West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships Advisory Panel Meeting Minutes September 16, 1996 Days Inn, Flatwoods, West Virginia Dennis McCutcheon called the WVRHEP meeting to order. He opened the meeting by having anyone new to the panel stand and introduce themselves. The following were introduced: Bonnie Hunley, the Advisory Panel Representative appointed by Southern Counties; Barbara Elliott, the Alumni Director at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and Alicia Tyler, from the University Systems of WV. Mr. McCutcheon asked for a motion to approve the consent calendar. On the motion by Dr. William McCutcheon and the second of Sarah Lee Neal, the panel voted to approve the consent calendar as presented. Alicia Tyler and Mike Lewis reported on the University System of West Virginia Recruitment and Retention Project. This project is now jointly supported by WVRHEP special project funds and a Benedum grant. The Recruitment and Retention Committee is a committee of the WVRHEP panel and coordinates all the scholarship and fellowship resources in the state funded by state and federal sources. The purpose of the project is to get the best use of all state strategies for recruiting and retaining health professionals in the state. Alicia Tyler is now assisting Hilda Heady and Dr. Weston in adding the graduate medical and nursing training piece to the WVRHEP program as called for in the RHI Act. Dr. Jane Martin presented for the WVU School of Nursing for the Health Professions Education Presentations. The senior year community health course will be changed in the fall of 1997 to a 3-month nursing rotation. There was some concern about the number of students the nursing program will be sending to the RHEP sites for rotations and if there would be enough sites to accommodate all of them. Dr. Martin stated that they would place as many students as possible at the RHEP sites and the others would at least be placed in a rural setting. This is in the process of being worked out. Committee Reviews and Reports Clarke Ridgway reported for the Curriculum Committee on their policy review. The Committee had recommended a 10-20% time requirement for students on IDS, community service and community-based research. Rudy Filek reported for the Research and Community Service Committee. He stated that the committee submitted their mission and goals and enclosed final recommendations to the Rural Health Education Partnerships Panel with this meeting’s mailing. The committee recommended from their research, a 20% requirement for IDS, research and community service. He feels that their committee has done as much research as possible and with the consensus of the committee this is their recommendation. As these committees have different recommendations on this policy issue, the committees will meet jointly in October to debate this issue. Dr. Martin expressed concerns that she and Dr. Welch have regarding the requirement for research. She feels that there should be some flexibility because undergraduate and graduate levels are different. Cecil Pollard reported on the Tracking System Data and Student Site Evaluation Data. He presented an overhead that showed numbers almost doubling in 1994, 1995 and 1996 for the # of Rural Rotations and weeks at Rural Sites. He reported on results of a survey regarding what the students are saying about the sites. The value of seminars showed 80% outstanding, the quality of IDS showed less than 10% had bad experiences, quality of supervision 60% outstanding and 30% good. The value of Community Health Activities showed less than 10% had a bad experience. The question, “Did the site experience affect your choice for primary care in under-served areas? Almost 70% received a positive impact. Tom Whittier questioned whether Cecil would be able to prepare a report for the legislature. Cecil responded that he is now in the process of preparing a report of this nature for Recruitment and Retention and would be able to give a copy to the Board. There was some discussion on how to simplify and combine student evaluations and how to get them back from the students. Tom Whittier moved that the Panel direct the Curriculum Committee to develop a recommended policy to insure completion of evaluation forms distributed to students involved in West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships. On the motion by Tom Whittier and the second of Sarah Lee Neal the motion passed. Hilda Heady gave the Executive Director’s Report. She reported on the continuing Board development and Board training and orientation at the consortia. Ms. Heady also reviewed with the Board members the issues concerning Policy #94-01 pulled from the July consent calendar which are to be debated in October. The primary question to be discussed is how we apportion students time while on rotations to meet the clinical objectives and the community service-learning objectives. Members were reminded of the State Rural Health Conference on October 29-30, and the Faculty Development Day on October 28, at the Charleston Marriott. Leslie Plants introduced Teresa Edmunds from Mountain Health Partners (Gassaway). She reported on her first rotation experience. She felt that everyone had a true interest in her experience and she was welcomed with open arms. Tiffany Hine (Eastern WV Rural Health Education Consortium) presented her six month goals. Her first goal was to fully participate in the integration process. She accomplished this by: establishing a community governing board, development of bylaws, development of policies and appointment of community members. Her second goal was to complete the development of the LRC. She hired a secretary, placed two computer stations, purchased equipment and held interdisciplinary sessions every Tuesday. This is an ongoing effort. Her third goal was to develop and implement a preceptor education program. She developed a preceptor manual, preceptor monthly schedules, attendance at graduate medical education committee and preceptor education evening. Goal #4 was to begin and maintain faculty development by quarterly field professor meetings, interdisciplinary sessions (started in September, 1995), attendance at October and April Faculty Development Days, computer training in Martinsburg, and membership on the Geriatric Task Force. Tiffany’s fifth goal was to develop relationships with community entities and begin community service projects with these entities. She accomplished this with agencies such as Hospice of the Panhandle, Tobacco Control Coalition, Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan County Schools, Jefferson and Berkeley County Senior Centers, American Red Cross of Jefferson County, numerous day care centers and health fairs sponsored by City Hospital. Her sixth goal was to begin community based research. Two research projects are in the developmental stages: adolescents at risk survey instrument being prepared by Dr. Cannarella and an osteoporosis research project through City Hospital. Tiffany’s next six month’s goals are as follows: continue to work on the LRC, maintain student volume and the wide range of schools participating, increase student involvement in community based research, increase student involvement in the IDS presentations. Fran Smith, Site Coordinator for Southern Counties Consortium presented her 6 month goals. Her first goal was to secure a nursing field professor. She accomplished this goal by hiring Julie White. Her second goal was to schedule regular interdisciplinary sessions, and begin community projects. The students made and exhibit for the Coal Festival, worked for Cancer Bingo, gave talks to the Middle School on substance abuse and wrote articles for the local newspaper. Fran’s third goal was to develop contacts with West Virginia University and Charleston. Students are now working with Dr. Atkins from the Charleston Area Medical Center. Her fourth goal was to participate in integration, especially local board development. She has organized a local board and they have written their bylaws and will be holding board training. Her last goal was to improve the consortium’s student housing. They rented an apartment in Pineville and are still working on housing in Welch and Madison. Fran’s new goals are: increase participation of students by 50%, increase number of field faculty by making contacts with physicians in the community, provide orientation packet and materials for new students, provide local board training, develop plans for learning resource center in Welch, increase number of interdisciplinary sessions offered from one a month to twice monthly, or as often as students are available. The next Advisory Panel meeting will be held on November 18, 1996.