3c. Collaborate with community, business, government, civic, rural health networks, workforce investment boards, academic institutions, health care leaders and others on health workforce issues.
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NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director for Nursing consulted in writing a grant with the Community Health Foundation and CNYAHEC in response to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Partners in Health RFP.
The Director of Nursing is developing an analysis plan for the as yet unreleased 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses data for New York State. Once the data is available, a regional analysis will be prepared by the Director of Nursing, Director for Evaluation, and the University at Buffalo, Department of Family Medicine statistician. This report will be an update to the 2002 report based on 2000 data.
The New York State AHEC System joined with the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS, New York’s Primary Care Association) and Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) to launch “Primary Care: New York’s Healthcare Home.” Central to the initiative is “Laying the Foundation: Health System Reform in New York State and the Primary Care Imperative,” a policy paper prepared by Sara Rosenbaum, JD, and colleagues from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. This report (prepared with support from CHCANYS, PCDC and the New York State AHEC System) addresses the importance of strengthening and expanding New York State’s primary care foundation to reduce health care costs, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. The paper provides 1) an introduction to primary care as the foundation of health system reform, 2) an overview of the crucial functions, key components and promising models in primary care, 3) specific issues to New York State, and 4) an agenda for reform.
As a result of this partnership, a coalition of health care leaders, advocacy organizations, elected officials, community health centers and other primary care providers and networks, hospitals, community affiliated health plans, and others have come together around this issue. This coalition is emerging as an important force in bringing attention to the major message: that a deliberate focus on primary and preventive care is necessary to improve the health care system in New York State.
The “Laying the Foundation: Health System Reform in New York State and the Primary Care Imperative,” can be accessed on the New York State AHEC System website, www.ahec.buffalo.edu.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
EN AHEC continued to work in conjunction with Parent Network, Buffalo Public School’s Special Education division, Grover Cleveland, People Inc., Elmwood Health Center to create an internship in the health sector for Special Education students from Grover Cleveland High School.
EN AHEC Executive Director is now the Chair of the Health Literary Collaborative part of a city wide literacy effort lead by a group called Good Schools for All. It is our objective to bring focus to the issue of health literacy specifically.
The LifeBeat ‘Challenge Yourself’ Spring Break Summit was held at East High School on April 20 and featured The Three Doctors and Sister Souljah, nationally recognized motivational speakers and NY Times best-selling authors. An estimated 1000 people attended this event which well publicized and received in the community. The Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools was present, and the EN AHEC was able to position the organization as involved, interested and aware of the challenges that students face. The speakers helped place a positive outlook on what are some challenges that student must overcome to succeed in school, health professions, and life.
The Taskforce is a collaboration of community based organizations and hospital systems and insurance providers serving the Eastside Buffalo community. Current projects include working on two subcommittees concerned with Improving Primary Care and another on joining with the Westside Buffalo to put in place one taskforce serving both the Eastside and Westside. The combined taskforce will address health disparities faced by African Americans, and the health disparities faced by Hispanics, a very important move for this community. EN AHEC Executive Director is a member of the planning committee and meeting are held at the EN AHEC office.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC has formed a partnership with the following partners to develop a Workforce Development System in Jefferson and Lewis counties:
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Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board
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Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
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Northern New York Community Foundation
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Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization
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Jefferson County Job Development Corporation
NAHEC has also formed a partnership with the North Country Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to develop a Workforce Development System in the North Country WIB region.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Due to its success in developing a health care career ladder focusing on high demand jobs in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties, CNYAHEC has been contracted again by the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University for a similar project in Oswego County. Success of the project will require CNYAHEC staff to connect with health care employers and educational institutions in the region to identify demand professions as well as educational programs that can prepare employees. The project is slated for completion in August 2006.
One major factor in originally securing Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding for Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) is CNYAHEC’s collaboration with academic institutions and health care leaders. Along with CNYAHEC, ten other organizations make up the HCOP partnership. Those organizations include Broome Community College, Binghamton University’s Gear Up/Upward Bound program, Binghamton University’s Multicultural Resource Center, Binghamton City School District, Harpursville Central School District, Newark Valley Central School District, Broome-Tioga BOCES, Tech Prep of Broome and Tioga Counties, Lourdes Hospital and United Health Services Hospitals. With the elimination of HCOP funds, all partners are continuing to work together to secure alternative funding sources to continue the program. All partners have committed significant in-kind support to CNYAHEC’s grant submission to the Appalachian Regional Commission for funds to expand HCOP.
CNYAHEC continues to collaborate with the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY) and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to identify solutions to the nursing shortage. A meeting of the Nurse Leadership Consortium was held on June 27. The focus of the meeting was to determine the future of the consortium given the unsuccessful grant proposal to Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation. As a result of the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium meeting held on June 27, the CNYAHEC and the CHFWCNY are issuing a second survey to nurse leaders in the region. Attendees at the June meeting agreed that another survey will help to clarify and direct future efforts of the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium and whether to reapply to the RWJ.
