Initiatives

AHEC RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COMMUNITY MODEL (ARRC Model)

We utilize the AHEC Recruitment and Retention Community (ARRC) Model as our framework for health workforce development. The ARRC Model was developed by East Texas AHEC staff as a way to capitalize on AHEC best practice for building the healthcare workforce. A unique aspect of the ARRC Model is its foundation in comunity economic development concepts.

ORCA Project

UPDATE
The ORCA project requires us to create economic impact reports for 25 communities state wide. Within those 25 communities we were to select 5 to actually engage the community in our ARRC model process. IMPLAN AHECers assigned to this project are Marshall Kratz, Mark Scott, Brian Sullivan, Shontel Minor, Tom Knight, Robbyn Michalka and Amanda Thomas.

Reports: The Economic Contribution of a Rural Primary Care Physician on Coryell County, Texas; The Costs and Revenues to Establish a Solo Rural Primary Care Physician Practice in Texas; Feasibility of Additional Primary Care Practitioners in Coryell County, Texas; National and State Trends in the Health Care Industry and Future Primary Care Physician Need

Fact sheets: Health Professional Shortage Area Definitions and a Map of the HPSA counties in Texas; National Health Service Corps (NHSC); NHSC/State Loan Repayment programs; CHC's or Community Health Centers or FQHCs or Federally Qualified Health Centers

COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION & SERVICE-LEARNING

East Texas AHEC advocates community-based education (CBE) for health professions students, with an emphasis on primary care and underserved populations. Our efforts to facilitate the health profession student’s training process also encourages student participation in providing service to the community (service-learning) and to instill in the student a desire upon graduation to return to a community setting to practice.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH

The 79^th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 523 for East Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to pilot a Rural Emergency Dispatch Resource Center. The pilot was successfully completed, detailed in a report entitled Emergency Medical Services Dispatch Resource Center Pilot Project. The 80^th Legislature passed House Bill 1412, charging East Texas AHEC with expansion of the pilot to help address needs of rural 911 answering points across the state. The expanded program is now in development.

FREW INITIATIVE

The Texas AHEC Network (TxAN), comprised of East Texas, West Texas and South Texas AHECs, has initiated a proposed plan of action in response to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s document, “House Bill 15: Frew Expenditure Plan, September 2007.” The central theme is consonant with the TxAN core mission of healthcare access and improved health for all, and is consistent with the fully operational program plans and strategies of the Texas AHECs.

AHEC PUBLIC HEALTH AMBULATORY COMMUNITY SELECTIVE

This 4-week Public Health Ambulatory Community selective is an opportunity for the student to learn about the profession and practice of medicine in a community setting working with special populations, participating in a service learning experience and with special opportunities to explore interdisciplinary team practice and public health. The health policy option, included in this selective course, has students working at the Capitol producing reports on selected health policy topics.

HEALTH CAREER PIPELINE

We introduce the very young student to the image of the health professional and their health-related tasks to set in motion the appeal of a health career. We offer continual stimulus and support to the middle and high school student to foster knowledge of available multi-disciplined health career choices and enhance their opportunity to train to become their community’s health professional.

iAHEC

is a web resource designed by East Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC) staff for electronic data collection and reporting of all "AHEC touches." Its design provides a secure, easy to use web-based information portal that encourages daily activity entry and ensures accurate and up-to-date data is accessible on demand.

NURSE FRIENDLY PROGRAM FOR SMALL & RURAL HOSPITALS

The Nurse-Friendly Project for Small/Rural Hospitals (2003-2008), to improve the workplace for nurses in small and rural Texas hospitals, has impacted 1400 registered nurses and 97,500 patients. AHEC consultative staff assisted 30 client hospitals in incorporating Texas Nurses Association (TNA) developed Nurse-Friendly© hospital criteria into policies, procedures and everyday practice. The outcomes included better nurse retention rates, improved nurse-sensitive patient care as well as personal and professional career satisfaction that retain nurses in the profession. A partnership project of East Texas AHEC, TNA, West Texas AHEC, and South Texas AHEC funded 50% by USHSS/HRSA/BHP/Grant #D66HP01379 WEBSITE: http://nfp.etxahec.org