APHA 2024 Call for Abstracts

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is now accepting abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations for the Annual Meeting and Expo in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 27-30, 2024. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts on the meeting theme — Rebuilding Trust in Public Health and Science — and current and emerging public health issues. The abstract submission deadline is March 29, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (PDT), and presenters will be notified via email of abstract status on June 3, 2024.

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New COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach Levels Not Seen in Nearly a Year

New COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. are reaching levels not seen since last winter. More than 29,000 weekly hospital admissions for COVID-19 were recorded over the holidays, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing for nearly two months. The trend is expected to continue as holiday travel and gatherings helped the virus spread.

U.S. News & World Report [Author: Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder]

They’re Paid Billions to Root Out Child Labor in the U.S. Why Do They Fail?

In the past two decades, private audits have become the solution to a host of public relations headaches for corporations. When scandal erupts over labor practices, or shareholders worry about legal risks, or advocacy groups demand a boycott, companies point to these inspections as evidence that they have eliminated abuses in their supply chains, but a review of audits conducted by several large firms shows that they have consistently missed child labor. Children were overlooked by auditors who were moving quickly, leaving early or simply not sent to the part of the supply chain where minors were working.

New York Times (subscription may be required) [Author: Hannah Dreier]

4 Ways AI Can Help with Climate Change, From Detecting Methane to Preventing Fires

Lots of industries have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool this past year, including climate solutions companies. From detecting pollution to wildfires, companies are finding AI can help translate vast amounts of climate-related data faster and more efficiently. Generative AI, which makes new content, can use large amounts of energy and has a big carbon footprint, but there are many applications for AI in the green transition. AI can help detect planet-heating methane, detect and prevent new forest fires, and be used to explore for critical minerals in green tech mining.

NPR [Author: Julia Simon]

More Patients Are Losing Their Doctors – And Their Trust in The Primary Care System

The loss of a trusted doctor is never easy, but it's an experience that is increasingly common. The stress of the pandemic drove a lot of health care workers to retire or quit. Now, a nationwide shortage of doctors and other professionals who provide primary care is making it hard to find replacements. As patients are shuffled from one provider to the next, it's eroding their trust in the health system. In a domino effect, the shortage of clinicians, like doctors and nurses, has placed additional burdens on support staffers such as medical assistants and other unlicensed workers. Research shows some of the biggest drivers of burnout are workload and job demands.

NPR [Author: Lynn Arditi]

New York City Central Labor Council and New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health Recovery Ready Workplaces Forum

This forum will cover the impact of opioid and substance use disorder on workers, families, and employers; connections between hazardous or stressful working conditions and drug and alcohol use; differences in “drug free workplaces” and the Recovery Ready Workplace approach; and initiating a Recovery Ready Workplace. The forum will be held online on January 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET.

Event Registration

Public Release: Sustaining Essential Health Care Services Related to Intimate Partner Violence During Public Health Emergencies

The Committee on Sustaining Essential Health Care Services Related to Intimate Partner Violence During Public Health Emergencies was tasked with identifying the essential health care services for women related to intimate partner violence (IPV) during steady state conditions, determining whether the essential health care services related to IPV differ during public health emergencies (PHEs), and identifying strategies to sustain access to those essential health care services during PHEs. This live briefing will discuss the committee’s report and recommendations. It will take place on January 11, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET.

Event Registration

Americans on Medicare Now Get Better Access to Mental Health Care. Here's How

Starting January 1, 2024, the more than 65 million Americans who rely on Medicare will have better access to mental health coverage. Medicare now covers therapy appointments with licensed marriage and family counselors, and licensed professional counselors. A licensed professional counselor who was interviewed about this development said that the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on mental health needs. Many people started to realize how critically important access to care is around mental health issues, and because of that, legislators felt an increasing pressure to provide access to care for those on Medicare.

NPR [Authors: Juana Summers, Avery Keatley, & Sarah Handel]

Public Health Research and Surveillance Priorities from the East Palestine Train Derailment: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

On November 6-7, 2023, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a 2-day virtual public workshop on health research and surveillance priorities related to the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and hazardous material release that occurred on February 3, 2023. Discussions centered on perspectives on the impact of the incident, hazardous material exposures and risks, risk characterization and communication, and challenges in and strategies for addressing and monitoring long-term community health impacts.

