29 February 2012

ISDS Summer Internship!

ISDS is looking for a summer intern who is a current MPH student who will lead the research, writing, and dissemination of an ISDS policy brief. Pass this information along to anyone you think may be interested in applying. Please note that the application deadline is April 1st.

ISDS Summer Internship Description

Title: ISDS Summer Intern

Organization: International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS)

Address: 26 Lincoln Avenue, Suite #3

Brighton, MA 02135

Website: http://www.syndromic.org

Agency description: The International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and dedicated to the improvement of population health by advancing the science and practice of disease surveillance. ISDS’s membership represents public health professionals, healthcare providers, researchers, government officials, and others engaged in national and international health surveillance initiatives. We facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and promote and conduct research, education, and advocacy.

Internship description: Disease surveillance is at a crossroads fueled by the advent of new technologies for data collection, management, and application, and shaped by changing demands on the public health workforce. ISDS would like to develop a policy brief and advocacy plan that will help to set the stage for the next stage of public health surveillance. This intern project will engage an MPH student in working with ISDS staff, members, and the Board of Directors to identify key issues related to public health surveillance research, practice, and policy; and to lead the research and writing of a policy brief. The intern will also be responsible for developing a dissemination plan for distributing the brief to the broader surveillance community, as well as to key stakeholders and decision makers.

Specific Responsibilities include:

Research policy issues related to public health surveillance
Writing of policy brief and advocacy plan
Develop dissemination plan to distribute policy brief to the broader surveillance community
Policy analysis

Minimum Skills Required:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (preferably in biological or social science discipline).
Current MPH student.
Proficiency with social media and other electronic and web-based communications vehicles.
Strong interpersonal skills with a positive, “can-do” attitude.
Capable of working independently and cooperatively as a team member in a fast-paced environment.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and deadline driven.
Eager to learn new and improve upon current skills.
Proficiency using MS Office for Mac and the following software within an Apple Mac OSX environment is preferred: Mail, iCal, and Address Book.

Estimated start/end date: June 2012 – August 2012 (flexible)

Hours/Week: Approximately 10 hours/week

Application deadline: April 1, 2012

Number of students: 1

Is a car necessary? No

Stipend: Yes, if not applying for credit.

To apply: Submit a resume and a cover letter to: careers@syndromic.org by April 1, 2012. Please put “ISDS Summer Internship” and your last name in the Subject line. ISDS requires pre-employment reference checks. ISDS is an equal opportunity employer.

Field Supervisor: Laura Streichert, PhD, MPH

Executive Director

28 February 2012

"US disease agency in fiscal peril"

A new article written by Meredith Wadman entitled "US disease agency in fiscal peril" posted today, February 28th, on Nature.com describes how "proposed budget changes threaten disease prevention and surveillance programmes." Read the article below or from the original source.

NATURE | NEWS

US disease agency in fiscal peril

Proposed budget changes threaten disease prevention
and surveillance programmes.

Meredith Wadman

28 February 2012

When US President Barack Obama proposed a US$664-million cut in congressional funding for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in his 2013 budget request, he tried to ease the pain by replacing much of it with money from other sources. But only days after the 13 February request, a vote on Capitol Hill made clear just how vulnerable those substitutions are, suggesting that the US public-health agency is on increasingly shaky financial ground.

The proposed cut would come from the part of the agency’s budget that is controlled by Congress and pays for the core operations of the CDC, based in Atlanta, Georgia. These include grants to local, county and state public-health departments to monitor infectious diseases or track food-borne outbreaks. Core funding is also used to maintain the Strategic National Stockpile, a repository of drugs reserved for fighting epidemics and bioterrorism. If Obama’s plan is enacted, the CDC’s congressionally controlled funding will have fallen by roughly 20% since 2010 — a decline that “looks like a disaster waiting to happen”, says Scott Becker, executive director of the Association of Public Health Laboratories in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Cuts to the CDC have already contributed to the loss of nearly 50,000 jobs in state and local health departments since 2008. This year, the administration argues that “efficiencies” will make possible the specific cuts it has proposed in areas such as adult-immunization funding and epidemiological support. But CDC advocates and public-health officials are sceptical. A proposed $47-million cut to the Strategic National Stockpile “is a lot more than just efficiency. It’s going to cut capability as well,” says Crystal Franco, an associate with the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC in Baltimore, Maryland. “We are reaching the tipping point where preparedness efforts are going to be reversed because of the lack of funding,” she adds.

