Healthcare workers may be at risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. Getting vaccinated is an important step to keep yourself, coworkers, patients, and family safe. 

Learn what the CDC has to say. Click here. 

Do you know your HIV status? On June 27, the nation will observe the 19^th annual National HIV Testing Day. This year’s theme is “Take the Test. Take Control.”

HIV testing is so important because it gives you the information you need to make good decisions about your health. If you test negative, you can take steps to stay that way (which may include periodic testing if you engage in high-risk behaviors). If you have HIV, there are medications that will help you stay healthy and live longer. These medications—known as antiretroviral therapy (ART)—also make it significantly less likely that you might pass the virus to someone else.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has already expanded access to free HIV screening for many people. For those living with HIV/AIDS, the health care law will help to ensure they get the care and treatment they need. That is good news, and the ACA has more in store. On January 1, 2014, many of the ACA’s most important provisions will begin increasing access to healthcare for millions of Americans, including those living with HIV/AIDS. To prepare, as of October 1, 2013, people can begin enrolling in ACA-mandated Health Insurance Marketplaces to find affordable health insurance.

Since the mid-1990s, the number of people who are diagnosed with HIV each year has remained relatively stable at about 50,000 infections per year.^[1] Certain groups, including African Americans, Latinos, and gay and bisexual men of all races/ethnicities, continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. We are particularly concerned by a significant increase in new infections among young gay and bisexual men. Between 2008-2010, this group of young men (ages 13-24) had a 22 percent increase in new infections—and young black men in that group now account for more new HIV infections than any other subgroup by race/ethnicity, age, and sex.^[2] That news is deeply troubling.

Fortunately our latest data also show there is some good news. Between 2008 and 2010, new HIV infections among African American women declined by 21 percent. This is an encouraging decrease in new infections among black women; however, we will need more time to see if this noteworthy trend continues. In the meantime, we will continue working to eliminate the health disparities that affect racial/ethnic and other minorities and increase their risk for HIV infection.

It is important to stress the long-term benefits of HIV testing, care, and treatment. HIV testing gives us an opportunity to connect people living with HIV to treatment and give them the support they need to remain in care and to take their medications appropriately. Currently, nearly three out of every four people living with HIV in the U.S. do not successfully navigate the stages of care (also known as the “treatment cascade”), which are: HIV testing and diagnosis; actively linking those who test positive to care; retaining them in care over time; providing ART; and achieving “viral suppression” by using treatment to keep HIV at a level that helps individuals stay healthy and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others.^[3] Identifying and reducing the obstacles along that path are the keys to achieving the goals of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy and a major focus of our work.

So, in observance of National HIV Testing Day, I hope you will “Take the Test and Take Control.”

You can see the video PSAs Secretary Sebelius recorded for National HIV Testing Day here and here. For more information about NHTD, or to find an HIV testing location near you, please visit AIDS.gov. For resources on HIV prevention, please visit Act Against AIDS. For more information on the ACA, please visit healthcare.gov.

^[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/HIV-Infections-2007-2010.pdf

^[2]  https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/HIV-Infections-2007-2010.pdf

^[3] https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2013/Stages-of-Care-Fact-Sheet-508.pdf

OXNARD, Calif./PRNewswire/ -- Recent news reports about un-safe practices at a number of U.S. dentist offices have raised concerns about dental infection control procedures and caused patients to question the safety of the dental offices they visit. A recent web poll, conducted at www.DentalBibClipBacteria.com shows that 69% of people think it's very important that the dental bib holder and all dental equipment be bacteria-free.

"Since recent news broke about irresponsible dentists who don't follow proper dental safety procedures, a lot of patients have asked what things they should watch for when they are at the dentist to minimize their risk of infection," said Noel Brandon-Kelsch, a registered dental hygienist and the infection control columnist for RDH magazine. "The results of this poll show that patients know how important a clean dental environment is and they assume dental professionals will meet those expectations for complete hygiene."

