The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4295.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 5:30 PM

Abstract #44842

Creating and Utilizing a Public/ Private Partnership for HealthEducation in Maine

MaryAnn Amrich, RN, Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health, Key Bank Building, 7th floor, State House Station #11, Augusta, ME 04333, 207-287-8753, maryann.amrich@state.me.us, Victoria Rogers, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102, Lisa Belanger, MSN, FNP, Public Health Division, City of Portland, 134 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101, and Teresa Hubley, PhD, Muskie School, Institute for Public Sector Innovation, University of Southern Maine, 295 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04330.

This session describes the formation and maintenance of a partnership, called Kids Run Better Unleaded (KRBU), between Maine's Bureau of Health (BOH), the City of Portland and Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (BBCH). This partnership was formed in order to promote appropriate blood lead testing practices among Maine physicians. Methods of partnering described include joint planning sessions, presentations, publicity and data sharing. This partnership consists of many reciprocal activities through which BOH and the City of Portland support the efforts of the BBCH to provide one-on-one physcian education on the subject of lead poisoning testing and management. BOH provides materials and material development expertise to KRBU. BOH also provides KRBU and its participating physicians with data on outcome measures related to activities monitored by BOH. The BBCH in turn provides BOH with information on physician needs for program and material development, peer consulting for physicians, and a method for distributing and reinforcing state practice guidelines. The City of Portland provides local level input into the planning process. Above all, the spirit of partnership is fostered by the mutual respect and openness to change that are replicated in participants through the activities and shared attitudes of the group. This session will describe how to create the framework for such a relationship, how to maximize its potential, and how to sustain it into the future.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

Keywords: Physicians, Public/Private Partnerships

Related Web page: www.state.me.us/dhs/bohdcfh/led/index2.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The Power in Partnerships: Using Partnership Approaches for Effective Public Health Education

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA