1a. AHECs (centers) and regional offices will collaborate with medical and health professions schools to facilitate clinical placements for medical and health professions students in underserved areas via such community-specific strategies as:
-
developing relationships with clinical coordinators in training programs
-
offering residential housing and/or travel incentive reimbursement policies for students who will train in remote AHEC-sponsored sites.
-
identifying, developing and expanding new health profession practice sites
-
developing training sites that incorporate interdisciplinary educational methods to train students
-
utilizing electronic/distance learning to connect academic institutions with remote teaching sites and students with library and research resources
-
providing faculty development activities to ensure that education needs of faculty will be met to improve the clinical quality of instruction; provide incentives and recognize preceptor contributions
|
1a. A total of 522 medical students received 41,419 hours of community-based training with 268 preceptors. Forty-seven (47) health professions students received 9,580 hours of community based training with 41 preceptors.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office/Western Region Office/Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
Two hundred twenty-seven (227) medical students, received 13,405 hours of training with 87 of preceptors.
The Director of Nursing established quarterly meetings with the Acting Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. The last meeting in April included the directors of R-AHEC and Erie Niagara AHEC for potential collaborations. The Director of Nursing has maintained an information flow to the Dean for possible grants.
The Director of Nursing initiated contacts for placements for three graduate nursing students from Buffalo with New York Metropolitan Region AHECs. One student was placed. She has also discussed the development of a preceptorship/internship program for hospitals with New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) (developed in Vermont). She wrote and shared with the AHECs a concept paper for grant development based on this program. She participated with CNYAHEC’s community partnership to submit a Robert Wood Johnson Partners in Nursing grant based on faculty development and expansion of capacity.
The Medical Director for the New York State AHEC System continued to communicate with the UB/AHEC Student Group on the Underserved regarding their interest in volunteering with Independent Health about their community outreach program. Involvement is planned for the fall when students return for the academic year.
Planning continued for the UB Interdisciplinary Elective on the Underserved. Presenters have been confirmed and communication continued with students from the dental and nursing schools who wish to enroll though the class is fully registered with 27 students. The curriculum is unique in its interdisciplinary focus (medicine, dental medicine, nursing, pharmacy, allied health and social work) and the involvement of community teachers in the curriculum on health disparities and relationship to poverty, racism, cultural communication, homelessness, rural, and mental illness. The course will feature methods to overcome barriers and the impact of public policy. Dr. Frankele in Saint Louis has been consulted about his experiences with a similar course.
The Medical Director facilitated a seminar series for the Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC) Warsaw Interdisciplinary Summer Experience. The R-AHEC recruited students: two nurse practitioner students, three dental medicine students, one pharmacy student, one undergraduate pre-medical student and one undergraduate radiology technician. The clinical focus on geriatrics involved a presentation by an occupational therapist, functional assessment, and interdisciplinary pairs’ interview with a nursing home resident.
As faculty advisor to the UB Family Medicine Student Association, the Medical Director met with students about residency programs and international health experiences. On April 18, he presented a session for UB’s Physical Therapy 606 class on primary care, family medicine, and interprofessional communication. As a follow up to the Three Doctors Summit sponsored by the Erie Niagara AHEC, the Medical Director authored a reflective article published in the Buffalo News MY VIEW column.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
A total of 6 medical students received 1,440 hours of community-based training with 5 preceptors in Jamestown, Perry, Ripley and Westfield. Three health professions students received 1,920 hours of community based training with 10 preceptors in Cuba, Hornell and Wayland.
“I went to Cuba Memorial Hospital Urgent Care Center. The experience was very worthwhile and high quality. I learned the responsibility and really feel like my clinical decision-making ability improved immensely. At Cuba, you have an incredible amount of autonomy, but also have excellent PAs to help guide you. I recommend this rotation to all PA students.” ---- Student, George Washington PA Program
“I worked…at the St. James Mercy Hospital ER Department in Hornell. I was lucky enough to do a rotation there because I had free housing from AHEC. My experience was great and the house was great. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”---- Student, Daemen College PA Program
R-AHEC Clinical coordinator collaborations are as follows: Daemen College Physician Assistant Program (Buffalo), Daemen College Physical Therapy Program (Buffalo), Rochester Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Program (Rochester), Rochester Institute of Technology Ultrasound Program (Rochester), D’Youville College (Buffalo), D’Youville College Physical Therapy Program (Buffalo), University at Buffalo School of Medicine (Buffalo), University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Policy (Buffalo), Ithaca College Physical Therapy Program (Ithaca), George Washington University Physician Assistant Program (Washington, DC), University at Buffalo Advanced Dental Assisting Program Track (ADAPT) Program (Buffalo), Monroe Community College Dental Assistant Program (Rochester), and Gannon University Physician Assistant Program (Erie, PA)
Twenty-one (21) students utilized the following R-AHEC housing locations: Hornell – five; Jamestown – eight; Warsaw – four; and Westfield – four. The clinical rotations or affiliations include Family Medicine students, Pharmacy, Physician Assistants, and Physical Therapy.
