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Calif. Budget Cuts Threaten Prenatal Health Program For Women, Teens
County public health officials in California say proposed budget cuts could hurt or end the state"s Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, which provides care for high-risk women and teenagers during pregnancy and up to one year after giving birth, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. County health departments operate the program with oversight from the state Department of Public Health. Sarah Mack, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Department of Public Health, said the program provides a safety net for women who are uncertain about how to obtain prenatal care. The program"s nurses and social workers work to identify vulnerable groups with the goal of initiating care within the first trimester of pregnancy. The program aims to reduce incidences of low birthweight, premature delivery, maternal and infant mortality, preventable childhood diseases and disabling conditions.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has proposed eliminating more than $20 million in funding from the program to help reduce California"s estimated $24 billion budget deficit. Last week, the state Legislature"s joint budget conference introduced a counterproposal that would lower cuts to the program to $8 million.The most recent statistics from the state public health department show that nearly 16,000 California women who gave birth in 2006 had late or no prenatal care. More than 38,500 low-birthweight infants were born that year. Jim Lindley, director of the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, said that Schwarzenegger"s proposal would amount to the elimination of "the bulk of funding" for the program. Mack said that Riverside County officials have identified scenarios to continue providing services if the state funding is eliminated. However, without the funding, "[m]ore people could fall through the safety net," Mack said, adding, "Those who need the program the most would be the most likely to fall through."Schwarzenegger spokesperson Lisa Page has said that the governor believes the state"s budget situation leaves him with little choice about making cuts (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 6/22).
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Good Governance Guidance Published For Primary Care Trust Provider Committees, UK
The Appointments Commission and the Department of Health have published guidance to help Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with their governance arrangements for Provider Committees.
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Unique Collaboration Between TB Alliance And Tibotec To Accelerate Tuberculosis Drug Development
A new landmark collaboration between the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a not-for-profit, product development partnership, and Tibotec Inc., (Tibotec), a global pharmaceutical company, has been announced at the Pacific Health Summit in response to the urgent need to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs to fight tuberculosis (TB).
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National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Offers Guidelines For Management Of Serious Spine Injuries On The Athletic Playing Field

According to a new position statement from the National Athletic Trainers" Association (NATA), proper management of acute spinal injuries on the athletic playing field is crucial, given that sports participation constitutes the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries for Americans age 30 and younger. Sports medicine providers and others on the sidelines need to be familiar with the appropriate acute-management guidelines for athletes with cervical-spine injuries. Published in this month"s Journal of Athletic Training, NATA"s scientific publication, the position statement provides detailed guidelines for the immediate treatment and transport of athletes who are injured on the playing field. "Serious spinal injuries can be devastating, due to the high incidence of long-term neurological impairment and premature death," said Erik E. Swartz, PhD, ATC, lead author of the statement. "That"s why we urge players and parents, as well as coaches and medical personnel, to become better versed about how to prevent these types of injuries and how to care for injured athletes and safely prepare them for transport to a hospital." According to "National Athletic Trainers" Association Position Statement: Acute Management of the Cervical Spine-Injured Athlete," athletic trainers and other health care professionals, coaches, athletes, and people on the sidelines should be aware of, and follow, these guidelines in order to avoid injury or exacerbate spinal injuries that have already occurred: 1. Understand how cervical spine injuries occur and be fully aware of the importance of avoiding contact with the head in any sport, and emphasizing proper techniques of tackling or checking in football, ice hockey and lacrosse. 2. Keep current on all pertinent safety rules enacted for the prevention of cervical spine injuries. 3. Properly maintain all sporting equipment, and wear and use equipment as intended by the manufacturer. 4. The importance of a proper fit when it comes to equipment cannot be understated, because correctly fitted helmets and other equipment often helps with spine stabilization in the event of an injury. 5. Immediate care by knowledgeable health care providers, such as athletic trainers, is critical to the successful treatment of an athlete with a spine injury, so make sure these types of professionals are on the sidelines. 6. Ensure that an emergency action plan is in place and has been reviewed by all medical personnel, administrators, coaches and players. 7. Non-medical professionals should refrain from touching or moving an athlete who might have a spinal injury and should never remove any helmets, pads or other equipment from an injured athlete; the team"s athletic trainer and/or other on-site medical staff will assess the injured athlete and determine whether he or she requires an ambulance. While football is associated with the greatest number of catastrophic spinal injuries for all U.S. sports, skiing, rugby, gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field (e.g., pole vaulting), cheerleading and baseball also involve activities that place participants at risk for spine injuries. "Sports participation is a leading cause of these types of injuries, especially in younger people," Swartz said. "An average of eight catastrophic cervical spine injuries occurred annually in football alone between 1997 and 2006." "The athletic trainer is very often the first responder when an athlete goes down on the field," said Swartz. "NATA"s review of precautions and practices for immediate care helps ensure athletic trainers and other health care professionals understand the most effective methods to care for athletes with cervical spine injuries." To read NATA"s position statement in its entirety, visit here. National Athletic Trainers" Association (NATA)


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