1. March 19, 2015
Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference
Spokane, WA
Suzanne Allen, WWAMI AHEC Program Office
Gloria Burnett, Director, Alaska AHEC
Jodi Perlmutter, Director, Western Washington AHEC
Katrina Hoff, Director, Idaho AHEC
Marivern Easton, Director, Wyoming AHEC

2. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
Program
 Federal grant funding from HRSA
 AHECs “enhance access to high quality, culturally
competent health care through academic-community
partnerships to ultimately improve the distribution,
diversity, and supply of the primary care health
professions workforce who serve in rural and
underserved health care delivery sites.”
 The AHEC Program awardees subcontract with
community-based AHEC centers in one or more regions of
a state.
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3. Area Health Education Centers
(AHECs) in WWAMI States
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WWAMI AHEC
W
Centers:
W WA AHEC
AHEC E WA
ID AHEC
WY AHEC
Montana AHEC
Centers:
North Central MT
Western MT
South Central MT
North Eastern MT
Eastern MT
Alaska AHEC
Centers:
NW AK
Interior AK,
South Central AK,
SE AK,
Yukon
Kuskokwim

4. WWAMI AHEC
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Goals Provide community-based health careers promotion and
preparation activities for youth, college students, and
displaced and incumbent workers, to enter health careers
education and ultimately become healthcare providers who
choose to work in rural and underserved communities
Support community-based student education through field
placements, preceptorships and other community-based
activities for students in health careers educational programs
to become the next generation of providers who will serve our
region’s highest need populations
Promote interdisciplinary and interprofessional education
and training, emphasizing primary care and creating
opportunities for healthcare students and professionals to
learn from each other and engage in effective team building
Facilitate professional education and support for
healthcare providers working in our region’s underserved
settings, with a focus on interprofessional activities

5. AHEC Partnerships in the WWAMI States
 Gloria Burnett, Alaska AHEC
 Jodi Perlmutter, Western Washington AHEC
 Katrina Hoff, Idaho AHEC
 Marivern Easton, Wyoming AHEC
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6. 6

7. Training Rural Providers to fill the Veteran Healthcare Gap
Partnerships
 Alaska AHEC
 Eastern Washington AHEC
 Western Washington AHEC
 Northeast Oregon AHEC
 VA- Office of Rural Health
 Local VA’s

8. Project Goals
 Working together to increase rural
providers’ knowledge base as related
to Veteran mental health, military
culture and resources available for
specialize care at VA to provide
quality care for Veterans in their own
community.
• The VA needed help reaching the
private sector especially in rural areas
were they had limited resources, the
AHECs needed support from the VA
including their subject matter experts
to continue their outreach efforts

9. Outcomes
• Alaska
 3 trainings-122 participants
• Washington
 3 trainings-160 participants
• Oregon
 1 training-51 participants

10. Partners
• Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network
• Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
• Alaska Primary Care Association
• Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
• Providence Health & Services of Alaska
• State of Alaska, Office of Rural Health
• University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human Development, Trust
Training Cooperative
Impact
• Healthcare Professionals: Find trainings, Access and maintain CE Portfolio,
Register and Pay for trainings
• CE Providers/Instructors: Advertise trainings, Manage training registration
and payments
• Hospitals & Clinics (in development): Manage required staff training, utilize
private portal for staff, run reports and download data

11. Rural Webinar Series
 Regional AHECs recruit local experts to offer CE webinars
on rural health topics related to community issues
 AHEC Program Office provides webinar platform and
technical support
 Webinars are advertised via AK CACHE and
streamed/recorded for registered participants
 CE offered if applicable

12. Western Washington AHEC
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13. Partnerships for Recruitment/Retention
of Primary Care Providers
ACTIVITIES:
 Presentations to:
 primary care residencies
 nurse practitioner programs
 physician assistant programs
 medical schools
 Technical assistance to rural communities regarding recruitment and
retention
 Direct recruitment in collaboration with Washington State
Department of Health, and the National Recruitment Retention
Network. (3RNet)
 Providers looking for employment opportunities can register at
3RNet.org.
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Contact Zach Nostdal, zach@wwahec.org

