It is hard to believe that spring is almost here after a long winter in the Northeast with a record amount of 100 inches of snow! I for one am looking forward to warm weather and seeing all of you at the ACHA Meeting in Orlando, Florida, from May 26-30. Each year, the visions of this meeting keep me going through the spring semester. I’m especially excited to see my colleagues from all over the world and to learn about great topics in college health!

This year, our president, Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA, has selected a special focus on health equity for students by addressing the social determinants of health. The theme of the conference is “It’s a Small World.” We look at the world of college health and the increased diversity of our students and ask how we can best help them to be healthy and successful during their time at our colleges and universities and throughout their lives after they graduate. We know that health is essential to academic success and understand how important it is to look at the “whole” student and assist in development of the highest level of wellness.

Our sections have been busy in the past several months, conducting projects, trying new things at the 2014 Annual Meeting, and compiling resources for you! Here’s what they’ve been up to:

Administration: The ACHA Administration Section tried something new with the Hot Topics Session at the 2014 Annual Meeting. In the past, the Hot Topics session has been an open forum for discussion, often in groups, but there has been no over-arching topic. This year, the session began with a lecture-style presentation in the first half and then utilized the group format to allow participants to discuss, debate, and exchange ideas regarding the program topic.


Advanced Practice Clinicians: APC Section leaders recently complied members’ campus quality improvement initiatives and projects. The list is available on the APC Section homepage and can be used as a resource to help other college health professionals develop QI projects. This is an on-going project, and you are encouraged to share your own experiences with QI. Email [email protected] if you have something to share.


Clinical Medicine: Clinical Medicine Section members have recently put together a draft version of a clinical medicine competences document in response to a suggestion at the 2013 section meeting in Boston. Competencies include current medical knowledge, technical abilities, and clinical reasoning related to the topical areas identified. The most recent draft of the Clinical Medicine Section Core Competencies document [pdf], compiled by Brooke Durland, MD ([email protected]), is now available. Section members’ feedback is welcome! Please send feedback to Brooke Durland or Jessica Higgs ([email protected]).To view the document visit the Clinical Medicine Section homepage.

The Clinical Medicine Section also conducted a webinar, Update on Meningococcal Disease. The live webinar took place on April 16, 2014, with every available space occupied. The archived version is available on the ACHA website and continuing education is available.


Health Promotion: The Health Promotion Section conducted a webinar, Using Social Media: A Review and How to Evaluate It, in February 2014. The live webinar filled to capacity, and the archived version will be available until December 31, 2015. Continuing education is available; click the link above for more information.

In May of 2014 the Health Promotion Section released the Second Edition of the Guidelines for Hiring Health Promotion Professionals in Higher Education. These guidelines encourage colleges and universities to hire the most qualified staff for their health promotion positions. The Second Edition of the guidelines align with ACHA’s Standards of Practice for Health Promotion in Higher Education, as well as those from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) and Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).


Mental Health: Staying up to date with the Mental Health Section is easy with the Google® Group for College Mental Health Professionals. This group has been initiated to provide a place for college mental health professionals to communicate with others in their field to share, support, initiate, and expand ideas in a general forum. To register for the group, please click here.


Nurse-Directed Health Services: The Nurse-Directed Section conduced their first webinar Update on Anaphylaxis for College Health Clinicians in February 2014. The webinar is archived, and continuing education is available; click the link above for more information.

The Nurse-Directed Section has also compiled a standards of practice and policy and procedures database on the ACHA website. Click here to view the database. If you have something to share, contact Rachel Mack at [email protected].


Nursing Section: For the first time, the Nursing Section hosted a networking and discussion session at the 2014 Annual Meeting, and it was a huge hit! Nurses from all sections were invited to join their colleagues to talk about current issues and practices in the college health nursing field, splitting into groups to discuss one of four main discussion topics: clinical nursing; staffing, workflow, and personnel; college health nursing practice standards; and flu vaccine programs and other immunizations. This was an informal and flexible session, so participants could move from group to group.


Pharmacy: The Pharmacy Section covered how to hold a Drug Take Back Event in conjunction with the DEA at its Hot Topics: Pharmacy session (Session: TH3-302) in San Antonio. If you are interested in holding a Drug Take Back Day, the presentation is available on the ACHA website. Other topics the section touched upon at the meeting that section leaders hope to follow up on in the next year include smart pharmacy design, ways to combat outsourcing of pharmacy services, and development of strategic plans. 

