Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS1, or “forever chemicals”, are found in everything from firefighting foam to non-stick coatings, as displayed in the infographic.  However, the most concerning is PFAS contamination of drinking water, as it is one of the most direct routes for PFAS to get into the body. Several years ago,... Read More »

Region 5 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine has put together a series of recorded tutorials on MedlinePlus.  These short videos are geared towards Community Health Workers and their interests.  The videos will help you quickly learn about the various features of MedlinePlus and how to use this trustworthy website.  The series... Read More »

Nearly 1,000 chemicals have been found in laboratory studies to alter key biological pathways to breast cancer. For instance, estrogen and progesterone are known to increase breast cancer risk and common chemicals—including drinking water pollutants and certain ingredients in pesticides, personal care products, cleaners, and other common products—can influence these hormones in ways that could... Read More »

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) in collaboration with the Medical Library Association is offering State Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credit for some of its courses.  Currently 3 NNLM on-demand classes qualify for CNE credit: Health Literacy On-Demand Learn about health literacy definitions, best practices and tools for communicating health information clearly... Read More »

Don’t forget to save the date for the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) upcoming  webinar series on the Social Determinants of Environmental Health.  The series will be held weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from March 5th to April 2, 2024.   It will include guest speakers who will focus on topics such as... Read More »

El 23 de abril de cada año se celebra el “Día del Idioma Español en las Naciones Unidas”. La elección de la fecha específica se encuentra relacionada con el fallecimiento de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, autor del libro “El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha” una de las figuras más conocidas de la literatura... Read More »

Whether we’re thinking about patient records and outcomes, sports statistics, or NNLM membership and activity records, data standardization is critical to unlocking the story held within the data. While not always an easy endeavor (and one that often requires intergroup compromise), data standardization pays significant dividends when it comes time to analyze, interpret, and disseminate... Read More »

For many of us, it’s reporting season: a time to reflect on the work accomplished, the pending deliverables, the challenges faced, and the solutions we have identified on our paths to reaching our goals and fulfilling our mission. NEC would like to offer some practical advice to help you make the most of your future... Read More »

When you think about impact, what word comes to mind? That was the question posed by National Evaluation Center (NEC) Director Kristi Holmes, PhD, at the start of January’s Network of the National Library of Medicine all-staff virtual summit. Change. Results. Influence. Transformation. Using a digital response tool to actively engage meeting attendees, NEC Executive... Read More »

A well-crafted evaluation plan is intended to serve as a go-to resource — a roadmap — throughout the evaluation process. Presenting during the 2024 NNLM Showcase, National Evaluation Center (NEC) Executive Director Verónica Hoyo and NEC Associate Director Keith Herzog discussed approaches to developing effective evaluation plans. In the presentation, they provided a detailed description... Read More »