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ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2005 

NEWS2USE

OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES

PERIMETER SECURITY PROGRAM IN PLACE

ORS WEBSITE RECEIVES HIGH

MARKS FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

ORS RESPONDS TO KATRINA

STOP PAYIN’ AT THE PUMP!

TRANSPORTATION AWARD

FOR ADVISORY RADIO SYSTEM

LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY FEATURES

Q&A WITH DONNY BLISS,

NIH MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR

NIH’S MAD HATTER

RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

STREET SAFETY ADVICE

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PILOT

PROGRAM BENEFITS NIH EMPLOYEES

NEWS2USE ON EXTENDED LEAVE

THEN AND NOW:TRANSHARE AT THE NIH

PERIMETER SECURITY

PROGRAM IN PLACE

On August 29, the Perimeter Security System at the

NIH became operational.As a result, screenings at

campus entry points, instead of at each building, is

giving us what we anticipated: an open atmosphere

within the campus.

Everyone involved in the planning and

implementation wants to thank the NIH community

for their cooperation and acceptance of this system –

helping make our campus a safer place.

We hope the smooth transition resulted in

part from: the advance publicity and education 

communicated over several months prior to the start

date; the customer service training of personnel on

the front lines; and, the enthusiastic welcome crew

that extended a human touch on August 29 and 30.

The entire process has taken a year and a

half from design to implementation.The Office of

Research Services worked closely with the NIH

Community Advisory Board for Security to develop,

review and test procedures for employees, patients

and visitors. Going forward, the ORS Security and

Emergency Response staff will monitor traffic flow

and will make adjustments as needed.

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We are still listening, and will

always be receptive to concerns and

welcome comments as we make

adjustments to an evolving system.

For example, the pedestrian employee

portal near the National Library of

Medicine draws more traffic than we

expected, and we are improving

capacity in that location.

We value reports from constituents such as the child care 

community, bicyclists, neighborhood

residents, and vendors of critical 

services and supplies. Of course, any

changes will be balanced with 

security requirements.

Again,thank you for your support.

INFORMATION

Security and Emergency Response

301-496-6893

www.security.nih.gov

ORS WEBSITE RECEIVES

HIGH MARKS FOR

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

The ORS website continues to 

perform well in its first ever annual

customer satisfaction review sponsored by the American Customer

Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

For the third quarter of 2005,

the ORS had an overall satisfaction

score of 76 (out of 100) in the

Information/News category, well

above the average of 73.5 for 

government websites.This placed

the ORS just below the National

Library of Medicine’s TOXNET site

and just above the Department of

Health and Human Services’ (HHS)

Agency for Healthcare Research and

Quality website.

The NIH as a whole continues

to lead all government websites

when taking into account the 

highest average score for all 21 NIH

websites.The 23 HHS websites

(including NIH sites) had an average

score of 77.4 for the third quarter,

according to Govexec.com.As a

comparison, the cumulative average

score for nongovernment websites

averaged out to 73.1 in the quarter

according to Govexec.com.

ACSI satisfaction scores are

based on a 100-point scale and are

calculated through a sophisticated

formula based on surveys of site

users that measure the impact of

increasing customer satisfaction on

future consumer behavior, such as

likelihood to return to the website

and recommending it to others,

according to ACSI.

"E-Government has been 

making incremental improvements

on a consistent basis, and over time

these incremental improvements

continue to add up," said Larry

Freed, president and CEO of

ForeSee Results and author of the

overall report. "Online government

is nearly keeping pace with the 

private sector, but government is

doing it with much more limited

resources."

Established in 1994,ACSI is

the industry standard performance

measurement of government and

nongovernment websites compiled

by the National Quality Research

Council at the University of

Michigan Business School.

The ACSI is the only uniform,

national, cross industry measure of

satisfaction with the quality of goods

and services available in the United

States. Over 55 Federal government

agencies have used the ACSI to

measure citizen satisfaction of more

than 110 services and programs.

The ORS website can be

found at: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov

INFORMATION

Brad Moss

ORS Communications Officer

301-402-1661

ORS RESPONDS

TO KATRINA

The ORS was quick to respond to

the people of the Gulf Coast. On

September 4, the ORS deployed an

advance team to support NIH medical

staff assigned to create a field hospital

at Key Field on the Air National

Guard Base in Meridian, Mississippi.

