Day: February 2, 2015

Congratulations to CDPH for achieving national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)! CDPH is the largest state public health department to accomplish this.

PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender said:
We were impressed by the Site Visitors’ observation that many programs and strategies of the California Department of Public Health can serve as national models and that the Department has a culture of quality, professionalism, and service that is evident throughout the Department.

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and protecting the health of the public by advancing the quality and performance of Tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments.

The PHAB is jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

With great sadness, we announce that Sarah Ngo’s last day is Friday, February 13th. Many of you have had the opportunity to interact with Sarah as our extraordinary Document Delivery and Library Card Coordinator. We will miss her and don’t know how we will ever replace her! Sarah has accepted an opportunity to work at the new UC San Francisco Mission Bay Hospital that just opened Feb. 1st. We are just starting to work on plans to replace Sarah.

AFTER Feb. 13th please contact the following folks if you need help:

Library Cards, Contract Questions, Full Text Electronic Journals and Books Access:
Debbie Jan, Debbie.Jan@cdph.ca.gov, (510) 642-2510

Literature Searches or Training Classes Requests:
Michael Sholinbeck, msholinb@library.berkeley.edu, (510) 642-2510

Document Delivery requests or Current Awareness Service:
E-mail: publdeli@library.berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 642-2510, Michael Sholinbeck or Debbie Jan

Web Portal Issues:
E-mail: publdeli@library.berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 642-2510, Lee Adams or Michael Sholinbeck

Thank you for your patience during this transition!

Healthcare at heart of all policy Petaluma wellness group puts pressure on all city officials

From the Petaluma360.

During last fall’s meeting of the Petaluma Healthcare District’s CHIPA (Community Health Initiative for the Petaluma Area), Karen Ben-Moshe spoke to community leaders about the philosophy surrounding "Health in all policies" – a program she coordinates for the California Department of Public Health. Petaluma Mayor David Glass, who was part of the discussion during the fall meeting, said the city had begun a process of incorporating health into transit decisions, as well as housing and after-school programs. But he said lack of funding was the primary hindrance to making Ben-Moshe’s goals work.

California’s top public health official slams e-cigarettes

From Reuters.

California’s top public health official on Wednesday said electronic cigarettes are addictive, leading to nicotine poisoning among children and threatening to unravel the state’s decades-long effort to reduce tobacco use. The report by California Department of Public Health Director Ron Chapman comes as the state legislature is debating whether to regulate e-cigarettes under the state’s tobacco regulations.

What’s the point? California eliminates restrictions put on the sale of hypodermic needles and syringes

From the Auburn Journal.

Hypodermic needles are now legal in California, no prescription required. On January 1, 2015, Assembly Bill (AB) 1743 went into effect as part of statewide effort to reduce the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis. The law specifies that pharmacists, physicians, and syringe exchange programs are authorized sources of nonprescription syringes for disease prevention purposes. According to the California Department of Public Health people who inject drugs continue to be at risk for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection in California.
"Bottom line – it is better for public health," said Joyia Emard, a member of the Board of Pharmacy.

Health officials issue warning after a bat found in Rancho Cucamonga tested positive for rabies

From the Fontana Herald News.

Health officials issued a warning on Jan. 28 after a bat that was found in Rancho Cucamonga tested positive for rabies. On Jan. 25, field service officers from the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care and Services Department responded to a home in the north portion of the city regarding a bat found by the home owner. The bat was sent to the San Bernardino County Public Health Department to test for the rabies virus. Rabies is a rare, fatal viral infection of the brain that can infect all mammals, including dogs, cats, horses, and humans. The California Department of Public Health declared the entire State of California "a rabies area" back in the 1950s. As a result, a comprehensive rabies control program was developed and has been modified over the years to include mandated public health activities, such as the control of stray animals, mandatory dog licensing/rabies vaccination, the investigation of animal bites, and public education.