Hanford Health Information Network

[Margo Harris]

It's has been my pleasure to come in to contact with the Hanford Health
Information Network (HHIN) recently.  This is an "opportunity" for me to
share information with you, as well as ask for some advice!
	HHIN has been working for a number of years developing and disseminating
high quality information about radiation health effects.  The network is a
unique collaboration among three states (WA, ID, OR) and nine Indian
Nations.  Health information is available to people who were or may have
been exposed to radiation from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and to their
health care providers.  HHIN is now reaching out nationally to share this
information beyond the three state area, and I need suggestions of key
organizations, providers, citizen groups to contact.  Both "traditional"
print placements in newsletters are of interest, as well as key electronic
placements, as I spend the next two months working to raise awareness of
the HHIN project and increase requests for its resources.
	HHIN is health information resource rich!  Actually that's quite an
understatement.  I encourage you to visit the Hanford
website--http://www.doh.wa.gov/hanford/
	Key services offered by HHIN include:
1.  Toll-free information referral lines in each state plus the Tribal
Service Program
	In Idaho - 800/793-6113
	In Oregon - 800/248-4446
	In Washington - 800/522-4446
	For other states - 800/959-7660
	Tribal Service Program - 800/798-0796
2.  Educational materials - request a publications order form, including
one very helpful publication, "Health Bulletin: Radioactive Materials
Released from Hanford, 1944-1972" designed for concerned patients to share
with their health care provider(s).  A number of the "basic" or more
frequently requested HHIN publications are available on line.
3.  HHIN Home page - offers educational publications and resource
information on line - http://www.doh.wa.gov/hanford/
4.   Public presentations offered by Network Service/Information Centers
5.  The Hanford Health Information Archives collects, preserves and makes
available to the public the personal records and health information
contributed by Hanford downwinders, area residents who lived and worked
"downwind" of Hanford and were exposed to radiation releases.  More
information donors are needed and can contact the Hanford Health
Information Archives directly at 800/799-4442.  The Archives has it's own
email - hhia at foley.gonzaga.edu and it's own Home Page:
http://www.foley.gonzaga.edu/hhiahome.html
6.  A self-study guide for health care providers focused on downwinder
concerns, radiation released from Hanford and the health effects of
radiation.  For information on the Radiation Health Effects Monograph, call
toll-free 800/677-4799 or write: MedEd Publications, 1001 Broadway, Suite
100, Seattle, WA 98122.  The monograph is approved for CME credit, and may
also be granted CEU credit for interested nurses.
	There is increasing scientific evidence about the health effects of
radiation exposure, especially exposure to iodine-131.  NCI recently
released the results of a nationwide study of radioactive fallout from
atmospheric nuclear bomb tests carried out at the Nevada Test Site in the
1950s and 1960s--visit
http://rex.nci.nih.gov/massmedia/pressreleases/radioactivefallout.html 
More research will be completed and announced from NCI and other health
organizations in the future.  The HHIN Web Page will be updated as new
research results become available.
	I think one of the great strengths of health educators is their ability to
identify and share information.  I appreciate any help you can suggest
about strategies to disseminate the above information about HHIN, and I
encourage you to forward this information to interested colleagues and, of
course, make use of it yourself!  Thanks.  Margo

Margo Harris
Harris Training & Consulting Services, Inc.
Email:  htcs at halcyon.com
Internet:  http://www.htcs.com/