History
The Center of Excellence North Dakota Women's Health CORE started as a National Center of Excellence (CoE) in Women's Health Region VIII Demonstration Project. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences CoE Demonstration Project designation occurred from September, 2004 when the Office on Women's Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) awarded a four-year contract for nearly $500,000. However, due to funding cuts in the Office of Women's Health the Demonstration Project was funded for three years, through August 2007. The Demonstration Project was a partnership between University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Medicine and Altru Health Systems as the clinic setting. Please see below for more information on the partners.
The intent of the project was to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated program to improve health care for women in North Dakota. The CoE Demonstration project focused on an integrated model of health care, bringing together the five key areas of clinical, outreach, research, professional education, and leadership into a single setting. It centered on the belief that the ideal clinical concept is a one-stop shop for women's health care integrated with the other components. The Demonstration Project focused on the needs of women of all ages, with particular emphasis toward women in rural areas as well as the needs of diverse populations, especially Native American women.
UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences
One of 126 medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, was established in 1905 and is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. It is one of 22 "community-based" medical schools in the United States. "Community-based" meas that the school is integrated into the medical system of communities where practicing physicians serve as members of the school's faculty. Physicians teach medical students in hospitals, clinics, and other settings in aobut 30 communities throughout North Dakota, although the majority of training occurs in the state's four largest cities.
Department of Family Medicine
The Mission of the Department of Family Medicine is quality education, scholarship, service and patient care. We are dedicated to the following: To provide medical students a comprehensive education in Family Medicine to serve as a foundation in clinical medicine; to provide residents comprehensive education and training in Family Medicine; to provide Physician Assistant students a comprehensive training program in primary care; to provide athletic training students education and training in Sports Medicine; to foster research and scholarship within our educational and clinical areas; to serve our community, university and state, especially by promoting Family Medicine and rural service to our students; and to provide quality medical care to our patients.
Altru Health System
Altru Health System is a non-profit integrated health system with headquarters on a 90 acre medical campus in Grand Forks , North Dakota , serving the residents of northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota . Altru includes a 232 bed acute care hospital and a 34 bed rehabilitation center. It employs approximately 210 physicians representing family practice and 40 specialties. The facility averages over 640,000 patient visits each year, from 7 locations in Grand Forks and 12 regional clinics in northeast North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota .
Our Clinical Care Center is located in the 7800 square foot Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Altru Health System, which includes eight physicians and two nurse practitioners specializing in women's health issues. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology conduct interdisciplinary chart review and peer review at the hospital. They also participate in the North Dakota Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is an interdisciplinary group (FP's, OB 's, CNM's, PA's, and NP's) dedicated to excellence in women's health.
Altru also has a Women's Services division which uses the most current treatment methods to provide coordinated care within the environment that is sensitive to individual needs. The team includes professions from obstetrics, gynecology, radiology, and other areas such as the Family Birthing Center and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Altru's Breast Imaging offers quality mammography services for women of all ages and needs. They also offer Sterotactics Breast Biopsy as a safe and less invasive alternative to surgical biopsies.
Altru's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Our Clincal Care Center
The Clinical Care Center (CCC) will be a primary care-based multidisciplinary practice for the care of women with an emphasis on preventive care and emotional well-being. Currently, Obstetricians-Gynecologists provide primary and specialty care to their patients within the CCC. General Internal Medicine and Family Medicine clinical sites are located nearby (same building/campus). Currently, consultations flow among these groups. In addition, mental health needs will be met by on-site social workers and community clinical psychologists who will provide consultation and promote coordination of mental and medical health care services. Similarly, obstetrics and gynecology consultation will be available on a same day basis from on-site members of the Altru Health System Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Altru Health System has committed to the necessary space within their 7,800 sq. ft. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Michael Brown, Clinical Care Director and Chair of Altru's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology has pledged his department's support.
With this pledge of support, a collaborative management structure between the university and Altru for the clinical care center will be used to effect the changes needed to achieve an integration of clinical services.
