MINUTES

 

                                                WVRHEP RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

COMMITTEE MEETING

 

September 15, 2003, Days Inn, Flatwoods

 

Attending: Carla Campbell (for Penny Asbury), Linda Atkins, Marilyn Fox, Tom Hefner, Jill Hutchinson, Judy Koehler, Sharon Lansdale,  Jim Nemitz, Jessica Sharp, Bob Walker, Bob Whitler. Staff: Alicia Tyler.  Absent: Norm Ferrari, Mike Holt, Jane Martin, Jill McDaniel, Shirley Neel, Jo Ann Raines. Guests: Lynn Mugaas, Elizabeth “Betsy” Degges, Sheryll Tennent, Ken Shannon, Sandra Pope, Jennifer T. Plymale, Robin Schimmel, Elaine Mason, Dennis McCutcheon, Henry Taylor, Erin Condo, Chuck Conner, Melissa Wheeler, Jon Willis.

 

Dr. Bob Walker, serving as chair, opened the meeting. The minutes of the May 19th meeting were approved.

 

Alicia reported that a meeting on Developing and Funding Graduate Medical Education had been held on August 1st in Flatwoods for RHEP and AHEC representatives.  She distributed a description of the Rural Residency Technical Assistance Program provided through the Higher Education Policy Commission and Lincoln Primary Care Center and a form for requesting technical assistance.  Alicia also announced that October 15th was the deadline for Health Sciences Scholarship applications. 

 

Qualitative Research: Interviews with RHEP Graduates

 

Erin Condo, a PhD candidate in Rural Sociology at Penn State University, reported on her research project designed to see if RHEP influenced where people practice in the state.  Eleven students from different disciplines were interviewed.  She said they had varying levels of involvement in community service, while many were, or are, involved in continuing education. IDS was identified as one of the most valuable components, although some said they didn’t have adequate time for it. Some said that before their RHEP experience, they didn’t realize they could go home to practice.  Her conclusion was that the group reflected the program’s ideals. 


 

Committee members suggested it would be good to interview students so we learn why we lose some students in the process.  More study and surveys are needed, e.g., how RHEP may contribute to the quality of practitioners placed.

 

Assessing Needs and Outcomes

 

Alicia reported that the Chancellor wants the 2003 Health Sciences and Rural Health Report Card to include recruitment and retention outcomes in a more visual format, i.e., maps.  Also, he has requested data on measures of economic disadvantage, health status, and access to care.  As a result, she is working with Jon Willis at the RCB Center for Rural Health at Marshall to develop various maps using GIS mapping software.

 

Dr. Bob Walker and Jon Willis gave a presentation showing what can be done with GIS software, using maps they had developed on southern West Virginia for Sen. Byrd’s office.  Topics included: obesity, inactivity, and smoking; poverty, educational attainment, and unemployment; hospital zones of care; and maps of recent flooding.  Dr. Walker said that GIS is especially helpful in planning community services. For example, flood maps showing population concentrations can help target areas for temporary emergency facilities. He said that maps showing YPLL public health data are good analytic tools.

 

Alicia discussed draft maps showing placements of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, based on last year’s Recruitment & Retention Report, and got suggestions from the group. These maps will be updated with 2003 data.

 

Updates from Committee Members

 

Elaine Mason announced that a Job Fair will be held on November 21, 2003, at the WVU Health Sciences Center in Morgantown.  This year the Fair is open to residents in all specialties and programs in the state, as well as to WVU students in various disciplines.  She has sent notices to 200 recruiting sites and will distribute poster announcements.

 

Sharon Lansdale gave a progress report on the WV Rural Health Access Program.  She said that several individuals co-authored articles for a rural health supplement that will appear in the NRHA Journal of Rural Health in September.  Included are:

 

“A Comparative Assessment of West Virginia’s Financial Incentive Programs for Rural Physicians.” Authors: Jodie Jackson, Elaine Mason, Ken Shannon, Jim Nemitz, and Don Pathman.

 

“A Community Development Approach to Rural Recruitment.” Author: Ken Shannon.

 

“Improving Access to Capital for Healthcare Infrastructure: the Experience of the Southern Rural Access Program’s Revolving Loan Fund.”  West Virginia’s loan fund is one of five funds featured.

 

“Getting From Here to There: Evaluating West Virginia’s Rural Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Program.” Authors: Gail Bellamy, Kendall Stone, Sally Richardson, and Ray Goldsteen.

 

Sharon said that a Phase II, Years 3 & 4 proposal will be due in December/January and will cover the period from April 1, 2004 – March 31, 2006. The program has hit most of its objectives. She said that the first resident has signed up for the Rural Health Leadership project, and the Recruitable Communities Project has targeted Richwood and Elizabeth for assistance.  On November 3rd, a Retention Workshop will be held at Jackson’s Mill.

 

Jill Hutchinson reported that West Virginia has been chosen by CDC and HRSA for a special diabetes project at health centers in Fayette and Greenbrier Counties.  This is focused on the development of protocols, but does not involve new funding.

 

Linda Atkins reported that the Division of Recruitment’s State Loan Repayment Program has been increased to $300,000 from $200,000, a level of funding it had for many years.  The increase was made possible by $50,000 in new state matching funds approved by the Bureau.

 

The meeting was adjourned.