The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
P59

Regional Strategy for Quality Assurance at Individual IPP Provider Sites

Colleen Bornmueller and Region VII IPP Quality Assurance/Training Subcommittee. Infertility Prevention Project, Family Planning Council of Iowa, 108 Third Street, Suite 220, Des Moines, IA, USA


Background:
The National Infertility Prevention Project provides screening for chlamydia in a variety of clinic types.Site visits to participating IPP providers address Quality Assurance activities.

Objective:
To describe the Region VII Facility Services Assessment form and the results from monitoring site visits in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska during 2006.

Method:
As part of the Region VII QA Plan, the state coordinators assess a minimum of 20% of all clinics in each state annually.

Result:
In 2006, a total of 96 visits were completed to IPP providers in the region. A variety of clinic types were assessed in seven different areas including education, screening, specimen collection and transport, time to results, treatment, and training. Of those visited, 95% of the clinics offer a chlamydia test to all clients under 24. Sixty-three percent (63%) of the clinics said they do not screen outside of their state criteria. Forty-five of the clinics reported that it takes seven to ten days to receive test results. Most clinics (84%) notify their clients of positivie test results by phone. Seventy-two percent (72%) of the clinics use 1 g. Azithromycin to treat clients. There were only 12 clinics in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska that do not treat partners - most of those agencies were correctional facilities or schools. All clinics visited in 2006 reported having had training in STDs, chlamydia or infertility in the last 12 months.

Conclusion:
Facility Assessments in combination with site visits and chart auditing provide valuable information for guiding programs and training.

Implications:
More in-depth questions may be needed to give new and additional insight into issues at the clinic, state, and regional level of the Infertility Prevention Projects.