Chairman Mike Lewis, opened the meeting.  The minutes of the March 18th meeting were approved.

Dr. Lewis announced the formation of a Graduate Medical Education (GME) Advisory Council, with representatives from the schools, teaching hospitals, residency directors, rural sites, and DHHR.  Dr. Bob Walker will chair the council; Bob Harmon will represent small rural hospitals; Bob Whitler will represent CAMC; and Hilda Heady will serve as an ex-officio member.  Other members will be named.  Dr. Lewis said that the Legislature expects more GME under RHEP, and the leadership agreed to restore a funding cut to RHEP if more funds were put into fiscal oversight and GME.

Staff Report

Alicia announced that comments on the revised Health Sciences Scholarship Program rules (copy in packet) are due by May 28th.

She reported on recommendations from the May 10th HSSP awards subcommittee meeting:

•  Medical schools should form a screening committee to interview applicants and make sure they understand the program requirements.
• Placement coordinators will serve as points of contact for information on opportunities.
• The Division of Recruitment will provide a map of eligible underserved areas by July 1, 2002, for the HSSP application packet.  Students will have a better understanding of their commitment.
• The application process will be two-tiered: (1) the HSSP subcommittee will serve as a review committee for all applications and make recommendations to the Recruitment & Retention Committee in November. (2) The Committee will make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor.
• The application deadline will be changed to October 15 (from October 31) to allow time for the screening process.

Alicia presented the HSSP application of Matthew Ralsten, III,  4th year medical student at Marshall who has been accepted into the ob/gyn residency at WVU.  He is technically eligible for an award because he will not complete his degree requirements until June.  His application was approved on motion (Hefner/Nemitz).

 Report on Financial Incentives Study

Jodie Jackson presented a report on this study, which was funded under the Rural Health Access Program. The programs studied were: Community Scholarship Program (ended in 97); Health Sciences Scholarship Program; Recruitment & Retention Community Project; and State Loan Repayment Program. Questionnaires were mailed to physicians who received incentive awards (60% response rate), as well as to a control group of rural WV physicians.

The study concluded:

• Obligated physicians are more likely to be influenced in their career decisions by financial factors than are comparison physicians.
• The State’s financial incentive programs are succeeding in their goal to promote access to care for the needy.
• Physicians fulfilling service obligations are generally satisfied with State financial incentive programs – and find their work personally rewarding.
• Dissemination of program information can be improved; best methods are one-on-one counseling and campus presentations.
• Physicians want more training in practice management, conflict management and health care of the poor.
• Financial awards need to keep pace with the high cost of medical education.

Report on Recruitable Communities Project

Dr. Ken Shannon gave a report on this project, which takes a community development approach to recruitment and retention.  Seven communities have participated, and four will be added in the next two years. The program has sponsored 14 rural rotations involving 5 training programs, and 12 communities. Rotations are for one month, and the physician receives a $1,000 stipend. The program has recruited 27 health care providers in RCP communities, including 14 physicians, 5 NPs, and 8 PAs.

To enhance recruitment in rural WV, Dr. Shannon recommends the following:

• Develop a model for a viable primary care practice in rural WV.
• Encourage primary care training programs to recruit trainees with an interest in rural health.
• Encourage primary care training programs to require rural rotations.
• Address perceived disincentives to WV practice at the State level.
• Expand RCP to a more collaborative program involving community planners, rural health professionals, training programs, state workforce planners, and grant writers.

Results of 2002 Residency Match

Concerns have been raised by the effects of the malpractice insurance crisis, provider tax, etc., on recruitment to WV residency programs. Bob Whitler presented match data from the major teaching hospitals. On Match day, CAMC/WVU-Charleston filled 26 (76%) of the 34 positions offered.  Of the 26 positions filled, 9 (34%) were graduates of WVU and Marshall; 2 (8%) from other US schools; and 15 (58%) were International Graduates. Two other positions were offered pre-match, including one to a WVSOM graduate.

Comparing all three teaching hospitals in 2002:
 

• Marshall filled 25 (73%) out of 34
• WVU-Morgantown, filled 20 (62%) out of 32
• CAMC/WVU-Charleston, 26 (76%) out of 34

2000-2002 data for the CAMC/WVU program show that an increasing proportion of positions are being filled by International Graduates, compared to U.S. graduates.  Mr. Whitler raised a number of policy considerations, including strengthening of residency programs; broadening the focus to include urban, as well as rural, workforce needs; the need for specialty and subspecialty training programs in southern WV; and collaboration between urban and rural training sites.
 
The meeting was adjourned.