As a result of funding constraints, the housing program has transitioned to a fee-based mechanism. All students who have utilized housing were contacted by letter and given alternatives – a contribution which would be used to defray a weekly $50 per student cost to operate the houses from the institution itself or the students would be required to pay the weekly $50 fee. Four schools donated funds in varying amounts ($750 - $10,000). The donation is tracked against student utilization and when expended either more funds need to be paid by the institution or the students from that school need to start paying for their stay. This applies to the Westfield, Hornell and Warsaw houses. The Jamestown house is fully funded by the Chautauqua County Health Network.
A Summer Interdisciplinary Experience is in process. Ten students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and other disciplines are participating in a six week program. The program will again have a geriatric focus and staff from the Skilled Nursing Facility from the Wyoming County Health System will be involved in program facilitation. Three of the students have selected to utilize the housing. The remainder receive a mileage stipend of up to $60 per week.
Central Region Office/Northern AHEC/CNYAHEC
Clerkship: A total of 12 medical students received 1,920 hours of community-based training with 31 preceptors in Syracuse (5 sites), Liverpool, Baldwinsville (two sites), Marcellus, Cazenovia, Lafayette, and Central Square. SUNY Upstate Family Medicine clerkship students evaluate instructional quality through Courseval, a medical school-wide instrument and through MedEd IQ. Students rated the clerkship overall as excellent and one of the highest rated courses in the curriculum.
Rural Medical Education Program (RMED): A total of 11 medical students received 5,280 hours of community-based training with 21 preceptors in Pulaski, Oswego, Cortland (2 sites), Hamilton, Canandaigua, Geneva, Watkins Glen (two sites), Glens Falls, and Oneonta. Eight RMED communities provided housing for three months each for 11 RMED students. Eleven (11) RMED students at eight RMED communities engaged in distance learning activities through the Blackboard Learning Systems program at Upstate Medical University. Eight RMED communities provided access to the Internet and the SUNY Upstate Medical University campus network and Health Sciences Library for 11 RMED students.
All preceptors are offered clinical faculty appointments at the University. Clinical faculty are eligible for accounts which give them access to all the digital resources of the Health Sciences Library. All active preceptors are also offered free registration for the annual Family Medicine Refresher Course, a $475 value. Seventy-five (75) preceptors received incentives.
Central Region Office assisted in presentation of a 1 ½ day faculty development workshop for eight preceptors during the RMED program’s semi-annual Faculty Development Workshop. The topics were: 1) Recruiting and Training the Rural Physician Workforce, 2) the Faculty Site Visit: Objectives and Evaluation, 3) Problem solving educational problems with students, 4) Interprofessional education opportunities, 5) Treatment of Fractures by Family Physicians, 6) The Student Quality Improvement Project, and 7) Updating the inpatient skills and procedures checklist.
The Director of the Central Region Office continued to serve on the Board of Directors and Legislative Advocacy committees of the New York State Association for Rural Health.
The Director of the Central Region Office met on three occasions with the Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs and the Director of Financial Aid to discuss proposals for changes to admissions policies of the institution and the need to address workforce needs of the central and northern New York regions. Meetings also included development of recommendations for changes to the NYS Regents Loan forgiveness program to improve the incentive for new physicians to practice in underserved areas. Approximately 40% of incoming students originate in upstate New York, 40% in the NY metropolitan area and 20% from out of state.
The Director of the Central Region Office assisted with preparations for the Central New York AHEC MedQuest Camp for high school students, which is co-sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University.
The Director of the Central Region Office prepared and submitted requested information and outcome date regarding the RMED program to the office of Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
A total of 14 medical students received 9,696 hours of community-based training with 12 preceptors. Thirteen (13) medical students completed 9,616 hours of training at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown. One medical student completed 80 hours of training at Rainbow Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Plattsburgh.
Three health professions students received 1,332 hours of community based training with three preceptors. Three health professions students completed 1,332 hours of training in three preceptor sites. The following sites hosted health professions students: Hoose, Knight and Associates (private physical therapy clinic) in Potsdam, EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
Working relationships exist with clinical coordinators at North Country Community College (nursing and radiology technician programs); St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES (Practical Nursing Program); Clinton Community College (Medical Laboratory Technician Program); The State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh (Telenursing Program and speech/language pathology programs); Le Moyne College (Physician Assistant Program); SUNY at Upstate Medical University-College of Health Professions (Respiratory Therapy, Medical Technology, Medical Imaging, et al.); Clarkson University (Physical Therapy Program); SUNY at Canton (medical coding, health services management and medical transcription programs); SUNY at Potsdam (Community Health Program), Albany School of Pharmacy, University of Vermont School of Medicine, and St. Lawrence University (pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy programs).