Kelsch points out that one step patients can take to minimize the risk of infection is to request a one-time-use, disposable bib clip on patients. A recent study found that a significant proportion of dental bib clips, the metal or rubber clips that go around the patient's neck to hold the dental napkin in place, harbor bacteria from the patient, dental clinician and the environment even after the clips have undergone standard disinfection procedures. Four other research reports have also found bacterial contamination on dental bib holders.

The poll conducted on DentalBibClipBacteria.com asked visitors to the site to answer questions about their expectations of cleanliness at the dental office and their willingness to ask for a disposable bib holder. The complete results of the poll were as follows:

• 69% of respondents said they felt it was "very important" for the dental bib holder to be thoroughly disinfected and that they expect all the equipment used by the dentist or hygienist to be sterile and bacteria-free.

• 31% said that is was "somewhat important" for the dental bib holder to be thoroughly disinfected and that they would prefer everything used during dental treatment to be sterile, but understood if it was not possible.

• None of the respondents said that it was "not important" for the dental bib holder to be thoroughly disinfected.

• 76% of respondents indicated they would ask their dentist or hygienist to use a disposable bib holder on them at their next dental appointment. 24% of the respondents said they would not ask for a disposable holder.

For more information, visit www.DentalBibClipBacteria.com.

This week, the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^® record for the “Most people using mouthwash simultaneously” was broken by Colgate at 12:30 p.m. EDT in New York’s Times Square. 1,142 consumers, along with TV host and actress, Stacy Keibler, simultaneously swished with new Colgate Total^® Advanced Pro-Shield™ Mouthwash while supporting Make-A-Wish^®, an organization that creates thousands of life-changing moments by granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“It was a pleasure to witness and help break a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS record with Colgate Total Mouthwash as a part of today’s “A Wish For A Swish” event, which helped support Make-A-Wish, an organization very close to my heart,” said Stacy Keibler.

To celebrate the launch of Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield™ Mouthwash, Colgate teamed up with Make-A-Wish to encourage consumers to “swish” for a difference. As part of “A Wish For A Swish”, Colgate donated $1.00 (USD) to Make-A-Wish for every participant in attendance. Colgate will continue its support by donating $1.00 (USD) for every “post-swish” smile uploaded to the Colgate Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/Colgate) until Monday, July 1 with a minimum donation of $50,000 up to a maximum of $60,000.

“On behalf of the wish kids we serve and their families, we are so thankful for the generous support of Colgate and everyone who participated in the “A Wish for a Swish” event,” said David Williams, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “Thank you to those who attended today’s record attempt and to the consumers who continue to upload smiles online. Because of your help, we’ll be able to create many more smiles on the faces of wish kids around the country.”

“We’re thrilled that we made a big splash with the launch of Colgate Total mouthwash by breaking a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS record while supporting Make-A-Wish,” said Philip Durocher, Vice President & General Manager, U.S. Oral Care Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive. “At Colgate, we believe in happy, healthy smiles. Along with Colgate Total toothpaste and toothbrush, adding Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield Mouthwash to your oral care routine is a simple step to achieve a happy and healthier mouth.”

New Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield Mouthwash is now available at mass retail, drug and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.colgatetotal.com.

The quality of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) patients receive may vary, depending on the EMS department or hospital administering it, according to the American Heart Association.

In a statement published in its journal Circulation, the association calls for a renewed focus on improving resuscitation techniques and tracking.

"There have been huge advances in CPR and there's no question that high-quality CPR saves lives," said Peter Meaney, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the statement and assistant professor of anesthesia and critical care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "However, right now there is wide variability in the quality of CPR -- and we can do better."

Each year in the United States, more than a half-million children and adults suffer cardiac arrest, but survival rates vary significantly: 3 percent to 16 percent for arrests outside of hospitals and 12 percent to 22 percent in hospitals, authors said.

