• Pain & opioids
Managing pain in surgical patients is crucial for addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. A new study at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine
found that an “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery” pain-management plan led to a dramatic reduction in the number of patients requiring opioids after spinal and peripheral nerve surgery. The plan led to fewer patients on opioids one month after surgery. (EDITORS: Additional information)
• Appliance boom
Before running water and electricity, a single load of laundry could take four hours to wash and four-and-a-half hours to iron. With the advent of mechanical appliances, the time to complete those tasks dropped to 41 minutes and less than two hours, respectively. Other household chores became much less cumbersome, too. In a new book, University of Pennsylvania economist Jeremy Greenwood argues that such technological advances saved labor and allowed women their first opportunity to work outside the home. (EDITORS: Additional information)
• Copyright expirations
After a 20-year extension, copyrights expired on Jan. 1, bringing into the public domain works first published in the United States in 1923. Thousands of books, poems, films, music and other creative works are now available to be reprinted and reimagined without permission or risk of copyright infringement. The Libraries at the
University of Pennsylvania has embarked on a year-long project to digitize and share the newly available books unique to its collection. “It is a major event,” says Peter Decherney, director of Penn’s Cinema and Media Studies program, and author of the book “Hollywood’s Copyright Wars: from Edison to the Internet.” “They now belong to everyone.” (EDITORS: Additional information)
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Park City Physician Assistant Returns Home after Providing Medical Support During President Trump’s State of the Union Address
A physician assistant from Park City, Utah, Billi Tsuya, is back home from Washington, DC, after providing medical support during the 2019 State of the Union Address on February 5.
Ms. Tsuya serves as a member of the National Disaster Medical System’s (NDMS) Disaster Medical Assistance Team. During events such as the State of the Union, NDMS personnel along with U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers stand ready to provide advanced life support and basic medical care to everyone attending the event.
NDMS is a federally-administered program that can support communities with medical care, veterinarian care, and mortuary assistance during disasters or public health emergencies. NDMS is among the resources made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). They also work behind the scenes at some of our nation’s biggest events, often at the request of the Congressional Office of the Attending Physician, the U.S. Capitol Police, or the U.S. Secret Service.
“Typically at events like this we see people who have minor cuts or sprains or other non-life threatening injuries or illnesses,” explains Ron Miller, director of ASPR’s NDMS. “However, we also can provide initial life-saving care for more serious injuries or illnesses and stabilize patients for transportation by DC Fire/EMS to a local hospital.”
NDMS teams consist of physicians, nurses, paramedics, fatality management professionals, veterinarians, and experienced command and control staff. There are more than 6,000 team members organized into 70 response teams. Providing medical care during emergencies and special events, such as the State of the Union Address, can overwhelm local and state resources. ASPR looks to the expertise within NDMS from across the country to assist in the response.
During the State of the Union Address, the Vice President, First Lady, Cabinet Secretaries, both Houses of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior level government officials come together in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol. The State of the Union Address gives the President the opportunity to report on the condition of our nation and outline his legislative agenda and priorities to Congress and the American people.
As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPR’s mission is to save lives and protect Americans from 21st century health security threats. ASPR leads the nation’s medical and public health preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies. During special security events like the State of the Union Address, ASPR stands ready to serve in case of an emergency. For more information about federal medical response and NDMS, visit www.phe.gov.
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