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About Us

Mission Statement

As the name implies, the mission of STMMconnect.org is to provide a central source of information for those involved in short-term medical missions (STMMs), and as such begin to facilitate the process of working together to reach a higher standard of care.

Why Now?

In late 2000, we began the process of creating an evaluation tool to be used by STMM directors to aid in quality and cost improvement. Through this work, we have noticed a pressing need for connectivity among missions, as has been identified by both mission directors and participants alike. In addition, using the world wide web to help establish this connection seemed an obvious choice, given its flexibility, connecting power, and broad accessibility.

Though very much a work in progress, we hope to provide valuable resources to those involved in STMMs. At present, the central focus of the site is a comprehensive tool created to help STMMs take a closer look at issues such as cost, efficiency, impact, and sustainablility, and to promote solution sharing to many of the common problems faced by STMMs.

How This Evaluation Tool Works

First, mission organizations have their directors, participants, host and patients fill out survey forms. The questions on these forms were meant to assess many aspects of missions, but fall under 6 main parameters. They are:

  • Cost - A measure of the total financial expenditure of the mission and the factors that influence it.
  • Efficiency - A measure of productivity; comparing measurable outcomes to time and resources spent.
  • Impact - A measure of the perceived quality and effectiveness of the collective medical interventions.
  • Preparedness - A measure of the ability to function as an effective team, with other visiting medical missions, and within the overall context of the medical system of the host country.
  • Education - A measure of the emphasis placed on providing responsible and accurate education, mentorship, and training to recipients and local health care workers.
  • Sustainability - A measure of the long term focus of the mission, including fostering independence through building local capacity.
  • General Information - Demographics of patient and participant populations in terms of their experience with the mission and qualitative reflections.

Once data is entered into STMMconnect.org, a report is generated that allows the mission organization to query the data in various ways:
1) by the 6 main parameters listed above
2) by the survey type
3) by factors that influence the six main parameters.

This is shown in the following matrix:

Cost Efficiency Impact Preparedness Education Sustainability General Information
General Info             1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 35, 36, 37, 38, 124, 125, 126, 127, 153, 154, 170
Follow-up Care     28, 46, 49, 139, 141     10, 11, 165  
Time Management   86, 135 14, 85, 136        
Host/HCP Training         23, 95, 96, 97, 99 20, 24  
Referral Process   83 84   21 81, 82, 143  
Communication   25, 87, 88, 133 134       78
Staffing Plan   62   60, 61, 130, 131   26  
Organization and Management   129 90 27, 63, 77   76, 89  
Measurable Outcomes Methods     30, 47, 50 51   29, 45, 140  
Outcomes     31, 48, 52, 142, 155, 164        
Host Cost           32  
Participant Satisfaction     34, 152     33  
Diagnostic Methods     39, 41, 137        
Standard of Care     40, 43, 138 44      
Services   144 42       64
Morbidity and Mortality     53, 56        
Record Keeping   65, 113 115 54, 55, 112, 116 117 114  
Patient Census       58   157 57, 156, 158, 166
Resources   66 67 59, 132 93, 98, 149    
Orientation       68, 69, 128      
Cultural Awareness     148 70, 147      
Risk Management     71 72, 73      
Language Proficiency   146 161 74, 145 75    
Triage   79, 80          
Patient Health Education     163   91, 92, 94, 162    
Exit Strategy         100 118, 119  
Resident/Student Training     103   101, 102, 150, 151    
Total Cost 104     108   105  
Per Patient Cost 106, 107            
Financial Evaluation 109, 110     111      
Clarity of Goals     122, 123 120, 121      
Patient Satisfaction 167, 168 160 159       169

Each intersection on the matrix that contains a number corresponds to a question that is asked on one of the surveys. If there is more than one number, then that factor is assessed in more than one question or on more than one survey.

Thus, you can see that "total cost" is a measure of COST, PREPAREDNESS, and SUSTAINABILITY. There are three questions that assess this factor: 171, 38, 127 respectively. The number tells us what question is asked and corresponds to a questions from one of the following surveys:

Mission Director
Host-Local Provider
Participant
Patient
Financial Form (under construction!)
General Info Form

Thus, if as a mission organization, you are interested in EFFICIENCY, you can see all of the questions from all of the surveys that address EFFICIENCY and you can also look at the factors listed along the vertical axis that played into the overall assessment of EFFICIENCY. This allows you to look at the questions from two perspectives. Each question will show you an average score or free text response from your specific mission surveys and it will also show you an average from all other missions currently using this tool, so that you can see how your mission compares to other short-term medical missions. We hope that using the matrix, and thus having two ways to look at the data generated from your surveys, will be a more user-friendly and informative way to critically evaluate your mission and find ways to improve the care you offer to your patients.

  

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