New York State Area Health Education Center (ahec) System Progress Report to the New York State Department of Health

Project Objective

Status of Activities/Accomplishments

Objective 5. Enhance statewide support for centers and regions and dynamic statewide needs-based Area Health Education Center System.

1. 
   provide advice on workforce issues facing the health care system in the state;
   
2. 
   foster a community-focused, multidisciplinary approach to health care training and service delivery;
   
3. 
   help develop linkages between the New York State AHEC System and other state agencies, state programs and community resources; and
   
4. 
   assist with evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the New York State AHEC System.
   

The New York State AHEC System Statewide Office is conducting a survey of the New York State AHEC System Advisory Board to assess members' perceptions regarding the extent to which the Advisory Board has been able to address its mandated goals. Survey results will be summarized in August and presented at the September Advisory Board meeting in Albany.

1. 
   inform Associated Medical Schools (AMS) and other partners and constituents of AHEC impact, progress and outreach and
   
2. 
   further develop web-based and distance learning capacity to meet the needs of students and their community-based preceptors.
   

The Spring 2006 issue of the New York State AHEC System Newsletter “AHEC Update” was produced in May.  The newsletter included information about the AHEC reception in Albany, BQLI AHEC “Connecting Doctors of Tomorrow with Doctors of Today” program, CHAHEC ONC BOCES service award, national Health Information Technology Leadership Award to Dr. Neil Calman, New York State AHEC System Advisory Board meeting on “Retaining Minorities in Health Professions Education Programs,” CNYAHEC’s health career ladders, R-AHEC’s rural physician assistant placements, rural medical education, and NAHEC’s health career readiness. Newsletters were sent to over 1,300 individuals and agencies across New York State with additional quantities distributed to centers for local and regional use. 

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  Evaluating the Impacts of the AHEC Pipeline Programs (Linda Kahn, PhD, Evaluation Director, and Mary Sienkiewicz, MBA, Associate Director, New York State AHEC System; and Kenneth Oakley, PhD, CEO, Western New York Rural AHEC)
  
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  Primary Care Week: How Medical Schools Promote the AHEC Mission (Thomas Rosenthal, MD, Director, New York State AHEC System; Peter Beatty, PhD, Director, Central Region Office; Steven Schreiber, PhD, Director, Eastern Region Office; and Bruce Gould, MD, Director, Connecticut AHEC System)
  

A poster session by Andrea Nikischer, MS, Project Manager, and Mary Sienkiewicz, MBA, Associate Director, both with the New York State AHEC System; and Joanne Borfitz, Executive Director, Central New York AHEC, “Advocacy: Building a Foundation for Success” was also featured.

The R-AHEC Regional Coordinator, Dave Prete, attended the NAO Conference in Omaha, NE from June 11-14 to give a presentation to other AHEC representatives from across the country focusing on best practices and marketing strategies for assembling MedQuest Camps. This presentation was facilitated collaboratively with staff from the CNYAHEC as well as Dr. Thomas LaCroix from Ontario, Canada. His presentation included a sample activity that is used at camps by the CNYAHEC. A total of 32 participants attended this two- hour long presentation.

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  Check Presentation, Genesee Valley Penny Saver, April 23, 2006
  
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  Wyoming County Mental Health Public Hearing, Warsaw Penny Saver, April 30, 2006
  
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  Genesee County Business/Education Alliance Annual Breakfast Meeting
  

Speakers’ bureau presentations were featured at the Race & Equality Conference, Buffalo Museum of Science, attended by 250 individuals. Television and Radio Programs used to promote EN AHEC programs include:

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  April 7, WUFO Radio, Ted Kirkland Show
  
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  April 12, WUFO, Dr. William Holley Show
  
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  April 26, Adelphia Cable TV – Target Success (BOCES)
  

The EN AHEC web site has been redesigned to reflect the LifeBeat concept as well as make it easier to use. Information about upcoming programs and scholarship links has been added.

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  April 19, Three Doctors hope to inspire others
  
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  April 21, The Three Doctor’s deliver a resounding message of hope
  

The www.myhealthcareer.org is updated on a daily basis using the administrative site. The health professions site (including the Recruitment Zone) has been released. Currently there are eight completed Recruitment Zones on the www.myhealthcareer.org website. The My Health Career website had 893 registrations between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.

CNYAHEC Executive Director, at the request of the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of the Southern Tier Board, gave a thirty minute presentation on CNYAHEC with a focus on its pipeline programs. Excellus has provided financial support for the last two years supporting MASH, MedQuest and HealthQuest camps. Feedback from the presentation was very positive.