14. Partnerships for Veterans
 WWAHEC is working to bring veterans into civilian
healthcare careers so they can continue to serve their
communities.
 Washington State is 10th in the nation for the number of
returning veterans reentering the civilian workforce.
 At Joint Base Lewis McCord near Tacoma Washington
soldiers are re-entering civilian life at a rate of 600 per
month for the next 5 years.
 Veterans in Washington State are more likely to live in rural
areas.
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15. Partnerships for Veterans
ACTIVITIES:
 Veterans in Healthcare Workforce Steering Committee:
 WWAHEC leads the committee government agencies, nonprofits,
higher education and employer partners working to make it easier
for service members with healthcare experience to transition into
the civilian healthcare workforce.
 Outreach to Veterans and Service Members:
 WWAHEC conducts outreach to veterans and service members
leaving the military with healthcare experience to provide them
with information about pathways to civilian careers and promote
working in rural and underserved parts of Washington.
 Contact Zach Nostdal, zach@wwahec.org
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16. The Rural/Underserved
Opportunities Program (R/UOP)
 4-week, elective experience in community medicine for UW
School Medicine students between their first and second years.
Students live in rural or urban underserved communities
throughout Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and
Idaho (WWAMI). They work side-by-side with local
physicians providing health care to underserved populations.
R/UOP is a collaborative effort of the Area Health Education
Centers, UW School of Medicine, WWAMI campuses
 59% of RUOP students chose a residency in general internal
medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics compared to 41% of
those who did not participate in RUOP. (based on 2014 residency
match)
 Nearly 3,000 Students have participated in
R/UOP since 1989.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDWxl1MDy7o#t=67

17. The Rural/Underserved
Opportunities Program (R/UOP)
ACTIVITIES:
 Recruit rural and underserved physician instructors.
 Match students with placement sites and physicians
that complement student’s academic interests and
goals.
 Coordinate housing arrangements for students in
rural remote locations.
 Contact Kelly Copp, Kelly@wwahec.org
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18. Building Partnerships the Idaho way
NW Regional Rural Health Conference
March 19, 2015

19. Our Esteemed Advisory Board
 Russ Duke, Chair
 Ted Epperly, MD, Vice Chair
 Suzanne Allen, MD, MPH
 Mary Barinaga, MD
 Carolyn Corbett
 Kathy Coumerilh
 Tim Dunnagan, EdD
 Bessie Katsilometes, PhD
 Tammy Perkins
 Priscilla Salant, MS
 Steve Schneider, MD
 Mary Sheridan, RN, MPA

20. Idaho AHEC Staff
Katrina Hoff, AHEC Director
Katrina assumed her new role Directing Idaho AHEC and Covering Idaho Kids at
Jannus in September 2014. Previously, she worked at Idaho Primary Care
Association Director of Workforce Development provider recruitment and one
year as Outreach Program Director. Katrina also directed the Idaho SEARCH
Program for seven years. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with
friends and family (especially the grandkids), reading, and a variety of other
hobbies new and old.
Lynsey Winters Juel, Telehealth Task Force Program
Manager
Lynsey joined the AHEC team early in 2015, but has worked for Jannus for 11 years,
as a refugee resettlement case manager and more recently as the Program Director
for the Idaho Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. Balancing work, mothering two
young children and tending her family’s urban homestead (including chickens and
bees), Lynsey keeps a varied and adventure-filled schedule.

21. Snapshot of Idaho Demographics
Population 1,634,464
26.5% under 18
13.8% over 65
93.7% White
11.8% Hispanic or Latino
88.8% high school graduates
25.1% with Bachelor’s degree
82,643 square miles
19 people per square mile
151,671 farms
Median household income
$46,767
15.5% below poverty level
479 miles long and 305 miles
wide
4,522,506 acres of wilderness
area

22. The Usual
Suspects
 UW - WWAMI R/UOP/TRUST/WRITE
 Idaho Bureau of Rural Health &
Primary Care
 Idaho Rural Health Association
 BSU Rural Nursing Program
 ISU Physician Assistant, Nursing, and
Pharmacy programs
 Family Medicine Residency of Idaho
 ISU Family Medicine Residency
Critical Access Hospitals
Rural Health Clinics
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Primary Care Association
Idaho Academy of Family Physicians
Health Occupations Students of
America – Idaho chapter
Idaho Health Coalition
Idaho Health Professions Education
Council

