West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships Advisory Panel Meeting Minutes Monday, July 13, 1998 Attendees: Hilda R. Heady, Dennis McCutcheon, Robert Blake, Bill Shires, Lynne Welch, Norman Ferrari, William Mccutcheon, Nancy Alfred, Jim Welchonce, Randy Lowe, Sarah Neal, Kelly Blake, Stephen Thomas, Leslie Plants, Georgianna Tillis, Alicia Tyler, Elaine Mason, Trish Petitte, Penny Rose Asbury, Anna Reno, Sherri Payette, Patti Crawford, Clarke Ridgway, Heather Krugman, April Vestal, Elizabeth Richmond, Jacquelyn Copenhaver, Carla Campbell, Jeannie Jones, Richard Meckstroth, Annie McIntosh, Amy Reasinger, Sandra Baker. Dennis McCutcheon called the meeting to order at 2:40 pm. Consent Agenda: A request to add Parr Thacker and Jacquelyn Copenhaver as attendees to the May meeting minutes was approved. Also, Jacquelyn Copenhaver requested that June Site Coordinator Minutes be removed from your packet, as the Site Coordinators had not approved them. After corrections, the consent agenda was accepted. Special Introductions: Elaine Mason will working with CONSULT at WVU Jean Jones Chair of Western County Consortium Board Linda Scott from Marshall University Consortia/Site Coordinator Reports: Mountain Health Partners-Steve Thomas, Kelly Blake & Leslie Plants: Highlighted the progress of their consortium. They shared information regarding their efforts to work with pregnant teens and the tobacco coalition. Kelly gave a brief report on hospital rotations at Buckhannon and Preston County. These consortia had a drawing for a basket full of products made in West Virginia. Western Counties Consortium-Georgianna Tillis: Georgianna presented an overview of the types of rotations and community service activities. She also reported that her consortium now has an anesthesiology rotation. It was an honor to share that Marshall University School of Medicine recognized Dr. Randall Hawkins as Clinician of the Year. Dr. Hawkins is in the Western Counties Consortium and was presented a Clinician of the Year certificate from the consortium. Western Counties Consortium presents certificates of recognition to all preceptors. A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Jean Jones at the Advisory Panel meeting Committee Reviews and Group Reports: Community Outreach: Dick Meckstroth presented the Smokeless Tobacco Program and the Community Outreach Committee. The number one health problem in West Virginia is smokeless tobacco. There are many mechanisms for tobacco education: Oral health education; Mountain State network; baseball and basketball camps; “Threw a Chew Campaign” with signs and inserts in newspapers; banners through “CHPS” and site coordinators, etc. Does community outreach really work? Whatever we are doing, there seems to be an impact (25% decrease in tobacco use since 1990). Evaluation: Tricia Petite discussed a Comparison of Results from the Student Evaluation of Rural Field Experience. The confidential responses are compiled on a semi-annual basis with all disciplines involved. Also, more students are living in the communities. Copies of the surveys are attached. Recruitment and Retention: Alicia Tyler informed the panel that incentive programs focusing on the placement of graduates were under development. These include the Health Sciences Scholarships, Financial Incentives and physician recruitment. A recruitment and retention Web Site is being developed. Alicia Tyler shared information regarding University of North Carolina’s database and reported that since all information was organized and using the software their placements have increased 50%. The Appalachian Region Career Guidebook put out by the Bureau of Public Health needs to be updated. April and Randy were pleased to announce that the Rural Mountain Consortium has received a Rural Health Grant. They presented needs assessment, recruitment and other issues outlined in the grant. Three areas that will be looked at on the annual legislative report are as follows: 1) Finance Incentive Program, 2) Education and Training and 3) Communicating strategy and interactions. School Committee: The combined efforts of the School Committee and Site Coordinators voted to define “Primary Care”. A subcommittee was appointed to deal with the distribution issue regarding a policy or a strategy statement. The policy or strategy statement will be presented to the Advisory Panel in November. Policy 96-07 was discussed. Chuck Conner commented that responsibilities fall on the site coordinator and not the clinical directors. An introductory letter from Faculty Development Committee will be sent out soon. Dr. Ferrari made a motion to pass Policy 96-07 and Dr. William McCutcheon second the motion. Policy 96-07 was passed. Executive Director’s Report: Policies will eventually be on the RHEP Web site. Grant applications from Microsoft Foundation for PC empowerment for the elderly are being made. If the grant is approved there will be five senior members of the advisory panel to receive a computer in home and will have access to the internet. Five volunteers will be needed. Other Business: Annie McIntosh’s annual pig roast will be held September 20, at her place. Bring Chairs and a covered dish. Winner of the basket from MHP is Lynne Welch Dr. Ferrari made a motion to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm.