? And, if so, will the pro-life cashier ring it up? Women have had to run an obstacle course to get reproductive health care in recent years. If we leave it to Leavitt, the number of obstacles will grow (Page, Birth Control Watch, 8/22).
~Proposed HHS Regulation Could Still Block Access to Contraception, Other Health Services, Jessica Arons, RH Reality Check: Arons writes that although most of the regulation limits the scope of allowable moral objections to training, performing, counseling or referring for abortion and sterilization, its allowance for objections based on any personal moral convictions or religious beliefs is much broader than traditional conscience clauses. Arons adds that the regulation would extend protection from physicians and nurses to just about anyone who might come into contact with a patient, and even some who might not, concluding, [b]y that logic, an ambulance driver, a receptionist and even the person who processes health insurance forms might be able to refuse to perform their jobs if related to a health care service they find morally objectionable. Volunteers are explicitly protected, too (Arons, RH Reality Check, 8/22).
Election Issues
~McCain Surrogate Falsely Suggests McCain Does Not Want to Overturn Roe, Think Progress: According to the blog entry, in a new advertisement for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), Debra Bartoshevich, a self-described proud Hillary Clinton Democrat, announces that she opposes Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and will vote for McCain. The blog reports that at a press conference, Bartoshevich made this statement: Going back to 1999, John McCain did an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle saying that overturning Roe v. Wade would not make any sense, because then women would have to have illegal abortions. The post adds that McCain supporter Carly Fiorina who also attended the press conference with Bartoshevich has misrepresented McCains position on choice in the past. Newsweek magazine reported that Fiorina told women in Columbus, Ohio, that McCain has never signed on to efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the blog says (Think Progress, 8/25).
~Biden a Moderate? ProLifeBlogs: The blog entry examines vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Bidens (D-Del.) voting record on such issues as Roe and abortion rights. According to the blog entry, [g]iven his radical support for abortion, the news that Obama chose Biden as his running mate is not much of a surprise. What is a surprise is that some actually consider Biden to be moderate on issues related to the dignity of human life ( 8/23).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Womens Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Womens Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

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I have been working with a friend and colleague over the past month sketching out an idea to develop software for the XO laptop, which is part of the one laptop per child
(OLPC) project. The idea is more about how to get others to design and build software for OLPC and we can help facilitate.
We are exploring how to engage students in BC to design and develop health and health education materials with partner communities in developing countries who are part of the OLPC. It is an exciting idea to get students, both high school and university students, to get together and learn about computer science and about healthcare while flexing their creative design muscles in coming up with tools to help children thousands of miles away.
Seems like we are not the only group who has thought of this, of course. There are several projects proposed and in development through the OLPC and can be found on the OLPC Wiki.
We are piloting our OLPC-Health Design Fest this month - its a half day paper prototyping event. I am very excited to see how it works.

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http://capwiz.com/nfprha/home/
Dear ARHP member,
We have an urgent matter to bring to your attention. Recently, the Bush Administration proposed new regulations under which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would redefine pregnancy as beginning prior to implantation and adopt a definition of abortion that includes many forms of contraception, including some birth control pills, IUDs, and emergency contraception. Both of these proposed definitions are alarmingly at odds with science. This regulation would also allow health care providers and facility staff to refuse to provide any medical service – if doing so would violate their moral beliefs.

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Boston (dbTechno) - Gaming analysts are the latest people to grab hold of the rumored price cut on the Xbox 360 consoles by Microsoft. Analyst Michael Pachter has made his voice heard, predicting a big price cut for the Xbox 360 in  the U.S.
This comes on the heels of similar fashioned price cuts in Japan and Australia, but so far the only basis for such rumors in the United States have been blurry internet photos of unreleased promotion fliers.

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Boston (dbTechno) - Gaming analysts are the latest people to grab hold of the rumored price cut on the Xbox 360 consoles by Microsoft. Analyst Michael Pachter has made his voice heard, predicting a big price cut for the Xbox 360 in  the U.S.
This comes on the heels of similar fashioned price cuts in Japan and Australia, but so far the only basis for such rumors in the United States have been blurry internet photos of unreleased promotion fliers.

