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For Immediate Release Med-IQ and the Southeast Consortium for CME Partner to Assess High Stroke Mortality Rates in United States “Stroke Belt” |
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Baltimore, MD—September 21, 2011—Med-IQ and the Southeast Consortium for CME, which includes University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA), Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU), and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), today announced a strategic partnership to evaluate healthcare practice patterns for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the prevention of stroke in the United States (US) Stroke Belt, including racially based disparities in care for high-risk patients in the region. The stroke mortality rate is higher for all people in the southeastern US compared with other regions of the country. The risk of death is disproportionately higher for African Americans than it is for whites in Stroke Belt states, which have large rural populations whose access to specialty healthcare is limited. Stroke Belt states include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. “While the exact underpinnings of this difference are not clear, recent evidence from the longitudinal REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study suggests that disparities in the awareness and treatment of AF among African Americans may play a significant role in our abilities to effectively identify and treat this disease,” said Jann Balmer, Director of Continuing Medical Education at University of Virginia School of Medicine. To help evaluate and address gaps between current and desired practice performance, Med-IQ and the Southeast Consortium for CME are conducting comprehensive research using faculty experts in primary care, emergency medicine, cardiology, and neurology to:
AF, the most common abnormal heart rhythm and a chief cause of stroke, is a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality, affecting nearly 2.3 million Americans. Approximately 15% of all strokes are due to AF, with an estimated 1 million AF-related strokes in 2010. However, stroke is largely preventable with early, comprehensive, chronic anticoagulation therapy.
The Southeast Consortium for CME consists of three state-supported academic medical centers, each of which was established in the early 19th century. The members of the consortium are: Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; and University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. These academic medical centers are located in the states that constitute the Stroke Belt, with large rural populations whose access to specialty healthcare is limited. Within the Stroke Belt, the highest stroke death rates are clustered in the coastal plains regions of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The stroke death rate in this region is two times greater than the rest of the nation. The excess risk of stroke death in this region affects men and women, blacks and whites. This pattern of excess stroke death rates has existed for at least 50 years, and the causes are not known. Causes that have been suggested include a higher prevalence of stroke risk factors, lack of access to healthcare, or factors associated with the geography of the region. The Offices of Continuing Medical Education in each of the institutions are the designated entities, charged with educating physicians and healthcare professionals to improve healthcare of the state’s populations in their respective states. The SECME consortium meets annually to discuss and cooperate on educational and healthcare continuing education topics and issues that are prevalent in the Southeastern region of the United States. As state institutions, each of these universities is actively engaged in providing quality CME/CE to the healthcare professionals in their states. Their role in this proposed initiative is key as they will provide access to appropriate physician audiences and knowledge of the patient population. About Med-IQ Med-IQ, recipient of the Alliance for CME’s 2011 William Campbell Felch Award for Research in CME, is an accredited provider of education that inspires healthcare professionals through activities that deliver sophisticated outcomes-based educational designs with measurable results in professional competence and performance. Med-IQ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN), and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing medical education to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, respectively. We are a leader in the development of performance improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI) CME initiatives. To learn more about Med-IQ, visit www.Med-IQ.com. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn, and visit our YouTube channel. For more information, contact: |
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Catherine B. Mullaney, MHA |
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