Hospital is no place for the elderly

An article from the Atlantic on why keeping the chronically ill and elderly at home makes sense.

Changes to Medline data for 2014

This article collects the notable data changes made to MEDLINE during annual National Library of Medicine (NLM) maintenance known as Year-End Processing (YEP) for 2014.  MeSH heading changes are at the bottom.

2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults

A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines

This abstract has a link to the free PDF of the full report.  People will be advised to take a statin if they already have heart disease, if their bad (LDL) cholesterol is extremely high (190 milligrams per deciliter of blood or more) or if they're middle-aged with type 2 diabetes.  People between 40 and 75 years of age with an estimated 10-year risk of heart disease of 7.5 percent or more will also be advised to take a statin. Experts say this new rule could greatly alter the number of patients who will now be advised to take such a drug. (from Health Day).

The American Heart Association has a synopsis of the report too.

News article from Health Day on the release of the report.

The Devastation in the Philippines

Images of the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and information on how to help.

Doctors without Borders in the Philippines

Field News from the Philippines.

Up to date press coverage on Typhoon Haiyan.

How to Give - Philippines Relief Effort - The M Give Foundation

Help the Philippines Typhoon Victims

In the aftermath of one of the worst storms ever recorded, hundreds of thousands of people are displaced and the death toll continues to rise. The survivors are in the immediate need of food, clean water, and shelter.

Click on the heading above to find agencies raising money.  Text one of the agencies to donate $10 or any amount.

Global Volunteer Network

Philippine Typhoon Haiyan Appeal

The Philippines has been devastated by the worst typhoon to have ever hit land, with a huge loss of lives and infrastructure. GVN has a call out for volunteers to help support the communities of the Philippines.

• Make a donation to the Philippines
• Set up a fundraiser so you can reach out to your friends and family to support the Philippines

If you are interested in our Philippines Recovery and Rebuild Program then click here
The funds raised through this appeal will be distributed through GVN's partner organization in the Philippines to meet immediate needs and to help with long-term recovery.

Resources for the Philippines

The National Library of Medicine announces the activation of the
Emergency Access Initiative in support of medical efforts in the
Philippines and surrounding areas following the devastating typhoon.
The Emergency Access Initiative is a collaborative partnership between
NLM and participating publishers to provide free access to full-text
articles from over 650 biomedical serial titles and over 4,000 reference
books and online databases to healthcare professionals and libraries
affected by disasters.

The Emergency Access Initiative serves as a temporary collection
replacement and/or supplement for libraries affected by disasters that
need to continue to serve medical staff and affiliated users.  It is also
intended for medical personnel responding to the specified disaster.

EAI is not an open access collection - it is only intended for those
affected by the disaster or assisting the affected population.  If your
library is working with a library or organization involved in relief
efforts in the Philippines or other affected areas, please let them know
of this service.

Emergency Access Initiative:  http://eai.nlm.nih.gov
NLM thanks the participating publishers for their generous support of
this initiative:  American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association
or the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American
College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of
Health-Systems Pharmacists, ASM Press, B.C. Decker, BMJ, EBSCOHost,
Elsevier, FA Davis, Mary Ann Liebert, Massachusetts Medical Society,
McGraw-Hill, Merck Publishing, Oxford University Press, People's Medical
Publishing House, Springer, University of Chicago Press, Wiley, and
Wolters Kluwer.

Sample journal titles:
Accident and emergency nursing
Annals of internal medicine
Archives of surgery
Burns
Depression and anxiety
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
International journal of cardiology
International journal of infectious diseases
JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of emergency medicine
Journal of traumatic stress
Lancet
New England journal of medicine
Surgery

Sample book titles:
Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy
Public health & preventive medicine
Trauma
Handbook of critical care
Human virologyInfectious diseases: the clinician's guide to diagnosis, treatment and
prevention
AHFS drug information

Online databases:
Cochrane database of systematic reviews
DynaMed

Essential Evidence PlusnFor questions regarding the Emergency Access Initiative, please email
custserv@nlm.nih.gov or call 1-888-346-3656 in the United States, or
301-594-5983 internationally.

Latest from PLOS

ANNOUNCING THE RECIPIENTS FOR THE ACCELERATING SCIENCE AWARD

October 21, 2013

The three award recipients for the Accelerating Science Award Program (ASAP)  were announced today in Washington, DC at the Open Access Week kickoff event hosted by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) and the World Bank. ASAP recognizes the use of scientific research, published through Open Access, that has led to innovations benefiting society. Major sponsors include the Wellcome Trust, PLOS and Google.

How does the Government Shutdown impact government health information resources?

NCBI databases are open, however they are being maintained with minimal staffing due to the lapse in government funding. Information will be updated to the extent possible, and the agency will attempt to respond to urgent operational inquiries. For updates regarding government operating status see USA.gov.

The CDC's statement reads, "due to the lapse in government funding, only web sites supporting excepted functions will be updated unless otherwise funded. As a result, the information on this website may not be up to date, the transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

From the USA.gov website:

What's Affected by a Government Shutdown?

