Robert Trachtenberg, ms Executive Director National AHEC organization Dr. Carol Giffin-Jeansonne

ROBERT TRACHTENBERG, MSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NATIONAL AHEC ORGANIZATION

DR. CAROL GIFFIN-JEANSONNEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WESTERN COLORADO AHEC

PRESENTATION TO THE COLORADO HEALTH INSURANCE/BENEFIT EXCHANGE

MARKETING, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WORKGROUP

OCTOBER 19, 2011

NAO: A NATIONAL NETWORK OF AHECS COMMITTED TO A WELL-PREPARED

HEALTH PROFESSIONS’ WORKFORCE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY

HEALTH CARE

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

1

Discussion

History and Overview AHEC Defined National AHEC Organization AHEC By the Numbers Importance of the AHECs re Health Care Workforce

Pipeline Key Programmatic Initiatives Impact 2010 On the Horizon Discussion

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

2

History and Overview

AHEC Program created in 1971 recruit, train and retain a health professions workforce committed to underserved populations.

Authorizing Legislation: Section 751 of the Public Health Service Act Title VII; Reauthorized in 2010 ACA

DHHS/HRSA/BHPr/Division of Public Health & Interdisciplinary Education/AHEC Branch

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

3

History and Overview

Funding via Federal cooperative agreements and matching state and local funds

Recipients Schools of Medicine/ Osteopathic Medicine; Parent Institutions;

Incorporated Consortia; Nursing Schools

Congressional Intent That there be an AHEC Program in every state

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

4

National AHEC Organization

The National Area Health Education Center Organization (NAO)

The national organization (incorporated 1997 ) that supports and advances the national Area Health Education Center (AHEC) network in improving the health of individuals and communities by transforming health care through education

Membership: AHEC Programs , Community-Based AHECs & other supporting individuals and organizations

Provides resources, communications, training, conferences, technical assistance, programmatic initiatives aligned with AHEC goals, legislative updates to the membership

NAO Leadership: Board members and committee chairs comprised of AHEC Program and Center leadership

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

5

Area Health Education Centers

Area Health Education Centers (AHECs)

Academic and community partnerships that provide: Health career recruitment programs for K-12 students Programs that increase diversity in the health care workforce Programs that support increased access to quality health care in medically

underserved areas (teaching; community outreach; collaborative partnerships)

AHECs address health care workforce issues: By exposing students to health care career opportunities that they

otherwise would not have encountered Establishing community-based training sites for students in service-

learning and clinical capacities Providing continuing education programs for health care professionals,

and evaluating the needs of underserved communities

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

6

AHEC by the Numbers 2011

A national network unlike any other in the U.S.

55 AHEC Programs (53 Medical School; 2 Nursing)

253 Community-Based AHECs in underserved rural and urban areas

48 States (Kansas/Delaware) and the District of Columbia, Guam, Palau, Yap, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico have AHEC Programs

Affiliated with over 600 colleges and universities and over 1,000 Community Health Centers

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

7

National AHEC Network

48 States, 55 Medical Schools & 253 Community-Based Sites throughout the country

Most in rural and underserved communities Great capacity to address vital national health issues

Workforce Pipeline Collegiate Health Service Corps (NHSC Contract) Technical Assistance and Evaluation (HRSA Contract) Provider Education Initiatives

Smoking Cessation Adult Vaccination

Community Health Worker Development

All AHECs are active advocates for improved health outcomes

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

8

AHEC Programs & Centers Distribution

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

9

Key Programmatic Initiatives

Connecting Students to Careers

o Goal o Increase representation of diverse populations in the health care professions

(including allied health) for students K-16

Connecting (Pre) Professionals to Communitieso Goal

o Expose health professions students to training at community-based sites: HPSAs and CHCs

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

10

Key Programmatic Initiatives

Connecting Communities to Better Health

o Responding to local health needs and serving as an important link between academic training programs and community-based outreach programs

o AHECs and NAO actively work to advance and improve health careo AHECs actively engaged with state Health Benefits/Insurance

Exchange Developmento Programming

o Provide innovative, collaborative, multi-disciplinary responses to community health issues including:  diabetes, obesity, asthma, and traumatic brain injury

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

11

Increasing Health Care Professionals2010

Students Introduced to Health Careers K-16: 413,643 Students in Enrichment Programs K-16: 25,871 Health Professionals in CE:

Total Contact Hours: 1,243,134 Total Participants: 476, 595

Community Based Training Sites: 15,042 54% Designated Underserved Areas 25% Rural AHEC Sites 16% AHEC Urban Community based Sites 5% Other Sites

Health Professions Students Trained at Community-Based Sites: 51,722 MD/DO: 39% Nursing: 23% Allied Health: 15% Other (MH; APN; Ph; PA; PH; Dental, CHW): 23%

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

12

On the Horizon

Exploring NAO’s role with HB/IE Colorado and Nationally

To Consider NAO developing core educational HB/IE information for consumers NAO acting as regional offices within states Providing a cost-effective resource and a community-based infrastructure Navigators for HB/IE consumers Capacity for national-based trainings

Thoughts?

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

13

Questions

Robert Trachtenberg, MSExecutive Director

National AHEC Organization(414) 908-4953 x131

[email protected]

Dr. Carol Giffin-JeansonneExecutive Director WCAHEC

(970) [email protected]

http://nationalahec.org

04/21/23Robert Trachtenberg; NAO

14