CNYAHEC submitted the following press releases and news articles:

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  HCOP Scrubs Club Catches a Glimpse of BCC’s College Experience, submitted to 24 media outlets in Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties (April 2006)
  
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  HCOP Students Earn Money While Learning About Health Care, submitted to 24 media outlets in Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties (April 2006)
  
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  Lee Memorial’s MASH Camp Introduces Teens to Health Professions, submitted by AL Lee Memorial Hospital (April 2006)
  
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  Auburn Memorial Hospital Hosts Second MASH Camp, submitted by Auburn Memorial Hospital (April 2006)
  
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  Local Winner of Statewide Nursing Essay Contest, submitted to 12 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties (May 2006)
  
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  CMH Hosts Sixth Annual MASH Camp, submitted Cortland Regional Medical Center (May 2006)
  
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  MASH Camp Comes to St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, submitted to 35 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties (May 2006)
  
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  Oneida Healthcare Center Hosts Second MASH Camp, submitted to 35 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties (May 2006)
  
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  Cayuga Medical Center to Hold Fourth MASH Camp, submitted to 21 media outlets in Tompkins and Seneca counties (May 2006)
  
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  Community Memorial Hospital MASH Camp, submitted by Community Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
  
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  Oswego Hospital to Hold Summertime MASH Camp for Youths, submitted by Oswego Hospital (May 2006)
  
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  CMH Hosts Fourth Year of MASH Camp, submitted by Chenango Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
  
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  Hospital Hosts MASH Camp for Students Interested in Health Care Careers, submitted by Rome Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
  

CNYAHEC programs received coverage in the following print/television/radio media:

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  Community General Hospital MASH Camp, interview with Peggy Chase, WCNY public television (February 2006)
  
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  Health Care Careers, News Channel 34, Binghamton, on-line press release at www.newschannel34.com/news/local/story (April 2006)
  
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  Community General Hospital MASH Camp, WSYR Channel 9 and News 10 Now (April 2006)
  

Information on CNYAHEC appeared in the following papers, advertisements or event calendars:

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  Rural Health Network Grant for 2006-2007 (Cayuga County Rural Health Network support of CNYAHEC), The Cayuga County Community Rural Health Network Newsletter (Winter 2005-2006)
  
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  Careers in Health Introduced to Area Youth at MASH Camp, Lablines, a newsletter of Laboratory Alliance of CNY (March-April 2006)
  
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  Promotion of MASH Camps, MedQuest and HealthQuest, Tompkins County Youth Services Department On-line Summer Camp Guide at www.tompkins-co.org/youth/campguide (April 2006)
  
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  Promotion of MASH Camp at Cayuga Medical Center, Tompkins County Human Services Coalition List-Serv (May 2006)
  
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  Promotion of MASH Camps, MedQuest and HealthQuest, Ithaca Times Summer Camp Guide (Summer 2006)
  

A link to the HM AHEC website for MyHealthCareers is listed on the www.abspconnects.org website.

Speakers’ Bureau presentations included:

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  April 6, Bassett Healthcare Networking meeting, Cooperstown, 6 attendees (human resources, nursing education and nursing)
  
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  May 5, Sullivan County Rural Health Network, Catskill Regional Medical Center, Monticello, 17 county representatives in attendance
  

The BW AHEC together with the BQLI AHEC and MSI AHEC met to strategize and plan future collaborations with medical schools in the New York metropolitan area. Several telephone consultations have followed in collaboration with the New York Metropolitan Region Office and a meeting with representatives of the Medical School Diversity officers is planned for the summer 2006.

The Director of Nursing assisted CNY AHEC to develop a proposal for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop faculty training, and prepared a concept paper on preceptor/internship programs for potential use in grants.

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  Health Workforce Retraining Initiative Waiver Program, New York State Department of Health, $1,123,797, commitment received from funder. R-AHEC Health Workforce Retraining Initiative Waiver program has three training components for three regions (Western, Rochester and Central). The program components are: LPN training, RN Associate’s degree training and RN Bachelor’s degree training. The programs began April 1, 2006 and runs through March 31, 2008. Applications and program brochures were developed and distributed to employer partners. A total of 177 applications were returned by June 15. R-AHEC staff is in the process of reviewing the files and establishing selection protocols.
  
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  Rural Health Literacy Program, American Academy of Physician Assistants, $9,992, grant received from funder. The grant ended April 30, 2006. Assisted by a generous grant from the Physician Assistant (PA) Foundation of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the R-AHEC, completed the process of facilitating a community service project for PA students serving in rural rotations. As an enhancement to the “real world” learning experience of its rural PA students, R-AHEC provided a community service program, underwritten by the PA Foundation, for students to provide health literacy education to local elderly populations and their caregivers. The program was offered in March and April of 2006. The program gave PA students the opportunity to educate seniors and caregivers on health literacy issues, particularly with respect to chronic diseases such as hypertension and life-changing events such as heart attacks. The students and one of their faculty coordinators were trained by representatives of the Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network and the Allegany County Literacy Volunteers, in association with the New York State Department of Health. Armed with educationally proven techniques for reaching a rural elderly population in a low-income region, nine (9) students from the George Washington University and Daemen College have been actively engaging seniors and caregivers in these community settings. The program serviced over 150 community members at locations such as Rural AHEC housing sites and Allegany County Office for the Aging Meal Sites.
  
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  Alzheimer’s Disease Community Service Program (as subcontractor), WNY Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, $2,307, commitment received from funder. Grant begins April 1, 2006 and R-AHEC will assist with marketing programs aimed at caregivers, medical professionals and family members and will also assist in locating potential places to host future workshops and seminars.
  
• 
  Upstate New York Telemedicine Study (as subcontractor), Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation, $60,766 as direct subcontract plus $27,979 in telemedicine hardware and engineering/networking/installation services, commitment received from funder. This quarter equipment was installed in the education room of the R-AHEC Learning Center. It consists of multiple devices in a storage area, a ceiling mounted projector and stat-of-the art speakers, a pull down 60 inch screen and cameras mounted in both the front and the back of the classroom. Testing of the equipment occurred and the system is ready to use in teleconferencing.
  
• 
  Health Career Exploration Program for High School Students (Wyoming County), $600 received from the Wyoming Foundation for Wyoming County high school health career exploration trips in the fall of 2006. This funding will cover busing expenses for three trips.
  
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  Health Career Exploration Program for High School Students (Genesee County), $350 received from the Batavia Kiwanis Club for busing expenses for Genesee County high school health career exploration trips in the fall of 2006. This funding will cover busing expenses for two trips. In order to fully cover busing costs, students will be asked to pay a small fee to supplement the Kiwanis’ funding.
  
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  Pipeline to Practice – Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (Wyoming County) There was a remaining balance from two previous awards from this foundation for work in recruitment programs for youth, high school and health professions students. A request to utilize these funds for a Summer Interdisciplinary Program and for funding for two students to do work through the AmeriCorp program was approved. The summer program began and provided funding for stipends, mileage and/or housing for five students from pharmacy, nurse practitioner (2), medicine, and physical therapy disciplines. Weekly Interdisciplinary Geriatric programming is part of this program. The AmeriCorp youth are both college students who have worked with R-AHEC for two years prior in work-study positions at the Wyoming County Community Hospital. They are studying to be a doctor (OB/GYN) and radiologic technician (4-year). Both students have obtained meaningful work placements at the hospital in their areas of interest. The AmeriCorp employer payment for this program provided matching funds which allow the students to draw a bi-weekly check through December 31, 2006, commit to work for 300 hours and they also receive $1,000 in college tuition credit for their participation.
  
• 
  R-AHEC partnered with the Wyoming Foundation to hold a fund-raising event. A garden party at the Thiel Center was the main event. Forty-three (43) people attended and other donations were received.
  

The Statewide Office Project Manager worked with the Erie Niagara AHEC to develop a “Typical or Troubled School Mental Health Education Program” submission to the American Psychiatric Foundation, in the amount $5,000. A decision is pending.

A request of $ 11,600 was made to the Golub Foundation on April 25 for a pharmacy opportunity program for high school students.

The Director of the Central Region Office assisted with planning for implementation of a joint project of the Department of Family Medicine and Department of Pediatrics at Upstate Medical University for establishment of an Institute for Training on Health Care Transitioning for youth with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and their providers.

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  Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, $50,000 granted
  
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  North Country Workforce Investment Board = $32,000 granted
  
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  Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board = $32,000 granted
  
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  Alice Hyde Medical Center = $1,000 granted
  

Two meetings have been held throughout the NAHEC region with 65 members of community initiatives to deploy the Workforce Development System. The restructuring of the NAHEC Board of Directors committee structure is intended to focus on business development and fundraising. NAHEC is currently working on formal partnerships with all of the hospitals in the NAHEC region to provide funds for NAHEC workforce services. NAHEC is currently in the process of contract negotiations to license My Health Career with Erie-Niagara AHEC.

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  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Northwest Health Foundation – Partners in Nursing’s Future. Following the submission of a proposal brief on February 16, CNYAHEC and partners were invited to submit a full proposal. The full proposal was submitted on April 7 through Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY). The proposal was not selected for a site visit and/or funding. CNYAHEC met on May 24 with CHFWCNY and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regarding moving forward with project despite failure to get award. Possible suggestions: resubmit in next funding round, reduce budget and solicit enough local support, look for other funding sources, or revise project and move in another direction. CNYAHEC, CHFWCNY, and Excellus are committed to moving forward with the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium.
  
