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Monday, October 15, 2001
CDC Advises Facilities on Handling Anthrax Threats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an advisory directing facilities on how to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats.

The advisory provides instructions on what a facility should do if it receives a suspicious unopened letter or package with a threatening message, if an envelope containing powder gets spilled, or if a biological agent is released into a public space via aerosolization.

Characteristics of suspicious packages include: excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed addresses, incorrect titles, a title but no name, misspellings of common words, oily stains, discolorations or odor, no return address, excessive weight, a lopsided or uneven envelope, protruding wires or aluminum foil, excessive security material such as tape or string, visual distractions, a ticking sound, an envelope marked “confidential” or “personal,” or if the envelope shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the address.

CDC also advises people not to panic. Anthrax organisms must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed or inhaled and cannot be spread from one person to another. The disease can be prevented after exposure with the appropriate antibiotics. The full advisory contains more detailed instructions on handling threats and is available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax/10122001Handle/10122001Handle.asp. More information about anthrax is available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Children Safety Program Targeting Head Injuries
A one-day conference on child safety will focus on the education and prevention of intentional head trauma in children. The program, Keeping the Children Safe: Preventing Intentional Head Injuries in Children, will be held Thursday, Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. For more information, contact Children’s Institute for Pediatric Education, Children’s Hospital, PO Box 7199, Columbus, OH 43205, or call 614/722-4339 or e-mail camy@chi.osu.edu. The program is sponsored by OhioHealth and Children’s Hospital of Columbus.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Flu-shot manufacturer struggling in production
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Sunday, October 14, 2001
Health-care officials knew the flu vaccine would be arriving a little late this year.
But one vaccine maker's continuing problems could mean that nearly one-fourth of the 79.6 million doses in production won't be arriving in large quantities until Thanksgiving.

Bill would boost Children's Hospital funding
Columbus Dispatch
Saturday, October 13, 2001
WASHINGTON -- Children's Hospital in Columbus would receive a major financial boost next year if House legislation passed this week becomes law.

‘New’ Toledo Hospital will be like no other in region, ProMedica says
Toledo Blade
Sunday, October 14, 2001
A plan to demolish much of Toledo Hospital and rebuild it into a mega high-tech medical center could ultimately result in a $400 million investment in a part of the city that desperately needs it.

Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Taft Proposes Budget Plan
Gov. Bob Taft today announced a plan to address the state’s projected budget shortfall of $709 million for fiscal year 2002 and $763 million for fiscal year 2003.

Most state agencies will receive a budget cut between 3 and 6 percent. However, Medicaid expenditures are exempt from executive agency cuts. The state will additionally borrow $100 million from the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Trust Fund out of the current $350 million. This will probably not significantly impact program expenditures. Under the proposal, the state would pay back the money by 2013.

Several tax loopholes on business will also be closed to generate about $110 million for fiscal year 2002. Taft is also proposing Ohio enter a multi-state lottery in addition to using $192 million in fiscal year 2002 and $87 million in fiscal year 2003 from the rainy day fund. The state is planning to go ahead with inpatient hospital increases as of January as planned. (Bill Ryan, billr@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Pharmacists in Ohio told to discourage Cipro hoarding
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Ohio pharmacists should discourage people from hoarding the antibiotic Cipro and even challenge doctors who prescribe it under pressure from anthrax-panicked patients, the head of a pharmacy group said yesterday.

Red Cross builds donor database
Hamilton Journal-News
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
The rush to give blood following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks proved vital during the country's time of crisis. But fear that the nation may again face a blood shortage has America's Blood Centers taking proactive measures.

Send in the clowns
Akron Beacon Journal
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Go ahead, call these nurses a couple of clowns. They won't mind.

Wednesday, October 17, 2001
Supreme Court Finds in Favor of Hospital in Public Records Case
The Ohio Supreme Court today issued a 5-2 decision in favor of Parma Community General Hospital in a public records dispute which could have had broad implications. An action had been filed against the hospital arguing it is a public office under Ohio’s public records laws because the original hospital building was constructed using funds from the city of Parma, surrounding municipalities and the federal government, and the municipalities recommend appointments to the board of the association that runs the hospital.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled the hospital is not a public institution required to disclose documents under Ohio’s Public Records Act. The majority opinion, written by Justice Alice Robie Resnick, states the hospital is clearly not a public entity but cautions the ruling is narrow and limited to the unique facts and circumstances of that case.

OHA, along with six other nonprofit community and health care organizations, in February had filed a friend of the court brief in support of the hospital. The brief argued that while hospitals are open and available for use by the general public, this does not indicate they are public organizations, and “there must be a distinction between providing a community benefit and performing a ‘function of government.’” A decision against the hospital could have applied to any organization that had received government support at any time in that organization’s history. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

CDC Plans Anthrax Broadcast; House to Close After Anthrax Exposure
In response to the national threat of anthrax exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning a live satellite broadcast Thursday aimed at helping physicians, nurse clinicians and other health care workers correctly recognize, test, diagnose, treat and report potential anthrax cases. “Anthrax: What Every Clinician Should Know” will be broadcast live Thursday, Oct. 18 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. More information and satellite technical specifications are available on the American Hospital Association’s Web site at www.aha.org. Call CDC with questions at (404) 639-3707.