The CDC’s budget was significantly boosted a decade ago because of concerns over bioterrorism in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. But as a budget vice tightens on the US government, the administration has begun to rely on two other sources to offset cuts to CDC programmes that have historically been funded by Congress (see ‘Cut to the core’).

SOURCE: CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION

One source is transfer payments made to the CDC from other public-health agencies. The 2013 budget would boost those payments by $296 million over this year’s level. But that would require congressional approval, which is far from guaranteed.

The second source of funds to offset CDC cuts — $903 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) — could be even less secure. Established by the 2010 health-reform law, the multibillion-dollar fund is aimed at disease prevention but has become an object of disdain for those opposed to the law. In the current atmosphere of fiscal constraint, the PPHF has become a target for raiding, and already, as part of a payroll-tax-cut extension that was signed into law by Obama on 22 February, Congress has cut the fund by 20%, or $250 million, in 2013, and by a total of $6.25 billion to 2025.

The fund “is vulnerable. It could go away quickly,” says James Hughes, a CDC veteran and immediate past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Arlington, Virginia. What’s more, says Hughes, now a professor of public health at Emory University in Atlanta, the fund was intended to launch innovative prevention initiatives, “not to replace core public-health capacity support”.

Virginia DOH Job Opening

	Working Title	Enhanced Surveillance Coordinator, #08910 (EP)
	Role Title The non-classified role title can be used for those job titles not listed under current classified role titles.	Prog Admin Specialist II - 19212
	Hiring Range	negotiable to $84,062
	Job Type	Full-Time
	Job Type Detail Definition	Full-Time Salaried - Non-Faculty- FTS-1
	Is this position funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package)? Definition	No
	Agency	Dept of Health (601)
	Agency Website Replace www.yourwebsite.gov with your agency's website. This will show as a link to applicants.	Click Here for Agency Website
	Location	Richmond (City) - 760
	Sublocation
	District	VDH - Office of Epidemiology - 601 - 602
	Position Number	08910
	Job Posting Number	0054688
	Type of Recruitment Definition	General Public - G
	Pay Band Information about state pay bands	05
	Job Description	This is a readvertisement: Applications received in December 2011 remain under review so applicants need not reapply. Manages VDH's Enhanced Surveillance projects to detect and monitor emerging events and unusual diseases, especially those that might result from bioterrorist activities or constitute a public health emergency. Directs initiatives and provides epidemiologic oversight for enhanced surveillance programs statewide, including syndromic surveillance, special event surveillance, and influenza surveillance. Ensures the timeliness, accuracy and utility of existing enhanced surveillance programs, establishes policies and procedures for enhanced surveillance activities, and supervises enhanced surveillance epidemiology staff. Researches innovations to improve enhanced surveillance and prioritizes new initiatives. Implements data collection, data analysis, data management and data dissemination strategies to support surveillance. Guides the design, development, implementation, maintenance and enhancement of data systems to support epidemiology activities, including ESSENCE, EARS, and OMS. Implements procedures for the surveillance use of data from ESSENCE, EARS, and BioSense. Coordinates the transmissions, testing, acceptance and implementation of "Meaningful Use" compliant electronic data submissions of syndromic surveillance data. Develops grant applications, manages budgets and prepares progress reports. Serves as a liaison to the Offices of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) and Information Management and Health Information Technology (OIMHIT), to health care providers and to national enhanced surveillance workgroups. Serves as a Bioterrorism Response support team member.
	Minimum Qualifications	Knowledge of syndromic surveillance strategies, public health surveillance methods, principles of epidemiology, communicable diseases, and of laws, regulations, and policies on disease reporting and control. Strong skills in enhanced surveillance (including syndromic surveillance), data collection and management, statistical analysis, data interpretation and presentation, quality assurance of epidemiologic data and oral and written communication. Ability to apply epidemiologic principles; plan and implement new initiatives; train and supervise staff; manage statewide programs; conduct training; manage grant activities; develop goals and evaluate progress; develop/manage databases; analyze and interpret statistical information; use statistical software programs (e.g., SAS), spreadsheet applications (e.g., Excel), databases (e.g., Access and SQL) and presentation software (e.g., LogiXML, SAS, Excel and PowerPoint). Degree with major coursework in epidemiology, statistics or related field and/or equivalent experience and training.
	Preferred Qualifications	Advanced degree in epidemiology, statistics or related fields; and experience planning enhanced surveillance activities, performing epidemiologic emergency response activities, and working with data systems (e.g., ESSENCE and OMS) preferred.
	Special Requirements	Applicants must successfully complete a national criminal background investigation. As a Bioterrorism support team member, must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency response. Valid Driver's license and some travel required.
	Special Instructions to Applicants	Applicants needing sponsorship need not apply. A completed application, including all previous employment, salary history, and education must be submitted on-line at www.vdh.virginia.gov for consideration. No faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications accepted. Electronic applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Initial review will be conducted on applications received by March 5, 2012. This is a restricted position which is solely funded by CDC Public Health Preparedness grant funds for the current budget period ending 8/9/2012. The availability of funding is scheduled for review in May 2012 and annually thereafter. Employment is contingent on the continued availability of grant or non-general funds.
	Contact Information
	Name	Pat Tucker
	Phone	804-864-8142
	Job Close Date Jobs close at 5pm EST.	Open Until Filled
	Quicklink for Posting	jobs.agencies.virginia.gov/applicants/Central?quickFind=144029

