October 3, 2017
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Eric Toner, MD
The horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017 has resulted in nearly 60 deaths and more than 500 injuries at the time of this writing. The injured have been transported to a number of hospitals around Las Vegas and have overwhelmed some of the hospitals closest to the scene. A number of the injured are in critical condition and hence the death toll is likely to rise. Among other issues, this tragedy illustrates the overlap between trauma systems and hospital disaster preparedness.
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Public Health & Healthcare Preparedness
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Why the CDC Wants In On Blockchain. For the past several months, Jim Nasr, chief software architect at the CDC's Center for Surveillance Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, has led a team working on several proofs of concept based on blockchain technology, with an eye toward building real applications next year. Most are geared toward better public health surveillance, which could include using a blockchain to more efficiently manage data during a crisis or to better track opioid abuse. (MIT Technology Review, 10/2/17) |
NEWS
Tom Price Resigns Over Private Jet Scandal.
Price in recent days had elicited bipartisan outrage over the cost of his air travel. Politico has reported that Price has cost taxpayers more than $1 million between his use of private planes for domestic travel and military jets for recent trips to Africa, Europe, and Asia.
(Business Insider, 9/29/17)
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NEWS
Snapshot: Trump Administration's Cuts to Navigator Funding. The Trump administration recently announced that it would cut funding by 40% for organizations that provide in-person assistance to Americans looking to sign up for coverage, known as the navigator program. The community-based organizations that sign on to be navigators focus on underserved areas or more vulnerable populations
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(Medium, 9/29/17)
See also:
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NEWS
Congress to Question USAID Over $9.5 Billion Health Project "Fiasco."
Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, told Devex he is concerned that Chemonics is "mismanaging" the project -- describing it as an "apparent fiasco" -- and he said he wants to learn more about USAID's selection of the contractor as its implementing partner for a project that supports the US government's largest global health initiatives.
(Devex, 9/29/17)
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PRESS RELEASE
HHS Leverages Potential Respiratory Drug as Chemical Weapon Antidote.
A potential antidote to treat the life-threatening effects of inhaled chlorine gas, a national security threat, will receive drug development support under a contract between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and GSK, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.
(ASPR, 9/27/17)
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MEETING
BARDA Industry Day.
BARDA invites you to participate in our annual conference at which you can learn about US Government medical countermeasure requirements, interact with BARDA and AMCG staff, and network with private sector colleagues working in this space.
(MedicalCountermeasures.gov, 9/17)
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Homeland Security & Disaster Preparedness
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Radiological & Nuclear Disaster Preparedness
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REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
NRC Seeks Comments on Draft FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.
The draft establishes a framework for the next four years for the NRC to achieve its mission to license and regulate the nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety, and to promote the common defense and security.
(NRC, 9/27/17)
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Science & Technology Policy
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| Examining Patient Access to Investigational Drugs. US House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. 10/3/17, 10:15 AM. Rayburn 2322. More |
| The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis. US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. 10/5/17, 10 AM. Dirksen 430. More |
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