Also related to anthrax threats, the House of Representatives will close for five days in light of 31 people testing positive for anthrax exposure in the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D- South Dakota). The House will reopen Tuesday. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Correction: How to Receive Emergency Alerts
Information faxed to member hospitals this week asked hospital emergency department directors to contact the Health Alert Network directly to receive emergency health advisories. The Health Alert Network is instead advising organizations to contact their state or local health departments to receive these advisories. OHA will also forward to the hospital emergency department director or another designated person the health alerts. Contact Stacey Walton at OHA, by e-mail at staceyw@ohanet.org or by fax at 614-221-4771, with the name, position and e-mail address to be added to the distribution list.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Editor’s note: StateHealthClips.com will not be available today because of technical difficulties. Please check back tomorrow.

Thursday, October 18, 2001
Ohioans Collaborate to Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Across the state, Ohioans are working together to promote healthy lifestyles. Events are being held in communities around Ohio this week and over the coming weeks as part of the Governor’s Small Steps, Big Strides for Healthy Ohioans, Healthy Communities campaign. The initiative is focusing on lowering the state’s chronic disease rates and helping Ohioans reverse poor health habits related to nutrition, physical activity and the use of tobacco. The program is geared to show Ohioans they can start on a healthier path by making a series of small changes, rather than tackling poor health habits all at once.

This week, and into November, events such as health fairs and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings are being held in many communities to promote good health and provide Ohioans with tools they need to make changes in their lifestyles. For more information on the events being held around the state, refer to www.odhpressroom.org/images/SSEvents.pdf. In addition, several local efforts in metropolitan areas with similar goals are working to collaborate with the statewide effort. The OHA Foundation for Healthy Communities is also turning its focus to healthy lifestyles. The Foundation awards grants twice each year to provide seed money for collaborative efforts to initiate programs to improve community health. Tied directly to OHA’s strategic objectives, the Foundation in 2002 will begin targeting programs that reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies, increase the number of Ohio citizens who exercise on a regular basis, or reduce the incidence of substance abuse. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)

Bioterrorism Resources Available
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) this week opened a Bioterrorism Information Line, 1-866-936-4636, for Ohio residents who have questions related to bioterrorism. It should not be used to report suspicious incidents or hoaxes, which should be reported to local law enforcement. The information line will be staffed by public health professionals from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Also available on ODH’s Web site are alerts and warnings related to bioterrorism and disaster and emergency preparedness. The site is available at www.odh.state.oh.us/Alerts/Alertmain.htm and includes frequently asked questions, fact sheets and health advisories.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Hospital's records aren't public, court rules
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Thursday, October 18, 2001
Parma - The Ohio Supreme Court yesterday gave Parma Community General Hospital one of its best 40th anniversary gifts.

Hospitals brace for flu season amidst new anthrax scare
Mentor-Willoughby News-Herald
Thursday, October 18, 2001
Typically, about this time of year, it becomes a concern for hospital officials that emergency rooms will get bogged down by flu sufferers.

Couple alerts others to shaken-baby abuse
Columbus Dispatch
Thursday, October 18, 2001
Claire's blue eyes had blackened.
Immediately, Michelle Fishpaw sensed her 11-month-old daughter was in trouble. She wanted to flee her Upper Arlington baby sitter's home.

Friday, October 19, 2001
Bill Introduced to Update Peer Review Law
An OHA-backed bill was introduced this week to improve peer review protections for Ohio health care practitioners. Senate Bill 179 was introduced by Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) and is also supported by the Ohio State Medical Association and the Ohio Health Care Association.

The bill is intended to modernize Ohio’s peer review statute, which was enacted in 1967. The intent of the law is to protect health care practitioners’ ability to talk openly in order to ensure a high quality of care. However, the health care system has changed significantly since 1967, evolving into integrated delivery systems. SB 179 would update statue to reflect these changes. For example, while current statute protects peer review functions within a hospital, it does not protect those that may occur between two hospitals in a system.

The bill, which was introduced Oct. 16, is currently in the Senate health committee where sponsor testimony was heard this week. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Ohio Hospitals Raise Over $144,000 for September 11^th Fund
The Ohio Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities would like to extend our highest gratitude to the more than 600 individual contributors and the countless other anonymous Ohio hospital employees who donated over $144,000 to help the victims and agencies dealing with the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

OHA is pleased to forward their donations to the September 11th Fund, established by the United Way of New York and the New York Community Trust. More information on the fund is available at www.uwnyc.org/640/index.html.

Is it both inspiring and astounding, but not surprising, to see the outpouring of support from people in one of the nation’s most caring workforces — the health care family. More information on the many hospital contributors is available at www.ohanet.org/HealthyCommunities/911insert.pdf.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Ohio sets priorities in anthrax threats
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friday, October 19, 2001
No anthrax has been found in Ohio, but after hundreds of hoaxes and potential threats, state health department officials are trying to apply some order to the vigilance being asked of the public.

Hospital pitches new plan
Middletown Journal
Friday, October 19, 2001
COLUMBUS -- Middletown Regional Hospital's president and chief executive officer took his pitch for a new Interstate 75 interchange to a powerful state advisory board Thursday.

Hospital debuts fully digital mammography machine
Cincinnati Enquirer
Friday, October 19, 2001
University Hospital has become the first in town to install a completely digital mammography machine to check women for signs of breast cancer.