Michael Boone describes work on adaptive sports before Veterans Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

Washington, DC - Michael Boone, the Director of Adaptive Sports Iowa and an Ames resident, today testified before the US House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity about promoting sports opportunities among disabled veterans.  Rep. Bruce Braley is the top ranking Democrat on the subcommittee.

"The work Mike Boone is doing is invaluable to disabled veterans," Braley said.  "Adaptive sports not only give disabled veterans a chance to exercise physically, they also help heal the mind and soul.  Expanding the availability of adaptive sports like those championed by Mike Boone will make their benefits available to more veterans across the country."

The committee hearing examined a grant program that funds community-based efforts to assist wounded warriors and veterans through adaptive sport programs.  It reviewed the partnership between the United States Paralympics and the Department of Veterans affairs to promote adaptive sports.

YouTube video of the hearing can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-PH8BtixPc

720p high-definition video can be downloaded here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21501138/braley.va.committee.10.05.11.mp4

(Note: the video includes Boone's opening statement; it also includes a question and answer exchange between Braley and Boone.)

More information about Adaptive Sports Iowa can be found at: http://iowasportsfoundation.org/Sports/AdaptiveSportsIowa.aspx

Affordable Care Act Funding Will Help Promote Healthy Living,
Control Health Care Spending in Communities across Illinois

CHICAGO - September 29, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Illinois a $24 million grant to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending. The award, $4.8 million per year over five years, was made through a highly competitive national application process for Community Transformation Grants, an initiative of the Affordable Care Act.

"Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are leading causes of death, disability and rising health care costs," Governor Quinn said. "This grant is the result of federal health care reform, and will support our initiatives to help Illinois' citizens lead healthier lives. A healthier population will also help our businesses and boost our economic growth by controlling the cost of medical care and health insurance."

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) was one of only 35 grantees to receive funds to implement proven methods to improve health and wellness. The CDC received 213 eligible applications for Community Transformation Grants (CTG), and awarded a total of 61 grants.

The CTGs focus on three priority areas: tobacco-free living; active living and healthy eating; and quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The grants will support planning and implementation of state and community projects proven to reduce chronic diseases.

The IDPH and its state and community partners will implement "We Choose Health," a statewide initiative to reduce chronic diseases. This partnership includes several state agencies, local organizations, health providers, schools, businesses and other community groups.  Strategies will be targeted toward serving residents in rural counties and racial and ethnic minority groups in urban areas to reduce health disparities.

At the state level, efforts will include increased enforcement of the Illinois Smoke Free Act, promoting breastfeeding and training health workers. At the community level, efforts will be directed to consumers, health care providers, businesses and educational institutions. Programs will focus on reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and discouraging access to tobacco; increasing screening and treatment for tobacco-related illness, hypertension and high cholesterol; improving nutrition; and increasing physical activity.

This grant will dovetail with Illinois' State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), a prevention-focused, comprehensive approach to improving the health of Illinois residents. In July, the Governor appointed the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council, which will also work collaboratively with the Governor's Healthcare Reform Implementation Council to promote statewide improvements in public health.

To learn more about Community Transformation Grants, visit www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation.

Senate Designates October as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate today adopted a resolution designating the month of October 2011 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" to raise attention to the problem of prescription medicine abuse, especially by teen-agers.  Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa co-sponsored the resolution as co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee. 

"Prescription drugs are so common that a number of teen-agers use other people's drugs, thinking they're safe," Grassley said.  "This can be dangerous and lead to serious injury.  Parents should educate themselves and their teen-agers about the potential for abuse before it's too late."

The text of the bipartisan resolution follows here.

S.RES.261 

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'. (Introduced in Senate - IS)

SRES 261 IS

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 261

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 13, 2011

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

RESOLUTION

Designating the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'.