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  HRSA – Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant Program. CNYAHEC received notification that the proposal was not funded.
  

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  NYSDOH – Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Education and Support Initiative. Application to develop on-line/CD-ROM educational modules on ovarian cancer for health care providers and health professions students in a 17-county region (includes three counties in N-AHEC region) was submitted on April 6. This is a three-year grant for $20,000/year. Awards will be made in August or September.
  
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  Tompkins Cortland Tech Prep Program – Mini-grant Request for Proposals. An application was submitted to roll-out My Health Career in schools in Cortland and Tompkins counties with supplement field trips to local hospitals on April 7. This is a one-time award for $9,750. Awards will be made in May or June.
  
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  AETNA – End of Life Care. An application was submitted by the New York State AHEC System on March 30 for $50,000. Awards will be made in September.
  
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  Honda Foundation – aka Science. A proposal was submitted in partnership with the New York State AHEC System Statewide Office and the R-AHEC for $85,000. The proposal was not funded.
  
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  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Hitachi Foundation – Jobs to Careers. Application to develop and implement a work-based Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) training program for incumbent frontline workers was submitted on May 18. The project is a collaboration of Broome Community College, Laboratory Alliance of CNY, Centrex Clinical Laboratories, and CNYAHEC. This is a three-year grant for $425,000. Next step is invitation for site visit in July.
  

CNYAHEC is currently working on the following applications:

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  Appalachian Regional Commission – Area Development Program. This application is being written to fund an expansion of the Health Careers Opportunity Program into Chenango County and other school districts within Broome and Tioga counties to include roll-out of My Health Career in the designated region. The collaboration of many partners with significant in-kind contributions (ARC funding is up to $150,000 with a 1:1 match) is required. The application due June 9.
  
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  In addition to securing funds from grants and foundations, CNYAHEC aggressively pursues other sources of income including partnering with other organizations to provide mission related programs such as their three year contract with Excellus which supports its summer camps, generating revenue from programs and product sales and from service provision contracts with other organizations. Currently CNYAHEC has contracts with the following organizations: New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH), Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC) and Seven Valleys Health Coalition (SVHC).
  

A draft sustainability plan has been developed for the Data Resource Center. Sustainability measures include contract work for maps tables and data analyses; subscription fees for outside users of the Data Warehouse; licensing fees for states that wish to use the AHEC Tools application; and federal and foundation grants. An account for the Data Resource Center has been established in the University at Buffalo Research Foundation. Revenue has been received from four outside organizations for work done by the Data Resource Center. Efforts are continuing to market the services of the Data Resource Center, including the development of a one-page brochure. The National AHEC Organization (NAO) has expressed an interest in the Data Resource Center developing an interactive map that would link the AHEC center to the community health center(s) in the region and also link the appropriate AHEC center to each priority-needs county lacking a community health center. A proposal from the Data Resource Center has been submitted to the NAO and is under review.

The Catskill Hudson AHEC Sustainability Plan Development proposal to The Dyson Foundation in the amount of $10,000 was approved June 1.

The New York Metropolitan Region Office assisted the Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC in the development of a grant application to the New York Foundation.

The BW AHEC joined the BQLI AHEC and MSI AHEC in exploring developing contractual relationships for the placement assistance services provided throughout its internship programs activities. Pricing structures were developed and talks advanced with the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Community Health Experience Training program for students in health professions studies.

The Executive Director attended a meeting with staff of Lutheran Medical Center regarding a collaborative grant submission to the United Hospital Fund on April 20. The Executive Director met with Dr. Rajesh Parikh and, Executive Director of Illinois AHEC and Carol Wolff, Executive Director of Camden AHEC to discuss sustainability ideas for BQLI AHEC on May. The Executive Director met with Reuben Walker a grant writer to arrange for him to write several grants for the organization on June 7.

MSI AHEC has submitted the following grant applications:

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  Mentor Connection , Kraft Employee Fund, $30,000, Pending notification in August
  
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  Mentor Connection, New York Foundation, $30,000, Denied due to insufficient funds/not a real match for foundation.
  
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  SHIP General Planning Grant, United Way, $20,000, Received July
  
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  SHIP-Education Enrichment, Hayden Foundation, $100,000, Pending notification
  

The MSI AHEC Executive Director engaged New York Foundation Director in significant discussion regarding funding opportunities with them and others. A commitment was obtained to work with AHEC director on future submissions. The foundation also suggested several other potential sources for proposal submissions.