Resource Bank
Resource Bank
A monthly compilation of news you can use from Case Management Advisor
JCAHO offers pain resource
Joint Commission Resources, a subsidiary of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, recently released Pain Assessment and Management: An Organizational Approach.
The publication provides an overview of the Joint Commission's new pain management standards, along with examples of implementation from organizations with successful pain assessment and management approaches. The book helps health care organizations identify and overcome barriers to pain assessment and management and anticipate how pain management will be integrated into JCAHO's performance measurement and survey process.
The book costs $35. Order code: PAM-100EM. Order by calling the Joint Commission customer service center at (630) 792-5800 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday. Or, go to Infomart on the Joint Commission's Web site at www.jcaho.org.
Software helps prepare for CCM
Busy case managers preparing to sit for the certified case manager (CCM) exam who can't take the time off work to attend a one- or two-day CCM preparation course may want to check out the CCMStep self-study program from Datachem in Westborough, MA.
The self-study program includes more than 600 questions with answers and referenced explanations. The interactive computer-based study program evaluates your knowledge in the six main subject areas covered on the CCM exam. The program simulates exams to gauge your readiness.
In addition, the software allows users to:
• recall previously missed questions;
• select weak areas via keyword searches;
• study at their own convenience.
The software is being offered at an introductory price of $229 plus $10 for regular shipping and handling, $25 for rush orders, and $35 for international orders. Residents of Massachusetts must add an additional 5% sales tax. Also, Datachem offers a site license for CCMStep for $999.
For more information, contact Datachem,
222 Turnpike Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Telephone: (800) 377-9717. Fax: (508) 366-5278. Web site: www.CertiStep.com.
Forget painful allergy testing
Simple blood test offers safe option
A new, simple allergy blood test is now available for use by primary care physicians and pediatricians to diagnose allergy and causal allergens in the millions of Americans who suffer from allergy-like symptoms.
The Immuno-CAP Allergy Blood Test from Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics in Kalamazoo, MI, is conducted in a laboratory, using a small sample of the patient's blood to determine if the patient's symptoms are being caused by allergens and, if so, which specific allergens.
For more information about ImmunoCAP, call (877) 862-4948 or visit the product Web site at www.isitallergy.com.
Directory serves transplant community
Transplant Community 2000, the new membership directory for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in Richmond, VA, contains nearly 200 more pages of data than the previous edition.
The 492-page directory includes tabs for quick searches, as well as center codes and lists of health organizations and individuals with ties to the transplant community. Every transplant center, organ procurement organization, and histocompatability laboratory will receive one complimentary copy. Additional copies are available for $99 for UNOS members and $195 for nonmembers plus a $6 shipping fee.
Copies can be ordered www.unos.org or by calling Marian Crow at (804) 330-8541.
Web site offers support for epilepsy patients
The Epilepsy Foundation in Washington, DC, recently launched the Epilepsy Answer Place, a new Internet resource designed to answer questions about epilepsy for patients, their families, and health care professionals.
The Web site includes reliable information about seizures, first aid, research, and treatment to help people with epilepsy overcome barriers associated with the disorder. In addition, because seizure disorders can begin at any stage of life, enhanced search and navigation capabilities provide customized results for adults, parents, teachers, seniors, and others. Searches also can be sorted by topic, such as seizure recognition, safety, and surgery.
"People affected by epilepsy have almost as little knowledge about the condition as the general public," says Martha Morrell, MD, chair of the Epilepsy Foundation's board of directors. "Yet, the scientific understanding and treatment of epilepsy are advancing at a rapid pace. It is crucial that families and care providers have access to reliable, current information in order
to manage seizures and cope with social factors that accompany them."
The Epilepsy Answer Place is an integral part of the foundation's Web site at www.epilepsyfoundation.org.
Book examines leading cause of chronic disease
Obesity and an inactive lifestyle are two of the most prevalent risk factors for chronic disease. The important link between physical inactivity and obesity is addressed in Physical Activity and Obesity, recently released by Human Kinetics in Champaign, IL.
The book's authors present current, comprehensive discussion on the various aspects of physical activity and obesity. The book also provides the supporting data in table and diagram form. Its 19 chapters are organized into four sections:
• overview of the obesity epidemic and its implications for morbidity and mortality rates;
• determinants of obesity and assessments of energy expenditure and dietary habits;
• overview of the roles of physical activity and weight loss maintenance in the prevention and treatment of obesity for various population groups, including the severely obese;
• the role of physical activity in the comorbidities of obesity with respect to overall health status of the obese.
In addition, the last section of the book discusses how to safely modify the physical activity habits of the obese.
The 408-page book costs $49. ISBN#: 0-88011-909-8. For more details, contact Human Kinetics, 1607 N. Market St., P.O. Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076. Telephone: (800) 747-4457. Fax: (217) 351-1549. Web site: www.humankinetics.com.
'Click' to improve compliance
Failure to follow a physician's advice may delay recovery from illness, increase medical costs, and heighten risk for certain conditions such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. The American Heart Association in Dallas recently launched a Web site with tools to improve patient compliance and reduce cardiac risk factors.
The new site, www.americanheart.org/CAP, is divided into two areas, one for consumers and one for health care professionals. The consumer area includes information and tips on better ways to follow physician advice about medications, diet, exercise, and how to quit smoking.
The professional area provides tools for physicians, case managers, nurses, and other members of the health care team to help patients comply with treatment recommendations.
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