Although our resources were not

utilized in Meridian to the extent we

had hoped, we are proud of the following people who did not hesitate to

rush south.These individuals included:

Major Ophus Robertson,

Division of Police (DP)

Lt. Chris Mattingly,

Division of Fire and Rescue Services

Cpl.Alexander Negretti (DP)

Sgt. Fredric Boyle (DP)

Cpl.Wallace Carter (DP)

Cpl. Gary Pickering (DP)

Cpl. Dexter Moore (DP)

Cpl.Thomas Cioffi Sr. (DP)

MPO James Pineiro (DP)

MPO Craig Rowland (DP)

MPO Herman Bartz III (DP)

Lt. James Skyrm (DP)

On September 16, the ORS sent

11 volunteers to Gulfport, MS to provide security for a mobile field hospital

operated by the U.S. Public Health

Service.The hospital,set up in a parking

lot, provides free medical treatment for

the general public during the aftermath

of Hurricane Katrina.

With local law enforcement

resources strained, NIH police officers

provide security for medical personnel, pharmaceuticals and hospital and

personal property. Each patient and

visitor is screened before entering

the hospital.

Each NIH officer was ‘deputized’

as a special U.S. Marshal by the U.S.

Marshal’s Service for the specific

purpose of providing protection

during hurricane relief efforts.The

need for security at the hospital has

been obvious. Since the hospital

opened, the police have confiscated

over 400 weapons including handguns, a stun gun, mace, knives and

other edged weapons.In one day alone,

the NIH police officers confiscated over 

NEWS2USE
4

30 weapons.The weapon is returned

once the patient or visitor leaves.

As of October 11, the hospital

staff has seen over 2,200 patients.

The NIH continues to provide a

staff of 10 officers after the initial

deployment, with officers sleeping

on site at the hospital and working

in shifts.At the time of publication,

the hospital was expected to close by

the end of October.

The NIH officers who 

volunteered and served in Gulfport

include:

Maj. Ophus Robertson

Cpl.Thomas Cioffi, Sr.

Cpl. Dexter Moore

Cpl. Gary Pickering

Cpl. Randall Wallace

MPO Craig Rowland

Lt. James Skyrm

Sgt. Frederic Boyle

MPO Herman Bartz III

MPO James Pineiro

Lt. Paul Crook

Sgt. Richard Hawkins

MPO Preston Asbury

MPO William Horn

Cpl.Alexander Negretti

Officer Brian Sims

INFORMATION

Security and Emergency Response

301-496-6893

www.security.nih.gov

STOP PAYIN’ AT THE PUMP!

Are recent gasoline prices beginning

to take a toll on your wallet? Take

control by checking out the following transportation options. They

could save you hundreds each

month.

NIH TRANSHARE PROGRAM

The NIH Transhare Program 

provides up to $105.00 a month if

you commute to work by public

transportation or a vanpool. This

subsidy is available to qualified NIH

employees who are willing to 

surrender their NIH Parking Permits

and their FASCARD parking 

privileges at off-campus facilities.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE NIH

TRANSHARE PROGRAM?

NIH employees registering for this

program must bring the following to

the NIH Parking Office, Building

31, Room B3B04:

÷ NIH ID

÷ NIH Parking Hanger (if applicable)

÷ Completed NIH Forms 2705-1

“NIH Transhare Program

Application” and 2831-1 “Transhare

Commuting Cost Declaration.”

These forms are available at

http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/transhare.htm.

WHERE DO I RECEIVE MY 

NIH TRANSHARE SUBSIDY?

Distribution of Metrocheks will 

take place at the R&W Stores in

Buildings 31, B1W30 and Executive

Plaza South, Room 150C. The

R&W store located in Building 31

is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

The Executive Plaza store is open

from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. You

will also need to bring your NIH

ID with you when you pick up your

Metrocheks.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO

DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK?

The NIH Transhare Policy and

Procedure allows Transhare participants to receive a temporary one-day

parking permit from the NIH

Parking Office, Building 31/B3B04.

Off campus participants may obtain

a one-day validation sticker for

parking from their Facility Manager

or IC representative. Temporary

permits/stickers will be available to

each Transhare participant not to

exceed 6 days per quarter, or 24 days

per calendar year.

WHAT IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN

MYWORK SCHEDULE DUE TO AN

UNEXPECTED PERSONAL 

EMERGENCY OR OVERTIME?

