Montana AHEC/Office of Rural Health Advisory Board
Minutes
/ October 2, 2017 / 10:00 AM to noon / Radisson Colonial, Helena, MTType of meeting
/ Advisory Board, In-PersonAttendees
/ Edith Clark, Thelma McCloskey-Armstrong, Melanie Reynolds, Gayle Hudgins, Sheila Nielson, Diane Duin, Renee Erlandsen, Natascha Robinson, Kristin Juliar, Barry Kenfield, Cindra StahlAgenda topics
Welcomeand Introductions
/ Edith Clark and Kristin Juliarminutes from 3-6-017
/ Meeting minutes approvedDiscussion
/ Interprofessional Education – AHEC Scholars Program: Kristin JuliarFor the new AHEC grant cycle, there is a requirement to develop Interprofessional Education, called “AHEC Scholars.” Requirements include: 40 hours of didactic IPE and 40 clinical hours per year per scholar. Each program office must have at least 15 participating scholars (i.e. 75 total per cohort per year for Montana). Common programming must focus on six (6) topic areas:
Interprofessional education, behavioral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation, and current and emerging health issues (i.e. opioids, HPV). Additionally, overall focus on rural and underserved populations.
Strengths and Benefits: will develop well rounded students who can function in team based practice. AHEC Scholar endorsement will be beneficial toward graduate school admission, also beneficial in job applications. Team based care decreases physician burn-out. Opportunity to include public health and community health. New models of care already use team approach (PCMH, CPC+, ACOs). Content is readily available from several resources. Professional resources are available on campuses. Accreditation pressure for university departments to initiate IPE—willing to work together.
Limitations and Challenges: filling the student participant numbers will be challenging for low population states. Students are already overextended in their programs—what will be valuable and important to them? Why should they participate? Rural healthcare facilities are financially tenuous—how can they support clinical rotations and other experiences? Evaluation componentis challenging (requires 0.5 FTE). How can we offer student stipends on limited grant funds? Still need additional guidance from HRSA, many questions remaining.
Opportunities: Utilize technology in rural: ECHO, Zoom, Friday Medical Conference (out of Missoula), SIM trucks. Importance of good internet connectivity. Scholars programs dovetails with existing programs. Develop new collaborations with geriatric, mental health, tribal communities, oral health, school based clinics, corrections.
Key stakeholders: healthcare professions programs, new OT program, employers, students, public health training centers, ECHO, HealthCARE MT, telemedicine networks, insurance companies, flagship university programs, foundations, professional organizations.
Next steps:
- Create council of IPE advisors (Dean Shannon, MSU Nursing; Dr. Levinson, UM School of PT and Rehab.; Dr. Cook, Director MSU-B Interdisciplinary Education for Allied Health).
- Complete environmental scan of current IPE offerings, courses, programs and experiences (by AHEC region).
- Build collaboration with WWAMI states’ AHEC programs to leverage resources.
- Explore community support and current IPE programs for students, practicing professionals and healthcare systems.
- Design a MT AHEC Scholars program to pilot in FY2019.
Discussion
/ Behavioral Health Workforce—New Training Programs: Kristin JuliarProfessional (Western MT AHEC)—Barry Kenfield.
$1.8M for four (4) years. Multidisciplinary student teams will be placed in rural/underserved sites. Teams to include Psychology, social work, counseling, and Psych Nurse (from MSU). Project will create opportunities for teams in sites with appropriate supervision in their profession. 60% of award goes to stipends. Clinical sites have been identified, and they are now working to arrange the placements. Western MT AHEC is coordinating the grant.
Paraprofessional (AHEC Program Office)—Kristin Juliar
This project will train paraprofessional behavioral health staff, including CHWs, behavioral health aides, and peer support specialists. The grant offers student support (up to $3000/trainee) in the form of tuition, fees, and supplies. Initial focus may be on training incumbent workforce. We hope to have a good response to recruitment due to student support money.
Other Updates
Healthy Communities Conference will be held November 2 in Helena. Alana Knudsen (from NORC) will offer a presession on November 1. Topic is “Building a Culture of Health for Rural America.” Information found on flyer in meeting packets.Frank Newman Award nominations are open for 2017. We request nominees in 3 categories and hope to announce award recipients on National Rural Health Day. We always need reviewers—contact AHEC office.
Renee Erlandsen gives an update on CTE in Montana. Copies of a nice article referencing many Montana rural CTE efforts is included in meeting materials. HOSA has been rapidly increasing student and teacher participants across the state. Many positive educational efforts between OPE and OCHE: dual credit, credit for MedStart camp participation, pre-apprenticeship programs, and statewide pathways including work based learning.