The Hawaii Medical Service Association Foundation focused on three key areas of child health in community grants the past year, said Cliff Cisco, HMSA senior vice president. HMSA community grants
targeted child healthChronic disease and obesity
were among the areas fundedStar-Bulletin staff
The grants emphasize data collection and analysis, chronic disease management and use of high technology, he said. Projects funded were:
>> Hawaii State Primary Care Association, "Hawaii Covering Kids" project to collect data about the number of uninsured children in the islands.
>> Hawaii Health Information Corporation, "High Cost of Births: Gaining Perspective and Promoting Prevention" project to collect, analyze and share data to improve activities to reduce the number of high-cost births, low birth weight and pre-term birth delivery in connection with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.
>> University of Hawaii-Manoa Kinesiology and Leisure Science Department, "Reduction/ Preven tion of Childhood Obesity in Hawaii." The project is to evaluate and assess physical activity programs throughout the nation that are effective in reducing and preventing obesity in children.
>> State Department of Health, Family Health Services Division, "Partners Against Asthma" to reduce the prevalence and negative consequences of asthma among children from birth to 12 years old.
>> Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, "Early Intervention to Improve Academic Functioning in Children with Acute Leukemia." The purpose is to improve the quality of life for children with acute leukemia.
>> UH-Manoa, College of Business Administration, "Assessing and Facilitating Clinical Use of the Internet by Pediatricians in Hawaii," to field-test a demonstration Web-based pediatrics program and do research on other educational programs.