NAHEC has leased two dorm rooms located on the SUNY Potsdam Campus for students to reside in during their clinical rotation. A maximum of four students can be housed at one time. NAHEC has also established a lodging agreement with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg to provide lodging for students performing their clinical rotations at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center or in the Ogdensburg area. Up to six students can be housed at one time. NAHEC provides assistance with travel reimbursement to health professions and medical students performing their clinical rotations in the NAHEC service region as funding allows.
One student from SUNY Upstate Medical University participated in NAHEC’s Clinical Training Lodging Program while performing a clinical rotation at Hoose, Knight and Associates in Potsdam.
A total of three students received travel reimbursement. One medical student from the University of Vermont School of Medicine performed their pediatric clerkship at Rainbow Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Plattsburgh. One nursing student from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES performed their clinical rotation at EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur. One nursing student from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES performed their clinical rotation at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
A preceptor survey was distributed and the results are currently being compiled.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
A total of two medical students received 1,040 hours of community-based training with two preceptors. Six health professions students received 1,400 hours of community based training with six preceptors.
Six health profession students began their clinical rotations (all utilizing the mileage subsidy). One was a physical therapy student from SUNY Upstate Medical University, one was a radiation therapy student from SUNY Upstate Medical University and three were medical lab technicians from Broome Community College. Students trained with six different preceptors in Chemung, Cortland, Chenango, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.
The Health Workforce Summit workgroup was notified that Eliot Spitzer was not available to serve as the keynote speaker for the health workforce summit being offered in partnership with Colgate’s Upstate Institute. The workgroup sent a letter inviting Senator Hillary Clinton to serve in that capacity. If she agrees, the summit will be held in October in Hamilton, NY.
The CNYAHEC Executive Director presented at a meeting on June 19 facilitated by the WIB of Oswego County. The meeting was designed to provide an overview of the work CNYAHEC and the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University developing health career ladders focusing specifically on high demand jobs and corresponding educational programs in Oswego County. The meeting was attended by 15 health care leaders in the community. The ladders are being refined and a full report will be presented to a larger community group on August 23.
CNYAHEC Executive Director met with the executive directors of Chenango Delaware Otsego WIB and the Broome Tioga WIB on two separate occasions to discuss how the AHEC and WIBs can work together to increase the supply of health professionals in the Southern Tier region of New York. Both WIBs have agreed to support CNYAHEC’s Partners in Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s Health Care Workforce Together proposal and drafted letters of support of their Appalachian Regional Commission grant proposal.
Eastern Region Office/Hudson-Mohawk AHEC
Seventy-one (71) Albany Medical College students received 113 weeks (4,520 hours) of training from 47 preceptors at AHEC supported sites in the Eastern Region.
The Eastern Regional Office worked with the Alaska AHEC (with financial and other support provided by the Alaska AHEC) to help arrange a summer rotation of an Albany Medical College student in the more remote areas of the state.
The Eastern Regional Office survey of family medicine physicians conducted last year resulted in over 40 physicians expressing interest in serving as preceptors for Albany Medical College students. An initial orientation for those physicians was held. An estimated 15 new preceptors are expected to result from this process.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
A total of six third year internal medicine students from Albany Medical College received 346 hours of community based training with 16 preceptors at the following clinical sites: Hudson Headwaters Health clinics in Warrensburg, Queensbury, Glens Falls, Moreau and Stanton Nursing Facility.
Results of satisfaction surveys (students, preceptors, sponsoring schools) are as follows:
April 10 – May 5 rotation
-
Student 1: “I feel like my time was very well spent at the Warrensburg Health Clinic.”
-
Student 2: “Everyone I worked with was an outstanding provider and a great example. All very supportive and helpful and really interested in my learning experience. All allowed independence but reinforcement and opportunities to learn.”
-
Student 3: “Dr. Crossman is fantastic, he teaches and guides. Excellent!”
May 8- June 4 rotation:
-
Student 1: “Warrensburg Health Center was a great experience. All providers facilitated learning and made this a truly great patient experience.”
-
Student 2: “All instructors clearly enjoy teaching students, and exemplified excellent patient care. If I were going into primary care I would want to work for a Hudson Headwaters Clinic or one like it.”
-
Student 3: “The EKG sessions were very helpful. Also gained new experience at the Stanton Nursing Facility.”
The local RMED student from Upstate Medical University used the HM AHEC video conferencing equipment on June 6 to connect with faculty and students at the facility over 200 miles away.
