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Projects
Partnership To Improve Cancer Care in Russia Expanded
Local professional team is “Bridging Cancer Care”
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS) has selected World Services to receive a second $150,000 Bridging Cancer Care Initiative grant. World Services will partner with Gundersen Lutheran Health System and the Balakovo, Russia, Secondary Medical College to enhance patient education, screening and referral to oncology specialists for people in the Saratov Oblast.
The two-year grant (2011 – 2013) will permit exchange visits between nurses and physicians in three Russian cities—Saratov, Balakovo and Volsk—and the La Crosse area. The Saratov Oblast was selected because it has a high incidence of cancer.
In late 2011, representatives of Gundersen Lutheran and World Services met with Russian officials in the three cities which will serve as the focus for the new project. The partnership will seek to restructure the role and improve the skills of nurses working with general practice physicians in community clinics, improving the systems used in primary care clinics to monitor patient screening and tests and to refer patients to cancer specialists.
The expected result of project initiatives will be better patient education and prevention activities. Nurse coordinators working with the project will initiate contact with patients to schedule routine screening appointments at recommended intervals, and will be prepared to actively participate in patient education and assessment.
Volsk Health Officials with Gundersen Lutheran leaders Kelly Barton and Deb Rislow
World Services of La Crosse was established in 2001 as national hosting organization for citizen exchange programs and provides international consulting in professional, leadership and organizational development.
The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is to help reduce health disparities by strengthening community-based health care worker capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing communities in the fight against disease.
The Foundation’s work related to cancer in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) falls under the Bridging Cancer Care program. Since 2007, Bridging Cancer Care has funded partnerships in CEE focused on improving psychosocial support, education, prevention, early detection, screening, palliative care and health and care worker training.