Anne Cunanan Ford

Poster presentation

--Multi-disciplinary work group set up by Wake Co BOC to explore the root causes of the infant mortality gap.
-- Identify research-based practices that work to close the gap, agree on specific actions to reduce the gap, and address root causes.
-- Produce a 3 year plan to achieve the desired outcomes which will include implementation of the identified strategies, resources needed and leadership.

CDC expects grantees to actively solicit and incorporate medical advice from a group of medical advisors in the area of breast and cervical cancer. This group also can assist grantees by approving practice guidelines and providing oversight for the quality of the services delivered.
Grantees should consult with providers who have appropriate experience and expertise with the processes of screening, diagnosis, and initiation of treatment. Since many providers work together to offer a complete referral network for screening and diagnostic services, it is optimal for grantees to convene a multidisciplinary team composed of members who can each bring insight, evidence, and experience from his or her unique perspectives and involvement with clients.
The potential functions of the medical advisors will vary, depending on program priorities and resources, but they may include the following:
• Approve practice guidelines for screening and diagnostic services—This function, mandated by CDC, ensures that regional peers and colleagues familiar with the provider networks establish practice guidelines that are consistent with CDC’s requirements, yet adapted to regional standards and resources. Protocols should be reviewed periodically to ensure that they remain current with evidence-basis, as well as meet CDC requirements.
• Provide clinical consultation—Although programs have established general clinical guidelines, appropriate exceptions to the guidelines should be considered. A program should rely on its medical advisory board to provide clinical consultation and advice in problematic or unforeseen circumstances.
• Provide professional development recommendations—Medical advisory boards are in a key position to identify professional development strategies that address concerns related to quality, and they also have insights about the professional development design and method that most suit their colleagues.

Developed Gyn prevention clinic at CAARE, Inc, a local community non- profit service organization in Durham. I was the women's health clinic director, as well supervisor and mentor to second year Duke medical students and Duke nurse practitioner students, who rotated through the clinic, and under my guidance served as the primary care takers for the uninsured and underinsured clinic patients. We developed breast and cervical cancer screening protocols, relationships with Duke Radiology for breast screening in high risk women, and a collaboration with the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention ( BCCP) program in Durham. This national program, organized through the CDC and run through the Durham Health Department, works to provide prevention services as well as coverage for cancer treatment services to women who have their cancer diagnosed while enrolled in the program. The CAARE Gyn clinic became a BCCP certified clinic, allowing us to enroll the women we served into this program.