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This year the Directory of Federal Offices has been updated to include additional publication/catalog resources, most available free of charge. Also, included are some additional offices dedicated to AIDS, infection control and medical device problems. The directory lists major departments and offices, followed by their specific areas of expertise. It should help get you going in the right direction.
The increasing volume of information available on the Internet today is a problem for health care professionals who want to access rapidly data of high quality. Usual search engines and directories are not sufficient to satisfy their needs. Moreover, the information published by Web sites is not always guaranteed. Some institutions around the word deal with the definition of a set of criteria for the evaluation of medical Web sites. We base our current work on the technologies we developed previously in order to integrate sources of information of various kinds using the "Unified Medical Language System" knowledge bases. This paper focuses on quality criteria and access characteristics Web sites should satisfy to be registered in a "Health Internet Directory". The design of such a system is proposed and discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To answer questions about obstetric-gynecologic resident salary, night call, vacation, outside employment, gender mix, and training experiences using data from a national directory of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology. METHODS: The 259 US civilian residency programs were analyzed, using information from the 1996 directory database. We compared programs by size (four or fewer residents per year versus more than four residents per year) and geographic region for each of the questions. We used parametric and nonparametric statistical tests to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: First-year residents earn an average of $31,414 annually and receive a 5% increase each year, although salary varies significantly by region. Residents are on call an average of every 3rd night (twice a week) in the 1st year and every 4th or 5th night in the chief year. Residents in small programs take more night call than those in large programs. A separate night call rotation was more common in large programs. Vacation time varied by year of training and region. Male-to-female ratios in training differed significantly by year in training, program size, and region. The median number of training experiences was identified in each of the categories required by the Residency Review Committee in obstetrics and gynecology. Training experiences varied significantly by program size in three of the 15 categories. CONCLUSION: Program size and geographic region should be considered when comparing programs with regard to pay, work, time off, outside employment, gender mix, and training experiences. Program advisors and potential applicants are encouraged to use this information in comparing programs.
PURPOSE: We report our telephone-based system for selecting community control series appropriate for a complete Australia-wide series of Ewing's sarcoma cases. METHODS: We used electronic directory random sampling to select age-matched controls. The sampling has all listed telephone numbers on an up-dated CD-Rom. RESULTS: 95% of 2245 telephone numbers selected were successfully contacted. The mean number of attempts needed was 1.94, 58% answering at the first attempt. On average, we needed 4.5 contacts per control selected. Calls were more likely to be successful (reach a respondent) when made in the evening (except Saturdays). The overall response rate among contacted telephone numbers was 92.8%. Participation rates among female and male respondents were practically the same. The exclusion of unlisted numbers (13.5% of connected households) and unconnected households (3.7%) led to potential selection bias. However, restricting the case series to listed cases only, plus having external information on the direction of potential bias allow meaningful interpretation of our data. CONCLUSION: Sampling from an electronic directory is convenient, economical and simple, and gives a very good yield of eligible subjects compared to other methods.
We have used two monovalent phage display libraries containing variants of the Zif268 DNA-binding domain to obtain families of zinc fingers that bind to alterations in the last 4 bp of the DNA sequence of the Zif268 consensus operator, GCG TGGGCG. Affinity selection was performed by altering the Zif268 operator three base pairs at a time, and simultaneously selecting for sets of 16 related DNA sequences. In this way, only four experiments were required to select for all possible 64 combinations of DNA triplet sequences. The results show that (i) for high-affinity DNA binding in the range observed for the Zif268 wild-type complex (Kd = 0.5-5 nM), finger 1 specifically requires the arginine at the carboxy terminus of its recognition helix that forms a bidentate hydrogen-bond with the guanine base (G) in the crystal structure of Zif268 complexed to its DNA operator sequence GCG TGG GCG; (ii) when the guanine base (G) is replaced by A, C, or T, a lower-affinity family (Kd > or = 50 nM) can be detected that shows an overall tendency to bind G-rich DNA; (iii) the residues at position 2 on the finger 2 recognition helix do not appear to interact strongly with the complementary 5' base in the finger 1 binding site; and (iv) unexpected substitutions at the amino terminus of finger 1 can occasionally result in specificity for the 3' base in the finger 1 binding site. A DNA recognition directory was constructed for high-affinity zinc fingers that recognize all three bases in a DNA triplet for seven sequences of the type GNN. Similar approaches may be applied to other zinc fingers to broaden the scope of the directory.
A directory of test patterns and their interpretations has been prepared for identification of Enterobacteriaceae by using the 11-test API 10 S kit. The diagnostic accuracy of the directory and kit were evaluated by using records of test results for 37,476 isolates studied with the 21-test API 20 Enteric kit. Analysis indicates that 96.9% of the isolates would have been correctly identified at the genus level and 95.9% at the species level by using only the subset of tests included in the API 10 S.
An interrupted time-series analysis of local directory-assistance calls in the Cincinnati area from 1962 to 1976 revealed a significant reduction in the daily frequency of calls after charges were introduced in 1974. No reductions occurred in the daily frequency of long-distance directory-assistance calls, which remained free. The results attest to the efficacy of response-cost procedures with large subject populations in the natural environment. The applicability of response-cost procedures to social and business problems is discussed.
PURPOSE: To describe the activity of the eye banks participating in the French Eye Bank Directory over the period 1993-1997. METHODS: Since 1993, the eye banks have answered annually a questionnaire concerning technical aspects (procurement procedures, microbiological testing, tissue evaluation and preservation procedures) and activity (number of corneas processed, preserved and issued). Data from these banks were collected and presented in the Directory each year. RESULTS: In 1997, a total of 2,432 eyes were processed. Most of the eye banks (84%) used organ culture as the storage method. Thirty percent of the processed corneas were not used for transplantation. The main reasons for discarding corneas were inadequate endothelium before preservation (15.5%) and positive serology (27%), contamination during preservation (4.6-7.2%), and inadequate endothelium after preservation. CONCLUSION: Quality assurance, microbiological safety and tractability requirements are currently an integral part of the cornea transplantation circuit in France. Publication of eye bank activity has enabled and evaluation of the different procedures.
