Recruitment and Retention minutes 2007-03
MINUTES
WVRHEP RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
COMMITTEE MEETING
March 12, 2007, Days Inn, Flatwoods
Attending: Terri Bliziotes, Vanessa Linger (for Jay
Bonfili), Dave Brown, Patricia Crawford, Deborah Curry, Tom Hefner, Imogene
Foster (for E. Jane Martin), Sandra Y. Pope, Jo Ann Raines, Anna Reno, Sonnie
Strader, Bob Whitler. Staff: Alicia Tyler.
Absent: Norm Ferrari, Marilyn Fox, Lew Holloway, Sharon Lansdale, Jill
McDaniel, Bob Walker. Guests: Kristi Pritt, Nannette Van Dyke-McDonald, Dennis
McCutcheon, Jodie Jackson, Stephanie Schuler, Amy Holbrook, Chris Dodge,
Tom Hefner, serving as chair, opened the meeting. A
correction was made to the November 13th minutes. Dave Brown could
not attend that meeting. The minutes were approved, as amended, on motion (Reno/Pope).
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMISSION
The Behavioral Health Commission, established in H.B.
4488 by the 2006 Legislature, has been meeting since the fall. Alicia
represents the Higher Education Policy Commission on this Commission. The
statute calls for a study of the state's behavioral health system and how it is
financed. A final report and recommendations for the Governor and the
Legislature are due on January 1, 2008. Working groups will be established in
seven topic areas. Alicia is participating in the workforce development group.
Kristi Pritt, the new financial analyst for Health
Sciences, gave some background on behavioral health in West Virginia. The
State, through the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities, provides
services to the most needy through (1) 7 state facilities (two psychiatric,
four long-term care, and one acute care in Welch; and (2) funding community
services in mental health, children's mental health, substance abuse, and
mental retardation/developmental disabilities.
About 20 years ago, West Virginia was one of the first
state's to deinstitutionalize patients in psychiatric facilities. The
in-patient psychiatric beds went from 5,000 to 240, of which 65 are for the
forensic population. As an alternative, the State funded a network of providers
at the community level. This worked well until recent years. Lower reimbursement
resulted in fewer community supports. Now, with more clients needing inpatient
care, the State has to divert them to private facilities at a cost of about
$600 a day. To deal with this crisis, DHHR has hired a consultant to evaluate
the role of the State and the community provider, define needed services,
develop reimbursement methods, and ensure collaboration within the agency.
Alicia will keep the Committee informed.
HSSP APPROPRIATION
Alicia reported back on the issue of the Health
Sciences Scholarship appropriation. A question was raised in the November 13th
meeting: Is an increase needed? Or do awards need to be reduced?
· The annual appropriation is about $150,000
· About 8 physicians and 8 NP, PA or PT students are
funded each year
· About $90,000 more than the appropriation is awarded
each year, funded from repayments
· About one-third of the repayments are awarded each
year, so the account is gradually spending down
· An annual increase of $75,000 to $100,000 is needed to
maintain the program at current levels
· Repayments draw interest -- $11,000 so far this year
In the discussion, Patti Crawford said that some
medical students may not be ready to make a commitment to HSSP, but they can apply
later for the RRCP grant in the Division of Rural Health & Recruitment. The
state has incentives at several levels - students, residents, and physicians
beginning their practices. JoAnn Raines said that more funding is needed for
residents, to be competitive with hospitals that give signing bonuses.
LEVELS POLICY
Jodie Jackson presented the revised Levels Policy. The
Recruitment & Retention Committee and the Schools Committee have oversight
of this policy. It is designed to encourage a more even distribution of medical
students and encourage rotations in the most underserved areas. AHEC requires
that 10% of students' time must be away from the parent institution. The policy
allows schools to give two months of RHEP credit for one month at a Level III
(most underserved) site. Sites such as Little Kanawha have gained, but overall
medical student weeks are down.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES REPORT
Melissa Wheeler and Alicia reported outcomes on state incentive
programs administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission; the Division
of Rural Health and Recruitment (Bureau for Public Health); and the RHEP
office. The report, based on the 2006 Report Card to the Legislature, included
the following:
-Of 213 physician graduates in rural practice, 90
(42%) received a state financial incentive.
- Of 92 NPs/Nurse Educator graduates in rural practice,
39 (42%) received an incentive.
- Of the 131 Physician Assistant graduates in rural
practice, 43 (33%) received an incentive.
- 55 rural
providers received two or more incentives.
RURAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP
Patti Crawford and Debbie Curry discussed their
presentation at the Rural Health Conference. The Southeastern and Southwestern
AHECs have sponsored residents and new physicians in fellowships with funding
from the Center for Rural Health Development and the Policy Commission. Fellows
have also led AHEC teams. Both programs have resulted in recruitment of new
rural physicians.
ROUND THE TABLE
Anna Reno reported on activities in Region 2, Northern
RHEC, including a project at Ravenswood Middle School and a health fair in
Richie County.
Sonnie Strader reported on activities in Region 4,
Northern RHEC, including a workshop for health professionals; an IDS and a
project for nursing students in Preston Co.; and health career presentations at
several community festivals.
Patti Crawford - Southeastern AHEC is collaborating
with the Southwestern AHEC on the 3rd minority health conference.
Debbie Curry - Southwestern AHEC had completed 3 of 4
IDS scheduled and has worked with Tug River CHC, Jackson Co, and Putnam Co. She
also reported on 4 new Rural Fellows, a continuing education project with
Hospice and Western Counties, and K-12 pipeline activities.
Vanessa Linger - Eastern AHEC is recruiting another Rural
Fellow and is conducting two AHEC teams with the Eastern RHEP, including a
dental project with Shenandoah Health Center and a concussion project for area
football players in the fall.
Imogene Foster announced her retirement and introduced
Nannette Van Dyke-McDonald, who will represent the Dean of the WVU Nursing
School. The current Dean, Jane Martin, is retiring, and a search for a new Dean
has begun.
Bob Whitler - Al Michaels has been appointed as
administrator at the CAMC Teays Valley Hospital. Bob has taken on new duties as
the director of Partners in Health.
Sandra Pope - Has submitted a new AHEC grant from
September 1, 2007 - August 31, 2010 and should hear about funding in August.
Terry Bliziotes - The WV Primary Care Association is
using new WebEx training recordings and has received a good response from
members. Efforts are being made to develop an infrastructure to provide lunch
time continuing education opportunities.
The meeting was adjourned.