Oklahoma Area Health Education Center Program (OKAHEC)

1. Oklahoma Area Health Education Center Program (OKAHEC) A Unit of the Oklahoma Rural Health Research and Policy Center Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Richard Perry, M.A., Director

2. The National AHEC Program • Congressional legislation established the program in 1972 • Currently 49 programs in 45 states • Mission: Improve the supply and distribution of health care professionals with an emphasis on primary care, through community/academic educational partnerships, in order to increase access to quality health care.

3. Oklahoma AHEC • Established in 1984 with a cooperative agreement grant to the Tulsa College of Osteopathic Medicine • Mission: To improve access to health care by improving the quality, distribution, and supply of primary care providers in rural and underserved areas, and to reduce disparities in access to health care between Oklahoma’s rural and urban populations, and its’ majority and minority populations.

4. OKAHEC Funding • Right at $2,000,000 • Oklahoma State Appropriation - $462,000 • Federal AHEC Cooperative Agreement - $450,000 • OSU-CHS - $85,000 • Other Federal grants - $1,000,000 • Bioterrorism CE • Rural Interdisciplinary • GEC (via OU sub-contract)

5. OKAHEC Organization • Program Office – OSU CHS, Tulsa • OSU Community Health and Education Center (OCHEC) – CCG, Tulsa • Northeast AHEC – Tulsa Community College, Tulsa • Southeast AHEC – Carl Albert State College, Poteau • Southwest AHEC – Cameron University, Lawton • NorthwestAHEC – Rural Health Projects, Enid

6. OKAHEC Model Keep ‘Em Rural and Underserved Communities Continuing Education Community Task Forces Health Promotion Disease Prevention AHEC Newsletter Distance Learning Preceptor/Mentor LRC Train ‘Em Awareness & Exploration Elementary-College Adults Camps Shadowing Mentoring Field Trips LRC Health Professional Student Training Community-based Rural/Underserved Primary Care Counselor/Mentor Interdisciplinary LRC Get ‘Em

7. OKAHEC Outreach • Colleges and Universities statewide • Health Department • Rural Health Association of Oklahoma • Primary Care Association • Geriatric Education Center • HIS and Tribal Health • Career Technology • Oklahoma Poison Control Center • Public Schools • Free Clinics

8. OKAHEC Careers Education • Health Awareness – general orientation to health careers – over 25,000 youth / year • Health Exploration – intensive career immersion – about 2000 youth / year Shadowing and mentoring Camps – 6 this year Counseling, mock interviews Tours, mystery MASH • Outcomes – 80% of high school seniors with 20+ hours of programming enter health programs

9. OKAHEC Health Professions Student Support • Organized community-based education • Interdisciplinary training • Service learning • Housing • Preceptor recruitment and support • About 450 students / year; 45,000 hours

10. OKAHEC at OSU CHS • Early Clinical Experiences • Practice based • Hospital • Rural • Family Medicine • Required Rural Rotation support • Case presentation via teleconferencing • Lecture on Rural Health in Oklahoma • Multicultural Health class

11. OKAHEC at OCHEC • Tulsa Housing Authority – HOPE VI • 1500 sq.ft. – 3 exam rooms, 1 procedure room, library/video conferencing room • Family Medicine • Pediatrics – day care center • Geriatrics – senior mid-rise • Clinical training

12. OKAHEC - Other training Programs • Electives – Tar Creek • Interdisciplinary training – Burdick grant • Talihina and Enid • Family Medicine Rural Residencies

13. OKAHEC – Community Support • Continuing Education • About 200 events per year for 4,500 professionals • Community based planning • Bioterrorism CE for rural providers • Consumer Education • About 100 events per year for 8,000 persons • Community-based planning • Health promotion, disease and issue specific • Community Support • AHEC News • Community Coalitions