The current outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (or Ebola Virus Disease, EVD) in West Africa moved to the forefront of American media attention following the medical evacuation of two ill Americans in early August. The sudden presence of patients with EVD in the United States raised a lot of concern among the general public about the risk of transmission. It also initiated new discussions in health care facilities regarding their preparedness for patients who could present with EVD. The oft-repeated reference to infectious diseases being “just one plane ride away” suddenly became very real.

But it’s not new. Providers in college health probably understand, and experience, the health risks associated with travel more than in most health care settings. Our population travels a lot – across the state, across the country, and around the world. Then they all return to their campuses en masse several times each year, sometimes sharing recently acquired microbes with their fellow students, faculty, and the community.

We should all be prepared to deal with the next big thing, including diseases exotic (chikungunya) or common (norovirus). If a student comes into your health center with a fever and reports recent travel to Africa, he or she is far more likely to have malaria than Ebola (and both have similar clinical presentations). But you’ll want to be able to respond effectively to either situation. There are some specific actions we can take now to prepare for what might show up this fall. 

Here are a few ideas:

• Every health center should have emergency preparedness plans in place that include infectious diseases as a contingency. A single case of MERS-CoV – or even measles – would likely trigger a public health emergency response. Dust off old plans and update them accordingly.

• Providers should incorporate a simple travel history question to be asked of all patients with acute febrile illness (“have you traveled outside the United States in the last two weeks?”) and know what to do when the answer is “yes.” Generally, patients who develop specific signs and symptoms within 10 days of travel should be evaluated for the illnesses associated with the countries from which they traveled. Persons potentially exposed to someone with Ebola need to monitor their health for up to 21 days. Detailed guidelines for screening and management based on country and disease are posted on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site. If you use an electronic health record, you can add screening questions to note templates or as provider prompts.

• Establish appropriate infection control policies and enforce them. If available in your health center, utilize negative pressure isolation exam rooms for any patient with a cough illness. Make sure staff are trained in using personal protective equipment, properly fitted with respirators, and current on recommended immunizations.

• Identify someone in your health center to monitor CDC guidance and provide situation updates to staff. Stay abreast of travel recommendations. Sign up for electronic communications from the CDC’s Health Alert Network or the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
  

• Build relationships and coalitions with your campus and community partners – student housing, study abroad programs, the international student office, student affairs, campus administration, public relations, plus local and state public health departments. Identify local experts and know who the point of contact is in your health department. Work with these partners to provide a consistent message to your students.
  

• Ensure your student population is highly immunized, with a special focus on international students. Recognize that many vaccine-preventable diseases – measles and pertussis in particular – are much more prevalent in other parts of the world. Develop the capacity to easily identify students at risk and consider sending targeted messages to them when needed. How quickly could you identify, notify, and potentially quarantine students susceptible to measles, should a case occur on your campus?
  

• If students are traveling abroad, both the U.S. State Department and the CDC provide country-specific advice regarding travel precautions. Keep your international study programs and students up to date with this information. It’s important to keep disease risk in perspective, though: motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and injury for students in study abroad programs, not infectious diseases.

Ebola Virus Disease is currently a global public health emergency and presents a potential risk for travelers returning to the U.S. from affected countries. The situation in West Africa is likely to get worse before it gets better. Similar risks exist for MERS-CoV, novel influenza H7N9 and H5N1, measles, and other infections around the world. An important strategy in response to such emerging disease threats is to apply a universal approach to surveillance, screening, and infection control. College health professionals should also focus on providing relevant and scientifically accurate information to students, parents, staff, and faculty. Be ready for whatever will come in the door next.

ACHA’s Emergency Planning Guidelines for Campus Health Services: An All-Hazards Approach
Travel Health Resources

Most of us are familiar with the infographic — a graphic, visual representation of information. Part of the appeal of infographics is the ease in which they impart data — the reader can quickly absorb complex information. Think of a weather map showing the day’s high and low temperatures or a map of subway lines.

Poster presentations fall along these same lines. They are a visually-based format through which to present detailed and complex research in a brief but easily understood way. The most effective posters use lots of images — graphs, charts, etc. — to deliver the message, while keeping text to a minimum.