CNYAHEC’s executive director has been elected to serve as a board member of the Chenango Rural Health Network. Ms. Borfitz communicates on a regular basis with other Rural Health Network directors in the region. CNYAHEC provides staffing services to the New York State Association for Rural Health and as such has regular communication with RHN directors from across the state.
Eastern Region Office:
Data supplied to outside organizations:
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Map of hospitals located in rural New York State for the NYS DOH Office of Rural Health as part of its testimony before the Commission on Health Care Facilities for the 21st Century.
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Health and socio-demographic data for Assemblyman Joseph Giglio of the 149th NYS Assembly District.
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Primary care, socio-demographic and health disparities data for Brian Smedley of the Opportunity Agenda, a partner organization with the Institute for Urban Family Health.
Data provided to New York State AHEC System:
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A ZIP code based primary care needs analysis including regional maps and tables, for the Primary Care Coalition (Primary Care Development Corporation, the Community Health Care Association of New York State, and the New York State AHEC System).
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A list of family medicine preceptors in HPSAs and MUAs, for Upstate Medical Center.
Specialized data or maps provided to the New York State AHEC System
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A master list of RNs with addresses drawn from the SED licensure file of 2002 (the last year street level data were provided to the public) in connection with the Catskill Hudson AHEC nursing summit to be held in August.
Meetings with strategic partners:
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Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse at a workshop at the National AHEC Organization Conference in Omaha, NE. As a result of that presentation, exploratory talks are under way to pilot a national AHEC Tools model in Kentucky, Arizona and California.
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Substituted for the Eastern Regional Office Medical School liaison, on a panel on National Primary Care Week at the National AHEC Organization Conference in Omaha, NE.
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Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse to the New York State Association of Health Providers, which is interested in subscribing to the Data Warehouse well as purchasing customized mapping and data products from the AHEC Data Resource Center.
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Met with the Director of the Office of Biometrics at the New York State Department of Health, to demonstrate the work of the AHEC Data Resource Center and to discuss the access of ZIP code perinatal data.
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Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse to Policy Research Associates in Delmar, NY.
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Met with the Director of Policy at Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) to discuss the resources of the New York State AHEC System Data Resource Center ways in which CHCANYS and the community health centers might avail themselves of those resources.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
The Executive Director met with the Chief Operating Officer of Hometown Health Center on April 13 to discuss workforce issues at this community health center. Another meeting was held on that same day with staff from Fulton County Community College. The Executive Director held an Industry Day at the Hudson Headwaters Health Network outpatient clinic in Warrensburg on May 18. The HM AHEC held its annual meeting on April 26 in Saratoga Springs.
The Executive Director of HM AHEC has a seat on the Adirondack Rural Health Network’s Steering Committee, which held its meeting on June 19. The two organizations continue their collaboration on the nyemtinfo.com website and will plan a fall training to mental health providers.
A video conference session was downloaded from the Centers for Disease Control to the HM AHEC conference room. The session was titled “Social Networks: A Recruitment Strategy for HIV counseling, Testing and Referral Services on April 27, 2006. There was one attendee from an Essex County hospital.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC continues to hold a seat on the Advisory Board of Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery System. Although the May 2006 board meeting was cancelled, there is continuous dialogue between the Network affiliates, namely Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute, Ellenville Regional Hospital and Kingston Hospital. CHAHEC is working with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute to develop and implement a patient-centered service program, educating staff on the importance of patient satisfaction and providing training in the areas of customer services, work ethic, conflict resolution, communication and cultural/disabilities sensitivity. This collaboration is a beta-test of a future sustainability product for CHAHEC.
CHAHEC continues to contract with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute for the shared services of its Executive Director and support staff.
CHAHEC continues to be the host of the bi-monthly meetings of the Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery System network, providing continuous promotion of the organization’s existence.
CHAHEC’s Executive Director is a member of the Rural Health Council and participated in sub-committee activities of the Council. Most recently, participating has been on the sub-committee to address the Council’s concerns with the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC co-sponsored a meeting on Collaboration for Downstate Health Professional Schools to Increase Minority Recruitment and Retention on June 9. A follow-up meeting will be held on July 25.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BW AHEC supported the development of the Master of Public Health Program at Lehman College of the City University of New York (enrollment commenced spring 2006).
Funding and health careers information was provided to the College Now Program of the School/College Collaborative Center at Lehman College. The grant enabled the College Now program to offer a regionally accessible Summer Health Science Academy which served students in both Westchester and Bronx counties.
The BW AHEC executive director attended the April 2006 annual meeting of the National Association of Minority Medical Educators held in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The BW AHEC staff distributed BW AHEC brochures and attended conference sessions and workshops during the Health Disparities Symposium sponsored by the Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center held at the New York College of Medicine (May 2006).
