Ghana: Acute Care and Emergency Referral Systems (ACERS) Project

Dr. Moresky will not be taking students for the Summer of 2024.

The Developing Acute Care and Emergency Referral Systems (ACERS) program is a USAID-funded implementation research program under the direction of the Ghana Health Service and consortium partners including the National Ambulance Service, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health sidHARTe – Strengthening Emergency Systems Program, University of Ghana Regional Institute for Population Studies, and Catholic Relief Services. ACERS seeks to deliver an innovative package of integrated community, pre-facility, and facility-based interventions to address the barriers identified in the Three Delays Model and strengthen emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) in the Northern and Oti Regions. The three delays include delays in seeking care, reaching care, and receiving appropriate care. ACERS will assess the added value of a program of implementation research, action, and capacity building to timely care-seeking behavior, effective referrals, and high-quality care. The goal of this project is to leverage implementation science to shape evidence-based national policies and strategies on emergency referral systems to benefit maternal and newborn health in Ghana. Integrated as an official Government program, ACERS is woven into the fabric of Ghana Health Service’s regional, district, and community health system structures to ensure the implementation of a sustainable and scalable model.

Mentor: Rachel Moresky, MD, MPH

Opportunities available as a part of this project:
Summer Research Projects, Scholarly Projects, and Research Year

Thematic Research Areas:
Access to Health Care, Health Systems and Health Governance, and Maternal and Child Health

Global Pop funds students from the following CUIMC Schools at this site:
VP&S and MSPH

Language requirement:
No

Potential activities that could be carried out as a part of this project:
Literature Review, IRB development, Interview tool development, Attend regular Team/project Meetings, Data analysis, Program monitoring and evaluation, Manuscript writing, Summarizing/Disseminating results, Formulation of recommendations/policy guidance, and Development of Educational Materials

Institutional Partners:
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health sidHARTe – Strengthening Emergency Systems Program, Ghana Health Service (GHS), University of Ghana Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), and Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Project Website:
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/strengthening-emergency-s...