Poster presentations are a unique way to engage an audience, serving as conversation starters and communicating your research to a large and diverse group of people. If you have conducted a research project and want to share your research methods and outcomes with other college health professionals, consider submitting a proposal for a poster presentation at ACHA’s 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, May 26-30.

Your poster will be affixed to a bulletin board that is 4 feet high by 8 feet wide and displayed Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29 (please note that these dates are subject to change). Attendees at the meeting will be able to browse posters, and there will be times set aside for poster presenters to discuss their research and answer questions from attendees. 

Thank you to all of you who have for registered for the ACHA 2014 Annual Meeting in San Antonio! We’d like to share with you some information that may be helpful during your time in San Antonio.

Please note that the Marriott Rivercenter (RC) is the host hotel; while most events will be held in the Rivercenter, some will be held just across the street in the Marriott Riverwalk Hotel (RW). All event locations are included in the Final Program.

Upon arrival, pick up your registration materials at the “Badge Pick-Up Booth,” located in the Rivercenter Third Floor Foyer. You’ll need your badge to attend sessions and other events at the meeting. Your materials will include:

• Final Program, including room locations and floor plans (Want a sneak preview? Download a copy of the same program you’ll receive on site here)
• Name badge and holder
• Any tickets you purchased (Awards and Fellows Celebration dinner, lunch vouchers, pre-conference workshops)
• ACHA raffle ticket (there will be tumbler in the Exhibit Hall for these starting on Thursday)
• Instructions for the Online CE and Session Evaluation process
• A lanyard for your badge holder
  

Onsite Registration Hours:

Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28:  7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday, May 29: 7:00 AM – 3:45 PM

Friday, May 30: 7:00 AM – 4:45 PM

Saturday, June 1: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM


If you are interested looking for ways to get involved in ACHA or find ways to collaborate with other in college health, consider attending these meetings:

• Section Meetings (12:00 PM – 1:15 PM, Wednesday, May 28): Connect with colleagues within your area of expertise. There are nine different sections, categorized by discipline. Learn about current section projects and plans for the future.
  

• Affiliate Meetings (12:00 PM – 1:15 PM, Thursday, May 29): Meet with other attendees from your region! ACHA regional affiliates help members forge strong partnerships with colleagues on the state or regional level.
  

• Committee/Coalition/Task Force Meetings (see Final Program for dates/times): ACHA's committees, task forces, and coalitions address a diverse range of exciting issues pertinent both to ACHA and to the health of college students. Your thoughts on pressing college health issues are always welcome, so come and share them with us!
  

Want to meet other attendees? Come to the Diversity Reception on Wednesday, May 28 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the RW-River Terrace! Enjoy appetizers while networking with your colleagues at this reception co-hosted by the Coalition of Allies for LGBT Health and the Ethnic Diversity Coalition. We’re planning a fun and informal atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy getting to know your colleagues!

Online CE and Session Evaluations: Following the meeting we’ll email you a link to the Online CE and Session Evaluation site. You’ll need to indicate the type of credit you’re requesting and evaluate each session you attended. Once completed, you’ll be able to print your CE certificate. Detailed instructions will be included in your meeting materials.

Poster Sessions: Spend some time between general sessions learning about the innovative research and programs being conducted around the country. Poster presenters will be available to answer questions, share handouts, and provide contact information. We think you'll enjoy checking out these informal, graphics-based presentations!

Is this your first time attending the annual meeting, or are you a new member of ACHA? If so, please plan to attend the Newcomer’s Orientation on Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM, in RW-Salons A-C. At the orientation you’ll learn about ACHA’s programs and services and how to get the most from the annual meeting. You’ll also meet ACHA’s officers and other colleagues. Section chairs will be available to introduce activities within your specialty. We'll be giving away prizes to a few lucky attendees!

Also of note are these featured events.

Don't forget to check out these programming updates! Updates include session cancellations and room changes as well as the addition of a new session, The White House Task Force to Protect Students Against Sexual Assault: Its Impact on College Health Services.

A few other things to know before you come:

• Check out abstracts of the sessions and posters before you arrive: Workshop and General Session Abstracts [pdf] and Poster Abstracts [pdf]

• We are hosting several free wellness events, including yoga and line dancing and Zumba classes, to keep our attendees feeling their best! Wellness events are listed here and in the Final Program.

