March of Dimes, Northwest Louisiana
Local Successes
In Shreveport and Bossier City, the local office of March of Dimes has
supported many great organizations such as Schumpert Medical Center, The
Hillman House, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, and the
Stork’s Nest.
Christus Schumpert was the first recipient in Shreveport to receive a March
of Dimes grant to help open its first NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit),
and through the years, the March of Dimes has given numerous supplemental
grants to Christus Schumpert to improve and expand the NICU to the state of
the art facility that it is today.
Dr. Bettina Hilman received a March of Dimes grant for her work with Cystic
Fibrosis, which helped to open The Hilman House. The Hilman House offers
education, support and assistance for children and adults affected by Cystic
Fibrosis, which is an incurable genetic disease that affects the lungs and
digestive tract and is caused by a genetic birth defect.
In 2007, Dr. Harold Chen of Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center in Shreveport has received a grant for his research of spinal birth
defects totaling over $3 million for three years. Dr. Chen is researching
the link of maternal health and spinal birth defects.
In 2007, the March of Dimes provided grant funding for The Stork’s Nest,
which provides baby food, clothing, diapers, and other necessities for local
mothers in need. When Stork’s Nest project ended in December, 2008, March of
Dimes continued The Stork’s Nest’s mission. With the help of the local
ABC-affiliate, KTBS Channel 3, the Shreveport office of March of Dimes
received enough non-perishable baby products to provide emergency aid to
families through summer, 2009.
In 2008, the North Louisiana Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) received a
$20,000 grant from the March of Dimes to fund education and health care
programs for pregnant women. The North Louisiana AHEC office services a 21
parish area, concentrating in rural and under-served communities. In some
areas of North Louisiana, pregnant women have a two or more hour commute to
the nearest obstetrician or gynecologist. This obstacle to quality pre-natal
healthcare has been a contributing factor in North Louisiana’s growing
pre-term labor rate. By bringing these programs to the women in rural and
underserved communities, AHEC is extending the reach of the mission of March
of Dimes.
Finally, in 2009, Christus Schumpert has been approved for a grant to
install a state of the art NICU Family Support computer station in their
NICU that will give the families in the NICU access to information and the
opportunity to connect with medical professionals and other families across
the nation affected by premature birth and birth defects.
March of Dimes mom and baby mobile health centers®
Mobile Health Program Mission -
Provide comprehensive, evidenced-based culturally competent care to women of
childbearing age and infants regardless of ability to pay, serve as a
research tool to gather information and outcomes, establish and explore best
practices, pilot strategies to improve access to health care, outcomes and
care retention.
March of Dimes Mobile Health Program Goals
• Provide support to communities originally impacted by Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.
• Support health care professionals by providing additional resources in
designated health care provider shortage areas and collaborating with
community organizations.
• Provide comprehensive, evidenced-based culturally competent care to women
of childbearing age and infants regardless of ability to pay.
• Serve as a research tool to gather information and outcomes, establish and
explore best practices, pilot strategies to improve access, health outcomes
and care retention.
• Provide 15,000 medical visits (through 3 years of operation).
Background
Areas affected by the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes have infant mortality rates
that are among the highest in the nation and the worst preterm birth rates
among all U.S. states. Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of infants born
preterm in Louisiana increased nearly 20% to 16.4% compared to the national
rate of 12.8%. In 2005, 600 infants died before reaching their first
birthday, an infant mortality rate of 9.8 per 1,000 live births compared to
the national average of 6.9%.
In response to Hurricane Katrina, March of Dimes, recognizing the need for
long-term support of the community, established a Hurricane Assistance Fund
with a vision to raise $5 million to support mobile health centers for use
in the impacted areas and in future disasters to deliver much needed
immediate care.
After reaching the goal of $5 million, March of Dimes purchased and designed
four mobile health centers that now serve areas in Louisiana and
Mississippi. In the last four years, the mobile health program has focused
on serving residents affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.
Services provided include, prenatal, well-baby, immunizations, preconception
counseling, CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care, screenings for sexually
transmitted infections and pregnancy, ultrasounds, folic acid distribution,
well-child care, well-woman care, referral and case management. March of
Dimes mom and baby mobile health centers® serve residents within a 50-mile
radius in their respective areas of New Orleans, LA; Lake Charles, LA; and
Biloxi, MS.
We continue to serve communities impacted by disaster; Following Hurricane
Ike in the fall of 2008, the Lake Charles mom and baby mobile health center®
was deployed to coastal Louisiana to take the place of the only land-based
clinic within a 50-mile radius, which was heavily damaged by flooding for
the second time in three years. The mom and baby mobile health center®
serves very rural and poor areas providing case management, outreach and
medical care to women and infants in areas that lack land-based clinics.
As of July 1, 2009, New Orleans ceased public health provision of OB
services due to statewide budget cuts. The remaining patients will be
absorbed by current private providers in the New Orleans area. We are
working closely with community providers so that we can support them as they
adjust to the shift in health care delivery throughout the city.
These are examples of areas impacted by hurricanes in recent years that
continue to need help in coordination and provision of services. With a
growing population of immigrants relocating to assist with rebuilding
efforts as well as returning residents, the challenge of outreach,
identification and delivery of services is great and will remain so for
several years. It is essential that these women be reached to prevent a rise
in poor birth outcomes in this region and to assist public health
departments in the coordination of care.
Staffing and Guidance
A community partner, local to each of the four sites, is under contract by
March of Dimes to provide medical care services and is responsible for the
daily provision of services and operation of their respective programs. The
partner employs and insures all medical and support staff, operates the
vehicle on a daily basis and provides quarterly reports to March of Dimes.
Partner providers are required to recruit a local advisory council for their
mobile health program that meets quarterly. The Council is comprised of
local maternal and child health providers, stakeholders and community
leaders, including a local March of Dimes board member. The Advisory Council
assists with the overall direction, progress and growth of the program from
a community standpoint
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between March of Dimes and each
community partner outlines both joint and organizational responsibilities,
including measurable goals and expectations for care offered. Written
quarterly reports are submitted to March of Dimes and site visits are
conducted regularly by the Director of Mobile Health.
Louisiana Community Partners/Collaborators
Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans operates two mom and
baby mobile health centers in the Greater New Orleans area. Their local
partners include: Ochsner Medical Center Department of Maternal-Fetal
Medicine, LSU Family Medicine Residents, LSUHSC OB Dept, Tulane/Lakeside
Hospital, Catholic Charities of New Orleans, LSU Maternal-Fetal Medicine,
Touro Infirmary, Crescent City Physicians, Woman-to-Woman Midwifery, Iglesia
Metodista Mesias, First Grace Methodist Church, Monte de los Olivos Church
and Louisiana Office of Public Health.
Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center operates one mom and
baby mobile health center in the Lake Charles/Region V area. Their local
partners include: West Calcasieu Cameron Parish Hospital, Office of Public
Health, Calcasieu Parish Health Unit, WIC, FIMR, Hackberry Rural Health
Clinic, Sulphur prenatal clinic, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, LSU Health
Science Center- Family Residency Program, Dr. Johnny Biddle, Calcasieu
Parish School Age Mothers Program, Christus St. Patrick Hospital and
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Medical Reserve Corps.
For more information:
Capi Landreneau, LCSW
Director, Mobile Health
clandreneau@marchofdimes.com
(914) 843-1261