24 February 2012

DNDHI Job Posting: Supervisory Health Scientist/Supervisory Statistician

The Division of Notifiable Diseases and Health Care Information (DNDHI), Public Health Surveillance and Informatics Program Office (PHSIPO), Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (OSELS) is seeking an exceptional health scientist/informatician/statistician to serve as the chief of its Information Systems and Statistical Support Branch in Atlanta, GA.

The mission of PHSIPO is to advance the science and practice of public health surveillance that accelerates effective public health decision-making and actions. This is accomplished by managing surveillance systems with cross-CDC utility; developing new information sources, analytic methods, and tools for addressing common challenges in surveillance practice; engaging and supporting CDC programs and external partners, particularly those in health departments; having answers to common questions about surveillance practice & policy; using a multidisciplinary approach; contributing to public health emergency preparedness and response by enhancing biosurveillance capacities; and anticipating changes in healthcare, the determinants of public health, and information technologies that shape surveillance practice.

DNDHI plays a critical role in this mission by maintaining and improving the operations of surveillance systems already in existence (such as the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance Systems (NNDSS) and BioSense), as well as the development of new surveillance capacities that are based on links between public health and health care providers. Development of new surveillance capacities will draw on the increasing automation of health care records and information systems, including opportunities for local, state, and national public health functions arising from the growth of health information exchanges, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the “meaningful use” provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The incumbent serves as chief of the Information Systems and Statistical Support Branch (ISSSB) responsible for planning, developing, directing and providing statistical, data management, informatics and information system leadership. Responsible for managing contracts in support of the information technology needs of both the BioSense Program and the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in an applied public health surveillance program. Directs research of statistical and data management methodologies relevant for applied public health surveillance (including notifiable disease, syndromic, and health services-based surveillance). As part of the senior management team, serves as the advisor to the Division Director, other senior officials, CDC, DHHS, ONC and other Federal, state, and private officials on matters concerning the statistical and data management- and informatics-related principles and practices of public health surveillance; provide leadership in addressing public health issues of national interest; and directs initiatives to develop new and improved statistical methods and techniques for analyzing and interpreting health surveillance data. As Branch Chief, responsible for the overall management and supervision of the analytical, research, and applied surveillance program activities and personnel assigned.

Because the surveillance systems managed by this division depend on surveillance systems managed by state, local, and territorial health departments throughout the United States. In for conditions that span numerous parts of CDC, the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues both within and outside CDC is essential.

Applications for the position should be submitted by Thursday, March 22, 2012 through the USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.gov).

USAJOBS Announcements:

Supervisory Health Scientist/ Supervisory Statistician (Interdisciplinary), GS-601-15 and GS-1530-15

· Supervisory Health Scientist/ Statistician (internal): HHS-CDC-MP-12-601911

· Supervisory Health Scientist/Statistician (external): HHS-CDC-DE-12-600266

For additional information about this job, please contact Kathleen Gallagher. D.Sc., MPH by email at kxg7@cdc.gov or by phone at 404-498-6631.

**If you are USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer interested in applying for this position, you do NOT have to submit an application through USAJOBS. Instead, please send your cover letter and CV directly to Kathleen Gallagher. D.Sc., MPH at kxg7@cdc.gov.

