News and Events
Maryland Infant Mortality Rate Drops to 10 Year Low
Secretary Colmers, DHMH, announced to members of the Maryland Assembly’s Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families that the infant mortality rate for Maryland declined to the lowest annual rate in 10 years. Preliminary data shows a statewide rate of 7.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, a 10 percent drop from 8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008. Reducing infant mortality is one of Governor O’Malley’s 15 Strategic Policy Goals. Efforts for reducing infant mortality are focused in three Maryland jurisdictions: Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and Somerset County. To read the full article, click here.
For more information on the DHMH and Local Health Department infant mortality efforts, click on the following links:
DHMH Family Health Administration
Baltimore City Health Department, B'more for Healthy Babies
Requirements for Perinatal HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral: A Toolkit for Physicians
New regulations were approved in December 2009, following the enactment of the 2008 HIV/AIDS legislation aimed at reducing barriers to HIV testing in Maryland. A toolkit was developed by the Center in collaboration with the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration, DHMH, which includes the latest information regarding HIV counseling, testing, and referral requirements in Maryland. Click here to download the Perintal HIV Toolkit.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month 
August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly.
August is the perfect time to remind family, friends, co-workers, and those in the community to catch up on their vaccinations. Parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college, and healthcare workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season.
For more information Click Here.
July is UV Safety Month
Ultraviolet radiation is an invisible enemy, damaging unprotected skin and eyes. Ultraviolet A and B rays penetrate the earth's atmosphere and can cause photoaging of the skin, sunburns, skin cancer, cataracts and macular degeneration. For information on how you can protect skin against UV damage, click here.
Further information and materials are available from the Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program. Children, parents and teachers will enjoy SunGuard Man Online, which features video games, skin cancer information and statistics, prevention tips and free teacher resources, including the SunGuard Your Skin curriculum. For eye safety information click here.
FDA Panel Recommends Changing Tanning Bed Medical Device Classification
On March 25, the General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Medical Devices Advisory Committee met, and unanimously recommended that the FDA upgrade its classification of tanning devices.
Currently, UV-emitting tanning devices are Class I medical devices, meaning the FDA considers them to “present minimal potential for harm to the user.” The Panel unanimously concluded that this classification was not appropriate, with some Panel members favoring a designation of Class II with restrictions (“special controls”) to limit access by age, and/or skin type. Others thought tanning devices should be upgraded to Class III (the most strictly regulated category), but they acknowledged that the latter reclassification would be difficult to implement.
The FDA will now consider the Panel’s recommendations. For more information, please visit The Skin Cancer Foundation.
Interpreter Resources Guide
H1N1 Pandemic and Seasonal Flu Update
The World Health Organization has classified the current influenza epidemic as a pandemic. Follow the link above to learn more.
For a complete list of links to Influenza A (H1N1) information from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, please click here.
MedChi Centennial Celebration
The Center for a Healthy Maryland, charitable affiliate of MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society hosted a reception and program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the MedChi Library Building and Osler Hall, and announced the History of Maryland Medicine campaign dedicated to preservation and education.
FREE Online Cultural Competencies CME Course
Receive 9 continuing medical education credits for the course, "A Physician's Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care." This course is being offered at no charge to practicing physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
Last Updated 7/29/2010
