206982 Ambassadors increase awareness in communities of benefits of accessible facilities

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Meg Ann Traci, PhD , Rural Institute, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Desirae N. Ware, MPH , Rural Institute, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Kathryn Siegrist, MSN, CNM , College of Nursing- Missoula Campus, Montana State University, Missoula, MT
Tom Seekins, PhD , Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Many people living with disabilities face unique challenges on a daily basis. Access to adequate health care is one of the most concerning of these challenges. We trained and supported seven Accessibility Ambassadors to conduct professional assessments of Montana's 42 FDA approved mammography centers using the Massachusetts Facility Assessment Tool (MFAT). Additionally, we developed a general facility assessment which included information about cost, location, hours, and services offered. At the beginning of each assessment, Accessibility Ambassadors distributed free training materials to staff which included a related self-study module and DVD and resources for removing barriers in a healthcare facility. The results of accessibility surveys were translated into Action Plans specifically addressing each barrier identified within the facilities. Action Plans were returned to facilities and serve as a resource for removing barriers. Furthermore, information gleamed from this study will aid in the development of the 2009 Montana Breast Cancer Resource Guide and will benefit all women seeking breast cancer screening services. We will present the results from the statewide assessment and staff evaluations of awareness, knowledge, and facility modifications.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss barriers people with disabilities face when accessing healthcare 2. Describe the general characteristics of mammography facilities in a rural state 3. Evaluate the impact Accessibility Assessments have on healthcare providers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Meg Traci was trained as an experimental psychologist at The University of Montana (UM) and specializes in both early childhood and life-span development. Dr. Traci works at The University of Montana Rural Institute: A Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Services (UMRI). Currently, she is detailed to direct a MDPHHS grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Montana Disability and Health Program: Living Well Under the Big Sky (MTDH). For ten years, Dr. Traci has been contributing to UMRI’s research and program development efforts targeting the prevention of secondary health conditions experienced by persons with physical and cognitive impairments and related disabilities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Disability and Access to Care I
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