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Getting Started: Training

Participation Works also provides a wide range of training courses directly and through our partner organisations.

Training is free to voluntary sector organisations, and is available to statutory sector organisations for 85 per session.

Hear by Right workshops support organisations to explore the current level of young peoples participation in their work, and to create a sustainable plan for improving youth participation. Hear by Right also explores the importance of participation leading to real change for young people, and includes a focus on practical methods for recording and measuring change.

Ready Steady Change uses an interactive set of training tools to build participants skills and knowledge in increasing children and young peoples participation in decision-making. It approaches participation from a childrens rights framework.

Building a Culture of Participation explores how an organisations culture can be established and embedded to support children and young peoples active and meaningful participation within the organisational infrastructure.

Safeguarding in Youth Participation is a one day course that aims to provide delegates with a better insight into safeguarding issues when working with children and young people and on ways to improve and provide a safe environment for children and young people.

You can find a list of upcoming course dates and can book online through the training page.

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Here is the recipe for what I would call Zucchini Cake! :)

1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. margarine (I'd use butter.)
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 and 3/4 c. flour
1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 and 3/4 c. grated zucchini
3/4 c. coconut (optional - it was left out of the one I've had)
nuts, if desired

Cream sugars and margarine. Add eggs and vanill and beat. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in zucchini and coconut. Bake in 9x13 inch pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.

Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (this makes a double batch).

1 - 8oz cream cheese
1 - stick butter
1-tsp Vanilla or more to taste if you like... maybe 1 and 1/2 tsp
2 lb bag of powdered sugar

Blend room temperature cream cheese and butter together really well. Add powered sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Frosts 2- 9x13 cakes....or less depending on how thick you like your frosting. Sprinkle nuts on top if desired.

I've never made this, only eaten it, and it sure is good.

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On July 11 of this year, the University of Queensland was awarded hosting rights to the largest and most prestigious model United Nations conference in our corner of the world – the Asia Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC). This special event will bring over 500 University students together from around the Asia Pacific region and beyond for a massive week of debating international issues, guest speakers, career development and the always memorable social events.
No matter what you’re studying, AMUNC is a great introduction to the global forum of ideas – the diverse array of topics have application in arts, engineering, environmental science, law, economics, medicine, indigenous issues and many more.
AMUNC 2009 has been endorsed by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, UQ Vice Chancellor Paul Greenfield, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, head of UQ POLSIS Gillian Whitehouse and CEO of Green Cross Australia Mara Bun.
If you think you would like to part of the organising team for this fantastic opportunity, there are a range of avenues in which we are presently seeking assistance: IT, Finance (with a budget well over 150k), Marketing, Sponsorship, Event Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Customer Service, we’ve got it all!
This is a great way of meeting new people and making life-long friends. It’s also a fantastic chance to broaden your horizons and as an internationally recognised conference, you’ll get kudos from your employers and give your CV a competitive edge.
Click here for more info.

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New Findings on Contraceptives Population Reports Published
What are the implications for practice of the latest new research findings about contraceptive methods? Which methods are affected? What changes are suggested for clients? Browse the latest Population Reports issue: "New Findings on Contraceptives", just published by the INFO Project at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The report by Deepa Ramchandran and Ruwaida Salem also pays special attention to the contraceptive needs of women with HIV and addresses whether program guidelines reflect important research findings that have long been neglected in many places.

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Save your search criteria so that you don't have to create the same search every time you want to run it. Use this saved search to set up an e-mail alert which delivers matching jobs directly to your email address. To Save a search, enter your search criteria in the form below and select the 'search' button. Once the search results are displayed, click on the 'Create Saved Search Alert' button at the top of the search results.

