Tag Archives: Communications & Outreach

BIZZELL SUPPORTS NIDA IN THE LAUNCH OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING TOOLS TO HELP MANAGE OPIOID TREATMENT

BIZZELL SUPPORTS NIDA IN THE LAUNCH OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING TOOLS TO HELP MANAGE OPIOID TREATMENt

In conjunction with the National Institute on Drug Abuse-Clinical Trials Network (NIDA-CTN), Bizzell announces the availability of three educational videos for healthcare providers managing opioid use disorder (OUD). The first two videos are animations that discuss overdose prevention. The third video is an interactive tool used to educate healthcare providers on OUD in an emergency setting.

Video 1Overdose Prevention Education for Clinicians Treating Patients with Opioids for Chronic Pain  is an animated video that focuses on four key strategies: Reducing Risk for Development of OUD and Avoidance of Misuse, Identification of Risk Factors, Safety Planning, and Overdose Rescue Preparation.

Video 2: Overdose Prevention Education for Clinicians Treating Patients for an Opioid Use Disorder is an animated video that highlights three key strategies: Identifying Overdose Risk Factors, Developing a Safety Plan, and Overdose Rescue Preparation.

“These teachings are done in a simple, non-judgmental fashion offering the viewer clear and memorable points in assessing and managing opioid overdoses,” says Douglas L. Gourlay, M.D., MSc., FRCPC, FASAM, Former Director of the Pain and Chemical Dependency division of the Wasser Pain Management Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, a reviewer of the video.

Video  3:  Buprenorphine  Initiation   for   Opioid   Use   Disorders   in   Emergency Departments:Interactive Case Vignettes  is a branching video, which is an interactive educational tool. It allows participants to select a healthcare track which results in varying outcomes. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is providing Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit and access to the tool will require the creation of a free     ACEP account. Throughout the course, guidance is provided on the clinical management of OUD with a focus on screening, enlisting the patient’s input  into  their  treatment,  buprenorphine initiation, and referral to ongoing treatment.

After watching these videos, participants will be able to apply a patient-centered, shared decision-making approach while discussing the prevalence of overdose and the process of introducing buprenorphine in the ED for treatment of OUD. Participants will also be able to discuss chances for recovery as research suggests that patients are twice as likely to enter addiction treatment and remain in treatment at 30 days if medication is initiated in the ED.

The targeted audiences for the buprenorphine initiation video include: Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Residents, Medical Students, Physician Assistants, Emergency Department Medical Directors, Hospital Administrators, EMTs/Paramedics, and other healthcare providers engaged in the practice of emergency medicine.

“This branching video effectively and quickly walks users through the most high-yield information in the most engaging way possible. Providers around the country should see this video before their next shift caring for patients with opioid addiction,” says video reviewer, Alister Martin MD, MPP, Faculty – Center for Social Justice and Health Equity, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department.

All of the above mentioned videos were funded in part with federal funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Center for the Clinical Trials Network Dissemination Initiative (contract # HHSN271201700059C). The content for the videos was developed by researchers and experts and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. These training resources should not be considered as a substitute for individualized patient care and treatment decisions.

  • This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Emergency Physicians, NIDA, The Bizzell Group, and Modern Epic. The American College of Emergency Physicians is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • The  American College of Emergency Physicians designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate .with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • Approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 1 hour of ACEP Category I credit.

ABOUT THE BIZZELL GROUP

Established in 2010, The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm that specializes in program management, administrative support, communications and outreach, conference management and logistical support, health services and research, technical assistance, and training and development. Bizzell’s expert staff and consultants work on health, scientific, education, environmental, research, and information technology projects that advance national priorities. Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown from a staff of two in one small office, to a thriving firm with three offices in Lanham, MD, Rockville, MD, and Atlanta, GA, with ongoing projects around the world. Learn more about how we develop data- driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to complex-real-world challenges: www.thebizzellgroup.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (NIDA)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy, improve practice, and advance addiction science. Fact sheets on the health effects  of  drugs  and  information  on   NIDA  research  and   other   activities   can  be  found at www.drugabuse.gov, which is now compatible with your smartphone, iPad or tablet. To order publications in English or Spanish, call NIDA’s DrugPubs research dissemination center at 1-877- NIDA-NIH or 240-645-0228 (TDD) or email requests to drugpubs@nida.nih.gov. Online ordering is    available    at drugpubs.drugabuse.gov.     NIDA’s     media     guide     can     be     found   at www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/dear-journalist, and its easy-to-read website can be found at www.easyread.drugabuse.gov. You can follow NIDA on Twitter and Facebook.

BIZZELL SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF CMS NURSING HOME TOOLKIT TO COMBAT COVID-19

BIZZELL SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF CMS NURSING HOME TOOLKIT TO COMBAT COVID-19

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) supported the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the development and release of the Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes. The toolkit is designed to facilitate efforts to manage the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes, and includes strategies, best practices, and resources to assist long-term care facilities with disease control and prevention, gaining access to personal protective equipment (PPE), managing the transfer of patients, implementing protocols around visitation and staffing, and more.

Bizzell assisted CMS by facilitating the coordination, organization, design, editing, and 508 compliance remediation of the toolkit. Content for the toolkit was curated by a number of experts, including health care providers, Governors’ COVID-19 tasks forces, associations, community partners, and the 12 Quality Innovative Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs).

In addition to nursing homes, the toolkit was distributed to Governors, health departments, and other agencies and facilities that serve elderly populations at the local and state levels. Learn more about the toolkit here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-issues-nursing-homes-best-practices-toolkit-combat-covid-19

This work is in support of the CMS Data Validation and Administrative Contract (DVAC), in which Bizzell was selected to lead and evaluate the improvement of quality healthcare programsincluding nursing home care.