• Convention hotels like the Marriott tend to be on the chilly side, so please pack a sweater.

• Cash concessions will be available Wednesday-Friday from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (in the Second Floor Atrium on Wednesday and Thursday and in the Exhibit Hall on Friday). If you purchased lunch vouchers they will be provided in your registration packet. Lots of other dining options are located in and around the hotel.

• If you are attending the Dorosin Memorial Lecture on Friday, May 30 at 12:00 pm, please feel free to bring your lunch with you! The lecture will be held in the Riverwalk Hotel – Alamo Ballroom. Cash concessions are available in the Rivercenter in the Exhibit Hall.

• Friday is School Spirit Day – wear something with your institution’s name, colors, or logo!

• Visit the resource tables located in the Meeting Registration Area for literature, posters, or extra speaker handouts. Items on the table are free for the taking.

• Visit the message boards in the Meeting Registration Area for employment opportunities, messages left by/for other attendees, and information on section socials.

We encourage you to download the ACHA 2014 Meeting App. Most of the information included in the Final Program is included in the app, and with the app you'll receive notifications about any sessions changes, have the ability to message other app users, create an agenda with notifications, and more!

We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!

ACHA announces the availability of a completely redesigned mobile app for the 2014 Annual Meeting. Follow these simple steps in order to take full advantage of the new features, including messaging, interactive maps, custom scheduling, and more!

1. Scan the QR code, visit ddut.ch/ACHA2014, or go to the app store and search ACHA 2014.

2. Create your profile. Enter your email address, name, title, and institution to create your profile. This will allow other app users to find and connect with you. You also have the option to upload a picture for your profile.

3. Adjust your settings. For Apple users: from your profile, click the gear wheel and choose settings. For Android users:  from your profile, click your app settings (either in the top right corner or on the bottom near the home button) and choose settings. From here you can turn on private messaging*, push notifications, and adjust other settings.

4. Build your own custom schedule through the Agenda tab on the app menu. Bookmarked sessions will appear in your personal agenda. 

5. Connect with other attendees. You can find other attendees on the app using the App Users menu item. If you are looking for an attendee who has chosen not to use the app, you can find them under the Full Attendee List**. 

6. Post updates and photos and check-in to sessions to earn points and badges. Users with the most points will be displayed on the Leaderboard, while badges can be found in your attendee profile. 

Some areas of the app are still being uploaded with final conference content, so if you don't find what you're looking for, check back soon!

*If you enable private messaging, you are allowing all other app users (including exhibitors) to send you a message via the email address you entered when you created your profile. However, they will not be able to see your email address unless you choose to respond. 

**The Full Attendee List does not provide any contact information and not all attendees will be currently using the mobile app. For an up-to-date list of app users, see the App Users menu item.

At this year’s Annual Meeting, we’re offering a variety of activities designed to enhance your sense of well-being. These activities provide a chance to challenge your physical and emotional self in the same way you stretch your intellectual muscles during educational sessions.

So take a break from classroom learning and don’t be afraid to try something new!


Line Dancing

Tuesday, May 27
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Thursday, May 29
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Room: RC — 2nd Floor Atrium

Learn some fun and simple line dance moves in this beginner’s level class! Line dancing is a great way to exercise both your body and your mind, all while improving your coordination. You don’t need a partner, and there is a style for everyone in this class! Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes. Towels will be provided.
 

Walk Your Way to Fitness — in Fifteen Minutes!


Thursday, May 29
9:30 am – 10:00 am
3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

Friday, May 30
9:30 am – 10:00 am
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

Even the busiest person can achieve fitness! This brief and fun walking workout will reenergize you between sessions, so join your colleagues and stretch out those leg muscles.

 

Seated Chair Massage

Thursday, May 29
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Friday, May 30
11:30 am – 3:30 pm

Room: RC — Grand Ballroom (Exhibit Hall)

An on-site professional masseuse will administer this highly effective technique that provides an immediate sense of tranquility. Chair massage helps decrease stress symptoms, fatigue, muscle tightness, and tension in the neck, arms, and shoulders. (First come, first served.)



Sunrise Yoga

Thursday, May 29
6:00 am – 7:00 am

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

Yoga can help improve balance, strength, and flexibility and reduce stress and tension. This basic yoga class is suitable for all levels. The instructor will show modifications for poses as needed. Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring your yoga mat if you have one. Towels will be provided.
 