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Health Risk Assessment is a top corporate wellness program currently in use globally. Organizations that implement it determine the safety and health concerns of workers by assessing the appropriateness of the facilities and equipment against the needs of the employees.
It can, for example, guide the organization into determining how much air quality within an office room affects the users and then help the assessment team to come up with the measures necessary to correct the problem. An HRA can also evaluate the level of exposure workers have to certain hazardous or dangerous materials and practices.
2. Immunizations
This isn’t always practiced in every country since there are regions where government sponsored immunization shots are available. However, it has also become an important component of the top worker wellness programs in many organizations in North America.
Immunization shots, such as those used to combat flu, for example, are offered to workers for free.
3. Employee Assistance Programs or EAPs
Employee Assistance Programs consist of a wide variety of services. It can range from providing educational resources to employees regarding health issues to sponsoring health services and medical care. In many companies, medical and insurance have also become a staple part of their benefits system.
4. In-house diet and nutrition drives
This is another wellness program that organizations use, particularly those that offer in-house commissary or cafeteria services. Instead of serving richer, high-calorie fare, cafeterias offer options for a healthier diet, usually in the form of low-calorie foods and sugar substitutes.
5. In-house wellness newsletter and campaign drives
One of the top wellness programs that organizations can implement is a self-powered tool using a newsletter to promote wellness, coupled with a visible campaign. The campaign may be done periodically and focus on a specific topic, such as smoking hazards, cancer, stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, safety in the workplace, etc.
The newsletter in itself can be an effective means to deliver information to employees or members of an organization but it is far from perfect. Some employees, for example, may not read the newsletter in its entirety or even pay attention to it. If the issues outlined in the newsletter are promoted through an active and highly visible campaign, it will be easier to maximize positive results.
6. Exercise and physical activity drives
Another top wellness program for organizations is one that involves physical activities. Companies often sponsor exercise-related events such as marathons and company sports programs to encourage employees to remain fit or lose excess weight. In mid- to large-sized organizations, companies may even pay for gym memberships or in-house exercise facilities.
7. Incentive rewards
Some of the top wellness programs implemented by companies involve incentive rewards. This involves company-sponsored programs that reward employees for achieving specific wellness goals. Participation in health campaigns and signing up for wellness programs are two of the most commonly rewarded schemes. Rewards can range from special recognitions to points (for bigger rewards) to specific gifts. In a few cases, cash may also be used.
However, incentive systems have had mixed reactions and levels of success. But it continues to be one of the top choices among companies who are willing to modify it in order to fit their unique needs.
8. Peer Pressure
In many organizations, companies take advantage of peer pressure in order to encourage workers to participate in wellness programs. This is currently one of the favorite worker wellness programs currently in use today and growing in popularity. Peer pressure is often leveraged to help promote competitions referring to workplace wellness and to persuade employees to be active in company-sponsored health fairs.
These 8 are some of the most used corporate wellness programs in the world and they enjoy their popularity mostly because of one fact:
They work.

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OBJECTIVE. The goal was to study the incidence of kernicterus, developmental delay, autism, cerebral palsy, and hearing loss in infants with peak total serum bilirubin levels of 325 µmol/L (19 mg/dL), compared with infants with less-severe or no hyperbilirubinemia, in a population of healthy term and late preterm infants.
METHODS. Prospectively gathered, standardized, maternal and neonatal data for infants at 35 weeks of gestation who were born between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2000, were extracted from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database. Infants with Rh factor isoimmunization, significant congenital or chromosomal abnormalities, or severe peripartum asphyxia were excluded. Comparisons were made on the basis of peak total serum bilirubin levels. Diagnoses were obtained through data linkage with the Medical Services Insurance Database for office visits and the Canadian Institute for Health Information Database for hospital admissions. The registration file provided information allowing calculation of follow-up times, which were determined for each separate outcome. Follow-up periods ranged from 2 to 9 years, with the end point being the first time the diagnostic code was encountered in either database. Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between outcomes and total serum bilirubin levels.
RESULTS. Of 61238 infants included in the study cohort, 4010 (6.7%) did not have linkage data, which left 56019 infants for analysis. There were no cases of kernicterus and no significant differences in rates of cerebral palsy, deafness, developmental delay, or visual abnormalities between the groups. There were suggestions of associations with attention-deficit disorder in the severe hyperbilirubinemia group and with autism in the combined moderate and severe hyperbilirubinemia group.
CONCLUSIONS. There was no increase in adverse effects reported previously to be associated with bilirubin toxicity. Associations with developmental delay, attention-deficit disorder, and autism were observed.

