Montana AHEC Regions |
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Greetings!
September 1, 2010 marks the start of another grant-year for the Montana AHECs (Area Health Education Centers) and the Montana Office of Rural Health.
We are continuing to address the healthcare workforce needs of our Montana communities through various outreach, pipeline, education, and recruitment programs. Thanks for taking a moment to learn more about our programs and activities! |
| Program Office Update - MSU Bozeman
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 | Rural Health Workforce Development Program | The Montana AHEC Program Office has been awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) entitled Rural Health Workforce Development Program. The project period for this new grant is from September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2013. Funding for the first year of the grant is $200,000.
The main purpose of the Montana Rural Health Workforce Development Program will be to address ways to improve access and quality of health care in rural communities throughout the entire state of Montana. The grant will focus on shortages of primary care physicians and other health care providers. The network model will be based on: (1) selection of rural-based medical students, (2) placement of medical students in rural communities for clinical observations and community experiences, (3) placement of medical students in rural communities for clerkships and other clinical training, (4) assisting medical students with the transition to primary care residencies and (5) encouraging students to choose practices in rural communities, or in other underserved areas.
As a requirement for the grant, the Montana AHEC Program Office has established a Montana Rural Health Workforce Network Governing Board. Members of the governing board are as follows:
- Dick Brown, President of the Montana Hospital Association, Chair of Governing Board
- Lil Anderson, President of RiverStone Health
- Jay Erickson, M.D., Assistant Dean, Regional WWAMI Clinical Programs
- Roxanne Fahrenwald, Director, MT Family Medicine Residency
- Dave Forbes, Dean, College of Health Professions, Univ. of Montana
- Tom Greer, M.D., Department of Family Medicine, Univ. of Washinton
- Kris Juliar, Director, MT AHEC and MT Office of Rural Health
- Loren Schrag, Executive Director of HealthShare Montana
- Martin Teintze, Director of MT WWAMI Medical School, MT State Univ.
- Jane Shelby, Executive Director, Division of Health Sciences at MT State Univ
The Montana Rural Health Workforce Development Program will accomplish the following goals: (1) develop and publish a Network Strategic Plan, (2) develop and maintain partnerships with primary care physicians, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics and community health centers, (3) develop, initiate and maintain a continuity curriculum of rural community-based training from pre-medicine through residency training, and (4) develop a sustainable strategy.
The announcement of Rural Health FY 2010 Grant Awards by HRSA Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on August 23, 2010 included $22.8 million for the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex), $3.9 million for Rural Health Workforce Development Grant Awards, $2.0 million for the Telehealth Network Grant Program, $1.3 million for the Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program, $890,000 for the Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program, $770,000 for the
Frontier Community Health Integration Demonstration Program and $450,000 for the Rural Training Track Technical Assistance Demonstration Program.
In addition to the Montana AHEC Rural Health Workforce Development Grant Award, another award was made to St. Luke's Community Hospital in Ronan, Montana (see Western Montana AHEC update, below.) Montana was the only state to receive two awards. |
| South Central MT AHEC Update - Dillon
| | New State Loan Repayment Program | The South Central Montana AHEC, in partnership with the Montana Primary Care Office, is administering a new State Loan Repayment Program. The Montana State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) provides loan repayment funds for NP, PA, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dental and Mental Health Professionals working in Health Professional Shortage Areas.
The State Loan Repayment Program has components similar to the federal NHSC loan repayment program, i.e. providers must: practice in a shortage designated area, accept Medicaid and Medicare, post a sliding fee schedule, and have qualified educational loans.
Eligible providers include: NPs, PAs, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Mental Health Professionals including LCSW, Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, Marriage and Family Counselor, Health Service Psychologist, and Licensed Professional Counselor.
In exchange for two years of service applicants can receive up to $15,000 per year for two years, with an optional third year. In its first year, the SLRP provided support to three clinicians located in Ennis, Glasgow, and Browning. For more information on the Montana NHSC State Loan Repayment Program, please contact:Lisa Benzel, 406.683.2790, lisa@mtha.org |
| Allied Health Recruitment | South Central Montana AHEC has added allied health recruitment to its current physician recruitment activities. There is a shortage of healthcare professionals in Montana and by including allied health recruitment, we are hoping to expand the opportunities available for candidates and provide a much needed service to Montana healthcare facilities. Currently "3RNet" is the resource utilized for facilities who want to post available positions; the best part about 3Rnet is it's FREE! We will also attend career fairs at different college campuses, present to healthcare programs and promote allied health profession opportunities in Montana.
