Purpose
The Atlanta TB Prevention Coalition is an
innovative TB demonstration project that gathers together a coalition of
local, state, and national organizations involved in TB education, care,
management, prevention and controls.
Mission
The Atlanta Tuberculosis Prevention Coalition
emphasizes collaboration and coordination of activities among all agencies
serving persons who have or are at risk for tuberculosis in the Atlanta
area. Principle objectives of the project include:
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Establishment of greater communication and
information exchange between groups involved in the management and care
of TB patients;
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Development of new approaches for screening
and prevention of TB in at-risk populations in Atlanta such as inner city
minority members and others including the homeless, immigrants, HIV-infected
individuals and persons in correctional facilities; and
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Development of innovative strategies for
education of patients and health care providers about TB.
Funding
Current funding for this project is from
the American Lung Association of Georgia through the Whitehead foundation.
Previous funding for this project was
from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In addition, the ATPC has received funding from the Indigent Care Trust
Fund of Georgia and the Georgia
Department of Human Resources. All collaborating groups are providing
significant in-kind contributions, including staff time.
In addition to the Atlanta Tuberculosis
Prevention Coalition, RWJF has funded four other tuberculosis demonstration
projects:
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"Neighborhood-Oriented Tuberculosis Screening
and prevention Program in Baltimore City", Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene
and Public Health, Michael P. Johnson, MD, Principal Investigator;
-
"A Model for Cooperation: U.S. - Mexico
Tuberculosis Control", San Diego Department of Health Services, Kathleen
Moser, MD, Principal Investigator;
-
"Comprehensive Case Finding and TB Control
in the East Coast Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers in Northeast and South
Florida", Putman County Public Health Unit, Cheryll D. Lesneski and Jean
Malecki, Principal Investigators; and
"A Shared Responsibility Model for the
Prevention and Management of Tuberculosis", Bellevue Hospital Center, Neil
Schluger, MD, Principal Investigator.
Education
Clinician Education
To better equip health care providers to
diagnose and treat tuberculosis, Emory University is offering a comprehensive
training program. The program is designed to educate health professionals
on the management and prevention of individuals with tuberculosis. Patients
and their families will receive extensive health education aimed at promoting
self-referrals and adherence to therapy. Note our training
events.
Patient Education
To better equip tuberculosis patients,
contacts and those with latent TB infection (LTBI) to treat their infection,
the ATPC has provided computers, TV/VCRs, videos, brochures and phamplets
to two major local health departments that will explain what TB is, the
process of infection, and the importance of adherence to the medications
prescribed.
Computer Database/Network
The ATPC is working closely with Georgia
Department of Human Resources to improve communication between health
care providers in the Atlanta, Georgia area in order to facilitate and
improve patient care.