Chairman, Dennis McCutcheon called the meeting to order at 2:40 PM.

Introductions of all in attendance were made.

Motion to approve the consent agenda was made. (Foster/Welshonce – unanimous)

Visions Workgroup
Hilda reported that a copy of the final report and a list of those on the committee were included in the November packet.  She touched on a few highlights and stated that the committee went beyond the scope of the charge of the committee with respect to the panel.  She stated that the committee looked at the following:
 

• Outcome of the June 1999 retreat and the history of RHEP program and all of the annual reports
• Legislation of 1991 and the revisions in 1995 (House Bill 213 and Senate Bill 161).
• Vision, Mission and Principles of WVRHEP that had been developed by the integration workgroup in 1995
• “Vision Mission and Goals in the Health Workplace” by Daniel Robin and Associates to give us a sense of how other groups looking at the same tasks define these components
• The State Health Plan in terms of trying to get a sense of where RHEP fits in the overall plan of the state and how West Virginia stands in the health plan
• The Healthy People 2010 Flagship Objectives

The group recommended that the Vision Statement remain as was developed in 1995 and states… “we envision a time when all residents of our most underserved, rural communities have local access to high quality primary health care provided by well trained, high quality health care professionals.”

The Mission Statement is as follows:  The West Virginia Rural Health Education partnership will educate, recruit and retain quality health care professionals for service to rural communities to improve the health of the people of West Virginia.

The group decided on Principles that defined our social responsibility to the state and to the intent of the mission of our program and how our values operate within the context of our partnership. (Refer to the report included in the November packets.)

Recommendations, in terms of advancing, specific recommendations will have to be referred to various committees for policy work, implementation or for change.  These recommendations are as follows:

• In community based curriculum, primarily in the area of community service, looking at how we can define community service, service learning and clinical service.
• The need for training of field faculty.
• Program Specific kinds of definitions.
• Looking at ways to achieve a balance between clinical competence and leadership skills.

Partnership Building recommendations came out of the Student Advisory Committee and of the Community Members Committee. One suggestion was that the Partnership conduct a retreat for community members and students designed to improve communication and define the roles of community members in the training and recruitment and retention of health care professionals.  Also, Consortia Board should review the county profiles and use these profiles in determining community service and recruitment priorities.  The epidemiology department of the Bureau of Public Health develops these profiles. Flagship objectives and county profiles (as a link) should be placed on our website.

The fifth recommendation is one that really went beyond the scope of our committee.  Outcome objectives were developed for the training of health professions students in rural underserved areas.  The committee came up with a set of competencies in knowledge and skill level that students should have and attitudes graduates should have.  This set of recommendations should be referred to the School Committee and the Joint Curriculum/Outreach Committee.

The last set of recommendations came out of the group’s final meeting discussion, which included Graduate and Post Graduating Training.  In the original RHI Act it talks about residency training.  Over the years we have struggled on how to get more residency training going on in our rural communities; some consortia are handling this quite well, while others still struggle.  The struggle is primarily centered upon the way residency training is paid for.  The way residency is paid for is a Federal Policy.  We recommend that the Advisory Panel appoint a Graduate Education Task Force to work with residency directors in the state to better use the RHEP system to facilitate graduate rural rotations for residencies and nurse practitioner students.

Hilda conveyed her appreciation and thanked the group for their efforts and stated that this was a very good experience.
Hilda explained that the report was complete and needs to be accepted as it is.  She will proceed to refer sections of the report to the appropriate committees for companion policies, which will go through our regular process. A motion to accept the report as written was made and approved. (McConnell/Degges – unanimous)

Community Members Group
Shannon Bell stated that the Community Members and the Student Advisory Panel had a joint meeting and discussed a retreat to be held at the Days Inn in Flatwoods, WV on Sunday, January 21, 2001, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Monday, January 22, 2001, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).  Site Coordinators were invited to the Sunday night session to do team building.  Students and community members should be plugged into the community to know the needs of the community and/or the wants of the students. Community members should take the initiative to contact the students, find out their interests, and show them around the community. April will find a facilitator for the Monday morning session.  This session is open to all community members and Student Advisory Panel (17 students). Hilda suggested that Site Coordinators get invitations to those students on rotations. In case of inclement weather this retreat will be postponed until Sunday, February 18th from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Charleston. Students must be pre-registered to be eligible for reimbursement.

April reported that the WVU Health Fair will be held the afternoon of Monday, January 22, 2001 in the Pylons Lobby from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Sub-Committee on Finance
Hilda conveyed that the committee was looking at the bottom figures to be requested for increased funding with the legislature in the community support line item. They have developed a budget that will require the amount of funds needed to implement the recommendations that came through on the PERD report. They have also looked at the PERD report evaluations and recommendations, as well as the recommendations on the support of information technology. We have that budget. We have asked all sites to come up with a wish list (mainly essential items).  Hilda reports that reasonable total requests are slightly over $1,000,000.The Higher Education Policy Commission only put in for $500,000. Legislature will take a look at the request from the agencies and we will have to go in with a request on top of what is already being requested. The communities will have to be behind supporting the additional request.  Information will be sent out once we get that figure and we find out whether it is coming out of the Senate Finance Committee or in the Governor’s digest, etc.  Dr. Weston, Hilda and April will meet the first week of December to figure out how to structure it.

