RHEP Site Coordinator Meeting

Morgantown, WV

Approved May 17, 2004

March 16, 2004

Present: Chuck Conner, Elizabeth Richmond, Kathryn Greenlief, Malinda Turner, Robert Blake, Penny Asbury, Georgianna Tillis, Jane Sullivan, Carla Campbell, Sonnie Strader, Judy Koehler, Steve Thomas, Dalena Riggs, and Amber Crist; and from the ORH, April Vestal and Derrick Day.

Absent: Parr Thacker, Lora Adkins, Robin Schimmel, Shannon Bell, and Anna Reno.

Sonnie called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. As a meeting check-in, everyone shared their spring time plans. The approval of the January minutes and the review of Next Steps were tabled until the April meeting.

Committee Reports

Evaluation- The "approved exception" for special variance for RHEP students was discussed. Also please let Mike know if you're not receiving SERFE reminders.

Outreach/Curriculum- The "Visions" document has been reviewed, a draft improvement process was introduced and a flow draft will go the Advisory Panel. Committee chairs will be asked for accomplishments in September for a presentation of their accomplishments at the November Advisory Panel.

IT- All site coordinators need to respond to Derrick's connection survey. He would like to upgrade dial-up sites if possible.

Recruitment and Retention- The new contact at the Division of Rural Health is Dreama Mace #558-1327 / dremamace@wvdhhr.org, which replaces Sandra Pope (Rural Health Policy). The Rural Health Conference will be October 25-27^th at The Stonewall Resort. The cost is $89 per night for food and lodging, $125 for nonmembers and $100 for members registration. They plan to have more clinical sessions and interactive programs via teleconference this year. The Division of Rural Health was audited on their scholarships and default loans; the leadership fellowship has been refunded for two more years; and the "Center for Nursing" bill passed and will offer scholarships.

Faculty Development- No meeting

Finance- Senate Bill 717 was reauthorized for one year. Funding will be cut approximately 7.5% to 8%. A freeze has been placed on all fund balances, meaning no capital expenditures as of March 22^nd. Margaret needs a total of all anticipated unencumbered funds as of June 30^th. Due to our one year reauthorization and our wide range per student costs ($329 to $4748), a Task Force has been formed to create a WVRHEP strategic plan in 90 days. The formal findings will be presented to the Advisory Panel in May. It's estimated that we need to achieve a savings of at least 25%.

The Task Force members are: Alicia Tyler, Jody Jackson, WVSOM Rep., Melinda Turner, Arnie Simons, Connie Simmons, Tom Hefner, Henry Taylor, Bobby Brown, Dennis McCutcheon, Sharon Hanna, Imogene Foster, Dan Brody, Margaret Novacich, April Vestal, Sandra Pope, and Dick Meckstroth.

Other items:

à Suggestion was made for a PAC at the community level to be formed to lobby at the state level and attend our statewide meetings.

à PERD- will be very busy this year, they will meet in April for FY 04-05; they have 50 programs to review and this is an election year.

à The SC Group nominated Malinda to the Task Force with Chuck as the alternate.

Resolutions on Consolidation- send information before May 1st to Executive Director.

Guest Sarah Wade, President West Virginia Medical Alliance

Sarah was present to share a program "Health Literacy: Helping Your Patient Understand". Sarah explained that the program was of particular interest to her as President of the WVMA. She reminded the SC's that they had all received a toolkit for the AMA Foundation program. After a brief introduction, she showed a portion of the video that comes in the toolkit. She then passed out a packet of information that could easily be adapted to an IDS session and discussed the intended use of this packet. She asked the group for feedback and provided an evaluation tool for each to fill out as well as one to take home for use when the program is presented at the local site.

Office of Rural Health

April reported that the FDD conference has been scheduled for September 17-19 at Stonewall Resort. It will again be cosponsored by AHEC, RHEP and the MSGEC.

The FDD committee is planning a special session for OSCD's and SC's on April 30^th in the Flatwoods area. The exact place will be announced in the near future. This training is for OSCD as well as SC's. All consortia are urged to participate.

The 2005 Legislative Day activities have been set for Monday, February 21, 2005.

April gave a brief report of the establishment of the Task Force to look at the future direction of RHEP given the one-year reauthorization from the Legislature last week. There was a lengthy discussion on options and financial strategies. Malinda was elected to represent the SC's on the Task Force and Chuck will be the alternate. SC's were urged to attend the upcoming meetings as a resource for the Task Force but only Malinda (or Chuck in her absence) will have a vote on the panel.

Retreat Committee Report - Brochure was given out and food assignments were made. $200 will be invoiced for each site coordinator.

April asked that Anna and Lora be called to update them on the two-day meetings. Judy said she would call Lora and Malinda will call Anna to update her.

SC Concerns

Georgianna asked everyone to bring any left over testing supplies or equipment for CARDIAC to her at the SC Retreat. A simple email on the number of stadiometers and scales at each site will work but all cholestech machines should be returned. Dr. Neal's office is going to have all the machines serviced before next year. She thanked everyone for the fantastic work this year with the CARDIAC screening.

Next Steps were reviewed by Penny to include:

Respond to Derrick by email on your email services and where your computers are. Send any thoughts or suggestions to Derrick on DSL and Charter.

By March 22, let Margaret know what your unencumbered fund balance is on your current Budget.

3. Each consortium to send responses to the resolution (from State Advisory Board at November 2003 meeting) to the Executive Director by May 1.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM.

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