Below, find an overview of some of the government services and operations that will be impacted until Congress passes a budget to fund them again. For detailed information about specific activities at Federal agencies, please see federal government contingency plans.

• Vital services that ensure seniors and young children have access to healthy food and meals may not have sufficient Federal funds to serve all beneficiaries in an extended lapse.
• Call centers, hotlines and regional offices that help veterans understand their benefits will close to the public.
• Veterans’ compensation, pension, education, and other benefits could be cut off in the case of an extended  shutdown.
• Every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, will be immediately closed.
• New applications for small business loans and loan guarantees will be immediately halted.
• Research into life-threatening diseases and other areas will stop, and new patients won’t be accepted into clinical  trials at the National Institutes of Health.
• Work to protect consumers, ranging from child product safety to financial security to the safety of hazardous waste facilities, will cease. The EPA will halt non-essential inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems.
• Permits and reviews for planned energy and transportations projects will stop, preventing companies from working on these projects. Loans to rural communities will be halted.
• Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees including many charged with protecting us from terrorist threats, defending our borders, inspecting our food, and keeping our skies safe will work without pay until the shutdown  ends.
• Hundreds of thousands of additional federal workers will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.

The status of NIH Grants during the Government Shutdown

Information for the NIH Extramural Grantee Community During the Lapse of Federal Government Funding

---

Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-126
Key Dates
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Related Announcements
None Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

The Government Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 ended on September 30, 2013 at midnight EST and an Appropriation Act for FY2014 has not been passed leading to a lapse in Federal funding.  We are providing the following information to answer questions you may have on the impact this lapse in appropriation will have on your grant/cooperative agreement or the availability of NIH’s systems and services.

RESUMING OPERATIONS

You are encouraged to stay tuned to the national media to determine when the Federal Government will resume operations.  Depending on the length of the funding lapse, once NIH non-excepted staff are authorized to resume operations it will take time for full operations to be resumed.  Depending on the length of the funding lapse, the eRA system may require at least one business day after operations resume.   We ask for patience when trying to contact NIH staff once operations resume since there will be a backlog of information to process.

CONTACT WITH NIH STAFF

E-mail, Phone, Fax, and Postal Mail Contacts:  For the duration of the funding lapse, NIH extramural employees will be prohibited from working (remotely or in the office).  Consequently, there will be no access to voice mail, e-mail, fax, or postal mail during this period.  Mail requiring someone to sign/accept may not be received.  All other postal mail, fax, and voice mail communications will not be acted upon until after operations resume. It is recommended that you delay sending such communications until after operations resume.

Help Desk Support:  For the duration of the funding lapse, all help desks, central e-mail boxes, and web ticketing systems for questions related to NIH grants policy and electronic grants systems will not be available, including the eRA Helpdesk and Grants Information Services.  

In the event of an emergency involving human safety, please contact Dr. Sally Rockey at rockeysa@od.nih.gov.

SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS

For the duration of the funding lapse, applicants are strongly encouraged not to submit paper or electronic grant applications to NIH during the period of the lapse.  Adjustments to application submission dates that occur during the funding lapse will be announced once operations resume.  For any applications submitted immediately prior to or during the funding lapse, here is what will happen.

1. For electronic submissions through Grants.gov: Grants.gov will be open and can accept electronic applications.  However, applications will not be processed by NIH until the eRA Systems are back on-line.  NIH will ensure that all applications submitted within the two business days before or during the funding lapse will receive the full viewing window once the systems are back on-line.  
2. For electronic submission of multi-project applications through NIH’s ASSIST system: The ASISST system will not be available until NIH systems are back on-line.
3. Paper Submissions: Staff will not be available to receive paper applications during a funding lapse. 

The safest course is to wait to submit any application to NIH until after operations resume and a Notice in the NIH Guide concerning adjusted submission dates is posted.

PEER REVIEW AND COUNCIL MEETINGS

Initial Peer Review Meetings:  For the duration of the funding lapse, the NIH will not be able to conduct initial peer review meetings – whether in-person or through teleconferences or other electronic media. Also during this time, the NIH staff will not be able to send or receive email messages, or update website information, and NIH computer systems that support review functions will not be operational.  When operations resume, those meetings will be re-scheduled and the pending applications will be processed and reviewed as soon as possible. 

Also, the results, including final impact scores and summary statements, of some peer review meetings that took place prior to the orderly shutdown of operations may not be available until operations resume.  Therefore, applicants with applications going through the peer review process should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the government resume, and then check the NIH website for information on any review meetings that may have been extended or re-scheduled.  The results of meetings held prior to a potential funding lapse will be released as soon as possible after resumption of operations.

Individuals who had agreed to serve on NIH review panels (”study sections”) that were scheduled to meet during the funding lapse will not be able to access the Internet Assisted Review (IAR) site or other NIH web-based systems during that time. Reviewers who were scheduled to travel for a review meeting on a day when operations are down will not be able to board a plane or train, and will be sent instructions on how to handle their reservations.  Reviewers who are attending an NIH review panel on the day of orderly shutdown will be able to change their travel plans and return home.  Therefore, peer reviewers should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the NIH will resume, and then check the NIH website for information on meetings that have been re-scheduled.   As soon as possible after operations resume, the NIH Scientific Review Officer in charge of the review meeting will contact those reviewers with more detailed information.

