Rural Health School Mission Statement

"The mission of the Minnesota Rural Health School is to promote the health and well being of rural communities through nurturing partnerships between academic institutions and communities, and promoting the education and practice of health professionals in the context of an interdisciplinary team environment."

MRHS Objectives

Demonstrate knowledge of the culture and health needs of rural communities.

Demonstrate knowledge of community partnerships and the planning process to promote health in rural communities.

Strengthen students’ intentions to work in rural areas

MRHS Objectives (Cont.)Understand the roles and contributions of health care

team members

Analyze the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teams in the community.

Demonstrate interdisciplinary team skills in delivering care to individuals, families and communities.

Demonstrate knowledge and skill in using communication technologies for education and patient care.

MRHS Sites

Minnesota Rural Health SchoolParticipants

Core Disciplines

•Medicine•Nursing•Physician Assistant •Pharmacy•Social Work

OtherDentistry, Vet Med, Public Health, PT/OT, Speech Therapy, Mortuary Science

Minnesota Rural Health SchoolParticipants

Institutions•University of Minnesota Academic Health Center:

•School of Nursing•Medical Schools •College of Pharmacy

•Vet Med/Dentistry•Augsburg College Physician Assistant Program•Augsburg College Department of Social Work•University of Minnesota Duluth Social Work Department•College of St. Scholastica Nursing Department•Bemidji State University School of Nursing

Discipline Activities

Community ProjectInterdisciplinary Activities

MRHS Curriculum

Minnesota Rural Health SchoolCurriculum

Session are 10-12 weeks in length - one day a week devoted to MRHS curriculum- remainder of students’ time typically used to fulfill clinical training in their respective disciplines

Orientation Retreat- orient students and faculty to MRHS curriculum

Community Experiences - demonstrating rural characteristics - modeling interdisciplinary teamwork - local health issues- community needs- cultural issues

Minnesota Rural Health SchoolCurriculum Continued

Interdisciplinary Case Studies - live patient cases- paper cases- interdisciplinary OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Examination)

Community Projects - content and scope determined by community need and student interest

- issues related to the health and well-being of each community- students work on issues directly relating community and public health

Communication technologies for education and patient care- e-mail - interactive television - telephone and video conferencing- live video medical consultations- Internet based education modules

Minnesota Rural Health School Community Project Examples

Teen Smoking

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in the Willmar Hispanic Population

Antibiotics Are Not Always the Answer

Teen Pregnancy Awareness

Local Impact of the Farm Crisis

Healthcare Internet Guide

Diabetes and Hypertension Screening

Health Care Directives

Bi-Lingual Tuberculosis Video

Health Career Promotion for High School Students

Student Participation

• Medical 56

• NP, CNS, CNM 52

• Undergraduate Nursing 15

• Pharmacy 43

• Physician Assistant 34

• Social Work 19

• Public Health 2

• Vet Med 13

• Other (Mortuary Science, Lab Tech, OT, Speech Therapy) 5

1996-2002

Total 239

6%

17%27%

22%28%

2000-10,000

<2000>50,000

25-50,00010,000- 25,000

Community Size of Graduates Practice Site

•61 former students in current practice

•41 rural

•20 urban (7 county metro, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester)

•67% in rural practice

Student Evaluations

5

6

7

8

9

Before RHS After RHS

Understanding Health Needs and Health Care System in a Rural Community

5

6

7

8

9

Before RHS After RHS

Skill in Working with an Interdisciplinary Team

4

5

6

7

8

9

Before RHS After RHS

Understanding the Roles of Health Care Team Members

5

6

7

8

9

Before RHS After RHS

Understanding the Culture and Social Dynamics of a Rural Community

Would you recommend MRHS to other students? 96.5% said yes

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