742: Maryland Overdose Dashboard Supports Field Partners, Immunization Awards Honor Advocates

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, September 4, 2024. I'm Summer Johnson. Now today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

LAURA HERRERA SCOTT: 

It really allows the entities that are working to address overdoses in their community, to be responsive to where the epidemic is happening or hitting their community.

JOHNSON: 

Maryland has a new overdose data dashboard. Health Secretary and ASTHO member, Dr. Laura Herrera Scott says it was time to refresh the old one.

HERRERA SCOTT: 

It would only update data every 90 days. Didn't have demographic data. And given how important this issue is and how intentional that we need to be with the funding, we knew we had to do more to really understand where the overdoses were happening.

JOHNSON: 

The latest version offers the state's partners better data to help them do their work.

HERRERA SCOTT: 

So now that the data is being updated every 30 days, they can look at trends over time and see what might have changed from the last 30 days or 60 days. And maybe they thought it was in a particular zip code, but another zip code is really starting to see an uptick in overdoses. And maybe it's because the drug supply has changed, for example, or maybe it's because they've run out of Naloxone and community.

JOHNSON: 

Herrera Scott says the dashboard will continue to improve thanks to additional data sets and user input.

HERRERA SCOTT: 

Is it answering their questions? So we've started with the data we have, but there might be data sets that we haven't considered. So we've just added ER data. We're looking at Naloxone, but you know, there might be questions to tie in, you know, related to Naloxone, for example.

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

Read a news release and explore the dashboard using the links in the show notes.

The case for immunizations gets extra attention during National Immunization Awareness Month.

CLAIRE HANNAN: 

It's positive press for getting vaccinated. It's reinforcing that immunization is the norm.

JOHNSON: 

Claire Hannan is executive director of the Association of immunization managers.

HANNAN: 

It's just really a great way to remind people to make sure they're up to date on their vaccinations, and to remind parents to make sure their kids are up to date. And to honor healthcare, public health, and vaccinators everywhere for the job that they do.

JOHNSON: 

Hannan's organization teamed with the CDC to recognize public health and healthcare professionals for their work to immunize people in their communities. She says 46 individuals from across the states and territories were honored recently with a 2024 Immunization Champion Award. You can read more about the winners by clicking the link in the show notes.

Also today, New York State Health Commissioner and ASTHO member Dr. James McDonald explains his approach to health equity during a recent appearance on The New York Now podcast, produced by WMHTHT radio in Troy, New York.

JAMES MCDONALD: 

I don't think the work of health equity is optional. Like, you cannot build a building without a foundation. And, you know, at the Department of Health, my feeling is it's a shared responsibility of everyone who works at the Department of Health to make sure the work connects to health equity. Giving everyone that fair and just opportunity for the best health outcomes.

JOHNSON: 

You can hear the full interview with a link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, public outreach can help make people aware of the availability of pharmacist prescribed contraception. ASTHO plans a webinar to share examples of messaging strategies and campaigns. The event is Tuesday, September 17th. Save your seat to the online event with the link in the show notes.

Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition.

Have a great day.