NEWS FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES

NEWS FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES

AHRQ web resource features 100 examples of health care innovations and tools

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently launched a new web resource called Health Care Innovations Exchange at http://www.innovations.ahrq.gov that allows health professionals to learn, share, and adopt innovations in the delivery of health services. The resource is the Federal government’s repository for successful health care innovations. It also includes descriptions of unsuccessful innovation attempts as part of lessons learned. It is updated every two weeks.

Profile examples include one intensive care unit’s successful efforts to shorten patient stays; a home care initiative by geriatricians, nurse practitioners, and social workers to help seniors avoid hospital or nursing home stays; and a patient/physician e-mail communication system.

To learn more about the tool, register for AHRQ’s upcoming web conference, Using AHRQ’s Health Care Innovations Exchange to Take on the Challenges of Care Delivery. The conference will occur on May 12 at 2 PM Eastern time. Register by sending an e-mail to info@innovations.ahrq.gov.

Source: AHRQ Electronic Newsletter, Issue #255, April 21, 2008

Robin Robinson is named first director of BARDA

At the start of April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) named Robin Robinson, PhD, to be the first director of the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA)/ BARDA was established in 2007 within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

As Deputy Director of BARDA’s Influenza and Emerging Disease Program, Dr. Robinson led the successful development, procurement and stockpiling of the world’s first H5N1 influenza vaccine approved for human use. This achievement was cited by Time Magazine as the number one medical breakthrough in 2007.

BARDA manages Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. BARDA also manages the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases that fall outside the purview of Project BioShield.

Source: NIH Press Release, April 14, 2008.