Workshop Report

21 Public Health Accomplishments in 2023

As 2023 ends and 2024 begins, we look back at public health accomplishments from the year to inform what we should focus on for the year ahead. In 2023, life expectancy increased, the rate of opioid deaths is slowing, Medicaid coverage expanded, and mental health care was at the forefront of many conversations, among other public health wins.

Your Local Epidemiologist [Author: Katelyn Jetelina]

The Role of Ergonomics in Full-Circle Employee Health

Ergonomics continues to get increased attention in the workplace, but worker safety and health professionals face a number of challenges when trying to ensure good ergonomics. This podcast features Sofia Kiriukhina, the Head of Customer Success at TuMeke Ergonomics, who joins the hosts to discuss the role of ergonomics in full-circle employee health. It turns out that the ergonomics challenges facing businesses might also open the door to some new opportunities through innovations, technologies and rethinking previous approaches to ergonomics and assessments.

Occupational Health & Safety News [Author: David Kopf]

Doctors Are as Vulnerable to Addiction as Anyone. California Grapples with a Response.

As addiction and overdose deaths command headlines across the nation, the Medical Board of California, which licenses MDs, is developing a new program to treat and monitor doctors with alcohol and drug problems, but a fault line has appeared over whether those who join the new program without being ordered to by the board should be subject to public disclosure. The names of those required by the board to undergo treatment and monitoring under a disciplinary order are already made public, but addiction medicine professionals say that if the state wants troubled doctors to come forward without a board order, confidentiality is crucial.

Kaiser Health News [Author: Bernard J. Wolfson]

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $40 Million to Train the Clean Energy Workforce

The Department of Energy (DOE) is now accepting applications for competitive funding to upskill the workforce with energy efficiency certifications. Authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Energy Auditor Training program (EAT) will provide up to $40 million in grants for states to train individuals to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings. To increase the qualified green building workforce across the country, and to support the implementation of national energy efficiency improvements, EAT will ensure that our building performance professionals, energy auditors, and other energy efficiency workers will be ready for our country’s upgrade to a more sustainable future.

DOE News Release

Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Action to Increase Naloxone Access in Federal Facilities Across the Nation

In support of President Biden’s Unity Agenda efforts to beat the overdose epidemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration announced new guidance recommending that all federal facilities across the nation include overdose reversal medications in their safety stations on site. The recommendation will make life-saving medications like naloxone more readily available in case of an emergency situation. The updated guidelines expand the concept of an automated external defibrillators program by introducing the “safety station,” which would enable anyone located within a federal facility to access the necessary tools quickly and easily to respond to an emergency situation.

HHS News Release

Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2021

The 2021 suicide rate among U.S. persons of working age is approximately 33% higher than it was two decades ago, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data from 49 states were used to calculate suicide rates by sex for all major and detailed industry and occupational groups. Major industry groups with the highest suicide rates included mining and construction; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting. Variations in suicide rates indicate risk disparities by workers’ industry and occupation. Workplaces can be important settings for suicide prevention.

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [Authors: Aaron Sussell, Cora Peterson, Jia Li, Arialdi Miniño, Kenneth A. Scott, & Deborah M. Stone]

CPWR Physicians’ Alerts: Short Guides to Talking to Your Medical Provider about Work-Related Hazards

Medical providers may overlook work-related conditions construction workers face if they are not familiar with patients’ work history and exposure to hazards. To help workers get treatment they need, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training has created a series of Physicians’ Alerts that facilitate direct conversations between patient and provider. The Alerts also contain best practices to prevent and mitigate exposure-related conditions. Learn about these free resources, as well as the new work-related task lists by construction occupation that can be used alongside the alerts, in this short webinar taking place on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET.

CPWR’s Informational Webinar Series

Environmental Protection Agency Seeking Director of the Office of External Civil Rights Compliance

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking a highly motivated, knowledgeable, and committed individual to serve as the Director of the Office of External Civil Rights Compliance. This person will play a critical role in carrying out EPA’s external civil rights compliance mission. Key responsibilities include providing direction, guidance, and oversight to staff with respect to external civil rights enforcement activities and exercising supervisory personnel management responsibilities. This is an in-person position and will close on January 8, 2024.

Job Posting

Director of Health, Safety and Emergency Preparedness Position Open at University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services is seeking a Director for Health, Safety and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP). The director provides leadership for the HSEP team; successfully develops, markets, and delivers HSEP services; and effectively manages program administration. The HSEP team provides training and consulting services in OSHA requirements, emergency response, hazardous waste management, regulatory compliance and related areas.

Job Posting

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