March 19, 2015Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference

Spokane, WA

Suzanne Allen, WWAMI AHEC Program OfficeGloria Burnett, Director, Alaska AHEC

Jodi Perlmutter, Director, Western Washington AHECKatrina Hoff, Director, Idaho AHEC

Marivern Easton, Director, Wyoming AHEC

Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program Federal grant funding from HRSA

AHECs “enhance access to high quality, culturally competent health care through academic-community partnerships to ultimately improve the distribution, diversity, and supply of the primary care health professions workforce who serve in rural and underserved health care delivery sites.”

The AHEC Program awardees subcontract with community-based AHEC centers in one or more regions of a state.

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Area Health Education Centers(AHECs) in WWAMI States

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WWAMI AHEC

W

Centers:

W WA AHEC

AHEC E WA

ID AHEC

WY AHEC

Montana AHEC

Centers:

North Central MT

Western MT

South Central MT

North Eastern MT

Eastern MT

Alaska AHEC

Centers:

NW AK

Interior AK,

South Central AK,

SE AK,

Yukon Kuskokwim

WWAMI AHEC

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Goals Provide community-based health careers promotion and preparation activities for youth, college students, and displaced and incumbent workers, to enter health careers education and ultimately become healthcare providers who choose to work in rural and underserved communities

Support community-based student education through field placements, preceptorships and other community-based activities for students in health careers educational programs to become the next generation of providers who will serve our region’s highest need populations

Promote interdisciplinary and interprofessional education and training, emphasizing primary care and creating opportunities for healthcare students and professionals to learn from each other and engage in effective team building

Facilitate professional education and support for healthcare providers working in our region’s underserved settings, with a focus on interprofessional activities

AHEC Partnerships in the WWAMI States

Gloria Burnett, Alaska AHEC Jodi Perlmutter, Western Washington AHEC Katrina Hoff, Idaho AHECMarivern Easton, Wyoming AHEC

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Training Rural Providers to fill the Veteran Healthcare Gap

Partnerships Alaska AHEC

Eastern Washington AHEC

Western Washington AHEC

Northeast Oregon AHEC

VA- Office of Rural Health

Local VA’s

Project Goals Working together to increase rural

providers’ knowledge base as related to Veteran mental health, military culture and resources available for specialize care at VA to provide quality care for Veterans in their own community.

• The VA needed help reaching the private sector especially in rural areas were they had limited resources, the AHECs needed support from the VA including their subject matter experts to continue their outreach efforts

Outcomes• Alaska

3 trainings-122 participants

• Washington 3 trainings-160 participants

• Oregon 1 training-51 participants

Partners• Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network• Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium• Alaska Primary Care Association• Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association• Providence Health & Services of Alaska• State of Alaska, Office of Rural Health• University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human Development, Trust

Training Cooperative

Impact• Healthcare Professionals: Find trainings, Access and maintain CE Portfolio,

Register and Pay for trainings• CE Providers/Instructors: Advertise trainings, Manage training registration

and payments• Hospitals & Clinics (in development): Manage required staff training, utilize

private portal for staff, run reports and download data

Rural Webinar Series Regional AHECs recruit local experts to offer CE webinars

on rural health topics related to community issues

AHEC Program Office provides webinar platform and

technical support

Webinars are advertised via AK CACHE and

streamed/recorded for registered participants

CE offered if applicable

Western Washington AHEC

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Partnerships for Recruitment/Retention

of Primary Care ProvidersACTIVITIES:

Presentations to:

primary care residencies

nurse practitioner programs

physician assistant programs

medical schools

Technical assistance to rural communities regarding recruitment and retention

Direct recruitment in collaboration with Washington State Department of Health, and the National Recruitment Retention Network. (3RNet)

Providers looking for employment opportunities can register at 3RNet.org.

13Contact Zach Nostdal, zach@wwahec.org

Partnerships for Veterans WWAHEC is working to bring veterans into civilian

healthcare careers so they can continue to serve their

communities.