For questions about posting an allied health position on 3Rnet (www.3rnet.org) or assistance recruiting for your facility, please contact Jamie Groy, 406.683.2790, jamie@mtha.org |
| Med Start Summer Camp Huge Success |
 Med Start Summer Camp is an AHEC funded program designed to encourage rising junior and senior high school students to pursue their interest in a variety of healthcare careers. One hundred thirty-eight students from across Montana applied to the 2010 camp and 30 were selected to participate. AHEC focused on accepting students who came from disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income families, rural areas, minorities, or will be first in their family to attend college. The aim of Med Start is to provide students - who may not otherwise have the opportunity - a chance to further explore healthcare careers, learn about college life, and realize it is possible to pursue higher education. Students often think of healthcare as including only "doctors and nurses" and Med Start tries to break down that stereotype by educating students on the large variety of careers available in the healthcare industry. Med Start is completely free of charge to the students.
Students who attended Med Start 2010 are as follows:
Jessica Cole, Alzada Brooke Conover, Broadview
Jenna Egdorf, Bigfork Jessica Fite, Livingston
Deni Fitzpatrick, Cut Bank Marina Hansen, Glasgow
Serina Hoyt, Fairfield Conner Kane, Red Lodge
Jordan Krause, Missoula Kate Lamm, Bigfork
Olivia Lee, Augusta Adam Maes, Anaconda
Shayna Miller, Chinook Meagan Moore, Custer
Amelia Moretto, Billings Reema Najjar, Anaconda
Karlee Omsberg, Kalispell Jacy O'Neill, Plentywood
Paige Powell, Circle Breanna Robinson, Drummond
Macky Sangwin, Chester Rachel Schoening, Deer Lodge
Damon Siech, Ronan Sierra Speer, Augusta
Addie Tom, Stevensville Madi Traucht, Norris
Alex Watterud, Sunburst Trevor Waagen, Culbertson
Maria Wind, Culbertson Nikole Wolfe, Chester For more information about Med Start Summer Camp please contact Bergen Morehouse, 406.683.2790. Bergen@mtha.org |
| Eastern MT AHEC Update - Billings
| | Welcome Cass Staton! |
 The Eastern Montana AHEC office is pleased to introduce Cass Staton as the newest addition to our office. She will be taking on the role of Outreach Coordinator, primarily focusing on the kindergarten through 12th grade population within Eastern Montana, including the reservations of Fort Peck, Crow, and Northern Cheyenne. Cass recently completed her Masters in Public Relations with an emphasis in Health Communications. Her experience has included working for the Yellowstone AIDS Project, and serving for 2 years with the Peace Corps in Peru. We are excited to have her expertise and enthusiasm in encouraging young people to pursue careers in healthcare. Please join us in warmly welcoming Cass to the AHEC family! |
| Shadowing Opportunities |
Medical students from Mongolia | The AHEC office located in RiverStone Health was quite busy with summer shadowing students. Included in this number were high school students curious to explore various healthcare careers as well as students who had a good idea of their chosen health profession. Most of the students were from Montana, but we had numerous students from throughout the US, and even had 2 medical students from Mongolia join us for 2 weeks. Students were provided the opportunity to shadow Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Speech Therapists, Radiologists and Family Medicine Physicians in locations such as RiverStone Clinic, Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare, Montana Women's Prison, Montana Rescue Mission and Women & Family Shelter. In all, over 50 students were provided opportunities to explore healthcare careers. We are thankful for the various health professionals who provided this experience. What an exciting way to promote both healthcare and the opportunities within Montana! |
| North Central MT AHEC Update - Cut Bank
| | Busy Year Planned for North Central AHEC |
The following people have agreed to be on the North Central Montana AHEC Advisory Council:
· Paul Bartos - Principal White Sulphur Springs High School
· Dixie Brockie - Admissions Officer at Fort Belknap College
· Edith Clark - Retired RN & Legislator
· Mary Erickson - Clinical Services, Pondera Medical Center
· Bruce Evans - EMS Volunteer & Business Owner
· Chuck Gameon - Principal at Choteau Elementary School
· Martha Judice - Nurse Practitioner
· Kirsten Kammerzell - Health Management
· Lloyal Kennedy - Toole County Center for Mental Health
· Jack King - Director,North Central Montana Healthcare Alliance
· Steve Lowery, DDS
· Greg Paulauskis, PhD - Health Science Division, MSU-COT Great Falls
· Neil Sun Rhodes, MD - Physician,Blackfeet Community Hospital
· LaBerta Simpson - Community member
· Frank Trocki, PhD - Chancellor at MSU Northern in Havre
· Lora Wier - Teton County Public Health Nurse
· Linda Williams - MSU Extension Agent
· Sam Windy Boy - On-campus Elder for Stone Child College
The majority of the members met together on June 29th for the first Advisory Council meeting at Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls. The Advisory Council will help make sure that the North Central Montana AHEC meets the healthcare workforce needs in its region. The diversity of the council will provide the encompassing perspective desired to customize AHEC programs.
