The issue requires comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches. Unfortunately, firearm-related violence remains a leading cause of death across the nation. While the issue is widespread, rates of firearm-related deaths have been comparatively high in New Mexico for years.
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FASTER
FASTER
New Mexico FASTER aims to provide a coordinated response to emerging firearm issues and reduce firearm injury and death.
In 2019, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH or the Department) applied for and received funding to implement FASTER, a CDC-funded initiative to provide surveillance data on emergency visits for nonfatal firearm injuries in near-real-time.
NMDOH uses FASTER funding to help provide a coordinated response to emerging firearm injury issues and to reduce firearm injuries. Funding is being used to pilot and improve the surveillance of nonfatal firearm injuries in emergency departments across the state. As part of this effort, NMDOH is: Assessing the accuracy of surveillance definitions. Increasing the timeliness and use of geographically specific aggregate reporting of ED visits for nonfatal firearm injuries. Increasing use and/or data sharing of syndromic surveillance data with key partners. Regularly disseminating surveillance findings promptly to critical partners.
EXAMPLE Activity
The first year of New Mexico's FASTER program used funding to verify and validate definitions put forth by CDC and develop partnerships.
New Mexico FASTER aims to provide a coordinated response to emerging firearm issues and reduce firearm injury and death.
In 2019, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH or the Department) applied for and received funding to implement FASTER, a CDC-funded initiative to provide surveillance data on emergency visits for nonfatal firearm injuries in near-real-time.
NMDOH uses FASTER funding to help provide a coordinated response to emerging firearm injury issues and to reduce firearm injuries. Funding is being used to pilot and improve the surveillance of nonfatal firearm injuries in emergency departments across the state. As part of this effort, NMDOH is: Assessing the accuracy of surveillance definitions. Increasing the timeliness and use of geographically specific aggregate reporting of ED visits for nonfatal firearm injuries. Increasing use and/or data sharing of syndromic surveillance data with key partners. Regularly disseminating surveillance findings promptly to critical partners.
EXAMPLE Activity
The first year of New Mexico's FASTER program used funding to verify and validate definitions put forth by CDC and develop partnerships.
Rachel Wexler
Injury Prevention Section Manager,
New Mexico Department of Health
"...[we are] improving the quality of data related to firearm-related injuries."
Listen to the full quote by pressing play below.
During year two, the project has continued developing partnerships and has hired a dedicated epidemiologist.
Partnerships are essential to preventing firearm injury and death. The New Mexico Department of Health's FASTER program has multiple partners, including New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils.
Hiring an epidemiologist was a crucial step to achieving the program's goals. The epidemiologist supports prevention efforts through data collection and analysis. They provide data to inform actions including developing a firearm injury strategic plan for the state.
The epidemiologist's work is also empowering upstream prevention efforts by focusing on risk and protective factors.
Garry Kelley
Senior Injury Epidemiologist, NMDOH
“The FASTER project has allowed NMDOH to thoroughly examine the validity of the definitions used for firearm injury…”
Listen to the full quote by pressing play below.
Refining definitions of diagnoses helped the program assess issues with how emergency departments (ED) track firearm injuries with medical diagnosis codes.
Improving how firearm injuries are identified allows the FASTER program to obtain a fuller picture of the toll firearms are taking on New Mexico.
The New Mexico FASTER program has encouraged collaboration between the Health Systems Epidemiology Program and the Injury Prevention Program within the New Mexico Department of Health.
One product of this partnership that is currently in development is the integration of non-fatal firearm injury data into a publicly facing user interface New Mexico's Indicator-Based Information System (IBIS), which will provide near real-time data on firearm injuries for community partners and state legislators.
New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence has partnered with the New Mexico FASTER program to share data and support strategic planning around prevention efforts.
Other key partnerships include:
The University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center
Created the strategic plan for prevention and continues to help manage the strategic planning process.
The Albuquerque Mayor's Office
Implemented a community violence prevention project.
The University of New Mexico Hospital
Provides ongoing clinical support.
Forensic Lab Partners
Their interests in the New Mexico Violent Death Reporting System, a surveillance system designed to collect information about every violent death in New Mexico, align with FASTER's data-based tracking of firearm injuries.
The New Mexico Suicide Coalition
A strong and vocal advocacy group supported by the Office of Injury Prevention focused on the intersection of firearms and preventable injuries.
Rachel Wexler
Injury Prevention Section Manager,
New Mexico Department of Health
"...the real issue is addressing the rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries in New Mexico."
Listen to the full quote by pressing play below.
Moving Forward
The New Mexico Department of Health has recently received $5 million from the New Mexico State Legislature for violence prevention - their first funding from outside CDC sources. The funding is managed by the Injury Prevention Program and will be spent in the next three years.
The New Mexico FASTER program is eagerly awaiting receipt of a portion of the money and plans to implement a variety of initiatives, including:
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Improving data quality standards across the state
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Expanding improvements in data collection and analysis to rural areas
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Ongoing development of strategic plans for internal impact and data collection systems, which have already proved fruitful. In the third funding year, the New Mexico FASTER program plans to expand and share these systems with partners and out-of-state organizations pursuing similar goals
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Continuing to examine and improve definitions used for firearm injury in emergency departments
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Making firearm injury data more accessible and understandable to the general population