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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Alison Pierce Tolley, MPH, CHES¹, Diane Z. Weems, MD², Betty Dixon, BSN, MHSA², and Charlotte Hough, MBA². (1) March of Dimes, Georgia Chapter, 1776 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-350-9800, atolley@marchofdimes.com, (2) East Health District, 2011 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406

Objective: To provide an overview of the Georgia East Health Districts' Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Project, which reviews fetal and infant deaths with the goals of tracking trends in preterm birth and infant demise and providing consumer and professional education. Background: The overall preterm birth and infant mortality rates for the Georgia Coastal Health District are 12.08 and 9.275. The March of Dimes, Georgia Chapter, supports projects focused on reducing preterm birth and infant mortality rates. Project: The March of Dimes, Georgia Chapter, partnered with the Georgia Coastal Health District to support their on-going FIMR Project with a 2 year chapter community grant, totaling $37,900, in 2004 and 2005. The FIMR Project serves approximately 2,000 individuals annually in the 8 county region, via medical record review, home interviews and consumer and professional education. The FIMR Project is currently the only project of its kind in Georgia. Results: In 2004 and 2005, a home interview tool was created using the National FIMR home interview tool as a prototype. In addition, a database capturing over 125 data elements was created to identify trends in fetal and infant deaths. Using these tools, medical record reviewers and home interviewers track information related to these deaths. A Case Review Team, consisting of medical record reviewers, home interviewers and health care providers, was developed to review data collected and make recommendations to the Community Action Team, who then makes recommendations for education, policy and systems improvement. The presentation will discuss major successes and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

• List three effective strategies for implementing a Fetal Infant Mortality Review Project.
• Describe the benefits of using a home interview component in a Fetal Infant Mortality Review Project.
• Analyze lessons learned from the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Project.

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Infant Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered