West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships

 

Advisory Panel Meeting Minutes

 

Monday, May 19, 2003

 

Days Inn, Flatwoods

 

 

Members in Attendance:  Steve Smith, Jim Welshonce, Michael Adelman, Carla Campbell, Lynne Sandy, JoAnn Raines, Bill Shires, Sharon Hanna, Alison Witte, Jill Cochran, Imogene Foster, Gaye Mitchell, Richard Meckstroth, Carla See, Hilda Heady, Dennis McCutcheon

 

Guests in Attendance:  Chuck Conner, Sheryll Tennant, Kim Robinson, Mike Mullen, Alicia Tyler, Penny Rose Asbury, Parr Thacker, Derrick Day, Judy Koehler, Margaret Novacich, Sonnie Strader, Debra Riggs, Lora Adkins, Georgianna Tillis, Jennifer Plymale, Jon Willis, Malinda Turner, Lorenzo Pence, Stephanie Schuler, Deborah Curry, Patti Crawford, Kathryn Greenlief, Michelle Kopf, Shannon Bell, Ralph Utzman, Jodie Jackson, Ken Simon, Robin Schimmel, Anna Reno, Sonya McClelland, April Vestal

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dennis McCutcheon.

 

Introductions of new members/guests Lorenzo Pence DO of WVSOM, Stephanie Schuler of WVSOM, and Debbie Curry – Executive Director SWAHEC were made.  Introductions of attendees were made as well.

 

Call to move the Consent Agenda – The consent agenda was passed unanimously (Smith/Adelman)

 

Comments from the Chancellor – Dr. Mullen stated he met with the finance committee today and will be meeting with the finance committee again before making any significant comments.

 

Demonstration of TRACKER enhancements – Mike McCarthy demonstrated the TRACKER enhancements through a power point presentation.  Community services can now be linked to Healthy People 2010 objectives.  These objectives are broken down so site coordinators can select a specific objective.  Community service projects can be added and he reviewed these areas.  Selecting certain projects common to all RHEP sites, such as CARDIAC will select the relevant objectives automatically.  This helps standardize the data across the state.   In an April meeting between Mike, Hilda, Jodie, and alumni offices of schools the problem of tracking students after graduation was addressed.  Each student will have a Tracker ID number.  Alumni offices will compile a list of who is still practicing in the state.  These lists will be distributed to the Site Coordinators to verify and make changes.  Jodie will be entering data from previous years.  Hilda stated this is included in the evaluation process for the Legislature.

Committee reviews and group reports –

 

Finance – Margaret reported that Bobby Brown will assume the position of chair.  The budget bill 03-04 was reviewed.  The committee approved the 3rd quarter expense reports.  Policy 1992-01 is under review for change and will be brought before the Advisory panel at the July meeting.  Policy 2002-04 was approved.  The new allocation policy for 04-05 is to be voted on by the Finance Committee and the Site Coordinator’s group and will be up for approval at the July 21 Advisory Panel meeting.

 

Faculty Development – April reported the second joint AHEC/RHEP conference will be held September 19-20 at Stonewall Resort.  Hilda stated there will be a golf tournament the following Sunday with field faculty and students participating and any volunteers for an opposing team are welcome.  A change of wording for RHEP Policy 1995-04 “Minimal Components for Interdisciplinary Sessions” is up for review in July as a result of a meeting with the faculty development committee and on-site clinical directors.  These revisions will be circulated to committee members for review prior to the July Advisory Panel meeting.

 

Report on NRHA Annual Conference – Alison Witte reported on the conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She stated there are the same problems in western US as here.  Transportation is a big problem.  Outstanding Rural Health Achievement award was presented to Dr. Neal.  A West Virginia Rural Health Association is being established and everyone is encouraged to join.   April has the applications.

 

Chuck reported on the CCPH (Community Campus Partnerships for Health) Conference held in San Diego.  This year was the lowest attendance with only 3 RHEP participants.  They were involved in the welcoming reception and also facilitated a session and attended site visits.  He stated the lack of community representation in the organization is due to cost and more scholarships need to be set up.  A community member from Winding Roads attended.  Shannon stated WV is paving the road for community-campus partnerships and they were approached by many other participants for information.

 

Evaluation – Jodie reviewed the 5 questions to be eliminated from SERFE.  She also stated only applicable questions would be seen by each discipline.  The changes and revisions in student definitions will be recommended to the advisory panel in July.

 

Executive / Associate Director’s Report –

Changes of Consortia Coverage Areas – Hilda stated that to change configuration it must go before the advisory panel.  The consortia must send a letter to the panel to review and put up for vote.  ROVER is asking to annex Wetzel County.  Debra Riggs stated that no specific preceptors have been selected.  Wetzel County Memorial would be used and resources would be shared with Little Kanawha.  (Adelman/Welshonce)

 

Rural Mountain and Country Roads Consortia will combine and pick up Mercer County.    Judy Koehler reported there are several potential sites lined up.  They will continue to operate on separate budgets as separate agencies but the Board of Directors will merge.  They will address adding a Mercer county representative to the board.  The consortium will be called Southeast Education Consortium and will cover Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Summers, Monroe, and Mercer counties.  The SEAHEC board is not yet developed.  Patti stated there are 4 consortia in the region and the first meeting will be held mid-June.  Chuck suggested notifying legislators in the areas for assistance.  (Adelman/Welshonce)

 

Advisory Panel members reviewed a letter from St. Joseph Hospital, Lead Agency for Mountain Health Consortium.  St. Joseph Hospital wants to be relieved of lead agency responsibility for Mountain Health Consortium.  There was a June 30 deadline so Hilda had to act quickly and developed a one year interim contract with Tri County Health Services.  The site coordinator at St. Joseph will move to the Tri-County Health Center before June 30 if the affiliation agreement is signed.  Negotiations are under way with Tri County in Rock Cave and Hilda will be meeting with the Administrator, Rick Simon on June 9.  Grafton City Hospital is also asking to be relieved of lead agency responsibility so new space is needed in Grafton.  United Physicians Care has a new building and will have space with only rent needed, no extra funds. 

 

Hilda reported that she received a written notice from PERD (Performance, Evaluation, & Research Division of the WV Legislature) for review of the progress of the program.  The Rural Health Initiative Act is up for reauthorization in the next legislative session in 2004.  Progress made on suggestions from the last PERD review will be updated as well as the original 15 objectives and goals of the Rural Health Initiative Act.  Minutes from all the committees and subcommittees will be reviewed by the PERD staff.

 

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. (Meckstroth/Smith)