The committee’s long term mission will be to develop formulas and fixed and variable costs of operating the program in the area of field faculty costs per rotation or per student weeks. No decision will be made until spring.  Their recommendations will be sent to the Finance Committee.

Southern Rural Health Access Program
Chuck Conner attended a Southern Rural Health Access Program (SRHAP)conference in South Carolina as a RHEP representative.  He presented a program on the leadership – fellowship program that is going to be at the Rover & Winding Roads Consortia.  The whole conference was based on leadership.  Chuck learned information and techniques that people are trying in different parts of the southeast, were some of the same efforts and in some of the same areas that we are.  For example, Arkansas has a match program where a student matches with a community and they have a grant for $8500 and that the community matches the $8500 and a student has a  certain length of time of in-service to do on scholarship.  If the student defaults, their medical license may be withheld  - this was not done at the medical board but at the legislative level.  Chuck reported that the overall report card for the SRHAP was good.  We are headed in the right direction with what we are doing. We are ready to kick off the leadership program with the students in January for two semesters (winter and fall).  This is a two-month commitment to a site for leadership training.  The 20% commitment at rural sites will be dedicated to leadership training with site coordinators taking the lead.  There are 5 different modules that can be worked on onsite.  There is information on a website that comes out of the Center for Rural Health Development.  For those who would like additional information, Chuck offered to do a presentation at the next site coordinator meeting or contact him. There has only been one application to date. Chuck and others are looking at existing schedules and what we can offer the students.  They are willing to work with students and schools according to the rotations the students are locked into.

Harts Health Party 2000 Cabwaylingo Health Education Consortium
Parr Thacker passed out a newspaper article and presented a slide show regarding Harts Health Party 2000.  This party was held at the clinic in Harts with 250 volunteers, 100 agencies participating and over 5000 community residents served.  Each individual receives approximately $1300 worth of screenings and tests free and everyone is fed.  This began in 1992 and is held every two years and everything is paid for through donations. Students play a huge part in this party.  The planning committee consists of Dr. Linda Kessinger, Dr. Dan Brody and Parr Thacker.  This party consists of gospel singing, line dancing and entertainment, immunizations for children, screenings for adults and children, even your pets may get their shots.  Tests were sent by courier to Huntington and returned the same day with results for peoples’ information.  A database was created, people were notified of any problem and primary care providers were found near these individuals.  Monetary donations were received from the community, churches and Dr. Kessinger as well. This party is well worth the effort, as it saves someone’s life each time the party is held.  It also goes beyond the promotion of agencies.  One cannot go by licensure information as Dr. Kessinger is shown to be in Charleston, not in Harts.  This is a very good experience for students.  Southern counties participates as well.

Executive Director’s Report
Hilda gave an update on RHI authorization and legislative strategies.  Not all Site coordinators have sent in their election result reports.  If you haven’t sent them in please do so.  Anyone personally knowing the Governor-Elect Wise, or interested in attending a meeting with him and his staff early in January, please e-mail Hilda.  Dr. Weston, April and Hilda will meet on Wednesday of this week to determine the final decision relative to what amount and how it is to be communicated and where we will channel our efforts at getting the amount.  Hilda is trying to get this in the governor’s State of the State Address, with the request that it will be in the governor’s budget.  We will also be working with the staff of the Senate Finance Committee to let them know what that figure is. Hilda has the names of the individuals and contacts that we need to work with.  Please give your site coordinators names and numbers of legislators you may know in case we need to move quickly once the legislative session is in progress. Everyone is doing a marvelous job.

Legislative Day and Dinner
April reported that the invitations and nomination forms for everyone has been sent out.  The site coordinators are working on their displays for the capitol.  Food will be provided at the capitol to enable us to talk to the legislators prior to going into session. Nomination forms were passed out and also are on the web. The nomination forms are to be turned in no later than January 19, 2001.  Dr. Weston always makes the decision regarding the recipient of the Judith Kandzari Award; please contact him regarding your nomination. The reception and dinner will be held February 19th, at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.  A block of rooms is being held for your convenience.

Due to our reauthorization, Dr. Weston will officially stay on as Vice Chancellor until the end of the legislative session for continuity.

A discussion was held regarding Dr. Weston’s attendance at legislative dinner.

Hilda asked chairs of the committees meeting today to please get their minutes to Sandy by January 20th .

Happy Holidays to all!!

Meeting was adjourned at 3:40 PM.