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It is highly necessary that the young and experienced mother should recollect this fact, for the early efforts of the little one to walk are naturally viewed by her with so much delight, that she will be apt to encourage and prolong its attempts, without any thought of the mischief which they may occasion; thus many a parent has had to mourn over the deformity which she has herself created.
It may be as well here to remark, that if such distortion is timely noticed, it is capable of correction, even after evident curvature has taken place. It is to be remedied by using those means that shall invigorate the frame, and promote the childs general health (a daily plunge into the cold bath, or sponging with cold salt water, will be found signally efficacious), and by avoiding the original cause of the distortion never allowing the child to get upon his feet. The only way to accomplish the latter intention, is to put both the legs into a large stocking; this will effectually answer this purpose, while, at the same time, it does not prevent the free and full exercise of the muscles of the legs. After some months pursuing this plan, the limbs will be found no longer deformed, the bones to have acquired firmness and the muscles strength; and the child may be permitted to get upon his feet again without any hazard of perpetuating or renewing the evil.
The best mode of teaching a child to walk, is to let it teach itself, and this it will do readily enough. It will first crawl about: this exercises every muscle in the body, does not fatigue the child, throws no weight upon the bones, but imparts vigour and strength, and is thus highly useful. After a while, having the power, it will wish to do more: it will endeavour to lift itself upon its feet by the aid of a chair, and though it fail again and again in its attempts, it will still persevere until it accomplish it. By this it learns, first, to raise itself from the floor; and secondly, to stand, but not without keeping hold of the object on which it has seized. Next it will balance itself without holding, and will proudly and laughingly show that it can stand alone. Fearful, however, as yet of moving its limbs without support, it will seize a chair or anything else near it, when it will dare to advance as far as the limits of its support will permit. This little adventure will be repeated day after day with increased exultation; when, after numerous trials, he will feel confident of his power to balance himself, and he will run alone. Now time is required for this gradual self-teaching, during which the muscles and bones become strengthened; and when at last called upon to sustain the weight of the body, are fully capable of doing so.
Exercise during childhood.
When the child has acquired sufficient strength to take active exercise, he can scarcely be too much in the open air; the more he is habituated to this, the more capable will he be of bearing the vicissitudes of the climate. Children, too, should always be allowed to amuse themselves at pleasure, for they will generally take that kind and degree of exercise which is best calculated to promote the growth and development of the body. In the unrestrained indulgence of their youthful sports, every muscle of the body comes in for its share of active exercise; and free growth, vigour, and health are the result.
If, however, a child is delicate and strumous, and too feeble to take sufficient exercise on foot, and to such a constitution the respiration of a pure air and exercise are indispensable for the improvement of health, and without them all other efforts will fail, riding on a donkey or pony forms the best substitute. This kind of exercise will always be found of infinite service to delicate children; it amuses the mind, and exercises the muscles of the whole body, and yet in so gentle a manner as to induce little fatigue.
The exercises of horseback, however, are most particularly useful where there is a tendency in the constitution to pulmonary consumption, either from hereditary or accidental causes. It is here beneficial, as well through its influence on the general health, as more directly on the lungs themselves. There can be no doubt that the lungs, like the muscles of the body, acquire power and health of function by exercise. Now during a ride this is obtained, and without much fatigue to the body. The free and equable expansion of the lungs by full inspiration, necessarily takes place; this maintains their healthy structure, by keeping all the air-passages open and pervious; it prevents congestion in the pulmonary circulation, and at the same time provides more completely for the necessary chemical action on the blood, by changing, at each act of respiration, a sufficient proportion of the whole air contained in the lungs, all objects of great importance, and all capable of being promoted, more or less, by the means in question.

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Reference Manager is a software package which allows you to quickly and accurately import citations from a database such as Medline or CINAHL, then generate bibliographies in different output styles. It can be used from within Microsoft Word to insert references and footnotes into a document and automatically generate a reference list in a chosen output style, e.g. for publication in a specific journal. This makes it an invaluable tool in any work that requires tracking of reference lists, such as clinical audit, guidelines writing or systematic reviewing.

