FHOP Express Newsletter - November 2006

SPOTLIGHT

NEW Regional-Level Indicator Databooks

TRAINING-Save the Date!

Technical Assistance

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November 2006

Greetings!

SPOTLIGHT County Indicator Databooks

FHOP recently posted Databooks for Injury Hospitalizations (which includes motor vehicle accidents) and Mental Health Hospitalizations to its website. These spreadsheets contain data through 2003, broken down by age group and by race/ethnicity. Difference of slopes (trend test) are calculated and presented, as is a Difference of Rates test, to look at difference between state and local jurisdiction rates over a 12 year period. A document explaining the statistical methods used to develop the databook and how to interpret the tests is also available. Click here to access.

These files are password protected.

County Indicator Databooks

NEW Regional-Level Indicator Databooks Regional-level Indicator Databooks

FHOP has developed Databooks at the regional level for the Perinatal regions in California. These will allow you to compare your county data to data from your larger area as well as the state. Regional-level Databooks are available for Mental Health Hospitalizations, Infant and Youth Mortality, Fertility, and Injury Hospitalization indicators. They can be accessed from your county data pages using the same password you use to download your county files. Regional-level files for other indicators will be posted soon.

TRAINING-Save the Date! EpiHOSP 2.0

EpiHOSP 2.0 is tentatively scheduled for January 11, 2007.

EpiHOSP 2.0 is a one-day training designed for MCH staff to learn and practice EpiHOSP 2.0. EpiHOSP 2.0 is a Windows-based software program for use in analyzing hospital discharge data files provided to counties by FHOP. EpiHOSP 2.0 retains the essential functions of its predecessor, EpiHOSP, but the operation, look and feel are significantly different from the old version and users are strongly encouraged to participate in this training before attempting to use the software on their own. Only training participants will be able to access the full version of the software. Early Birds, Register NOW!

We are in the process of scheduling trainings for the new year. Check back on our website for updates. Any suggestions on Training Topics will be taken into consideration.

FHOP Training Schedule

Technical Assistance

Need help answering questions related to data sources and methods or the use of FHOP data products? Call FHOP and you will be referred to Jennifer Rienks, PhD, MS. Dr Rienks has been part of the FHOP team since 1996. She regularly conducts quantitative analyses and is experienced with SAS, SPSS, EpiInfo, EpiBC, EpiHosp and Microsoft Excel. She will be providing the types of technical assistance that Brianna Gass formerly provided. (Brianna recently left FHOP, relocating with her husband to Denver, Colorado.)

Dr. Rienks training is in social psychology and she has been involved in FHOP projects as a Research Director and analyst on several collaborative community-based prevention projects targeting groups at particularly high risk. Jennifer has also worked on projects addressing disparities in cancer and diabetes rates and is currently part of the team evaluating a San Francisco Department of Public Health CDC-funded grant to develop and implement strategies to eliminate disparities in infant mortality rates.

For technical assistance regarding data sources and tools, as well as assessment, planning and evaluation methods, please call the FHOP main telephone number (415) 476-5283, and your call will be directed to the appropriate person.