Washington State is 10th in the nation for the number of

returning veterans reentering the civilian workforce.

At Joint Base Lewis McCord near Tacoma Washington

soldiers are re-entering civilian life at a rate of 600 per

month for the next 5 years.

Veterans in Washington State are more likely to live in rural

areas.

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Partnerships for VeteransACTIVITIES:

Veterans in Healthcare Workforce Steering Committee: WWAHEC leads the committee government agencies, nonprofits,

higher education and employer partners working to make it easier for service members with healthcare experience to transition into the civilian healthcare workforce.

Outreach to Veterans and Service Members: WWAHEC conducts outreach to veterans and service members

leaving the military with healthcare experience to provide them with information about pathways to civilian careers and promote working in rural and underserved parts of Washington.

Contact Zach Nostdal, zach@wwahec.org

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The Rural/Underserved

Opportunities Program (R/UOP) 4-week, elective experience in community medicine for UW

School Medicine students between their first and second years. Students live in rural or urban underserved communities throughout Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI). They work side-by-side with local physicians providing health care to underserved populations. R/UOP is a collaborative effort of the Area Health Education Centers, UW School of Medicine, WWAMI campuses 59% of RUOP students chose a residency in general internal

medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics compared to 41% of those who did not participate in RUOP. (based on 2014 residency match)

Nearly 3,000 Students have participated inR/UOP since 1989.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDWxl1MDy7o#t=67

The Rural/Underserved

Opportunities Program (R/UOP) ACTIVITIES:

Recruit rural and underserved physician instructors.

Match students with placement sites and physicians that complement student’s academic interests and goals.

Coordinate housing arrangements for students in rural remote locations.

Contact Kelly Copp, Kelly@wwahec.org

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Building Partnerships the Idaho wayNW Regional Rural Health Conference

March 19, 2015

Our Esteemed Advisory Board

Russ Duke, Chair

Ted Epperly, MD, Vice Chair

Suzanne Allen, MD, MPH

Mary Barinaga, MD

Carolyn Corbett

Kathy Coumerilh

Tim Dunnagan, EdD

Bessie Katsilometes, PhD

Tammy Perkins

Priscilla Salant, MS

Steve Schneider, MD

Mary Sheridan, RN, MPA

Idaho AHEC Staff

Katrina Hoff, AHEC DirectorKatrina assumed her new role Directing Idaho AHEC and Covering Idaho Kids at Jannus in September 2014. Previously, she worked at Idaho Primary Care Association Director of Workforce Development provider recruitment and one year as Outreach Program Director. Katrina also directed the Idaho SEARCH Program for seven years. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family (especially the grandkids), reading, and a variety of other hobbies new and old.

Lynsey Winters Juel, Telehealth Task Force Program ManagerLynsey joined the AHEC team early in 2015, but has worked for Jannus for 11 years, as a refugee resettlement case manager and more recently as the Program Director for the Idaho Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. Balancing work, mothering two young children and tending her family’s urban homestead (including chickens and bees), Lynsey keeps a varied and adventure-filled schedule.

Snapshot of Idaho Demographics

Population 1,634,464

26.5% under 18

13.8% over 65

93.7% White

11.8% Hispanic or Latino

88.8% high school graduates

25.1% with Bachelor’s degree

82,643 square miles19 people per square mile151,671 farmsMedian household income

$46,76715.5% below poverty level479 miles long and 305 miles

wide4,522,506 acres of wilderness

area

The Usual Suspects

UW - WWAMI R/UOP/TRUST/WRITE

Idaho Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care

Idaho Rural Health Association

BSU Rural Nursing Program

ISU Physician Assistant, Nursing, and

Pharmacy programs

Family Medicine Residency of Idaho

ISU Family Medicine Residency

Critical Access Hospitals

Rural Health Clinics

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Primary Care Association

Idaho Academy of Family Physicians

Health Occupations Students of America – Idaho chapter

Idaho Health Coalition

Idaho Health Professions Education Council

Projects & Partnerships Orientation to Health Careers: Introduces middle-school

and high-school students to a variety of healthcare occupations.

