Georgia PH week [Feb. 16, 2015]

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DPH and March of Dimes Recognize Georgia



Hospitals for Reducing Early Elective Delivery

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Each week during pregnancy is an

important milestone in a baby's

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your own!

development, especially the final weeks of gestation when vital organs such as the brain, lungs and liver are

still growing. When deliveries are

induced before 39 weeks without a medical reason, also known as early

In This Issue

elective deliveries (EED), complications can arise that pose

DPH and March of Dimes

serious health risks for the mother

Recognize Georgia Hospitals for and baby.

Reducing Early Elective Delivery

Last week, 12 Georgia hospitals were recognized by DPH,

Rates

Babies born early can face severe

the March of Dimes and the Georgia Hospitals Association for their efforts to reduce early elective deliveries at the

First Confirmed Case of Measles in health challenges immediately after

February Board of Health meeting.

Georgia

birth such as increased neonatal

Smoke-free in Savannah: Good for Health and Good for Business

intensive-care unit admissions, newborn feeding problems and respiratory distress syndrome, among other health conditions. Mothers undergoing EEDs also face

increased risk of infection, postpartum hemorrhage, and cesarean sections which

DPH's Health Promotions

often result in repeat C-sections for subsequent pregnancies.

Coordinator Earns Champion of

the Year Award App of the Week: Circle of 6

There are no known benefits to EEDs which impact about 10 to 15 percent of all deliveries, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The

PHEVENTS

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other public health leaders across the nation have upheld longstanding recommendations against the

practice of EEDs. Their work has inspired a movement in Georgia to promote a

Looking for DPH events?

healthier life and birth outcome for mothers and babies.

Visit the Events Schedule

on our website.

PHTRAINING

Two for Tuesdays
Join the Office of Human Resources on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for the
learning series Two for Tuesdays. This series provides an opportunity for
programs to explore new ideas, share knowledge and highlight teams and their work. To learn more about the training and to register, click here.
Check out Saba for these February Courses
Saba LMS has a new home! Log into Learning- Development.dph.ga.gov .
Manager Fundamentals for Success Tues. - Wed., Feb. 17-18 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Introduction to Public Health in Georgia
Tues., Feb. 24 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

First Confirmed Case of Measles in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health

(DPH) has confirmed the state's first

reported case of measles since 2012. The

infected infant arrived in Atlanta from

outside of the U.S. and was taken to

Egleston at Children's Healthcare of

Atlanta (CHOA). The child was released

from the hospital last week. DPH is

working with CHOA, the DeKalb Board of

Health, and the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify

anyone who may have been exposed to

the patient and to prevent further

spread of measles.

Georgia's first case of measles since 2012 was

confirmed last week. This case is not related to the

Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease. It is particularly dangerous for infants who cannot be immunized until they are at least six

outbreak beginning at Disneyland and is being closely monitored by health officials at DPH, the DeKalb Board of Health, and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).

months old and young children who have

only received one dose of measles vaccine.

Grants Management Wed., Feb. 25
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Budgets 101 Thurs., Feb 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and respiratory droplets travel through the air. Measles virus can live in the air and on surfaces for two to three hours. Almost everyone who has not been vaccinated will get measles if they are exposed to the virus.

Computer Training (Instructor-Led)

Excel Formulas & Functions

Smoke-free in Savannah: Good for Health and

Thurs., Feb. 19 9:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Good for Business

Excel Data & Management & Pivot Tables
Thurs., Feb. 19 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Excel Graphical Charts Tues., Feb. 24
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Excel Intermediate Functions Tues., Feb. 24
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
For employees not at 2 Peachtree, classes can be attended remotely (remote attendees must be registered 48 hours prior to class and contact Lisa Miller before attending 1st remote training). Register for all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for "Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). View monthly training calendars on PHIL. Contact Lisa Miller if you have
questions.
Free Online Courses Available from Lynda.com
DPH has a limited number of licenses for lynda.com which is an online library
of high-quality, easy-to-use instructional videos on the latest software, creative and business skills. Licenses are available for check out on a first come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa Miller from your PH email account.
Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12
noon on Wednesday.

There's been a great deal of work conducted by public health professionals to ensure we all enjoy a deep breath of fresh air, free from damaging toxins released in the air from cigarette smoke. Despite these efforts, there's still much work to be done, as indicated in a recent Vital Signs report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC found that although

secondhand smoke exposure

(SHS) in the United States

dropped by half between 1999

Residents and business owners in Savannah, Georgia are

to 2000 and 2011 to 2012, 58 million nonsmokers are still exposed to secondhand smoke.

enjoying fresh, clean air thanks to a smoke-free ordinance passed four years ago that has reduced their exposure to
secondhand smoke.

The report addressed how state

and city officials can protect children and adult nonsmokers from SHS by eliminating

smoking in indoor areas such as restaurants, bars, casinos, and other private

worksites as well as multiunit housing including apartments, condominiums and

government-funded housing

DPH's Health Promotions Coordinator Earns Champion of the Year Award

The Georgia Department of Public Health's

PHNEWS

(DPH) very own Anderson Flen was recently named a champion for his outstanding public health work. The Hall

County Green Alliance presented Flen with Public health employee gets shot their Champion of the Year Award for his
to avoid measles for third time efforts to advance community health,

education and advocacy work throughout HIV-related deaths still high but DPH's North Health District.

declining among blacks, CDC says

Flen, a DPH health promotions

HPV Vaccination Does Not Appear to Boost Risky Teen Sex, Study Says
Bryan County awarded car seat grant
CCBOH Awarded Car Seat MiniGrant

coordinator, has used his passion for

building community programs to promote

positive health behaviors and encourage

increased community engagement among

Anderson Flen, DPH health promotions

children, teens, adults and senior citizens. As a public health professional of 26 years,

coordinator, was recently presented with the Champion of the Year Award by the Hall County
Green Alliance for his exceptional work in

Flen's work has exemplified the positive advancing community and public health initiatives

impact of public health programs by

in north Georgia.

spearheading an extensive list of initiatives

that advance DPH's health priorities

including tobacco cessation, childhood obesity and nutrition. Food for Thought: What are Future

Doctors Learning about Nutrition? "I am motivated because of the way I was raised and the number of community



members that helped raise and nurture me," Flen said. "I was always taught to do my

PHRECIPE

best, think beyond the ordinary and maintain a can-do attitude."

App of the Week: Circle of 6

Sesame Chicken
Serves: 4 Prep Time: 30 min
Click Here for Full Recipe
PHWEEK
Communications Director Shawn Ryan
Editor Ebony Brooks
Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey
Graphic Designer Darryl Moland

As we continue our observance of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, PHWEEK is pleased to share Circle of 6.
This mobile application has earned national recognition as the winner of multiple technology challenges including the White House and Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Apps Against Abuse Technology Challenge and the End Violence at Home Challenge coordinated by the Institute of Medicine and the Avon Foundation for Women.
Circle of 6 is an app that helps you can connect with friends to stay close, stay safe and prevent violence before it happens.
Circle of 6 lets you choose six trusted friends to add to your circle. If you get into an uncomfortable or risky situation, use Circle of 6 to automatically send your circle a pre-programmed SMS alert message, with your exact location.
It's quick and discreet. Two taps on your iPhone is all it takes.

Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr.

Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts
Georgia Public Health Observances | February 2015

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Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303