AAMC launches resource bank for educational materials
The AAMC has launched MedEdPORTAL, a web-based tool that promotes collaboration across disciplines and institutions by facilitating the exchange of peer-reviewed educational materials and resources. MedEdPORTAL, which stands for Providing Online Resources To Advance Learning in Medical Education, will serve as a central repository for educational materials such as electronic slide presentations, assessment materials, virtual patient cases and faculty development materials. This tool will be implemented in phases during the next year or more. In the initial phase, non-web-based educational materials and materials that are available on external websites will be peer-reviewed, referenced and linked on the MedEdPORTAL site. Faculty may submit their websites or educational materials at any time for peer-review and, if accepted, the resources will be referenced in the MedEdPORTAL system. For more information, please visit http://www.aamc.org/mededportal.
NQF proposes quality measures for ambulatory care
The National Quality Forum is seeking public comment on 50 proposed standards for measuring and reporting the quality of care in ambulatory settings. The draft measures, released last week, address seven areas of care: asthma/respiratory conditions; depression/behavioral health; bone diseases; heart disease; hypertension; prenatal care; and prevention/immunization/screening. Public comments are due by May 16.
In related news, the May issue of Academic Medicine features an article that reviews and interprets studies comparing quality of care in teaching hospitals to other institutions. Studies show that, in general, teaching hospitals provide better quality of care for a range of conditions and patients. For more information, please visit http://www.qualityforum.org/news/prAmbCare4-21-05FINAL.pdf.
HHS appoints advisory committee on minority health
The Department of Health and Human Services has formed an eight-member committee to advise the department on improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities and on the development of goals and program activities for the HHS Office of Minority Health. Members of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health are: Leo MacKay, Ph.D., ACS State Healthcare, Atlanta (committee chairperson); Joseph Kevin Villagomez, M.A., Department of Public Health of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Cheryl Killion, Ph.D., Center for Minority Family Health, Hampton, Va.; Edna M. Berastain, M.B.A., Latinos/as Contra SIDA, Hartford, Conn.; Inam Ur Rahman, M.D., The Diabetic Clinic, Honolulu; Rear Admiral Kermit C. Smith, D.O., M.P.H. (Ret.), Indian Health Service, Tucson, Ariz.; Adrienne Laverdure, M.D., Peter Christensen Health Center, Lac Du Flambeau, Wisc.; and Valerie Romero-Leggott, M.D., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M. For more information, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050422.html.