“Commuter Connections”

Guaranteed Ride (GHR) provides

commuters who regularly vanpool,

carpool, bike, walk, or take transit to

work with a reliable ride home when

one of life’s unexpected emergencies

arises. Commuters will be able to

use GHR up to four times per year.

Best of all, the ride is FREE. To

begin receiving GHR benefits, you

can apply over the Internet at

www.commuterconnections.org.

You can obtain complete

“NIH Transhare Program – Policies

and Procedures” information at

http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/transhare.htm.

Please read this document prior to

enrolling in the program.

ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2005 

Members of the NIH Police deployed to the Air National Guard Base 

(Key Field) in Meridian, MS.
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NEWS2USE

Please visit the Office of

Research Services, Division of Travel

and Transportation Services website

at http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/index.htm.

If you have additional questions

concerning the NIH Transhare

Program or Commuter Connections,

please call 301-402-RIDE.

INFORMATION

Division of Travel and Transportation

Services

301-402-RIDE 

TRANSPORTATION

AWARD FOR ADVISORY

RADIO SYSTEM

The award for Achievement in

Public Service was given to the

Division of Travel and Transportation

Services (DTTS) at the 19th Annual

Montgomery County Transportation

Awards ceremony held in Rockville,

Maryland.The Transportation Award

recognizes employers who provide

employees with new and innovative

ways to commute to work or 

provide ‘out of the box’ ideas for

motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

In previous years, the NIH has

been recognized for carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling and Transhare initiatives.This year, the committee was

impressed with the Highway

Advisory Radio System (HARS),

implemented after September 11.

This system is designed to assist

employees, contractors, visitors and

guests in finding their way through

the campus and is also used to alert

motorists of special events. Most

recently, the system was heavily used

when the Perimeter Security Fence

was activated.

In the event of a campus 

or regional emergency, the HARS

system can be rapidly updated to

provide information on such issues

as localized or regional evacuations

or information on safe locations on

campus until the event has been

resolved.

The HARS system also has

two other components that are

deployed during events. Flashing

beacon lights are placed at key travel

points to alert motorists that there is

an event occurring and to tune into

a radio station.The second component is the mobile electronic message units where brief advisory messages are displayed.These mobile

units assist with moving traffic

through the area or offer alternative

routes with less congestion.

HARS is located on AM1660

and on the DTTS home page,

where information relating to traffic,

parking, road closures, special events

and emergencies are broadcast either

pre-recorded or live.A unique feature of the system since its original

design is that in addition to listening

to the radio, employees may also

tune in through their office computer terminal at the following web

link:

AM1660

http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/index.htm.

Click on the Highway Advisory Radio

icon 

INFORMATION

Division of Travel and Transportation

Services

301-402-8981

LABORATORY FIRE

SAFETY FEATURES

Almost daily at the NIH, one can

walk through any of the laboratory

buildings and find a research laboratory under renovation. Cosmetic

features such as new cabinets,

counter tops, lighting and paint are

easy to spot.

What often goes unnoticed,

however, are the fire-safety features

which are provided as a part of the

same renovation project.The following describes some of the common

fire safety features which may be

present in your laboratory and how

they afford protection to you and to

your research materials should a fire

emergency occur.

FIRE DOORS

The corridor door which is used to

enter the laboratory is a “fire door.”

It is equipped with a closing mechanism and hardware that latches.

Some fire doors have a vision panel

of wired glass. Fire doors are

designed to remain in the closed

position at all times. Should a fire

occur in a laboratory, a closed corridor fire door will help contain the

fire and smoke to the laboratory and

will allow you and your co-workers

to exit the area safely.

FLAMMABLE LIQUID STORAGE

CABINETS

In all laboratory renovations, at least

one flammable liquid storage cabinet

is provided in each laboratory work

area.Additional cabinets can be

added to accommodate larger quantities of flammables that may be used

in the laboratory.These cabinets are

typically constructed of heavy gauge

steel, labeled or identified as flammable liquid storage cabinets, designed

with a raised sill to contain any spills

within the cabinet and have a threepoint latch to keep the doors to the

cabinet closed.
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AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS

In new NIH buildings,all laboratories

are provided with automatic sprinklers.

