The University of Nebraska Medical Centers rural health professional
programs are on the forefront of rural health care nationwide, UNMC officials
say.
On Friday, several UNMC rural health experts addressed the General
Affairs Committee meeting of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
The topic was UNMCs rural health programs.
Michael Sitorius, M.D., professor and Regents-named chairman of the
UNMC family medicine department, said UNMCs presence in more than 130
communities in Nebraska shows its commitment to serve as a 500-mile-wide
campus.
UNMCs mission is to improve the health of Nebraskans through premier
educational programs and outreach to underserved populations, said Dr.
Sitorius, a Cozad native. Were starting to see the fruits of our labors
with some of our programs, and were continually trying to form partnerships
and new programs to meet the needs of rural Nebraska. It can be difficult
to stay ahead of the curve, but weve made tremendous strides over the
last couple of decades.
At Fridays committee meeting, Dr. Sitorius will be joined by several
other UNMC rural health officials. They will include:
· Roxanna Jokela, director of the UNMC Rural Health Education
Network;
· Keith Mueller, Ph.D., professor of preventative and societal
medicine and director of the Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research;
· Mary Haven, associate dean, UNMC School of Allied Health Professions;
· Carol Pullen, Ph.D., associate professor of the UNMC College
of Nursings rural nursing education;
· Edward Roche, Ph.D., associate dean, UNMC College of Pharmacy;
and,
· Brian Lange, professor of dental practice management, College
of Dentistry.
Jokela said that there are many key facets to having successful rural
professional programs. Recruitment, training and retention all are necessary,
she said.
If we never get rural students in the door, or we dont get them interested
in health-care professions, we cant serve the rural areas well, Jokela
said. Once theyre enrolled, we have to provide them with training in
rural areas to show them the benefits and disadvantages of those areas.
When they start practicing, we need to make sure theyre not isolated.
Among other things, we need to provide them with the means to get further
degrees and continuing education through the Internet or satellite transmission.
One way in which UNMC has interested students in health-care careers
is through its annual eighth-grade health science meets, which are currently
in their 10th year. Each year, more than 400 students participate
in regional meets across the state, with about 60 students coming to Omaha
in June for a week on the UNMC Omaha campus.
This fall, the first eighth-grade science meet alumnus to be accepted
into medical school will begin classes at UNMC. Already, another alumnus
is in his second year of dentistry school and a third has graduated from
the College of Nursing.
One of the greatest rewards of working at UNMC is the opportunity to
see an eighth-grader participate in a science meet, take classes several
years later at the Medical Center and then serve as a health-care professional
in a rural community, Jokela said.
Other highlights of UNMCs rural health professional programs include:
· The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP), in which accepted
students spend between two and four years at either Chadron State College
or Wayne State College. Provided they complete their education at those
institutions with approved minimum grade point averages, they enroll at
UNMC to study to become dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, medical
technologists, physician assistants, physical therapists, physicians, radiation
science professionals and nurses. From 1990-1999, about 70 percent of RHOP
students in the allied health professions returned to rural areas to practice.
· The Family Medicine Residency Program Rural Training Track
(RTT), which began in 1991 as one of the first three rural family medicine
residency programs in the nation. Since then, 37 graduates the most of
any such program in the nation — have completed the RTT in Grand Island,
Kearney, Scottsbluff and North Platte. Of those, 30 are working in rural
Nebraska.
· Distance education, through which UNMC has educated hundred
of students in rural areas. Notably, the UNMC College of Nursing delivers
undergraduate and graduate courses to 23 sites in Nebraska. Ninety-eight
percent of rural registered nurses who receive their bachelors degrees
via distance education have stayed to practice in their rural communities.
Dr. Sitorius said none of the programs would be possible without the
support of the rural communities, hospitals, volunteer faculty, state government
and organizations throughout the state.
Weve all realized that to deliver the best health care to rural Nebraska,
we need to work together on all of the pertinent issues, Dr. Sitorius
said. Weve made some great strides, and we look forward to staying on
the cutting edge.