Boot Camp for All Levels

Friday, May 30
6:00 am – 7:00 am

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

This class combines cardio, strength, and agility training in one fun workout! Suitable for all levels, this workout is great for those looking to break a sweat and start the day off right. Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes, and bring your yoga mat if you have one. Towels will be provided.

 

Zumba®

Friday, May 30
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Room: RC — 2nd Floor Atrium

Ditch the workout and join this Latin inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness party! Come check out the Zumba® phenomenon that’s moving millions of people towards joy and heath! Participants should dress for exercise and have comfortable shoes. All fitness levels are welcome. Towels will be provided.

The American College Health Association’s Sexual Health and Clinical Care Coalition (SHECCC) wants to provide you with an update on what has been going on and what you can expect in the future for the GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign.

This April, we shifted our efforts to promote GYT through the fall 2014 back-to-school campaign. However, you may still download GYT supplies, including posters, flyers, and handouts, here. Physical toolkits with pre-printed materials will not be available this year since the GYT campaign is focusing on back-to-school branding, and will we be collecting any GYT data from you as we have in the past. We hope this does not inconvenience you and your plans for the spring, but we are diligently working on a large boost in the fall with new branding.

If your college or university has been considering implementing GYT on campus, there is now peer-reviewed evidence published in the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases to support the campaign’s efficacy. The article, entitled An Assessment of the GYT: Get Yourself Tested Campaign: An Integrated Approach to Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Communication, is an evaluation of campaign efforts from 2009-2010 and shows promising evidence that the campaign has the ability to reach youth, prompt dialogue about sexual health and testing, and increase STI testing at select testing locations across the country. This evidence can assist colleges and universities in need of administrative buy-in to support implementation of the GYT campaign. Findings specific to GYT college implementation should be published in Cases in Public Health Communication and Marketing later this year. 

Results from the 2012 ACHA Pap Test and STI Survey show a continued increase in GYT campaign participation among colleges since 2009. Participation in the GYT campaign resulted in a significant increase in STI testing during the month of April among those schools who promoted this campaign. 

Also, be sure to check out the archived Bringing GYT to Your Campus webinars (Webinar 1 and Webinar 2) where college health professionals discuss easy steps for successfully implementing the GYT campaign on their campuses and share their lessons learned. ACHA is offering 1.0 CHES continuing education credit for these webinars. Credit will be given for either Part 1 or Part 2 but not for both webinars. If you receive credit for Part 1 you are not eligible for additional credit for Part 2. Click here for more information. 

The 2014 Annual Meeting is quickly approaching! We hope you are as excited as we are for five days jam-packed with meeting events, but we hope you are equally looking forward to exploring the vibrant city of San Antonio. One of the great things about San Antonio is there truly is something for everyone. Whether you are a historian, foodie, artist, or shopper, you won’t run out of things to do. With all these choices it may be overwhelming, so ACHA has put together a page on the Annual Meeting website with some travel resources to get you started. 

One noteworthy resource is the San Antonio Vacation Experience (SAVE) Coupon Book which provides discounts for some of San Antonio’s most popular attractions. These coupons include discounts for Six Flags FiestaTexas, helicopter rides, Alamo Imax, and various sightseeing tours. The book also has discounts for museum, zoo, and rodeo admissions. There’s something for everyone so be sure to check it out! You can download and print the coupon book or access these deals through the San Antonio SAVE Mobile App.

Another great resource is the “Show Us Your Badge” offers provided by the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here you’ll find a list of restaurants – many within walking distance from the conference hotels – which are providing discounts or special offers to anyone who shows up with their conference ID. Participating restaurants offer a range of selections from authentic Mexican/Tex-Mex to seafood, from steakhouse favorites to sushi. 

The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau also has a lot of great resources on their website. They have attractions grouped into categories so guests can explore lots of options all at once based on their interests. One section that is particularly fascinating is Be A Local, where a diverse group of people who call San Antonio home share what they love about this city. It’s definitely worth checking out for yourself!

Have you not yet registered for the 2014 Annual Meeting? There’s still time! Pre-registration ends May 9, 2014, and full details are available on the Annual Meeting website. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.