Older laboratory buildings are being

retrofitted with sprinklers as renovations occur. Sprinkler system piping

is either painted red or has red

bands. If a fire emergency occurs in

the laboratory, only the individual

sprinkler heads, which reach their

activation temperature (typically

between 135 and 165 degrees

Fahrenheit), will deliver water to the

fire. When a sprinkler head activates,

the NIH Fire Department is notified

through the building fire alarm system

that a “sprinkler water flow” is

occurring. In the past year, laboratory

fires have occurred in NIH buildings

with complete sprinkler systems and

were controlled by one or two

sprinkler heads. Property damage

was minimal and research activities

resumed the following day.

To make sure the sprinklers are

able to operate effectively in a fire

emergency, it is important to keep all

items at least 18 inches below them

to allow proper water distribution.

HEAT DETECTORS

Heat detectors are small, round,

ceiling-mounted devices that detect

either rapid temperature increases or

sustained high temperatures in the

laboratory. Should one of these two

conditions occur, the NIH Fire

Department will be notified through

the building fire alarm system that a

potential fire emergency is in

progress.

Only laboratories which do

not have automatic sprinkler protection are provided with heat detectors. Through renovations, all heat

detectors will eventually be replaced

with automatic sprinklers, which act

as heat detectors and deliver water

to control or extinguish a fire before

it has a chance to grow and cause

more damage.

INFORMATION

Division of the Fire Marshal

301-496-0487

Q&A WITH DONNY BLISS

NIH MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR 

This month, the award-winning

Donny Bliss moves from his role as

Acting Design Section Chief at the

Division of Medical and Printing

Services (DMAPS) to the National

Library of Medicine. In recognition

of the medical arts staff that produce

amazing work for the NIH, and of

Mr. Bliss’ service to Medical Arts, we

posed some questions to him and

share his replies.

Q: What work are you 

most proud of? 

A: I love the cutting edge science

I've worked on. Especially when the

scientists ask me not to tell anyone

about this work because he or she is

trying to beat some other team to

publication. I love helping the 

scientists' teams win journal covers

with a powerful illustration; a cover

means more recognition for them

and NIH. I love working so close

with the scientist that I'm actually

contributing to the research; I've

been made a co-author on more

that one occasion.

Q: What advances in medical

research have most fascinated you?

A: I've animated entry of the nonpathologic HIV virus into the cell,

which was discovered by an NIH

scientist.This previously unknown

pathway could be a key towards a

vaccine that would effectively eliminate HIV and HIV-infected cells in

the body. I'd like to think that an

effective visual like this animation

might help create awareness, support

and funding for further research

towards such a vaccine.

Molecular biology is the field

of medicine I'm most fascinated

with now. It has expanded in the

years since I graduated. Casio Lynn,

ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2005 

Donny Bliss, Medical Illustrator

Old vs. new neurons
NEWS2USE

a fellow medical illustrator, called

molecular biology ‘the new anatomy’ and I think he's going to be

proven right.

Q: What would you like DMAPS’

customers to know?

A: I believe that effective visuals

that communicate the message

should be a core part of every

NIH press release or journal

article. It's easy to forget that most people

across the country

and world don't even

know what NIH is,

even though the

research done here

affects their daily

lives. So much of the

groundbreaking science that leaves this

campus is accompanied

by crude PowerPoint

diagrams painstakingly

pieced together by a 

scientist.The experts in Medical

Arts should be involved to ensure

the message from NIH is being presented in a consistent, professional

manner.

Q: What are you most looking 

forward to at the National Library of

Medicine?

A: I look forward to longer-term

research projects that will allow me

to investigate new software, science

and multimedia issues.The rigorous

daily workflow in Medical Arts

doesn't allow much time for

research.

Q: What got you interested in 

medical illustration as a career?

A: I always liked to draw growing

up. In college I took art classes just

for fun, squeezing them in between

the science classes of my pre-medical

curriculum. I liked biology and worried that I couldn't make a living

with a career in art. I was studying

in the biology department when I

saw a “What Can You Do with a

Biology Degree” poster; medical

illustration was listed. I'd never heard

of the field but immediately recognized it was a perfect fit. I found a

dusty Association of Medical

Illustrators pamphlet in the career

office and read about the field

and the schools.The

next day I

dropped my

chemistry

minor and

determined what

classes I'd need to

get an art minor and

prepared my application

to graduate school.

Q: What advice would you have for

a student interested in this type of

work?

A: Ask yourself if you are really

interested in both the science and

art; if it’s just one or the other, you

won't make it.You have to be committed to a career of constant learning and have a drive to improve

your art as well as your knowledge

of science.

