Orange County Medical Society

Medical Information Technology

Internet based learning for healthcare professionals.
By Bernd Wollschlaeger, M.D.

Chair, FMA Emergency Preparedness Taskforce
Governor Appointee to the Florida Domestic Security Advisory Panel
Board Member of the Center on Terrorism and Public Health,
FSU College of Medicine

The progress of our ongoing war against Terrorism in Afghanistan and the absence of new cases of Anthrax infections has created a false sense of security.

The past and current events throughout the world have taught us that terrorism remains to be a clear and present danger and will continue to threaten us.

In the opinion of military experts terrorists have gained access to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which include biological, chemical and nuclear agents.

Throughout the State of Florida and the US emergency and disaster preparedness is a priority and the threat of biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism will be a "new challenge for American medicine" (JAMA, November 28,2001-Vol 286,No.20,Page 2595-2597).

Healthcare professionals will be the first-line defenders on the home front and have to be continuously educated and updated to respond successfully to any threat on the public health of our nation.

The Florida and American Medical Association is maximizing its effort to deliver such education, but individual physicians will have to utilize all available educational tools to maintain the high standards of care.Back to the top

During our national crisis and the ongoing threat of attacks the Internet has served as a backbone of our communication needs and serves as a valuable information resource.

The Web mobilizes America's health care reservoir and can assist us to develop and maintain a national emergency and disaster response.

Therefore I have attached a list of important resources and links structured according to focus groups and topics.

This list is by no means comprehensive but serves as the basis of your individual web based resources library.

A link to all listed sites can also be accessed at http://www.virtualmed.com. Please feel free to contact me at http://www.miamihealth.com/ for any questions or suggestions.

• Biological Weapons
• Chemical Terrorism
• Nuclear Terrorism
• Clinical Articles and Epidemiology
• Preparedness Issues
• Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Courses
• Additional Resources

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1. Biological Weapons:

i.   Bioterrorism:

FAQ http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6667.html

ii.   Consensus Statements on Biological Weapons:

1. Anthrax:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n18/ffull/jst80027.html

2. Botulinum Toxin:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n8/ffull/jst00017.html

3. Plague/Yersinia Pestis:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v283n17/ffull/jst90013.html

4. Smallpox:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v283n17/ffull/jst90013.html

5. Tularemia:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n21/ffull/jst10001.html

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iii.   Biological Agents as WMD:

1. Anthrax:

1. Anthrax Information from the Florida Department of Health
   http://www.doh.state.fl.us/terrorism/index.htm
   
   
2. Clinical Presentation of lnhalational Anthrax Following Bioterrorism Exposure Report of 2 Surviving Patients
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v286n20/ffull/joc11782.html
   
   
3. Death Due to Bioterrorism-Related Inhalational Anthrax Report of 2 Patients
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v286n20/ffull/joc11802.html
   
   
4. Anthrax Vaccine
   Evidence for Safety and Efficacy Against Inhalational Anthrax
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n22/ffull/jct90025.html
   
   
5. Anthrax Vaccination FAQ
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax
   
   
6. Anthrax FAQ
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Anthrax/AnthraxGen.asp
   
   
7. Anthrax and Mail
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/FAQAnthrax.asp#topic16
   
   
8. Children and Anthrax
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax/11072001/parents.asp

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2. Smallpox:

1. Smallpox Information from the Florida Department of Health
   http://www9.myflorida.com/Disease_ctrl/epi/htopics/
   
   
2. Smallpox Surveillance-Worldwide
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v279n3/ffull/jwr0121-2.html
   
   
3. Smallpox Vaccination and the WHO
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v286n18/ffull/jwm10011-4.html
   
   
4. Researchers Launch a Web-Based Resource for Smallpox Research
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n7/ffull/jmn0221-2.html
   