Three of the six students utilized HM AHEC provided housing (one site in Lake George and one site in Warrensburg) during their four week rotation. Plans are underway to lease a more suitable student apartment in the Glens Falls area. The RMED student from Upstate Medical University received financial reimbursement of his costs to relocate to Glens Falls during his rotation.
Two cultural competency trainings are being planned for the next year. One for physicians/medical students/residents using research based articles and data and another for public health/nursing staff that will be conducted by the Institute for Urban Family Health.
Meetings were held regarding the Chronic Care curriculum. The interdisciplinary curriculum using the Wagner model will be implemented with Albany Medical College third year students during the 2006-2007 academic year.
HM AHEC has begun working on updating its home page, to be completed by September 30. The HM AHEC has also completed the population of MyHealthCareers software and will begin promoting the site in September.
HM AHEC monitors the usage of the seven locations it has assisted with distance learning connectivity.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The ENAHEC has contracted with Lifetime Health Centers to provide cultural competency training for their employees using the ENAHEC Alafia Theatre Component. All focus groups have been conducted to get employee feedback on what issues they believe exist regarding cultural sensitivity at the clinics. The play is being written for them and presented to them with a talkback. Dr. Juanita Hunter, has been contacted and she will facilitate the talkback with employees. ENAHEC will be training about 60 employees. Buffalo State College will provide the continuing education credit for this training.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Two medical students received 120 hours of community-based training with four preceptors in Kingston and Ellenville. Twelve (12) health professions students received 992 hours of community based training with 11 preceptors in Cooperstown, Delhi and Oneonta.
Ten students were in housing or received housing reimbursement.
Twelve (12) new practice sites were established: Imran Ahmed, MD, White Lake; Chester Burton, DO, Cobleskill; John Carey, MD, Goshen; Rebecca Eckel, MD, Cobleskill; Barbara Gordon-Cohen, MD, Suffern; Francis Imbarratom, MD, Monroe; Sophia McIntyre, MD, Middletown; Ravi Ramaswami, MD, Saugerties; Thomas Robinson, MD, Poughkeepsie; Lisa Straus, MD, Amenia; and Kenneth Svensson, MD, Nyack.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
A total of 171 medical students received 3,652 hours of community-based training with 43 preceptors. Twenty-three (23) health professions students received 3,936 hours of community based training with 11 preceptors. Medical students came from New York University, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of Buffalo, Emory University and University of Vermont. Health professions students came from New York University, Fordham University, Columbia University, College of New Rochelle, Dartmouth University and University of Buffalo.
The New York Metropolitan Region Office works in collaboration with the Institute for Urban Family Health (IUFH) at Sidney Hillman Health Center, Mount Hope Family Practice, Walton Family Health Center, Urban Horizons Family Health Center, Parkchester Family Practice and Bronx Health REACH. At these training sites the Metropolitan Region AHEC places various students, including social work students, public health students, public administration students, and Vista/Americorps volunteers.
Institute staff provided the following faculty development programs:
-
April 6, Situational Leadership, 10 participants
-
April 13, Domestic Violence, 9 participants
-
May 4, Family Systems Therapy within Family Medicine, 13 participants
-
May 25, Diversity Phase II: “As Simple as Respect,” 19 participants
-
June 29, Team Building, 12 participants
The participants at the above trainings were from the following institutions: Institute for Urban Family Health (IUFH), Jacobi Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital, Metropolitan Staten Island Area Health Education Center, Mt. Hope Family Practice, Phillips Family Practice, Beth Israel Medical Center, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital and Clifton Family Practice, New Jersey.
The Leadership Academy curriculum developed through the IUFH, Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC and the Faculty Development Program is available to all AHEC offices (one workshop per year) and all AHECs were urged to schedule participants for free workshops. The 2005-2006 academic year has eight one-day workshops and a two-day Leadership Academy available for AHECs.
Other meetings/activities of the New York Metropolitan Region Office:
-
May 12, New York Metropolitan Region Office Director, Maxine Golub, participated in a workshop on Minority Student Recruitment and Retention at Conference on Racial Disparity sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center.
-
May 16, New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC staff co-presented on AHEC at the Council on Graduate Medical Education seminar.
-
June 9, New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC co-sponsored a meeting on Collaboration for Down State Health Professional Schools to increase Minority Recruitment and Retention.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BWAHEC moved from its 930 Grand Concourse location to Lehman College of the City University of New York in the Borough of the Bronx on April 16.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC continued to work with Long Island University’s initiative to increase the number of minority students who pass the nursing licensure program.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC collaborated with the BWAHEC and BQLI AHEC in the planning and execution of NYCOM Program. MSI AHEC Executive Director and Program Director held orientation for 10 NYCOM students at their campus on June 1. Students began internship on June 26 and their first didactic session on Racial Disparities in Health Care was held on June 30.
|