Coming This Fall
Five health science Curriculum-In-A-Boxes have been purchased to be loaned out to grades 4 - 8 teachers that are interested in teaching their students about the following: ear, eyes, guts, bones and muscles, and brain. This link explains the contents of the brain box. Any teacher or school interested in obtaining a box on loan can contact their regional AHEC office.
Several schools throughout the regions have notified our office that they would like to do the REACH (Research and Explore Awesome Careers in Healthcare) day camps at a local hospital. North Central Montana AHEC will organize the camps with the local healthcare facility and schools. High Schools or hospitals that are interested in doing this in their community can contact the North Central AHEC. Many elementary schools are interested in the Great Hospital Adventure (GHA) puppet show being provided to K-3rd grade classes, so scheduling of those will begin in October 2010. Local HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) organizations will present the puppet shows where possible and other community organizations will also be given the opportunity to conduct a presentation. The North Central AHEC will be developing new K-12 programs this fall and scheduling the rollout of those programs this spring. Updates regarding the programs will be provided in subsequent newsletters. Please contact Cherie Taylor, Director of the North Central MT AHEC, cherie@mtha.org, for more information regarding services and programs available in the north central region. |
| Western MT AHEC Update - Missoula
| | Washington Foundation Funds Tribal and Reservation Outreach for Hands on Health |
 The Western Montana AHEC received word in August that the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has awarded a grant to the spectrUM Discovery Area in the amount of $30,000 over three years.
Since the exhibition's grand opening in September 2009, it has been experienced by over 4000 Montanans. The Washington Foundation grant will enable the exhibition to travel to a school on each of Montana's seven reservations between 2010 and 2013, at no cost to the school, town or tribe.
Before this travel takes place, an Advisory Group will be assembled to work with WMT-AHEC and spectrUM staff to assess and plan for improvements to the exhibition itself, to ensure that it is both culturally sensitive and relevant. The Advisory Group will be led by Estella Anderson, Director of the University of Montana's Native American Center of Excellence and will include other UM faculty, as well as representatives of OPI and the Native American community. |
| WMT-AHEC to Assist in Monida Healthcare Network Workforce Development Plan |
Monida Pass | The Monida Healthcare Network received a federal Rural Health Workforce Development grant that will provide $200,000 a year for three years and enable the network to build workforce training capacity in the region by:
* developing a core of existing healthcare workers to serve as preceptors for trainees;
* establishing an innovative rural emergency room training program for Physician Assistants;
*developing rural training rotations for Physicians, Mid-levels, Nurses, and other healthcare students.
The Western Montana AHEC will participate in the project by focusing on rural clinical rotations for UM and other healthcare students and on building workforce structures and mechanisms within the Monida network. AHEC Director, Larry White, will also lead the evaluation of the project. |
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| AHEC - The Basics |
The Montana AHEC mission is to improve the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on primary care, through community/academic educational partnerships, in order to increase access to quality healthcare. We work to connect students to healthcare careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health. To fulfill our mission, we focus on these key areas:1) Programs and resources for K-12 students and teachers to generate interest in healthcare professions
2) Placement and support of health profession students in rural rotations throughout the state
3) Recruitment and retention of qualified healthcare professionals to Montana
4) Continuing Education programs for practicing healthcare professionals
Montana has 4 regional AHEC offices - Eastern, located in Billings- South Central, located in Dillon - Western, located in Missoula - and the North Central, located in Cut Bank.
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Please contact us with your comments, ideas, questions or projects you'd like to see highlighted in future issues of this e-newsletter.
Thank you for the work you do every day to improve the healthcare industry and the health of all Montanans!!
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