- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC launched the “Clean Hands Count” campaign in 2016 to urge healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ loved ones to prevent healthcare-associated infections by keeping their hands clean.
Although hand contact is known to be a major way germs spread in medical facilities, studies show that some healthcare professionals don’t follow CDC hand hygiene recommendations. On average, healthcare professionals clean their hands less than half of the times they should.
“Patients depend on their medical team to help them get well, and the first step is making sure healthcare professionals aren’t exposing them to new infections,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Clean hands really do count and in some cases can be a matter of life and death.”
Part of the new campaign promotes healthcare provider adherence to CDC hand hygiene recommendations by addressing some of the myths and misperceptions about hand hygiene. For example, some people wrongly believe that using alcohol-based hand sanitizer contributes to antibiotic resistance and that it is more damaging to hands than washing with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills germs quickly and in a different way than antibiotics, so it does not cause antibiotic resistance, and it causes less skin irritation than frequent use of soap and water.
The initiative also encourages patients and their loved ones to ask their healthcare team to clean their hands if they don’t see them do so before providing care.
“We know that patients can feel hesitant to speak up, but they are important members of the health care team and should expect clean hands from providers,” said Arjun Srinivasan, M.D., CDC’s associate director for healthcare-associated infection prevention programs. “We know that healthcare providers want the best for their patients, so we want to remind them that the simple step of cleaning their hands protects their patients.”
An estimated 722,000 healthcare-associated infections occur each year in U.S. hospitals, and about 75,000 patients with these infections die during their hospital stays. Healthcare providers should follow good hand hygiene practices, such as cleaning their hands before and after every patient contact. CDC’s new campaign uses dramatic images and messages to catch doctors’ and nurses’ attention, dispel myths about hand hygiene, and empower patients to advocate for clean hands.
For more information and examples of campaign materials visit: www.cdc.gov/handhygiene.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
5 Surprising Facts About High Blood Pressure
What you don’t know about high blood pressure could hurt you. High blood pressure affects one in three Americans,1 yet many people with the condition don’t know they have it.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises the risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. Fortunately, high blood pressure is treatable and preventable. To lower your risk, get your blood pressure checked regularly and take action to control your blood pressure if it is too high.
Contact your local Public Health Department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County for blood pressure screening and high blood pressure prevention information.... click on the above LOCATIONS tab to find them!
1. High blood pressure may be linked to dementia.
Recent studies show that high blood pressure is linked to a higher risk for dementia, a loss of cognitive function.2 Timing seems to matter: Some evidence suggests having uncontrolled high blood pressure during midlife (age 45 to 65) creates a higher risk for dementia later in life.3 The takeaway? It’s never too early to start thinking about your blood pressure and taking steps to manage it.
Mind Your Risks, a campaign from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is educating people about the importance of controlling high blood pressure in midlife.
2. Young people can have high blood pressure, too.
High blood pressure doesn’t just happen to older adults. About one in four men and nearly one in five women age 35 to 44 has high blood pressure.4
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, a condition that is on the rise among younger people. Experts think the increased risk for stroke among young adults is a direct result of the rising rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes—conditions that are preventable and treatable.
Younger people should get their blood pressure checked at least once each year. You can get your blood pressure checked at a doctor’s office, a pharmacy, or at many grocery stores.
Many people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it. The only way to know is to check your blood pressure regularly.
3. High blood pressure usually doesn’t have any symptoms.
High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer.” Most people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms, such as sweating or headaches. Because many people feel fine, they don’t think they need to get their blood pressure checked. Even if you feel normal, your health may be at risk. Talk to your doctor about your risk for high blood pressure.
4. Many people who have high blood pressure don’t know it.
About 11 million U.S. adults with high blood pressure aren’t even aware they have it and are not receiving treatment to control their blood pressure.1Most people with uncontrolled blood pressure have health insurance and visit a health care provider at least twice a year, but the condition remains undiagnosed, hidden from the doctor and patient.5 CDC is working with providers to find patients with high blood pressure who are ” hiding in plain sight.” Ask your provider what your blood pressure numbers mean and whether they are too high. Stick to your treatment plan and follow your provider’s advice if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure.
What You Can Do By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. A healthy lifestyle includes
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting enough physical activity
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol use Learn more about steps you can take to prevent high blood pressure.
5. Women and minorities face unique risks when it comes to high blood pressure.
Women with high blood pressure who become pregnant are more likely to have complications during pregnancy than those with normal blood pressure. High blood pressure can harm a mother’s kidneys and other organs, and it can cause low birth weight and early delivery. Certain types of birth control can also raise a woman’s risk for high blood pressure. Women with high blood pressure who want to become pregnant should work with their health care team to lower their blood pressure before becoming pregnant.
African American men and women have higher rates of high blood pressure than any other race or ethnic group.4 These individuals are also more likely to be hospitalized for high blood pressure. Experts think this is related to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and stroke among this group. Lifestyle changes, such as reducing sodium in your diet, getting more physical activity, and reducing stress, can help lower blood pressure (see sidebar).
What CDC Is Doing
CDC supports several public health efforts that address high blood pressure, including:
- Million Hearts®. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Million Hearts® is a national initiative with a goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes. CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services co-lead the initiative on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Million Hearts® provides toolkits for health care practitioners to help them find patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure and provide consistent, effective treatment for the condition.
- WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation). The WISEWOMAN program provides low-income, under-insured, or uninsured women with chronic disease screenings, lifestyle programs, and referral services to prevent heart disease and stroke. CDC currently funds 21 WISEWOMAN programs, which operate on the local level in states and tribal organizations.
- Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP). A diet too high in sodium is associated with higher blood pressure. SRCP aims to increase access to lower sodium food options and reduce the amount of sodium Americans eat and drink each day. CDC currently funds 6 local communities and 4 state-level programs to carry out this work.
References
- NHANES 2013-2014 unpublished estimates. CDC/DHDSP Million Hearts Hypertension tracking.
- Attems, J & Jellinger, KA (2014). The overlap between vascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease – lessons from pathology. BMC Medicine; 12: 206.
- Muller, M, Sigurdsson, S, Kjartansson, O, Aspelund, T, Lopez, OL, Jonnson, PV, et al. (2014). Joint effect of mid- and late-life blood pressure on the brain: The AGES-Reykjavik Study. Neurology; 82(24): 2187–2195.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Power Down in May for National High Blood Pressure Education Month.
- Wall, HK, Hannan, JA and Wright, JS. (2014). Patients with undiagnosed hypertension: Hiding in plain sight. JAMA; 312(19):1973-1974.
More Information
More Information
- CDC – High Blood Pressure
- American Heart Association – High Blood Pressure
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – High Blood Pressure
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- Written by Jennifer King
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The month of May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month in the United States, and May 19th is Hepatitis Testing Day. During May, The North Georgia Health District is joining the CDC and public health partners as we work to shed light on this hidden epidemic by raising awareness of viral hepatitis and encouraging priority populations to get tested.
Contact your local county health department in North Georgia for testing -- click on the above LOCATIONS tab for your North Georgia public health department in either Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County!
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Request for Proposals (RFP) Due May 20, 2018
The North Georgia Health District has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to obtain proposals for the renovation and remodeling of office space located at 1615 Hickory Street (Ste. 100 - 106), Dalton, GA 30720. The RFP should address all space modifications, as well as electrical and plumbing requirements, in accordance with draft design (not to scale) included in Addendum A (please see all related attachments below).
This RFP is organized into the following sections:
- Section 1 - General Information and Instructions
- Section 2 - Requirements
General Information and Instructions
1.1 Company Profile
The North Georgia Health District (NGHD) is part of the Georgia Department of Public Health. NGHD is comprised of six counties including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield County. Many programs and services exist throughout the district, all of which are designed to meet the needs of the people of North Georgia.
Our Vision
Our vision for the North Georgia Health District is healthy people, families and communities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and protect the health of the people in the North Georgia Health District wherever they live, work and play, through population-based preventive programs including:
- Prevention of epidemics and the spread of disease
- Protection against environmental hazards
- Injury prevention
- Promotion and encouragement of healthy behaviours
- Responding to disasters and assisting communities to recover
- Assisting communities in assessing the quality and accessibility of health services
1.2 Purpose of the Project
The purpose of this project is to renovate the office space located at 1615 Hickory Street and expand the NGHD office facility. The renovation of this office space will provide additional staff offices as well as an emergency operations center and training room.
1.3 RFP Coordinator
Upon release of this RFP, all communications concerning the proposal must be directed to the RFP Coordinator listed below.
- Name: Stephen J. Tonya, Chief Financial Officer / North Georgia Health District
- Address: 1710 Whitehouse Ct, Dalton GA 30720
- Phone: 706-529-5757
- Fax: 706-529-5740
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
1.4 RFP Schedule
The schedule for this project is as follows:
- RFP Issued: 05/01/18
- Proposals Due: 05/20/18
- Final Selection: 05/31/18
- Renovation schedule / time line: 60 days. (est)
The North Georgia Health District reserves the right to adjust this schedule as necessary.
1.5 Proposal Submission
All proposals must be received in its entirety no later than May 20, 2018. Proposal responses are preferred in paper form submitted to the above referenced RFP Coordinator. An additional electronic copy in PDF format providing the entire response is also acceptable.
1.6 Vendor Site Tours
Vendors are required to schedule a site tour and design review with the RFP Coordinator to ensure proposal accuracy and completeness.
1.7 Proposal Questions
RFP questions must be forwarded to the RFP Coordinator. The preferred method is via email. All official questions and answers will be made available to all vendors.
1.8 RFP Evaluation Factors
NGHD will evaluate the proposals to determine the most advantageous proposal. We will use the following factors to evaluate the proposals:
- Ability to complete renovations timely.
- Proposed vendor experience and qualifications related to renovation requirements.
- Total cost of renovations.
- References of comparable office renovation projects.
- RFP response document completeness
2 Proposal Requirements
Vendor must provide brief, clear, and concise responses to the following requirements with illustrations where appropriate.
2.1 Organization
A description of the vendor’s organization, size and structure. Include full legal name of the company and primary contact for this project.
2.2 Experience
A history of the vendor’s experience providing General Contracting Services, including samples of projects completed.
2.3 Approach and Methodology
Provide a description of the approach and methodology taken to perform the project. Describe any difficulties or challenges that are anticipated in providing the services and how your firm will manage them.
2.4 Fee Schedule
Provide total estimated fee and payment terms for completion of the project. Include a list of anticipated expenses and the rate charged for each.
2.5 Timeline
Provide an estimated timeline with target dates. Project should begin within seven calendar days of awarding day.
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