Attend the 2011 VSU Regional Summer Conferences!
All persons involved in the completion and registration of births, deaths, marriages, and acknowledgments of paternity in Texas are recommended to attend. Topics include issues impacting these individuals as well as new legislation affecting vital registration in Texas and how they will affect county and district clerks, city health department staff, physicians, funeral directors, hospice facilities, hospitals, and birthing centers.
The board approved a new form and revisions to the board policy on apprentices on June 22, 2010
Changes in Texas Law for HIV testing of pregnant women and newborns
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd/info/edmat/TestingandPregnancy.pdf
Shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment - DSHS Enlisting Your Help
The DSHS Infectious Disease Control Unit had a conversation with the CDC yesterday afternoon regarding the shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment and its mandatory use as a newborn eye prophylaxis to prevent neonatal gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. Dr. Susan Penfield provided the below summary of the discussion and DSHS is enlisting your help to encourage diversion of product to neonates, to share product among hospitals, and from retail outlets to inpatient settings with neonates. CDC plans on providing an update on this issue as soon as possible which we will share with you.
Summary of the Discussion with CDC
- Newborn eye prophylaxis to prevent neonatal gonorrhea and chlamydia infections is mandatory in Texas and the US.
- DSHS rules (and CDC guidelines) allow only three medications for this use:
- silver nitrate ophthalmic preparation – no longer available
- tetracycline ophthalmic preparations - no longer available; and
- erythromycin ophthalmic ointment and drops. The drops don’t appear to be available.
- One manufacturer of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment stopped manufacturing it, and sold the rights to another company.
- The new company has to gear up to start manufacture of the product.
- This leaves Bausch &Lomb as the only manufacturer of erythromicin.
- There is actually sufficient erythromycin ophthalmic ointment across the country.
- However, it needs to be diverted to use for newborns only.
- CDC, FDA, and several professional and trade associations are going to work to get product distributed where it is needed.
- They will encourage use of other products for older children and adults, saving erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for neonates.
- Many entities are not aware that there is a shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment and may be prescribing/using/storing/selling it for purposes for which there are good alternative medications.
- Bausch & Lomb has a 1-800 number for hospitals who are having trouble getting product locally (1-800-323-0000).
Please find a link to the FDA website with information regarding the current shortage. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm.
ATTENTION: ONLINE SEARCH VERIFICATION NOW AVAILABLE
Now you can perform a real-time search for licensees online, and you can even print a license verification. For more information, click the “Live Online Search Verification” link under the “Find A Licensee” heading to the left.
FDA Warning on Use of Cytotec, May 2005 (link to FDA website)
Online Applications Now Available Through Texas Online!
You can now apply for license renewal, through Texas Online! See the menu to the left for the links.
HIPAA Notice
Click the link below to read an important message about HIPAA Privacy Standards for providers and entities that submit protected health information to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Click here to read on HIPAA Privacy Standards