We realized the three health plans were trying to deliver the same message. We were all saying the same thing and delivering the message in triplicate to our providers. It struck me we could deliver one consistent message and deliver it better. The first packets were sent out in late November and have been well received by physicians and patients, according to Gilmet. We have clinics in parts of Minnesota that were not part of the program who have expressed an interest and want to be part of the program next year.
Similar programs are in place to fight antibiotic overuse.
The program is a joint project between Marshfield Medical Research Foundation and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health. Presentations are given to childcare workers at their centers and through the technical college system. The public is targeted through media outlets, including newspaper editorials, news stories, and radio public-service announcements. Community events are used as forums to make informational presentations. WARN is funded through 2003 by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.