Shelby County Fetal & Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)

Goals

• Reduce fetal and infant deaths
• Improve perinatal and women's health systems and services and the health of women, infants, and their families

Problems

Gaps in health service systems exist and can best be identified and addressed through systematic reviews of individual cases of fetal and infant death at the community level.

Shelby County has the highest number of infant deaths in the state of Tennessee.

In 2006, the infant mortality rate was 19.0 per 1,000 live births for African-Americans, which was three times that of Caucasians which was 6.8 per 1,000 live births.

In 2007, although the overall infant mortality rate dropped to 12.7 per 1,000 live births, the rate for African-Americans was 17.8, over three times that of Caucasians, at 5.8 per 1,000 live births.

Program Activities

The FIMR process brings together key members of our community to review information from individual cases of fetal and infant death in order to identify the factors associated with those deaths, determine if they represent system problems that require change, develop recommendations for change and assist in the implementation of change.

Listed below are the objectives included in a FIMR program:

• Examining the significant social, economic, cultural, safety and health systems factors that are associated with fetal and infant mortality through review of individual cases;
• Planning a series of interventions and policies that address these factors to improve the service systems and community resources;
• Participating in the implementation of community-based interventions and policies
• Assessing the progress of those interventions.

Who Benefits

As causes of fetal and infant deaths are addressed, the services for all families improve and the entire community benefits.

A FIMR:

• Empowers and inspires communities to create local solutions
• Identifies opportunities for interagency partnerships
• Facilitates the grieving process for families and connects them with support agencies
• Enhances understanding of community needs by presenting the whole picture
• Expands available services through cooperative programming and joint funding
• Improves existing service delivery system and the quality of services provided by individual professionals, health and related social service agencies, community-based organizations and local health units
• Reduces gaps in care
• Ultimately, reduces fetal and infant mortality

Who Provides Services

The FIMR will reside within the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD), Bureau of Personal Health Services - Community (Population-Based) Health Service Programs.

The Case Review Team and the Community Action Team are comprised of community leaders, medical care providers, public health professionals, social service staff, advocacy groups and families.

Funding

Funding is provided by the Governor’s Office of Children’s Care Coordination (GOCCC), administered by the Tennessee Department of Health.