Advisory Council Review: The NIH will not be able to conduct Advisory Council review meetings – whether in-person or through teleconferences or other electronic media - during the funding lapse.  Also during this time, the NIH staff will not be able to send or receive email messages, or update website information, and NIH computer systems that support review functions will not be operational.  Therefore, no applications will be processed for Council review or be taken to Council meetings during that time.  When operations resume, those pending applications will be processed, and meetings will be re-scheduled as soon as possible. 

Applicants with applications pending Council review during that time should check the NIH website for information after operations resume.  Advisory Council members should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the government will resume, and then check the NIH website for information on Council meetings that have been re-scheduled.   As soon as possible after operations resume, the NIH Executive Secretary in charge of the Council meeting will contact those Council members with more detailed information.

AWARDED GRANTS

Currently Active Grant Awards:  For the duration of the funding lapse, all work and activities performed under currently active NIH grant awards may continue.  However, see below for limits on performing many of the reporting requirements associated with NIH grant funding. 

Progress Reports: 

1. Electronically Submitted Progress Reports:  For any progress reports due during the funding lapse, the eRA Commons will not be accessible.  Users will need to wait until the eRA Commons is back on-line before these progress reports can be submitted. 
2. Paper Submitted Progress Reports:  No NIH staff will be available to receive paper progress reports. Therefore, institutions are encouraged to delay mailing all paper progress reports due during the funding lapse until after operations resume.  

Notice of Awards (NoAs):  No NIH grant awards will be processed for the duration of the funding lapse.  For any awards processed before the funding lapse that have an issue date during the funding lapse, the awards will not be sent to the grantee on the issue date.  Once operations resume, all pending NoAs will be sent.  This will not affect the start date nor the issue date of these awards; it just affects the date the award document is actually sent to the grantee and available for access in the eRA Commons.  In the absence of actually receiving the NoA, institutions may use pre-award costs authority at their own risk. 

No-cost Extension Notifications:   The eRA Commons will not be accessible during the funding lapse.  Further, no-cost extension notification cannot be submitted via the Commons once the expiration date of the grant has passed.  For any grants due to expire during the funding lapse that plans to be given a no-cost extension, a paper notification to the IC will be required after operations resume. 

General Access to eRA Commons and Other OER-Supported Systems:  The eRA Commons will not be accessible during the funding lapse.  Therefore, no user will be able to access the Commons for viewing electronically submitted applications, accessing Internet Assisted Review, or processing such actions as Commons Registration, FSRs/FFRs, xTrain documents, Closeout documents, and/or FCOI notifications etc.  Further there will be no ability to access Commons for query or other purposes.  There also will be no access to the Interagency Edison or Electronic Council Books systems.

Prior Approval Requests and Other Communications:  NIH extramural employees will have no access to voice mail, e-mail, fax, or postal mail during the funding lapse.  All prior approval requests and other communications will not be received until operations resume.  It is recommended that you delay sending such communications until after operations resume.

Access to HHS Payment Management System (PMS):   For the duration of the funding lapse, the HHS PMS will be open; however, no Federal staff will be available to assist or process any requests.  Therefore, drawdowns (payments) on accounts can be processed as long as no Federal staff action is required to finalize the payment.  For most NIH grantees, this means drawdowns should be possible.  However, if a particular grant is on a reimbursement basis for withdrawing funds or otherwise restricted, then these requests cannot not be processed until after Federal Government operations resume.

ANIMAL WELFARE

The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) business processes are funded by annual appropriations and are not designated as excepted activities under the Antideficiency Act. No activities associated with the OLAW mission will continue for the duration of the funding lapse.
For the duration of the funding lapse, PHS-funded institutions are encouraged to delay sending all Assurance documents, preliminary or final reports of noncompliance or IACUC suspensions as required under the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals IV.F.3, or other correspondence due to OLAW during the funding hiatus period until after operations resume. OLAW will extend deadlines for all reporting activities as necessary to compensate for the period of the lapse in funding and the unavailability of the website and OLAW operational support.
Institutions are reminded that their obligation under their Animal Welfare Assurance to ensure ongoing local support and oversight, and to address and correct all situations that affect animal welfare and compliance with the PHS Policy continues during this period.

NIH Public Access Policy

Latest News

• For non-competing continuation grant awards with a start date of July 1, 2013 or beyond:
  
  1) NIH will delay processing of an award if publications arising from it are not in compliance with the NIH public access policy.
  
  2) Investigators will need to use My NCBI to enter papers onto progress reports.  Papers can be associated electronically using the RPPR, or included in the PHS 2590 using the My NCBI generated PDF report.
• For an overview of policy changes, see this video, excerpted from our January 2013 webinar.

October is National Medical Librarians Month

The Medical Library Association (MLA) has declared October as National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM). The 2013 NMLM theme, "Saving You Time So You Can Save Lives," helps to promote the fact that medical librarians' knowledge of resources, search skills, and response time ensures that medical professionals receive the highest quality health information available.