Minutes of the RHEP Community Member and Student
Retreat
The
following persons were present: Shannon
Bell, Site Coordinator, Chuck Conner, Site Coordinator, Hilda Heady, Executive
Director, Lisa Hileman, Community Representative, Mary
Lafferty, WVSOM medical student. Shirley Neal, Community Representative, Akela Neumaier, Medical student, Jill
Powell, WVSOM medical student, Elaine Price, WVSOM medical student, Heather
Ross, WVU medical student, Owen Stout, Community Representative, Stephen
Thomas, Site Coordinator, David Tingler, WVU medical
student, Malinda Turner, Site Coordinator, April
Vestal, Associate Director, Robert Walker, MD, Marshall U School of Medicine
Morning
refreshments served from
Beginning
at
The
students were asked to share their experiences with the RHEP program and
identify areas that were important to them. This included:
Opportunities
after medical school
How
to retain residents
Malpractice
insurance issues
Financial
incentives
What
communities can do to retain physicians?
Physician
Retention Issues (recruiting outside the state, diversity, and retaining WV
graduates)
The value of interdisciplinary sessions (IDS).
The
group determined the topics they would like to discuss in more detail.
Discussion is listed as follows:
Interdisciplinary
sessions - Felt that these are important, there could be other ways to
incorporate the interdisciplinary concept through service learning, students
had positive experiences with IDS, sites should be flexible with IDS and how it
is accomplished, IDS was viewed as a value not a requirement, the RHEP
curricula components are meant to work together, not all sites have IDS
regularly due to student numbers, and consistency in curriculum is important.
Malpractice
- important to have places for students to go, good practice models should be
created, state has made some positive changes this year, important issue but
too big of a topic to discuss at this retreat.
Opportunities/Financial
Incentives/Loan Repayment - when is the best time to get this information to
students, a lot of incorrect information is communicated to students, 3rd year
a good time for WVU medicine, 2nd year a good time for WVSOM medicine, federal
clinics do not have malpractice issues, students don't know what they want to specialize
in early in their education which makes it harder to commit, rural residency
programs are being developed.
RHEP
- Student recommendation for more involvement and interaction with the
community while on rotation. Didn't get a perspective of what it would be like
to work in the community. Is the RHEP model working? Would the program be
better served by selecting and supporting a smaller number of students that are
interested in primary care and staying in WV? Should RHEP narrow its focus?
RHEP is at a crossroad to be self-reflective and make positive changes. Important for WV and medical schools to provide doctors for WV and
a good education no matter where the students practice.
Student
Dream Jobs - not sure, family practice at a primary care clinic, practice in a
rural community for 20 years then return to India, contract signed to return to
Air Force following graduation - will return to WV following that, spouse will
be unable to find work in engineering in WV - will have to work elsewhere, and family
practice or geriatrics in a rural area.
Dr.
Robert Walker provided a presentation on "How Are We Different? Barriers to Access to Care in the
Lisa
thanked Dr. Walker for his informative and inspiring presentation. She thanked
everyone for attending the retreat and for their contributions. The group
thanked Lisa for her work in planning the retreat. The group agreed the retreat
was beneficial and should be held yearly. Chuck Connor stressed the importance
of students getting information from their classmates in order to share
concerns and ideas for improvement in the RHEP program. Chuck Connor and Steve
Thomas announced they are the Site Coordinator representatives on the Student
Advisory Panel and look forward to working with this committee this year.
Lisa
provided an overview of the topics discussed throughout the day. Shannon Bell
recommended the group develop next steps from the meeting.
Next
steps from the retreat include:
Issues
on IDS and policies in RHEP will be referred to the School Committee and Site
Coordinators. It was recommended that a joint School and Site Coordinator meeting
be held to review policies and variance issues.
It
was recommended that consortia identify contact persons to talk with students
about practice opportunities at their facilities and in the state.
It
was recommended that students in their 1st and 2nd year of medical school be
included in future retreats.
Hilda
Heady will contact the Financial Aid offices at the three medical schools to
disseminate information on the financial incentives and programs available in
the state.
Dr.
Walker recommended that systems or models of practice opportunities be created
for students in the state.
April
Vestal will send a list of the 330 clinics to students on the panel. A plan
will be developed to communicate this information to all students.
The
group was provided with envelopes to send comments and suggestions on this and
future retreats to Lisa Hileman
In
closing, students were asked "What Would You Need to Stay in WV?" The
responses were:
Jobs
More
information on incentive programs
Money
(financial support)
Cultural
diversity
The
retreat concluded at