Printed, automated, and manually maintained sources of information about cancer research and control activities were identified. Data were consolidated into an automated file to characterize the organizations active in such work and to identify individual projects and scientists. A computer-formatted directory was produced, with access via geographic location, personal name, organizational name, and keyword.
Families of high-risk or handicapped young children (0-5 years) often require the services of multiple community agencies. SearchLine, a computerized directory of community services, was developed by Project IINTACT to assist parents and professionals in locating an accessing appropriate resources. Educational, health, and social service agencies that provide services to families as well as to children are included in the data base. Individualized family/child needs for specific services are accommodated by SearchLine because it allows descriptors that are related to language, handicapping condition, services desired, and the child's age to be considered together by the computer when it generates a list of appropriate community resources.
Commercial directories and governmental lists of dwelling units in low income urban Black communities in four eastern cities were evaluated for completeness. With rare exceptions, less than 90 percent of dwelling units were included in any one list and no list adequately identified multiple dwelling unit structures. Since household income is likely to be lower among households in such structures, all lists tend to miss the very poor, i.e., those who may be at highest health risk.
A directory was compiled consisting of pharmacist-operated drug information centers (DICs) that handle a broad range of calls from outside their own institution. Questionnaires were mailed in early 1980 to 154 DICs. The survey results were reviewed by officers of the ASHP SIG on Drug and Poison Information. A notice to centers that did not respond to the survey was published in the ASHP Newsletter. Each center identified was called by the surveyors during October 1981 to confirm its current service. Addresses, directors' names, hours of operation, and phone numbers are included for the 112 centers identified.
In July-August 1992, a directory was made of research projects on socio-behavioural aspects of HIV infection and AIDS in Zimbabwe. A total of 92 research projects were identified, most of which were already completed. Whilst there was a wide variety of topics, populations and geographical areas covered, there was a strong bias towards AIDS awareness and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) studies. Many of these were not linked with any specific AIDS prevention programme or with policy making. Suggestions are given to make better use of existing scientific information. A call is made upon researchers to conduct action-oriented studies and to consult HIV/AIDS programme implementers when specifying 'researchable' problems, so as to increase the likelihood that the study results will indeed have an impact on policy making and programme implementation.
Interest in clinical nurse specialist (CNS) programs is increasing rapidly, and schools of nursing are responding to the demand by expanding existing programs and opening new programs. In 2000, the Education Committee of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) surveyed master's-degree programs throughout the country and identified programs that educate CNSs. From that work, it created an updated directory of current CNS programs. This article discusses common requirements of CNS programs, suggests questions that prospective students should consider when selecting a CNS program, and provides a current list of CNS programs in the United States.
BACKGROUND: The controversy surrounding the actual and potential use of clinical databases partly reflects the huge variation in their content and quality. In addition, use of existing clinical databases is severely limited by a lack of knowledge of their availability. OBJECTIVES: To develop and test a standardised method for assessing the quality (completeness and accuracy) of clinical databases and to establish a web based directory of databases in the UK. METHODS: An expert group was set up (1). to establish the criteria for inclusion of databases; (2). to develop a quality assessment instrument with high content validity, based on epidemiological theory; (3). to test empirically, modify, and retest the acceptability to database custodians, face validity and floor/ceiling effects; and (4). to design a website. RESULTS: Criteria for inclusion of databases were the provision of individual level data; inclusion in the database defined by a common circumstance (e.g. condition, treatment), an administrative arrangement, or an adverse outcome; and inclusion of data from more than one provider. A quality assessment instrument consisting of 10 items (four on coverage, six on reliability and validity) was developed and shown to have good face and content validity, no floor/ceiling effects, and to be acceptable to database custodians. A website (www.docdat.org) was developed. Indications over the first 18 months (number of visitors to the site) are that it is increasingly popular. By November 2002 there were around 3500 hits a month. CONCLUSIONS: A website now exists where visitors can identify clinical databases in the UK that may be suitable to meet their aims. It is planned both to develop a local version for use within a hospital and to encourage similar national systems in other countries.
One of the most important tools to career building and personal satisfaction is education! The fields of central service and materiel management, like other professional fields, have an assortment of educational opportunities that you should take advantage of. Some are available through your professional associations (see the "Directory of Associations" for more information on those). Others are available through correspondence courses, on-site courses at local colleges and universities, and from seminar programs of associations, vendors and seminar groups. We've assembled a list of courses and seminars of interest to you and your colleagues. There may be others offered in your area, so contact your local institutions of higher learning to take advantage of what they have--or to develop a course with them!
Have you found yourself becoming more and more exasperated by the large volume of information that crosses your desk? Some of it is useful, but more of it may be totally irrelevant to your work and life. How do you find what you really need? We've taken a lot of the guesswork out of your search for useful information by compiling this directory of resources that target your specific needs. You'll find everything from periodicals to online databases to get your information pipeline under control!
Most call it licensing. Others say credentialing or certification. Whatever the terminology, you will have to meet certain requirements to practice your healthcare discipline in any given state. Because these qualifications differ throughout the nation, you should gather this information from the state in which you wish to practice as soon as possible. To help you become familiar with these qualifications, we have compiled a state-by-state summary of practice requirements. We start with respiratory therapy and will continue with occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing and physical therapy in later issues. For more complete information, contact appropriate state licensing/credentialing agencies. Their phone numbers and addresses will be featured in HT&T's upcoming Resource Directories.