The BW AHEC Board of Directors has increased representation among its membership from public health care provider institutions and health care organizations serving Westchester County.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC staff participate in the Health Careers Advisory Commission, Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education in the New York City Department of Education. BQLI AHEC co-sponsored a conference on health careers in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education Health Careers Commission. The conference was held on June 8th at the New York City College of Technology. The one-day educational program provided an opportunity for health career teachers and professionals to network and share their view and experiences on health careers today and in the future. The conference was attended by 60 health career teachers in the New York City public schools and other individuals involved in working with students around the issue of health careers. The program was approved for six credits of contact hours. BQLI AHEC tabled at the event and distributed brochures and four career guides. BQLI AHEC managed the registration for the event.
BQLI AHEC is collaborating with the Tech Prep Consortium, which has a goal to increase the number of students with scientific or technical backgrounds. The program integrates academic, vocational, and technical instruction, and utilizes work-based and worksite learning where appropriate and possible. Tech Prep is federally funded and provides free SAT preparation for high school students from underserved areas. BQLI AHEC will refer students to the Tech Prep Program. The Program Coordinator attended one Tech Prep meeting at Kingsborough Community College on June 1. BQLI AHEC participated in the New York Area Tech Prep Consortium Conference at Queens Borough Community College on May 12. The conference theme was “Tech Prep and CTE Working together” and featured break out sessions on planning career days, integrating technology into the classroom, and setting up distance learning classrooms. BQLI AHEC staff conducted a workshop that provided an overview of AHEC services and programs. The presentation was attended by 20 teachers from Clara Barton High School, John Adams High School, New Utrecht High School, Townsend High School and Harris High School. The evaluations by the attendees indicated that they learned a lot and plan to collaborate with BQLI AHEC in the fall. The BQLI AHEC Program Coordinator led a breakout session highlighting the BQLI AHEC’s Speaker’s Bureau and Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP).
BQLI AHEC collaborates with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership, an organization initiated by the Brooklyn Borough President to look at nursing staffing issues in the borough. BQLI AHEC helped plan a Nursing Symposium in June to address workforce shortage of nursing faculty in Brooklyn and ways to enhance pipeline programs. The Nursing Symposium allowed the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership and BQLI AHEC to talk with elected officials about the nursing workforce issues. BQLI AHEC will also help the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership plan borough-wide initiatives to increase the number of minority youth, especially African American males, interested in nursing careers. The Brooklyn Nursing Partnership will provide speakers for the SHIP. BQLI AHEC is working with this organization to create a “Lunch and Learn” series with local nursing staff and minority students interested nursing careers.
BQLI AHEC staff had three meetings with the African American Health Education and Development (AHEAD) Foundation in Long Island. AHEAD’s mission is to reduce the risk of disease in communities of color by promoting a holistic approach to health by stressing wellness of the body, mind and spirit. AHEAD provides health education and advocates for equal access to health care. The AHEAD office oversees the BQLI AHEC SHIP in Long Island.
The BQLI AHEC Executive Director attended the United Way of New York Board recruitment event to find potential new board members on June 7.
The Executive Director continues to participate in the Health Access work group of the Nassau County Minority Health Task Force. The group is charged with developing broad based comprehensive and sustainable action plans to address access issues related to health care disparities in Nassau County. The Executive Director attended at meeting on April 19.
The Community Partnership to Increase Diversity in the Health Professions is planning to hold a forum on September 27th at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The purpose of the event is to inform various Brooklyn communities about the need to increase minority representation in the health professions while linking the issue to the elimination of our nation’s battle with health disparities. The BQLI AHEC Executive Director is the co-chair of the group’s advisory sub-committee, and will help facilitate the development of the forum’s program and execution of the group’s proposed outreach model.
BQLI AHEC staff has made presentations at several conferences highlighting the need for diversity in the health professions. BQLI AHEC together with Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC staff presented a workshop, at the National AHEC Organization conference, “New York Pipeline: Health Professions Exposure for Urban Youth.” The Executive Director presented at the Brooklyn Nursing Symposium about the need for diversity in nursing. BQLI AHEC staff attended a seminar on cultural competency at the Health Careers Today and Tomorrow Conference.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
3c.
The MSI AHEC Executive Director attended the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century meeting in Rochester followed by an orientation meeting with community leaders of Rochester who were interested in working on this issue, annual meeting for the Commission on the Public’s Health System, and the annual meeting of the Public Health Association of New York.
MSI AHEC presented at a New York State Council on Graduate Medical Education Subcommittee on Minority Participation Medical Education meeting on May 16, 2006.
MSI AHEC Executive Director presented AHEC mission, program and activities to members of Community Board #3, representing the Lower East Side.
MSI AHEC collaborated with the Fund for the City of New York, Columbia University, the Institute for Medical Mentoring, and Full Circle of Health to form a pipeline programming collective.
MSI AHEC led collaboration with the Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island and Bronx-Westchester AHECs in development and presentation of a workshop at the NAO Conference on June 10, 2006. The workshop was well attended and material was very well received. The MSI AHEC Board of Directors initiated the establishment of a Health Profession School Consortium. The first meeting was June 9th where the discussion focused on the need to collaborate between the schools and the MSI AHEC in order to increase diversity in the health professions programs. A follow up to the first meeting was the creation of a workgroup, whose first project is to conduct an inventory of pipeline programs targeting public high school students.
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