The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) awarded three Community Health Grant Award applicants a total of $12,000 in first cycle 2015 grants. Grant awards were made to GAFP member affiliated charitable organizations that support GHFA program priorities including underserved populations and outreach programs that promote healthy practices consistent with the principles of Family Medicine. The application deadline for second cycle grants is May 1, 2015. Visit http://www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants/ for more information or to download the application. The 2015 first cycle Community Health Grant Recipients are:
Martha Crenshaw, MD, Physicians Care Clinic, Dekalb County $4,000
In 2014, 50% of Physicians Care Clinic patients had high blood pressure, 19% high cholesterol, and 13% of patients were diabetic. The clinic’s Chronic Disease and Diabetes Management Program is the only organized clinic program in DeKalb County offering on-going prevention and education classes and monitoring supplies. Many of the clinic’s diabetics have a history of not managing the disease effectively. Financially, they have not had the ability to invest in regular medical treatment due to lack of insurance and the inability to pay out of pocket. Funding from this grant will support the following outcomes: Improved A1C levels compared to baseline; compliance with chronic disease and diabetes–related medical care (eye/vision, foot care, etc.); improved cholesterol and B/P levels as well as diabetes education classes.
Ambar Kulshreshtha, MD, Emory Department of Family Medicine, Atlanta $4,000
The SIMPACT: Simple 7 and Million Hearts for Improving Cardiovascular Health and Compliance with Targets project hopes to use the Simple 7 and Million Hearts initiative for emphasizing health promotion among young adults and advancing population health with implementation of evidence based care at primary care level. Unhealthy diet, smoking and obesity are also prevalent among Georgia youth and the trends are concerning. CVD related behaviors develop early in life and are related to development of atherosclerotic plaques. Thus, modification of risk factors and health behaviors for CVD among youth must be reinforced and complemented at multiple levels of intervention. The goal of the SIMPACT project is twofold: at the community level, to improve cardiovascular health education among Georgia youths through physician led lectures at participating colleges; at the clinic level, to conduct a quality improvement intervention for better compliance with evidence based guidelines.
Caleb King, GRU Medical Student, Equality Clinic, Augusta, $4,000
The Equality Clinic project will address the gap in care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community in Augusta and surrounding areas. Equality Clinic serves those in the LGBTQ community who are underinsured or uninsured and fall below 200% of the federal poverty level. Wherever patients fall on the complex spectrums of gender identity they can come to Equality Clinic and discuss their specific health needs without fear of judgment or discrimination. Non-reusable supplies are the major source of clinic-to-clinic expenses. Their patients often have complex health conditions that require specific equipment (e.g. glucose strips), which must be kept stocked. Other supplies allow providers to narrow their differential diagnosis and provide the appropriate care (e.g. pregnancy tests). Having funding for these items will allow the Equality Clinic to focus on long-term needs such as more point-of-care testing equipment and community outreach.
These are only a few of the important programs your colleagues are lending their talents and time to statewide! Please consider making a contribution so that the Alliance can continue to support important projects like the six worthy projects we were unable to fund this grant cycle. All donations are tax deductible. Make your Alliance contribution easily online at http://www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/donate/ or contact Alliance staff at ksinkule@gafp.org or calling (800) 392-3841.