Idaho Telehealth Taskforce: Diverse stakeholders promoting appropriate use of telehealth services.

Idaho Graduate Medical Education (GME) Geriatric Workforce Network: Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, Jannus (AHEC & Friends in Action) Boise State University, Idaho Rural Health Association

Orientation to Health Careers Structure

Funded by Idaho AHEC and the Idaho Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care

Idaho Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care, WWAMI, middle-schools, HOSA, ISU, BSU, and CAHs

10 students per community

Total time must = at least 6 hours

Community stipends

Orientation to Health Careers Activities Required Presentations by 2 or more primary care

providers: family physician, PA, NP, nurse, dentist, pharmacist

Tour of hospital, clinic, or other medical facility

Required Public Health presentation

Hands on activities in a classroom setting

Pre- and Post-surveys

Idaho Telehealth Task ForceMembership supported Statewide education and advocacy

coalition facilitated by AHEC.

Members of Executive Committee also serve on Idaho’s Telehealth Council established by HR56 in March 2014.

Meets quarterly in Boise.

Potential for growth via State Health Innovation Plan operated by Idaho DHW.

Idaho GME Geriatric Workforce NetworkHRSA funded; FMRI submitted application in early

March.

Jannus (AHEC & FIA) is the community partner.

BSU is the evaluation partner.

3-year project would start July 1, 2015 if funded.

Goal is to “develop an integrated geriatric and primary care medical, community, and workforce network where provider, caregiver, patient, and community engagement is maximized to improve health outcomes for older Idaho adults.”

Idaho AHEC’s RoleConnect health profession students with Idaho GME

Geriatric Workforce NetworkConvene an Advisory CouncilCreate a web-based networkProvide capacity for meetings, webinars, and conference

callsDesign & administer a statewide survey for partner inputDisseminate geriatrics related resources and tools

Offer community mini-grants to build healthy neighborhoods for seniors

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Goal 1: Health Careers Promotion and Recruitment

Camp Goals Explore a variety of health careers

through interactive workshops

Earn American Heart Association CPR 2 year certification

Identify skills needed for careers in healthcare

Learn from health professionals and college instructors

Explore college readiness

Experience dorm living and campus life

Keys to Success Keep camp fee low Utilize hands-on learning

whenever possible Balance learning and fun Incorporate health

professionals as much as possible

Hire outstanding counselors

Keep students busy

Type of Partners – Be Creative!

Education

University of WY (multiple

departments)

Community Colleges

State Office of Rural Health

Local Fire Dept./EMS

Local Healthcare Providers

Others with vested interest in

nurturing future health providers (Medical Society, State Board of Nursing,

Geriatric Education Center, etc.)

Partner benefits• Community

Exposure/Publicity• News coverage

• Logo(s) utilized

• Exposure to healthcare career-minded students

• Employees share enthusiasm for job/employer

• Allows entity to use $$ earmarked for pipeline programs &/or recruitment and training of underrepresented populations

Questions?

Comments?

Ideas for new partnerships?

Contact InformationSuzanne Allen, MD, MPH, WWAMI AHECDirector and Vice Dean for Academic, Rural, and Regional Affairs, UW Medicine (208) 364-4552 suzaalle@uw.eduhttp://depts.washington.edu/ahec/

Gloria Burnett, AK AHEC Director(907) 786-6705gburnett3@uaa.alaska.eduhttp://www.uaa.alaska.edu/acrh-ahec/

Jodi Perlmutter, W. WA AHEC Director(206) 441-7137 jodi@wwahec.orghttp://www.wwahec.org/

Katrina Hoff, Idaho AHEC Director(208) 336-5533 x 233 khoff@Jannus.org www.idahoahec.org

Marivern Easton, Wyoming AHEC Director(307) 766-6751 measton3@uwyo.eduhttp://www.uwyo.edu/ahec/

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