23. Projects & Partnerships
 Orientation to Health Careers: Introduces middle-school
and high-school students to a variety of healthcare
occupations.
 Idaho Telehealth Taskforce: Diverse stakeholders
promoting appropriate use of telehealth services.
 Idaho Graduate Medical Education (GME) Geriatric
Workforce Network: Family Medicine Residency of Idaho,
Jannus (AHEC & Friends in Action) Boise State University,
Idaho Rural Health Association

24. Orientation to Health Careers
Structure
 Funded by Idaho AHEC and the Idaho Bureau of Rural
Health & Primary Care
 Idaho Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care, WWAMI,
middle-schools, HOSA, ISU, BSU, and CAHs
 10 students per community
 Total time must = at least 6 hours
 Community stipends

25. Orientation to Health Careers
Activities
 Required Presentations by 2 or more primary care
providers: family physician, PA, NP, nurse, dentist,
pharmacist
 Tour of hospital, clinic, or other medical facility
 Required Public Health presentation
 Hands on activities in a classroom setting
 Pre- and Post-surveys

26. Idaho Telehealth Task Force
Membership supported Statewide education and advocacy
coalition facilitated by AHEC.
Members of Executive Committee also serve on Idaho’s
Telehealth Council established by HR56 in March 2014.
Meets quarterly in Boise.
Potential for growth via State Health Innovation Plan
operated by Idaho DHW.

27. Idaho GME Geriatric Workforce
Network
HRSA funded; FMRI submitted application in early
March.
Jannus (AHEC & FIA) is the community partner.
BSU is the evaluation partner.
3-year project would start July 1, 2015 if funded.
Goal is to “develop an integrated geriatric and primary
care medical, community, and workforce network where
provider, caregiver, patient, and community engagement
is maximized to improve health outcomes for older Idaho
adults.”

28. Idaho AHEC’s Role
Connect health profession students with Idaho GME
Geriatric Workforce Network
Convene an Advisory Council
Create a web-based network
Provide capacity for meetings, webinars, and conference
calls
Design & administer a statewide survey for partner input
Disseminate geriatrics related resources and tools
Offer community mini-grants to build healthy
neighborhoods for seniors

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30. Goal 1: Health Careers Promotion
and Recruitment

31. Camp Goals
 Explore a variety of health careers
through interactive workshops
 Earn American Heart Association
CPR 2 year certification
 Identify skills needed for careers in
healthcare
 Learn from health professionals
and college instructors
 Explore college readiness
 Experience dorm living and
campus life

32. Keys to Success
 Keep camp fee low
 Utilize hands-on learning
whenever possible
 Balance learning and fun
 Incorporate health
professionals as much as
possible
 Hire outstanding
counselors
 Keep students busy

34. Type of Partners – Be Creative!
 Education
 University of WY (multiple
departments)
 Community Colleges
 State Office of Rural Health
 Local Fire Dept./EMS
 Local Healthcare Providers
 Others with vested interest in
nurturing future health providers
(Medical Society, State Board of Nursing,
Geriatric Education Center, etc.)

35. Partner benefits
• Community
Exposure/Publicity
• News coverage
• Logo(s) utilized
• Exposure to healthcare
career-minded students
• Employees share enthusiasm
for job/employer
• Allows entity to use $$
earmarked for pipeline
programs &/or recruitment
and training of
underrepresented
populations

36. Questions?
Comments?
Ideas for new
partnerships?
Contact Information
Suzanne Allen, MD, MPH, WWAMI AHEC
Director and Vice Dean for Academic, Rural,
and Regional Affairs, UW Medicine
(208) 364-4552 suzaalle@uw.edu
http://depts.washington.edu/ahec/
Gloria Burnett, AK AHEC Director
(907) 786-6705
gburnett3@uaa.alaska.edu
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/acrh-ahec/
Jodi Perlmutter, W. WA AHEC Director
(206) 441-7137 jodi@wwahec.org
http://www.wwahec.org/
Katrina Hoff, Idaho AHEC Director
(208) 336-5533 x 233 khoff@Jannus.org
www.idahoahec.org
Marivern Easton, Wyoming AHEC Director
(307) 766-6751 measton3@uwyo.edu
http://www.uwyo.edu/ahec/
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