In the statement, the association urges professional rescuers to:

• Minimize interruptions to chest compressions. Compressions generate blood flow and should be delivered 80 percent of the time the patient doesn't have a pulse.

• Provide the right rate of compressions — 100 to 120 per minute are optimal for survival.

• Give deep enough compressions — at least 2 inches for adults and at least 1/3 the depth of the chest in infants and children.

• Allow the chest to bounce back completely so the heart can refill.

• Give no more than 12 rescue breaths a minute, with the chest just visibly rising, so pressure from the breath doesn't slow blood flow.

"Cardiac arrest is a chaotic event and sometimes we lose track of the fact that high quality CPR is the cornerstone of resuscitation," Meaney said.

To help ensure that CPR providers stay focused on quality of care, the statement also advises:

• Health and emergency care providers gather data on the quality of CPR delivery and patient response at the scene.

• If possible, an experienced team leader should oversee and evaluate the quality of CPR to ensure guidelines are followed, patient needs addressed and other problems limited (such as rescuer fatigue).

• To ensure quality improvement, providers, managers, institutions and systems of care should do debriefings, follow CPR delivery checklists, measure patient response measurements; provide frequent refresher courses and participate in CPR data registries.

Organizations that provide CPR need quality improvement programs, and can start by monitoring one measurement, Meaney said.

"If we focus on improving CPR quality we can save lives. We always need to be better, always need to be pushing the needle, because lives are at stake," he said.

The CPR Improvement Working Group (Laerdal Medical, Philips Healthcare, ZOLL Medical Group) funded the CPR Quality Summit, which contributed to the statement's development.

“Wrigley has been a pioneer over the last several decades researching and trying to better understand the role of sugarfree gum in promoting oral health,” said Anne Marie Splitstone, senior director of the gum category at Wrigley. “We launched Orbit for Kids to give busy families a new way to help protect teeth on-the-go that everyone will enjoy.”

Seay adds, “It can be difficult to get pediatric patients to form good dental habits.  But, kids see gum as a treat, and parents can feel good about giving Orbit for Kids to their family.”

Available in select markets in May and nationwide in July, Orbit for Kids comes in two kid-friendly sugarfree flavors: new Strawberry Banana and Original Bubble Gum. It will be available in 14-tab envelopes (great for parents to hold onto) and Multi-Pack bags with 10, six-tab micro Packs (perfect size for kids!). 14-tab envelopes will be available for an MSRP of $1.29 and 10-ct. Multi-Pack bags for an MSRP of $4.49.

For more information about Orbit for Kids, visit https://www.wrigleydentalcare.com/orbitforkids.

Red Bank, NJ - The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Dental Spouse Business Network (DSBN) Roundtable. The DSBN was created by AADOM to address the specific needs and challenges of office managers whose spouses are the dentist in the practice. This popular event has filled a need for this group of dental office managers.

Dental spouses attending the AADOM Conference are invited to attend the event but registration is necessary. The gathering will take place at the Annual Conference and is expected to draw increased attendance. States Pat Lutz, AADOM member and the office manager of her husband’s practice: "AADOM provides a way to network and to provide support, ideas and tools to help us become more effective dental office managers. We have an important role in our office and it's important that we walk the walk and not just talk it.”

This year’s speaker Debra Englehardt-Nash is a popular speaker and consultant who knows the role of the dental spouse very well. She is the wife of Dr. Ross Nash and has been an important factor in his practice’s growth. She will present “For Better or For Work – A Survival Course for Dental Spouses.”   AADOM Founder and President Heather Colicchio says that one of her favorite parts of the DSBN is seeing both new and returning members network and share their best tips to work not only with their spouse but with team members. She states “these spouses have unique challenges in that they have to juggle both home and work tasks. They can’t just leave the job at the practice – it follows them home. Our group has helped them to realize they are not alone.”