INFORMATION

Lemuel Canady

Division of Medical Arts and Printing

Services

301-496-2868

Antigen – presenting

Ear and Cochlea

Hair cell
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ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2005 

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NIH’S MAD HATTER

RECEIVES NATIONAL

AWARD

The Division of Environmental

Protection’s Ed Rau received the

American Chemical Society's

Howard Fawcett Award for 

outstanding contributions to the 

science, technology, education and

communication of chemical health

and safety.

The award was presented on

August 28, for conceiving and

implementing the “Mad as a Hatter?

Campaign for a Mercury Free

NIH,” the first pollution prevention

initiative covering all NIH facilities

in the United States. Rau shares the

honor with many people who 

participated in campaign activities.

The Division of Environmental

Protection is part of the Office of

Research Facilities Development and

Operations.

INFORMATION

Ed Rau

301-496-7775

STREET SAFETY ADVICE

Common sense goes a long way

when you are walking, biking or

jogging.These basic tips can help

keep you safe as a pedestrian:

■ Walk confidently. Criminals 

prefer an ‘easy target.’

■ Pick well-lit, busy routes.

Preferably, avoid night excursions.

■ Be accompanied by a friend,

or bring a dog with you if possible

■ Trust your instincts. If you 

feel uncomfortable about a place 

or situation, leave.

■ Use your cell phone. Call the

police about any suspicious activity.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

■ Don’t wear expensive 

jewelry or clothing

■ Don’t be predictable.

Vary your schedule.

■ Don’t take shortcuts through

wooded areas, alleys or parking lots

■ Don’t wear clothing (including

shoes) that restrict your movement

INFORMATION 

Division of Police

301-496-2387

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

PILOT PROGRAM BENEFITS

NIH EMPLOYEES

A new NIH program is off to a

“running start,” providing a much

needed child care resource to 

eligible NIH employees.

The NIH Child Care Pilot

Program, launched in June 2005,

has served 47 children of 40 NIH

employees who qualify for tuition

assistance at licensed child care 

centers.These numbers represent

employees from almost every

Institute and Center and children

from infants through school age.

Depending on total household

income and cost of licensed child

care, employees may be eligible to

receive tuition reimbursement up to

50% of their monthly costs.

If you need help paying for

child care, investigate your options

by visiting the website or calling the

number listed below for details.

INFORMATION

Division of Employee Services

301-402-8180

http://does.ors.od.nih.gov/childcare/ 
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NEWS2USE ON EXTENDED LEAVE

Due to budgetary constraints, this will be the last issue of News2Use in 2005 and foreseeable future.

Thank you to all our readers who used this information to better understand the services 

ORS provides to the NIH.

The ORS will continue to provide quality services to NIH customers.We will also continue 

to publish individual articles and useful information at our ORS Information Line website. Please visit us at:

http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/infoline/index.htm.

In addition, the ORS will continue to answer all questions and listen to all concerns and compliments

about our services.To contact ORS, e-mail the ORS Information Line at orsinfo@mail.nih.gov or call 

301-594-6677.

INFORMATION

Brad Moss

Editor, News2Use

301-402-1661

TRANSHARE AT THE NIH 

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ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2005 OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! The Office of Research Services encourages you to submit 

questions, comments and suggestions about the services we provide to the NIH community. Someone from 

the ORS staff will respond to each question. Just e-mail, phone or fax your comments and questions to the

appropriate location listed below.

For questions or comments about ORS services,

contact the ORS Information Line:

E-mail: ORSInfo@mail.nih.gov

Phone: 301-594-6677 

Fax: 301-402-2204 

Website: http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/security/index.htm

For questions or comments about articles in the

News2Use or to suggest future story ideas:

E-mail: ORSNews2Use@mail.nih.gov

NEWS2USE

News2Use is published on recycled paper by the 

OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

EDITOR Bradley Moss

WRITER Ann Cochran

ORS ACTING DIRECTOR Shirl A. Eller 

LAYOUT DESIGN Medical Arts and Printing Services

INTERNET ADDRESS www.ors.od.nih.gov

THEN:

In 1992, the NIH had 205 Transhare 

participants. Participants received up to 

$21.00 a month.

NOW:

In 2005, the NIH has 5,482 Transhare 

participants. Participants receive up to 

$105.00 a month.