   
5. Smallpox FAQ
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Smallpox/SmallpoxGen.asp
   

3. Ebola:

1. Outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Uganda, August 2000 - January 2001
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n8/ffull/jwr0228-2.html
   
   
2. Ebola Vaccine Progress
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n3/ffull/jha00014-1.html
   
   
3. Ebola's Killer Protein Identified
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v284n11/ffull/jha00009-1.html
   

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2. Chemical Terrorism:

i. Overview:

1. CDC Fact Sheets
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/AgentlistChem.asp
   
   
2. Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook
   RedHandbook/001TitlePage.htm
   
   
3. Treatment of Chemical Agent Casualties and Conventional Military Chemical Injuries
   http://www.vnh.org/FM8285/cover.html
   

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3. Nuclear Terrorism:

i. Radiological Emergencies:

1. CDC Web Site
   http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Radiological.asp
   
   
2. Initial Management of Irradiated or Radioactively Contaminated Personnel
   http://www.vnh.org/BUMEDINST6470.10A/TOC.html
   
   
3. Medical Management of Radiological Casualties
   http://www.afrri.usuhs.mil/www/outreach/pdf/radiologicalhandbooksp99-2.pdf
   
   
4. Radiation health Protection Manual
   http://www.vnh.org/Admin/RadHealth/RHPManualTOC.html
   

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4. Clinical Articles and Epidemiology:

1. Clinical Recognition and Management of Patients Exposed to Biological Warfare Agents:
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v278n5/ffull/jsc71014.html
   
   
2. Cutaneous Manifestations of Biological Warfare and Related Threat Agents
   http://archderm.ama-assn.org/issues/v135n3/ffull/dre8030.html
   
   
3. The Threat of Biological Weapons
   Prophylaxis and Mitigation of Psychological and Social Consequences
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v278n5/ffull/jsc7067.html
   
   
4. A Large Community Outbreak of Salmonellosis Caused by Intentional Contamination of Restaurant Salad Bars
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v278n5/ffull/joc71206.html
   
   
5. Lessons From Investigations of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n19/ffull/jed90032.html
   

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5. Preparedness Issues:

1. Large-Scale Quarantine Following Biological Terrorism in the United States
   Scientific Examination, Logistic and Legal Limits, and Possible Consequences
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v286n21/abs/jsc10254.html
   
   
2. Weapons of Mass Destruction Events With Contaminated Casualties
   Effective Planning for Health Care Facilities
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v283n2/ffull/jsc90100.html
   
   
3. National Health and Medical Services Response to Incidents of Chemical and Biological Terrorism
   http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v278n5/ffull/jpp71006.html
   

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6. Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Courses:

1. Weapons of Mass Destruction - Introduction to Emergency Operations.
   This FREE internet based course is the first in a series being developed to prepare health professionals for terrorist incidents in their communities.
   Email bill_dart@doh.state.fl.us for more information
   
   
2. Listing of NBC (Nuclear,Biological,Chemical) courses (FEMA,US Army)
   http://www.rris.fema.gov/training.htm
   
   
3. FMA Course
   http://partners.learnsomething.com/Promo/FMA/Bio_Chem/flash/index.html
   
   
4. Smallpox Decision Support Tools + Palm Version
   http://www.acponline.org/bioterro/index.html#support
   
   
5. CDC Public Health Training Network (Webcasts)
   http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/default.asp
   

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7. Additional Resources:

• FMA Web Site
  http://www.fmaonline.org
  
  
• Florida Department of Health
  http://www.doh.state.fl.us
  
  
• Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies
  http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org
  
  
• AMA Web Site
  http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html
  
  
• AHA Disaster Readiness
  http://www.aha.org/emergency/emindex.asp
  
  
• ACP-ASIM Resource Site
  http://www.acponline.org/bioterro/?hp
  
  
• US Army Medical Research Institute
  http://www.usamriid.army.mil
  
  
• Medline Biological and Chemical Weapons
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/biologicalandchemicalweapons.html
  

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