Whereas over-the-counter and prescription medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been determined to be safe and effective when used properly;

Whereas the abuse of such medicines can be extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects;

Whereas according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has risen, with 2.5 percent of the population engaging in nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2008 and 2.8 percent of the population engaging in such use in 2009;

Whereas the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health illustrates that the abuse of prescription medications such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives is second only to marijuana, the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States;

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by the National Institutes of Health, indicates that approximately 5 percent of teenagers in the United States report having abused an over-the-counter cough medicine to get high, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs account for 8 of the 14 most frequently abused drugs by students in grade 12;

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey also indicates that the intentional abuse of cough medicine among students in grades 8, 10, and 12 is at 3.2 percent, 5.1 percent, and 6.6 percent, respectively;

Whereas according to research from The Partnership at DrugFree.org, more than one-third of teenagers mistakenly believe that taking prescription drugs, even if not prescribed by a doctor, is much safer than using street drugs;

Whereas the lack of understanding by teenagers and parents of the potential harm of such powerful medicines makes it more critical than ever to raise public awareness about the dangers of the abuse of such drugs;

Whereas when prescription drugs are abused, such drugs are most often obtained through friends and relatives;

Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives teenagers access to websites that promote the abuse of medicines;

Whereas the designation of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' promotes the message that over-the-counter and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled or prescribed, and such medicines can have serious or life-threatening consequences when used to get high or in large doses;

Whereas the designation of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' will encourage parents to educate themselves about the problem of abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, and talk to their teens about all types of substance abuse;

Whereas observance of 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month' should be encouraged at the national, State, and local levels to increase awareness of the abuse of medicines;

Whereas educational tools, training programs, and strategies have been developed by the national organization that represents 5,000 anti-drug coalitions nationwide and the association representing makers of over-the-counter medicines, in order to help local coalitions demonstrate the best ways to engage and educate parents and grandparents, teachers, law enforcement officials, doctors, other healthcare professionals, and retailers about the potential harms of cough medicine abuse;

Whereas a partnership of nonprofit associations specializing in raising media awareness about substance abuse and organizations that represent the leading makers of over-the-counter drugs have developed a nationwide prevention campaign that utilizes research-based educational advertisements, public relations and news media, and the Internet to inform parents about the negative teen behavior of intentional abuse of medicines, in order to empower parents to effectively communicate with their children about this dangerous trend and to take necessary steps to safeguard prescription and over-the-counter medicines in their homes; and

Whereas educating the public on the dangers of medicine abuse and promoting prevention of medicine abuse are critical components of what must be a multi-pronged effort to curb prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates the month of October 2011 as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'; and

(2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and activities to educate parents and youth about the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse.

SILVIS, Ill. -- Sept. 21, 2011 -- Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus has been named one of the nation's top-performing hospitals in key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditation agency of health care organizations in the United States.

This is the first time The Joint Commission has listed hospitals that are top performers in its annual report on quality and safety. The 405 organizations in 45 states that were identified as top performers represent approximately 14 percent of Joint Commission-accredited hospitals.

Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus was recognized for achieving excellence in performance in heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care in 2010.

Illini was the only hospital in the Quad Cities to receive recognition from The Joint Commission.

"Excellent care is something all patients expect and deserve. Recognition from The Joint Commission sends a strong message to our patients that Genesis Medical Center, Illini is performing at the top of the nation with outstanding patient outcomes," said Flo Spyrow, President, Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus. "We have made a commitment to quality patient care, patient safety and excellence in patient service and are pleased to be named to the list of top performers by The Joint Commission."A core team of providers at Illini, led by Spyrow, have met weekly over the past year to review patient outcomes, analyze process, collaborate with physicians, and GMC Illini Receives National Recognition For Patient Care ultimately, to continually improve the care delivered to Illini patients.

"The Joint Commission is an independent, highly objective agency of quality for health care organizations. Their recognition is significant to our organization and to our patients,'' Spyrow said. "This is a tribute to Illini staff and the hard work they do each and every day."
The top performers list is based on performance related to 22 accountability measures for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children's asthma care. The recognition program is based on data reported about evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to be the best treatments.

"Today, the public expects transparency in the reporting of performance at the hospitals where they receive care, and The Joint Commission is shining a light on the top-performing hospitals that have achieved excellence on a number of vital measures of quality of care,'' said Mark Chassin, M.D., President of The Joint Commission. "Hospitals that commit themselves to accreditation-related quality improvement efforts create better outcomes for patients and, ultimately, a healthier nation."

For information about quality of care and patient safety at Genesis Health System, go to www.genesishealth.com/quality.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care centers. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

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