Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115676

Jeannette Jackson-Thompson, MSPH, PhD, Department of Health Management & Informatics, University of Missouri-Columbia, 324 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-4380, (573) 882-7775, jacksonthompsonj@health.missouri.edu

PURPOSE: To assess progress at the end of two three-year contracts between an academic institution and state health department. SETTING: In 1999, the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) entered into partnership with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) when DHSS outsourced day-to-day operations of the Missouri Cancer Registry (MCR) to UMC. In 2002, DHSS outsourced functions performed by the project director, who became the Operations Director and a research assistant professor at UMC. MCR, mandated by the state since 1985, has received funding from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) since 1995. OUTCOMES: Prior to outsourcing, merit system limitations led to non-competitive salaries and prevented creation of positions needed to meet NPCR requirements and national standards for timeliness, completeness and quality. Timely, complete and accurate data was not available for surveillance/planning/evaluation. In the first year, additional positions were created and filled, salaries increased, staff turnover decreased and training programs were developed. In less than two years, MCR became a certified registry that met most NPCR requirements, with annually updated crude, age-adjusted and age-specific cancer incidence rates available on DHSS's website. (http://www.dhss.mo.gov). Since 2002, MCR has produced an annual report, developed its own website (http://mcr.umh.edu), collaborated with other academic units on research proposals and meets all national standards and NPCR requirements. CONCLUSION: Without the partnership, the high quality data needed for evidence based policy and practice would not have been available. Faculty involvement is needed for access to graduate students and participation in multidisciplinary research projects.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants should be able to

• Identify the purpose of the project.
• Discuss two reasons for establishing a partnership between an academic institution and a state health department.
• Describe at least three outcomes stemming from the partnership.

Keywords: Evaluation, Cancer

Related Web page: mcr.umh.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.