BIZZELL WINS FIVE HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH-RELATED CONTENT

BIZZELL WINS FIVE HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH-RELATED CONTENT

May 8, 2020 (Lanham, MD) – The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), one of the fastest growing companies in America according to Inc. Magazine and Washington Business Journal, has won five Hermes Creative Awards, including two Platinum awards, two Gold awards, and one Honorable Mention. Bizzell was recognized for visual communication and marketing projects designed to support federal agencies and corporate initiatives that tackle the most critical and consequential issues affecting our world such as Ebola, suicide, substance use disorders and healthcare quality improvement.

“At Bizzell, we integrate world-class strategy, design, and technology to accelerate our clients’ missions, transforming lives in the process,” said Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., President & CEO. “We take pride in delivering exceptional communication products and will continue to set monumental standards worth achieving. Thank you, Hermes, for this distinguished honor.”

The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals are an international competition for creative professionals and serve as a benchmark of excellence for communications. Winning companies and individuals are selected from over 200 categories grouped under advertising, publications, marketing, branding, integrated marketing, public relations/communications, electronic media, and training.   From the United States, there were about 6,000 entries in the 2020 competition.

Full list of Bizzell’s Hermes Creative Awards:

Platinum Awards:

Gold Awards:

Honorable Mention:

For a  full list of awards won by Bizzell, please visit our website at:  https://thebizzellgroup.com/awards/.

ABOUT THE BIZZELL GROUP

Established in 2010, The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified strategy, consulting, and technology firm that specializes in  communications, conference management, cybersecurity, data analytics, information technology, global development, project management, technical assistance, training, and more. Bizzell’s expert staff and consultants work on health, scientific, education, environmental, research, and information technology projects that advance national priorities. Under the leadership and vision of founder, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, the company has grown from a staff of two in one small office, to a thriving firm with four offices in Lanham, MD, Rockville, MD, Atlanta, GA and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with ongoing projects around the world. Learn more about how we develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to complex real-world challenges: www.thebizzellgroup.com.

ABOUT HERMES CREATIVE AWARDS

Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms.

Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing and communication programs. https://hermesawards.com/

People First: Personifying Bizzell’s Core Values Abroad

Lanham, MD— October 1, 2019— This month, The Bizzell Group is highlighting a team member who brings our values to life inside and outside of the workplace. Bryant Senghor, a graphic designer and photographer based at Bizzell HQ (Lanham, MD), supports various corporate and client projects by creating infographics, brochures, animations, posters, web banners, and more.

Not only does Bryant go above and beyond with his creative work, he’s also dedicated to making an impact on the world around him. Recently, Bryant spent his summer vacation volunteering on a mission trip to La Hacienda, Mexico where he helped provide health services and other necessities to community members. Q & A:

Tell us about your trip to La Hacienda. Who did you go with? What were all the ways that you and your team served the community?

My trip to La Hacienda was absolutely amazing!

I went with a group of 17 people from my church in Baltimore, MD through a service partnership with the local church in Mexico. We assisted during their youth spiritual summer camp program, where we taught classes, arts and crafts, and dancing. We served the children meals, donated school supplies, painted bathrooms, and shared in fellowship every day. Outside of the classroom, we tended to the grapefruit fields and dug trenches. We also delivered supplies, toiletries, and clothes to a newly constructed convenience store that one of our team members helped build on a previous mission trip.

One of the most impactful efforts was the health fair coordinated by our team, where we provided blood pressure readings, glucose level monitoring, eyesight testing, donated supplies to the community’s doctor, and more.

Let’s just say, we put a lot of sweat equity into all of the projects there… it was so much fun!

What sparked your interest in participating in a mission trip?

I decided to take part in a 10-day opportunity, alongside my wife and fellow church members, because I wanted to expand my cultural and social understanding of communities other than my own. This trip showed me that there is much more to other cultures than what’s portrayed in the media or what I’ve experienced at home. I’ve gained an entirely new perspective for the cultural differences.

I wanted to provide my service, as well as to build long-lasting connections with people outside my usual day-to-day life. The people of La Hacienda gave us unconditional love, warm embraces, and a bond that we will cherish forever.

What were some other health-related challenges affecting the community of La Hacienda?

We found that there are not enough vegetables in their diet and large amounts of salt and sugar are consumed, which contributes to health problems. Test results from the health fair showed high rates of diabetes and hypertension among adults and children as young as infancy to 5 years old. The local doctor said they went three months without hypertension medicine due to changes in the laws. Among social issues, there’s alcohol and drug abuse among teens because of the lack of constructive, safe outlets and activities. There seemed to be mild depression in some of the adults, which became evident during some of the spiritual sessions.

In what ways did the services you provided align with Bizzell’s mission/core values?

For me, adaptability was the first step to ensuring successful collaboration between our two groups. Once on their land, we became acclimated to the culture, everyday life, and their needs, beyond what meets the eye. The goal is for our service to be participatory and engaging, while purely reflecting the wants and needs of the community; putting the people first. My group is committed to introducing and ways to promote heritage, spirituality, health, education, and more.

How would you like to see Bizzell continue to drive its vision of healthy, secure and sustainable communities in our nation and around the world?

Bizzell does a great job at making sure the staff is well-rounded and abreast of trends and global issues through the work we do. I’m very thankful to work for an organization with shared values–allowing me to spend time pursuing my passions. I even received donations from Bizzell team members that I was able to take to La Hacienda. Hopefully, next year I can bring some colleagues along to volunteer with me or at other clinics in need across the globe. That’s what we’re all about… ensuring access to resources and quality of service for all.