DNDHI Job Posting: Supervisory Health Scientist/Supervisory Medical Officer

The Division of Notifiable Diseases and Health Care Information (DNDHI), Public Health Surveillance Program Office (PHSPO), Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (OSELS) is seeking an exceptional medical officer/ doctoral epidemiologist to serve as the chief of its Surveillance and Analysis Branch in Atlanta, GA.

The mission of PHSPO is to advance the science and practice of public health surveillance that accelerates effective public health decision-making and actions. This is accomplished by managing surveillance systems with cross-CDC utility; developing new information sources, analytic methods, and tools for addressing common challenges in surveillance practice; engaging and supporting CDC programs and external partners, particularly those in health departments; having answers to common questions about surveillance practice & policy; using a multidisciplinary approach; contributing to public health emergency preparedness and response by enhancing biosurveillance capacities; and anticipating changes in healthcare, the determinants of public health, and information technologies that shape surveillance practice.

DNDHI plays a critical role in this mission by maintaining and improving the operations of surveillance systems already in existence (such as the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance Systems ( NNDSS) and BioSense), as well as the development of new surveillance capacities that are based on links between public health and health care providers. Development of new surveillance capacities will draw on the increasing automation of health care records and information systems, including opportunities for local, state, and national public health functions arising from the growth of health information exchanges, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the “meaningful use” provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The position serves as chief of the Surveillance and Analysis Branch and is responsible for leadership and oversight for all surveillance and analysis activities within DNDHI including those involving data from nationally notifiable disease surveillance, syndromic surveillance activities in BioSense and BioSense 2.0, and large automated data sets (i.e. CMS) that may be used to monitor population health. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the analytical, research and applied surveillance program and cooperative agreement/grant activities and personnel assigned. As part of the senior management team, the branch chief also serves as an advisor to the Division Director, other senior management officials, CDC, DHHS, ONC and other Federal, state, and private officials on matters concerning the principles and practices of public health surveillance; provide leadership in addressing public health issues of national interest; and directs initiatives to develop new and improved methods and techniques for analyzing and interpreting health surveillance data.

The surveillance systems managed by this division depend on surveillance systems managed by state, local, and territorial health departments throughout the United States. In addition, this division conducts surveillance for diseases and conditions for which lead responsibility for prevention and control rests with other parts of CDC. As a result, the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues both within and outside CDC is essential.

Applications for the position should be submitted by Thursday, March 22, 2012 through the USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.gov).

USAJOBS Announcements:

Supervisory Health Scientist/ Supervisory Medical Officer, GS-601-15 and GS-602-15

· Supervisory Health Scientist (internal): HHS-CDC-MP-12-602488

· Supervisory Health Scientist (external): HHS-CDC-DE-12-602437

· Supervisory Medical Officer (internal): HHS-CDC-MP-12-609086

· Supervisory Medical Officer (external): HHS-CDC-DE-12-604992

For additional information about this job, please contact Kathleen Gallagher. D.Sc., MPH by email at kxg7@cdc.gov or by phone at 404-498-6631.

Proposed Rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use NPRM

The Proposed Rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use has been Posted to the Federal Register; CMS Fact Sheet Provides Overview

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Stage 2 meaningful use was posted to the Office of the Federal Register today. The proposed rule outlines the next stage of meaningful use for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, which are administered by CMS. View the NPRM.

CMS has developed a fact sheet to give providers an overview of the rule and how Stage 2 expands upon Stage 1 of meaningful use. The fact sheet can be found on the EHR Incentive Programs website https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC's) NPRM was delivered to the Federal Register on February 22 at the same time as the CMS NPRM, and the policy is finalized. Additional news about the ONC proposed rule will be released once it is posted and the rules will publish on the same day.

Learn more about meaningful use by going to the CMS EHR Meaningful Use Overview web page.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs? Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Other useful CDC/PHIN links:

1) New "In the Spotlight" on both PHIN (www.cdc.gov/phin) and MU (www.cdc.gov/ehrmeaningfuluse) pages

2) New Cancer subpage under the PH Options on MU site.

3) Updated Guides page on both pages

4) Updated About Meaningful Use Intro page on MU page

Connect with us

29 February 2012

ISDS Summer Internship!

28 February 2012

"US disease agency in fiscal peril"

Related stories

Virginia DOH Job Opening

24 February 2012

DNDHI Job Posting: Supervisory Health Scientist/Supervisory Statistician

DNDHI Job Posting: Supervisory Health Scientist/Supervisory Medical Officer

Proposed Rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use NPRM