Rapid HIV Testing in the Labor and Delivery Setting
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: GNYHA Conference Center,
555 West 57th Street, 15th Floor

GNYHA will be holding this briefing at the request of the New York State Department of Health (DOH). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new generation of rapid HIV tests, which provide test results within 20 to 40 minutes, and DOH is encouraging hospitals to utilize the tests in the labor and delivery setting. At the briefing, Guthrie S. Birkhead, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the DOH AIDS Institute, will provide an update on perinatal HIV transmission in New York State and will discuss the advantages of using rapid testing in the labor and delivery setting. Representatives from DOH will also discuss Wadsworth Center Laboratories' requirements for rapid testing in the labor and delivery setting and implementing rapid HIV testing in the labor and delivery setting. A representative of a GNYHA member will discuss improving prenatal HIV testing programs and HIV testing programs in the labor and delivery setting. For more information contact Doris R. Varlese, and to register contact Barbara Marino, at GNYHA.

EPA Hospital Inspection and Voluntary Audit Programs
Date: Monday, March 31, 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: GNYHA Conference Center,
555 West 57th Street, 15th Floor

This briefing is designed to educate members about the hospital compliance inspection and voluntary audit programs announced recently by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2. The program will feature the following speakers addressing both the inspection process and the EPA voluntary audit program: Loretta Greenholtz, Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health and Radiation at Columbia University; Susan Campbell, a partner at the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, LLP; and Adam Smyth, Senior Advisor at Triumvirate Environmental. For more information contact Susan Stuard, and to register contact Barbara Marino, at GNYHA.