The Postgraduate Medical Education department are pleased to announce that two copies of the Reference Manager software package have been purchased and installed on the computers in the Doctors Mess. In collaboration with the Friends of the Children of Great Ormond Street Library, training in using the software will be offered on a regular basis in Weston House from July. The package can also be used by GOSH staff in the Library.
If you want to know more about the software, or wish to book a training session, please contact Ruth Muscat, Clinical Information Support Librarian on x5175, or Grazia Manzotti, Deputy Librarian, on x2424. A list of all available information skills training offered by the Library can be found at http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/services_and_facilities/internal/library/services/training/training.

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The Transportation Security Administration introduced a new screening system at La Guardia Airport on Wednesday that tries to speed things up and reduce anxiety and frustration by asking travelers to choose a line based on their familiarity with checkpoint procedures.
The system relies on customers to sort themselves into three groups, each assigned a color and shape: a green circle for families with small children and strollers, groups, travelers needing special assistance and travelers new to flying; a blue square, for casual travelers who are familiar with T.S.A. procedures and have multiple carry-on bags; and a black diamond, for “expert” travelers who are well-versed in the procedures.

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I've pulled out my summer recipe books in search of tasty new dishes for our annual 4th of July celebration at a local lake. Fireworks are everywhere on this special weekend, and my kids are already eagerly planning their family fun complete with a spectacular show and the roasting of s'mores to follow. We're always careful to maintain "safety first" practices through careful planning and prevention to avoid any injuries while celebrating our beloved Independence Day.

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Children are blessed with a unique ability to express the world around them in a way that adults cannot and when they are introduced to preschool art projects, they are sure to get a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills at a young age that can be developed over the rest of their lives and which hopefully will make them better at whatever craft they choose to follow in their adult life. It is thus a good idea for parents to encourage their preschool going children to take part in preschool art projects so that they can learn to improve their motor skills and also express them as best as they can from a very young age.

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Don't be scared. You know how to do this. "New Attending Syndrome" is inevitable, as you first shoulder the sole responsibility for patient care. But have confidence in your knowledge base and don't change your practice style just because there's no supervisor looking over your shoulder any more. If you would have sent the patient home as a resident, then do so as an attending. Once you start practicing scared, it's a hard habit to break.

Learn the local politics. Make sure you know who the medical director is, who the nurse managers are, the medical staff chairs, and the administrators who exert influence over the ER. Are there any existing or recently-resolved conflicts? Any of your new partners who are disaffected? Any specialties or medical staff docs who hate the ER? Any financial disputes within the group? Don't take sides in any ongoing pissing matches if you can avoid it, but make it a point to survey the lay of the political landscape.

Make the nurses your allies. Emergency medicine is truly a team sport, and the nurses will make or break you. Learn the nurses' names, especially the charge nurses. Bring them food or coffee on the night shift. If they go out in the morning, see if you can come along. Do not flirt or date them if you are single (and especially not if you are married). A sexual harassment allegation is not the way to start your career. Respect their experience and their judgment, and they will save your ass many times.

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Ahsa Swaroop Takes Over As New Chief Secretary Of Himachal Pradesh Shimla: Asha Swaroop moving out as secretary of information and broadcasting from Delhi, today took over as the new chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh.
Swaroop, who assumed charge in the afternoon said, power and tourism would remain a priority in the state. However, there was a need to consolidate on the gains made in the education and health sector. Efforts would be made to achieve it, she said.
Speaking about the development needs of Himachal, she said, “it would not be done at the cost of the environment. A balance between developmental requirements and the environment would to be maintained.”
Swaroop is a 1973 batch IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh cadre and has her service period till 2010. She is the second women Chief Secretary of HP after Rajindra Bhattacharya, who had held the top post during the earlier tenure of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal from 1998-2003.
She replaces Ravi Dhingra, a 1972 batch IAS officer, who has proceeded on central deputation to join as Secretary Inter-State Council in the ministry of Home Affairs.

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