AADOM’s 9th Annual Conference will be held September 19-20th in Orlando, FL. The 6th Annual “Dental Spouse Business Roundtable” course will be held on Saturday September 21st following the conference. Registration information and course specifics can be found online at https://www.dentalmanagersconference.com/agenda/sept21.php

About AADOM:

The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) is an organization of professional office managers, practice administrators, patient coordinators, insurance and financial coordinators, and treatment coordinators of general and specialized dental practices.  AADOM is the nation's largest education and networking association dedicated to serving dental practice management professionals. For more information please call 732-842-9977 or email us: info@dentalmanagers.com.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding people that National HIV Testing Day is June 27. The observance promotes the importance of testing in detecting, treating, and preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV testing is the essential entry point to a continuum of prevention, health-care, and social services that improve the quality of life and the length of survival for persons with HIV (1). Persons with HIV who receive appropriate treatment, monitoring, and health care also reduce their chances of transmitting HIV to others. CDC recommends that all persons aged 13–64 years be screened for HIV in health-care settings located in areas where the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infection is >0.1%, and that persons with increased risk for HIV be retested at least annually (2).

In April 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its 2005 guidelines on HIV screening, to recommend that clinicians screen all persons aged 15–65 years for HIV infection at least once, regardless of their risk; that younger adolescents and older adults with increased risk also be screened; and that persons with increased risk be screened more frequently (3). These updated recommendations are based on increasing evidence of the benefits of early antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected persons and its effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission. Additional information is available at https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf13/hiv/hivfinalrs.htm#summary, https://www.cdc.gov/features/hivtesting, and https://www.hivtest.cdc.gov.

References

1. CDC. Vital signs: HIV prevention through care and treatment—United States. MMWR 2011;60:1618–23.

2. CDC. Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. MMWR 2006;55(No. RR-14).

3. Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for HIV: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2013; April 30 [Epub ahead of print].

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch of the Department of Health of Canada. The MOU allows OSHA and HECS to collaborate on implementing the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling in their respective jurisdictions, as well as any future developments of the GHS.

"Today we live and work in a global environment with varying and sometimes conflicting national and international requirements," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Through GHS and now this MOU, OSHA and Health Canada have forged a relationship to jointly provide concise information to protect those exposed to hazardous chemicals."

During a ceremony today at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, D.C., Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health signed a partnership agreement with Suzy McDonald, director general, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, HECS. Under the agreement, OSHA and HECS will establish a working group to reduce systematic barriers between the systems responsible for occupational safety and health of workplace chemicals and collaborate to reach common positions for the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS about proposed updates to the system, among other goals.

OSHA is participating in the US-Canada High Level Regulatory Coordination Council to improve regulatory cooperation and adopt compatible approaches to promote economic growth, job creation and benefits to consumers and businesses through increased regulatory transparency and coordination.

OSHA aligned its Hazard Communication Standard with the GHS in March 2012 to provide a common, understandable approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. In the U.S., all employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace must conduct new training for workers on the new label elements and safety data sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding. This training must be done by Dec. 1, 2013.

Further information for workers, employers and downstream users of hazardous chemicals can be reviewed at OSHA's Hazard Communication Web page at https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html, which includes links to OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard and guidance materials such as frequently asked questions and OSHA fact sheets and Quick Cards.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit https://www.osha.gov.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people with egg allergies get FluBlok, an immunization against influenza.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted, 13 to 0, in favor of recommending FluBlok during the 2013-2014 influenza season for vaccination of persons 18 through 49 years of age with egg allergy of any severity. FluBlok was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2013. Unlike current production methods for other available seasonal influenza vaccines, FluBlok does not use the influenza virus or chicken eggs in its manufacturing process.

The ACIP recommends that individuals with a severe egg allergy consult with a physician about their allergic conditions prior to vaccination if FluBlok is not available.

Additional information about FluBlok can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_flublok-vaccine.htm.